What is Reiki?

Reiki is a beautiful healing energy practice, let's explore what it is and how it can help

Reiki (Ray-Kee) is a form of energy healing often translated as "universal life-force energy". Ki (also known as Qi, Chi, Prana, depending on the culture or spiritual believe) is the life force energy that flows through all things, humans, animals, trees, even inanimate objects such as rocks. There are many forms of energy healing but Reiki tends to refer to the healing developed by Dr Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist Priest.

Reiki students in the western training method tend to move through various levels; Reiki I (allows you to practice on friends and family), Reiki II (utilising the level II symbols and eligible to practice), Reiki III (Master training, utilising master symbols and able to train other Reiki students). Each level is guided by a Reiki Master and the student receives an attunement as part of their training. Previously the powerful symbols used at levels II and III were not shared outside of those who had passed through the training, and often they were not even written down. This is a practice I shared and I have never shown the symbols to anyone, nor do I intend to draw or name them here. I deeply believe in the sanctity of the symbols, but they can now be found easily on the internet, although the full power cannot be harnessed without the appropriate training and attunement.

Reiki healing can be practiced "hands-on" or "hands-off", but whichever practice is chosen, practitioners are guided by a set of hand positions (although as you become more attuned to Reiki you may feel the need to move off the set path and allow the Reiki energy to guide you to where it is needed for the client). That said, the Reiki will flow to wherever it is needed and always for the highest good of the recipient.

During a Reiki healing session the Reiki practitioner channels this universal life energy to the recipient, sensing areas of imbalance or depleted energy, cutting away unwanted, negative energy and replenishing the energy field that surrounds the body. For those of you with a more scientific mind, research has been carried out into these energy fields (known as bio-fields) and the impact of Reiki on this. As a practitioner myself the best way I can find to describe how an energy field feels when working with Reiki is similar to two magnets repelling each other. It literally feels like a magnetic force under my hands, constantly ebbing and flowing, sometimes it tingles, sometimes it feels warm, as practitioners we learn to feel these subtle differences in the energy field by scanning the body before commencing the healing and then paying attention t the changes throughout.

Reiki healing can be a short seated session, up to approx 75 minutes where you would be invited to lay on a couch. It has a multitude of physical, emotional and spiritual benefits although there is no particular belief system attached to Reiki. It can address physical ailments (although always consult with your GP as well), emotions that we can often store in our physical cells that can cause physical symptoms and it can also help to balance our emotions. Some people fall asleep during Reiki healing, some people feel no sensations, some feel heat, tingling, waves of energy, or see colours and lights, some experience emotions coming to the surface. There is no right or wrong way to experience Reiki. It doesn't matter if you fall asleep, you will receive the Reiki nonetheless. The Reiki will always travel to where it is needed and for your highest good!

Reiki is also very beneficial for animals who enjoy the calming sensations, with many practitioners working with horses and pets.

Reiki practitioners should be able to trace their lineage back to Dr Mikao Usui. Indeed to join the UK Reiki Federation you must be able to provide this information. I completed Reiki II in Usui Tibetan Reiki and am able to trace through my Reiki Master back to Dr Mikao Usui as well as through a different lineage from my Reiki I Masters.

If you would like to experience Reiki Healing please get in touch. I can provide in person healing in the Greater London Area but it is also possible to carry out distance healing so do get in touch if you are further away but would like to receive healing.

Below are the Reiki Precepts that guide Reiki practitioners, and I also think are a good way to live our lives, without putting pressure on ourselves to never be angry or never worry; but just in this moment, let's not be angry, let's not worry, then the next moment...