A Reiki Healing Circle are held at least twice a month.  See Current Events page for dates, times, and location. At the circle, we spend a few minutes meeting and greeting, then we do energy-active  body meditations, followed by Reiki healing work in one of the massage rooms. We take turns on the table with participants gathered around the table sharing Reiki.  Its a wonderful time of healing and connection. 

Reiki Clinics are held two or three times a year as a community service. Participants receive a complimentary Reiki session with a Reiki practitioner or student. 

Reiki is a simple but powerful spiritual healing method that reduces stress and induces deep states of relaxation promoting the body’s natural tendency toward self-healing. It quickly strengthens and brings the energy body into balance and harmony, and attunes it to a higher vibration. It was introduced in Japan in the early twentieth century by Usui Mikoa, a spiritual healer and mystic and later brought to the United States by Mrs. Hawayo Takata in the 1970's.

The Japanese word Reiki is made up of two Japanese characters shown above. The first top character, the word rei, refers to spirit, sacred, or even soul. The bottom character, the word ki, (known as chi in Chinese) essentially translates as “energy” or "life force."  The term Reiki  is used in two ways. First, it  may be used to refer to an energy that is spiritual or sacred in origin.  Second, it may be used to refer to a specific method of energy healing popularly known as Reiki.

For more information about Reiki visit the following websites:

www.reiki-evolution.co.uk; www.reiki.org; or www.iarp.org.

Although not religious in nature, Reiki can be developed as a individual spiritual practice and serves many who are "spiritual but not religious" and for some, even extends their personal religious practice to include the sense of embodied spirituality or sense of inner peace that Reiki practice often provides. The simple principles and practices of Reiki serve a spiritual need for many who are drawn to Reiki.

Reiki can be considered a type of conventional spiritual healing. Many people see Reiki energy as having divine origins, interpreting the energy as divine Love or divine Light or even the healing aspect of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, spiritual healers see the energy that they work with as coming from God or the Holy Spirit as they understand It from their language, religion, or culture.  So if your consciousness is open to it, Reiki connects you to the divine healing source, however you interpret it.  Reiki reinforces your individual connection to your own Spiritual Source, and it has a  loving and compassionate feel to it. But because Reiki is really not attached to any particular religion or any religious dogma, it does not conflict with an individual's personal religious beliefs, or lack of religious beliefs, which makes it adaptable to any setting. 

Reiki therapy is not massage or acupressure, although it can be and is often used in combination with other therapies. It is an energy healing method that is administered essentially through the hands of a Reiki practitioner who has been trained and empowered to transmit or channel Reiki. Reiki therapy treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind, and soul inducing beneficial effects including relaxation and feelings of peace and harmony.

Life force energy naturally flows through all living things. Reiki practitioners understand that everyone needs to connect with their own healing energy. One’s own ki or energy should be strong and free flowing resulting in a body-mind-soul that is balanced and vital, reflecting a positive state of wellbeing. When one’s life force energy becomes weak, disturbed, or congested it could lead to symptoms of physical or emotional imbalance. One could not live for very long with blocked life force energy.

Reiki is a safe method of natural healing and/or self-improvement that anyone can benefit from. It is also complementary to other medical or therapeutic techniques. In addition, it has been known to help promote recovery from illness and injury and reduce pain in chronic and acute conditions.

The Reiki practitioner does not diagnose medical conditions.  When treating someone with Reiki you allow an unlimited source of "pure healing energy’ to flow through you into the client. The energy is drawn through you according to the client’s need on that occasion: you are not directing the energy, you are a conduit through which the energy flows, you are creating a ‘healing space’ that the client can use to bring their own energy system into balance, without conscious and deliberate intervention on your part. The Reiki practitioner may use their intuition to guide their hands in a session, but it is the Reiki that is both the intelligent and compassionate source of healing energy.

A Reiki session is usually about 60 minutes long. A discussion will take place during the first session with a professional Reiki practitioner. For the treatment, the client will rest comfortably on a massage table on their back with their shoes removed. Also, Reiki can be performed with the client sitting comfortably in a chair. Unlike massage therapy, the client is treated fully clothed; loose, comfortable clothing is suggested.

