What is Reiki?
Reiki is according to most sources “a traditional Japanese technique used for relaxation that promotes healing”. Which really doesn’t say much, and is not a full definition. I have also heard it called “touch-less massage” or laying of the hands. Again that doesn’t explain much. I could very easily quote you several of my teachers, two of them are the leading Grand Masters in Reiki and both have written several books explaining it. So for me to write simple definition, well isn’t really possible. The exact meaning of Reiki is found by breaking up the word itself- Rei meaning Spirit or Soul and Ki being the Energy of Life.
Instead of going the traditional route of defining it through esoteric Buddhism, the Usui roots, I am going to tell you what it means to me.
Reiki is the Universal Life Energy that flows through all of us and everything. It is part of God (or whatever you prefer to call the Creative Source, Yahweh, Alla, Universe) and could be said that it is guided by the Great Goddess (or Quan Yin or Mother Mary or Isis or whatever you call her). It is a wonderful healing energy that flows through the practitioner to the client. The energy does not come from the person doing Reiki rather it flows through them to the person receiving the healing energy, whether in person or over a distance.
The healing from the energy comes in different forms depending on what the problem is (physical, spiritual, or mental). It also depends on what forms of healing modalities the practitioner is attuned to. There are over 50 different types of Reiki from very simple Reiki to Japananese Jikiden Reiki to the most common Western form of Usui Reiki brought to the world by Takata and made popular by William Lee Rand. There is also Reiki Drumming, Reiki Crystal work, Reiki light work, I could go on and on. I do encourage you to read or try these various forms of Reiki- see which one suites your style. Session can last anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours and prices range from donations to $350 a session.
The Universal Life Energy has different reactions for each person, because it is a very personal service and because every Reiki practice is different. Some people feel a tingling in their body, some have visions and see colors or guides, others can feel muscles moving or bones mending. And yet it’s still very common to feel nothing but feeling of being extremely relaxed. I find the more energy work you do and the more open you are to Spiritual the more you feel and see. But there is NO one feeling and there is no right or wrong way to do Reiki. There are methods that do increase the energy flow, and definitely methods that bring in other sources of healing. It’s really what you feel comfortable with- do you want hands laid on you, or do you want a drum beating on top of you or do you want crystals to absorb your pain? It’s what every YOUR comfort level is because it about YOUR healing- if you don’t accept the energy than NOTHING will happen and you are wasting your time. But if you accept the energy and believe it will help you, then anything and everything WILL and can happen.
What can Reiki or Energy Healing do for you?
It can help you heal yourself both physically and mentally. Depending on the level of Reiki mastery or energy healing of the person and how open the recipient is- they can help you heal a broken bone quicker, open up your chakras for better yoga training, help cancer patients dealing with chemo therapy, harmonize allergies, hip displacement, most physical ailments. Reiki works with modern medicine- IT IS NOT TO BE USE IN REPLACEMENT OF GOING TO THE DOCTOR!! Reiki practitioners do NOT diagnose issues, they can feel where your body has pain and can recommend you go to a doctor, but they should not replace medical doctors. Reiki is wonderful for healthy people too, to prevent future problems or issues that are apart of family history. Reiki can bring energy, inspiration and help every day living.
I understand fully why my first teacher calls her site Amazing Reiki, because it is just that- Amazing. I do hope that you give Reiki a try.
What is Energy Work/ Therapy, is it different from Reiki?
Energy work or therapy is using some form of healing modalities to help with physical and spiritual issues often called alternative medicine. It is a broad term that include healing modalities like Reiki, Laying of Hands, Pranic Healing, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Vibrational, Crystal Healing and many more. Depending on modalities, energy will flow through the body’s subtle energy systems that have been called meridians, nadis, auric bodies, chakras. These systems is where many healers believe that disease can be found- meaning that your body is at “Dis-ease”, that your body is not in line with yourself, your community or your life.
