Synergistic Wellness

Reiki: A Powerful Energy Healing Practice

Reiki: A Powerful Energy Healing Practice

Reiki is quickly becoming one of the most well-known and widely practiced forms of energy work. It serves as a form of energetic surgery, helping to clear stagnant or blocked energy and restore the natural flow of chi throughout the body. Best of all, Reiki is accessible to anyone—it’s an innate ability that can be developed with practice and intention. Reiki is commonly the beginning journey for anyone wanting to get into energy work.

History of Reiki

Reiki originated in Japan and was developed by Matiji Kawakami and Mikao Usui in the early 1900s. However, the energy that Reiki works with has existed since the beginning of time—it is the universal life force energy that flows through everything. The brilliance of Reiki lies in its ability to channel this energy without depleting the practitioner, making it a sustainable and powerful healing modality.

“Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another.”
— Albert Einstein

How Reiki Works

To practice Reiki, one typically undergoes training and attunement to align with the universal energy. Some individuals naturally excel at working with energy, while others develop their ability through guidance and practice. Reiki is not limited to a select few—everyone has access to this energy.

At its core, Reiki requires a strong intuitive sense. A skilled practitioner develops an ability to sense where energy is stagnant, where it needs to flow, and how to shift it for the highest good. Intuition also guides the hands to the areas of the body that need the most attention, whether they be physical, emotional, or energetic in nature.

Setting Up a Reiki Session

Creating a Sacred Space

A Reiki session begins with the creation of a sacred container—a defined space where healing can take place. The practitioner clears their own energy field, releasing any conditioned thoughts, biases, or personal energies so they can remain neutral.

It is important to note that a Reiki practitioner is not the healer; rather, they are a channel through which the universal energy flows. By stepping out of their own way, they allow higher forces to guide the healing process.

Many practitioners incorporate sacred tools such as crystals, feathers, candles, or elemental objects to amplify and define the space, but these are not required. The most essential component is a clear and intentional energy field.

Beginning the Session

The Power of Intention

The intention behind a Reiki session is its most crucial element. This intention is typically set by the recipient, based on their needs and reasons for seeking Reiki in the first place. Intention is what directs the universal energy, allowing the practitioner to collaborate with it in a way that creates the best possible outcome.

Before working on a client, many Reiki practitioners prepare their own energy field by running energy through themselves. This helps them tune into the universal flow and align with the highest frequencies of healing. Some may also invoke guidance verbally or internally, asking that the session be for the highest good of all. This step anchors the healing container and ensures a safe, supportive space for energy work.

The Reiki Session

Reiki sessions can take many forms. The most common setup involves the client lying on a table while the practitioner moves their hands around the body. Some practitioners work with direct touch, gently placing their hands on key areas, while others hover their hands above the body to sense and shift the energy field.

Most sessions begin with an aura-cleansing ritual, though the specifics vary among practitioners.

Distance Reiki

Reiki is not limited by space—it can also be done remotely. In distance healing, a practitioner may use a photo of the recipient or work with a symbolic surrogate object to focus their intention. While this method often requires advanced training, it is an incredibly effective tool for situations where in-person healing isn’t possible—such as emergencies or cases where the recipient is bedridden.

Energy Flow, Not Extraction

Reiki aligns closely with principles found in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoist philosophy, which emphasize shifting energy rather than extracting it. Removing energy outright can deplete a person’s chi, reducing their vital life force. Instead, Reiki gently redirects energy, allowing the body to process and integrate the healing naturally.

Sacred Elements in Reiki Sessions

Many Reiki practitioners incorporate additional cleansing elements into their sessions. Some may burn a candle to help transmute negative energy, while others place a water bowl nearby to absorb energetic releases. These elements assist in purifying the space and ensuring that all released energy is properly cleared.

Symbols

Many practitioners often use reiki symbols to help with their practice. The different symbols are use to stimulate certain types of energy. The first and most commonly used symbol is Cho Ku Rei, a focus type of energy that concentrates universal energy to the present. 

The second most common symbol used is Sei He Ki, which concentrates on the mental and emotional fields. This symbol is used for clearing and healing purposes. If you are working with a cancer patient, focusing this symbol in the hundreds around the affected area can be a powerful aid. Commonly it is used for healing emotional wounds.

Sei He Ki Reiki Symbol

A third symbol used in reiki leans into the more advanced side named Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen. This is referred to as the distance symbol and is used to spread the healing across time and space. A distance healing session would utilize this symbol, or someone working on healing a childhood trauma, or potentially placing healing energy that will activate in the future. 

Hon Sha Ze Shon Nen Reiki Symbol

Another symbol used in reiki practitioning is Dai Ko Myo, a sacred symbol of enlightenment. This speaks to the more spiritual levels of the client and practitioner using it.  It may be used to amplify the other symbols and ground the space into positive energy. This is referenced as the master symbol and is of the highest vibrations meant to help transform the person's spiritual journey. Dai Ko Myo is also used for attunements and allows master reiki practitioners to help attune their students to reiki energy.

