Reiki Healing Energy

Reiki, or ‘universal life force,’ is a healing system that originates from Japan. Reiki practitioners use their hands to guide this life force (or “Ki”) and transfer it to where it is most needed, be that within their bodies, or into the body of another person.

Reiki practitioners can do this because they learn to use the 5 principles of Reiki to channel this universal life force into wherever they see fit, to remove disease and pain.

How to Perform Reiki

However, Reiki isn’t just about healing and being healed through the power of touch. It’s also concerned with creating physical, emotional, and mental balance…

In other words, it’s about a holistic approach to health. It’s not just about healing what is already dysfunctional. It’s about making sure that, once healed, you remain in balance for the rest of your life, so you don’t suffer the same, or different, dysfunctions again.

This is a crucial difference when compared to the approach of conventional medicine. Generally, we wait until something goes wrong before we see the doctor, or go to the hospital.
Conventional medicine, from the most life-threatening situations to the smallest of ailments, concerns itself with ‘fixing’ what is wrong. Something has to go wrong first.

Yes, Reiki is about healing ailments, but it’s also about giving you the secret to a life free of pain and disease after that.

Unlike conventional medicine, it’s not about treating different issues with separate, disjointed medications.

Reiki is about harnessing the universal life force to heal ourselves as whole beings, from our physical bodies to our emotional and mental states.

Drastically Boost Energy Levels

Reiki practitioners believe that there is a universal energy (Ki) that flows in and out of every living thing, be they humans, animals or plants. It’s an invisible net that connects all of us.

This life force surges and ebbs, depending on what we do and even how we think. When you have high levels of Ki, you feel energized and full of life. When you retain high levels of Ki for long periods, your immune system strengthens, and you build a natural ability to ward off disease.

Conversely, low levels of Ki lead to lethargy, confusion, and depression. And low Ki over more extended periods leads to sickness and disease.

We can receive Ki from nutritious food, clean air, sleep and sunshine. We can also receive high doses of Ki from doing activities that correctly harness Ki, such as yoga, meditation and Reiki.

How much Ki any of us needs is dependent on each individual, but one aspect holds true; the older you are, the more Ki you need regularly.

A great metaphor is to think of your body as a mobile phone. When you buy a new phone, you’ll find the battery charges up quickly, and the power lasts for days at a time, without the need to recharge.

As the phone gets older, it takes longer to charge up to full power, and the power seems to deplete much faster, to the point that you need to charge up your phone more than once a day.

In the same way, the older you are, the more quickly you lose your Ki, and the more Ki you need to get from different sources.

It’s why young people seem to be able to party through the night on little sleep, drink lots of alcohol, and survive on nutrient-lacking fast food, without any real adverse effects on their health.

It’s why just a couple of glasses of wine, or not sleeping well for a few nights, can really affect an older person.

The older you are, the more important it becomes to eat well, sleep well, and do positive activities that ensure you have a robust and regular gush of Ki flowing into your body.

The good news is, Reiki, along with meditation, is one of the most efficient ways of getting super-high doses of Ki.

Eradicate Stress & Switch On Your Body’s Natural Ability To Heal

A key tenet of Reiki is the belief that stress is the real root cause of all ailments, from the common cold to the most life-threatening of cancers.

And that true relaxation of the body, mind, and soul is the cure. The modern world is very stressful, and even relaxation is packaged up as something to be sold to us, whether that’s in the form of holidays, spa breaks, etc.

Not that there’s anything wrong with relaxing spas and breaks, but we think of relaxation as something that is to be enjoyed for a day here and there, or for a couple of weeks a year on holiday.

Deep relaxation is something that we need on a daily basis. Relaxation allows Ki to flow through us in abundance. Lack of regular relaxation leads to blockages in the flow of Ki.

Meet anyone who practices daily relaxation, through Reiki, meditation, yoga, mindfulness, etc., and you’ll meet one of the healthiest, happiest people alive!

Reiki practitioners think of relaxation differently to the average person. They don’t see it as a ‘nice to have.’ Instead, it is as essential to them as their daily food and water.

The average person thinks of stress as a mental and emotional ailment that manifests itself in forms such as anxiety, depression, or panic attacks. Ask anyone who understands Reiki, and they will tell you that stress is the cause of all ailments, even physical.

Many of us either know or have heard of a couple who simply could not conceive a child, and chose to adopt, only to become pregnant after adoption. Once the stress of trying to conceive is over, nature can miraculously take over.

However, once you’ve allowed Reiki into your life, you’ll realize that cases like these are not miracles. It’s simply Ki being allowed to flow in abundance again because of decreased stress.

