What is Reiki Healing Energy?

Woman on a table receiving Reiki healing energyReiki healing energy is holistic and works on all levels – mind, body, and spirit. As such, it improves and heals most conceivable issues. It also supports all kinds of positive life-affirming intentions. However, since it’s a self-healing modality, the extent and orientation of the healing significantly depend on the client or patient. The more open and committed, the greater the healing and fulfillment of an intention.

What Is Reiki?

Reiki is the channeling of life force energy also referred to as ki, chi, or prana in order to promote healing and well-being. In other words, it’s the energy that gives life to people, animals, plants, and other living things.

How Does Reiki Work?

Reiki works much like acupuncture or acupressure, except without needles or pressure points. Instead, it’s channeled directly through the practitioner to the client.

Like other forms of energy healing, it relieves blockages and imbalances, which are the source or underlying causes of dis-ease. By restoring balance, Reiki supports healing and well-being. In addition, it combines well with other forms of both conventional and alternative healing acting as a complement. In this way, it supports and galvanizes overall healing.

Because it’s a form of self-healing, Reiki can do no harm.

Based on life force healing capacities, Reiki is appropriate for all living beings such as animals and plants. It can also contribute to good functioning of relationships and communication.

What To Expect From A Reiki Session

Although, Reiki healing can be practiced in a chair, while standing, or really anywhere. Table sessions, using a massage table, tend to be most comfortable for the client and practitioner. Unlike massage, the Reiki client remains clothed throughout the session.

What Energy Channeling Means

I act as an open channel and facilitate a flow of life force energy. I do not direct the flow. Reiki goes where it is needed and where it can support your highest good. We don't exchange or absorb each other’s energy during the session. In this way, Reiki is completely energetically safe.

I tend to work above your body in your energy or energy field. However, I may lightly touch the surface of your body (a simple laying of the hands) in order to concentrate the healing. Still, touching is not required.

How Reiki Energy Healing Feels

Reiki treatments are typically subtle or lightly perceived. You may notice only slight sensations like tingles, tension release, or subtle circulatory flow. You might perceive a change in your body or ambient temperature. Although Reiki is subtle, the actual healing can be profound and experienced over several days.

Working With Your Intentions

Because Reiki is a self-healing modality, sessions are usually oriented according to your intentions: what you are seeking from the session. Your intentions can relate to something physical, emotional, mental, energetic, or spiritual. They can be directed at the present, future, or past.

Session Duration

Reiki Sessions are typically 50 or 80 minutes in length.

Forms of Reiki Offered

Note: All forms of Reiki can be offered to people and other animals

Usui Reiki Ryoho/Traditional

Usui Reiki Ryoho is the original or traditional form of Reiki developed by its founder, Dr. Usui. Teaching methods follow Japanese tradition and the Gaikai, the Usui Reiki healing society. The three levels of Usui Reiki Ryoho are (1) Shoden, (2) Okuden, and (3) Shinpiden.

Usui Shiki Ryoho/Western

Usui Shiki Ryoho or Western Usui Reiki was developed by Mrs. Hawayo Takata. It is the most common form of Reiki practiced in the USA. It uses Mrs. Takata’s teaching methods and version of the four main healing symbols. The three levels of Western Usui Reiki typically are referred to as Level I, Level II, and Level III or Reiki Master.

Usui Reiki Ryoho/Tibetan

Usui/Tibetan Reiki Ryoho or Tibetan Usui Reiki was developed by Arthur Robertson. He was a student of Iris Ishikuro, who was a student of Mrs. Hawayo Takata.

Mr Robertson was also a teacher of Tibetan shamanism. By introducing elements of shamanism to his Reiki practice, he developed a slightly modified Usui system.

It is very similar to Western Usui  Reiki except that each system has several distinct advanced techniques and Tibetan includes two additional Tibetan symbols, which are not derived from Japanese Kanji (characters) like other Usui symbols are.

Similar to the other Usui systems, there are three levels commonly referred to as Level I, Level II, and Level III or Reiki Master. Tibetan Usui has an advanced Master class as well.

Gendai Reiki

Gendai Reiki was developed by Hiroshsi Doi and built upon traditional Usui Reiki Ryoho. It blends the traditional approach and more recently developed methods. Gendai is not meant to be a separate school of Reiki but rather a way of practicing Reiki.

The four levels of Gendai Reiki are (1) Shoden, (2) Okuden, (3) Shinpiden, and (4) Gokuikaiden. For more information,  see the website of the Gendai Reiki Healing Association.

