What is reiki:

“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 (Reiki, 2019, p 1).”

“Reiki has roots in ancient Japanese healing practices and is considered a form of energy healing. It stems from the Japanese words “rei,” meaning universal, and “ki,” meaning vital life force energy (Persensky, 2024, p 3).”

“Reiki is a complementary therapy relating to energy healing. Some people say it works through the transfer of universal energy from the practitioner’s palms to the client (Newman, 2024, p 1).”

Those are three definitions focused from three different outlooks on the practice. One from a reiki organization that educates and conducts the practice. One from a clinical physician view on their own experience and how it is has its place in medicine but not to replace medical treatment. Then one from a stepped back view of the practice with educational information from a beginner’s view.

Two weeks ago, I had the special experience of being able to have my first reiki session. Overall, I felt warmth. I felt like flow was being noticed and energy that was stuck released. We began with breathing patterns that helped establish peace and inner awareness. Then with intentions present in mind we moved to the release of trapped energy. Then moved on to the actual reiki. I can’t tell you what my instructor did. But with my eyes closed I was able to feel a ripple of warmth. Color. Vibrance and peace floor my mind and body when the reiki was in motion. 

With some of the more holistic methods of healing and finding balance and wellness can be diminished or strengthened by one’s expectations. Everyone’s kidneys are normally in the same place but if one falters or is abnormal through practiced and heavily researched care a medical physician can give an exact treatment plan to follow. With this practice the body is physically healed. With reiki and other more internal and personal yet universal healings everyone’s trauma is different, everyone’s view of the world even if both “see” the same thing the way they “see” it is different.

Lending to these more spiritual practices to sometimes be shammed or not understood because there is no formal direct path to healing. In my session I was able to have some profound thoughts, mental images and was given the confidence to forge a mental path of healing. I won’t explain the direct feelings or the exact visions I saw; those are personal and private. But I came in with an open mind and willingness to let go of that which was not needed. In turn due to that I had no walls of reservation allowing for more optimal healing. To say the least, I loved my session and I look forward to building this into my self care plan.