Reiki is the ultimate way of inducing pure relaxation for your mind, body, and soul on a daily basis, and eradicating stress, the root cause of all illnesses.

Complimentary, Non-Invasive and Safe For Everyone

One of the biggest issues with conventional medicine is that each ailment is generally treated separately. It’s not uncommon to find people who have different medications to treat their heart, their digestive system, sinus problems and so on.

Medical doctors scrutinize our medical records before prescribing anything, because they need to make sure that what they prescribe will not adversely interact with our current medications.

Drug interactions can result in too much or too little drug in the body, unwanted side effects, or even cause a drug to be ineffective.

Not only that, medical doctors seemingly have the impossible task of ensuring we remain safe because the medications they prescribe may also interact with over-the-counter medications not listed in our medical records, herbal supplements or even vitamins.

There can even be interactions that can occur between certain drugs and certain foods and drinks.

The wonderful thing about Reiki is that it can never adversely interact with any other treatment you are receiving. From merely taking antihistamines to alleviate symptoms of hay fever, to undergoing grueling chemotherapy, channeling Ki into your body will never do you any harm, and will certainly do you a lot of good.

It’s the perfect complementary therapy to any treatment, surgery or procedure. It will put your body, mind and soul into a deep relaxation that triggers your natural recovery process.

It will also retune your mind to think positively and expect a speedy recovery (ultimately, we are what we think)!

This is important. Genuine Reiki practitioners will never encourage you to replace any conventional treatment with Reiki.

This is not because they think that Reiki is ineffective. Reiki practitioners know how powerful channeling Ki into the human body is for eradicating the disease.

Many of us live in a world where we no longer eat nutritious, unprocessed food daily, a world where we are expected to wake up and go to work before dawn has broken, or work night shifts, which completely disrespect our natural circadian rhythms, a world where sleep and relaxation are luxuries…

We are now so disconnected to what is natural; we are susceptible to dangerously low levels of Ki for long periods that can turn into chronic and even life-threatening illnesses.

Can Reiki turnaround even a grave illness? Absolutely! However, all diseases start of as a small seed. Once it is at a life-threatening stage, it’s so vast that it can be likened to a mighty oak.

Reiki can undoubtedly start to reverse the growth of this diseased tree, but to forgo any conventional treatment that has been prescribed by a knowledgeable clinician would be foolhardy at best, and downright dangerous at worst.

When our bodies have become extremely diseased, it means we have been suffering from chronically low levels of Ki for a very long time. Consequently, it will take time for our Ki levels to rise.

Much like how a long-term anorexic can’t be expected to fully recover after eating just one hearty meal, having a couple of Reiki sessions cannot eradicate a severe illness.

However, can it act as a catalyst to conventional medicine, making the treatment exponentially more effective? Yes!

Reiki is not a religion. Usui Sensei may have been born into a Buddhist family, but he took onboard teachings from his birth country, Japan, as well as teachings from China and the West.

Believed that all religions and belief systems were hinting at the same thing, a universal life force that binds us all, and has an incredible ability to heal us from all mental, emotional and physical ailments.

Relaxation Is Essential To A Disease-Free Life:

A key tenet of Reiki is the belief that stress is the real root cause of all ailments, from the common cold to the most life-threatening of cancers.

Not that there’s anything wrong with relaxing spas and breaks, but we think of relaxation as something that is to be enjoyed for a day here and there, or for a couple of weeks a year on holiday.

Deep relaxation is something that we need daily. Relaxation allows Ki to flow through us in abundance. Lack of daily relaxation leads to blockages in the flow of Ki.

Meet anyone who practices daily relaxation, through Reiki, meditation, yoga, mindfulness, etc., and you’ll meet one of the healthiest, happiest people alive!

Reiki practitioners think of relaxation differently to the average person. They don’t see it as a ‘nice to have.’ Instead, it is as essential to them as their daily food and water.

The average person thinks of stress as a mental and emotional ailment that manifests itself in forms such as anxiety, depression, or panic attacks. Ask anyone who understands Reiki, and they will tell you that stress is the cause of all ailments, even physical.

Many of us either know or have heard of a couple who simply could not conceive a child, and chose to adopt, only to become pregnant after adoption. Once the stress of trying to conceive is over, nature can miraculously take over.

However, once you’ve allowed Reiki into your life, you’ll realize that cases like these are not miracles. It’s simply Ki being allowed to flow in abundance again because of decreased stress.

Reiki is the ultimate way of inducing pure relaxation for your mind, body, and soul daily, eradicating stress and the root cause of all illnesses.

5 Reiki principles

 

To harness the power of the universal life force, you need to understand and master 5 fundamental Reiki principles. Not only that, anyone wishing to harness Ki needs to embody these principles every single day.

