Reiki Frequently Asked Questions

Reiki in General & Jikiden Reiki® Treatment Questions

What is Reiki?

The practice of Reiki is an original method of natural healing developed by Mikao Usui in Japan early 1920s. Reiki is a natural healing energy that works on every level, not just the physical, and is understood to promote the body’s regenerative self-healing ability. Reiki treatment is non-invasive and is used holistically to restore balance in mind and body, which anyone could benefit from. The most common and most widely accepted benefits of Reiki are its beneficial effects on emotional healing and a sense of overall well-being. Reiki’s ability to bring about deep relaxation is also well-known. Many also report Reiki bringing about a deep sense of overall calm and peace.

We live in a world of energy that nourishes and maintains all living things. When this energy flows uninterrupted there is balance and harmony within and around us and we experience a sense of well-being. Our body uses Reiki energy to bring us into balance and is believed therefore to reinforce the body’s natural ability to heal itself at all levels, whether physical, mental, or emotional, to bring us more in alignment with our natural state.

As a natural form of healing, Reiki can support and enhance other forms of treatment. The method of receiving a Reiki treatment from a practitioner is simple. The recipient remains clothed and lies on a couch or sits on a chair and relaxes. The practitioner gently places their hands non-intrusively, on areas of the body and channels energy through them to you.

At its core, Reiki is a path of personal growth and development, however, most people’s first experiences of Reiki will be from receiving a Reiki treatment, it is commonly seen as a natural therapy, people can even be trained in Reiki, to further support healing, helping themselves and others with Reiki. It is a tradition that is open to any belief system. Reiki is a healing process that anyone can benefit from in the normal course of their life. For more understanding of what Reiki is, I have written a more comprehensive answer to this very question: What is Reiki? 

What is Jikiden Reiki®?

Jikiden Reiki is how Reiki was originally taught in Japan before it came to the West and approaches to Reiki started moving away from the original teachings and some understanding of Reiki was lost. In terms of what that means for your experience receiving Jikiden Reiki treatments with me, the main difference from what you would experience with most Reiki out there is in the way we deliver treatments. Jikiden Reiki treatments provide a more personalized and highly focused approach to delivering Reiki treatments. We quickly find and then intensively target your key areas of need, that your body will show us, through feedback through our hands, so your body shows us where to focus, we will commonly spend around 10 times longer at these key areas, compared to most approaches to Reiki. As a result treatment outcomes tend to improve. Jikiden Reiki also offers us a more measurable way to track your progress, as it was with Reiki originally. For more detail about Jikiden Reiki, see my article ‘What is Jikiden Reiki?’

Where does Reiki come from, or originate?

Reiki is both the name of the energy we use and the system of healing called Reiki. Reiki in terms of energy has always been around, some call it Ki, Chi, or Prana. The healing method created that is called Reiki was created in Japan in the early 1920s by Usui Sensei. For more about Reiki see my article: What is Reiki?

What is Reiki Healing?

Reiki healing is the name commonly used for Reiki treatments and the process of healing that comes from those treatments. The healing can be in relation to supporting our physical well-being, however, a lot of the healing tends to be on a mental-emotional level. See my article: Viewing Reiki from a healing perspective. Or have a look at my Reiki healing page, where you can find out more about having Reiki treatments.

What are the benefits of JIkiden Reiki®? How could treatment sessions help me?

Reiki is a healing process that anyone can benefit from in the normal course of their life. Reiki may encourage a deep sense of relaxation, a calmness, that can promote emotional well-being, as well as feelings of overall well-being. Many people feel more at peace as a result of reiki as well. We are heavily limited on what can be claimed of Reiki in the UK, so the best thing to do with anything really is to see the actual results and feedback from those who have actually experienced it and make your own decision as to if you would like to try Reiki. To look at a sample of the direct experiences of those I have helped with Reiki, visit my Reviews page.

What Can I Expect During a Jikiden Reiki® Treatment?

During a Jikiden Reiki treatment, you lie fully clothed on a therapy bed (treatments can be delivered seated if required). The treatment is conducted in a calm, quiet environment away from distractions where you can really relax. I place my hands where the imbalance is found and then channel Reiki energy through my hands to your body, which your body absorbs, this focused channeling of Reiki works to dissipate areas of tension and support better energy flow to promote balance. (Hand placement will be discussed with you prior to the treatment, with any modifications made to ensure you feel totally comfortable with the process). during which time you relax and unwind to some calming music.  

