I jumped into the reiki experience without knowing what would happen… and it was completely awesome!! Though, I’m unsure anything could have prepared me for what to expect.

I grew up a “rational” thinker in the modern world, inspired by science and nature. The “magic” of reiki felt so odd to me, and mostly, I didn’t want to seem foolish, but I discovered “magic” is natural in our world. It exists all around and patiently waits for us to discover it.

I’ll share a few personal stories of (ID protected) individuals I’ve treated, so you might glean a bit of insight before diving in. All of these stories are true::

 

Broken Bones
I had to continue to share reiki after a client with a broken arm and wrist saw me. He had a skiing accident several months prior to our session. His bones were not resetting properly and had led doctors to re-break the bone in attempt to reset and heal. This grad student was in constant pain and unable to work at the keyboard. He hadn’t experienced reiki before, and was a bit uncertain, but our results were awesome. After 20 minutes of treatment, he felt the need to stretch out his casted arm. When he wiggled his fingers, as he’d been unable to do for months, there was no pain!! He was amazed, and we continued the session for the full hour. When he left, he was painless for the first time in months. A few weeks later I saw him at the restaurant where I worked. His cast was off, arms happily waving about. He said those silly wonderful words that often get tossed around today, “It’s a Miracle!!”   And I haven’t been able to stop reiki-ing since.

As I type this now, I even wonder to myself if he was putting on a show. That night I even had my doubts, (but he *did* pay double what I asked as he was that impressed). Truly kept my path lit during those crazy (awesome) years.

 

Childhood Trauma// Repressed Emotion

Another client had repressed feelings from childhood–like preettty much all of us, though to varying degrees, she experienced childhood trauma that was never fully processed within her spirit. While her life and relationships were meaningful, she felt tension within and agreed to try a reiki session. Similar to my own first time receiving reiki, after a few minutes, she began to cry. We weren’t speaking words, but it was a beautiful release of what had been held inside. We used reiki to draw out stuck energies of fear (kidneys, ancestry) and anger (liver). Utilizing shamanic healing practices, we brought peace to her inner child and found a safe healing space for its spirit. With blocked energy cleared from her liver, she no longer felt the desire to turn to alcohol for comfort. The story goes on and up from there…

 

Then there were those random times…

Plenty of stories of friends in need in the moment. There was a reiki session in the middle of a gathering one night (and several others) {in a sealed energetic container}. B’s side was in agony. Did he have a broken rib? Difficult to completely recall, but we sat on a couch while others continued their play. The dog intuitively sat beside us (pets LOVE reiki, and make for awesome guardians during the process). It wasn’t a perfect session, due to static, but he walked away with diminished pain. And the party continued…

Sometimes I come across creature friends who clearly need a boost. I always first ask permission then send a beam of the good stuff. It’s really fun to see how the energy can influence. I ask friends to watch what happens, to make sure I’m not playing it up for myself… take walks and see how it worked on the neighborhood grumpy cats. It was neat to watch their tense bodies slowly relax and succumb to feeling the flow. Sometimes they would end up nuzzling into the ground or walk up and brush a thank you. These were previously very grumpy cats…. even zoo animals always seem to turn their heads, sometimes I imagine a shimmer of thanks in their eyes.

 

and Dogs (because PETS LOVE REIKI!)

A friend had dogs that were rather hyperactive. Three beautiful pitbulls, mama and her boy and girl, were constantly jumping, barking, and biting. I asked my friend if I could try out this new fangled thing I learned… I decided to start with one pup at a time, and worked on the mama pup’s hurt hip. Pretty much immediately, she got drowsy and repositioned herself so I had more access to the affected space. Soon, her puppies began to lick the area I was treating as well. It was pretty cute. I couldn’t personally ask her if she felt better after the treatment, but she seemed to walk better and they were all much calmer when we were through. What was also awesome to notice, was the dogs seemed to know when they wanted reiki and when they were done receiving. Sometimes my cat will almost beg for reiki, and other times she just isn’t interested. The dogs also seemed to know what they wanted as they’d take turns receiving and calmly walking away, almost bowing a thank you and wagging tails. After my own cat, they were the first pets I reiki’d, and showed me that all living creatures can benefit.