These principles are the antithesis of negativity and evil. Simply put, the power of Reiki can never be subverted!

“Just For Today”

An essential thing to note is that each of the 5 principles are prefixed with “just for today.” This is vital for 2 reasons.

First of all, harnessing the power of Ki is all about being in the present. It’s only when we are in tune with the present that Ki can flow correctly and in abundance.

It’s the reason why practitioners in all forms of yoga, meditation, Qigong, and Tai Chi ask you to focus on the present, on your breath, on your current position of your body, etc.

It’s not about letting your mind wander. We spend so much of our time either thinking about the past or wondering about the future. Often we forget to just be right here in the present.

By prefixing the 5 principles with “just for today,” you rid yourself of thinking about the future, on what might or could be. You also don’t beat yourself up about mistakes made in the past. Instead, you focus on understanding and mastering each Reiki principle “just for today.”

Secondly, if you’ve ever made any long term commitments, such as going on a diet, you’ll know how difficult it is.

Rather than make lofty long term commitments to follow these principles for a lifetime, you’ll find it easier (and you’ll be a lot more successful) when you commit and affirm to these principles daily.

Reiki Principle No. 1: “I Will Not Anger”

Keep in mind, negative thoughts lead to lower levels of Ki. We’ve already discussed how this can cause imbalances in our mental and emotional state, which can then, when left unchecked, manifest into mental health issues and even physical diseases.

Anger is up there with pessimism and fear as a real Ki drainer! For each new day, make a choice not to give in to anger.

Now, that’s not to say you shouldn’t feel anger at all. It’s hard not to feel anger if someone cuts you off when driving, or bumps into you walking without offering an apology.

You cannot control other people’s rude behavior or negativity. However, you CAN control your response to their behavior.

There is a reason why we have the phrase “lose your temper.” It’s instead of telling that even our language states we don’t gain anything from it; instead, we lose something.

This isn’t the same as tolerating bad behavior, staying quiet, and quietly seething underneath. This kind of ‘sweeping issues under the carpet’ tactic can be even more harmful to you than getting angry.

But it’s about, daily, keeping in mind that rarely are you the real target for negativity.

That rude store clerk may be in a marriage that is falling apart. That guy who just cut you off on the freeway could have had a blazing row with his boss.

In the vast majority of cases, you are not the real target of someone’s anger or negativity.

Just keeping this in mind daily, and choosing not to get angry, will have a transformative effect on not just you, but everyone who comes into contact with you.

You’ll be amazed at how many people instantly become remorseful and contrite when, instead of having a massive dose of negativity fired back at them, they receive kindness and compassion.

Please note: This is not to say that all anger is bad. Indeed, there are rightful causes that demand anger. Why shouldn’t the fact that there are still people dying of hunger, not anger? Or that children and animals are being abused around the world?

This kind of ‘positive anger’ is a good thing as it signifies that something is fundamentally wrong, and it provides the fire and motivation to try and rectify the situation.

However, even this positive anger needs to be channeled correctly.

Reiki Principle No. 2: I Will Not Worry (Fear)

Fear or worries are necessary emotions. They are what keep us alive. If you’re scared of jumping off a high cliff or placing your hand into a naked fire…good!

The problem is, for many of us, our fears and worries start to become larger than life, and they tend to be over things we have no real control over.

Many of us worry about how we look, what other people think of us etc. We fear judgment, humiliation, and mockery.

These types of fears and worries do not safeguard you from harm, such as a fear of heights or fear of fire.

They do the opposite. Fear begets more fear, and worry begets more worry. The more you indulge your fears and concerns, the more you have of them, and the larger they appear!

This Reiki principle asks of you, for just one day at a time, let go of these fears and worries that are only ‘ghosts’ in your brain.

They are not real fears and worries that safeguard your life. Instead, they hold you back. Ki can only flow when you have a belief in the universal life force that surrounds and flows through all of us.

Once you believe in the absolute power of Ki, you’ll realize how senseless it has self-manufactured fears and worries.

Reiki Principle No. 3: I Will Be Grateful For All My Blessings

Before we touched on how we become what we think. Hospital patients who are optimistic about their prognosis recover from treatment or surgery faster and more thoroughly than pessimistic patients.

A key Reiki principle is to be grateful and thankful for our blessings daily. It’s human nature to dwell on what we don’t have, instead of being grateful for what we do have.

It’s why a beautiful woman laments the fact that she hasn’t been blessed with Rapunzel-like hair, conveniently forgetting that she has the most flawless, soft skin, or a fantastic hourglass figure.

