Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”
Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.
An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an “attunement” given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of “life force energy” to improve one’s health and enhance the quality of life.
While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not.
What Is Distance Reiki and How Does It Work In Practice?
Distance Reiki is sometimes referred to as “absentee Reiki” or “absent reiki” because the Reiki practitioner performing Reiki therapy is not in the same room as the person receiving Reiki therapy. In fact, they may even be in a different state or country! The amount of distance between them doesn’t matter at all because we are all connected through the same energy and a distance Reiki practitioner will know how to tap into one’s energy fields from a great distance away.
In practice, the Reiki practitioner and the recipient will usually connect via phone or by video over the internet. In some cases, the recipient will send a photo of himself or herself, along with other personal information, such as why they seek Reiki therapy, via email. This can help the Reiki practitioner zero in on the recipient and understand what they need from the Reiki therapy, so they send the right kind of healing energy to them. For example, grieving over a dying parent would require a different type of energy as recurring heel spur pain.
The distance Reiki can take place while the practitioner and the recipient are on the phone or video together. However, oftentimes, the Reiki practitioner will first talk with the recipient and then schedule a precise time for the therapy to take place. This way, the recipient can get into a relaxed position, such as laying on the bed or couch and be sure to be in a receptive mode at that precise time. Sometimes the Reiki practitioner will call or email to let the recipient know the therapy has been administered, although the recipient often knows by the sensations they feel or sense.
How Is Distance Reiki Performed?
Normally, Reiki involves the laying of hands gently on a person’s body or hovering the hands just above their body, to infuse healing energy and or adjust their energy fields. This can involve the unblocking of energy flow, infusing more positive energy into a person, or harmonizing the energy to make the person healthier and better able to heal from within. So, how can this be accomplished via phone or by video — and through a long-distance?
It’s easy to understand why people are often so skeptical about distance Reiki before they try it. We grow up thinking of ourselves primarily as physical beings, and if our physical bodies get hurt, there are physical methods we grow up knowing about to fix it. If we cut ourselves with a knife slicing a bagel, deep enough to bleed, we physically clean and dress the cut and then stick a band-aide over the cut to prevent infection. We don’t naturally seek out manipulation of our mind/body/spirit connection through our invisible energy fields. If we break a bone, we go to the emergency room and have a doctor physically set the bone — it’s a break in the physical part of our body so we expect a physical action to fix it. However, what about the mending of that bone? What about the pain associated with the broken bone as it mends? This is where Reiki or distance Reiki can play a crucial role in helping to recover from the physical bone break but that’s not as intuitive to us given our western culture. However, if we had grown up in India, this may make a lot more sense!
As an entity, we are much more than physical beings. Our “being” includes layers upon layers of living energy fields and energy vortexes, which we cannot see without special equipment (yes, there are machines that can help us see our aura — COOL!!). Our mental “awareness” is more than physical as well. Have you ever “felt” someone watching you from across the room? While there was no physical touching, the message, “I’m watching you, I’m interested in what you’re doing” comes through loud and clear, doesn’t it? Even if you don’t see them looking in your direction, you can feel it, right?
Likewise, we experience the energy from radio announcers, musicians, and newscasters through the invisible and what may seem like “magical” radio waves emanating from our radio. Radio waves are just a form of energy that is capable of transmitting other forms of energy through the air over great distances. Cell phones carry the energy of our voices through another part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
In light of all of the examples above, we hope you are becoming at least a little less skeptical about a Reiki practitioner’s ability to perform distance Reiki from a faraway location by interacting with your energy field. It’s really no different than a short-wave radio signal reaching a girl in Louisiana, USA, from London, England. Energy travels everywhere and we’re all connected to each other through it when we know how to tune into it. Distance is not a barrier to the transmission of Reiki energy any more than distance is a barrier to sending short wave radio signals across the sky. A trained and attuned distance Reiki practitioner can transcend space and tie into the energy transmitted by your aura.
Can All People Receive and Benefit from Distance Reiki?
Yes. However, some people do seem to be more receptive to energy than others. This sometimes manifests itself as a person having a “sixth sense” about things. It is thought, though, that people who seem more receptive may just more open to the possibility. This is why it is very important to prepare yourself before a distance Reiki session. Some people meditate. Others doodle on a piece of paper. Some people practice deep breathing exercises or simply close their eyes while doing aromatherapy. Whatever works for you to clear and declutter your mind so you can be more receptive during your distance Reiki session will improve the benefits you receive from it. In fact, you could request that your first distance Reiki session be one that helps you clear your mind and be more open to receiving Reiki energy! It certainly won’t be the first time that’s happened!