Frequently Asked Questions about REIKI

The name is made up of two words, “Rei” and “Ki”. The word “Rei” on a deeper level means higher knowledge or spiritual consciousness. The word “Ki” is the same “Chi” in Chinese or “Prana” in Sanskrit and “Ti” or “Ki” in Hawaiian – it means life energy.

Therefore, Reiki essentially means, “Life force from the spiritual consciousness.”

Where does Reiki come from?
Reiki comes from the divine source of all things, the divine source of the universe. There are many different names for this source depending on the beliefs of the individual. Reiki is not a religion and not limited to any one belief system.

How does a Reiki session work?
Reiki can be administered through the laying on of hands directly on the recipient, by holding the hands a few inches above the recipient, by beaming the Reiki across the room or by sending it over a great distance.

Generally the recipient will arrive and take a few minutes to acclimate to the environment. During this time the Reiki practitioner will ask them questions to determine if there is a specific problem that the individual needs help with.

The recipient may be asked to lie upon a Reiki table (massage table) or sit in a chair. The practitioner may use a series of standard hand positions or use an intuitive approach to determine where to focus the Reiki energy.

Do I have to have a physical problem such as a broken bone, pulled muscle, cold or other ailment to receive Reiki?
No. You do not have to have any problem at all to receive Reiki. Remember, Reiki promotes deep relaxation. You may just wish to have a Reiki session so that the Reiki energy will flow through you.

What does Reiki feel like when I receive it?
That is a hard question to answer because we all experience things differently. Usually, recipients report a deep sense of relaxation and peace. Some words that have been used to describe the Reiki experience include warmth, clam, energy, electricity (soothing, not shocking), peace, light, love and tingling in the area getting Reiki.

Do I have to be touched to get Reiki?
No, you do not have to have hands physically placed upon you. During a Reiki session, the hands do not touch the “private” areas on the human body at all. For these areas the hands are held about three inches above the body.

If you are uncomfortable having someone place their hands on you then you need to let the Reiki practitioner know before hand.

What happens if I fall asleep during a Reiki session?
Some people do become so relaxed that they fall into a deep and peaceful sleep. Don’t worry; this will not impact the Reiki session.

Is Reiki hard to learn?
Reiki is guided by the divine source of all things. The Reiki practitioner is the conduit through which this energy flows. To be able to be a conduit for Reiki a person must be attuned to the source of Reiki. The attunement process takes about 10 minutes for any particular level. Instructions on how to use Reiki at that level can be completed in a few hours (one on one) or in a one or two day class usually offered on the weekends.

Can Reiki be used to cause harm?
Definitely not! Reiki comes from the divine source and is guided by that source. Even if a Reiki practitioner set out to harm someone (which they wouldn’t) the divine source would not allow it to happen.

Do Reiki practitioners diagnose my ailment?
A Reiki practitioner is not a doctor and therefore does not diagnose. A practitioner may suggest that you visit your primary physician to have a particular area looked at but they do not diagnose. It is possible that they will detect past illnesses or problems and question you about them during or after the session.

Is Reiki intended to replace Western medicine?
No. Reiki is not a replacement for Western medicine. It is intended to work in conjunction with conventional medical treatment to produce faster healing results. When we are in pain or upset it takes energy to deal with the pain. This is vital energy that the body could be using to heal itself. Reiki promotes deep relaxation and stress relief thus allowing the body to focus its energies on repairing itself.

Will Reiki interfere with any of my medications?
No. Reiki is guided by the divine source of the universe to go where it needs to go. It will not cause medications to become less effective or stop working. After a Reiki session or multiple sessions you may feel better and think that you no longer need a medication. It is imperative that you make no changes to your medication without first consulting your physician!

Can I have Reiki while pregnant?
Most definitely. Reiki will not cause any harm to the uborn baby and will help promote relaxation and healing. Some people have reported that it helped to relieve some of the discomfort associated with pregnancy.

Can Reiki stop my addiction to say nicotine or drugs?
Reiki is not a mystical cure all. Reiki helps to promote relaxation as well as change in one’s life. However, the change you seek must come from within you. If you want the change then Reiki may be able to help you achieve it but remember you are the ultimately source of the desired change.

Where can I learn more about Reiki?
One source is the International Center for Reiki Training (ICTR).

You can also use various search engines.

Here is a video linked from their website of their founder, William Lee Rand, giving a brief introduction to Reiki.

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