It’s why we fixate on that one ‘stupid’ thing we said on a first date, forgetting how wonderfully the rest of the date went.

Science has even given us a definitive reason as to why we do this. It’s called the ‘catastrophic brain.’

It’s been proven through research that we still have a part of our brain that was initially forged in the Pleistocene Era. This was when our species shared the world with frightening animals such as saber-toothed tigers and woolly mammoths, and life-threatening phenomena such as ice, famine, and flood.

We developed the ability to always look for what was wrong instead of being grateful for what was right. Having that kind of catastrophic brain worked for us back then as it kept us safe from physical harm.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for us now. All pessimism does is perpetuate the cycle of misery.

Life isn’t always a bed of roses, and often bad events are thrust upon us. We have no choice in that. However, by being pessimistic and dwelling on the negative aspects just creates even more misery.

As someone who is taking their first steps to learn Reiki, you now know that negative thoughts and pessimism doesn’t just affect your mental and emotional wellbeing. It can directly manifest into physical ailments.

Guess what? Now you’re suffering more physical pain and disease, so now you have even more reason to be pessimistic and miserable! See how you can create your vicious cycle of misery?

Let’s contrast this with taking control and choosing to be grateful, even for bad things that happen to us.

Say you experience a bad event in your life but, instead of reacting with negativity and pessimism, you choose to be grateful. After all, how on earth can you be grateful for all the good things in your life if they can’t be contrasted with the bad?

Would we have the word ‘day’ if there was no ‘night’? If there were daylight 24/7, surely it would just be? There would be no word ‘day.’

In the same vein, all of the beautiful emotions in life, such as happiness, contentment, and excitement, would not exist if we did not feel sad, discontentment, or boredom.

This Reiki principle asks you, just for today, to be grateful for the gift of life, and all of its many shades.

It asks that you ignore your catastrophic brain that no longer serves you well. It asks you to only dwell on negative situations briefly to allow you to fully appreciate its corresponding positive emotion. Then it asks you to let it go and focus on the many blessings you have in your life right now.

Only by experiencing true gratitude for the universal life force can you harness it.

Reiki Principle No. 4: I Will Work With Honesty & Integrity

Increasingly, we are living in a materialistic world, where acquiring assets, be they property, designer clothes, cars or whatever objects you believe can ‘raise your status,’ is a daily pursuit.

Isn’t it funny, however, that no one ever eulogizes at the funeral of a recently departed loved one by detailing how stunning their house was, or how many fast cars they had?

What we remember of people is their character, and specifically the integrity of their character.

Were they honorable? Did they keep their promises? Did they treat others with dignity? Or were they fickle, duplicitous and untrustworthy?

The other aspect is that it takes a lifetime to build a reputation of honesty and integrity, but just a momentary lapse can bring it all tumbling down.

Which is why it’s so important in Reiki to work each day with honesty and integrity? It’s irrelevant what work you do, whether you’re the CEO of a multinational, or you’re stacking shelves at a local grocery store.

Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability. The satisfaction (and the rush of Ki) you derive from a job well done is fantastic!

Without a doubt, you’ve felt this before. Perhaps you were putting off cleaning out the garage or painting the fence. They’re not the most interesting of tasks, after all.

And yet, once you finally got started and completed the task, you felt a great sense of satisfaction.

This is a surge of Ki you get from doing any job well. You don’t have to be saving the world every day.

Complete your tasks to hand to the best of your ability, and with honor and dignity, no matter how small or inconsequential you think those tasks are. Have the honesty to own up to any mistakes you make, fix your errors and learn from them.

When you take the opportunity every day to put 100% into all you do, you will experience an abundance of Ki.

Reiki Principle No. 5: I Will Be Kind To All Living Beings

The world feels like it’s getting ever more cynical. All we have to do is turn on the TV to see atrocities happening all over the globe, which only serves to make us even more pessimistic.

Hence, we’ve even become cynical of kindness. If a stranger does something kind, we immediately think, ‘What’s in it for them?’

It’s a sad fact that many of us only return kindness once we receive kindness. But what if, instead of ‘paying back’ kindness, we chose to pay kindness forward?

This final Reiki principle is about learning to be the instigator of kindness, instead of merely reflecting kindness back, the creator of kindness rather than the reactor…

When you live each day, not looking for kindness to pay back, but paying kindness forward, without even caring whether it is paid back, you start a beautiful chain reaction in all you come into contact with.

We can all recall a time in our lives when we were stunned by the kindness of a loved one, or even a complete stranger.

By really embodying this Reiki principle, you can give the gift of kindness to people daily.

This doesn’t mean your acts of kindness have to be grandiose every single day! It’s simply having respect for all humans, and even animals and plants. It’s about understanding that even bad interactions and experiences are teaching you something valuable.