The experiences of Reiki treatments can differ, however, Reiki is commonly experienced as a gentle flow of energy promoting a deep sense of relaxation, which commonly continues after the treatment has ended. Clients may or may not feel sensations during a Reiki treatment. Benefits reported by clients include deep relaxation promoting a calm, peaceful sense of well-being on all levels. For information on Reiki treatments, see my Reiki treatment page

What are the common after-effects of a Jikiden Reiki® treatment?

The individual response to a Reiki treatment varies, as it’s unique to you at that time, however possible after-treatment effects could include: increased feelings of relaxation or an underlying sense of calm, be aware that it is also completely normal not to experience any of these sensations. Occasionally a person may experience mild physical sensations that are indicative of the body cleansing itself, as Reiki is understood to support the body's natural healing mechanisms. It is important to observe these sensations in a positive context, as they are signs of the body bringing itself back into balance. This is part of the healing experience also. There is more in-depth guidance available to you, which is located in your client account resources, so will be waiting for you when you book your first Reiki therapy treatment with me. For information on booking Reiki treatments, see my Reiki treatment page

How many treatments am I likely to need?

The number of Reiki treatments and indeed treatment frequency is dependent on various things, which may, for example, include: what you are looking to Reiki to help you within your life, the complexity of your current health and emotional well-being, the degree of balance in your life (or lack of), the length of time you have had challenges in certain areas of your life, as well as the degree of healing you are in need of.

A plan of care for someone with multiple severe health challenges would be very different from one for someone looking to Reiki to simply aid relaxation. I will be in a position to give you further guidance to this question at the end of your first Reiki treatment once I have had the opportunity to assess the level of any imbalances that exist for you, whilst also taking into consideration your needs and expectations. I will be in a more informed position to advise you. You can then decide what is right for you at that time and move forward as you wish from there. 

However, to try and give you some idea, a common pattern (with a moderate degree of the challenge) that is a balance between logistics, diary commitments, and finances that I might use could be an initial course of six regular treatments, say weekly treatments, then a review, with the likelihood of then 4-6 more as start moving into a phase of reducing the frequency of treatments over time. After a period of regular Reiki treatments, many people find that they wish to continue with their Reiki and then opt for a more 'maintenance' phase of treatments as a part of their ongoing health and well-being program, maybe every month and for the best results, many may also consider learning Reiki as well. For information on Reiki treatments, see my Reiki treatment page

Are Reiki treatments safe?

Yes, Reiki is completely safe and is used with people of all ages and with health challenges and there are no contraindications to a Reiki treatment. By its very nature, it is understood as healing energy, which is believed your body uses at a deep level to help restore balance and support healing and well-being. Occasionally there might be special factors that might need extra consideration, but Reiki is still safe for all. For information on Reiki treatments, see my Reiki treatment page

Can Jikiden Reiki® therapy be used in conjunction with conventional medicine?

Yes, Reiki is increasingly being used in more mainstream settings alongside conventional medicine. Be aware as a Reiki practitioner I am not trained in diagnosis and will not offer any diagnosis or prognosis. If you are concerned about any symptoms you should speak to your doctor, however, Reiki can be safely used with any medical treatment you are receiving. For information on Reiki treatments, see my Reiki treatment page

Can I have Jikiden Reiki® while on medications?

Yes, you can receive Reiki treatments whilst taking prescribed medications. In line with a good medical practice where prescribed drug regimes are reviewed on a regular basis. I would advise you to consult with the prescriber as to your personal prescribed medication regime, on a regular basis should you have Reiki regularly, any appropriate adjustments being at the prescriber's discretion. With a regular course of Reiki treatments, we support the body in a direction towards better balance in a holistic manner. Reiki is always supportive of well-being. Indeed many find an additional benefit of Reiki treatments is reducing side effects they may be experiencing with the medications they are taking. For information on Reiki treatments, see my Reiki treatment page

Is Jikiden Reiki® suitable for children?

