How Reiki keeps my chronic pain in check
What is Reiki Healing?
In my own experience with Reiki – it is a life changing superpower!
Reiki is a holistic healing and relaxation energy therapy, a natural healing method that heals on all levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. It is an effective treatment for reducing pain and stress, recovering from injury or surgery, tackling emotional issues and has proved very effective in treating joint and arthritic problems.
In the practice of Reiki, the life force energy that surrounds us every day in the universe, sustaining life and promoting healing in all living things is channelled by a qualified practitioner to heal mind, body and soul. This healing then works to assist us in regaining harmony and wholeness, addressing the whole person, realigning our energies physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
REI (pronounced “ray”) is the Japanese word for spiritual or sacred,
and
KI (pronounced “key”) is Japanese for “vital life force energy that flows through all living things”.
The founder of the Reiki healing system Dr Mikao Usui (1865-1926) rediscovered the ancient healing practice of Reiki late in the 19th century. Reiki originated as a Tibetan Buddhist practice over three thousand years ago and had almost been forgotten. It was brought to the West in 1937 via attuned practitioners in Hawaii, and is passed on from one person to another through initiation, teachings and defined forms of practice as a way of healing of self and others. The ability to practice Reiki is received only through the tradition of attunement empowerment with a Reiki Master.
How does Reiki healing work?
A Reiki practitioner is attuned to the Reiki universal life force energy flow by a Master teacher, and then Reiki can be used to treat the self and others. Becoming attuned to Reiki energy is very much like creating a pre-set button on a radio – once attuned to Reiki energy, a person can always access it whenever they wish to and channel it wherever it is needed via the intent of the practitioner. To keep our Reiki practise strong, as practitioners, we self-treat regularly and carry out meditation practices to ensure that we are a clear channel and in the best state on every level to treat others.
How is a Reiki healing treatment given?
Reiki can be given in person or distantly with exactly the same results. Reiki will automatically flow to wherever it is needed to heal, soothe and calm us on every level.
During an in person treatment:
Healing is delivered from the practitioner to the client, either distantly by intention or by sitting in the same room/hands on treatment (I treat in person via placing my hands gently upon the head) Some practitioners prefer placing of the hands over the body in a sequence of positions to deliver the energy to a problematic place e.g. a painful knee. The client needs to be comfortable, so I ask how the client prefers to receive the treatment. Some people prefer to sit up, or not be touched at all, some prefer to lie down on a couch. Whether the practitioner’s hands are placed on or just above the body is all down to the client’s preference. It is never necessary to remove any clothing apart from shoes, and no private parts of the body will ever be touched, there is no place for sexual contact within the practice of Reiki.
The practitioner’s intention is to hold a space for healing over a time period of usually 30 to 60 minutes. Some practitioners carry out a sequence of positions over the head and body to deliver healing energy to the client, but this isn’t necessary, its a matter of preference from practitioner to practitioner. I always ask permission from my client if I am drawn to place hands on the body e.g. shoulders or lower back. The practitioner directs energy to any known ailments or blockages in the physical and auric body, but Reiki automatically flows to wherever it is needed for the person’s greatest and highest good so intention is all that is needed.
Can Reiki healing be sent to someone distantly?
Reiki may be sent distantly to a client. I have many regular clients (and animal clients!) as far away as Australia, South Africa and the USA. It works perfectly by arranging a time when you know you will be relaxed and undisturbed to maximise the effectiveness of the treatment, often around bedtime or while you are sleeping. To send the treatment I just sit in meditation, open up the flow of Reiki and set the intention that the person shall receive the treatment for their highest and greatest good. It helps to know the person’s location or have a photo sometimes, but I’ve found its not necessary.
What can I expect to feel during a Reiki treatment?
As Reiki energy flows through you, a letting go of all tension, anxiety, fear or other negative feelings and a state of peace and well-being can be experienced. At the end of the treatment, one feels refreshed with a more positive, balanced outlook.
You can expect at the very least, to feel deeply relaxed, calm and peaceful while the Reiki energy flows through and surrounds you. Having said this, no two of my clients experience the exact same feelings.
Some say they can feel intense heat or cool breeze radiating from my hands, gentle waves of energy through the body, heat surges through various parts of their body, tingles and twitching, gentle rocking sensations, swirls of colour or coloured light behind the eyelids.
I personally experience an intense feeling of total relaxation and connectedness during and after a treatment. It is quite common for clients to fall asleep during a treatment as your relaxation deepens. The best advice is to expect nothing and allow the results and benefits to unfold. Some people don’t feel anything at all during a session, then realise a day or two later that those aches and pains are diminished or gone, and note that they are feeling more positive about life, calmer, less stressed, smiling more as the days go on.
Every person is different, and some need regular treatment to alleviate their symptoms or to maintain their wellbeing. I am one of those people! I treat myself daily for osteoarthritis in my knees and deterioration in my leg and ankle bones from metal plates and pins put in some years ago, lymphoedema, ovary issues and find it helps even that level of pain, keeping it at bay without the need for painkillers. Life changing for me and has helped me overcome the diagnosis of a top UK knee surgeon who told me in 2013 I’d be in a wheelchair by 2016. Am I in a wheelchair? No!
How long is a Reiki healing treatment?
A full Reiki treatment lasts anywhere between 30 minutes to one hour. As a practitioner one knows when the treatment is completed for that session and as such cannot time it. If you fall asleep during a treatment then the practitioner will wait for you to wake up on your own.
Can Reiki healing help animals?
