Reiki Revisited

Marita Aicher-Swartz, MA

Reiki is a Japanese form of stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing and a sense of well-being. The hands of a trained Reiki practitioner are placed on a fully clothed recipient who reclines or sits comfortably. The experience of Reiki is very subjective and varies from person to person and treatment to treatment. Some people feel a warm tingling where Reiki hands are placed, others feel soft waves of gentle pulsations flowing through their body, yet others feel nothing in particular except that they are very relaxed afterwards, with a better sense of well-being. The actual experience of Reiki may center on physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional changes – a sense of relaxation, relief from pain, greater clarity, a lessening of anxiety or worrisome thoughts and emotions.

The word Reiki is composed of two Japanese syllables: Rei and Ki. Rei is the spiritual source of the universe (which many call God or Spirit). This Source knows us totally and loves us unconditionally. Ki is the primal life energy of the universe and is the energy behind everything that exists. Plants, animals, humans, water, air and the earth all have their own kind of ki. Reiki therefore means “spiritually guided life force energy”. It is free of negativity and filled with compassion, love, peace, wisdom and every good quality. It knows the cause of every illness and difficulty and also knows how to heal them.

As human beings, our ki is affected by our thoughts, emotions, and memories. For example, when we have positive feelings and thoughts toward ourselves, our ki is strengthened and we feel strong, confident, enthusiastic, and alive. On the other hand, when we entertain negative thoughts and emotions, we are likely to have less energy, and be less motivated toward success. Our ki or life force is affected positively or negatively by our relationships as well as by our environment – music, the daily newspaper, TV, movies, the food we eat, and the conditions of our homes and places of work. We may be out of balance physically, emotionally, or spiritually depending upon our life choices and daily life experiences.

Reiki is a spiritual healing practice that gently encourages a person’s system back toward its own unique balance. It always supports the life process. Because of this, a Reiki treatment can potentially benefit anyone whether he or she is healthy and wants to stay that way or is addressing any kind of health concern. Artists use Reiki to enhance creativity; athletes find it speeds recovery from injury; students use it to help them study. Others appreciate how it strengthens intuition and still others how it helps them to mediate and pray. The list of benefits is long and very personal, both because people are imbalanced in different ways and because they notice and value different changes. The effects of Reiki are subtle and far-reaching. Part of Reiki’s influence may be that the enhanced sense of well-being it brings inclines us toward other ways of living and acting that are better for our health. Feeling better encourages us to make healthier food choices, get adequate rest and exercise, and to express our emotions more clearly and honestly in our relationships. As more and more people receive treatment and learn to practice this gentle healing art we are seeing another of Reiki’s hidden gifts- a greater understanding and appreciation of oneself and one’s spiritual life. Reiki helps bring us to a greater awareness of our own goodness and our connection to a God of unconditional love.

There are two ways you can bring Reiki into your life. One is to receive treatment, either from a professional or from a friend who has been trained. The other option-and this is what makes Reiki unique – is to learn Reiki yourself, so that you can give yourself a treatment whenever you like. I encourage all my clients, but especially those with serious illness or particularly stressful lifestyles, to learn Reiki. Once you learn to practice you can also share Reiki with your family, friends, and pets.

For more information or to schedule a treatment you may call me at 423-323-4373. I am a certified Usui and Tibetan Reiki Master Teacher and a student teacher with the International Center for Reiki Training.

- Marita Aicher-Swartz
Usui and Tibetan Reiki Master Teacher

Note: See our Calendar for available Reiki classes.

(This article is from our 3rd Qtr 2006 Newsletter)

Top of Page