Reiki

What is Reiki?

Reiki promotes overall well-being. It’s a Japanese technique developed in 1922 that’s designed to heal trauma to the body, mind, and spirit.

To break it down, the word “rei” refers to the higher intelligence that guides both living and nonliving entities in the universe. “Ki”, on the other hand, is the non-physical energy that’s inherent in every living thing. This includes plants, animals, and even humans.

Reiki is considered a safe method of spiritual healing. It can cure virtually all illnesses. It has no side effects which makes it perfect to use in combination with western medical treatments.

The practice involves stimulating energy throughout the body. You already have this energy but with blockages and clogs, it may not flow very well. This can cause a number of issues.

As Reiki unblocks and unclogs your system, you’ll be able to feel positive changes to how you are feeling. Take note that the symptoms you are experiencing may worsen and that’s normal. The phase will pass and you’ll be able to feel a lot better soon.

As your body is undergoing the cleansing process, it’s important that you support it the best way you can.

Now, here’s the thing.

Unlike other techniques and classes, Reiki isn’t something you’ll learn in the usual sense. It’s something that gets transferred to you during a Reiki class. The process is known as attunement. You’ll get it from a Reiki master and it’ll enable you to tap into your unlimited supply of life force energy which you can use to improve your health and quality of life.

There are no limitations as to who can use or learn Reiki. In fact, it’s available to everyone, regardless of spirituality or mental capacity. It can be taught to people of all backgrounds and ages.

Although Reiki is technically spiritual in nature, it’s not a type of religion. There are no laws, rules or dogmas you have to follow in order to master the technique.

However, despite not being a religion, it’s important that you use it while living a life that promotes harmony with other people. Adhere to basic ethical ideas to encourage harmony.

Who should use Reiki?

Anyone can and should use Reiki.

In general, it’s considered a must for people experiencing mental and emotional pressure to use Reiki. It can sharpen your intellect so you can think with more clarity and come up with better decisions. Reiki is also a good technique for people experiencing negative mental blocks. It brings acceptance which can help a person love oneself more.

Reiki can help relieve stress as well as tension. It can also reduce pain and any soreness which is why it’s great for people experiencing chronic pain.

People experiencing problems with relationships should also give it a try. It works really well in rekindling love and establishing better acceptance and understanding between people. The great thing is that the individuals involved don’t really have to be aware of it to experience healing. Reiki works unconditionally.

The technique doesn’t just work for couples; it also does a tremendous job in healing and reinstating harmony and understanding within a group of people. This includes a team, family, class or a committee.

Even people who are about to hold events should try Reiki. Sending Reiki energy to an event can contribute to its timely completion and success.

Now, in addition to using Reiki, you have the option to become a master and teach it to other people. The process, however, is a bit different.

There are three levels of Reiki you need to be attuned to before you can master it.

Level 1 is called the First Degree and it’s all about learning how Reiki started, how to use it on others, how to practice it on yourself as well as proper hand placements. This level will encourage you to use Reiki on yourself so you can work through your own troubles in life. After completing this stage, you’ll have energy channels that are opened physically and that will allow you to connect with the universal life force energy.

Because a lot of your repressed pain and insecurities will surface at this stage, you can expect the process to be exhausting and uncomfortable. You might even find yourself feeling drained after the session.

Level 2 involves learning the concept and how to draw Reiki symbols. They are closely associated with power, balance, and emotional well-being.

The symbols are drawn in midair right before a session begins. It’s meant to help people mastering Reiki to have a deeper connection with the universal energy.

The final phase is Reiki Level 3. This is the first stage you have to go through if you want to be a Reiki master teacher. It’s designed to expand your awareness as well as the intensity of Reiki’s healing power. It can tremendously increase the flow of healing energy in and through you.

What does Reiki do?

In essence, Reiki heals. Being one of the most versatile healing systems to date, it can enhance everything in your life. Whether it’s to boost your physical health, emotional well-being or reduce stress, you’ll be able to achieve them through Reiki.

