What is Reiki?

The word Reiki is Japanese with the first part Rei meaning "universal" and Ki meaning "life force energy". It is the name of the healing modality that is also referred to as a "laying on of hands".
A typical session would involve the client either to be sitting in a chair or laying on a table while the practitioner uses their hands to channel the healing energy to the client. The practitioner can either lay hands directly to the client or hover the hands just above the body to send healing light.
A Japanese man named Mikao Usui began to learn and teach Reiki after research and mediation revealed to him the ways of healing. Reiki can be used on humans, animals, crystals, and pretty much anything you would like to charge with healing energy. The "life force energy" has been identified and explained in many cultures. For example in some native american cultures it is called "Orenda", in India it is called "Prana", and in China "chi".
​Reiki practitioners have had their body and energy "attuned" so that their bodies channels can be open and cleared to flow this healing energy to others and themselves. Reiki is not affiliated with any religion it is simply life force energy. When channeling Reiki the practitioner and the client receive the healing energy so the practitioner is not using or depleting any of their own energy by healing another person. It is a everlasting flow of healing energy that the practitioner merely channels though them. The Reiki is explained as being conscious energy meaning the direction of the energy in the body will move to where ever it is needed regardless of where the practitioner "lays hands".
Reiki aids healing of all four of our subtle bodies; the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. This is why results from a Reiki session can be so powerful. It also helps to heal the root cause of any metal or physical ailments. It is not uncommon for clients to experience old memories, visions, and or emotions during a session. This is the body bringing important causes to the surface so that the client can begin to process and let go of whatever is not serving the highest good of the client. Many practitioners receive intuitive insights into what is going on with the client. While the client is receiving Reiki they may experience a deep state of relaxation, much like a meditative state or hypnotic trance state.
After a session clients are always advised to drink lots of water and rest well. Your body is releasing toxins and old cellular memories that need to be flushed out of your system and so staying hydrated and rested is essential to the healing process. You may experience emotions releasing, memories surfacing, a clearer mind, a more relaxed state and overall improvement of life.
Many hospitals are now introducing Reiki as a complimentary medicine for cancer and surgery patients. Many research studies have been done on the benefits of Reiki for pain management, quicker healing after surgery, less blood loss during surgery, reducing stress and blood pressure. "Reiki is now one of the top three complementary in-patient therapies in U.S. hospitals, according to an AHA survey. Massage therapy takes first place, with 37% of hospital patients requesting it. Number two is music and art therapy at 25%, and a very close third is “healing touch therapies” at 25%, which included Reiki and Therapeutic Touch". The benefits are a more relaxed overall state of being, releasing emotional baggage, reaching your personal goals and over coming bad habits or addictions. The most important side effect of all is that Reiki helps to amp up your bodies own natural healing abilities and helps to balance your mental and emotional bodies which helps to heal your physical and spiritual bodies as well.