Sekhem-Seichim Reiki (SSR)

Sekhem-Seichim Reiki (SSR) grew out of an experience Patrick Ziegler had in Egypt. It blends Sekhem (similar to chi or prana), Seichim (an ancient Egyptian healing system), and Reiki energies. SSR tends to feel heavier, cooler, and more water-like compared to Usui energy. There are seven facets of SSR. Facets I and II correspond to Levels I and II of the other Usui systems. Facets III through VII all refer to Master/Teacher levels. Each advanced facet attunes the Master/Practitioner to additional symbols.

Karuna® Reiki

Karuna® Reiki is an advanced form of Reiki developed by the International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT). The energy sensation is deep and vibrational. Karuna® is excellent for chronic issues and for releasing past traumas and patterns without reliving them. A Karuna® session may include sound and meditation.

The four Karuna® designations are Karuna I Practitioner, Karuna II Practitioner, Karuna I Master, and Karuna II Master. A Master of Usui Shiki Ryoho or Western Usui is a prerequisite for Karuna classes. For more information, see ICRT's webpage on Karuna Reiki.

Reiki Shamanism

Reiki Shamanism is a blend of Reiki and shamanic practices. Essentially Reiki is introduced to my shamanic sessions to facilitate distance connections and expand the functionality of extractions and soul retrievals.

For more information on my Reiki services, contact me

How I Experience Different Forms of Reiki

I created a series of blogs on how I personally experience different forms of Reiki that I practice and teach. The blog posts will give you some idea of how the various forms of Reiki differ. This is particularly interesting to students of Reiki.

The Blog Series

I write from a practitioner’s point of view, not the client's. Although, much of the information will be of interest to clients as well.

Everyone perceives or experiences energy a bit differently so please take this information to be a personal account and not an objective or more universal description.

Cancelation Policy

Virtual Sessions:

  • No shows, late arrivals, and session cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled session are charged in full. There is no guarantee that a late arrival will receive the complete session.
  • Cancellations or appointment changes made between 24 and 48 hours in advance of the scheduled time are reimbursed. However, there is a $35 administrative fee.

In-Person Sessions:

  • No shows, late arrivals, and session cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled session are charged in full. There is no guarantee that a late arrival will receive the complete session.
  • Cancellations or appointment changes made between 24 and 48 hours in advance of the scheduled time are reimbursed. However, there is a $35 administrative fee.
  • Cancellations or appointment changes made more than 48 hours in advance do not incur fees.

Important Note

Reiki and Conventional Medicine

Reiki healing energy is a complementary form of treatment that does not replace or interfere with important conventional or allopathic medical treatments.

How Reiki Works With the Physical Body

Reiki is most aligned with endocrine system but also works closely with the body’s energy systems. It is excellent for reducing stress, relaxing the mind and body, and clearing and focusing the mind. It has been found to be an excellent support to the overall physical, mental, and emotional healing process.

Because it is energy, and hence vibrational, Reiki combines well with other forms of vibrational healing, such as crystals, subtle aromatherapy, acupuncture, Qigong, and others. For many people, Reiki is considered a spiritual practice but is not associated with any form of religion or religious dogma. Reiki is a mind-body-spirit practice.

Maintaining Balance and Ease After Your Session

You’re encouraged to continue your process of reflection and integration after leaving the session and going back to your everyday life. Regular attention and reflection will increase your awareness concerning those issues you wanted to address in your healing session.

Your awareness encourages subsequent constructive behavior change (both conscious and subconscious). This process underlies your choices and orients you to live in a way that supports life moving forward, sustained healing, and greatest well-being.

Oftentimes, change requires more conviction and less willfulness and effort. Because of this I offer and recommend whole-person spiritual life coaching for more in-depth work and more complex issues.

Additional Resources and Support

I offer spiritual life coaching sessions, natural healing and wellness workshops, and eBooks and audio material to help you continue your reflection, practice, and integration. These resources will help you sustain the balance and ease that you felt at the end of your session and carry it into your everyday life.

Lifeforce energy is not bounded by time and space. Therefore, it can be channeled over distances and through time. Therefore, I offer distance options for all of my healing modalities.

Other Healing Options and Sessions

I offer the following modalities:

All sessions support the client’s own intentions and self-healing, whether the focus is physical, emotional, mental, energetic, or spiritual.

In-Person Energy Healing Sessions: Sessions are typically 50 or 80 minutes. Packages of multiple sessions are available.

Distance Healing: Energy healing is not bounded by time and space.  It can be conducted virtually. I offer both virtual/distance healing for all of my healing modalities. Distance sessions can be 25 or 50 minutes.

Whole-Person Spiritual Life Coaching Sessions: Sessions are 50 minutes and purchased as packages. When appropriate, packages can combine coaching and energy healing. Coaching sessions are typically virtual; although, there is an in-person option upon request.

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