A FIRST LOOK AT
REIKI
A GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO ARE
CURIOUS ABOUT REIKI
Sharon Critchfield
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is Reiki?
How does Reiki Work?
What to Expect from a Reiki Treatment
Benefits of Reiki
Distance Reiki
Can Anyone Learn Reiki?
Copyright 2015
What is Reiki?
Reiki literally means “Universal Life Force Energy.” Reiki is the art of
natural healing that effects the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
bodies. Every person carries an energy in and around their body from the
moment of conception. Ancient eastern cultures have harnessed and
applied this energy for healing for thousands of years. Many disciplines,
such as Acupuncture, Yoga, Meditation and Reiki have been developed to
control and enhance the flow of this energy. This energy is pure and holds
the essence of our natural divine self. It is everyone’s birthright to use this
gift of God for their highest good.
How Does Reiki Work?
Reiki is a technique for transmitting energy to yourself and others through
the hands. The hands act as a vehicle for sending energy where the body
needs it the most. This energy is transferred to the client by the Reiki
practitioner. The Reiki practitioner must learn the process in classes taught
by a Reiki Master. The Reiki practitioner must abide by a set of moral and
ethical rules with the utmost respect for their client and the process. The
Reiki practitioner is simply a channel for the activation of the client’s own
natural healing ability. Reiki brings your power back to you!
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What to Expect from a Reiki Treatment
A Reiki treatment is performed by a Reiki practitioner. The client
usually gets comfortable on a table much like a massage table. The
Reiki practitioner places their hands slightly above the skin and moves
their hands to different areas of the body throughout the treatment.
The client may feel heat from the practitioner’s hands. This is very
common and indicates the energy transfer. The client may experience
movement inside the body such as coughing, sneezing and growling of
their stomach. This is proof that the energy is moving to where it
needs to be the most. Many clients feel a release seeming to exit their
body through their fingertips or feet. Some clients feel immediate
alleviation of pain or discomfort while others do not feel any different
right away. It may take a few days for the client to feel the full
benefits. Reiki works best if performed repeatedly. Some choose to
do this in consecutive days. Others like follow ups every few weeks.
By this time the body has had a chance to rid itself of toxins and
restore balance so the healing can begin. Some clients report being
extremely relaxed and even falling asleep. It brings a sense of peace
and well-being, mental clarity and compliments the healing properties
of other medical treatments. A typical treatment can last anywhere
from 15 minutes for a quick treatment to an hour for a full body deep
treatment. Because Reiki works with subtle nonphysical energies, it
can be performed as distance healing. The practitioner and the client
decide on a time when the client can lay undisturbed while the
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practitioner completes the treatment. It is just as effective and works
for the highest good of the client. It is always more effective when the
client has an open mind and believes that healing is taking place.
Thoughts become things and the more positive the outlook, the
greater the realization of the healing taking place.
Benefits of Reiki
There are countless benefits a person gets from a Reiki treatment.
Many people tend to focus on the physical benefits, when the
emotional, mental and spiritual benefits are every bit as important.
The physical benefits are quite obvious and could be the first felt by
the client. However, that is not always the case. Remember, the
energy travels to where your body needs it the most. Your
subconscious knows what needs attention.
Some of the Physical Benefits are:
 Eases aches and pains
 Relaxes tight muscles
 Releases tension and stress
 Increases energy
 Relieves fatigue
 Strengthens natural self-healing processes
 Promotes sleep
 Clears toxins
 Balances energy
 Clears blockages in energy body
 Adjusts to your own physical needs
 Strengthens and supports immunity
 Aids in speedy recovery from flu, headaches, back pain…
 Reduces blood pressure
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 Works on the causal levels of diseases
 Faster recovery from injury, trauma, and surgery
 Slows the aging process
 Promotes organ health
 Works well simultaneously with medical treatment
 Enhances health and well-being
The physical benefits of Reiki have numerous case studies to prove
all of the above benefits. Reiki is holistic as it resides within us. Rei
means universal or omnipresent which means being present
everywhere at the same time. This is our spiritual consciousness which
possesses the wisdom of our higher self. Ki is the very essence of our
soul. It is what gives us life. It is this energy which can be activated for
self-healing. When this energy becomes blocked due to stress or
trauma, one is more susceptible to illness and disease. One will usually
have a negative attitude and life becomes difficult. A Reiki treatment
clears these blockages. The benefits of Reiki do not end there.
Remember, Reiki is holistic and treatment gives long lasting emotional,
mental and spiritual benefits.
