HOW REIKI WORKS
- Fiona Phillips | Certified Japanese Reiki Shihan (Teacher)
- Mar 21, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 10
UNDERSTANDING THE MECHANISMS OF ENERGY HEALING
Reiki, a Japanese healing technique dating back to the early 20th century, has garnered attention for its ability to promote wellness and support physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual wellbeing. Central to Reiki practice is the concept of channeling universal life force energy to restore balance and harmony within the body. Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki himself spoke of its mystery and while the exact mechanisms underlying Reiki remain the subject of debate, several theories shed light on how this ancient art of healing may work.
WHAT IS REIKI?
Reiki is a holistic healing practice that originated in Japan in the early 20th century from founder, Mikao Usui. It revolves around the concept of channeling universal life force energy to promote physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.
A Reiki Practitioner channels that energy for healing. During a Reiki session, the practitioner acts as a conduit for this energy, gently placing their hands on the recipient's clothed body to connect the recipient to the energy. The recipient typically lies fully clothed on a treatment table or sits comfortably in a chair, allowing themselves to relax and be open to the healing energy.
Reiki sessions can support a deep state of relaxation, during which recipients may experience sensations of warmth, tingling, or deep calmness. The energy helps support balance the body's energy and can support the release of energetic stagnation that may be associated with physical or emotional discomfort. Many people report feelings of peace, clarity, and rejuvenation after a Reiki session, and regular sessions are often used as a complementary therapy to support overall health and well-being.
HOW DOES REIK WORK? OVERVIEW FROM A JAPANESE PERSPECTIVE
Everything around us, including ourselves, is made up of energy. This energy is understood in Reiki to be the vital life-force that supports all living things. Sometimes this energy can stagnate or get out of balance as a result of trauma, emotions, toxins, stress, spiritual disconnection and life in general, leading to physical or emotional problems.
That's where Reiki comes in. A trained Reiki practitioner uses their hands on the clothed body of the recipient to connect the recipient to this energy, the Reiki, and Reiki, having its own Higher Intelligence, is understood to help clear stagnation, soften the impact of unwanted emotions and past experiences, support the release of energetic ‘toxicity’, and encourage a return to balance. Of course there is some mystery and spiritual connection strengthened through Reiki which also helps return to our natural state of inner being, creating a sense of absolute inner peace and connected to one and all.
HOW DOES REIK WORK? - THE THEORIES
Energy Replenishment and Alignment with the Higher Self: Reiki is understood as a process where the practitioner acts as a channel for universal energy, allowing it to be drawn by the recipient's energy body into areas that are depleted, stagnant or where stagnation has accumulated. Those who practice traditional Japanese Reiki, are trained to attune to subtle signals emitted from the recipient’s body. These signals, often likened to radio waves, are perceived through the hands of the Practitioner as meaningful sensations. They serve as a guide, helping the practitioner identify areas of toxin accumulation, imbalance or stagnation and informing both the placement of the hands and the duration of treatment. Such problems occur, theoretically, due to a lack of energy and movement in that particular area, preventing the energy body from being able to function optimally which can create imbalance across the mind, body or spirit.
By placing their hands on these areas when channeling Reiki, the energy is replenishing in these areas and the body is supported to respond in its own natural way, encouraging balance and wellbeing. This influx of energy can help dissolve blockages and restore balance, enabling vitality to move more freely throughout the system.
Because Reiki draws on the energy of the universe (energy that is inherently connected to all things), it not only nourishes the physical but also reconnects us with our higher self, the essence of who we are beyond our human experiences. This is the spiritual and mysterious aspect of the Energy. Through this reconnection and alignment with our true nature, healing can extend beyond symptoms, addressing deeper imbalances that may stem from being disconnected from that essence.
Energy Clearing & Balancing: Science has confirmed that every living being is made up of energy. Today's physics tells us that everything in the universe, from stars to people, is made up of energy. At the tiniest level, tiny particles are constantly interacting, creating everything around us. Similarly, Reiki sees life force energy as the vital energy flowing through all living things, giving them life and keeping them going. This idea matches up with what scientists believe, that energy is what everything is built on, making the universe complex and connected.
According to Reiki (along with Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Shiatsu, Ayurveda, Reflexology, Energy Healing, Homeopathy, Chiropractic, Aromatherapy), many traditions teach that discomfort or imbalance may arise when the energy body is stagnant or not flowing freely. By channeling Reiki energy through light touch on the body, stagnation is cleared and the energy-body restored to free flow of energy, supporting wellbeing across physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.
Stimulation of Self-Healing Mechanisms: Another perspective suggests that Reiki may support the body’s natural capacity to rest, regulate and restore itself. Through deep relaxation and energetic balancing, Reiki may help create the conditions in which the system can reorient toward a greater sense of flow, ease and harmony.
Activation of Parasympathetic Nervous System: Reiki is widely known for inducing a state of deep rest. Many people describe feeling calmer, quieter and more grounded afterward. This state of profound relaxation is often associated with a shift toward the body’s restorative mode, allowing the whole system to rebalance in a natural way.
Bioelectromagnetic Field Modulation: Some theories suggest that Reiki may interact with the body’s energetic field, the subtle atmosphere that surrounds and permeates all living beings. From this perspective, Reiki may help bring this field into a more balanced and coherent state, which can positively influence overall wellbeing.
Psychological and Emotional Effects: Beyond its physical effects, Reiki is believed to have profound psychological and emotional benefits. By fostering a sense of inner peace, acceptance, and emotional release, Reiki treatments can help individuals cope with stress, trauma, and negative emotions. This holistic approach to healing acknowledges the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, recognizing the integral role of emotional well-being in overall health.
Placebo and Contextual Effects: Skeptics of Reiki often attribute its perceived benefits to placebo effects or the power of suggestion. While the placebo effect may indeed play a role in some cases, numerous studies have demonstrated Reiki's efficacy beyond placebo, suggesting that its effects may stem from more than just psychological factors.
CONCLUSION
In essence, the mechanisms of Reiki remain multifaceted and complex, intertwining concepts from traditional Eastern medicine, modern physics, and psychoneuroimmunology. While scientific research continues to explore the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Reiki, countless individuals around the world continue to experience profound healing and transformation through this gentle yet powerful energy healing modality. You can read more here about the acceptance of Reiki in mainstream medical settings together with the science and research on the efficacy of Reiki.
If you have any questions, or want to chat to more about Reiki please contact me and we can arrange a time to chat. If you would like to book a Reiki session in Melbourne (or distance Reiki worldwide), you can book an appointment here or if you would like to learn Reiki yourself, sign up for Melbourne Reiki courses here. I look forward to connecting with you for Reiki!
Warmest,
Fiona x
Fiona Phillips
Certified Reiki Shihan (Teacher) and Practitioner
Trained by the Jikiden Reiki & Arjava Petter Institutes
Within The Space | Reiki Melbourne
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