What Is Reiki?
Reiki is a healing technique that was developed by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui in 1922, and has since evolved into many practicing traditions. “Rei” is defined as the all-knowing divine universal, and “Ki” is the energy that animates all living things, and flows through everything that is alive, including plants, animals, and humans. It is used all over the world by people of many different faiths, cultures, and spiritual paths. I practice White Light Reiki and Karuna Reiki.
Reiki is an energy healing technique where unlimited life force energy is guided by Higher Intelligence to a patient to support their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing and evolution. Reiki is a modality that uses “hands-on” and also “hands-off” healing that can assist in relieving or reducing pain and discomfort by balancing the body’s energy centers, or chakras. It is a natural process that supports relaxation and healing by removing blocks to the flow of energy in your body and facilitates balance and support on all levels. When the energy flow in your body is restored and/or balanced, you are more likely to feel relaxed and your body’s natural healing abilities are utilized.
The reason why Reiki can be so powerful and effective is because it infuses your chakras, and your body, with Universal light energy. Your body takes exactly what it needs at that point in time, and my responsibility is to simply act as a conduit for Universal energy to help healing take place optimally, so that your body can heal itself. When you infuse Reiki in areas that are energetically or physically weak, it cleanses your energy pathways, and begins your release and healing process.
Please check out my article for MindBodyGreen, entitled, “Reiki 101: What Is It & Will I Love It?” It’s a great primer to this wonderful healing modality, and can give you a better idea about what Reiki is, and what to expect during a session.
If you’d like to learn more about how chakra imbalances manifest in the physical body, and how Reiki treatments can help address them, please check out my MindBodyGreen article, “Your Chakras Are Probably Out Of Balance. Here’s How Reiki Can Help”.
How do these techniques work?
Everything in the universe is made up of energy. This life force or universal energy flows around us and is drawn into the body nourishing the cells, organs, and glands. When someone’s energy is depleted or imbalanced or the flow is restricted by stress, injury, illness, etc, one is more susceptible to discomfort, and further illness.
Just as we have physical anatomy, we also have an energetic anatomy. Our physical bodies are what we can see. The energetic aspect of our body is something that is not so readily seen, but usually can be felt or experienced.
Reiki is a gentle hands-on technique, which is used to balance the energy systems in a person’s body. It promotes stress-reduction, relaxation, and also supports a person’s natural healing ability. When one’s energy is restored, free flowing, or balanced, the body’s innate healing abilities are “jump-started” and utilized for healing.
What are the benefits of Reiki?
Reiki’s purpose is to assist the body in its ongoing program for perfect health by seeking to balance areas of imbalance. It is well known that stress reduces the immune system’s effectiveness. Disease is often the result of stress compromising the immune system.
Reiki’s goal is to restore and maintain balance. Reiki seems to have a basic consciousness which, when used for healing, is able to provide exactly what is needed on all levels. Reiki treatments work by dissolving or eliminating toxic energy and substances from many levels of one’s being, whether it is physical, emotional, or mental. Reiki is effective in treating many ailments, such as back pain and arthritis, as well as serious illnesses, like cancer and lupus. In addition, Reiki also stimulates healing on a mental, emotional, and spiritual level. Its non-invasive nature is conducive to working with any other type of treatment.
What does it feel like?
Reiki is administered through a soft touch while lying down – fully clothed. The practitioner’s hands are placed along energy centers and pathways along the body. The recipient may feel warmth, coolness, gentle tingling, and/or deep relaxation.
I liken the experience to a “soul massage”. Much like how a regular massage can smooth out the kinks in the muscles and fascia, and Acupuncture can rebalance the body’s energy — Reiki smooths out the kinks in the soul. It can help clear out blocked energy pathways, promoting equilibrium in the body and a sense of feeling grounded, with a deeper connection to the true self.
Are Acupuncture and Reiki related?
Although both modalities address the physical and energetic wellness of an individual, Acupuncture and Reiki are markedly different. Acupuncture originated in China and uses acupuncture needles to access meridian points and rebalance the system, as well as adjunctive therapies, and Reiki’s roots are in Japan and focuses on healing the energetic and physical bodies through working with the chakras. They may not share the same approach of treatment; but, they both access and treat the wholistic body, and often makes the recipient feel deeply relaxed.
Should I choose an Acupuncture treatment, or a Reiki treatment?
It is entirely up to you. I often find that those who are drawn to Reiki intuitively know that they need it on a Spirit level, even if they’ve never experienced it before. If you’re unsure which modality is right for you, check in with what your gut is telling you. You can also shoot me an email, give me a call, or we can discuss it at your visit and go with which one best suits your needs that day.
How long is a Reiki treatment?
Initial Reiki treatments are 1.5 hours, and include a detailed evaluation/consultation and health & lifestyle assessment, followed by a full Reiki session. All follow up Reiki treatments are 60 minutes, and include a follow-up evaluation/consultation, followed by a full Reiki session. All treatments may include Shamanic Healing elements, essential oil therapy, crystal work, and/or tuning forks.
