Reiki Facts

What Reiki does:

Reiki facilitates:

• Relaxation
• Balance
• Holistic Well-Being
• Healing
• Harmony

What Reiki is:
Reiki is an ancient hands-on healing art which promotes balance and harmony for well-being and health. It has been called touch therapy or also the laying-on-of-hands.  Reiki (pronounced RAY-kee) means Universal Life Energy. The Reiki practitioner channels the Universal Life energy (chi or ki) through their hands into the recipient.  The practitioner applies gentle touch to different parts of the head and body. It does not involve any massage, manipulation, pressure, or pushing. It can not hurt the recipient.

Dr. Mikao Usui founded the modern method of Reiki in Japan in the early 20th century, and it was brought to the West by a Japanese-American woman named Hawayo Takata. Since then Reiki has spread across the world.

How Reiki works:
Reiki works like acupuncture, without the needles. Reiki is applied to the chakras within the same energy meridians that acupuncture uses. Chakras are the body’s non-physical esoteric energy processing centers. Reiki supplies supplemental healing energy to balance and harmonize the chakras, which is necessary for well-being and health.  Reiki makes no claim to cure nor guarantee to heal, but is said to facilitate and accelerate healing. There are many people who have experienced complete and sometimes miraculous healings through Reiki, but again, Reiki can not make guarantees. The Reiki practitioner is only the channel and can not control how much Reiki the recipient can or will receive.

A typical session:
The Reiki practitioner will ask you about your general state of being and any health concerns. You lay down for the treatment, keeping all your clothes on, except for shoes. The practitioner places his/her hands on or around twelve main areas of the body:  four around the head, four on the front trunk, and four on the back trunk. Each position lasts about five minutes. A full treatment lasts at least 60 minutes. Spot treatments on specific areas of the head, trunk or limbs may be added or substituted depending on the situation.  Some practitioners apply Reiki intuitively, placing their hands where they feel the energy is needed.

Benefits:
Any person (including babies and children), animal or plant can benefit from Reiki energy, which helps to restore and strengthen the life force of every recipient. Reiki is usually immediately relaxing, soothing and calming. Recipients regularly report feeling better, more peaceful and balanced. Symptoms of discomfort, pain and/or stress diminish and can even disappear with regular treatment. Reiki works energetically to promote physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Logistics:
Treatments last 60 minutes or longer, depending on the practitioner. Some practitioners have their own office and others make house calls. It is preferable to wear very comfortable, clean clothing and warm socks. You will stretch out on a sofa, bed or massage table and will be covered by a blanket. Some practitioners might add soft music, crystals and/or candles/aromatherapy to enhance the session.

How many sessions will I need?
A regular treatment would be ideal for maintaining well-being. “Regular” could mean weekly, monthly or quarterly, depending on your budget and schedule. For treating chronic or severe illness, daily treatments would be the most effective. In these cases, it is highly recommended that people learn how to give themselves Reiki treatments. Only Reiki Masters are qualified to teach Reiki and qualify others to practice.

Cost:
The cost of a Reiki treatment varies but is generally similar to the cost of a massage therapist, ranging from 80 to 170 euros or more per treatment which will last 60 to 90 minutes depending on the practitioner. It may be reimbursed by some progressive American insurers. It is not reimbursed by the French Securité Sociale.  Group training costs about 350 euros and a private course is about 600 euros, but self-treatments thereafter are free for life and can be done anytime. Certified practitioners are also qualified to give Reiki treatments to others on a professional basis.

Finding a Reiki practitioner:
The qualified Reiki practitioner has been trained and attuned by a Reiki Master to ensure that he/she knows how to correctly apply Reiki in all situations. There are four “degrees” of Reiki which correspond to skill level and energy connection. Trainings are done in about one weekend for each of the first three degrees. Reiki Masters train for one to two years beyond the 3rd degree. To find a Reiki practitioner in your area who speaks English, search the internet with Google using the words Reiki English+ your country. Also try Federation Reiki + your country.  Consult the Health and Well-Being listings in local papers.