Dai Ko Myo reiki attunement symbol

These symbols are fueled by the practitioners intention and alignment with them. The more advanced the practitioner, the less they need to be drawn in the mind to work. Eventually the practitioner can simply summon the energy without the need to imagine the symbol itself. 

Closing the Session

Ending a Reiki session mirrors the opening, incorporating aura cleansing and sealing the energetic container. This final step locks in the healing energy, allowing its effects to unfold long after the session—sometimes lasting up to eight weeks.

Just as the space was prepared before the session, it is equally important to clear it afterward. Common methods include sage, palo santo, incense, resins, or candles to cleanse any lingering energies.

A practice of gratitude enhances the vibrational power of Reiki. The practitioner should take a moment to thank the Reiki energy, as well as any guides or helpers who assisted in the session. Never underestimate the power of gratitude in amplifying healing energy.

After the Session

Both client and practitioner should drink plenty of water to help process and release any energy shifts. Despite the stillness of a session, Reiki can be surprisingly dehydrating, which is a sign that energetic work has taken place.

The practitioner should also run their hands under cool water to clear any residual energy and calm the heat in their palms, which often becomes intense during a session.

Benefits of Reiki

Reiki offers a range of benefits for the body, mind, and spirit. Some of the key benefits include:

Physical Benefits:

  • Promotes deep relaxation – Helps reduce stress and tension in the body.
  • Enhances the body's natural healing process – Supports recovery from illness, injury, or surgery.
  • Reduces pain and discomfort – May alleviate chronic pain, headaches, and muscle tension.
  • Boosts the immune system – Encourages balance in the body's energy, supporting overall wellness.
  • Improves sleep quality – Helps with insomnia and promotes deeper, more restful sleep.

Emotional & Mental Benefits:

  • Reduces anxiety and depression – Helps calm the mind and balance emotions.
  • Encourages emotional release – Can help process and heal emotional wounds.
  • Enhances mental clarity – Aids in focus, decision-making, and stress management.
  • Supports self-awareness and inner peace – Encourages mindfulness and presence.

Spiritual Benefits:

  • Balances energy centers (chakras) – Clears blockages and restores harmony.
  • Deepens intuition and connection to self – Helps strengthen spiritual awareness.
  • Raises vibrational frequency – Encourages a state of positivity and alignment.
  • Promotes feelings of love, gratitude, and compassion – Enhances one's connection to self and others.

Reiki is a gentle yet powerful modality that complements other healing practices, making it an excellent tool for overall well-being.

Everyone has access to Reiki energy, and you can begin using it right now. Like a muscle, Reiki strengthens with practice—if left unused, it may feel dormant. To develop your ability, treat Reiki as a daily ritual, much like brushing your teeth.

Using Reiki on Yourself

Setting aside just 5 to 15 minutes a day can enhance your intuitive and sensory connection to Reiki. To begin, rub your hands together and notice the warmth forming between them. This is the perfect moment to set an intention, such as:

"I ask to be a clear channel for the universal forces of healing energy today, allowing it to flow for the highest good of all. Thank you."

Your words can be simple or elaborate—the genuine intention behind them is what matters most.

Next, place your hands on any area of your body. Many practitioners start at the crown of the head and move downward, or at the soles of the feet and work upward. If you have a specific concern, you can focus directly on that area. However, a full-body session is beneficial, as discomfort in one area often stems from an imbalance elsewhere.

Trust the intelligence of Reiki energy. Your role is to be a channel, not a controller. Ideally, spend 3 to 5 minutes on each body part, allowing your hands to rest gently as you quiet the mind and surrender to the flow. If time is short, even a minute or two per area can make a difference—consistency is key.

Observe the Changes

As you integrate Reiki into your routine, take note of how your energy shifts. Do you feel more vibrant? More in tune with your surroundings? Does your body feel lighter, or does life seem to flow with more ease? Keeping a journal can help track your progress and deepen your awareness.

Practicing on yourself can be one of your greatest teachers. However, if you’re considering working with others, it’s essential to receive proper attunements and training to ensure you practice safely and effectively.

Conclusion

Reiki is a profound and accessible healing practice that allows energy to flow where it is needed most, restoring balance, clarity, and well-being. Rooted in Japanese tradition yet universally applicable, it works by channeling universal life force energy through the practitioner, helping to dissolve stagnation and promote healing on physical, emotional, and energetic levels.

Through intention, intuition, and a clear healing space, Reiki sessions create a safe and sacred environment for transformation. Whether performed in person or from a distance, Reiki does not forcefully extract energy but instead shifts and harmonizes it, aligning with the natural flow of life force energy.

As Reiki continues to gain recognition as a powerful tool for healing, its true gift lies in its simplicity and accessibility—it is available to anyone willing to open themselves to its flow. With consistent practice and deep trust in the energy, Reiki can be a guiding force for personal healing, spiritual growth, and overall energetic well-being.

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