There has been a growing trend in recent times to reconnect with ancient wisdom and traditional healing practices either as a adjunct to modern, mainstream approaches to our health and well-being or as an alternative. We are becoming increasingly aware of the limitations of the mainstream segmented approaches which reduces our experiences to an isolated ailment or injury and instead, we are becoming much more intrigued by the power of older wisdom which has for centuries treated us with a holistic approach where mind, body and spirit are not treated as separate, let alone specific ailments as isolated. As the pace of modern life accelerates and the stresses of daily living take their toll, many individuals are also seeking relief from the mental and spiritual burdens imposed by modern life.
Accordingly, it comes as little surprise to me that there has been a notable resurgence of interest in Reiki healing. As an experienced Reiki Practitioners and Shihan (Teacher/Master), I am seeing this move towards the holistic approach more and more in my own practice and with incredible results.
At its core, Reiki healing offers a gentle yet powerful means of restoring harmony and balance on all levels of being, utilising the life-giving and sustaining energy that is in and around us ('Reiki'), to promote healing on a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual level. Originating back to early 20th-century Japan, the traditional energetic practice of Reiki offering a powerful pathway to healing, promoting happiness, health and inner peace.
The Origins of Reiki and its Underlying Philosophy
Reiki is a system and method practices tracing back to Japan in the early 20th century, founded by Mikao Usui, a lay Pureland Buddhist and spiritual seeker. Usui founded a system of healing that centered around the concept of harnessing and utilising universal, vital life-force energy, known as "ki" in Japanese or "qi" in Chinese. These practices include contemplations, breathing and visualising techniques and the most well-know, hands-on healing. The system as a whole aims to heal the mind, body and spirit, treating them all as one whole.
At its core, Reiki operates on the principle that this life force energy flows through all living beings, nourishing them and sustaining their existence. When the flow of ki is disrupted or stagnates, it can manifest as physical, emotional or spiritual imbalance, leading to illness or dis-ease and visa versa. Practitioners of Reiki are taught various methods to generate and restore energy and energy flow, repaid the mind and connect the spirit to facilitate whole healing.
For those that seek Reiki healing through a practitioner, it is through the gentle laying on of hands on the clothed body of the recipient, that the Reiki practitioners connect the recipient to the Reiki to promote healing. Reiki uses its Higher Intelligence to restore the natural flow of energy, promoting relaxation, stress reduction, pain and physical relief and overall well-being, mentally physically, emotionally and spiritually.
How Reiki Works
The practice of Reiki is both simple and profound. It requires no special equipment or rituals. A Reiki Channel is connected to the Reiki through a series of rituals from Teacher to student, known as Reiju or Attunements, that opens the student's capacity to channel Reiki and connects them to the Reiki energy. The student is then taught various techniques and practices to deepen their spiritual practice and continue to open themselves us as Channels of Reiki. The spiritual depth of the practitioner can impact the intensity and effectiveness of the Reiki they Channel.
When practiced on others, the Practitioner simply places their hands on the recipient, connecting the recipient to the Reiki, after which the Reiki is drawn by the energy body of the recipient. Whilst the Practitioner may sense where on the person's body, the Reiki is most needed, ultimately the Reiki has its own Higher Intelligence and it goes to where it is most needed for the Highest healing of the recipient. The quality of the Reiki channels is dependent on the Reiki Practitioner depth of spiritual and self-healing practices (daily practices done outside of client sessions).
Reiki sessions typically take place in a quiet and serene environment, with the recipient lying down or sitting comfortably to soft music that helps promote relaxation. The Reiki Practitioner gently places their hands on or above various areas of the recipient's body, allowing the energy to flow freely and work its magic.
Sensations experienced during a Reiki session vary from person to person but often include feelings of warmth, tingling, or deep relaxation. Many people report feeling held by the energy and describe the feeling as incredibly supportive and unconditionally loving.
