How does reiki work? Part Two
In this blog series, we are asking how reiki works practically and philosophically:
Part One offers some basic info about the practice of reiki.
This post, Part Two, describes how reiki works in-person from a practical perspective.
Part Three will describe how reiki works virtually from a blended perspective.
Part Four will explore how reiki works from a philosophical perspective.
Part Two: Practically, how does reiki work?
This question might be more precisely phrased, “What happens during a reiki session?” The answer is, quite imprecisely, “It depends.”
What happens during a reiki session depends on the practitioner, because every practitioner has their own reiki routine. Even the same practitioner will work in different ways on different days depending on their clients’ needs and wants.
That means what happens during a reiki session also depends on you, the client. Your circumstances, expectations, and intentions will influence how reiki works from practitioner to practitioner, from session to session.
Here are a few things to know before you go to a reiki session...
Reiki is not massage!* In fact, reiki does not require touch—it’s just as effective without it. Please tell your practitioner whether you prefer light touch or no touch during reiki.
Reiki is practiced with clothes on!* Wear comfortable clothing you could take a nap in. Cozy sweatshirts and sweatpants are ideal. Avoid shorts, skirts, and dresses.
Bring clean socks to keep your toes warm. Besides, your practitioner will place their hands on or near your feet. For their sake and yours, don’t go barefoot.
Turn your phone and other devices on “Do Not Disturb” or, better yet, turn them off. Allow yourself time to relax without interference from ringing or buzzing electronics.
And here’s what happens in a typical reiki session…
First, your reiki practitioner will show you to a room furnished with a few chairs and a reiki table. Some practitioners add to the ambiance of their reiki room with soft music, gentle lighting, or pleasant aromas. If any of the sounds, sights, or smells are distracting to you, please don’t hesitate to tell your practitioner. They will be happy to make adjustments to improve your experience.
Next, your reiki practitioner will invite you to sit down for a brief pre-reiki chat. They will probably ask if you have any questions about reiki or what prompted you to schedule a reiki session. They can also follow up on information you provided on your client form (e.g., any physical conditions or mental concerns), confirm your permission (e.g., light touch or no touch), and clarify your preferences (e.g., music on or off).
When you are finished with the introductory chat, your reiki practitioner will ask you to take off your shoes and lie down on the reiki table facing upwards. For your comfort, you will likely be offered a pillow or two—one for your head and one for your knees—plus a blanket. Many practitioners also have special bolsters available to ensure your body is well supported.
Once you are comfortable, your reiki practitioner will ask you to close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and silently set your intention to receive reiki energy from the universe. Some practitioners, like me, will guide you through a meditation to start relaxing. By focusing on your deep breaths, your intention, or a guided relaxation, you begin to settle into rest both physically and mentally.
At this time, your reiki practitioner will begin to immerse you in reiki energy from head to toe. They will place their hands on or near different areas of your body, changing their placement every few minutes. Practitioners are trained to lightly, nearly imperceptibly, rest their hands on the head, shoulders, arms, hands, lower legs, and feet. They will hover their hands several inches above other areas, including the face, neck, chest, and pelvis.
It’s worth repeating here that reiki does not require touch and is just as effective without it. Some reiki practitioners do not use touch in their sessions at all. If you prefer not to be touched during reiki, tell your practitioner. They will honor your request and place their hands near you, not on you.
As you receive reiki, you might start to twitch or tingle. You might feel hot or cold sensations in different areas of your body. You might hear your tummy rumbling or gurgling. You might see colors or lights in your mind's eye. You might even cry. These are all completely normal responses to reiki. These reactions are signs that reiki energy is working its way into your body and mind to bring balance.
On the other hand, you might not feel a thing or you may even fall asleep. These are also completely normal responses to reiki. Just because you do not experience obvious signs that reiki energy is working its way into your body and mind, does not mean that reiki energy isn’t working at all. Instead, trust that your body and mind are using reiki to bring balance in more subtle ways.
Once they have completed the reiki infusion, your practitioner will gently awaken you from your deeply relaxed (or fully sleeping) state. When your awareness is once again in your body and the room, your practitioner will help you sit up to have a brief post-reiki chat—Did you have any physical sensations? Did you have any emotional responses? Do you have any comments, questions, concerns?
After reiki, your practitioner may offer you a glass of water. This is not simply hospitality. Drinking a glass of water is a great way to bring you back down to earth after what can be an intensely ethereal experience. You can also spend a few moments to really feel into your feet on the floor before leaving the reiki room. Definitely don’t get behind the wheel of a car until you are fully grounded!
Lastly, your reiki practitioner will ask you to pay attention to any shifts or changes you notice in the coming days. I recommend writing out your immediate thoughts and feelings about the session as soon as possible, then adding notes over the next week or so as you fully integrate the reiki energy. This way, you create a reiki journal of sorts to record your observations, document your reactions, and track your results.
I hope that you are ready to try reiki now that you have a better idea of what happens during an in-person session. Next in this series, learn how distance reiki works during a virtual session!
By the way, Florella hopes to welcome reiki new clients in the very near future! Hit subscribe below and I promise to send you an email when appointments are available.
*One seriously important footnote: Sadly, the practice of reiki has been misused on occasion by unethical individuals for fraudulent or abusive purposes. For your safety, please be advised that reiki sessions should never include the following without your consent.
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Reiki is practiced with an extremely light touch and NEVER on private parts.
Reiki practitioners are trained to lightly rest their hands in place on the head, shoulders, arms, hands, lower legs, and feet. Their hands should remain several inches above other areas, including the face, neck, chest, and pelvis. Their hands should not grasp or push—the pressure should be so light that it is nearly imperceptible, about the weight of a credit card.
If a reiki practitioner touches you inappropriately, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY and consider reporting this abusive behavior to law enforcement.
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Reiki is practiced with clothes on. Point blank. PERIOD.
There is one exception to this rule and it is for a very specific scenario. If a licensed massage therapist incorporates reiki into your massage, they may request that you remove your clothing. You are being asked to remove your clothes for massage, not reiki. In this case, proceed according to your comfort level within a traditional massage setting.
If a reiki-only practitioner asks you to remove your clothes, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY and consider reporting this abusive behavior to law enforcement.
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…unless your reiki practitioner is also a licensed massage therapist.
Reiki courses and attunements do not provide the education, training, or certification required to legally offer you massage.
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…unless your reiki practitioner is also a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, or social worker.
Reiki courses and attunements do not provide the education, training, or certification required to legally offer you therapy.
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…unless your reiki practitioner is also a qualified healthcare provider.
Reiki practitioners that are not doctors, nurses, or other licensed providers are prohibited from giving physical or mental health advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
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…unless you give your reiki practitioner permission to add such guidance or readings to your session.
Many reiki practitioners receive intuitive messages when channeling reiki energy. However, within a traditional reiki setting, it is considered unprofessional to share these messages without your permission.