If you do an internet search for "What is Reiki", you will be faced with many different and sometimes contradictory and confusing explanations.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines Reiki as: "A healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being".
The following explanation, written in 1998 by Wendy Joy Smith, describes Reiki beautifully:
When asked the question, what is Reiki, much has been written, by many distinguished scholars of Reiki, about what Reiki is, but there are still many people who have not been able to find the words that resonate with their own experiences of this hands on healing technique. I find that sometimes words still escape me.
It is the vitality you can feel when all is going well; it is the energy you feel when sitting still, under a tree; it is the energy of prayer. It is the feeling of being centred even when confronting anger, or negativity. It is like the feeling of a warm drink going down, when you feel it go all the way down on a cold night. Or a cold drink on a hot summer's night. The energy you feel when sitting on the beach with the water gently rolling over you. Energy can be experienced in any of these ways.
The depletion of energy can be felt too, if we are attuned to feeling it. Reiki will restore the feelings of wholeness and wellness, but the experience of Reiki is unique to the individual. It can be felt as heat, cold, tingling, vibration, but often one will feel sleepiness. Whatever the feelings though, Reiki will be of benefit.
Yes, it is an experiential thing, one must feel in order to know, and talking about it does not do it justice. Yet one must find the words to adequately discuss Reiki, when questioned by anyone new to energy work. So, what do you say? What is this energy that enlivens me, what is it about Reiki that soothes me, or brings me back to centre?
It is the energy of creation I believe, the energy that sparks one into existence, that one can easily deplete in this day and age just by the mere practice of going to work, being the family taxi, or just plain doing too much. It is the feeling of replenishment, the feeling one gets when all is well.
In today's world we are beginning to see modern medicine and many older forms of healing unite. In particular, it is common for the terms East and West thinking, coming together to be discussed. In the East the concept of energy running throughout the body has been mapped out for over 5000 years. This concept has been not so prominent in Western thinking, where the focus has been on healing the physical. Yet, within our thinking we have the language of energy. Energy is within and around us, but perhaps you do not think of it that way; just think of the language you use if you have had a long day, I'm drained of energy, or so and so just used up all my energy. This lost energy will of course be replaced over time if you recognise that you should rest, eat well, exercise etc.
Reiki is a simple way of stopping energy loss, and of replenishing energy in a loving way, for yourself anytime, wherever you are, it will be there for you. You don't have to feel drained or ill for Reiki to be of benefit to you though. It can be likened to meditation for oneself, without having to stress out over whether you can or cannot meditate. I feel one must re-evaluate what it is to be well.
Modern Western medical thought is beginning to bring about a change in consciousness, to allow the notion that how one is feeling in body mind and spirit has an impact on how the body will heal.
So, with the concept of physical healing we can integrate energy healing, to promote total body mind spirit healing. Reiki is a healing art that is simple, unobtrusive, complementary, soothing, and wont interfere with existing medical treatment. It is so beneficial that many hospitals accept it, along with other forms of hands on work, we can only benefit from Reiki treatments.
Reiki has been tested many times on various medical equipment, all going to support the fact that Reiki among other things, can:
• Increase the hematocrit values in the blood,
• Increase the healing rate of wounds,
• Reduce pain,
• Induce a relaxing state of mind,
The list can just go on and on.
Reiki is not only for energy re-balance work; it also promotes healing. Healing is to make whole, whatever that may mean to you, it is an individual thing. So the idea of Reiki is simple, yet complex. It is not easy to describe Reiki in English, as the word energy in our language does not quite describe what we mean when we talk of healing energy. Yet to try Reiki is to understand Reiki. How does one describe in words how a rose smells, or how an orange tastes? Reiki is the energy of creation; allow it to create the words for you.
To book a Reiki session (in person or online) with Larissa), a qualified Reiki therapist and Reiki Master in training, phone 0741490309.
