Explaining Reiki simply

4 minute read

Ki in Japanese means life energy. It is the life force energy that flows through us and keeps us alive. It has been given many names across time by various cultures. A few of the more commonly known names are Chi in Chinese, Prāṇa in India, and science refers to it as biofield energy. 

It flows through the body pathways, called meridians/nadis and chakras. It is also present in and around our organs and tissues. Ki is what animates our physical organs and cells, nourishing them and supporting them in their vital functions.

As long as something is alive, it has this life energy circulating through it. The flow can lessen or increase depending on what the being is feeling or going through at that time. Ki is highly influenced by the mind, so your positive or negative thoughts actually have an effect on your physical self. 

Rei means spiritual wisdom. So Reiki is simply an energy that is guided by spiritual consciousness. This is why Reiki energy does not need to be directed. It has its own awareness and intelligence, and simply by connecting to the client’s energy field, knows what to do and where to go.

The best results are achieved by just relaxing and remaining calm and enjoying the soothing energies flowing through you. It always knows what you need and adjusts its strength based on what will create the most appropriate and positive effect for you. 

The practitioner does not direct the healing, I am merely just a conduit for channeling the energy. The energy is not coming from me, only through me. So one cannot cause harm or do it incorrectly. We are simply connecting the client to the vibrations of the energy and then it does its thing. It is also safer for the practitioner as in this way, we do not take on too much baggage or karma of the client. This helps us to be able to do multiple sessions and not feel depleted. In fact, each time we give Reiki, we also receive it ourselves as Reiki energy fills us up first before flowing through our hands to you. 

How does Reiki work really?

Life force energy flows around us in an energy field known as the aura. When Ki is free and flowing, it causes well being and vitality. When the flow is disrupted, it causes malfunctioning and illnesses. Ki is very responsive to our thoughts and feelings. Positive thoughts increase the flow of Ki and we feel good. When negative or lower vibrational thoughts and energies get lodged in our system, due to various life situations, stress, etc, it creates an unhealthy Ki, called byoki in Japanese. This adversely affects our mental, physical and spiritual health, causing diminished vitality in our cells which manifests itself as illness. 

When receiving Reiki, this conscious part of the energy, the Rei assesses where the client has unhealthy ki blockages and directs the healing energy there. It works to replace all low vibrational energies with positive thoughts and love. Reiki can raise the vibratory levels of our body, causing the negative blocks to break apart and be released. In this way, Reiki clears, and heals the energy pathways allowing healthy Ki to once more flow naturally and unhindered. 

The meridians are pathways through which the subtle energy flows in our body. They contain energy points which are also the points used during an acupuncture session. Our chakras (there are 7 main chakras in the body) are the centers where this energy is transformed and purified as needed to keep us healthy. 

Reiki is powerful in helping to clear blockages in these pathways and as a result, helps improve issues with pain, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, decreases recovery time post surgery, improves mental attitude, reduces side effects during chemotherapy and so much more. Since it is so complementary to all other kinds of therapy, it is easily used alongside any other modality you are currently working with to resolve your issues. 

There are various types of energy healing which do similar things using different techniques like acupuncture, chakra balancing, crystal therapy, etc. I found Reiki to be the strongest kind of energy I could feel immediately and felt most strongly called to learn. It is a matter of finding what resonates with you most, and what you find the maximum benefit from.