A session can either be hands-on, where a practitioner will apply a light touch during the session, or hands-off where they will hold their hands slightly above the body. If a client prefers not to be touched they can indicate this to the practitioner before the session begins. Reiki can even be performed at a distance.

The session proceeds with the Reiki practitioner systematically moving through specific hand positions usually from head to foot. The practitioner may also use an intuitive approach to meet specific needs of the client. A recipient of Reiki might feel a warming sensation or a tingling during the session or nothing at all but sheer relaxation. The session should be very pleasant, relaxing and invigorating.

Reiki is a powerful tool for stress reduction and relaxation. Many people also regularly use Reiki to maintain a more vital sense of wellbeing, not just to assist in healing. Reiki is not a guaranteed cure for a disease or illness. Therefore, clients will be advised to continue seeing their medical doctor or other health care provider for any specific medical conditions.

Reiki and other energy healing practitioners understand that an illness is an expression of some part of the body-mind complex that is not functioning well energetically. Reiki works by helping heal and release energy imbalances or disturbances in the energy field that could eventually lead to a physical or mental problem if not treated.  In the event illness has manifested in the physical body, the intention of the Reiki practitioner is to facilitate healing by clearing the blockages that are preventing the free flow of vital life force energy. By clearing the energy field or energizing the system with Reiki, optimal conditions for self-healing are restored. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the person's own soul is in charge of healing.

This all day workshop provides information and activities to support your inner healing and spiritual growth, provide techniques for self-care, and much more. The morning session is informational and the afternoon session is experiential. Lunch and snacks are provided.(6 hours/($75 suggested donation)

Participate in a 21-day guidance program to assist you in developing daily practices necessary to build and maintain a living Reiki experience. This is a good option for those who do not want a more fomal training, but would like to master  the basic spiritual practices of Reiki. Pathways to Inner Healing is a pre-requisite. This is also a requirement for the Comprehensive Reiki Program described below. Discuss program options with Patsy.

This is a comprehensive course combining the first and second Reiki levels. Learn to use Reiki healing techniques for your self as well as your friends and family. Besides learning the Five Elements of Reiki, you experience Reiki through learning activities, interactive sessions, documented practice, and service. You learn the symbols and mantras, practice exercises and healing techniques and receive several Reiki attunements to develop your energetic connection, which takes you to ever deepening levels. You complete a minimum of five 4-hour sessions over a three to four month period. When approximately 20 hours of instruction and all program requirements are met, you receive a certificate in Comprehensive Reiki. ($300 fee)

There are two levels of advanced Reiki training beyond first and second degree Reiki.

Advanced Reiki Training (ART) leads to the designation of Reiki Master Practitioner and is an extension of Reiki II. This level allows you to use Reiki  as a holistic healing or energy work practitioner and charge for treatments. To do so, be sure to check with local and state regulations, apply to the International Association of Reiki Professional, and purchase liability insurance. 

To teach Reiki or to attune others to any level of Reiki, you must continue through the next and final level. Reiki Master Teacher is the third degree professional level.

Both advanced levels are taught using an apprenticeship model. A learning and development plan, individually created between teacher and student, outlines the curriculum, requirements, supervision, and cost.

Contact Patsy at 209-418-9003 or email sophiaswell@volcano.net for more information or download a Reiki Training brochure here. 

Reiki reduces stress, induces relaxation while clearing and balancing the bio-energy field. Often a client will want to learn to do Reiki treatments for self or family healing. After having experienced the benefits of Reiki, the client may take a course of study with Reiki attunements given by a Reiki Master Teacher that enables the person to channel Reiki and learn self-treatment techniques. 

Reiki practice has other benefits as well.  Although not a religion, Reiki may be used as a transpersonal psychological or spiritual practice. Simple Reiki principles and techniques support the development, growth and transformation of emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of the self. Some of these practices will be discussed in future articles about Reiki.

For more information about Reiki treatments or classes, contact Reiki Master Teacher Patsy Walker Fine at 209-418-9003 or email at sophiaswell@volcano.net.

© 2009 (Please do not copy without permission from Patsy Walker Fine.)