Yes, Reiki is safe for children. In general, we find that children absorb Reiki energy quickly partially because they have been in this world less time to accumulate toxins and disruptions in thinking, as well as due to, their smaller relative size. This just means that they commonly require slightly shorter treatments (dependent on the severity of the challenges we are dealing with). Children are commonly less mentally conditioned than adults, so they are also more accepting of receiving energy as a natural thing. Reiki can have multiple applications in helping children in today’s modern world, be that helping them cope with the increasing pressures of academic exams, processing, and healing from a bereavement, or any number of life experiences. (NB: parental consent is required to conduct a Reiki treatment on any child or young person under the age of 16 years, a parent or guardian would also need to accompany any child to a Reiki treatment as well).

In my experience of helping children with Reiki, I have many times found that with the logistics of modern living and children's and indeed the famili’s schedules, I increasingly take the approach of empowering a parent to perform Reiki treatments on their own child. By training a parent in Reiki, either in the support of any professional treatments or on its own, increases the amount of Reiki a child can consistently receive, and reduces disruption to the child’s evening routine with the added benefit of a parent benefiting from the process directly. A big benefit of a parent is being able to directly support their child in this way, which is very special to many I help in this way. This all magnifies the treatment outcomes for the child. For information on Reiki training courses for parents have a look at my Jikiden Reiki Courses  For more details on the topic of Reiki and children I have written an article on this very topic which you can access Using Reiki to Help Children

Is Jikiden Reiki® suitable during pregnancy?

Yes, I have personally worked with many women during all stages of pregnancy and they have reported great benefits. There are no contraindications for hands-on Reiki. For more on this topic see my article: Is Reiki Safe during Pregnancy?

Can Reiki Help with Anxiety?

Many people come to Reiki for help with anxiety and in my experience, many find it helpful. See my article on this topic: Can Reiki Help with Anxiety? 
 

Can I combine Jikiden Reiki® with other forms of natural therapy?

Yes, Reiki can complement various natural treatment forms. As Reiki is operating from a 'whole-person view and being holistic in nature, it can support other natural forms of treatment that also work from this holistic view. For information on Reiki treatments, see my Reiki treatment page

What should I be looking for to find the right Reiki practitioner to help me?

Firstly I would say pay attention to a practitioner you come across who you are drawn to. Have a look around their website, have a look at some reviews, take into account experience and training. For those, quality and results tend to be important, and they want to work with a trusted specialist in Reiki, who has a track record of results helping people and wants an experienced Reiki practitioner. Once you have someone you feel could help you I would say give them a ring and ask them some questions and see how you feel, then go with your instincts and give Reiki a try. To help you further I have written a guide to this very topic you can read more here. Guide to finding the right Reiki practitioner for you


What is the difference between types of Reiki with differing names in their title alongside the word Reiki?

In short, there is one original, authentic practice, which was called Reiki, which was created by the founder of Reiki Mikao Usui in the early 1920s in Japan. (this is what we practice and teach in Jikiden Reiki). When Reiki was introduced in the West, there were many misunderstandings of it, and parts were lost from the practice. These modified approaches gained popularity in the West, then even exported to Japan in the 1980s. Ever since teachers have been adding their interests and beliefs onto the practice of Reiki, many times adding a word together with the word Reiki to identify it, others change things, yet stay with the word Reiki on its own, or Usui Reiki, which has resulted in many approaches to healing out there called Reiki, that can be quite a distance away from the original. Many approaches can be helpful, however, there is huge variation in what people are doing under the banner of Reiki, I have written an article to help you understand this reality here. ‘Is there such a thing as styles of Reiki?’

Where can I find good books on the topic of Reiki?

There are so many books out there on the topic of Reiki. In reality, you only need a few key books to really get an understanding of Reiki. Below I have compiled a list of my recommended Reiki reading books that I would recommend to students, or those interested in Reiki. For each book, I have provided a quick overview of the book along with a link to get the book for you. My Recommended Reiki Reading

How Much Does A Jikiden Reiki® Treatment Cost?

Details of professional fees for Reiki healing appointments can be found at the base of the Reiki treatment page.

How Long is A Jikiden Reiki® Treatment?

Reiki sessions can be from 50 mins to 90 mins, however commonly 1 hour in most approaches to Reiki. In Jikiden Reiki we tend to do slightly longer sessions. I currently deliver 1 hour 15 min Reiki treatment appointments. Find out more and book from my Reiki treatment page.