Reiki Therapy Tunes into Your Needs

Tom tries Reiki therapy after years of using conventional treatments with very little relief from his frequent headaches.

Tom’s Reiki practitioner invites him to lie down on the table, fully clothed. His head painfully throbs as he listens to her explain Reiki therapy. Now, he feels her hands gently position on different areas of his head. Warm energy pulsations flow in though her hands. They absorb the throbbing pain. Her hands continue to move on to different areas of his body… always gently placed… always accompanied by the warm pulsations of energy flow.

As he rests quietly in a gentle cloud of relaxation, he hears her softly say the treatment is over. Tom’s headache is gone… his raw nerves now calm. Surprised to hear that 40 minutes elapsed, he reports on the effects of the treatment. He makes an appointment for the next day, thanks his Reiki practitioner, and leaves.

Tom’s experience is but one of a growing number of people turning to Reiki for healing. Their experiences vary, some experience the Reiki hands as soothing, some feel warmth, and some feel nothing.

Reiki is offered in private one on one sessions, in some hospitals as well as medical and holistic health clinics, and through group sessions were participants learn Reiki practice (for themselves, their family and others). Here are replies to commonly asked questions about Reiki.

What is Reiki Therapy?

Reiki practice originated from the spiritual teachings of Mikao Usui in Japan during the early 20th century. Its goal is to facilitate the person’s own healing. It is a part of alternative and complementary medicine, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

What does Reiki Therapy Do?

“Recipients commonly report improved sleep and digestion, and a greater sense of well-being. Other benefits, such as feeling more motivated, less depressed, or experiencing relief from side effects of medications, radiation, or chemotherapy vary from person to person,” reports its leading US proponent, Pamela Miles in Reiki A Comprehensive Guide.

You do not have to believe in Reiki, you need only to experience it to receive its benefits.

How Do You Become a Reiki Practitioner?

During the classes, the Reiki master provides Reiki initiation, guidance, and supervised practice for students.

Initiation creates alignment of the student’s energy field (the subtle field that surrounds and permeates the body) with the unlimited primordial consciousness (or energy). “The initiations enable the Reiki student to carry Reiki potential in her hands that can activate spontaneously according to the need of anyone she touches, herself, or another,” says Miles.

A Reiki master must teach the three different levels of Reiki: first degree, second degree, and master.

First degree prepares the student for Reiki practice. Second degree prepares the Reiki practitioner to perform distant Reiki healing. Becoming a Reiki master prepares a Reiki practitioner to teach.

Is Reiki Therapy Safe?

Unlike energy healing methods such as Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch where practitioners direct energy and treat imbalances based on assessment findings, Reiki practitioners act solely as conduits for Reiki. The flow of Reiki and how it’s used are solely determined by the unique needs of the person receiving it. There is no conscious controlling or directing of the energy by the practitioner.

How do I Choose a Reiki Practitioner?

Miles advises that education and experience are more important than the level achieved. A first degree Reiki practitioner can be more experienced in providing direct Reiki healing than a second degree practitioner or even a Reiki master.

Once you’ve identified practitioners, talk to them. Tell them what you’re looking for and find out how much training they’ve had and how long they have practiced. Get a feel for who they are and why they are doing Reiki. Find out their charges, billing practices, and cancellation policy. Not only is this good information to know, it helps you get a sense of the person.

Chose a practitioner that meets your needs and you feel good about.

Here are some tips for finding a practitioner:

• Ask your doctor, nurse, or other health professional for a referral.
• Check with holistic, complimentary, or integrative medicine providers. They may offer it themselves or know of a good practitioner.
• If in the hospital, simply ask for Reiki.
• Ask your friends. You may be surprised to find one of them provides Reiki or knows of someone who does.
• Check with the Reiki Alliance, a group of Reiki Masters, who offer referrals and information on Reiki (see Resources).

Summary

When choosing a Reiki practitioner, their experience and match to your unique needs is more important than whether they are level one, two, or a master.

Do not use Reiki therapy as a replacement for seeing a health care provider for a significant health problem, although, many people benefit by using Reiki along with medical procedures and treatments (such as surgery and cancer treatments).

Reiki does not require your belief, only your willingness to experience it!

Resources

Pamela Miles, Reiki A Comprehensive Guide (New York: Tarcher/Penguin, 2006).

Reiki Medicine and Self Care with Pamela Miles at http://reikiinmedicine.org.

The Reiki Alliance at http://www.reikialliance.com.

See Dr. Oz for a Reiki Therapy Demonstration

Does Reiki Research Prove It Works?

Find out what Reiki research says about its effectiveness. Get the facts from top healthcare authorities and tips on how to decide if Reiki therapy is for you.

Return from Reiki Therapy to Holistic Energy Healing