Reiki is a safe, effective and holistic practice that has a devoted following. On our individual spiritual journey to wellness we each look for our personal path to health. In this post we’ll be exploring what Reiki is and the practice of Reiki attunements; two tools that help bring balance and wholeness to our souls.
Understanding Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing that works to balance all aspects of a person – body, mind and spirit. The word Reiki is derived from two Japanese words – “Rei” meaning universal, and “Ki” meaning energy:
- Rei = Universal, spiritual wisdom
- Ki = Refers to the life force energy, similar to the Chinese concept of Chi or the Indian concept of Prana.
Reiki is a technique used to help people relax, calm down, balance their body, mind and spirit and aid in healing. Reiki is a holistic therapy meaning that it works on the whole person. It is completely natural and does not involve any medication or invasive procedures. It works by transferring Reiki energy to the recipient. The energy is passed on by the practitioner placing their hands on or near a number of positions on a person’s body. As the energy flows it gently releases blocks within the body allowing it to heal itself naturally.
Unlike much of the wellness offer currently available, you are not required to buy into any belief system. Reiki is easily understood and practiced. Essentially Reiki works on the premise that, just like a stringed instrument you need to tune it before you can play it well, we need to tune our bodies to a positive energy before our bodies can function at their best.
What Are Reiki Attunements?
Any quality Reiki training package will contain Reiki attunements. Even for those receiving attunations from Reiki masters, the process bears little relation to most people’s conceptualisation of what constitutes a spell or ritual. An attunation is where a Reiki master will transfer Reiki energies and awaken and activate the person’s own natural healing energies. The attunation process also upgrades the energies the person already possesses and brings them to a higher level enabling them to also further enhance their natural healing abilities.
Many report that attunement experience is a burst of energy that goes through the person receiving attunement and the practitioner attuning them. It wakes up the body and soul parts that have been asleep or blocked in some way. Some feel a light and warm feeling. Others report a dramatic shift that happens in a moment. The attunement experience is deeply transformational and as with all things, very personal.
Here are a few key points about Reiki attunements:
The attunement connects you to the universal life force energy allowing you to access and channel this powerful healing energy.
Attunement to Lightworker Healing, helps to bring healing and Personal Growth, understanding yourself and your personal energy.
Energetic Reset: For some Energetic Reset attunement will act as a ‘reset’ button on your body, removing any unwanted energies that you have picked up through stress or other aspects of your life.
You may not notice immediately the attunement effects. Sometimes the full transformation happens more slowly, and in Reiki practice in general. You can work with Reiki on yourself in between sessions and allow for natural evolution.
How Does a Reiki Session Work?
For those of you who don’t know what happens in a Reiki session – well now you do! If you are looking to balance and restore your body, emotions and mind, this is something you should seriously look into. Reiki sessions are 45 minutes to an hour long.
The Setting:
Reiki sessions take place in a calm room. Has seats, soft lights and nice music. Sometimes they also use essential oils that smell good. The peaceful feeling of the room helps to calm the mind and the body, which makes it easier to receive and feel the Reiki energy.
The Process:
We discuss treatment, answer any questions you may have, set an intention for the treatment and then either lie on the treatment couch or sit comfortably in a chair. Then place my hands on or near the parts of body from head to feet.
People feel warm, tingly or really relaxed, during this process. It really depends on the person. Everyone has a different experience. Some people feel like water is flowing or a vibration is entering their body. Some say it feels like relaxation. This happens as the energy moves to where it’s needed most. The energy seems to target areas that need it.
After the Session:
There might be feelings of calmness or peace during and after treatment. These feelings can last throughout the day, and even for days afterward. Over time, these feelings of being more peaceful and well, combined with an increase in awareness, reduced levels of stress and anxiety and a more positive outlook, are in the individual’s best interest.
It is important to note that Reiki should not substitute for conventional medical or psychological treatment; however, it may be utilized as an adjunctive technique to help create balance and calmness within the body, the mind and emotions. Furthermore, Reiki can also function in concert with meditation and mindfulness practices.
Do You Need Multiple Attunements?
Yes – if you want to progress through Reiki’s levels:
Reiki (Shoden) – This is the first degree and includes learning self healing techniques and the basic giving of Reiki (hands on healing) to others.
Okuden – This is the second degree which symbolises long distance healing and for emotional work.
Shinpiden – This is the third & master degree that deepens connection, prepares you to teach.
