The practice of laying on of hands is steeped in ancient tradition, with origins tracing back to the dawn of humanity. Instinctively, people reach out to others who are injured or unwell, a behavior often seen in mothers comforting their hurt children with a gentle touch. This human connection conveys healing, care, and love. This energy is recognized by various names across cultures: Chi in China, Prana in India, Ruach among the Hebrews, and Reiki in Japan.
Reiki is one of the most recognized methods of healing that involves the direct application of this energy. Throughout history, mystics have suggested that the physical universe consists of a simpler, underlying energy, which aligns with modern physics' discovery that the universe is fundamentally made of energy influenced by thought. Just as contemporary science posits that thought affects energy, mystics assert that this foundational energy is similarly shaped by our thoughts. They even propose that we create our own reality through our thinking and the shared thoughts we express daily.
This natural energy is what Reiki practitioners harness. A Reiki healer can access this energy more profoundly due to the attunements they undergo, which help clear blockages in the body's energy channels. These attunements also enhance the healer's own life energy and establish a connection to the source of Reiki, which can be referred to by any name the healer prefers—such as Goddess energy, God, or the First Source. Reiki is not affiliated with any specific religion, so feel free to call it whatever resonates with you. Personally, I refer to this source as “Mother/Father/God.”
The attunement process is distinct from a healing session. It is through the first initiation, which includes four attunements, that the healer is created. This is referred to as Reiki I, where the individual receives a magical gift from the Source. Once you have received Reiki I, all you need to do is place your hands on yourself or another person, and the Reiki energy will begin to flow.
As you start practicing, you might encounter sensations or experiences that are new to you. While some people may feel more than others, even those who feel nothing are still channeling the energy. You may notice warmth in your hands, akin to plugging into an electrical outlet. Every time you lay your hands on yourself or someone else, the energy is present. To practice Reiki, the practitioner places their hands on the person needing healing with the intention for healing to take place, and the energy starts to flow. The Reiki energy is intuitive, as the Universe operates with great intelligence. It knows where to go and what to do once it arrives, guided by a higher consciousness. The energy regulates its own flow to and within the recipient, drawing exactly the amount needed without the healer's conscious intervention. The healer's role is to step aside, maintain an open healing space, and be attentive to signs for the next steps.
Reiki has the potential to heal all ailments as it operates at the most fundamental levels of reality. However, this potential is not always realized. The limitations often lie in the recipient's readiness to release the old and embrace transformation and healing. In this context, the term healing takes on a different meaning than what is commonly understood. While the conventional definition focuses on alleviating symptoms, in Reiki practice, healing refers to a return to a greater sense of wholeness. Each individual possesses an ideal form, representing the highest and clearest version of themselves. Pain or discomfort arises from any divergence between a person's current state and their ideal form. Thus, healing aims to align the recipient's state more closely with this ideal.