Reiki is a Japanese healing practice for reducing stress and inducing the body to heal itself.

Each Reiki session lasts 1 hour and costs £35.00.

Below are some questions often asked about Reiki.

What is Reiki?

Reiki, pronounced Ray Key, is a Japanese word which means free passage of universal life force energy.  This life force energy is known as Prana in India, Chi in China, Ki in Japan, Mana in Hawaii and Elan vital in Europe.  All of us have life force energy; it is essential for life and needs to flow freely for optimum health.

The aim of Reiki treatments is to harmonise your life force energy and reconnect you to the universal energy.  Reiki energy is said to come from the source of all creation.  This Source is said to be the vital force that sustains the cosmos and infuses us with light and life, providing the energy source from which our bodies, and all forms of matter, arise.  Our aura is an energy body that surrounds our physical body; it emerges from our chakras (the energy centres of the body) and reflects the state of our life force energy.

These concepts are the pillars on which all healing traditions including Reiki are built and can be found in the texts of ancient Chinese, Indian and Japanese philosophies.  More recently, modern scientific understanding has started to converge with this ancient wisdom.  Quantum physicists have discovered that the universe is made up of energy, the Zero Point Field, and this energy is the source of all matter in the universe including human beings.

Can Reiki help me?

The nature of Reiki means that it can be beneficial in treating a wide range of conditions.  I have found particular success in helping clients cope with anxiety, stressful periods in their lives, feeling drained and tired all the time, and to speed up recovery after illness, operations or injuries.  It is important to note that for a successful Reiki treatment the client does not need to believe in Reiki or the concept of auras and life force energy.  In addition, Reiki is compatible with all religious beliefs.

What are the benefits of Reiki?

*     Relaxes you when you feel stressed
*     Centres you when you feel scattered
*     Energises you when you feel drained
*     Calms you when you feel frightened
*     Focuses your mind to aid problem solving
*     Relieves pain
*     Accelerates the natural healing of the body
*     Gently releases emotional pain
*     Enhances spiritual and personal development

What can I expect from a Reiki treatment?

A Reiki treatment session lasts one hour and the fully clothed client lies on a massage table. The Reiki practitioner then holds her hands above the clients body or gently lays her hands on the clients body.  The Reiki energy is automatically absorbed into the clients body which has a greatly beneficial effect.  There is no standard experience of a Reiki treatment, but most of my clients find it deeply relaxing and they feel more peaceful afterwards.

When a client feels tired at the onset of a treatment they often feel more invigorated afterwards.  During a treatment clients routinely report sensations of heat, coldness or tingling in their bodies.  Some clients see flashes of colour, others are reminded of previous experiences as these are gently released, yet others feel nothing.   This does not mean Reiki was not working, it means that it was working in a gentle manner.

How many treatments will I need?

It is difficult to predict how many treatments are required to re-harmonise the client but in general the client should see some evidence of improvement after four to six treatments reasonably close together.  The longer a patient has had a condition the more treatments will be required.

Some clients have monthly Reiki to help them manage their stress levels and as part of a preventative self-care programme.

How does Reiki work?

A Reiki healer is attuned to Reiki energy, which means their channels are opened up to universal life energy.  The client automatically draws this universal life energy from the healer. Kirlian photography, invented by Semyon and Valentina Kirlian, has been used to photograph the aura and the energy exchange between healer and patient during healing treatments.  (Note: I do not provide Kirlian photographs.)

Are their any side effects of Reiki treatments?

The aim of Reiki is to restore harmony within the client and instill a sense of peace.  During the process of restoring harmony you may notice subtle changes in your mood, appetite or sleeping pattern.  All of these reactions are very short lived and subtle as Reiki is one of the gentlest treatments available. 

Is Reiki recognised by the NHS?

Reiki is a form of healing and healing is recognised by the NHS as a complementary therapy. Healers have been employed by the Leeds Hospital Oncology Unit and the London UCH Haematology Unit for a number of years. 

One of the healers at London UCH, Angie Buxton-King has her own website and has written a book, “The NHS Healer: How My Son’s Life Inspired a Healing Journey” about her experiences.  Her book is available from Amazon.

How was Reiki discovered?

Dr Mikao Usui is the father of Reiki. Born in Japan on 15th August 1864, he grew up hearing stories about the Buddha and was impressed with the Buddha’s quest for enlightenment.  Dr Usui was fascinated by Buddha’s desire to help others and by the healing abilities he received after enlightenment.  Looking at the people around him he saw that there were many people who were unable to lead happy, productive lives because they were sick or had physical disabilities.  Out of a deep sense of compassion for these people, Dr Usui set off on a mission to acquire the healing powers that Buddha and his followers demonstrated, in order to help alleiviate sickness and suffering in others.

Dr Usui travelled widely in Japan studying at Buddhist temples and trying to learn all he could about healing.  His travelling eventually led him to a Zen monastery where he met Budhist monks and scholars who also interested in healing.  After learning Sanskrit, while studying Indian sutras he discovered a formula for contacting a higher power that could bestow healing.  By following the practices in the formula he was initiated into the use of the Reiki healing power.  Dr Usui practiced and taught Reiki through attunements for the rest of his life.

What are the ethical principles on which Reiki is based?

The five principles are:

Just for today …
do not worry
do not anger
be grateful
work hard
be kind to others.