That was a question I used to ask when I heard Reiki Practitioners talk about it.
I didn’t understand how it worked and I admit that I was sceptical about it because at that time I used to be a Swedish and Deep Tissue massage therapist, which was hands-on, tangible work on the body’s soft tissues. I was able to physically feel the effects of what massage did with my own hands and I couldn’t get my head around how Reiki and other forms of healing worked if there was no physical contact involved.
So what it is it and how does it work?
Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is Japanese for ‘Universal Life Energy’ and is a type of energy healing that can remove blocks in a similar way to acupuncture or acupressure.
It is a gentle, non-intrusive complementary therapy discovered by Dr Mikao Usui in the early 20th century and treats the whole person rather than targeted areas. The client remains fully clothed and treatments can take place either on a couch or seated. The practitioner simply places their hands either on or near the client’s body and treatments can vary from 45 minutes to an hour and 30 minutes; depending on the client’s needs.
Each person experiences Reiki differently, depending on their individual needs at the time. Clients may or may not feel sensations during a Reiki treatment. Sensations can include deep relaxation promoting a calm, peaceful sense of well being on all levels. Some people feel sensations of heat, tingling, or experience seeing colours, whilst others can have an emotional response, indicating that shifts are taking place, allowing harmony to be restored. A good night’s sleep often follows a Reiki treatment.
So, how did I discover it?
My first Reiki treatment took place in 2015 at a retreat in Bali while I was on my Coddiwomple and I confess I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew it involved lying fully clothed on a couch and relaxing, but that was about it.
All I can remember is seeing lots of vivid colours, visions of beautiful beaches and hearing the sounds of the sea. I’m sure I fell asleep because I have no recollection of noises coming from outside the treatment room or my Practitioner (Graeme) moving around.
After about an hour the treatment was over and I felt a bit light-headed, but I also felt I’d let go of a lot of tension and stress (if you’ve read “From Cancer To Coddiwomple” you’ll know exactly what that was all about.) Graeme told me he had picked up on how I was looking for a new direction in my life and that I had a book locked away inside me…
I had also been suffering from some back pain and stomach cramps during the previous 24 hours or so, but the night following my treatment I released everything from my body that didn’t want to be there (it wasn’t pretty!) and my aches & pains disappeared, plus I reckon I pee’d for England!
That was all the proof I needed to realise how powerful this therapy can be. I was hooked and was keen to learn more about it. I became attuned to Reiki Level 1 (allowing me to treat myself and family & friends) while I was in Australia in 2016 and then I continued on to gain my Level 2 when back in the UK to enable me to treat others.
I now offer home visits in the area where I live and I love what I do. Simple as.
If you would like to know more about Reiki can help you then please do not hesitate to contact me.
In the meantime, thank you for reading this and I look forward to connecting with you again soon.
Until next time…
Wendy xx
From Cancer To Coddiwomple – A Story of Love, Loss and Daring to Dream is available directly from thecoddiwomplelady.com. Proceeds help me support St Barnabas House hospice in Worthing, Sussex
