All About Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese technique for reducing stress, inducing deep relaxation, and promoting healing on physical, mental, emotional,and spiritual levels. Literally translated, "Reiki" means "spiritually guided life force energy." This healing modality is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy," or ki, is responsible for what makes us alive. When a person's life force energy is low or blocked, he or she is more likely to experience stress and illness. When life force energy is high, a person is more likely to be happy, healthy, and able to handle the experiences of life. A Reiki practitioner acts as a channel for this energy, and uses his/her hands to transmit the healing energy directly to the client.

In Japanese, the definition for "Rei" is a subtle wisdom that permeates everything, both animate and inanimate. It is all-knowing, and is also called God, Divine/Higher Mind, and many other names. "Ki" is the primal life energy that animates all living things, and is also known as chi, life force, prana, and many other names. When a person's Ki is high, they will feel strong, confident, and ready to enjoy life and take on it's challenges. The flow of Ki is what animates organs, tissues, and cells and keeps them healthy. When Ki is low or it's flow is disrupted, a person will feel weak and more likely to get sick. So "Reiki" can be described as "spiritually-guided primal life energy.

At a minimum, a Reiki treatment brings about feelings of deep peace and relaxation. Reiki treats the person holistically, balancing and increasing beneficial energy levels in the body, emotions, mind and spirit. Many beneficial effects, even miraculous results, have been reported. It is wonderful as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunctuon with any other medical or therapeutic technique. A few examples of the reported benefits of a Reiki treatment are:

Physical effects: Reduces or eliminates painProvides relief from side effects of medicationDecreases time for healing of wounds or recovery from surgery. Assists body in cleansing itself of toxins. Supports the immune system.

Emotional effects: Increases ability to manage daily stressIncreases joy and acceptanceAssists with life transitions. Eases grief process and effects of trauma.

Mental effects:Increases clarity of thought and memoryIncreases positive attitudeInspires changes in attitude or beliefs. Assists in being present.

Spiritual effects:Promotes natural balance between mind, body, and spirit. Enhances capability to love. Inspires changes in attitudes or beliefs

Reiki can be administered with the client lying on a massage/reiki table or sitting comfortably in a chair. The client is always fully clothed, and may be covered in a blanket for warmth if desired. Relaxing music is usually played in the background. The practitioner places his/her hands lightly on the body or above the body in various positions during the treatment, while allowing Reiki to flow through themselves to the recipient. All the client has to do is to allow the energy to flow into themselves. Reiki knows where it needs to go; the recipient does the healing by allowing Reiki to flow where it is needed. Since the experience is extremely relaxing, the client often falls asleep. A treatment generally feels like a wonderful glowing and loving radiance flowing through and around the client.