The Three Reiki Pillars

Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, outlined three Reiki pillars. These pillars create the foundation upon which you can practice the 5 principles of Reiki.

These pillars concern themselves in keeping your body, mind and soul at optimal health. After all, it’s challenging to let go of anger, be kind to others, or be grateful for your blessings if you’re in mental anguish and / or physical pain.

The Reiki Body:

Usui Sensei often referred to the human body as the ‘Temple of the Spirit.’ You should treat your body with the same reverence as a temple, with great respect and care.

Usui Sensei practiced Kiko, a Japanese form of Qigong that uses repetitive coordinated breathing and movement. You should also practice a form of exercise that utilizes Ki, such as Tai Chi or yoga, so you keep your body in perfect health, with optimal levels of Ki.

Ideally, you’ll be exercising every day, but if that’s not possible, aim for 3-4 times a week.

The Reiki Mind:

Looking after the human mind is as important as looking after the body. Usui Sensei would do this by meditating every day.

You should also try to incorporate meditation into your daily routine, even if you can only spare 10–15 minutes (we recommend 30 minutes), mainly because we now have such busy, stressful lifestyles.

Meditate daily, and you’ll be stunned at how much more relaxed you become, even in the face of adversity.

The Reiki Soul / Spirit:

We touched on positive anger, and how this type of anger can be a good thing as it provides the fire and motivation to change and rectify wrongdoing.

However, even positive anger needs to be channeled correctly, otherwise, it will still lead to low levels of Ki in an individual.

Usui Sensei said that we should focus on caring for society. Remember, in Reiki, the universal life force connects everything and everyone. To care for others is to care for ourselves.

This is the perfect way to channel positive anger. If you feel outraged by specific problems, such as child poverty, homelessness, etc., and look for opportunities to volunteer with charities and organizations that are trying to rectify that problem.

Positive anger can only remain positive if it turns into positive action. Anger is anger and, even when it’s positive, if it is allowed to sit inside you with nowhere to go, it can be as damaging to you has harmful anger.

Another way to looking after the soul or spirit is by giving Reiki to others. We spoke previously about how many people learn Reiki as a way to self-heal. But soon, they feel compelled to heal others.

Remember, Ki can become depleted when you don’t eat well, sleep well, you feel stressed, or you have become stuck in a pattern of negative thinking.

But your Ki can never be depleted because you chose to give some of your Ki to another person.

The opposite happens. Reiki flows through you, and by demonstrating care for others by giving Reiki, the more your soul benefits and is energized with even more Ki!

Ideally, you would be giving Reiki or volunteering for a good cause every day, but of course, this isn’t always possible. Instead, aim for at least once a week.

The Seven Chakras

Much like how you have the cardiovascular system of the heart, arteries, and veins that pump blood around your physical body, you also have a life force energy system, with energy centers known as chakras.

Chakra is an old Sanskrit word that literally translates into “wheel.” Ki (or ‘prana’ as it is called in Hinduism and Buddhism) spins and rotates inside of you around 7 specific centers in your body, starting at the base of your spine and going all the way up to the top of your head.

Just like your heart has different valves that control the blood that flows in and out of it, these chakras control the flow of Ki inside them.

When you are healthy and balanced, the 7 chakras spin at precisely the right speed that provides the perfect flow of nourishing Ki to every single part of your body, mind, and spirit.

However, when you are unbalanced, one (or more) of your chakras are either spinning too fast or turning too slowly.

Also, just like your arteries and veins carry blood around your entire body, so in turn, you have energy meridians that carry Ki around your body, nourishing your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

And just like a blockage in your arteries or veins can cause a stroke or heart attack, a blockage in these meridians leads to sickness and disease, mentally, emotionally and/or physically.

Each chakra controls certain specific aspects of your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, so by learning about the 7 chakras, you can direct Ki to where you need it most.

Now, we’ve already touched on the fact that Ki has the natural ability to flow to exactly where it is needed. A Reiki healer does not need to precisely direct Ki to where the recipient needs it. Ki seeks out weak zones and surges into correct imbalances.

However, many Reiki practitioners find it incredibly helpful, when healing others or self-healing, to visualize one or more of their chakras, as it helps them focus and channel Ki.

So let’s look at each of the chakras in depth.

Muladhara – The Root Chakra:

This is your first chakra and is located at the base of your spine, near your tailbone, and it goes up to just below your belly button. It radiates down into the ground, rooting your energy to the Earth.

This chakra is concerned with day to day survival, and its primary role is to give you everything you need to survive. In the modern world, this will translate into financial and emotional security.

