Understanding ~Reiki~

with Amber Geiger,

Licensed Massage Therapist & Reiki Master-Teacher

What is it?

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The Japanese practice and word Reiki, (pronounced 'ray-key'), breaks down to "rei-", meaning "universal life", and "-ki" ('chi' in Chinese), meaning "energy". This could also translate into "soul energy", which plays an important role in everything we do with our bodies, our minds, emotions, and spirit. Intention, intuition, and flexibility are the staples of understanding behind this practice.

Anything that is alive or animated has various levels of "ki". Energy is best described as a gamut of vibrations, which aligns with our understandings of quantum physics and neurolinguistic programming. The frequency we are emitting or experiencing is influenced by such things as our daily practices ~ if we collect trauma and/or choose to buy into and practice negative thoughts, feelings, choices, we harm the flow of our energy throughout our bodies and create a 'dis-ease' in corresponding systems. Reiki helps tap into both the practioner's and patient's alpha brain waves, (deep relaxation), thus promoting positive frequencies and the breakdown of negative frequencies.

Reiki has been around for thousands of years, but was most prominently condensed and taught by Dr. Mikao Usui, who, of course, established Usui Reiki, which is most commonly found today in the United States. Our western world first received the teachings of Reiki in Hawaii, from a sassy, but knowledgeable woman by the name of Hawayo Takata. From the roots of Usui's teachings have grown several, more specific types of Reiki treatments, including elemental Reiki, which goes through the various elements of one's being ~ earth, fire, water, air, & metal.

This indiscriminate, non-religious, non-invasive concept of "Universal Life Force Energy" is what allows people of all backgrounds, ages, and health stages to safely and morally receive treatment from a Reiki practitioner, or even certification from a Reiki Master-Teacher that have been passed all the way down to your local practitioner. It simply can do no harm. Again, in order to receive, learn, or give Reiki, there is nothing you must believe in other than a higher form of consciousness and your own ability to heal. The sole principles of Reiki, which help to bring one to the present moment and present sense of Being, are as follows:

Just for today, I will let go of Worry.

Just for today, I will let go of Anger.

Just for today, I will give thanks to my many Blessings.

Just for today, I will do my work Honestly.

Just for today, I will Be Kind to my neighbors and all living things.

What should I expect out of a treatment?

Energy work in general does not know the boundary of time or distance, and thus can be given and received from miles and miles away, and can easily lead to healing our perception of past events, as well as opening up space for positive energy with future meetings and endeavours.

Dependent upon your practitioner and your individual life path's needs, a full, in-person treatment usually lasts anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and occurs with you laying fully clothed on a Massage table or sitting on a chair. He or she may begin with a grounding technique, such as "smudging" - the burning of sage, palo santo, etc. - to help you shift into a state of inward observance. This is a flexible component of the treatment, again, customized to you and each of your needs from the treatment.

Throughout the session, he or she will use a system of hand-placings they have been taught or intuitively led to use. This is may include hovering of the practitioner's hands over your body as opposed to the consistent, direct touch found in practices such as Massage Therapy - this is especially helpful to patients who have experienced trauma through unpleasant or violating touch while still providing a therapeutic impact. Your Reiki practioner may also suggest placing various crystals - which are believed to hold their own energetic frequencies as they directly come from the Earth and each hold their own unique properties based on their creation processes - on or around your body to enhance your awareness or increase positive, high-vibrational frequencies.

As Reiki is more of a free-flowing, open-ended practice that goes where it needs to and not only goes to where one may intend for it to, you may experience a range of sensations. Physically these could include heating or cooling of various parts of your body or the practitioner's hands, twitching or heaviness as the nervous system releases control and relaxes. Emotionally you may experience currents of joy, clarity, anxiousness or iritability, grief, extreme happiness, creation, etc. Often patients also note various observations within their mind's eye, including colours, scenes, memories, phrases, etc.

It is important to note that you are welcome and encouraged to share with your practioner what you are experiencing during or after the session ~ this way, he or she can better assist you throughout the journey of your healing, especially after your session, as Reiki continues to flow after you've left the practioner's space because, again, energy knows no distance or time.

~☆~ Interested in trying Reiki for yourself or a loved one? "Get in touch" with Amber about her own experiences with Reiki and what you both can do to lighten your life ~in mind, body, & spirit~ and to welcome positive, natural change and opportunities! ~☆♡☆~

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