This is a question I get asked quite a bit. When pressed for time, I'll usually respond by saying, "It's a form of energy healing" or "It's like acupuncture but without the needles." Unfortunately, I think this can leave more questions than answers. So, here's my blog post with my longer, more detailed explanation of what Reiki is. There really is so much more to it that even this post can't cover. In fact, there are whole books dedicated to the subject. Lots of them. I list a few on my Resources page if you're interested in diving even deeper into the subject.
The word "Reiki" is made up of two ideograms. "Rei" means the "spiritual source of the universe or higher mind." It represents the higher intelligence of the universe that tells your heart to beat, lungs to breathe, and so forth. The "ki" in "Reiki" means the "primal energy of the universe". Combined, it means “spiritually guided primal life energy.” There are many countries and groups of people that believe in a primal energy that runs through all living creatures and is responsible for their health and well-being. In Melanesian and Polynesian mythology, it's called "mana", in India it's "prana", in China it's "chi", and in Japan it's "ki". Just to name a few. In a Reiki session, the practitioner channels this spiritually intelligent healing energy through them to the recipient. This energy helps the recipient to heal problems on a spiritual, mental, emotional, and sometimes even physical level.
The general idea is that everything in the universe is made up of energy, including us. We have a physical body, but we also have an energetic body or "aura". Sometimes our energetic body can become imbalanced because of all the junk we have to deal with in our day-to-day lives. This isn't good because things in our universe really like balance. When things get too far out of balance, problems can arise. These problems can show up spiritually, mentally, emotionally, or sometimes even physically. Reiki (and other forms of energy healing) helps to restore balance on an energetic level. If a problem is caused by an energetic imbalance, a Reiki session could help fix that problem. Not all problems are necessarily because of an energetic imbalance though, that's why Reiki isn't a miracle cure. However, it can still help even in situations where an energetic imbalance may not be the cause. The relaxation that a Reiki session brings in itself is enough to help bring healing. Almost like a massage for your energetic body rather than your physical one.
A typical Reiki session can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the practitioner's preference. I offer 30-minute sessions as I feel that's plenty of time for the energy to find its balance, but I've been known to go a bit longer on occasion when needed as long as the client's okay with it. I set the room up similar to that of a massage therapist's, complete with dim lights, a massage table, and relaxing music. I have the client lie down on the table face up and fully clothed (of course). I have a sheet for the client to cover up even more if they prefer but warmth usually isn't an issue thanks to the nice heating pad I have. Once we're ready to start, I place my hands in different positions either on or slightly above the client's body and begin to channel the Reiki energy to where it's needed. The technique should never feel uncomfortable or invasive but clients are encouraged to speak up at any time if they feel uncomfortable for any reason. Depending on how sensitive you are to energy, you may feel warmth, tingling, pressure, or nothing at all. The sensation varies for everyone, but whether you are able to feel it or not the healing is still taking place. You don't have to see, hear, feel, taste, or smell the oxygen you breathe-in to benefit from it, but you know it's there. Reiki works the same way.
As long as this explanation is, there's still so much more I could say and so much more information out there. As I said above, please see my Resources page if you're interested in diving a little deeper and reading some books on the subject. I do offer Reiki sessions from my home office and at events from time-to-time. I also teach Reiki if you're interested in learning to do it for yourself, for friends and family, or even in starting your own Reiki practice. Check out my Services page to book an appointment or feel free to contact me for more information. Thanks for reading!
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