At the very basic level of understanding the practice, Reiki is a technique for relaxation and stress reduction that also promotes healing as a form of energy therapy. It originated in Japan and is now practiced worldwide. “Rei” means spiritual wisdom, and “Ki” means life energy. Reiki is spiritually guided life energy. At the most profound, Reiki can be life changing.

If you’ve ever received acupuncture you may be familiar with Ki or Qi already, although Reiki does not use needles in its healing as acupuncture does. Ki is the life energy flowing within our bodies via pathways called meridians, chakras or nadis, and around us as an energy field called the aura. To have a healthy body and state of wellbeing one must have a healthy flow of Ki which supports our organs and the cells of our body.

If you don’t feel like you understand Ki, there have been numerous studies involving plants that might help make more sense of it. In the study, one group was asked to talk to plants negatively for 30 days, and another group asked to talk to plants positively for 30 days. The plants were kept in the exact same growing conditions, yet the plants who had received the positive vibrations grew stronger and more healthy than the plants receiving the negative vibrations, which appeared visibly different by the end of the study with drooping/dying leaves. What can explain this? Ki is the energy inside and around living things that responds to external vibrations as well as our own thoughts and feelings. When we have positive thoughts we increase our flow of Ki and when we have negative thoughts we can end up like the unlucky plants, in the sense that unhealthy energy attaches to our organs and tissues of our body, causing us to feel poorly, or in some instances become ill.

Reiki helps to clear negative energy and blockages from our internal pathways, allowing Ki to flow within us in a healthy and unobstructed way. When we have a restored and healthy flow of Ki, our physical organs and tissues are able to perform as they are meant to.

How does Reiki make you feel?

Reiki can feel different for everyone. While most often Reiki feels soothing and relaxing, it’s important to be aware that some people may experience different sensations and feelings as the energies work through your body. Reiki can never cause harm however, so there is no danger associated with this practice. Reiki has been known to help develop within us stronger sensations of love, patience, kindness and can make us feel more at ease in our daily lives. Reiki is known to release blockages from past traumas, pain, worry and fears, to help you be a more radiant and connected version of yourself.

Is Reiki a religion or associated with any religious beliefs?

No. There is no dogma associated with Reiki. Followers of any religion (or none at all) can benefit from the healing effects of Reiki. It does not conflict with religious beliefs. Some people may have religious-seeming experiences while receiving Reiki but this is unique to each individual.

What if I have a medical concern?

Reiki works fluidly with all forms of psychological care and medical care. Reiki has been more actively researched in recent years as a recovery aid for patients after surgeries and for reducing side effects of medications such as radiation or chemotherapy. There are now many hospitals across the U.S. where Reiki is offered as part of regular care to patients. For more information on this you can visit the Center for Reiki Research https://centerforreikiresearch.org/ to learn about scientific research done on the effects of Reiki, or read William Lee Rand’s “Reiki in Hospitals” for results on specific medical studies.

How do you become a “Reiki Master”?

There is a training process for learning Reiki that allows the practitioner to advance along the way, sharpening their understanding of this form of energy therapy as well as gaining in experience of Reiki techniques as a practitioner. To become a Reiki Master – which is the highest level of the therapy – one must graduate all four levels of the program as taught by a certified Reiki Master. After completing levels I and II, the student must practice for 6-12 months to become familiar with the energy and the placements before continuing on to Master training.

How did I become a “Reiki Master”?

I have completed the 4 levels in Usui Reiki Master training with The Well Nest, and also went on to complete the Holy Fire® Karuna Reiki Master training taught by William Lee Rand himself, as a “step-up,” to my Usui Master’s training, which has brought incredible new insights and skillsets to my practice.

How long are Velvet Light Reiki sessions?

A session is a minimum 45 minutes but I recommend a 60 minute session. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions and we can discuss what might work best for you.