Just for today, do not worry
Just for today, do not anger
Honor your parents, teachers, and elders
Earn your living honestly
Show gratitude to every living thing
-REIKI Prayer
Reiki is an ancient and revered practice that promotes healing and balancing the body, mind, and spirit through the laying-on-of-hands. Reiki is a Japanese word that translates as ‘Universal Life Energy.’ A Reiki practitioner has the ability to focus and direct this energy by simply placing their hands on the body of the person receiving treatment. Reiki is not a spiritual belief system and in no way contradicts any individual religious belief.
It is instead, a simple and gentle transfer of energy that accelerates the body ability to heal physical and emotional ailments, while opens the mind and spirit to the causes of disease and pain, the necessity for taking responsibility for one’s life, and the joys of balanced wellness.
A Reiki treatment is often experienced as gentle, relaxing, and meditative. The receiver lies or sits in a comfortable position. There is no need to disrobe as this energy moves through clothing and even casts. A complete treatment can last 90 or 120mins.
During this time as a Reiki practitioner, I would allow my hands to rest gently for about 3-5 minutes or more in each of a number of set positions corresponding to the major organs, chakra energy centers, and endocrine glands of the body. The receiver needs only to relax and receive, often setting into a deep state of relaxation, peace, and a sense of wellbeing.
Reiki is intelligent energy that knows where has to go in the body and just how much energy is required. In fact, a session can also be experienced remotely. You can receive the same benefits of an in-person session, while asleep in the comfort of your own home.
The energy of Reiki is always offered to support the highest good of the receiver and it is accepted and utilized on that level.
According to a 2014 survey in response to demand, at least 60 hospitals in the United States started offering Reiki(1). At present, there are a number of ongoing clinical trials involving Reiki, covering effects on many conditions, from chronic pain, coronary heart disease, sleep disorders, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, prostate cancer, menopause, osteo-arthritis, stress, anxiety, and more(2). The scientific magazine Cancer Research UK, reports that the practice of Reiki seems to help a number of conditions and side effects of cancer therapies, and a number of cancer centers and hospices in the UK offer free or low-cost Reiki for people with cancer. However only a small number of studies have looked at reiki and further research is needed(3).
1.Sacks B (16 May 2014). ”Reiki goes mainstream: Spiritual touch practice now commonplace in hospitals”. Washington Post.
2.https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=reiki
3.”Reiki” 2023 – Complementary and alternative therapy. Cancer Research UK.