We can even reiki plants and our food!! It can be sent forward or backward in time as well.

Detox and Drug Addiction

During college, while I first was learning reiki, some friends had acquired alcohol and/or drug problems, legal and illegal. Others, like me, were feeling lost, defeated, depressed… This wave of spirit sickness seemed almost pervasive as I stepped into the real world. While some of my most difficult times were dealing with this, both within and out, I learned so much about the human spirit and our need to be there for one another. Too many lessons, but grateful for them. It’s also been a big lesson of realizing my limitations, a reminder to do what I can to the best of my ability.

Drug detox would sometimes result in muscle spasms during treatment. The body expels through the pores, so sweating is also common during drug therapy. Drinking plenty of water and allowing the body to rest for a few days after is imperative for deep chemical detox. These treatments have varying time spans, depending on each person’s constitution. Several treatments are preferred to both detox and replenish. Rest, rest, rest, reset.

 

Lessons

In the first years of practicing reiki, life felt like a constant dream. After some sessions, I’d wake up the following day earnestly wondering if what transpired the previous night was real. If anything, cynicism was welcome because I could hardly believe it myself. The “power” was almost scary, and I wasn’t sure how to best help others. How MUCH could I do? Would it ever be enough? Would it always be for the best? Thankfully, my teachers reassured me that I could always choose my actions and trust spirit.

Every reiki session is opened and closed with a prayer for healing and wellness in the best and highest good of the individual and all sentient beings. Before each session starts, the individual receiving reiki will speak their intention for the treatment. By sending these clear messages, the focus stays clear in reiki sessions.

Ailments which don’t get cleared out, may serve purpose and are supposed to linger. Pain is a teacher, and if lessons are unlearned, it can return. This is the most honest interpretation of pain and healing that I have encountered.

Energy is reciprocal. When I share reiki energy with others, I also need to be nourished in return. When I first learned reiki, I didn’t honor this notion. I wanted to share it with anyone who was open to receiving, but quickly learned that giving reiki without receiving in return literally leads to illness. I now have to accept compensation each time I give reiki.

When people ask what reiki is, I can only explain a bit. It is “divine energy” passed through a lineage, brought to light in modern times by a Japanese buddhist Mikao Usui. It is ancient medicine that he helped revive, which has been shared and developed since the 1920’s. During treatments, practitioners use universal energy gathered from the natural environment, channel it through the heart and out hands. Hands are placed on parts of the body where energy gathers, each area reflecting spiritual and physical realms within and out. As hands cover these points (relating to both chakras and acupuncture points) the practitioner visualizes a series of symbols that move energy in specific ways. Some symbols put energy into diminished chakras, other symbols pull out excess energy, while others offer protection. Symbols may also be used in a time specific manner to address an event in the past, present, or future. It is amazing how these figments of thought resonate with spirit and guide energy.

::There is a particular series of symbols that I notice people physically respond to. When I feel the symbols, there is a stroke that guides energy to “cut”. At this point, people always seem to twitch. There is another that is like light shining on and dripping into water, where many take a deep breath and sink deeper into relaxation.  Fun little tidbit I wanted to share.::

I can’t really say if it’s about God or sorcery or belief or prayer or ‘basic’ energy. I’m not conventionally religious or raised in a particular tradition, but I do believe in some greater energy and connectedness. I listen to myself and base life on experience, aware of its limitations in perspective. In my experience, reiki is the kind of thing that exists so simply but is so profoundly amazing that it has to be right. I had no conscious awareness of reiki before I was introduced to it in 2008, but the practice felt natural in my body. I feel it tingling my skin, pulsing within my blood and bones, and can witness its effects outwardly. Explaining it isn’t always easy, but I am here to share it with you to the best of my ability.

I hope you enjoy Reiki, for the best and highest good of all sentient beings~*