7:50 min read
This is not your regular how to practice Reiki guide.
It’s a two-part piece of content that is specifically designed to do a couple of things.
In part 1 – I will illustrate Reiki from a conceptual point of view. The goal here is to help you see and apply Reiki from a higher level of understanding and eventually use the techniques through a set of principles.
In part 2 – I will show you the essentials you need to start practicing Reiki. Even though these are basic techniques, keep in mind they very powerful and can be used for a long time without the need to add more.
Lastly, this article addresses both beginners as well as former practitioners who might be looking to refresh their knowledge. But regardless of your level, it’s for those of you that see Reiki as something more valuable than just a quick fix.
You are a spirit having a physical experience here on Earth. To gain physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing, you should first reach a certain level of awareness. Reiki does just that.
What you’re about to read is my view on Reiki that I’ve developed over the last 15 years.
I have shared these ideas with fellow Reiki practitioners, masters, even beginners. I have used them as guides throughout my life.
Simply said, these concepts work.
Sometimes we are not even aware of putting them in practice or know of their existence. Loads of new pieces of information and appealing techniques tend to overshadow them.
That’s why it takes years to get your thinking clean and make things simpler. Once you achieve this level, though, everything becomes more powerful and effective.
Don’t expect to be able to do that from the very beginning. That’s why I’m laying it out for you here. This should help you see the bigger picture and by no means impose a way of doing things.
Having principles to guide you throughout your Reiki journey is a great way to grow.
Now I want to share them with you.
I highly recommend going through the content in this order.
Don’t skip it!
It’s important.
Why? Because Reiki is more than just a way to channel energy and find balance. I take it as my duty to say what I believe is right so you can make an informed decision moving forward.
So don’t take them for granted even if they sound too obvious. You don’t have to “force” these principles into your routine right away. For now, it’s enough to simply be aware of them.
Before I move forward, here’s a bit of context.
My name is Vlad, and I’ve been practicing Reiki for more than 15 years now. I’m a Usui Reiki Grand Master and have gained the Master Degree Level in 3 other systems: Karuna, Shamballa, and Gendai Reiki.
I have spent years trying to figure things out and find the best path for me. I’m still working on that, by the way. But I did learn a lot, and I’m a changed person because of Reiki.
The journey never stops.
More importantly, I’m just like you. We’re only at different points in our journey. When it comes to Reiki, we have probably faced the same struggles and enjoyed similar rewards.
We just experienced them differently.
The years of practice have led me to believe that there are a few specific principles that we should be aware of. Respecting them will make the difference between genuinely evolving through Reiki’s practice and just scratching the surface.
There isn’t a right or wrong answer here. Always remember that.
But, after seeing Reiki practitioners who are more experienced than myself applying the same concepts with great results, I can say that this is a far superior way of doing things.
Keep in mind that it’s only my view. You may agree or disagree with what I say. What’s important is to focus on the big picture and not get distracted by details that confirm exceptions.
You should adapt these thoughts to your own liking. Hopefully, this will serve as a useful reference point.
Now let’s get started!
Principle #1 – Reiki Is Not Alternative Medicine But A Complementary Way Of Healing
Alternative means that the solution is “available as another possibility or choice”.
This implies that you can use it instead of modern medicine. In my opinion, this way of thinking is flawed.
First of all, Reiki is much more than “another solution” (I’ll expand on this later). Even if you don’t use it to its fullest potential, it can’t be described as something that it’s not, or it’s partially true.
Unfortunately, this definition leaves more room for misinterpretation instead of being helpful. It’s ok not to be interested in a subject, but it’s another story to criticize it based on frivolous information.
Using Reiki for developing a healthy mind, body, and spirit that will help you prevent is a far superior way of approaching this art form than turning to it for a quick fix.
Sadly, that’s not how most see it, and that’s because it is described as an “alternative therapy”. The result is then expected to be binary. You either believe and adopt, or you don’t and criticize. It works or it doesn’t.
Reiki complements allopathic medicine. We never find ourselves in a situation where it’s best to practice either Reiki or modern medicine.
If a quick fix is what you’re looking for, at least approach Reiki as a way to support and enhance the healing effect of allopathic medicine instead of reaching out to it as an alternative.
Can it sometimes work better than a modern approach, especially when nobody knows what’s wrong? Yes, it can. But I tend not to get caught up in the “could be’s”.
Having the right mindset from the very beginning instead of focusing on finding exceptions and arguing about misinterpretations is a healthier path with less stress. This often provides peace of mind and comfort, especially when explaining Reiki to loved ones.
