What is Reiki?
Rei – (lit. Japanese) meaning spiritual or sacred. It symbolises the deliberate action of bringing “rain” down to Earth
Ki – (lit. Japanese) energy. The asterisk-like figure symbolises “rice”, the staple food of human life. The other lines are the steam vapours (aura) of the rice
Essentially, Reiki is a method of accessing universal energy to enhance wellbeing. It is used to bring peace and balance to the body, mind and spirit. The underlying premise of Reiki is that universal energy flows through all of us and that everyone has the ability to heal themselves.
Dr. Mikao Usui (1865-1926), a Japanese scholar and spiritual teacher, developed the Reiki system in the early 1900s. From its origins in Japan, Reiki has grown in popularity and spread around the world. As it has no association with religion, faith or belief systems it can be received by anyone who is willing to be healed. Today Reiki is widely used by people of different cultures, ethnicities and religions.
“Reiki is love,
Love is wholeness,
Wholeness is balance,
Balance is wellbeing
Wellbeing is freedom from disease”
Many practitioners feel that Reiki, through its core values of love, harmony and wellbeing, helps to raise an expanded world consciousness. A widely held belief is that by sharing Reiki, and by learning to practice Reiki self-care for oneself, it’s possible to help spread the love of Reiki and build a network of global citizens seeking peaceful co-existence.
In these challenging times, as the course of the world has shifted in response to a new global health emergency, the positivity of Reiki – like Shiatsu – has a lot to offer people now.
How Reiki may help you
Absolutely anyone can benefit from a Reiki healing. It is a great way to release tension and lessen the effects of stress. People often comment how comforting they find the experience of a Reiki treatment.
Reiki can be given as a hands-on treatment and can also be received ‘hands-off’ the body – as etheric connection. It can also be sent across time and space to people, situations, plants and animals. This is known as Reiki Distance Healing.
The experience of a Reiki treatment differs according to each person and from session to session. This reflects the changing nature of Ki energy and the particular energetic imbalances the Reiki will be addressing.
Benefits reported by recipients include deep relaxation promoting a calm, peaceful sense of well being on all levels. Some people feel sensations of heat, tingling, or experience seeing colours, whilst others can have an emotional response, indicating that shifts are taking place.
Reiki is a safe and soothing treatment that can be:
Comforting when life is tough
The relaxing nature of Reiki can be very helpful to people especially at difficult times in our lives. We can all feel overwhelmed or disconnected, sometimes there is a real sense of isolation, both emotionally and spiritually. Reiki treatments can bring feelings of peace, centeredness and an ability to cope better with the challenges of life.
Supportive during pregnancy
Reiki can be wonderful for pregnant women. Treatments can be very relaxing and enjoyable for the mother.
Reassuring for animals
Animals also respond well to Reiki, they too seem to find it relaxing and soothing.
Helpful at the end of life
In such cases Reiki can be a great comfort, helping to promote a sense of peace and acceptance for the dying and their families.
Many people with chronic conditions have turned to Reiki and a number of hospitals are introducing Reiki as a supportive modality for inpatient treatments. A number of hospitals are introducing Reiki as a supportive modality for in-patient treatments. As a natural form of healing Reiki can support and enhance other forms of treatment, but it should not be regarded as a cure for conditions.
Research evidence on the effects of Reiki has found many benefits including lowered blood pressure and stress hormones, in addition to other health improvements. In 2019, a study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found positive outcomes for physiological and psychological health after just one session of Reiki. These findings are based on a large-scale Harvard University-led trial of over 1400 Reiki sessions conducted by Reiki practitioners in the United States, and if you would like to read the full article, it’s available here.
You can also find out more about the growing body of research evidence on Reiki by having a look here.
How does Reiki work?
Reiki flows through the practitioner into the person receiving the treatment.
It is offered through light, non-invasive touch with the practitioner’s hands placed and held still for certain lengths of time on a series of locations on the body. Usually this is the head and front of the body; the back of the body can be treated with the receiver lying prone (face downwards), if this is a comfortable position for you.
The receiver remains fully clothed relaxing on a comfortable treatment couch or may be seated in a supportive chair, if this position is preferred.
Reiki supports a self-healing response that is innate to your system, helping to restore balance in your body, mind and spirit. Reiki does not target the condition or symptom directly, nor do Reiki practitioners do diagnosis.
Reiki touch is very gentle – it is about balancing the receiver through subtle energy vibrations without any direct physical manipulation of the body.
As the Reiki practitioner is a facilitator through which the Ki energy flows, there is no conscious direction of the energy, nor any deliberate attempt to change the quality of the biofield. It is about being fully open and present to the moment – allowing the receiver’s body to draw on the energy that is offered and to take what it needs from the Reiki experience.
