Reiki is a holistic healing and relaxation
therapy, a natural healing method that heals on all levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. It is an effective
treatment for reducing pain and stress, recovering from injury or surgery, tackling emotional issues and has proved very effective
in treating joint and arthritic problems.
In the practice of Reiki, the life force energy
that surrounds us every day, sustaining life and promoting healing in all living things is channelled by a qualified practitioner
to heal mind, body and soul. This healing then works to assist us in regaining
harmony and wholeness, addressing the whole person, realigning our energies physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
REI (pronounced “ray”) is the Japanese
word for spiritual or sacred, and KI (pronounced “key”) is Japanese for “vital life force energy that flows
through all living things”.
The founder of the Reiki healing system
Dr Mikao Usui (1865-1926) rediscovered the ancient healing practice of Reiki late in the 19th century. Reiki originated as
a Tibetan Buddhist practice over three thousand years ago and had almost been forgotten. It was brought to the West in 1937
via attuned practitioners in Hawaii, and is passed on from one person
to another through initiation, teachings and defined forms of practice as a way of healing of self and others. The ability
to practice Reiki is received only through the tradition of face to face attunement with a Reiki Master,
How does it
work?
Once a practitioner is attuned to the energy,
Reiki can be used to treat the self and others. As practitioners, we treat ourselves regularly to ensure that we are in a
fit state to treat others.
During a treatment, the client can lie on a couch
or sit in a chair, which ever is most comfortable. Healing is delivered from the practitioner to the client through the hands
either by hands on treatment or placing of the hands over the body with no contact. Whether the practitioner's hands are placed
on or just above the body is all down to the client’s preference. It is never necessary to remove any clothing apart
from shoes, and no private parts of the body will ever be touched, there is no place for sexual contact within the practice
of Reiki.
The practitioner’s hands are held still
for several minutes in a sequence of positions over the head and body to deliver healing energy to the client. The only part
of the body necessary to be touched is the head and we always ask permission at the time to do so. The practitioner directs
energy to any ailments or blockages in the physical and auric body. This all takes place in a restful and tranquil room with
music for meditation, incense and candles if appropriate to the client.
A full Reiki treatment lasts anywhere between
30 minutes to one hour. As a practitioner one knows when the treatment is completed for that session and as such cannot time
it. If you fall asleep during a treatment then the practitioner will wait for you to wake up on your own.
Reiki may also be sent distantly to a client
and it will always go where it is needed the most. I have treated people (and animals!) as far away as South Africa and the USA by arranging a time when
they will be relaxed and undisturbed to maximise the effectiveness of the treatment.
One case I am most proud of is a puppy named
Winston, whose owner contacted me in 2005. Jeannette Vinson’s vet had told her Winston could die because his oesophagus
didn’t join up with his stomach properly and it was inoperable. Jeannette asked me if I would send Reiki to Winston.
We arranged a time when he would be asleep and still, and I sent Reiki.
Three weeks later I got an e-mail from Jeannette
telling me the vet had no explanation as to why Winston was now eating normally and gaining weight. I am happy to say Winston
is now a healthy and happy part of the Vinson family.
Reiki will not conflict with any other health
care, treatments or medication; it can only enhance any existing conventional medical treatment. Reiki speeds the healing
process and can restore depleted energy reserves if you are ill or injured.
Reiki can assist you to release negativity and
can realign and balance the energy meridians of the body. It can release old hurts and “emotional baggage” over
time. I have had some lovely feedback from people who had no physical ailment but had plenty of emotional repressions and
blocks to release, who felt that they had finally let go of these issues with the help of regular Reiki treatments.
Reiki will go to wherever it is needed, it can
even be sent to heal past emotional hurts and trauma. Reiki can be sent to past and present issues and situations that are
hanging over you, and may help to ease them in time. Reiki will always work for the greater good of the person receiving it.
What to expect
During a Reiki treatment:
It is best not to have any expectations about
what you may feel during a treatment, but here’s an idea of what you could expect…
As Reiki energy flows through the body, any blockages
or obstructions flow away with it.
You can expect at the very least, to feel extremely
relaxed as your energy centres become balanced and aligned properly again. Having said this, no two of my clients experience
the same feelings.
Some say they feel intense heat radiating from
my hands, heat surges through various parts of their body, tingles and twitching, gentle rocking sensations, swirls of colour
or coloured light behind the eyelids.
Everyone comments on the intense feeling of total
relaxation during and after a treatment. It is quite common for clients to fall asleep during a treatment as the relaxation
deepens.
The best advice is to expect nothing and feel
the results afterwards. Some people don't feel anything until the next day, then realise aches and pains are diminished or
gone, and note that they are feeling more positive about life and refreshed as the days go on.
Every person is different, and some need regular
treatment to alleviate their symptoms or to maintain their wellbeing.
Reiki principles
Reiki is not a religion or belief system, and
there are no distinctions on the basis of race, class, sex, belief or sexual orientation.
We do remind ourselves daily of our code of ethics
in Reiki, which can help anyone on a path of self development:
Just for today do not worry,
Just for today
do not anger.
Honour your parents, teachers and elders,
Earn your living honestly,
Show gratitude to every living
thing.
Some master practitioners feel that receiving
or being attuned to Reiki brings a clearer sense of one's own true self and humanity, with a deepening self love.
As Reiki practitioners, we do not claim to be
able to cure any problem but to offer physical and spiritual comfort which may bring some relief.
Some testimonials from happy clients of ours...
Hi Rachel
Many thanks for the Reiki healing which was lovely and smooth
and very calm today. I am on day 6 of feeling well which is the longest period of wellness in nearly 2 years!! Hooray!
Just my usual note to say thank you for the lovely Reiki healing.
Again, very gentle this end although I did feel a little sleepy so I know you must have been clearing my chakras, followed
by an energising feeling ... Anyway, it is always lovely, thank you! I will be in touch shortly about future
sessions and glad to hear you have restored your questions service again. C x
A huge thank you for the Reiki today which was very helpful. I
felt that you must have been balancing my chakras again as I wanted to doze and although it felt very gentle, it did help
my tummy...
The Reiki today was very gentle again this end and very lovely
as always – thank you. If everyone could have it regularly, the world would be a better place I am sure. ...I
think the Reiki has been keeping me going all this time and I am so grateful. I am now really beginning to feel normal
again...Thank you so much for all the help and support you have given me during this, at times, quite difficult year for me.
Onwards and upwards now ... C x
Rachel,
Just a quick not to thank you for the healing on Friday, not only
is it relaxing but if seems to fill me with lots of wonderful positive thoughts and dreams for the future which gives me a
real energy buzz. Thanks you!
J
Rachel,
I just wanted to write to thank you for my set of Reiki sessions,
I really believe that not only did they do a huge amount to sort me out in the beginning but have given me a real energy boost.
I know I still need to keep looking after myself but I am definitely in a much better place... J
April 2006
Winston is doing great! He is almost a year old now!
