Wait, What Is Reiki?

~ Bailey Shawley, M.Ed, CCTS-F, Specialized Parenting & Education Consultant

The Arctic air seems to have passed our area for now, and there are a few more people in the local stores and restaurants again. I also had the pleasure of being invited to one of my favorite local coffee shops by a friend to discuss some of our hopes and dreams for our town, and it was nice to see some other familiar faces while I was there. We’re also getting out to more basketball games and wrestling matches again. Being out and about and seeing people somewhat regularly also means that I know what is coming when they greet me and then break eye contact: They all ask some variation of the question, “What is that thing you’re doing again? Rie-kee? Ray-kee?” And I chuckle every time and help them pronounce it or commend them for getting it right and then launch into my quick explanation of Reiki, give them a business card so they can read more about it on my website and Facebook page, and encourage them to schedule a session to experience it themselves.

The funny thing is that I still don’t do a fantastic job of explaining Reiki to people. I enjoy it so much and it has been so life-changing for me that I struggle to do it justice when I try to explain it. So, I decided that today is the day I would try to explain it a little more logically and thoroughly because I truly do wish that everyone would experience Reiki at least once. You may find that Reiki is not for you, and that’s okay. But, trust me, you need to try it at least once.

My simplest explanation of Reiki is that it is a form of energy work that involves the practitioner (me) using gentle touch via traditional Reiki hand placements on the participant (client). Japanese culture views Reiki as a deeply spiritual practice with a self-healing component, while Western culture views it as a healing practice. Regardless of the view, all Reiki practitioners believe that the healing energy comes from a divine/universal energy source and flows through the practitioner into the recipient. The result is a restoration of balance within the participant’s mind, body, and spirit. The goals are to release the participant’s negative energy and any energy that is not serving them in a healthy way, and to allow the flow of divine/universal energy to promote relaxation, reduce stress, recenter the spirit, and restore the body’s natural self-healing abilities.

I was trained by a Reiki Master Teacher. She practices traditional Usui Reiki, and that is what she taught me. I completed Reiki One and Reiki Two training with my Reiki Master Teacher, and I am certified in both. I also plan to begin my Reiki Master training and certification this summer. It was important to me that I participate in hands-on, in-person Reiki training that included the Reiki ceremonies, attunements, and attunement waiting periods that are at the heart of traditional Usui Reiki training. I wanted to practice Reiki with fidelity, and I did not think that a quick, online course would enable me to do so.

Everyone experiences Reiki in a different way. Some may feel tingling or vibrations, some may feel a flow of energy or water, some may feel the urge to move particular body parts, and some may see colors, shapes, symbols, or images. Some of my clients also have experienced body parts moving or jerking during the healing session, while others have become emotional, and still others have seen vibrant colors. A couple of my clients have fallen asleep during the session. Many clients who have mentioned aches and pains prior to Reiki contact me after the session and say that they have gotten some relief from them. Others tell me that their sleep has improved after our Reiki sessions. Reiki should not replace your traditional medical appointments or primary care, but it can complement them. In fact, Reiki has found, and continues to find, its place in traditional medical settings as well as leading hospitals around the US. Regardless of what you experience during your Reiki healing session, the unique, personal journey leads to alignment, balance, groundedness, and relaxation.

You also likely will experience Reiki healing differently with me than with another practitioner because I am an intuitive Reiki practitioner and an empath. That means that in addition to connecting to your energy, I also may intuitively gain insight into your challenges, emotions, strengths, needs, or other aspects of your “self.” I often sense when people are not engaging in enough self-care, not prioritizing a work-life balance, or are struggling with a conflict of some sort. This insight into your energy and spirit allows me to provide you with personalized suggestions for making changes to your daily habits; I have encouraged some clients to journal, play more music, be more creative, etc., based on what I sense their spirit needs.

See? Reiki is so complex, yet so simple, that it is difficult to explain the practice to people who have not yet experienced it. I continue to talk and write about it because I’ve benefited so much from engaging in self-Reiki and Reiki healing sessions: my restless legs are more settled, my sleep has improved, and I finally can meditate. And, I’ve seen what Reiki has done for my clients. I sincerely mean it when I say that everyone needs to experience Reiki at least once.

I would love to introduce you to Reiki healing if you’ve never experienced it, or to provide you with your first intuitive Reiki session if your previous practitioner was not intuitive. Or, maybe you haven’t participated in Reiki healing for some time and would like to see how it feels to engage in energy work again. Reiki healing sessions with B Connecting, LLC are available in half-hour or full-hour blocks and are completely confidential and judgment free. I also have limited evening and weekend hours available for Reiki sessions.