A Gentle Path of Energy Work
Reiki is a Healing Art that originated in Japan in the early 1920s. It’s often said that the founder, Mikao Usui, “re-discovered” the sacred Art of using the hands to direct the unseen Energies specifically for healing purposes. In other words, Usui didn’t invent energy work. However, he did define and systemitize a specific approach, or modality, we now call Reiki.
Humans have worked with the Human Energy Field and Energy Lines in the body for thousands of years. We have written evidence dating back to The Vedic Texts of India and the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Most likely these concepts are much older.
Reiki is just one modality within the larger field of Energy Healing, or my preferred term, Energy Work. I avoid the word “healing” because it implies a promise of a specific outcome, and the truth is—there are no guarantees. Instead, Energy Work invites more harmony, flow, and balance within the energy field. It’s a compassionate practice that works for the highest good of the recipient, supporting the easing of suffering, not just seeking to “cure” something.
We are biological beings, and at some point, our bodies will return to the Earth. The goal isn’t to avoid that natural process but to meet it with grace, balance, and peace.
How Does Reiki Work?
When a practitioner facilitates Reiki, it’s believed they’re tapping into the Universal Source of Divine Healing Energy. This practice is NOT about directing your personal energy toward someone else, rather, it’s about becoming a clear, open channel for Source energy.
For me, this is the place where science meets spirit. The terms I’m using sound spiritual in nature, but quantum physics shows us there is science backing up this ancient knowledge.
There are other styles of Energy Healing you may have heard of like Pranic Healing, Qi Gong, Acupressure, or Cranial Sacral Therapy. Some of these involve building up your own Chi and using it to support another person’s field. Reiki takes a different approach. The goal is to set the ego aside and allow the Divine to flow through you.
The History
While it is rooted in ancient concepts, the system as we know it was formalized by Mikao Usui, a Buddhist from Japan. His curiosity about the old stories of “laying on of hands” healing led him on a spiritual quest that eventually resulted in the re-discovery of Reiki.
In the 1970s, Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman, helped spread this modality in the West. To make it more accessible to Christian audiences, she added Christian themes, though these weren’t part of the original teachings. Today, thanks to teachers like William Rand, we’ve begun to piece together the original history and traditions.
Is Reiki Religious?
Plain and simple—no.
Reiki has no required dogma, beliefs, or religious affiliation. It works with Divine Universal Energy, which you can call by any name or no name at all. The words we use to describe it sound ethereal in nature, however, Quantum Science may hold the key to our true understanding of these subtle energy fields and their full potential.
Anyone who feels called can learn this practice. The system works with the human Energy Field and can be explored as a meeting point between Science and Spirit.
After you receive your Level II Attunement, you are ready to share Reiki with others.
(Be sure to review the laws to practice in your state.)
What matters most is your intention.
After you are attuned, all you need is a sincere desire to help another being, the intent to do no harm, and to allow yourself to be a channel for Divine Healing Energy.
That’s it.
What Does a Reiki Treatment Feel Like?
A treatment with a trained practitioner, or with yourself after level I attunement, feels soft, warm, and gentle—like a cozy blanket wrapped around you. Most people feel relaxed, peaceful, and deeply calm during and after a session.
Sometimes, you may feel tired afterward. That’s because Reiki helps your body drop into a state of deep rest. If you’ve been holding on to stress or emotional tension, a treatment can help release it—and your body will naturally want to integrate through rest.
If the energy ever feels intense or uncomfortable during a session, speak up. A qualified practitioner will know how to adjust.
Who Should Get Attuned?
Reiki Certification Level I is an incredible self-care tool. If you’re drawn to the spiritual arts or metaphysics, or if you’re exploring your connection with the Divine, learning this practice is a beautiful step.
Level I will teach you the foundational techniques for tuning in and directing healing energy for yourself. Once you’re attuned, it’s like a door opens—you may begin to notice unresolved memories, deep emotions, or new levels of insight. Reiki helps make these transitions gentler and more meaningful.
You might even find you’ve had a natural sensitivity to energy your whole life. Maybe your hands have felt warm around others or animals since childhood—that’s a sign of your innate ability to work with subtle energy. Reiki simply gives you the structure and practice to grow that gift.
Reiki Certification Level II is for those ready to begin working with others. Before you go there, I always recommend taking time to build a strong foundation in your own self-care practice.
If you want to practice professionally, be sure to research the laws in your state. Here in Florida, for example, you must be a Licensed Massage Therapist to offer paid services to the public.
Click HERE to Learn more about the Reiki Certification Retreats I host.
Reiki Is for You If…
- You’re seeking greater peace, clarity, and self-awareness
- You’re seeking greater peace, clarity, and self-awareness
- You want to reconnect with yourself or the Divine
- You’re navigating physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges
- You’ve felt intuitive nudges or warm, tingling sensations in your hands
- You’re curious about Energy Work and don’t know where to start
This is Just the Beginning
There’s so much more to explore in the world of Conscious Health practices. I hope this overview helped you understand what Reiki is, how it differs from general Energy Healing, and why so many people are drawn to it as a path to inner peace.
Thinking about Getting Attuned?
If Reiki Certification is calling your name, take the next step. Schedule a discovery call with me and let’s talk about your questions, goals, and intentions for wanting to learn Reiki.