What does Reiki mean?

Reiki is a Japanese word made up of two words. The first, "Rei" has been interpreted as universal, higher/divine/God consciousness, spiritual, and higher-self. The second, "ki" has been interpreted as chi, prana, lifeforce and life energy. Reiki can been loosely translated as universal life force energy or divine guided chi/prana/ki among others.

Regardless of what it is called, Reiki is an extremely simple yet profound form of hands on healing that can be applied to both self and others.

How does Reiki heal?

Reiki in and of itself does not heal, nor does the practitioner that channels the energy. The end result of Reiki acts similarly to acupuncture but the way it achieves this end is different.

We all have chi or ki running in our bodies through pathways called chakras , meridians, and nadis. In acupuncture, needles are placed in the minor energy points (meridians) by the practitioner. By placing them at these specific areas, blockages of chi or lifeforce energy within the body are then removed and the body can then heal itself.

When a Reiki practitioner channels Reiki into the body, energy blockages are alleviated and/or eliminated. This produces the free flow of prana or chi and allows the body to continue and/or finish the healing process.

The flow of ki responds to both physical and emotional cues from the individual. As you can probably remember from your own life, during times of sustained stress, lack of sleep, and lack of self-care, you were more susceptible to becoming sick. Your immune system is depleted during those times of stress and on an energetic level, the ki running through your body is met with blockages throughout the body causing illness.

When someone has an injury or chronic pain, both physical and emotional factors are at play. By releasing any blockages of Ki due to physical injury and sustained by negative emotions about that injury (ex. "my stupid aching back/knees/shoulder/etc.) individual's energy pathways are cleared and healing is able to complete.

Research on psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) states that emotions and mental attitudes affect physical and general well being that are closely connected to immune system functioning. Sustained negative emotions depress the immune system and vice versa, sustained positive emotions facilitate the full functioning capacity of the immune system. Reiki works with the negative thoughts and feelings that are depressing the immune system by blocking one's natural flow of Ki.

There are other factors that lead to disease such as genetics, environment, and behavior (where emotions are contained) but the internal factors of emotions and energetic blockages contribute greatly to illness and can be helped with Reiki.

What can be treated with Reiki?

Reiki can be complimentary to any disease, ailment, injury, etc. Reiki should not be the replacement for medical care but can help facilitate healing for both physical and psychological disorders. It can be complimentary to any condition.

Basically, Reiki shortens healing time, decreases stress, reduces or eliminates pain, and helps to create optimism within the individual. Reiki has been utilized at hospitals around the country to reduce negative side effects from chemotherapy to surgery recovery.

I have treated individuals with depression, cancer, chronic pain, anxiety, stress, and many other conditions. To see a list of conditions with accompanying articles related to the effectiveness of Reiki with that condition, click here. On the conditions treated page you will also find links to free meditations, yoga poses, and other tools to help alleviate pain and suffering from the various conditions.

Who can learn Reiki?

Short answer...anyone! There are no prerequisites to learning Reiki and the practice is virtually technique-less. One must simply have the willingness to experience.

How can I learn Reiki?

Please click here for information about learning Reiki.

Is Reiki a religion?

Absolutely not! Reiki is spiritual in nature but there is no dogma to follow and nothing you must believe in order to benefit from Reiki. If you are a Christian and are concerned that Reiki goes against your religion under the idea that Jesus was the only person that can utilize laying of the hands to heal, I would encourage you to visit this site for more information.

What does Reiki feel like or what can be expected during a Reiki treatment?

When you receive a Reiki treatment, I like to think of it as an induced meditation. For so many of us, it is very difficult to quiet our minds and completely relax. It may take a few minutes, but most clients report very little mental activity and complete relaxation during and after a treatment.

After you receive a Reiki session from a qualified practitioner, you will feel as though you just received a full body massage (without the soreness!). Reiki helps the body relax from the inside out to a level many of us forgot even existed.

A Reiki practitioner's hands will become very warm and the warmth feels like two heating pads being placed on your body. You will sink into the table and your mind and body will be at peace.

What is a Reiki attunement?

A Reiki attunement is the how Reiki is passed on from teacher to student. Only Reiki Masters can give attunements to people and as discussed above, anyone can learn how to channel Reiki.

An attunement can be thought of as a subtle, gentle, yet powerful healing condensed into moments and subsequently develop through consistent practice. The Reiki Master holds the attention of passing the attunement and opens up the student's energy pathways or chakras, to be able to accommodate for the energy.

Once attuned, you will be able to channel Reiki energy for the rest of your life whenever you have the intention of channeling the energy and place your hands on yourself or another person.

Please contact me with any questions you have and I will be happy to post the answers on this site.