Reiki sessions may take place in a clinic, your home, the practitioner’s home or a place of worship. You will generally be asked some questions about your condition, medical history and lifestyle. Reiki is usually given when you are sitting or lying comfortably. No clothing needs to be removed and the practitioner will probably stand or sit next to you.
As in other forms of healing, a ‘laying on of hands’ is used, but in Reiki it is rather different. A practitioner becomes a channel for the ‘life force energy’ by placing their hands on or above the recipient’s head. When healing, they place their hands on or above a particular part of the recipient’s body in order to release energy directly into it.
Most Reiki treatments do not involve physical contact - the practitioner’s hands are generally held a few inches from the recipient’s body and energy is drawn or manipulated from there. Sometimes there is cradling of the head, but you can always request not to be touched as Reiki does not rely on physical contact.
When receiving healing, you may experience sensations of tingling, heat or coolness. This won’t be painful and will soon pass. Some patients have found the treatment so relaxing they have had to go home afterwards to rest. In fact, treatment is enhanced if you rest for a while afterwards and drink plenty of water to help the body detoxify. This allows the energy to continue its work after the session ends. The beneficial effects may be felt for several days.
A Reiki session can be very short, or as long as an hour. Although you may notice the benefits with just one session, a course of regular treatments is usually more effective. Appointments could be weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on your needs. Your practitioner will draw up and review an individual treatment plan.
Over time and with practice you may be able to learn to give Reiki yourself. An initiation, or attunement, must first be performed by a Reiki Master (teacher). Under their guidance you harmonise with the Reiki energy so that you can receive and pass it on to others or self-treat. It may take a number of sessions and often is not state-funded, but once self-treatment is learnt it could make Reiki far less costly in the long term than other complementary therapies.
