What is Reiki?

“Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing” (Rand, 2005). Reiki is a form of energy healing that uses the universal, spiritual life force that can be channeled though your body to heal yourself and others. The word “Reiki” actually means universal life energy, or “life force energy”. It is the energy that lives in all matter. “Rei” is the universal boundless aspect of this energy that is sometimes referred to as spiritual wisdom. “Ki” is the vital life force energy which flows through all living beings. Reiki can be defined as spiritually guided life force energy. Universal life force is the “vitality” which pervades all existence. “Ki is also the primary energy of our emotions, thoughts and spiritual life” (Rand, 2005). “The universal spirit which is continually creating the universe out of itself” (Baginski & Sharamon, 1988). This is what quantum physics refers to as a field of pure intelligence.

Reiki can work to enhance any medical treatments, reducing side affects and pain. It is being used in hospitals, hospice, private practice and self-care. As hospitals are setting up complementary medical units, more and more nurses are being trained in Reiki. Reiki is practiced in every country of the world. There are currently well over 2,000,000 practitioners and at least 300,000 Reiki Masters.

How it Works:

The life force energy is responsive to thoughts and feelings. Disruption in the flow of Ki (negative thoughts) is the main cause of illness. Reiki heals by using positive energy to clear the energy pathways and raise the vibration of the person’s energy field. When Ki is flowing through the body freely, a person will be balanced and healthy. Ki flows through the physical body through pathways such as the chakras, meridians and nadis and around the physical body in the aura. As people get really relaxed, the body is allowed to heal naturally. A Reiki session can help to facilitate healing on all levels – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. A cure is when a disease is gone. “Healing” is when a person feels more at peace. A person may be healed, but may die of a disease.

“Once a person has been opened up to become a “Channel” for Reiki, concentrated life energy will flow through his hands of its own accord and he will retain this ability for the rest of his life” (Baginski & Sharamon, 1988).

How Reiki is performed:

Reiki is a practice of transmitting healing energy through the hands. This energy is usually transmitted by the practitioner laying his/her hands on the client’s body. There are specific hand positions used in order to transmit this healing energy to the major energy centers (chakras) of the body.

Attunement:

The attunement process actually adjusts the person’s energy pathways to accommodate the ability to channel the universal energy in through the top of one’s head and out the hands. When you channel this energy for the purpose of healing someone else, you will be strengthened and harmonized afterwards. The attunement process itself can be a powerful healing experience because it raises one’s energy vibration to a higher frequency, which can start a cleansing process that affects the entire body. It can also increase your psychic sensitivity and intuitive awareness.

What Reiki can be used for:

It is OK to do Reiki above the body, but it is more difficult to get feedback. In addition to using Reiki on oneself or on other people, it can also be used on animals, plants, or even food. You would do Reiki above your food. It can be used to enhance the life force in anything that has a life force.

- Mary Sample (2005)

Reference List

Baginski, Bodo & Sharamon, Shalila. 1988. Reiki: Universal Life Energy. Mendocino, CA: Life Rhythm Publication.