What makes this healing technique special, apart from being effective, is the fact that it can complement other forms of therapy. Despite being powerful, it can be used to complement medical and other supplemental healing methods.

Specifically, Reiki can do the following:

One of the most popular benefits you can get from Reiki is relaxation and stress reduction. It has this unique ability to trigger your body’s natural healing capacity. This results in better sleep and improved health.

Reiki stimulates harmony and inner peace. These two are essential in achieving spiritual growth and balance.

In addition, Reiki can also balance your emotions and mind. It can make you calmer and more at peace so you can easily cope with stress every day. With better and clearer mental capacity, you can also lessen your anger, fear, mood swings, and frustrations. As a result, you’ll be able to enjoy better relationships and lessen dysfunctions even at work.

When you are experiencing emotional distress as well as sorrow, turning to Reiki can help you cope better with the grieving process. It can clear out your emotions so you can stop feeling drained and out of perspective.

When it comes to your physical well-being, Reiki can help relieve pain. Whether it’s from sciatica, arthritis, migraine, asthma or even fatigue, the practice can help reduce your discomfort so you can enjoy life better.

Reiki works well in treating both immediate and long-term problems. It can even help patients cope with their conditions and treatments processes.

Where does the energy come from?

Reiki’s energy is spiritual in nature. It is subtle and way different from electricity, physical or chemical energy. It may seem like it’s coming down from above and entering the top of the practitioner’s head when viewed clairvoyantly but the truth is that the energy is truly within ourselves.

How do you start with Reiki?

In preparing for your Reiki training, the first thing you need to do is to choose a Reiki Master you can train with. Make sure that you have received at least one training session before making a decision to train with that person. This is extremely important as you will be receiving mentoring from him.

In the West, choosing is not as strict and serious as Japan where people take Reiki lineage seriously. Despite that, you need to take the time to get to know your potential Master as well as his teaching practices. You can ask the levels of certifications he is offering. This way, you’ll be sure that your master will be able to train you to the highest level possible.

Consider finding out how a Master structures his classes and if you’ll have the opportunity to not just practice but ask questions after.

After choosing your Reiki Master and signing up for a Level 1 Reiki training, it’s time to prepare for the actual class.

A week before your first class, spend a few minutes each day sitting in stillness and making it your intention to open yourself to the energy you’ll soon be receiving. This may be in the form of meditation or you can simply focus on opening up for the energy as soon as you wake up.

A day or two before the class, try to get as much sleep as you can. Try to limit strenuous physical activities as well as stress. You don’t have to quit or completely eliminate certain activities before your sessions; it’s just important that you get a good night’s sleep and rest before the big day.

It’s also helpful if you can avoid consuming excessive caffeine and substances that can affect your state of mind and energy during your class. It’s not recommended that you go cold turkey with caffeine or sugar as that can have negative effects, too.

If you are taking any medications, take them as you normally would. Keep yourself hydrated since processing high levels of energy can make you neglect your body. You might end up with a headache or a few discomforts if you fail to look after yourself while training.

Classes are held at different schedules. You can go on weekends but ensure that you clear your schedules for the rest of the training. If you can, try to clear the day after, too. This is to enable your body to completely process the energy.

As a special tip, avoid wearing scented products to class. Since you’ll be working with other people, there’s a good chance that some of them are more sensitive to the environment than others.

How to make Reiki work for you?

Reiki is effective on its own but if you follow the tips below, you’ll be able to improve the practice as well as the results you’ll get.

Know when you are ready

Reiki is interesting. Anyone who wants to feel and be better will definitely want to try it out. However, if you really want it to be effective, you need to know when you’re ready to engage in a session of healing.

If you feel the willingness to heal yourself and to expand that desire to other people, then that’s a good sign that you’re ready to start. If you believe in alternative healing and you have your trust in something greater, then you’re off to a good start.

As long as you are ready to change your life and you are open to the possible changes that are about to come, then you can get started.