Benefits of Reiki
The benefits of Reiki are as diverse as the individuals who experience them. Some of the most commonly reported benefits include:
Stress Reduction: Reiki promotes deep relaxation, which helps to alleviate the physical and mental impacts of stress and tension.
Reduction of Anxiety and Depression: Through its calming effect on the nervous system, Reiki can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Pain Relief: Many people find that Reiki can help reduce pain and discomfort, whether it stems from chronic conditions, injury, or illness.
Relief from Side Effects of Medical Treatments: Reiki has been shown to provide relief from the side effects of medical treatments, including chemotherapy.
Emotional Healing: Reiki brings up anything unlike itself. Reiki as unconditional, loving energy can bring to the surface stored emotions such as anger, sadness, frustration and grief, helping them to move through to place of inner peace.
Physical Healing: Reiki supports physical healing, stimulating the body's innate healing mechanisms, including enhancing circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting cellular repair. Reiki can accelerate the physical healing and recovery process.
Improved Sleep: Many recipients of Reiki report experiencing deeper and more restorative sleep patterns and relief from insomnia.
Decrease in Addictive Behaviors: Reiki can support individuals in overcoming addictive behaviors by addressing the underlying emotional and energetic imbalances that contribute to addictive patterns. It can also promote balance which can empowers individuals to break unwanted habits and cultivate healthier coping mechanisms. Specialists in traditional Japanese Reiki techniques, can also offer a special technique (in addition to hands-on healing) which specifically targets breaking of unwanted habits.
Sense of Overall Wellbeing: Reiki promotes a sense of overall wellbeing by balancing and restoring the mind, body, and inner being and fostering a profound sense of interconnectedness.
Increased Intuition and Spiritual Connection: Reiki enhances intuition and deepens spiritual connection by attuning individuals to the subtle energies of the universe. Through regular practice, Reiki practitioners often experience heightened awareness, expanded consciousness, and a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.
Acceptance in Hospitals Worldwide
While Reiki was once considered alternative or complementary medicine, its increasing acceptance in hospitals worldwide clearly shows us that it is increasingly recognizing and valued as an effective holistic approaches to healing,
From hospitals to hospices, more than 900 medical facilities across Australia, the USA, UK, Ireland, Brazil, and Mexico now provide Reiki to patients in various departments, including Children's hospitals, Emergency Rooms, Pre-Op, Operating rooms, Post-Op, Oncology, Cardiology, Orthopaedics, Internal Medicine, and Palliative Care units.
In these settings, Reiki may be offered as part of a comprehensive approach to patient care, alongside conventional treatments such as medication, surgery, and physical therapy. Many patients find that Reiki can enhance their recovery process, speeding up healing time and improving their overall sense of well-being.
Research on Efficacy
Numerous studies have explored the efficacy of Reiki as a complementary therapy for various conditions, including chronic pain, cancer, anxiety, and depression. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying Reiki's effects, preliminary findings suggest that it may offer tangible benefits for both physical and mental health. For a more comprehensive look into the research to date on Reiki's efficacy, you can read more here.
Overall, the research on Reiki's efficacy is promising, providing further validation for its inclusion in mainstream healthcare settings.
CONCLUSION
Reiki is increasingly embraced as a complimentary holistic healing modality for its powerful and transformative effects. As we begin to understand the limitation of modern medicine and its approach to our health and wellbeing, Reiki's offering opens the space for comprehensive approach to healing with its capacity to bring balance, harmony, and healing to those who engage with it. Reiki is incredibly beautiful to experience, as clients often report feeling held by the loving, compassionate, healing energy of Reiki and day in and day out I witness it's extraordinary capacity to heal and to promote, happiness, health and deep inner connection.
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 a Reiki course here. I look forward to connecting with you for Reiki!
Warmest,
Fiona x
Fiona Phillips
Certified Reiki Shihan (Teacher) and Practitioner
Komyo ReikiDo in Melbourne
Within The Space
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