I was blessed to learn Reiki from Peg Leighton of Peaceful Dragonfly Healing.  She is one of the most beautiful souls ever to come to Earth, and I am so grateful to have had her as my Reiki teacher.  In my Level I class, Peg defined Reiki as “Universal Life Force”.  The word can be broken down into two parts—“rei” is universal or infinite and “ki” is the life energy or life force.  This “ki” is the same as the Chinese “chi”, the Japanese “qi”, the Hindu “prana”, and the Egyptian “Ka”.  So combined, Reiki energy is the universal or divine energy that creates and sustains all life—including us humans.

As explained in Reiki:  Universal Life Energy by Bodo Baginski and Shalila Sharamon, “When someone is treated with Reiki, he is brought back into a state of unity with the harmony of the universe.  This harmony, which is able to reach him in his smallest of cells, makes him whole and healthy again, thus encouraging the natural ability of the patient to heal himself.”

In order to become a Reiki Practitioner, a person must undergo energetic attunements that allow this Reiki energy to be channel through their bodies, out their hands, and directed into their client’s physical and energy bodies.  Thus, the Reiki energy is funneled, amplified, and directed to where the client most needs healing.  However, this healing is not solely physical—it can be emotional, mental, and spiritual as well.

The first thing most clients notice during their Reiki session is a pervasive feeling of peace and calmness that naturally flows through them.  Some clients may notice a tingling sensation.  Some feel a relaxing heat or a soothing coolness.  Some may experience seeing colors or images.  Others may even release some pent-up emotions or recall experiences they had forgotten.  Essentially, every person will experience Reiki differently.

However, for all people, the healing that Reiki brings is a holistic experience.  In other words, the whole person is healed—not just their knee or their back.  The healing brings the entire system of body, mind, heart, and spirit into alignment and harmony.  Thus, each client receives exactly what they need of Reiki energy and in the amount and degree to which they need it.

It is important to note that the client does not need to believe that Reiki energy is real in order to receive benefit from it.  Nor does a client need to be with the practitioner in person to receive the healing energy.  Space and time are constructs of the physical world, but Reiki energy operates outside of these constraints.  While it can be done in person with the practitioner lightly laying their hands upon the client, it can just as effectively be done by the practitioner laying their hands on a surrogate which will then transfer the Reiki energy to the client (see below to meet Ben, my surrogate client!).

Through receiving a Reiki energy session, you will reap the benefits of harmonizing and balancing your energy body to synchronize with the divine energy of life itself.  Your body will find rejuvenation and healing, your mind will experience peace and focus, your heart will open to love and joy, and your spirit will expand and soar with new life!