When this chakra is unbalanced, it will cause anxiety and panic attacks. It will literally be screaming messages of survival. Its why, if you’ve ever suffered panic attacks or phobias, you genuinely believe that you are about to die when in reality, there is no real source of danger.

Physical ailments associated with an unbalanced root chakra are lower back problems, digestive problems, hip problems, prostate issues in men, and ovarian cysts in women.

Svadhisthana – Sacral Chakra:

Your second chakra starts below your belly button and extends up to its center. This chakra is concerned with the enjoyment of your life. It is what motivates you to indulge in pleasurable activities such as sex, and creative activities, such as dance, painting, etc.

When this chakra is unbalanced, it will cause addictions (overindulgence of life’s pleasures), restlessness, depression, feelings of guilt, lack of passion, and creativity.

Physical manifestations are obesity, impotence, hormone imbalances and associated disorders.

Manipura – The Solar Plexus Chakra:

Your third chakra starts at the center of your belly button and extends up to your breastbone. This chakra is concerned with giving you your identity and instilling you with confidence and decisiveness.

When this chakra is unbalanced, you may feel the need to ‘micromanage’ and display controlling tendencies. You could become angry quickly, feel paralyzed with indecisiveness, or feel insecure and needy.

Physical ailments associated with an unbalanced solar plexus chakra are digestive imbalances, and imbalances to internal organs, such as the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and appendix.

Anahata – The Heart Chakra:

Your fourth chakra is located from your breastbone to up and over your physical heart. This chakra is associated with helping you feel love, compassion, and kindness for yourself and for others.

When this chakra is unbalanced, you start to make bad choices and lose your personal boundaries, all in the name of love. This can lead to being used and abused by unscrupulous others. You could also build emotional walls to stop anyone from entering your heart, leading to feelings of loneliness, and relationship difficulties.

Physical issues associated with an unbalanced heart chakra are heart problems, heartburn, and fast or irregular heartbeat.

Vishuddha – The Throat Chakra:

Your fifth chakra is located just above your heart and extends up to your throat. This chakra is concerned with communication, clarity of speech, and allowing you to ‘speak your truth.’

When this chakra is unbalanced, you may feel ignored or invalidated by others. You may also be quite overbearing, and love hearing the sound of your own voice, at the expense of listening to others. Conversely, you may become shy, unable to express your emotions, and struggle for words (literally).

Physical ailments associated with an unbalanced throat chakra are mouth ulcers, dental cavities, throat infections, and a sore throat, as well as digestive issues (especially if you an unable to express emotions, and therefore ‘swallow your words’).

Ajna – The Third Eye Chakra:

Your sixth chakra is located between your eyebrows. This chakra is concerned with opening you up to the psychic universe and helping you on your path of spiritual development.

When this chakra is unbalanced, we feel disconnected emotionally, and disconnected to the spiritual world. We may view life as just a case of surviving, instead of seeing the true beauty of life, which can lead to depression, low mood, and thinking ‘what’s the point of life?’

Physical manifestations associated with an unbalanced third eye chakra are allergies, problems with your sinuses, headaches, and migraines.

Sahasrara – The Crown Chakra:

Your final chakra is at the top of your head, and it radiates upwards and outwards, connecting you to the energy of the rest of the universe.

This chakra is concerned with feelings of ‘oneness’ of seeing beyond the material world, and finding conscious energy everywhere and in everything. Successfully balancing this chakra is what the Buddhists call achieving nirvana.

This chakra is different from all the others because for it to be balanced would mean you have conquered suffering and even death. In other words, you would no longer be human, and you have turned into a conscious energy.

So, when this chakra is unbalanced, it means you’re still human. Therefore, all practices, such as Reiki, yoga, Tai Chi, etc. focus on balancing the other 6 chakras, which over time leads to the balancing of the 7th chakra, achieving nirvana, leaving your human body behind, and joining the universal conscious energy.

Energizing Your Chakras Through Reiki:

As explained before, a Reiki healer does not need to place his or her hands over a particular chakra for the healing Ki to work for specific ailments. Ki has the natural ability to flow to exactly where it is needed.

However, many Reiki practitioners prefer to place their hands over specific chakras, depending on what is wrong, as it helps them to focus and visualize.

If you’re unsure as to which chakra is unbalanced, remember, Reiki energy is intelligent, so don’t worry. Instead, focus on each chakra, one by one, and trust that KI will flow to exactly where it is needed most.

How To Prepare For Reiki Attunement

Reiki attunement is the process by which you receive the power of Reiki. This is done by learning how to open up your Crown Chakra (Sahasrara). If you remember from the previous part, this is the chakra that connects you up to the broader universe. It is through this chakra you receive the ability to self-heal and heal others.