Yes, I have many distant animal “clients” and I treat the horses here on the farm often. My cat loves Reiki too, and often comes in for a little Reiki nap in the room while a treatment is taking place!
Animals seem to have a natural understanding of how Reiki benefits them. You can easily see it is working as they will react to it. Some animals find hands on treatment is too intense and love to sit close by you when you switch it on instead. Once an animal has received a Reiki treatment, they will often let you know that they want more, mine place their heads in my hands to tell me to switch it on! Plants also respond well to Reiki.
One case I am most proud of is a puppy named Winston, whose owner contacted me in 2005. Jeannette Vinson’s vet had told her Winston could die because his oesophagus didn’t join up with his stomach properly and it was inoperable. Jeannette asked me if I would send Reiki to Winston. We arranged a time when he would be asleep and still, and I sent Reiki.
Three weeks later I got an e-mail from Jeannette telling me the vet was astounded, and had no explanation as to why Winston’s oesophagus and stomach were healed. He was able to eat normally and gained weight.
Winston lived a long, healthy and happy life as part of the Vinson family, I was blessed to receive regular updates and photos of him from Jeannette his whole life. Winston passed away in 2017. I will remember him always as a truly miraculous little doggie! <3
Is Reiki safe alongside conventional medicine and care?
Yes. Reiki will not conflict with any other health care, treatments or medication; it can only enhance any existing conventional medical treatment.
Reiki has a positive effect on all forms of illness and negative conditions. From ailments such as head or stomach aches, colds, flu, issues of tension and anxiety as well as serious illness like heart disease, cancer, leukemia, etc. The side effects of regular medical treatments have also been reduced or eliminated. This includes the negative effects of chemotherapy, post operative pain and depression as well as speeding the healing rate and reducing the time needed to stay in hospital. Reiki always helps and in some cases people have experienced complete healings which have been confirmed by medical tests before and after the Reiki treatments.
Reiki speeds the healing process and can restore depleted energy reserves if you are ill or injured. The only time we need caution is with broken bones – I always wait a few hours until a bone is set in place before sending Reiki to speed the mending.
However, while some have experienced miracles, they cannot be guaranteed. Most people do experience a reduction in stress and improvement in physical and psychological conditions. It certainly changed my life for the better and continues to give me a better quality of life and mental and emotional strength.
Do I stop seeing a regular doctor in order to receive a Reiki treatment?
No. Reiki works in conjunction with all other regular medical or psychological treatment. Reiki energy works in harmony with all other forms of healing, including drugs, surgery, psychological care or any other method of alternative care and will improve the results.
Can Reiki help my emotional state /old traumas?
Yes. Reiki can assist you to release negativity and can realign and balance the energy meridians of the body on every level. It can release old hurts and “emotional baggage” sometimes instantly, with some, it takes a block of treatments over time to get there. I have had some lovely feedback from people over the years who had no physical ailment but had plenty of emotional repressions and blocks to release, who felt that they had finally let go of these issues with the help of regular Reiki treatments.
Can Reiki heal the past?
As Reiki will go to wherever it is needed, it can even be sent back to heal past emotional hurts and trauma. Reiki can be sent to past and present issues, events and situations that are hanging over you, and will help to ease them in time. Reiki will always work for the greater good.
Is it safe for pregnant women to be treated?
It is wonderful for pregnancy and for baby. Many pregnant women have received treatments from me with great benefit to them and their unborn child. It has also been used during child birth. Pregnant women have also taken the Reiki training and received the Reiki attunement with beneficial results.
Can Reiki healing help to calm babies?
Babies love Reiki. It is very healthy for them to receive Reiki. Do not worry about it being too strong. Reiki automatically adjusts to what the baby needs. I have treated many “Reiki babies” now from conception to childhood and they are calm, happy and lovely children.
Are there any side effects from a Reiki treatment?
Most of the time a person will feel relaxed and uplifted by a Reiki treatment. However, sometimes a person will have what is called a healing crisis. As a person’s vibration goes up, toxins that have been stored in the body will be released into the blood stream to be filtered by the liver and kidneys and removed from the system. When this happens, sometimes a person can get a headache or stomach ache or feel weak. If this happens, it is a good idea to drink more water, eat lighter meals and get more rest. The body is cleansing as part of the healing process so this is a good sign and it is very temporary. I’ve experienced it myself and always feel better than I did before the treatment once the symptoms pass.
Can Reiki help groups or even global crises?
Yes, this is one of the wonderful benefits of Reiki and is why it is such a wonderful technique. It allows individuals and groups to do something positive about challenging situations all over the planet. Reiki can be used to reduce suffering and help people anywhere in the world. I often band together with other practitioners to send en masse to a situation. I also have a free healing list in the hundreds now that I send to twice a week. If you would like to add someone or a beloved animal or a situation to the list, please contact me.
What are the “Reiki principles” about?
Reiki is not a religion or belief system, and there are no distinctions on the basis of race, class, sex, belief or sexual orientation.
We do remind ourselves daily of our code of ethics in Reiki, which I feel can apply to anyone on a path of self development:
The 5 Reiki Principles:
Just for today do not worry,
Just for today do not anger.
Honour your parents, teachers and elders,
Earn your living honestly,
Show gratitude to every living thing.
Some master practitioners such as myself feel that receiving or being attuned to Reiki brings a clearer sense of one’s own true self and humanity, with deepening acceptance as time goes on.
As Reiki practitioners, we do not claim to be able to cure any problem but to offer physical and spiritual comfort which may bring some relief.
Some testimonials from my Reiki clients:
Click here to book your Reiki healing treatment or study at home and be attuned to become a Reiki healer with Rachel