REIKI
What is Reiki?
I have been a Reiki practitioner for 24 years and I wanted to share what I've learned over the years about Reiki energy healing. This article will cover what Reiki is, how it is taught/passed down, as well as what a Reiki session is like.
Usui Reiki is an ancient Japanese hands-on healing technique founded by Dr. Mikao Usui in the late 1800’s.
Reiki defined means universal life force energy. Rei means universal and Ki means life energy or vital force. Together Reiki represents the boundless and infinite healing energy that flows in and around all living things.
Reiki is not connected to any religion or one specific spiritual philosophy. However it is the culmination of Mikao Usui’s studies across medicine, religion, psychology and spirituality. It is also the outcome of a 21 day fast and meditation on a sacred mountain in Kyoto Japan. At the end of the 21 days, a powerful light entered Usui’s body through the crown of his head, and he became filled with a spiritual energy and level of conscious awareness like he had never experienced before; as well as he was shown the Reiki symbols, which are used by practitioners in the practice.
The belief of Usui Reiki is that a practitioner, (someone that has been ‘attuned’ and trained in the Usui system of healing), becomes a conduit-a channel of the Universal life force energy and are able to channel it into others through a hands-on (or hovering above the body) practice.
An attunement is something that is only received through a Master Reiki practitioner. Lineage is a very important part of Reiki and when you connect with a Master practitioner you are connecting with the Reiki lineage all the way to Mikao Usui.
I want to touch on that there are now tons of variations of Reiki. Ive heard of everything from dolphin Reiki, dragon reiki, shaman reiki, and many more. I do not know how these are Reiki. I am not suggesting that they aren’t effective and wonderful healing energy systems, but I simply don’t know how they are tied to Reiki.
I was taught and follow the traditional Usui Ryoho system of Reiki. My lineage is:
Dr. Mikao Usui
ChorijoHayashi
HawayaTakata
Phyllis Furumoto
Barbara McDaniel
Jamie Roth
Which means my Reiki teacher was taught by one of the grandmasters of Reiki-Phyllis Furumoto And yes, being that closely linked to Usui, I take this lineage and the history, and way in which I was taught, very seriously.
So if we have a conversation about Reiki, I stay fully within the lane of Usui Reiki and I will always speak from the lineage of which I originate.
Reiki is taught in three levels. The first level is is considered a level to heal thyself. It connects you more deeply to who you are and how operate in mind-body and spirit. Once you have connected to the universal life force energy and have it flowing through you, it changes you. Your eating and sleeping habits may change as your body yearns for better nutrition, and more rest. Dreams often become more notable. Your intuition grows and relationships may change. It is very much a level of self-reflection and mind-body-spirit growth.
Reiki II is about learning the Reiki symbols along with how to give long distance Reiki. The symbols are an integral part of Reiki and are only shown to students in Level II and III. There is a sacredness to the symbols, as well as the attunement process and so we keep the sacredness intact by not sharing openly on line, or anywhere else. It is a gift to be given the symbols and how to work with them, and that comes in a Reiki II workshop.
Reiki III is considered the master/teacher level. It is not for everyone. It is for students that are dedicated to passing along the Reiki healing system. And it takes many years to get to a place of being ready to receive the Master level attunement. Personally, I practiced Reiki for 6 years before I got my master level attunement.
As far as Reiki teachings go, each level should be taught individually. You cannot master multiple levels at once. Each one takes time and practice before you can move onto the next one. I have never, and will not, give more than one Reiki level attunement at a time. And I expect that students will practice a minimum of 6 months, if not a full year before going from Level I to Level II. And even longer between level II and III. Firstly, because you need time to integrate the faster frequency of energy that will recalibrate who you are as a human being. Getting each attunement is like changing out a bulb with higher wattage. You need time to adjust and learn all you can with that new level of energy. Secondly, practice and experience are the most important parts of moving forward to each level. And you certainly cannot master a healing art after only a few months or even a year.
And to me, one of the best part about Reiki is that once you are attuned, you can (and should) practice on yourself. Unlike massage that you can sort of do on your own body, Reiki is absolutely something you can give to yourself anytime, anywhere and often! I give Reiki to myself for headaches, and anxiety. Or when I’m having a hard time falling asleep. I have given Reiki to my children for many aches and pains. I give Reiki to our dog. I use it to charge my water with positive intentions. I use Reiki every single day, and have for 24 years!
What is a Reiki session like?
A Reiki session is typically performed with a client on a massage table (fully clothed). Often times soothing music is playing in the background, and a client may be covered in a blanket for warmth and comfort. The practitioner will gently lay their hands on different parts of the body. This is not a massage, and no muscles will be manipulated like in a massage. This is very light hands on your body experience. Its not about the pressure, its about creating a conduit of energy.
I have recently seen a lot of energy practitioners doing “reiki” that are moving their hands all around wildly, as if they are manipulating the energy and where its going, and what it’s doing. My understanding of Reiki is that a practitioner is simply a channel for which the energy is to move through you into the client. Reiki goes to where it is needed. No harm can come from Reiki, and you can’t give too much.
