First, what is Reiki & how does it work?
Reiki is a spiritual healing art that originated in Japan. Used to treat mental and physical trauma, this stress reduction and relaxation technique supports spiritual well-being and mental clarity. Its name comes from the Japanese word “rei” that refers to a higher form of intelligence that guides the functioning of the entire universe and the word “ki” that refers to all the alive energy that flows through plants, animals and humans. The entire syntagma refers to a spiritually guided energy.
A Reiki practitioner should help you enable this life energy force to flow through the damaged parts of your energy field, charging it this way with positive energy. It can also help you become more aware of your negative feelings and thoughts that causes anxiety, stress, sadness, confusion and pain. Basically, he uses his hands to clarify and change your energy pathways.
Different from others healing modalities, Reiki practice can be transferred from the master to each student through an attunement process. The teacher creates a unique connection with the student and opens his crown, heart and palm chakras. This attunement is something that remains with you for the rest of your life, you cannot lose it or wear it off.
Most people are skeptical of Reiki, but until you actually try this healing technique you won’t be able to imagine how it feels to be touched at such a deep level. Those who’ve tried experienced tingling sensations all over their body, getting colder or warmer during the attunement and having sensations even if the healer did not even touch them with a finger.
But yes, this practice requires to have an open mind, to be grounded and to make up your own mind, depending on what feels right to you.
There are three degrees or levels of Reiki depending on your teacher and they’re known as QI/CHI/KI. One of them is centered on attunement or empowerment, the other implies education and the last one practice.
The first level is extremely important since the practitioner is enabled to connect to this universal energy that flows from the cosmos through the head, heart and hands. Their energy channels are opened at a physical level so they feel heat, pressure, coolness or tingling sensations. At the end of every session the practitioner might feel stressed or anxious as his pain and insecurities begin to rise at the surface. It’s like a psychological detox process when you need to get rid of the waste inside.
At the beginning of the second level, the practitioner already feels full of hope and energized. He already knows how to draw all major Reiki symbols that are usually associated with a different healing frequency such as balance, power or emotional wellbeing. The practitioner draws these symbols in midair before each session starts, focusing their energy on the person they practice with and helping them connect to the universal energy.
During this level, students also learn how to channel their energy beyond the boundaries of space and time, solving emotional and physical traumas that occurred in their lives, even as children. By transcending space and time, they can also send their healing energy and positive vibrations to the ones they love from far.
The last level, is the final phase of Reiki when most practitioners are training to become masters. This level requires a deeper commitment to this practice this is why it is important for practitioners to spend significant time utilizing their healing abilities, meditating and selecting a master to learn from on whatever path feels right for them.
How to find a Reiki master teacher.
Taught all over the world and with so many different styles, this practice requires qualifications and a code of ethics and standards. Most practitioners are registered at the International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT) so to find a teacher in your area you can you can look for him in a healthcare environment.
According to the American Hospital Association, in 2007 there were more than 800 U.S. Hospitals that offer Reiki as part of their services. The Center for Reiki Research web site also provides a list of hospitals, clinics and hospice programs where Reiki is offered as a regular part of their care services.
Learning Reiki can be a great gift for yourself and help you use the beauty of the life-energy force to shape your world and the world of those who you love.