There are 3 levels of attunement. The first level (also known as First Degree) is focused on opening and expanding the main energy channels in your body, to allow Ki to flow more freely and deeply through you.

This emphasis at Level 1 is in self-healing, clearing all of your energy blockages and obstacles, so you are your best self, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Level 2 (also known as Second Degree) is focused on giving Reiki on others. Also, at this level, you receive 3 Reiki symbols, which allow you to connect more deeply to the universal Ki. Each symbol has different qualities, which will enable you to focus and guide KI more acutely.

Level 3 (also known as Third Degree) is when you attain Reiki Master status. This is when not only can you self-heal, and heal others, you can also attune others. At this level, you will receive the final 2 Reiki symbols.

When it comes to attunement, Reiki practitioners fall into two schools of thought. The first group believes that a Reiki Master can only do attunement.

In other words, someone who is interested in harnessing Reiki must go to a Reiki Master, who performs a ceremony (called Reiju in Japanese), to be attuned first before they can start to heal themselves (Level 1) or others (Level 2).

Then other Reiki practitioners believe that attunement is something you can do yourself at home, and there is no need for you to seek out a Reiki Master.

Who is correct? Let’s look at the arguments on both sides.

Reiki is the practice by which anyone can channel the universal life force to heal themselves and others. ‘Rei’ is often translated to ‘universal,’ which means it can be utilized by anyone. And Ki flows through all living things.

Because of this, some Reiki practitioners believe that there is no need to receive attunement from a Reiki Master. The universal life force is everywhere, ready for you to harness it.

Many of these Reiki practitioners don’t like the idea of attunement being something that is passed down, as they believe it makes Reiki appear like a cult, or some sort of secretive organization, where knowledge is passed down to the few who are willing to pay for an attunement ceremony.

Indeed, the central concept of channeling Ki through the Crown Chakra is something that is taught widely in different types of meditation and yoga, without the need for any ceremony.

On the flip side, proponents of Reiki Master led attunements state that the Reiju ceremony is infinitely more powerful when you are in the presence of a Reiki Master.

This is a fair point. If you’ve learned any skill in the past, such as a new language, you’ll know that you learn better when you are with others. The constant feedback you get in group or class situations allows you to master new skills much faster than learning on your own.

Also, at Level 2, you will learn about 3 different Reiki symbols. These symbols can be confusing to understand by someone from the West fully. Mrs. Takata did an amazing job by making Usui Sensei’s teachings more accessible to the West, but these symbols are still not easily explained to the layman.

Proponents of Reiki Master led attunements to explain that a student is able to absorb the true meanings of each of these symbols from the Reiki Master, so they become fully imprinted into their subconscious…something that they believe cannot be done when going through self-attunement.

Some of these people even take offense that these symbols are now widely depicted online and in books. In the past, these symbols were only revealed to Reiki students by a Reiki Master during an attunement ceremony.

The choice is yours on which route you wish to take.

For those that wish to seek guidance from a Reiki Master, we advise you to do your due diligence. Don’t just pick the first Reiki Master you meet.

The Reiki Master needs to be a good fit for you, in the same way, that, if you sought therapy, you would seek a therapist who you resonated with.

Whether you choose self-attunement, or Reiki Master led attunement, the following steps will help you get the most out of the attunement process.

These steps purify your body, which allows a more seamless flow of Ki through your body during attunement.

The 7 Basic Purification Steps

Do not eat meat or fish for 3 days before attunement

A sad fact that most of the food we eat here in the West is heavily processed and has ‘extras’ added in, such as pesticides, metals, drugs, and hormones, which interfere with the flow of Ki during the attunement. They are most concentrated in meat and fish, so it makes sense to avoid for at least 3 days before the attunement.

Do not drink alcohol for 3 days before the attunement

Can also disrupt the flow of Ki. Urine tests can detect alcohol inside someone up to 80 hours after consumption, so it’s best to stay clear of alcohol for at least 3 days before the attunement.

Do not drink tea or coffee for 24 hours before the attunement

Interferes with the flow of Ki in the same way alcohol does. However, caffeine leaves the bloodstream faster than alcohol, so giving it up for just one day before attunement is sufficient

If you are a smoker, do not smoke on the day of attunement

You should not smoke for several days before attunement (even more ideally, give up completely). However, we understand how difficult cigarettes are to give up.

Going cold turkey days before attunement may cause irritability and stress, which will not help you during attunement. Instead, make a conscious decision to cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke for the 3 days leading up to attunement, and then do not smoke on an actual day.

