Throughout my years of practicing and teaching Reiki, certain questions come up fairly regularly. Here is a list of questions and brief answers that you or your loved ones may have about Reiki:
Is there a physical healing crisis associated with Reiki? That is, will I feel bad for a short amount of time after a session before I feel better?
No. Unlike other healing modalities, Reiki does not involve a healing crisis. There is no toxic or energetic “dump” into the bloodstream, nothing that the body has to filter out afterward, and no “die-off” that the physical body has to overcome after the session. At the end of the Reiki session, you should feel calm and clear; many even describe the sensation of feeling lighter after a session.
Some Reiki practitioners are also psychic mediums. Is
that a part of Reiki?
No, Reiki practitioners are not involved in any form of psychic work, nor are they conducting “readings” during a Reiki session. Psychic medium work is another modality entirely and may even come from a different place than where Reiki energy originates. Reiki, in its purest form, is not psychic mediumship or psychic anything for that matter.
The Reiki practitioner who receives “messages” during sessions must be exceptionally discerning regarding the message’s origin. The ego can convince someone that they are receiving from a higher vibrational plane than they are. This is where experience can be helpful. Also, part of the practitioner’s Reiki training should have included the understanding that we are not there to diagnose, prescribe, or give direction based on the energy we experience.
Can Reiki heal (fill in the blank)?
Yes. Reiki can heal anything and everything. There are no limitations to Reiki. The limitations are always in our own thinking. However, remember that healing is different
from a cure (see Chapter 3, Integrative Medicine, Medical Reiki, and Clinical Settings). Like the many layers of an onion, several layers of energetic imprints may surround any given issue for which you seek Reiki healing. Reiki healing is always gentle and supportive and has a high vibration of light. It may take only one session to address the core cause of the disruptive energies or it may take much longer, your life’s work, even. Simply allow Reiki to do its work, and know that healing is always taking place, leading you to the next step of your healing journey.
Will Reiki interfere with my medical treatments?
No. Reiki works well with all medical treatments and medications without contraindications. It is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that promotes the relaxation response so that the body, mind, and spirit can heal. Your Reiki practitioner will never diagnose or prescribe treatments, and they will never suggest stopping any treat- ment prescribed by your doctor. Reiki is collaborative on all levels. Many hospitals and treatment programs offer Reiki as part of their integrative medicine or spiritual care programs.
Feel free to seek Reiki treatments to supplement the healing treatments prescribed by your doctor. As always, it is helpful and advised to let your physician know you are also
using Reiki to assist on your healing journey.
How often should I receive Reiki treatments?
There is no standard answer to this question, as it entirely depends on the individual and the circumstance. I offer clients who are experiencing acute issues a distance asynchro-nous option, where they will receive distance Reiki support on three consecutive days to help them through a time of particular stress, pressure, or illness. This is a terrific sup-
portive measure available with relative ease, and much can be shifted in this sort of process.
For others, in-person sessions are preferred. When someone is going through something rather intense, weekly sessions for a short period may be helpful. For others, monthly sessions give just the right amount of support for someone seeking personal growth, support, and self-care.
Others, still, will seek Reiki seasonally and come in for a session with the change of the season to get clear and bring upliftment and healing light to their journey. In Reiki, I generally suggest that the client ask for inner guidance as to when it is time to return. There may be times when you wish to receive Reiki more frequently and at other times less often. Allow yourself the freedom to go with the energetic flow when making your decisions. There are no minimum requirements and no maximum limits to the amount of Reiki you receive. Remember, if you choose to learn Reiki for yourself, even at the first level, you could give yourself treatments daily (or more often) if you so desire.
Is Reiki a cult or witchcraft?
No. And, no. I have heard both of these statements about Reiki, though, by those who know nothing about it. Reiki does not require anything from its clients or students, who
are always free to decide when and if they wish to use its healing energies. Free will, as a gift of the Divine, is always honored in Reiki. Witchcraft, or magic, does not honor the free will of the recipient, as the practitioners are setting their own intentions for self-serving outcomes. This is not the case with Reiki. Reiki practitioners do not create intentions that violate free will and the laws of Divine will. Reiki is always in service to Divine will, putting personal will aside for the highest good and the best outcome.
Is Reiki religious or anti-Christian?
Reiki has no religious-centric worldview. Like God, Reiki belongs to no religion and can work within all belief systems. The same could be said about prayer or meditation. Neither belong to any particular set of beliefs but are tools that allow individuals to connect more directly to their higher power. Reiki is not anti-any religious belief at all
and is practiced by believers of all religions and those with no religious affiliation at all.
Should I see multiple Reiki practitioners for individual
sessions during the same period?
Unless there is something that is not working with your current Reiki practitioner, it is probably best to see only one practitioner for the issue you are seeking assistance with. Seeing two or three different Reiki practitioners in private sessions throughout the week may not give you the results you are seeking. Remember that it is not the practitioner that is doing the healing; the practitioner is the delivery system. Unless you feel there is something out of alignment with your Reiki practitioner, you may want to allow the practitioner to deliver the energy. Trust in Reiki to do the work.
That being said, if you are not connected to your practitioner or you feel they are not connecting deeply enough to do the work well, feel free to find another practitioner. No explanations are needed.
Reiki in Integrative Medicine 