Understanding Reiki Energy

Author: ​Anissa Picard RMT, CEOLD, CMGC, MI

Reiki Master Teacher/Certified End-of-Life Doula/Certified Grief Coach/Meditation Instructor/Speaker

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Reiki is a Japanese word that means Universal Life Force Energy. In our times, we know Reiki to be a Japanese hands-on healing method discovered by Mikao Usui in 1922, but in fact Reiki has been around for thousands of years spanning the globe under different guises. There were even other styles of Reiki being used in Japan before Usui’s “discovery”. After one of his students, Hawaya Takata, brought it to the West, Reiki became widely known as a Japanese healing method discovered by Mikao Usui.

In all cultures, there is an unseen energy force that animates everything that exists.  Some call this Chi, or Ki, some say Prana, Mana, or Baraka, even the Holy Spirit. This energy is limitless and is abundant in nature! Its purpose is to provide the energy needed to sustain our physical reality here on Earth.  It supplies energy to all of our bodies: the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional.  This life force energy is directly connected to our quality of life.  It has been a part of many cultures over many, many years and has evolved into different forms of energy healing.  But in essence, there is only ONE energy source that animates all and heals all. It emanates from the air we breathe, the ground we tread upon, and the celestial heavens above.

Reiki is everywhere and exists in everyone.  In order to become a true healer, you must accomplish two things.  First you must let go of your ego, which in turn will allow you to heal yourself. Releasing your ego allows the Reiki energy to circulate better throughout your body. There are things which will deplete your Reiki energy or enhance it. Drugs, too much alcohol, poor diet, poor breathing, negative psychic activity, poor exercise, lack of sleep will surely deplete your life force. In order to keep your Ki at a high level, you must work on yourself.  Eating healthy, exercising on a regular basis, getting adequate sleep, meditating, practicing yoga, and doing breathing exercises are also tools to help you stay energized and healthy.  You must be the one to do the work.  Know thyself.

The chakras, which are the main energy centers located in the astral body along the spine, allow the Reiki to flow freely and be distributed correctly to the many organs of the human body when they are in alignment.  There are many modalities to create this alignment.  One way is by having a Reiki session by a Reiki healer or in fact, any hands-on healer.  The chakra energy will be attracted to the life force energy which balances the chakras. Another way is through meditation.  When you have the ability to rest your mind in that ‘void’, you become truly egoless.  The longer you stay in this state, the more relaxed you are, the more focused your breathing is, the more healing can be done through the alignment of the chakras. Using sound meditation works wonders as well, whether it is by using crystal bowls, tuning forks or your own voice.  Chakra energy will meet sound energy and balance itself out. When someone has arrived at aligning themselves, they find beauty in everyone and everything. They feel happier and healthier!

Personally, I have experienced the Life Force Energy as an intelligent energy source. I may be somewhere and suddenly my hands will start to tingle and I turn the corner and someone is lying on the ground. The Reiki energy channels itself when needed.  My hands were turned on by this intelligence, not myself. This intelligence gives us life and wants us to have good lives and be happy. We just need to step out of the way and allow the flow to occur!  So many of us are sabotaging our own healing, our own happiness, by searching and desiring, wanting things to be different than they are. When we are in a state of acceptance and gratitude, we allow this energy to flow through us and magical things happen!  Yes, miracles occur, because that’s what a miracle is, an acceptance of our Creator to express Itself through us.​