Meditate for 7 days before the attunement

Recommend an hour a day of perfect silence, but if this is not possible, just meditate for however long you can. Make sure you meditate every day for 7 days until the day of attunement. Results are better if you meditate every day, even for short stints, rather than having 1-2 extra-long sessions.

Cut back on watching television, reading newspapers and listening to the radio for 7 days before the attunement

Not saying that media is all negative (although if you mainly watch, listen or read the news, then 99% of it is). We recommend you cut back as media can serve as a distraction from us sensing the universal life force around us.

We’re ‘tuned in’ to our TV or radio, we’re mostly ‘tuned out’ from feeling the power of KI.

Drink plenty of water for 7 days before the attunement

The fact that many of us are in a constant state of thirst without even knowing it. Medical doctors also state that our brains cannot always tell the difference between thirst and hunger, and most of us eat extra calories purely because we’re trying to satiate what we believe is hunger when all it would have taken was a glass of water.

60% of the human body is made up of water. Chronic dehydration disrupts the flow of Ki and can cause confusion, tiredness, headaches, and migraines. A great tip is to drink a glass of water before every meal. Not only will you be getting your mind and body ready for attunement, but you will also find you don’t need to eat anywhere near as much as you thought.

The 3 Advanced Purification Steps

The following steps are for anyone who wishes to take things up a notch. These steps are not always possible if you have a busy lifestyle, but make an effort, and you will take your mind and body to the next level in terms of purification, which can only mean an even more effective Reiki attunement.

Do a juice or water fast for 3 days before the attunement

Purer your body is on the day of attunement, the more Ki that will flow from the cosmos and into you, through your Crown Chakra. Consider fasting for 3 days before the day of attunement, drinking only water. If you’ve never fasted before, and drinking just water for 3 days seems daunting, do a juice fast instead.

Cut out processed foods for 7 days before the attunement

Stated before, processed foods can have pesticides, metals, drugs, and hormones inside them. For a week before attunement, resolve to buy only organic produce, and cook meals from scratch. If you can follow a raw food diet for 7 days (food eaten in its natural state and not cooked), that’s even better.

Spend 30 minutes a day doing a solo activity for 7 days before the attunement

A modern, hectic world, rarely do we take time out for ourselves. Spend 30 minutes every day doing an activity that allows you to focus on yourself. It could be nature walks, doing yoga, or just taking a warm bath. Do whatever you want that involves your parking all the daily chores and tasks, and focusing on you.

The Self-Attunement Process

As discussed previously, the choice is yours, whether you wish to go through self-attunement, or you want to seek the guidance of a Reiki Master.

For those who wish to attune themselves to the power of Reiki, here is the process.

Step 1: Sit on the floor, with both the soles of your feet touching or, if you’re not able to, cross-legged. Make sure you are entirely comfortable. Add cushions if the floor is hard and likely to cause discomfort. Make sure your back is straight, and you are not slumping forward.

Step 2: Add anything else that either adds to your comfort or your religious/spiritual beliefs (play soft music, burn incense, light candles, call upon guardian angels, invoke your spiritual guides, etc.)Now bring your palms together in front of you into a prayer position.

Step 3: “Intend” on receiving full Reiki attunement. You now know that how we think is so important to our health and wellbeing. Believe in the power of the universal life force all around us. Believe in unconditional love, and that you want to become one with this love. Only when you genuinely believe can you receive the gift of Reiki.

Step 4: Visualize a soft white light entering the crown of your head, and hitting your Crown Chakra. Visualize the light filling your Crown Chakra, cleansing it, balancing it, and bringing it into harmony.

Step 5: Visualize this white light now dropping into your Third Eye Chakra, filling it with warmth and energy, cleansing, balancing, and harmonizing it.

Step 6: Now visualize this white light dropping into each of your remaining chakras, one by one. Feel the white light fill your Throat Chakra, the Heart Chakra, then Solar Plexus Chakra, then Sacral Chakra and lastly, your Root Chakra….each one left cleansed entirely, balanced and in harmony with the universal life force.

Step 7: Visualize the white light extending down beyond your Root Chakra, exiting you and joining you to the Earth. You can now feel the universal life force entering from the cosmos through your crown, flowing through each of your chakras and rooting you directly to the Earth.

Step 8: Drop your hands from the prayer position and let them rest on your thighs, palm up. Now visualize the white light moving from your Root Chakra and flowing into your arms. Visualize this light filling your arms and coming out from both palms, filling the room with divine white light.

Step 9: Sit for as long as you like, feeling the flow of healing Ki extending out of your palms. Once you are ready, draw up your ‘roots’ from the Earth, and bring yourself back into the material world, now fully attuned to Reiki.