A practitioner (including myself) that does more than lay their hands and let reiki go to where it’s needed, has added in their own form of magic. Reiki is not hand gestures indicating pulling, pushing or manipulating the energy of the client in any way other than to simply give the Reiki. And any intuitive/psychic premonitions are also not Reiki related. I give both pure Reiki sessions and also energy sessions of my own magic and intuitive abilities. I do think it’s nice to be able to share with a client if I felt/noticed anything in regards to their energy and how the Reiki seemed to flow. But some Reiki sessions with some practitioners are completely silent, with no follow up information. Because a Reiki practitioner is there to pass along the frequency and hold space for your experience.
During a session most people express feeling warmth coming from the hands of the practitioner. Usually this is very comforting, like a heating pad.
I have found that a client’s very first Reiki session usually comes with their mind trying to sort the experience out and make sense of it. Ping-ponging thoughts such as: “what are they doing? What am I supposed to be feeling? Am I doing this right?”, are common.
As a practitioner I remind clients to breathe and focus on the breath, rather than the thoughts running through the mind. After awhile in the first session, a client usually relaxes and drifts off into a meditative state, which can feel like a nap. And Some people do fall asleep!
In subsequent sessions, after a client has experienced it, they usually drift into the meditative state a lot faster because their mind is not trying so hard to make sense of everything and is more inclined to simply allow the experience.
Reiki can also be given through long-distance sessions. Everything is energy and energy is not deterred by distance. While I reside in the USA, I have clients all over the world including Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Thailand and other countries.
A long distance session is typically done via zoom. The client reclines or lays down wherever they are at, the practitioner sends the healing energy in whatever way that looks like for them while doing long distance. For me, I often hold my hands up towards the screen as I direct the energy to the client. Long distance sessions are just as powerful as in person. I have had many long-distance clients tell me they felt like I was I the room with them, and their body warm up as if my hands were directly on them. And the benefits remain the same as an in-person session.
Benefits of Reiki:
The benefits of Reiki are relaxation (which is worth a million bucks for just about anyone these days!). Calming of the racing mind is common. I can’t tell you how many clients have said to me: “So this is what a calm mind is like?!” It lowers blood pressure. Eases pain. And 99.9% of the time I can guarantee to a client that they will get excellent sleep after a Reiki session. Which is also worth its weight in gold.
Some of the unexpected benefits are- connecting to a meditative state. Some clients get visuals, intuitive downloads, clarity on current life situations and more.
Almost always after a session, clients feel refreshed, lighter and more relaxed. However, that is not alway the case. Sometimes during Reiki anxiety can be triggered. It’s usually momentarily as a client’s nervous system tries to figure out what is going on. Not everyone relaxes easily because they don’t feel safe to do so. Trauma causes our bodies and mind to do a lot of strange stuff!
Also not everyone gets off the table and feels better. Some people feel heavier and exhausted. I get really frustrated when I see people on line claiming that if you don’t feel great after Reiki, something has gone wrong or the practitioner has bad energy.
No.
I think of Reiki as taking an elephant off your chest. Or reaching into the water and pulling you out of a place you've been drowning, in stress, in trauma, in everything you've been carrying, until you can finally take one giant breath again. Sometimes it's that dramatic. Other times it's quieter and more subtle.
Either way, when the weight comes off, you should feel lighter. But here's what surprises people: once the pressure lifts, many of them realize just how exhausted they actually are. Not tired, but depleted, from however long they've spent living in survival mode. And you need soul rest.
The clients who honor that rest are the ones who come back glowing. An Epsom salt bath, a good meal, real sleep, and they tell me they feel better than they have in years.
I also want to mention how excellent Reiki is for pain relief. Everything from the aforementioned headaches, to menstrual cramps, arthritis, nervous system disorders such as POTS and more. Reiki has proven through studies, to be beneficial for cancer patients for pain and nausea as well as overall healing and feeling better. I have worked in a cancer unit before and Reiki was so well received.
I have helped people that have had consistent migraines for years, reduce them to infrequently. I have helped all kinds of injuries heal from childhood bumps and bruises to sports injuries and broken bones.
Reiki also helps the mind pull itself out of that dreadful rumination. That constant worry that makes you sick.
And I have helped people connect to their spiritual self as Reiki can take you to different levels of consciousness.
Of course a lot of these healings require more than one session. Reiki like any modality of healing is best administered on a somewhat regular basis. Similar to massage, chiropractor, PT etc. While it can help you tremendously in just one session, the more you do it, the larger the healing affects will be.
I hope that this in depth article on Reiki answers questions for you, as we see Reiki gain popularity, and are hearing that term more often, and wonder, what is Reiki?
When I started practicing in Mississippi, 24 years ago, few people had heard the term, much less being able to find practitioners near you. Nowadays you can google Reiki practitioners for your location and likely find several. I’m so glad more people are learning about and experiencing such a powerful healing modality.
Ready to Set the Weight Down? In-person or virtual, book your Reiki session today. I also offer a first client session for 90 minutes for the 60 minute price. Which is a savings of $33.
