Reiki: Healing With Universal Life Energy
Reiki (pronounced “RAY-key”) is a form of energy healing where the healer places her hands on your body and channels universal energy through herself into you. Reiki energy can help heal you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and can contribute to wellness on all those levels. A Reiki session normally takes about an hour, and depending on your needs you might want to schedule a session monthly.
Where it originates
The word Reiki means “universal life energy” in Japanese. Various forms of energy healing through the laying on of hands have been practiced since ancient times. Reiki healing, and in particular the Usui tradition of Reiki that I was taught, dates back to the late 1800s. A Japanese man named Mikao Usui experienced a spiritual awakening that led to the creation and teaching of this particular system of healing. The energy used in Reiki is the energy that composes everything in the universe. Reiki is not a religion, nor is it associated with any particular religion. People of all religious, spiritual, and philosophical systems can receive Reiki healing.
What Reiki can do for you
Reiki is a wonderful support for healing of any illness, disease, or injury, or as a way to relax and help relieve stress. It can also help support you during times of personal turmoil, change, or indecision. The Reiki energy goes wherever it is needed most in your body or energy system. Reiki healing is not a replacement for other types of medical or wellness care, but complements it well. I have personally done Reiki for people recovering from surgery, undergoing treatment for cancer, and healing from a serious car accident. Reiki will work with any other types of treatment you might be receiving, from chemotherapy to medications to physical therapy. In addition to healing, it helps relax and restore your energy system while you’re going through the healing process.
Reiki is good for supporting your ongoing mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. If you’re trying to make important decisions, grieving the loss of a loved one, or coping with changes in your life, receiving Reiki will assist and support you in these endeavors. Reiki is also great to include as part of your overall focus on health and wellness. Regular Reiki sessions will help you stay relaxed and focused on what is most important to you.
What to expect during a Reiki session
What can you expect during a Reiki session? You lie on the massage table, fully clothed (you might wish to wear loose clothing and remove your shoes, for comfort) while the healer places her hands on your head, neck, abdomen, legs, feet, and back in a series of prescribed positions. If you have a particular injury or area of concern, you can request that she put her hands directly on that area. Reiki is not massage. The healer will place her hands gently on your body, holding each pose for about three to five minutes to allow the energy to flow through her hands into your body.
Before a session, you might want to eat only lightly and dress in comfortable clothing. Turn off your phone or other devices during your Reiki session, so you can let go and fully relax.
During your Reiki session, you will feel relaxed, and the healer’s hands will most likely feel warm to you. If you are sensitive to energy, you might feel the Reiki moving throughout your body. Your job is to simply breathe and relax, enjoying the experience of healing.
After your Reiki session, you’ll feel relaxed and possibly sleepy. Your body will need time to rest and integrate the healing energy you’ve just received. Be sure to drink plenty of water after your session. You should allow yourself plenty of time to move gently back into your day, or perhaps head off to bed.
Reiki hands-on healing is a wonderful complement to traditional medicine, and a terrific way to enhance your general wellness and stay connected with your spirituality. Reiki, or universal life energy, enhances and supports healing on all levels: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Regular Reiki sessions can help you improve your health and reduce stress. To find a Reiki practitioner in your area, look for notices on bulletin boards at your local health food store or yoga studio, or you can search online for members of The Reiki Alliance or the Reiki Membership Association.