Principle #2 – Reiki Is A Catalyst For Fulfilling Your Personal Mission
Reiki is like pure, clean water from a spring combined with the fresh air of a mountain forest. It’s the opposite of bottled water and the air we breathe in our modern cities. Both serve the primary purpose of keeping us alive, but they differ significantly in quality.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do about the latter, but Reiki is there for us at all times.
Everything around us is energy and information. Reiki is the practice that teaches us how to channel this energy to transition from our default state to drinking spring water and breathing fresh air every day. The more we practice Reiki, the more we protect ourselves from negative influences while improving our health.
Inferior quality products are draining us of energy.
A professional athlete can’t perform without a special diet. Through Reiki, we are aiming to become that person in our own way, of course.
Once that happens, your mind, body, and spirit converge into one powerful entity. It opens you up to the spiritual and energetic worlds while providing access to elements you were unaware of before.
Through this awareness, you can now understand that everything happens for a reason and that we all have a personal mission. Progressing with the Reiki practice will grow your answers level. Eventually, this personal mission will become more and more apparent.
Having this as a goal offers a whole new meaning to one’s life. Aiming for a deeper cause rather than what seems to be visible can be both rewarding and exciting.
Principle #3 – Reiki Is A Journey, And Everything Else Should Be Too
Life is hard and stressful as it is. Don’t make it harder. It takes a lot of work to make things simpler, but life does become better once you do.
I often get mad when something goes wrong. I lack patience when it’s actually patience that would get me out of a twist. This usually occurs when I try something new (not always). But it’s also widespread. We are not that different, as mentioned before. We feel good in our comfort zone, and we like to stay there. Finding excuses not to get out is also prevalent.
But that’s the only way one can evolve.
Unless you challenge your comfort zone and try new things, again .. and again, nothing will ever happen.
It’s like this with Reiki.
It’s the same in life.
Having this principle top of mind eliminates frustration, which prevents us from moving forward.
Knowing that everything is a journey, there is a learning curve (even when you’re an “expert”), it reinforces a few key attributes:
These are patience and the will to grow.
What goes around, comes around.
The circle is broken. You may want to evolve, but because it’s hard and you face resistance, you don’t even try. Unfortunately, at first, we don’t even know that’s how it’s supposed to be.
I’ve been there.
Instead, if you put the right piece where it needs to be, the circle becomes whole again. Knowing that resistance will be there and understanding that this is a journey, will change everything.
You won’t be chasing results. You’ll be enjoying the adventure.
Is this going to make things easier?
No!
But it’s going to shift your mindset from impossible to possible, and that’s a crucial difference.
Principle #4 – Reiki Is What You Allow It To Be
The best for last.
Never let anyone tell you what Reiki should mean to you. Listen and experiment, but always seek your own truth.
You can use Reiki to relax or as a catalyst for spiritual evolution. You’re the only one who can choose how it will manifest into your life.
Reiki is a form of therapy that gradually raises your awareness of yourself and the world around you. At a basic level, it’s a way to meditate. Still, you can use it to start a process of energetic recalibration on all levels. Either way, it places all your “layers” in a state of healing so you can advance in your own rhythm towards spiritual development.
So, if you allow it, Reiki goes way beyond “feeling good and relaxed”. It becomes more than a tool you can use to heal at a physical level.
Experience is not what happens to you, but what you choose to do with what happens to you.
Aldous Huxley
Remember that Reiki does not directly heal nor raises your consciousness without your approval. It’s not a method that takes you from A to B overnight. Reiki helps you understand yourself through a journey.
Reiki can help bring to the surface the root of your problems, but nothing will ever surface unless you are ready to heal them at that time.
If you want to practice Reiki as a way to relax and seek calmness in your life, that’s great.
Nothing wrong with it.
Just don’t expect to heal deep emotional traumas or severe physical conditions because that won’t happen. Don’t expect huge changes at your mental or emotional levels.
Thus, it’s up to you how far you are willing to take it. The potential is there, but each level allows us to achieve certain things.
This principle, like others, is here to help take the pressure off. It tells us that Reiki is within us, and we don’t have to force it in any way.
These are the principles I wake up to and use as a guide throughout the day or when I start a Reiki session. I hope this helps you see the potential of what’s out there and approach Reiki from a higher-level perspective.
It really does make a difference compared to practicing Reiki mechanically.
Now that we’ve covered what I believe to be a crucial point, let’s talk about how to practice Reiki…