Emotional Benefits of Reiki:
 Promotes personal awareness
 Encourages emotional release
 Promotes a feeling of peace, calm and well-being
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 Helps unlock suppressed feelings
 Brings comfort during grief
 Promotes a positive outlook
 Deeply relaxing
 Eases anxiety, depression and stress
 Soothes emotional distress
 Relieves panic attacks
 Helps one to cope with stressful situations
 Strengthens relationships
 Lessens the drama in life
 Promotes a feeling of compassion and joy
 Helps develop a deep sense of gratitude
It cannot be stressed enough that Reiki goes to where YOU need it.
It is a natural self-healing process. Along with the physical and
emotional benefits, there are a host of benefits for the mental body as
well.
Mental Benefits of Reiki:
 Brings clarity to mind
 Enhances creativity
 Helps to maintain focus
 Slows the mental effects of aging
 Aids in getting and keeping a positive attitude
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 Balances moods
 Allows one to let go of that which no longer serves them
 Enables lasting life changes
 Clarifies life purpose
 Helps to clear away old patterns and negative beliefs
 Enhances memory
 Helps with procrastination
 Helps with maintaining good study habits
 Quiets the mind
As you can see by now, the benefits are numerous. Some additional
benefits spiritually can be the main objective for some during
treatment.
Spiritual Benefits of Reiki:
 Enhances spiritual connection
 Promotes mindfulness
 Raises the energetic vibration
 Brings clarity and focus to the spiritual journey
 Enhances intuition
 Brings synchronicities into life
 Centers and grounds self
 Promotes a state of meditation
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 Harmonizes and balances
 Promotes deep relaxation
 Opens up spiritual awareness
In addition to these benefits, Reiki can be used in a variety of ways. It
can be used to send energy to an event, such as a meeting. It creates
harmony among the participants and encourages a flow of positive
energy. It is very effective on animals as they have no prior beliefs to
get in the way. Energy can be sent to animals, plants and even
spaces, such as a home, office or vehicle. It can even be used to
influence future events such as exams. It is healing for past events as
well.
So, if Reiki can do all of this, then what are we waiting for? Why
doesn’t everyone either learn to do Reiki or take treatments from a
Reiki professional? My own personal opinion is that it takes faith.
Reiki is not something you can see, although the effects can be seen.
It is not a pill to take. It requires faith on the person receiving the
treatment and an intention for it to be used to the highest good
possible. I have witnessed the enormous healing effects of Reiki in a
person who not only believes in the power of Reiki to help them, but
also is excited and emotional about the outcome. When positive
emotions and faith are tied and intent is voiced, anything is possible.
One only needs to remember, they are releasing their whole being to
the infinite power of God.
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Distance Reiki
In the heart of all spiritual teachings is the understanding that we are
all connected and as one. We also know that Spirit dos not abide by
rules of time and space. Energy flows through us as our thoughts,
behaviors and emotions. Since we are all connected, time and space is
not a factor, and energy flows through our thoughts, then Reiki
treatments do not have to be in person. The person performing the
treatment runs the Reiki energy through thought processes that are
learned during classes. The client also has procedures to follow which
include being available to be relaxed and uninterrupted for the time
and date decided upon. This allows the energy to flow more easily to
where it is needed the most. It also helps for the client to set an
intention for what they hope the treatment accomplishes. As with
anything, you are what you think. If you are skeptical and are
attempting to prove the Reiki practitioner is unsuccessful, then don’t
do it. It won’t appear to you to work and it will be money wasted. An
open mind and positive attitude are two keys to receiving the benefits
of Reiki, whether in person or distance.
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Can Anyone Learn Reiki?
Simply put. Yes, of course. There are 3 levels of Reiki and each one
has its own set of procedures and information to learn. Attunements
are given for each level and an increase in Reiki energy comes with
each attunement. Practice is a requirement. The classes require a
sincere desire to learn and demands the highest in regards to moral
and ethical practices. It is not to be undertaken lightly or as a whim.
Many people take one level at a time and practice one level before
moving on to the next. It is my own personal belief that there is an
emergent need for as many people out there as possible to learn
Reiki. Our world needs us and Reiki! There are different schools of
thought on how it is best to learn Reiki and the cost of doing so.
Many believe it is not necessary to take a class in person and do it
online instead. Many would take that last statement as blasphemy and
believe in person with an accomplished Reiki Master is the only way
to go. I say, do what you believe, because that is where individual
power resides. I would encourage you to do some research first, so
you can make an informed decision. If you know a Reiki professional,
ask their advice. Most importantly, pray about it. God will send you
the right teacher at just the right time for you.
I hope that I have demystified Reiki for you and you now have a
better, more informed opinion of Reiki. If I can be of any help to you,
please email me at [email protected]. I would be happy to
help!
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