Questions about Reiki

1. WHAT IS REIKI?

Reiki is an ancient technique of channeling energy through the palms of the hands in a gentle non-invasive manner. This vital spiritual energy activates the natural healing processes, detoxifying the body of both physical and emotional blockages while bringing about deep relaxation and calmness. In the 20th century while on a meditation retreat on Mt Kurama, a holy mountain in Japan, Dr. Mikao Usui became aware of Reiki energy and discovered that it enhanced his healing abilities. The term comes from two Japanese words, "Rei," meaning "universal," and "Ki," or "life force energy." Reiki loosely translates as "universal life-force energy."

2. HOW DOES REIKI WORK?

Reiki works by increasing the “life force energy” that flows through us and around us and causes us to be alive. The life force is responsive to our thoughts or feelings and can become disrupted and diminished by negative thoughts or feelings, especially about ourselves. If this energy is low, we are at higher risk of becoming sick or stressed. If our life force energy is high, we are more likely to be happy and healthy.

Reiki provides a positive boost of “ki,” which raises the energy field’s vibratory level in and around the negatively affected areas of the body, causing negative energy to dissipate and fall away. Thus, Reiki restores the healthy, natural flow of the life force.

3. IS REIKI A RELIGIOUS PRACTICE?

Reiki is not a religion. It is a philosophy of care that teaches practitioners to relate to a person’s core or essence rather than their personality; to listen without passing judgment, to be willing not to know or understand the “why’s” underlying a patient’s symptoms; and not to view a patient’s response to Reiki treatment as a personal achievement. The practitioner provides a conduit for the universal life-force energy but does not control the process.

4. WHY FOUR SESSIONS TO GET STARTED?

For those completely new to Reiki, we request the opportunity to provide four sessions in a short time, such as a week to ten days, depending on our mutual availability. This will jump start your healing process.

Our problems, both physical and emotional, develop and worsen over time, and there is no magic wand to remove them. We must work together over several sessions until the body and mind start responding positively to the application of Reiki. In the first session the body does not know what to expect, and often remains closed to the flow of energy. During the second treatment the body relaxes more deeply and begin to receive the flow of Reiki more freely. The third and fourth treatments are usually very strong and begin to provoke the healing reaction we want for each client.

After the first four sessions are completed, we ask clients to come once a week (if necessary) until they have achieved good results with which they are satisfied.