What is Reiki?
Reiki (pronounced RAY-KEY), is a Japanese word derived from “Rei” which means universal life force, and “Ki” which means sacred energy.
Reiki is an ancient, traditional Japanese healing technique which some relate to Biblical times and the “laying on of hands.” This healing modality is wonderful for stress reduction, relieving anxiety, and is incredibly calming to the body’s central nervous system. It supports the body’s innate healing ability, and works great for cuts, bruising and burns, and is essential for broken bones and post-surgical recovery.
Reiki came to North America in the 1930s when Hawayo Takata (1900 – 1980) brought it to the West. This particular lineage, Usui Shiki Ryoho, was founded by Mikao Usui in early 20th Century Japan. As the story goes, Usui was given the gift of Reiki on Mt. Kurama, a sacred mountain north of Kyoto, Japan, after 21 days of fasting, praying and meditating. Tradition tells of a great bright light, which came down from the sky and hit his third eye chakra, awakening an understanding of how to work with and harness the universal life force. Usui dedicated his life to learning how to work with this energy, and to teaching others how to use it for natural healing and wellbeing.
During a Reiki treatment, the client lies fully clothed on a massage table, while I place my hands on or just over the body in 16 different locations, including the head, torso, knees, feet and back, as well as specific areas in pain or in need of healing. This subtle, universal energy flows gently from my hands into the body, creating a profound state of calm and peaceful relaxation. Reiki may also be sent over distance. Perhaps best of all, the client doesn’t need to believe in Reiki in order to benefit from it.
What to Expect
A full, in-person Reiki treatment takes approximately 80 minutes, as each of the 16 hand positions is held for five minutes. Long-distance sessions are shorter, given that there are just five total hand positions. In a long-distance session, we agree on a time when you are able to relax and unplug from your day, devices and responsibilities.
According to a peer-reviewed clinical study entitled, “Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy,” published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary Medicine:
“… Reiki is a safe and gentle ‘complementary’ therapy that activates the parasympathetic nervous system to heal body and mind. It has potential for broader use in management of chronic health conditions, and possibly post-operative recovery.”
Another article, published in June, 2024, in BMC Palliative Care, “Therapeutic Effects of Reiki on Interventions for Anxiety: a Meta-Analysis,” states:
“Short-term Reiki therapy interventions of ≤ 3 sessions and 6–8 sessions have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing health and procedural anxiety in patients with chronic conditions such as gastrointestinal endoscopy inflammation, fibromyalgia, and depression, as well as in the general population.”