Do it daily

Think of Reiki as a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it’ll get. So, as much as possible, do Reiki on yourself on a daily basis.

If you feel that your energy isn’t as vibrant as usual, you can ask somebody else to perform Reiki on you. Episodes like that are normal as your body experiences energy stagnation.

Let it do the work

When you are performing Reiki, it’s easy to concentrate on the results you’ll get. This can easily wear you out. Instead of focusing on the outcome of the treatment, whether you are doing it on yourself or on other people, just let the energy do the work.

Set your intentions right

If you think that your practice will fail, there’s a good chance that it will. Your brain is like a magnet and it can attract anything that it thinks of.

Take care of yourself

The only way you can care for your energy is to care for yourself. Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and balance your workload. As much as possible, take time to engage in activities that you enjoy. It can be yoga, meditation or exercise.

When will Reiki not work?

Although Reiki is effective, it doesn’t mean that it’ll always work or you’ll get your expected results all the time. There are a lot of things that can make Reiki not work for you and here are some of them:

Having the wrong mentality

Some people just do Reiki to simply solve their problems. Typically, it won’t always happen since Reiki doesn’t work that way.

Instead, Reiki is meant to help you see your challenges and problems and show you a good way to put an end to them. In some cases, it’ll teach you how to let go and help you solve your own issues.

Not having enough patience

Because Reiki is powerful, it’s easy to set unreasonable expectations from it. Some people consider it like a magic pill that, when taken, can instantly make them feel better.

The truth is that Reiki requires a lot of time and practice. It’s like growing kids. You need patience and you need to feed it through daily practice. You need to enjoy it and just look forward to practicing it daily.

It’s a way of life. It’s not something you practice just because you’re in dire need of a solution. Reiki is more profound.

Not practicing enough

Just like anything you are trying to master, it’s important that you constantly practice. The more you do it, the better you’ll become at it. Every time you engage in a session, the more the energy is reinforced within you.

Think of athletes. The performance of an athlete who practices once a week is way different from an athlete who practices more frequently.

Approaching it the wrong way

Mastering Reiki shouldn’t be a destination; it should be a journey. Remember that it’s a way of life and it shouldn’t end with reaching the Master level. You should continue practicing it as it’s a continuous practice that should be filled with experiences and learnings.

Getting attached to the outcome

For people who are new to the practice, it’s easy to fall into the trap of channeling energy to a specific outcome instead of the whole situation.

Take, for example, getting hired for a job.

Instead of concentrating all your energy into passing the interview and getting the job, you should channel it to opening any outcome that will serve you the highest good. Channeling your energy simply creates a clingy feel and that can induce stress and resistance.

In practicing Reiki, it’s best to detach yourself from your goals and just be open to anything and everything. There are infinite possibilities and we should appreciate that abundance in everything that we do.

What happens in a Reiki session?

A Reiki session is generally 60 minutes to 90 minutes long. Unlike most massage sessions, you’ll be fully clothed in loose fitting comfortable clothing. That is unless your Reiki master is also a licensed massage therapist.

The session can be done on a massage table or you can sit comfortably in a semi-reclined massage chair. If you are experiencing pain and mobility issues, make sure to communicate it with your Reiki master so he can position you in your most comfortable.

Reiki can be done with light and gentle pressure or your Reiki Master’s hand can be positioned a few centimeters away from your body. He can place his hands at your feet or head, without touching your sensitive body parts. Before the actual session begins, make sure to let your practitioner know if you prefer to have the session with light touch or no touch.

As for the feeling you can expect, it should be a sense of peace and relaxation. Your mind should feel calmer and your physical body should feel extremely relaxed. Other clients even fall asleep.

Before your session begins, use the restroom first. Also, if you have any particular music that you like, you can ask your Reiki practitioner to play it during the session. It’ll make the environment a lot calmer and more relaxing.

What can Reiki help with?

