Note: At this time only remote Reiki is being offered.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is an energy technique that balances and cleanses a person’s (or animal’s) energy field. It is usually done hands on by a qualified Reiki practitioner. One definition of Reiki is rei meaning “universal energy” and ki meaning ”life force”. Reiki is an intelligent energy whose source is the same as the source of all life.

Reiki energy respects both the boundaries of the person receiving the energy and the destiny of the person receiving energy (i.e. God’s will, karma, etc.)

I am a Reiki level 3 practitioner/Reiki Master and have been working with Reiki since 2002. I have also had training in other energy work, but Reiki is my primary technique.

A very brief history of Reiki.

The history of Reiki in this country is a little clouded. The reasons for this are (1) Reiki came to this country from Japan about the time of World War II, and the history may have been modified to suit American tastes, and (2) for several years, students were not allow to take notes, so all the information was passed on orally. Here are the highlights.

Around 1900 in Japan, Dr. Mikao Usui went on a quest to discover how healing was done. It’s claimed he found the answer in ancient Buddhist texts. He then went on a retreat/fast to further his understanding. He had a vision that empowered him to begin practicing Reiki. One of his students was a Dr. Hayashi who continued teaching Reiki after Dr. Usui’s death. One of Dr. Hayashi’s students was a Mrs. Takata, a widow of Japanese heritage who was living in Hawaii. She was in Japan to receive medical treatment, but opted for Reiki treatments instead. Mrs. Takata returned to the US and began teaching Reiki and initiated 22 Reiki masters.

For additional information on Reiki, I recommend the book “Empowerment through Reiki” by Paula Horan.

What should I expect from a Reiki session?

In a word, nothing! Seriously, Reiki works at all levels of a person’s energy. One simple model of our energy field includes four layers; spiritual, emotional, mental and physical levels.

Here is an example. Someone may have an imbalance in the physical level that manifests itself as a physical symptom, and that person may be concerned (mental level) and/or fearful/worried (emotional level). After a session, the emotional level may be more balanced, which would allow the person to better deal with the problem. But any level(s) could be be balanced, with a corresponding improvement.

But Reiki does respects a person’s boundaries. We all know someone who loves to talk about their current ailment, or more seriously, attached to their condition. These people may have reached a place where they fear giving up their condition, or enjoy the attention their condition gets them. In this case, Reiki may work more slowly.

What qualifications should a Reiki practitioner have?

There is no “official” definition of what constitutes a qualified Reiki practitioner. Many different energy techniques are called “Reiki” but vary greatly. There are three levels of traditional Usui Reiki.

Level 1 – this attunement enables the practitioner to do hands-on work.

Level 2 – this attunement enables the practitioner to do remote work.

Level 3 – the master level, generally given to those who want to teach Reiki and initiate other practitioners. Some teachers give Reiki 3 initiations to those who just want to work with another level of the energy, some only give third level initiations to those who have completed the Reiki Master training.

Some have changed Reiki, because of sincere convictions and beliefs. However, some have seen Reiki as a money making opportunity, and have modified the training purely for profit. Here I offer my opinion on the qualifications I consider important.

The attunements (or initiations) of the practitioner are most important. They must be done by a qualified Reiki master. There are four attunements for each level and the practitioner must have received all four for each level they have. They must be done one-on-one and in person.

There must be sufficient time between the initiations for the different levels. The time is up to each master, but generally a few months between level 1 and 2, an maybe six months between level 2 and 3.

The lineage of the Practitioner is important. The practitioner should be able to trace the lineage through their master back to Dr. Usui. Usually in the US, back to one of the 22 masters initiated by Mrs. Takata. There are other lineages the go directly to Dr. Hayashi, or even through other masters back to Dr. Usui. I am not familiar with these lineages

The practitioner should have the same demeanor as one would expect from a professional massage therapist.

What happens during a Reiki session?

Each practitioner may work differently, but here is one example of a session. At the first session, extra time may be scheduled to discuss Reiki, the client’s concerns and expectations. Also the fee structure would be discussed. If the client is comfortable with the situation and the practitioner. The actual session begins.

The client remains fully clothed and the session takes place on a massage table. The practitioner places their hands on or above the client, fully respecting the client. If anything feels uncomfortable, the client should mention it to the practitioner. The client should wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes, if possible. They may be asked to remove any metal objects that are easily removable, as they could interfere with the energy.

The client may have a friend (or parent, in the case of a child) accompany them. One caveat is that the companion should remain quiet and resist the urge to discuss the situation, or answer questions for the client. In addition the session may bring up emotional issues, and these issues may relate to the companion (i.e. The child may have issues with the parent that they feel uncomfortable discussing with the parent present.)

The session usually takes about an hour, and the client should expect to pay about the same as they would for a massage. Further sessions may be scheduled if the client feels they would be of benefit. Traditionally, three sessions are recommended as close as possible, ideally three days in a row. But it’s up to the client as to how to proceed.

Acknowledgments: Thanks to my Reiki master, Ray Golden – He was a wonderful teacher and great human being.