According to Reiki.org, reiki is:
“…a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.”
So, what do I think about that definition?
I say it is a beautiful thing. It takes us to a place of grays.
Some might call woo-woo, nutty, or superstitious. I can see why. The reason being I am one of these yoginis who is very aware of her cynical tendencies. I fell in love with yoga out of spite (a story for another day…stay tuned haha), so I was rolling my eyes when, during the pandemic people were claiming to heal people over the phone with Reiki. I had heard the word before, but I had never had an interest on further investigating. At some point, because it became so ubiquitous in my yoga world circles, I decided I would go experiment for myself. It was being marketed as an energy healing modality one could self-administer or apply to others.
Since all I did during the pandemic work lull was study, I went ahead and signed up for the certification courses and did the certifications for Reiki Level I and II Practitioner.
I will simply share a couple of experiences, as there are too many to include here, but yes. It’s real. I guess I will never know if it’s the mental or intentional powers of those involved when we give/ receive this energy with a healing purpose or if it’s something we are completely channeling or if it’s just the desire to heal that activates a person healing and needing this extra external push (I do have my beliefs, but those are personal), but the bottom line is that, for whatever the reason may be, the results are very positive.
Today, the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and nearly 800 USA hospitals use Reiki as part of Integrative Medicine studies and treatments.
In my personal experience, I’ve had very powerful sensations, including changes in temperature of the body, emotional release, pulls or pushes away from/through the magnetic fields, etc… that have been reported to me by the receiver before I even asked about the particular feeling/sensation/incident. I have had different practitioners read on me with 100% exact assessments and readings on my personal mental/emotional and even spiritual state from different practitioners in different cities with no prior meetings with me have come out identical.
The most moving experience I ever have, as a practitioner, is when I feel an intense heating or cooling of the space between my hands and the recipient. I have received so much heat I have began sweating immediately from being cold or comfortable before. Clients always report matching temperatures and I always let them speak first so there is no danger of leading them to answers they feel might make me happy or not embarrassed, or anything else. People are very sweet and they want to support you. So I always ask them first. It never fails, it matches my experience. So it’s a shared experience, without touch (just hovering) and without words (not forbidden, but I prefer silence/ minimal questions).
As the practitioner, I am taught to see myself, visualize, and become just a conduit for the healing energy of Source. The Universal Chi, so to speak. The more open to receiving, the more palpable effects may be for the recipient, as there is no resistance to the energy that is being sent toward whatever pain, discomfort, or blockage there may be.
Finally, I’ll say, if you are a skeptic but acknowledge that there exists a bio-magnetic field around you and others and that these fields can merge and interact, then you can take another step and come in open minded, to see what happens.
I love exploring different disciplines and don’t think things tend to mutually exclude each other. I love this little daily prayer I learned from these studies the most. It’s the “just for today” principle of Reiki healing and not a bad thing to read everyday:)
The secret art of inviting happiness The miraculous medicine of all diseases Just for today, do not anger Do not worry and be filled with gratitude Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people. Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer. Pray these words to your heart and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
The founder,
Usui Mikao
We have the power, with intention, of making something sacred in our lives. Your intention guides the energy and your surrender allows healing in. I hope we can explore this method if you are seeking relief either mentally, physically, emotionally, or all three. Sometimes when all traditional methods have been tried and relief eludes us, it takes a leap of faith to try something completely different and completely new. Begin with awareness. Learn Reiki for your own healing, or allow someone to provide healing for you.
Stay open minded and supple, ready to always play with something new.Wishing you joy and love in the new year,
With love,
Nina R