I remember my first Reiki experience. I really didn’t know what to expect. Would I get dizzy? Experience some sort of out-of-body experience? While neither of these things happened, what did was pure magick. For a moment, my Heart and Throat Chakra filled up with a ball of energy; almost like it wanted to burst at the seams. O, the reiki practitioner, expressed concern for those areas after our session, catching me off guard while also solidifying my belief and desire to become a Reiki Practitioner myself.

While no one experience is ever the same, I leave myself open to any possibility, because it is ultimately going to serve my highest Self. Every time I leave my Reiki session, I feel blissful, like I’m floating on a cloud during the Golden Hour while sipping on champagne, its that good.

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation. Rei is the universal higher power that guides creation and ki is the non-physical life force energy that animates all living things. Together, this gives you Universal Life Force Energy. In short, it heals all levels of the body, mind, soul and spirit. You’ll come to see that Reiki is a warm, radiant energy flowing through your body.

Reiki Healing is administered by “laying on hands” using the energy that the Divine has given us and allows us to be alive. Reiki can be given to people, animals and plants; even your food and water. If a loved one across the country is in need of Reiki, feel free to send it to them from where you’re sitting. Reiki is based on the concept that imbalanced energy within us can cause disorders and illnesses. By correcting these imbalances with energy healing, not only are we promoting physical and physiological well-being, we’re also promoting spiritual healing. Hospitals, hospices and oncology centers incorporate Reiki into their patients’ care protocols all the time. Reiki is nothing to be scared or skeptical of. While it is spiritual in nature, it is not based on religion. It’s just a beautiful energy healing system that I encourage you to be open to.

The history of Reiki starts with Dr. Mikao Usui. Fond of medicine, psychology and theology, Usui traveled often, studying various healing systems and became a Buddhist monk. During his time in the monastery, Usui traveled to a cave in Mount Kurama for his own training rediscovery.

He hoped to discover a system of healing that wasn’t connected or based upon any religious beliefs, making it accessible to any and everyone. For 21 days, Usui fasted, meditated and prayed until he was able to develop the system of healing he struggled to create. After his spiritual awakening, Usui traveled to Kyoto and opened a clinic for Reiki healing and teaching.