Written By: Emma Grassi​

It is completely normal to be a little nervous and even skeptical before trying something new. In June 2023, I had my first-ever Reiki experience. I sometimes hesitate when it comes to new things because, like most people, I fear the unknown. In the past few weeks, I have done rigorous research, read Reiki books, and even tried Reiki for the first time with Lily Goodman, founder and owner of Crystal Chakra Yogi. Despite my nerves, diving into something new made me feel stronger and wiser, and I encourage everyone reading this blog to do the same. ​

In this blog post, I will explain what I have learned about the healing nature of Reiki and even discuss my own experience to help you prepare for your first Reiki experience or learn a little more about the healing practice itself.​

What is Reiki?​

The energy healing practice originated in Japan during the 1920s. Mikao Usui was the first ever Reiki master who used Reiki to heal physical, emotional, and mental diseases.

Reiki is an energy healing technique. Reiki is written with two Japanese characters, rei, translating to universal spirit, and ki, meaning vital life force/energy. In Reiki: Your Comprehensive Guide to a Holistic Hands-on Healing Technique for Balance and Wellness, author Melissa Tipton explains Reiki as "the essence or spirit of everything." The healing purpose of Reiki is to restore energy flow and balance. Through understanding Reiki, we can comprehend that everything is energetically connected and influenced by surrounding energy. ​

Who Performs Reiki?

There are three levels to becoming a Reiki master. Level one allows you to practice Reiki on yourself and level two allows you to practice Reiki on others. One does not have to be a Reiki master to perform Reiki, but reaching the third level allows the practitioner to advance their knowledge and skills so that they may attune new practitioners.

How Does it Work?

Reiki is performed with the intention of guiding healing Reiki energy throughout the body to any areas that need it most. This happens when the Reiki master or practitioner gently floats their hands above the client. During a Reiki session, clients enter a state of relaxation that is proven to reduce stress and anxiety. You might feel warmth or a pulsing sensation, even without physical contact. Both practitioners and clients can have visions during this process. The Reiki master may find blockages or weaknesses within the chakras, which you can address with the resources provided later in the article.​

What Are Chakras?

The word “chakra” comes from the sacred language of Hinduism, Sanskrit, and translates to “wheel” or “disk" It is an energy center within the body and there are seven main chakras we work with in Reiki. These are: root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. If one is blocked or weak, it affects the surrounding chakras. Blockages or weaknesses in the chakras can manifest as not only mental but also physical symptoms. The link below is a more detailed guide can be found on the @crystalchakrayogi Instagram with information on the seven chakras and details on how to detect and work through imbalances.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CHAKRA GUIDE

What is the Purpose of Reiki? How Can it be Used to Promote Healing?​

Reiki aims to address energy imbalances and promote healing in the mind and body and is an excellent complementary alternative therapy to add to your traditional care regimen. It can help clients figure out the root cause of symptoms and inner wounds they may have suppressed and reduce anxiety or pain.​

Here is a list of “Benefits of releasing and clearing with Reiki” according to Psychotherapeutic Reiki: A Holistic Body-Mind Approach to Psychotherapy by Richard Curtin. ​

● Reiki sheds light on areas of energy imbalance.​

● Reiki helps ease stress and heal trauma by guiding the client into the parasympathetic nervous system, where rest and digest functions occur.

● Reiki clears energy blocks and restores the free and healthy flow of ki in the energy field. ​

● Reiki is an effective approach to pain management, as it can ease acute and chronic pain. It is used in hospitals worldwide as an effective complement to pain medication and other therapies.

Hopefully, now you better understand what Reiki is and how it can be used to help heal/treat individuals experiencing all sorts of pain and suffering. ​

My First Experience with Reiki​

As I was preparing to lie down for the Reiki session, Lily, founder of Crystal Chakra Yogi, gave me two tiger's eye crystals to hold in each hand. She explained to me before we began that tiger's eye is a grounding crystal. The Reiki-charged crystal helped me feel grounded and safe. Though I was initially nervous, I was able to enter a meditative state during the session.

During my first Reiki experience, I entered a deep state of relaxation and began to have a vivid vision of myself lying on the massage table. A bright light radiated from above, illuminating my body, especially my forehead (crown chakra). At the same time, there were vines with thorns holding my body tightly to the table (root chakra). I later discovered that this vision symbolized my crown chakra's strength, yet the weakness of my root chakra held me down. I was shocked I had such a vivid vision, but Lily's intuition gave me clarity. ​

During my session with Lily, she wisely explained chakra blockages to me with an analogy. She told me to imagine the energetic body, or human energy field (HEF), and chakra system, as a river. She explained that in nature, if the river is polluted, the water is no longer clean, and problems can arise in the surrounding ecosystem. Just like how if a chakra is weak, it can affect the body's mental, emotional, and physical health. If a large rock is placed where the water is meant to flow, the water can no longer flow freely. For instance, if the throat chakra has a blockage, the surrounding chakras will also be affected by the impacted flow of energy. The more "garbage" we collect in each chakra, or energy center, the more it accumulates and eventually causes a blockage. ​

At the end of the session, we discussed what she noticed as well as what came up for me. She provided me with a chakra chart, session notes with information we discussed, and her recommendation on beneficial practices, such as meditation, that could help me rejuvenate my energy. ​

More than Just Reiki​

I learned that Reiki is so much more than simple hand placements. It is about what it sheds light on for each individual and can be a first step in addressing the root cause of our suffering. When a Reiki master explains to a client what chakras are blocked or weaker, they are able to make suggestions about what might resolve the imbalance.​

For example, since each chakra has a designated color, light therapy can aid in managing weaknesses or blockages through an infrared sauna experience. ​

Reiki can temporarily relieve the client of energetic blockages. However, we must follow through with other healing modalities, such as meditation and journaling, to address the causes of our energetic blockages. Just as a river cannot stay clean unless people stop littering, our internal flow of energy cannot remain unblocked without making life changes to prevent future blockages. Reiki is not a one-step solution but rather a journey that provides us with information to help us heal our innermost wounds. ​

How to Get Started on your Reiki Journey​

Book a Session
Lily, the founder of Crystal Chakra Yogi, also offers in-studio private Reiki sessions at TAOU studio in Richmond, VA. You can book a session with Lily in-studio HERE.

Interested in trying Reiki, but don't want to commit to a full session yet?
Try Lily's Yin + Reiki class at TAOU studio to get a taste of the healing practice. The class is held every Sunday from 5:45-7PM at TAOU studio in Carytown. Learn more and register for the class HERE.

Key Terms​

Reiki
A energy healing technique from Japan.

Rei
First part of the word “rei-ki” which means sacred, the soul, that which contains infinite power.

Ki energy
Second half of "reik-ki" refers to life force energy or the subtle universal energy field from which life is created. Also described as the energy of the universe, vapor, breath, something unseen.

Human energy field (H.E.F)
Includes a person's aura, their own signature reflecting genetic makeup, and personal history. Includes the chakras, which are interconnected.

Chakras
Energy centers in the body.

Kanji
A Japanese writing system using characters Rei and Ki to form the word “Reiki.”

References

The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui by Dr. Mikao Usui and Frank Arjava Petter.
Llewellyn's Complete Book of Reiki: Your Comprehensive Guide to a Holistic Hands-On Healing Technique for Balance and Wellness by Melissa Tipton; Chapter 6, Understanding Reiki Energy. (pg 75)
Psychotherapeutic Reiki: A Holistic Body-Mind Approach to Psychotherapy by Richard Curtin. (pg 56)

Reiki: Universal Life Energy by Bodo J. Baginski and Shalila Sharamon.