“Reiki literally wakes up our Divine essence so we can see our spirit behind the veils.” ~ Colleen Benelli.
Reiki is a holistic healing method that works on the mind, body and soul. It is a Japanese word made up of two syllables – “Rei” meaning universal, abundant, or boundless and “Ki” meaning life force and vital energy. Thus Reiki literally means universal life force.
The whole universe moves with this life force or cosmic energy. Each one of us experiences this energy all the
time, but we are unable to make use of it. With Reiki we learn to tap into the universal energy that dwells within us in the form of our vital force and use it for the benefit of others and ourselves.
How does Reiki work?
It works on the principle that each of us has the power of healing within us. This is why when we are physically or emotionally hurt, the touch of a loved one makes us feel better. Before practicing, one has to be initiated by a Reiki master.
He/she douses the practitioners with a strong beam of energy that dissolves all the blockages in the etheric body, and aligns us with the universal life force. Once this process is done, the practitioner’s vital force reconnects with the source energy and we can accept more energy from the cosmos.
We all know the law of conservation of energy, “energy can neither be created nor be destroyed, but can change form.”
When healing, we tap into this universal energy and transmit it to the intended person with positive thoughts and intentions.
The energy is abundant and can never run out. When we heal someone, the etheric patches start dissolving and the physical illness resolves along with its cause. It can be given either by direct contact at specific hand positions or from a distance.
“Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you- all of the expectations, all of the beliefs- and becoming who you are.” ~ Rachel Naomi Remen.
Why I Practice Reiki
My first experience with Reiki was when I asked a friend who was learning this art to to relieve my strained eyes. She asked me to lie down, said a prayer silently, rubbed her palms together, and gently placed it on my eyes.
Her palms were soothingly warm and tears started seeping through my closed eyelids due to the relief I felt. She kept healing for 10 minutes, and the pressure and strain in my eyes had disappeared. This incident got me interested in this alternative healing method.
After completing the 1st level of Reiki, all students are required to perform a 21 day self-healing which is mandatory. 
This process helps a new Reiki healer to fulfill his/her own energy before healing others. At the end of it, I felt like there was a light inside me that sparked positive feelings and made me completely aware of each moment.
Reiki is another form of meditation and the more we practice it, the more we charge our own batteries, and only when we are full up to the brim, can we transmit it to others. Anyone can be given Reiki as long as they are willing to receive it.
The Healing power of Reiki
It can be used for a wide range of conditions – to relieve acute pain, help fasten wound healing, and is effective in emotional and psychological conditions like stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression etc.
On the pathological level, it should not be used as a substitute for medicine, but it has been observed that Reiki healing decreases the duration of treatment and the dose of medicine. It can also help in affirmation and goal manifestation, in healing past traumas and dissolving bad karma.
Reiki promotes positivity and gives a gentle nudge towards fulfilling goals which are in sync with nature’s wisdom and brings us closer to our authentic self.
Research
Reiki, scientific study
Reiki and ailments
Effect of Reiki on Depression and Anxiety
Image source
Energy therapy
