Reiki - what is it
What is Reiki? Reiki is a very simple laying-on of hands healing technique that dates back thousands of years. This life-changing experience is not a “miracle cure,” nor will it prevent you from having challenges in your life, but it will help you to deal with those challenges more effectively. This ancient healing art uses the life force energy to heal, harmonize and balance all levels of the body. Reiki is not a religion <there is nothing you must believe in order to use this particular healing technique>, but it is very spiritual in nature.
The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words - Rei and Ki. Rei means “universal,” meaning that it is present everywhere. Ki means life force energy. This energy, or “vital life force,” is known by many names in various cultures: “chi” in China, “prana” in Sanskrit, “ruach” in Hebrew, and “ki” in Japan. Reiki can therefore be defined as “Spiritually guided life force energy.” A Reiki practitioner has been attuned as a channel for this healing energy. It is not the practitioner who guides the life force energy or does the healing; they act as the channel for this healing energy. Intent guides the system: the body wants to heal itself and Reiki goes where it’s most needed. It can work directly in the unconscious parts of the mind/body which contain negative thoughts and feelings, eliminating blockages and restoring normal energy flow. Anyone who practices some form of “spiritual healing” will use this life force energy, but not all healers will use Reiki. These efforts are used to awaken the body’s inherent healing power.
What To Expect You should dress comfortably in loose-fitting clothing that will not bind or constrict you in any way. You will be asked to remove your shoes, jewelry and eyeglasses, but otherwise remain fully clothed for the entire treatment. A Reiki treatment usually lasts about an hour and is usually done on a massage table, with the recipient lying down, first on your back, then on your front. I gently place my hands in various positions from head to toe on each side to allow Reiki to travel from the universe to you. All you need to do is simply relax, breathe and enjoy the healing. A Reiki treatment may create feelings of warmth, tingling, or even coldness; all are normal reactions. It is not uncommon for those receiving a Reiki treatment to drift into a deep tranquil sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and invigorated. Toward the end of the session, I will scan your body with my hand slightly above your body, to determine if everything is in balance. If I feel a pull toward one area of the body, I may concentrate even more Reiki to the needed area before ending the session.
Reiki is not a Massage A Reiki Treatment does not use any tissue manipulation or massage and never involves sexual contact of any kind under any circumstance. When a Reiki practitioner places his or her hands on a person, the touch is light, there is no pressure. Reiki will also work if the hands are held a few inches above the body. Actual contact is not absolutely necessary and in some cases, it is more comfortable for the practitioner and recipient for the hand placements to be slightly above the body. Either way, the results are the same; Reiki is still delivered to the body.
Does Reiki conflict with medical treatment? No, Reiki is a natural and safe method of spiritual healing that works well with traditional medical or therapeutic techniques like chiropractic, homeopathic and herbal treatments to promote recovery and to help relieve side effects from therapeutic drugs, such as those used in chemotherapy. Reiki does not introduce any substances into the body, does not it manipulate the skeletal structure, and works largely by supporting the body’s ability to heal itself. Reiki energy simply goes where there is an imbalance in the body and treats the whole person — body, emotions, mind, and spirit. For many, it creates a feeling of profound relaxation and peacefulness.