What is Reiki?
Reiki is defined as “a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing” (International Center for Reiki Training).
Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver energy to your body improving the flow and balance of your energy, therefore supporting healing. The technique helps people to become physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually balanced.
Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver energy to your body improving the flow and balance of your energy, therefore supporting healing. The technique helps people to become physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually balanced.
How does Reiki work?
Reiki works by affecting the biofield, which is defined as a vibrational energy field which surrounds the human body. Although this cannot be seen by the human eye, it can be felt with the hands through pressure or temperature changes when felt by a Reiki master.
Using Reiki, practitioners can change your energy field including the:
Chakras – Energy centres that are linked to organs and nerves
Meridians – The energy lines throughout the body
Aura – The energy field which encloses the body
The Reiki practice can redirect the energy in your biofield to enhance your body’s ability to heal itself. Reiki contributes to the unblocking of your energy field, and once your energy is flowing freely again this can improve your mental and physical health.
Reiki can help with the following health conditions:
Using Reiki, practitioners can change your energy field including the:
Chakras – Energy centres that are linked to organs and nerves
Meridians – The energy lines throughout the body
Aura – The energy field which encloses the body
The Reiki practice can redirect the energy in your biofield to enhance your body’s ability to heal itself. Reiki contributes to the unblocking of your energy field, and once your energy is flowing freely again this can improve your mental and physical health.
Reiki can help with the following health conditions:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Pain
- Stress
- Trauma
- Cancer
- Immune dysfunction
Reiki cannot be used by itself to completely heal the body of conditions, but instead is recommended to be used alongside other treatments to enhance your body’s ability to heal itself.
Is there any scientific evidence to support Reiki Healing?
There have not been many scientific studies carried out to support how Reiki works, however there are measurable benefits to show that Reiki can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and reduce anxiety and pain.
Reiki is categorised as a ‘biofield therapy’ which uses energy fields to restore balance and health in the body. These types of therapies are usually used in conjunction with other types of medicine and are useful to manage pain, stress and other symptoms of health conditions.
Other types of biofield therapies include therapeutic touch, healing touch, pranic healing and qigong.
Reiki is supported by the idea that the body is naturally able to heal itself when unwell. These biotherapies can enhance your body’s natural healing process and improve its healing abilities.
Reiki is categorised as a ‘biofield therapy’ which uses energy fields to restore balance and health in the body. These types of therapies are usually used in conjunction with other types of medicine and are useful to manage pain, stress and other symptoms of health conditions.
Other types of biofield therapies include therapeutic touch, healing touch, pranic healing and qigong.
Reiki is supported by the idea that the body is naturally able to heal itself when unwell. These biotherapies can enhance your body’s natural healing process and improve its healing abilities.
How is Reiki practiced?
Reiki is carried out by a practitioner using their hands to assess the body’s energy field. They use their hands to send energy to parts of the body which may need to be unblocked in order to aid healing and pain relief.
What is involved in a Reiki session?
- Attunements: Here you are put ‘in tune’ with the Reiki energy so you have the life-long ability to channel the energy.
- Hand positions: Using a variety of around 13 hand positions the practitioner will place their hands over your body (see image below).
- Meditation and focusing: Connecting with the source of Reiki energy and concentrating on the healing energy you have inside your own body.
- Symbols: Use the symbols and the sound of their name as a means to connect with the Reiki energy.
- Reiki principles: The 5 principles of Reiki are used for daily meditation practice.
During a Reiki session you will be asked to lay on a massage table, fully clothed unless you are receiving both massage and Reiki. The treatment typically lasts around 50 minutes.
Reiki may be done with a light gentle pressure or with hands a few centimetres above the body with no actual touch. Generally, Reiki begins at your head and works down to your feet and will be carried out without talking usually with ambient music in the background.
Reiki may be done with a light gentle pressure or with hands a few centimetres above the body with no actual touch. Generally, Reiki begins at your head and works down to your feet and will be carried out without talking usually with ambient music in the background.
What are the 5 Reiki symbols?
Cho ku rei – The power symbol: This symbol can be used to increase or decrease power. When visualising this symbol, the practitioner will have a greater ability to channel energy in their body. This is most commonly used at the beginning of a Reiki session and is also a great symbol to use for healing injuries.
Sei he ki: The harmony symbol: This symbol should be used for purification and emotional balance. This symbol is known for balancing the right and left sides of the brain and can be used for eliminating headaches.
Hon sha ze sho nen: The distance symbol: This is considered one of the most powerful symbols, meaning “having no present, past or future”. It can help heal trauma from the past and send energy forward to bring good fortune to the future.
Dai ko myo: The master symbol: This is the empowerment symbol, aiding with the process of spiritually enlightenment and brings practitioners closer to God. This symbol can be used to help strengthen your relationship with yourself.
Raku: The completion symbol: This symbol allows the body to receive the benefits of Reiki, absorbing the benefits of the practice. This can clear negative energy and is usually used at the end of Reiki practice.
For more information about the Reiki symbols click here.
Sei he ki: The harmony symbol: This symbol should be used for purification and emotional balance. This symbol is known for balancing the right and left sides of the brain and can be used for eliminating headaches.
Hon sha ze sho nen: The distance symbol: This is considered one of the most powerful symbols, meaning “having no present, past or future”. It can help heal trauma from the past and send energy forward to bring good fortune to the future.
Dai ko myo: The master symbol: This is the empowerment symbol, aiding with the process of spiritually enlightenment and brings practitioners closer to God. This symbol can be used to help strengthen your relationship with yourself.
Raku: The completion symbol: This symbol allows the body to receive the benefits of Reiki, absorbing the benefits of the practice. This can clear negative energy and is usually used at the end of Reiki practice.
For more information about the Reiki symbols click here.
What training is involved?
Reiki required 3 levels of training to become a Reiki master. An article states each level as degrees which are as follows:
1st degree: Entry-level training where you study the history of Reiki, learn how to perform self-reiki, how to give Reiki to someone else and you become initiated to the Reiki energy.
2nd degree: Here you learn how to use the first 3 Reiki symbols and how to perform distant Reiki techniques.
3rd degree: This is the master teacher level where you receive the master Reiki attunement and learn the master Reiki symbol and how to give the Reiki attunement to others
1st degree: Entry-level training where you study the history of Reiki, learn how to perform self-reiki, how to give Reiki to someone else and you become initiated to the Reiki energy.
2nd degree: Here you learn how to use the first 3 Reiki symbols and how to perform distant Reiki techniques.
3rd degree: This is the master teacher level where you receive the master Reiki attunement and learn the master Reiki symbol and how to give the Reiki attunement to others
What are the health benefits of Reiki?
An article from health essentials states the following as health benefits of Reiki:
- A meditative state
- Healing after injury or surgery
- Stimulation of your body’s immune system
- Promotion of natural healing
- Relief from pain and tension
- Improved general well-being
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