You don’t have to go all the way to master level to – many people stop at Level 2!
The Science Behind Reiki: Energy Work and Healing
Do we have “physical bodies” at all? Are they made of solid matter or flowing energy? Modern science has not yet explained energy and how it moves, but that doesn’t mean it’s not talked about and used as a basis for healing in many different forms today – including Reiki. Scientific research on energy healing is currently growing as more studies are being published on the subject.
Reiki is a holistic therapy for body and mind, for well-being and self-healing. There are many reasons for the great interest in Reiki, possibly because most people today look for complementary therapy. Because doctors and hospitals can do no more than treat the symptoms of illness, many people are seeking a holistic approach to healing that considers the whole person.
Reiki is not something that can be learnt. It is something that can be given and received. The transfer of Reiki energy is strictly controlled and cannot be influenced in any way.
Reiki Holistic: Reiki Holistic is a holistic approach to healing, working on the whole person including body, mind and spirit. This approach to healing is becoming increasingly popular as people are looking for an alternative method of healing that considers the whole person and not just the symptoms.
Placebo Effect and Beyond: Some say Reiki works because of the Placebo Effect, but there is so much more to the positive testimonials and stories of Reiki experiences than that.
Growing Research: With more universities and research centers around the world doing research in the area of energy and healing, Reiki is slowly becoming accepted as a modality worth studying. There is still much to learn about Reiki, but the wealth of anecdotal evidence as well as growing research are beginning to show the healing value of this art. Universities and research centers are exploring the effects of energy fields on the human body, its physical processes, and its various emotional and mental states.
Reiki is a fascinating subject in that it is part intuition and part science. As an ancient practice Reiki relates to the human body by working with energy and naturally sparks a dialogue between the age-old understanding of energy and the modern day inquiry into the existence and applicability of energy.
Is Reiki Right for You?
Reiki is a powerful energy, healing modality. Whether you want to do Reiki on others or you just want to do Reiki for yourself or to bring more inner peace into your life, the process of getting attuned to the Reiki energy is where it all begins!
It is commonly assumed that being a healer is a life long pursuit, however the knowledge and understanding one gains from a single level can help with stress management, sleep, and finding inner peace/emotional stability.
Integrating Reiki into Your Daily Routine
You don’t have to do everything all at once. You could just get Reiki once and it could transform your life but the small bits of practice that people do on a regular basis is where most of the profound change occurs:
- Morning Meditation: Start your day with a 5-10 minute silent meditation and set an intention for the day.
- Self-Reiki Practices: After attunement to any Reiki modality, most practitioners like to incorporate self-Reiki into their daily routines. Self-Reiki is practiced while sitting or lying comfortably and directing the energy by placing hands on different parts of the body.
- Mindful Breathing: Channel your energy in a positive direction by breathing slowly and steadily. This helps to return your energy back on track, as it corrects a winding path.
You might assume that learning Reiki would require hours of dedication, but in fact, this healing modality can seamlessly integrate into your busy life. Reiki practice can be as brief as a few moments of stillness each day, as intimate as honoring your own body’s unique healing processes, and as grounding as a reminder of your center.
Reiki is a journey, so keep an open mind and heart, you will not have all the answers when you start and that is part of the beauty of it all. Reiki can bring profound change in the most quiet of ways. Whether your goal is to manage stress and anxiety or just learn more about energy, Reiki provides a safe, supportive space to begin or continue your healing journey.
New to Reiki? Learn about the attunements before you sign up for any Reiki training. The attunements are what allow you to connect with the Reiki energy.
At Masi Wellness, we believe in providing a supportive and nurturing environment for your spiritual and wellness journey. If you’re interested in learning more about Reiki and receiving your own attunement, we encourage you to explore the resources available on our website and connect with qualified Reiki Masters.
References
Healthline – What to Expect in a Reiki Session
https://www.healthline.com/health/reiki
Verywell Mind – Benefits and Process of Reiki Healing
https://www.verywellmind.com/reiki-therapy-benefits-uses-side-effects-5206644
Cleveland Clinic – Reiki: What It Is and How It Works
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21080-reiki
PubMed (peer-reviewed studies on Reiki and energy healing)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=reiki
The International Center for Reiki Training – What is Reiki?
https://www.reiki.org/faqs/what-reiki
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) – Reiki: What You Need To Know
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/reiki
