What the ‘Heal’ is Reiki?
Words: Elizabeth Rosa | Design: Ava Leigh
Laying on a massage table, someone holds their hands above you, scanning your body — never touching you, but sensing your energy. How do you know it’s working? Because you somehow feel the negative energy releasing.
Reiki is an ancient Eastern healing practice that’s existed for over 2,500 years. It claims to remove negative energy, promoting physical and emotional healing. It might be the addition to your wellness journey you never knew you needed.
The Reality Behind the Magic
“I like to think of Reiki as tuning into the universal [life] source energy that exists all around us,” says Sheena Green, owner and Reiki practitioner at Flourishing Roots Wellness in Urbandale, Iowa.
Reiki claims to activate natural healing elements within the body to assist with all levels of being: emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. The idea is to channel positive energies and release the bad, promoting physical and non-physical healing. Think of it as an offshoot of meditation, with more metaphysical powers at play. With your eyes closed, the rest of your senses are heightened, fully immersing you into the experience.
“When a client is on the table, I connect to their energy and start to scan their whole body to see [what stressors] pop out,” Green says. “The most prominent things that you need help with are likely to come up in a session.”
Reiki sessions look different for everyone. Individual practitioners have unique practices — they might use a sound bath, crystals, or essential oils. It might sound a little eccentric, but why shoot down a chance for newfound inner healing?
Reiki’s effects depend on your personal goals and what your practitioner discovers during
the session.
“As I go through different Reiki positions — that’s where my intuitive and psychic research plays a part,” Green says. “[My abilities show me] different techniques on where to place my hands to flow energy better.”
What a Bunch of Hocus Pocus
Like many other holistic and alternative medicines, Reiki has its skeptics. We have no idea if this will cure what ails you. But we do know this ancient healing practice is still around for a reason, and it certainly works for some.
“I was very skeptical before I went in,” says Matt Eveland, a client of Reiki Healing in Des Moines, Iowa
Eveland says his skepticism is influenced by his religion, worrying he is betraying his Christian faith. Reiki is not a religious practice nor does it operate under any God or Deity.
Instead, practitioners urge people to think of Reiki as an energetic system that exists in its own space, separate from religion.
“It’s different for every person — depending on how comfortable they are looking inwards,” Green says. “[People that] release expectations tend to have transformative sessions. They don’t have to do anything but be open to the energy.”
Brynn Miller, a full-time college student and athlete says her interest in Reiki kick-started her spiritual journey.
“I was a little scared,” Miller says. “But, it only took five minutes [of my first Reiki session to feel] all this weight that I had been carrying lifted off my body. I had a break from all those thoughts rushing through my head — I had a moment of genuine peace.”
A Full Body Cleanse
During my sessions, I like to clear out all [of the negative energy] that doesn’t belong to that person,” Green says. “When they walk out they feel lighter, less burdened, and there’s less noise in their head.”
Reiki enthusiasts say it has a positive effect on anxiety — something many can identify with.
“I’m a very high-strung person and I have really bad anxiety,” Miller says. “I had trouble finding a way to overcome [anxiety before Reiki].”
Reiki can also help reduce physical ailments by removing negative, nervous energy and redirecting positive energy back into the body.
“I bottled up [all this negative energy] and I physically carried tension in my shoulders and neck,” Eveland says. “I didn’t realize, [because] I thought it was from a past injury. But after a couple of sessions [with Green] I was able to relax and lower my shoulders and … get rid of some of the shame I was carrying.”
What Works for You
“I’ve tried normal therapy. I’ve tried self-sabotage. I’ve tried just about everything that is available to fix my mental state,” Eveland says.
It’s easy to feel hopeless — it’s human nature. We can turn to self-destructive and unhealthy coping mechanisms that only hurt us in the long run. But if it works for you, Reiki can offer a much more beneficial and mindful alternative.
“I was able to make about a year’s worth of progress [on my mental state] … in one [Reiki] session,” Eveland says.
Reiki is all about practicing mindfulness. It’s a way to maintain positive energy and a state of clarity.
“People can walk in with a big energetic backpack of stress,” Green says. “[Reiki sessions are] a time where they can set that down and let their nervous system relax.”
Sources:
– Photo Credit: Ashlynn Murphy, Unsplash
– Photo Credit: Breakingpic, Pexels
– Photo Credit: Anete Lusina, Pexels
– Sheena Green, Owner & Reiki Practitioner at Flourishing Roots Wellness, Website
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