What is Reiki?

Reiki, pronounced Ray (Universal) – Key (Life-force Energy), is a Japanese energy healing modality using the practitioner’s palms to transfer energy from the Life-force to their Client. The concept of Life-force energy, known as Ki in Japan, Chi in China, and Prana in India, is the energetic spark that permeates all living things.

Reiki is considered an alternative therapy that is administered with either light touch, or no touch, according to the Client’s preference, while the Client lies on a massage table fully clothed, or sits in a chair.

What is Experienced in a Reiki Session?

During a standard 60 minute session, Reiki is given to areas of the Client’s body, e.g., the head, neck, chest, torso, and abdomen that correspond to the location of the seven major Chakras (spinning vortices of subtle energy). Additional areas such as knees, ankles, feet, shoulders, elbows, hands, and other troubled areas may also be given Reiki.

During a Reiki session, the Client will experience a relaxed state, and perhaps other subtle sensations, e.g., tingling, vibrations, or twitching as the Reiki energy moves within the body. Energy sensitive Clients may also feel a wave-like or floating sensation. After a full-body Reiki energy balancing session, most clients describe a feeling of deep relaxation, and a sense of general well-being.

If Reiki energy is accepted by the Client, it can have a profound affect on their subtle energy systems (Chakras, Meridians, and layers of Auric field), normalizing energy imbalances caused by stress reactions that have adversely affected the body.

Because a relaxed body, mind, and Spirit is a fertile field for healing, Reiki’s deeply relaxing affects promote a healing environment for many health issues, whether they be physical, emotional, mental, or Spiritual.

It‘s not known exactly how Reiki is able to affect the recipient’s body. However, Reiki Practitioners believe that it’s the body’s innate healing mechanism that uses the energy channeled to it for self-healing, and the Practitioner is only a conduit for the healing energy to flow through to their Client.

Reiki can be used in tandem with traditional Western medical treatments without any interference. Reiki Practitioners will not advise a Client to discontinue any medications, or treatment prescribed for them by their medical Doctors.

Note: Reiki should never be used instead of traditional medical treatment for serious, or life threatening issues.

In some cases, the dosage of prescribed medications may be reduced by a Reiki Client’s doctor as symptoms lessen in severity. However, it’s strongly advised that a medical Doctor’s advice be consulted before a Reiki Client takes it upon themselves to reduce their own medication dosages.

Reiki Research

In spite of the difficulty of modern science to measure the affects of a subtle energy healing modality on its Clients, there has been, and continues to be scientific research studies conducted on the affects of Reiki.

There exists research data showing either a positive result on client issues from the use of Reiki, or little to no result, but no data has shown a negative result. This corroborates the widely held claim that Reiki will never harm. It either improves an issue, or has such a subtle effect that it’s unnoticeable by the Client.

Although, the research results have been mixed, there are volumes of Reiki Client testimonials documenting personal experiences where Reiki’s affects have ranged from the subtle, to the miraculous, and anywhere in between.

Reiki Practitioners possess certifications of attunement (similar to a martial arts initiation) to the Reiki energy, as well as training in the method at each of the three levels of Reiki (Level I, Level II and Master/Teacher). However, Reiki Practitioners are usually not state licensed healthcare professionals, and Reiki is not currently FDA approved. Therefore, Practitioners are restricted from promising specific healing affects from receiving Reiki.

Client Observed Healing Affects of Reiki

Although, specific results can’t be promised, Reiki Clients have reported that after receiving Reiki, the following helpful affects have been enjoyed:

Pain levels have either reduced, or subsided entirely.
Discolorations of bruising, and redness of burns have visibly lightened in color.
The size of swellings have visibly reduced.
Spasmodic muscles have relaxed.
Broken bones have healed at a faster rate than is the norm.
The duration of colds, and other viruses have been shortened.
Cuts and incisions in the skin have healed more rapidly than is the norm.
Sensation has been restored to areas of neuropathy, and numbness.
Tumors have reduced in size.
Warts have dried up, and fallen away with no scarring.
Congested sinuses have cleared.
High blood pressure has been reduced.
Anxiety, depression, and anger issues have been reduced.
Oppressive grief has been lightened.
Harmful addictions have been reduced.
Insomnia has improved.

These benefits have been observed by Reiki Clients, their Reiki Practitioners and occasionally other eye witnesses. On a few occasions, a before, and an after Reiki session photo or x-ray has been secured.

Critics of Reiki have attempted to explain away these beneficial affects as the result of the placebo effect. This is not a valid argument regarding Reik, as it has positive affects on horses, dogs, cats, birds, plants, and trees as well as unborn human fetuses, all of whom have no conscious knowledge of Reiki, or a belief that it will heal them.

Popularity of Reiki

The popularity of Reiki sessions is spreading worldwide, and Practitioners can be found offering sessions in their personal homes, Client’s homes, massage centers, chiropractic offices, physical therapy centers, pain clinics, health clubs, resorts, spas, and cruise ships.

Reiki is also being used in hospitals by hospital volunteers for reducing anxiety, inflammation, and pain of hospital in-patients. In a few hospitals, Reiki Practitioners are paid staff with benefits, and the hope is that all hospitals will eventually have paid Reiki Practitioners on their staff.

We hope you will discover a suitable Reiki Practitioner or Teacher in your city from our extensive Practitioner & Teacher Listing, and give a Reiki session, or class a try.