Reiki Healing FAQs
Who is reiki meant for?
Anyone! Reiki is perfect for children, young adults and adults, as well as pets.
What is the history of Reiki - where and when does it originate?
Although the origins of what we now call Reiki are probably very old, it re-emerged in the early 20th century with a Dr. Mikao Usui in Japan. The story goes that, stimulated by some students’ questions, he embarked on a long search for the origins of healing. Can anyone do it? Can it be taught? How does it work? After studying both Western and Eastern traditions, Dr. Usui went on a 21-day fast on a sacred mountain. When in deep meditation, he was given the symbolic tools and information that form the basis of Reiki practice. Reiki was originally brought to the West by Hawayo Takata, a Hawaiian Japanese woman who practiced and taught intensively in America until her death in 1980. Since then, Westerners have returned to Japan to find out more about the history, and there are now many and varied schools and styles of Reiki in the world. Phyllis Lei Furumoto continues to carry her grandmother Takata’s tradition – Usui Shiki Ryoho - the West.
What does the word ‘Reiki’ mean?
Rei-ki is often translated as ‘Universal Life-energy’. Mrs Takata described it as ‘God-Power’. However, it is not attached to any religious or philosophical belief-system.
Can anyone learn how to practice Reiki - what specific skills are needed?
Anyone can learn, and no particular skills are necessary. Possibly those with some experience of body-work, yoga or the martial arts ‘turn on’ more quickly. What is needed after the initial training is a commitment to practice.
Does Reiki drain the practitioner?
No. In fact giving a treatment can be as energizing as receiving. We are not using our own energy, neither are we diagnosing or directing it. We are simply allowing this Universal Life Energy to flow through us into the recipient, going to wherever it is most needed. However, it is important for the person giving to make sure they are physically comfortable, as they need to remain still in each position for some time.
As a practitioner, do you “pick up” negativity from someone you are treating?
No. Since we are neither directing nor controlling the energy, there is no personal involvement. In fact the less investment we have in the outcome, the more effective the session seems to be.
Occasionally we feel a passing twinge in our own body, indicating where we need to place our hands. A very sensitive person might feel the emotions of the person they are treating, but this does not last.
What does a typical Reiki session involve - what can I expect to happen at a first session and how long will it last?
In a full session of about an hour to an hour and a half, you would lie fully clothed on a massage table. You would feel hands laid gently on (in some styles slightly above) your body in a series of positions starting at the head and working down your chakra points (chest, abdomen, hips), down the legs ending at the feet. You might notice that the hands were hotter in certain positions. You might go to sleep, and would almost certainly feel a sense of calm and relaxation. Maybe you would notice a reduction of pain in certain places, or a clearing of some mental or emotional confusion. Occasionally people notice old symptoms surfacing in what is known as a ‘healing reaction’. This passes quite quickly, and is seen as a good sign, indicating something is moving.
How often would I have to have the treatment to feel a benefit?
A series of four consecutive sessions as a start to tackling any chronic condition is recommended. Otherwise, or after this, one a week would be a good program. Some benefit is usually felt right away, but of course long-term conditions are likely to need longer.