Reiki standing in France and elsewhere:
Reiki was recently recognized by the Harvard Medical School (www.health.harvard.edu) as a stress-reducing touch therapy which could facilitate the healing process. Several American hospitals have pilot programs to study the benefits of touch therapies, including Reiki. (Harvard Heart Letter, October 2005, p.3)  Otherwise, Reiki is considered a harmless sort of massage in the West and is not  a regulated profession.  There are various Reiki federations and associations in France, the UK and the US but they are not government authorities which certify or regulate practitioners.  

Reiki and Medical Treatment:
Reiki Masters and practitioners are not qualified to give medical diagnosis, advice or treatment, but Reiki can work with medical treatment to facilitate and accelerate healing.  Inform your practitioner of any medical or psychological treatment you are receiving, and let your doctor know you are receiving Reiki.  If you are taking medication, you must monitor your needs carefully because Reiki has been known to result in needing less medication. The Reiki practitioner should never suggest that Reiki replace conventional medical treatment.

Further Reading:

“The Everything Reiki Book”  by Phylameana lila Désy

“Abundance Through Reiki” by Dr. Paula Horan

On the Internet: www.reiki.org/

by Jane Grey, PhD

Adapted from her contribution to the

Health Wise Paris guidebook on health care in Paris.

Reiki 1

is the basic course which qualifies you to be a
Reiki practitioner.  In this weekend training, held
completely in English, you will learn how, when and why to use Reiki.  The seminar includes presentation of Reiki history and principles,
demonstration and practice of the Reiki techniques and personal, individual attunements to open the channels of healing energy.  

Reiki is not complicated.  It is not an intellectual activity and even a young child could learn how to use it. Reiki is merely energy, and learning Reiki means learning to use energy for your higher good.

Upon successful completion of the workshop participants are qualified professional Reiki
practitioners and receive an attractive certificate, suitable for framing.

Not everyone who learns Reiki uses it professionally. Many people do Reiki only on themselves and their families and friends. Either way, the training workshop soon pays for itself.

Reiki 2 

This is the advanced level after Reiki 1 in which you learn how to use the healing power symbols and how to do distance Reiki healing.  
Participants receive an additional set of four higher energy attunements.  

Whereas Reiki 1 is channeling energy at the physical level, Reiki 2 is about applying energy through the channels of consciousness, which requires more focus and intention.

On a spiritual level, Reiki is really about love. It’s about “letting go” to allow happen what is best to happen. It’s also about opening to receive our highest good and the natural abundance of the universe.

Prepare to experience an important shift in your own energy and consciousness during these powerful workshops — and beyond.

Tuition includes support materials and professional certificate.

Your instructor:
Jane Grey,
Usui Reiki Master
See bio

Next group Reiki training workshop dates to be announced.

Private Reiki treatment sessions by appointment.
Private and semi-private certification courses can be arranged.

Contact Jane to be notified of upcoming Reiki training workshops or to arrange for a private session or course.

Frequently asked questions about Reiki and using Reiki.

•    How do you pronounce Reiki?
Say the first syllable like the “ray” in sun ray; the second syllable sounds like “key” as in door key:  Ray’ - Key, with a slight accent on the Ray. 

•    If I practice Reiki on someone am I depleting my own energy?
Giving Reiki to someone does not take energy from you or deplete your own life force. Reiki energy is drawn from the infinite Universal source.
By channeling Reiki you will receive supplemental energy for yourself.

•    Does Reiki cure?
Reiki is considered an alternative healing technique, but it makes no claims to cure. It facilitates healing by harmonizing and balancing the chakras.

•    Is Reiki a type of massage?
No. It is very light touch applied to the head and body. There is no pressure, manipulation or massage. There need not even be direct, physical touch. It is extremely relaxing.

•    Can I do Reiki on myself?
Absolutely. One of the best reasons to take the practitioner training is so that you are qualified to give yourself treatments whenever you want or need, and at no further cost.

•    Can I do Reiki on children?
Yes. In general, children love Reiki and it is very calming and soothing for them, as it is for nearly everyone.

Contact Jane to arrange for a relaxing Reiki treatment.