I often get asked, ‘What is Reiki? How does it work?’ I was telling Nicole, our Junior Editor, about it and she said I should write an article on Reiki, so here goes.
In a Reiki session, there is a practitioner who is trained in the technique and a recipient who is seeking healing or relaxation. The recipient usually lies fully clothed on a treatment table or sits comfortably in a chair.
Hands-On or Hands-Off Healing: The Reiki practitioner then uses their hands to either lightly touch or hover above specific areas of the recipient’s body. The practitioner follows a set of hand positions, typically starting from the head and moving down to the feet. They may also focus on specific areas where the recipient is experiencing discomfort or imbalance.
Reiki is a holistic healing technique that originated in Japan in the early 20th century. The word “Reiki” is composed of two Japanese words: “rei,” which means “universal,” and “ki,” which means “life energy” or “vital force.” So, Reiki can be loosely translated as “universal life energy.” Reiki is based on the belief that there is a universal life force energy that flows through all living beings. Practitioners of Reiki believe that this energy can be channelled and directed to promote healing, relaxation, and overall well-being. The primary goal of Reiki is to balance and harmonise the energy within the body, mind, and spirit.
ome of us, including myself, believe that masters of this practice are capable of performing distance healing. Personally, I have chosen to specialize in distance healing because when I attempt to heal someone in person, it negatively affects my own well-being. It’s a bit peculiar because during my training, I already felt familiar with some of the techniques, as if I had used them before.
You might be wondering how this distance healing works. Well, I need a recent image of you, and you should be in a relaxed state, or even asleep. I meditate in my room and get to work, which usually takes about an hour. I must admit, once I’m finished, I often need a nap because I become quite tired. Initially, I was concerned about whether this would be effective. So, let me share two stories of people I’ve helped.
One of them is a barrister who was experiencing relationship trauma and heartbreak. She gave me permission to share her job title but preferred to remain anonymous. I suggested that she relax and see what happens. I always approach these sessions without any specific expectations, just doing what I feel needs to be done. After performing the healing, I rested and slept. Three hours later, I received a message from her. She said, “Lisa, I’m not sure what you’ve done, but I’m dancing around my kitchen with a small scotch, feeling as happy as I did at 27. I don’t feel any pain or upset; it’s like a huge release.” I was amazed and told her to let me know how she felt in a few weeks. Over a week later, she messaged me, saying she still felt great and like her old self, which was reassuring given her demanding job.
The other person, Tracey, is a gifted medium who provided me with an incredible reading, revealing details that no one else could have known, including some future insights. I was excited to return the favour, although she hadn’t disclosed any specific issues. She mentioned that she usually relaxed around 8 pm, so I decided to perform the treatment then. After I finished, I felt mentally and physically drained. I didn’t hear anything that night or the next morning, so I hoped Tracey was okay. To my surprise, she messaged me saying that she got out of bed and her partner asked if she was okay because she was walking on her previously painful foot without any discomfort. She had endured foot pain for 17 years, and I had no prior knowledge of it. I asked her to update me in a few days, still thinking it might be a fluke.
A week or two later, Tracey reported that her foot remained pain-free, and she was walking comfortably. Then, a few weeks after that, she said a significant shift had occurred. She had lost weight, and her friend mentioned that a blockage in her stomach had cleared. It’s heartening to know that if something hasn’t worked for someone, there might be an alternative solution.
So, it’s incredible what can be achieved through alternative therapies like this. This energy is believed to remove blockages, cleanse the body of negative energy, and promote the flow of positive life force energy.
During a Reiki session, individuals often report various sensations, such as warmth, tingling, or deep relaxation. Some may even experience emotional releases as the energy works to balance their physical and emotional states.
Advocates of Reiki assert that it can facilitate physical healing, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, enhance emotional well-being, and provide an overall sense of relaxation and balance.