Reiki offers tons of benefits. To make things clearer for you, here are the things Reiki can help you with:

Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons why people go after Reiki. Since the practice can induce relaxation, it’s a really useful way to reduce a person’s stress. It’s a particularly useful tool in addressing anxiety without the need for drugs and pills. Those two can easily lead to addiction which can make things a lot worse for a patient.

In some cases, Reiki and natural therapy might not be enough. This is where it’s used as a part of a complementary therapy to treat anxiety. It’s a common approach for people who don’t want to let go of their regular medical care and conventional treatment.

Depression

Anxiety often accompanies depression which is why Reiki can also benefit depressed people. It can create a better sense of physical and mental balance so that they can overcome the feelings of guilt as well as sadness. It enables people to regain control of their lives by encouraging them to do something positive and proactive.

Reiki also enables a client to establish a connection with others. This is quite helpful as most depressed patients withdraw from society. By engaging in Reiki practice, clients can re-establish their sense of compassion and care which can greatly improve their symptoms.

On top of those things, Reiki can help reduce stress which is good for depression as stress can make the condition more profound.

Weight Loss

Obesity is an extremely common problem affecting people from all over the world. And what’s more alarming is the fact that it’s also one of the most common causes of several health diseases, like cardiac problems and diabetes.

In addition to that, obesity can also greatly lower a person’s self-confidence which can eventually lead to anxiety and depression.

One of the reasons why obesity happens involves poor sleeping habits. When the body isn’t able to get enough rest, it causes hormonal imbalances which can make it harder for your body to burn fats. It can also increase your stress hormones and that is a big factor for weight gain.

Reiki can address those two factors. By improving your sense of well-being and balance, you’ll have a more restful sleep and less stress. It can also help you make more rational decisions when it comes to food choices and physical activities.

Sleep

Getting a terrible night’s sleep is bad for someone who is also battling stress, anxiety, and depression. And if you are currently struggling with those issues, it’s high-time you consider Reiki,

The practice can fill you with your own unique energy field that can help you heal on several levels. This can make it much easier for you to sleep and rest.

Now, you don’t always have to wait and attend a class just to use Reiki for better sleep. In fact, you can create a simple routine which you can do at home right before sleep

First, you need to lie down and place your hands on your heart. You can also place them on at the back of your head as you take a few really deep breaths. After a while, think of your hands filling your heart and mind with a healing light. Receive that light each time you breathe. Envision that washing away your negative thoughts and energy and just allow Reiki to take over you.

Once you’re able to release all the negative energies you acquired throughout your day, you’ll have a really incredible night’s rest.

Pain

Managing pain without any drugs can sound intimidating. This is one good reason why a lot of people are getting addicted to pain relievers.

Reiki can change that.

In fact, it’s being used in a popular trauma center in (R. Adams Shock Trauma Center) in Maryland as well as in Johns Hopkins Hospitals as part of their palliative care.

In the practice, the patient needs to lie down on a massage table fully clothed. The practitioner will put his hand just above the patient’s body and at varying energy points. He’ll keep his hands in that place for about 2 to 5 minutes. This action changes a patient’s energy field with positivity.

Stress

Stress can send our emotions and energy out of balance and this is why we become prone to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Stress, when neglected, can also affect your physical body and that can result in several digestive issues and chronic tension.

Reiki is effective in getting rid of stress. It can take a while or several sessions to remove blockages and obstacles to your well-being and balance, but it does work.

One of the best ways is to start by discussing your emotional and physical issues with your practitioner. This will make it easier for you to let go of your negative energy. After unloading, your practitioner may guide you through a brief meditation to help you relax as you lie down. The healing begins from the crown of your head and down through the other energy centers in your body. It ends at your feet.

A Word of Caution

Reiki is becoming more and more popular and this is one of the reasons why you need to be extra vigilant. Find a Reiki practitioner that’s certified and highly skilled before engaging in a session. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to really get to know the person as well as his abilities. Expect a lot of frauds so be extra vigilant.