Reiki 101: History, What is it, What to expect during a Session, Benefits etc.

I was introduced to Reiki when I was 18 years old and it has personally changed my life for the better ever since. Someone close to me recommended that I try Reiki when I was having really bad panic attacks and depression. I felt like I had tried everything else to treat myself and nothing was working so I figured I had nothing to lose. Soon after it was recommended to me, I started started seeing a Reiki Practitioner every week for several months. At first, I had no clue what it really was or feel much the first couple of sessions, but then after about a month I started noticing a huge difference. Not only was I having less panic attacks and was able to stop my medication, I had finally felt better enough to change my lifestyle and started eating healthier and exercising again since I had stopped for a period when my anxiety was really bad. I ended up going to the Reiki I class a couple years later so I could do Reiki on myself because I felt it was one of the only therapies that actually helped me. Fast forward 12 years, and I’m still doing Reiki on myself as well as others now 🙂

 Whenever I tell people I am a Reiki Practitioner, most often the response is “what is Reiki?” and my quickest, easiest answer is usually “it is a type of Energy Healing.” However, there is SO much more to Reiki. I  really want to tell people how life changing it is, but I typically shy away from talking about it since it is so foreign to a lot of people. Some people will say they have heard of it, but don’t know exactly what it is and that is why I decided to write a blog post all about Reiki and answer the questions I typically receive from people. 

Quick History on How Reiki Started:

Reiki is a Japanese technique that promotes the body’s natural healing ability. Reiki was developed by a Japanese Buddhist named Dr. Mikao Usui, born in 1865. He wanted to seek a method of healing that was not attached to any specific religion and accessible to everyone. Dr. Usui attended his own training course in a cave on Mount Kurama for 21 days and did nothing but fast, meditate and pray. On his 21st day, he experienced an event that would forever change his and many others lives. Ancient Sanskrit symbols appeared in front of him and helped him to develop the system of healing he was struggling to create. These symbols are what became the Reiki symbols used by Reiki Practitioners all over the world to this day. 

What is Reiki:

A Reiki Practitioner places their hands on or above the client and transmits high frequency energy to correct any imbalances in the body and restore physical, spiritual and emotional well-being. This movement of the energy allows the client’s own body to heal itself more efficiently. Reiki Practitioners channel the energy, but it is the client’s body, mind and spirit deciding what to do with the energy and moving it where it is needed. Reiki Practitioners are not using their own, personal energy when they are working on people. The healing power of Reiki is said to come from a universal life force and the practitioner is like a conduit for the healing energy that is present in all living organisms. The Reiki Practitioner can sense energy blockages and help to restore flow, which in turn can help create emotional, physical, spiritual or mental wellness. Reiki is safe, non-invasive and does not interfere with any form of medical treatment so it is great for everyone, including pets and plants! 

What to Expect:

The client is usually fully clothed, lying on a massage table and all they are required to do is relax. The Reiki Practitioner will place their hands in different positions either on or above the client throughout the session. Each session is typically between 30-60 minutes. I also use crystals on and around my clients and have them lay on an Amethyst Infrared heated BioMat to enhance the session. A person may feel many different sensations while receiving Reiki energy. Each session may also feel completely different. Clients can typically feel heat radiating from the practitioner’s hands, tingling, coolness, numbness, vibrational buzzing, see images or have goose bumps and chills. Many people experience a deep sense of relaxation and may even fall asleep. Reiki sensations can also be very subtle and may be overlooked. Fortunately though, Reiki works whether you feel it or not. 

Possible Benefits of Reiki:

✧Eases Tension and Stress

✧Reduces Depression and Anxiety

✧Aids in Pain Management

✧Strengthens the Immune System

✧Accelerates recovery from injuries, operations, medical treatments and illness

✧Aids in Addiction Recovery

✧Balances Energy Centers in the body

✧Strengthens Self-Esteem

✧Eases Hormonal Disorders

*Improves Sleep

✧Soothes Digestion

✧Aids in Weight Loss

✧Promotes Health and Well-being

✧Releases Blocked and Suppressed feelings

✧Releases Toxins

✧Relieves Fatigue

✧Increases Energy

 ✧Promotes Creativity

 ✧Enables Emotional Clarity and Spiritual Growth 

These are not even all of the benefits, but I listed the top ones in my opinion. Reiki really just helps everything when it comes down to it because it is creating a healing environment in your mind, body and soul.

Anyone can become a Reiki Practitioner and do Reiki on themselves and/or others. I do think it helps to be an intuitive and empathetic person which is enhanced when you do or receive Reiki. There are 3 levels of Reiki when you take the classes- Reiki I, Reiki II and Reiki Master. Then if you want, you could go to a 4th class and learn to be a Reiki Teacher. In each class, there is a ritual done by the teacher called a Reiki Attunement. In a nutshell, a Reiki Attunement is a process that opens up your energy system so you can channel energy more efficiently. During this process, the Reiki Teacher will imprint sacred Reiki symbols into your aura and your chakras (I will write a future blog post on Chakras). You also learn how to use these symbols when you are doing Reiki if you choose to do so to enhance the reiki energy and/or release emotional blockages or perform distant Reiki on someone. There is definitely more to Reiki, but I just wanted to touch on the main questions people typically have. You can dive much deeper into Reiki though. I know it may sound way too out there for some people as it did for me at first, but it really has improved my life and so many others around me so I encourage everyone to at least try it out.

If anyone has any further questions regarding Reiki, don’t hesitate to ask me!

Namaste ♡