What is Reiki?
Before I had reiki done for the first time I had a great curiosity about it.
Would I feel anything? What’s going to happen? Is it safe? Could it hurt me? These are normal questions for someone that has never had reiki done or explained to them before.
The first time I received reiki it was very brief and I didn’t really feel too much other than relaxed, but the second time opened up my eyes to just how powerful it can be.
It was probably about 10 years ago now and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was working at a salon in downtown Huntington Beach and a new girl that offered reiki as a service had just started renting a few days in the esthetician room. I was so intrigued that she offered reiki but was bummed because we unfortunately worked the same days which meant I wouldn’t be able to book with her. In passing, one random Wednesday I had a cancellation and she had an opening.
I remember asking her what to expect and being excited and nervous at the same time.
Just like each reiki session is unique, so is the experience that you will have from each reiki practitioner.
She had me lay on my stomach first with my face down, she placed crystals along my spine and started with setting an intention and having me repeat it back to her.
Almost immediately I felt the warmth from her hands start to heat up around my head.
I said out loud “Woah!” She replied, “Yeah. You can feel that…that means it’s working.”
Shortly after she began the reiki, she said “Katie I don’t know how to tell you this and I don’t want to freak you out but there’s a spirit here that has a message for you. If you’re ok with it I’m just going to describe him to you and if you’d like I can ask him to leave.”
With my eyes still closed and feeling a great sense of peace my intuition knew whoever was coming to visit me had only good intentions.
She then described a man that perfectly resembled my papa, who I was very close to but passed when I was young.
He told me he loved me, he was proud of me, he’s sorry he didn’t get to be there when I was growing up and that he’s always there for me.
Tears were streaming down my face but I didn’t dare open my eyes for the fear of it somehow all going away.
She told me I could talk to him, he could hear me and was standing right next to me listening to everything I say.
After we exchanged our I love you’s and goodbyes she then proceeded on with the reiki.
After the session I think we were both in a state of shock, it turns out neither one of us had experienced something like that before.
It was truly a beautiful experience and I’m so grateful to have had it. In a way, ever since then I’ve always kind of chased a similar experience but like I mentioned before, every experience is unique and wonderful in its own way.
In many different reiki experiences before I have felt the presence of spirits, however it's always been a positive feeling and positive outcome. For certain clients that don’t want to experience this at all and simply want the healing, we set the intention for that to be so and set a protective barrier for the space.
I’ve always been hesitant to share stories with others about my own personal reiki experience or the experiences of my clients because I wanted to avoid giving any kind of expectation to those that have never had reiki done before.
After becoming a certified reiki practitioner years ago and having multiple different reiki sessions of my own what I’ve come to realize is…no reiki experience will be the same.
Sometimes you will feel absolutely nothing but relaxed while it’s happening, others you will feel certain areas get warm or tingle. I’ve personally burst out into tears during a reiki session and other times I’ve completely passed out drooling on myself.
The Origins of Reiki
Reiki is a form of energy healing, originated in Japan in the early 20th century. The practice was founded by Mikao Usui, who is said to have rediscovered this ancient method of healing during a spiritual retreat on Mount Kurama in 1922.
Usui was a spiritual seeker interested in understanding and connecting with universal energy. He underwent an intense 21-day period of fasting, meditation, and prayer on Mount Kurama.
During this retreat, he had a profound spiritual awakening, experiencing a connection with a divine universal energy & receiving channeled information about the power of life force energy and how to access it.
Rei stands for “universal” & Ki means “life force.” The practice is based on the idea that there is a universal life force energy that flows through all living things. When this energy is balanced, it contributes to physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
How does one become a Certified Reiki Practitioner?
Reiki practitioners typically go through different levels of training, which are often called Reiki I, Reiki II, and Reiki Master. Each level involves learning more about the practice, techniques, and how to teach others. Training usually includes attunements, which are ceremonies to help students connect with Reiki energy and enhance their ability to channel it. ANYONE can learn and practice reiki but they must be attuned by a reiki master in order to have access to reiki’s life force energy.
Why do people sometimes experience the energy of different spirits during their Reiki sessions?
This is just my own personal opinion and take on this subject, but I believe this happens similar to when people are praying and they feel the presence of god.
When we are in a deep state of peaceful relaxation or meditation, I believe the veils between the realms thin, making it easier for us to connect with our guides, angels and passed loved ones. Reiki is such a pure and light energy and it typically works more effectively when I call in my angels and guides and the angels and guides of my client to help support us during this transfer of energy.
