What is Reiki and How does it Work?
With Maristela Zell
Developed in Japan in 1922 by the Buddhist monk Mikao Usui, Reiki is an alternative, holistic therapy recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Usui believed it was possible to manipulate and control energy through the touch and movement of the practitioner’s hands. The technique is a therapeutic resource based on traditional knowledge, much like acupuncture, used to harmonize physical, mental, and emotional health and increase well-being. Reiki comes from the word “Rei,” meaning divine in Japanese, and “qi,” which means vital energy.
Healing touch is not new, and many spiritual traditions and indigenous cultures believe in the “oneness” or interconnectedness of all things and the ability of one person to affect another through thought or energy. In Tibet, there are records of healing techniques through the hands that are more than eight thousand years old. Our hands are said to be an extension of our heart, and we use our hands to amplify our emotions, desires, and words. When we feel pain, our first reaction is to place our hands on the wounded areas, as the human touch generates soothing comfort and warmth.
I come from a culture of seekers (Brazil) and a family of healers. My grandmother Ester was a “curandeira” in our community and used her hands to heal and alleviate body pains and afflictions. My desire to emulate my grandmother’s healing gifts through her hands brought me to Reiki. I saw her health-giving capacity operating numerous times, as she placed her hands on an individual’s forehead, closed her eyes, and let the universal life energy use her as a vessel to alleviate their suffering. Very much like Reiki…
A Reiki session begins with a brief conversation between the practitioner and the recipient. Whether or not the individual is comfortable receiving touch from the practitioners’ hands is also discussed. If not, the practitioner can hover over the body with their hands without directly touching the individual. This energy work can benefit any living being, including plants and animals, without conflicting with medical procedures, drugs, or treatments. Reiki has been used in radiation treatments and post-surgery and is offered in many hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. It is not linked to any doctrine or religion.
In a full Reiki session, energy is applied to the recipient's front and back. There are 22 hand positions, but this number is flexible depending on the recipient's needs. The positions correspond to major body parts and can also include the chakras, and the goal is to activate the body's physical, mental, and spiritual centers. The recipient can be sitting, lying, or standing. Applying Reiki can take between three and five minutes in each position.
What are the practical benefits of Reiki? Studies report that the practice is effective in relieving daily stress, reducing anxiety, pain, and depressive symptoms, and inducing relaxation. Testimonials describe similar benefits, including feeling energized and replenished, noticing accelerated healing of injuries, experiencing reduced chemotherapy side effects, and sleeping better.
Reiki is simple. It does not require extensive preparation or complicated equipment. A Reiki session cannot be harmful!