A: That’s an interesting question, and one for which there is only indirect evidence at this point. That isn’t to say there is no evidence that Reiki works. Just ask someone who gives Reiki, or the clients who receive it. All will report many stories of significant improvements. I’m included in that – I have plenty of anecdotal evidence from my own experience both as a giver and a receiver of Reiki for me to know conclusively that Reiki works.

As far as scientific evidence, though…it’s tricky.

Reiki can’t be measured directly. But the effects can be seen in different ways.

For example, it’s understood scientifically that intention, Reiki and other thought-energy imprints itself on the state of water. Naturopaths know this. They often work with little vials of water that have been imprinted with the energy of different substances to muscle test for allergies and adverse reactions.

Also, a Random Event Generator, such as the Mind Lamp developed by Psyleron, shows visibly that a program that generates random numbers changes behavior in the presence of intention/ Reiki/ energy. I actually have a Mind Lamp, and it’s extremely fascinating. You can see how it changed behavior in this replay of the 11/11/11 distance healing that I recorded. During most of the time we were sharing energy, the lamp remained steadily white, rather than changing colors randomly as it usually does. Also, when someone participating suggested a color, the lamp changed to that color, as if on demand.

The effects of Reiki energy make a visible difference in the spoil rate and quality of cooked rice in experiments, like this one by one of my colleagues.

People who experience Reiki, and Reiki practitioners alike know what they feel. And there are many, many anecdotes about miraculous healings that occurred after one or several Reiki sessions. I have seen those I share Reiki with relax, feel relief from pain and stress, and even more. There are many testimonials such as this one that you could watch to hear it from the people themselves.

There are studies being conducted here and there, with varying results. Sometimes the results can’t be measured. But after a year of volunteering as a Reiki practitioner at The Cleveland Clinic, I can tell you that the patients rated their pain, anxiety and discomfort much lower after 10 minutes of Reiki than they had before. That’s measurable.

So ask yourself this – how do you decide what matters? Do you need some scientific evidence, or do you believe what you feel and experience? If you feel it, notice a difference, does that make it real enough for you? If Reiki could help you feel better when something was wrong, would that be enough? Or do you need scientific data to convince you to try it? Do you trust yourself enough to discern the truth in your own life?

If the answer is yes, come find me. I’ll be here ready to show you.

http://ReikiAwakening.com

A: We don’t know. It’s not up to the person offering the healing to decide the limits of Reiki to help someone, or in what way the energy is going to work. Sometimes it works on deep emotional levels that take a while to surface. Other times, a person receiving Reiki may experience profound relief from physical pain. There could be cumulative effects when Reiki healings are received regularly. The effects could be subtle or powerful.

In my experience, we are not consciously in charge of the way the energy works. Therefore, we are not in charge of knowing or affecting the limits of the effectiveness either.

A profound example of this happened to me a year ago when I met a woman, Deborah, who was in serious pain from many problems. She was in constant pain and had a very difficult time walking. I gave her ten minutes of Reiki at an expo, at the urging of her friend. After the brief energy session, Deborah was able to turn her head, when she had not been able to before – at least without a lot of pain. She was impressed.

Four months later I saw her at another expo. She was a new person – walking tall without her cane, smiling. She told me that since our meeting she had been seeing a local Reiki practitioner for an hour a week, every week. The improvements were significant each week, which was encouraging to Deborah and kept her coming back. Her neurologist had told her that her problems would only get worse. Meanwhile, she was improving and needing the meds less and less, until she wasn’t taking anything for pain or sleep.

Deborah told me that she was starting as a Reiki student the following week.

I was at the same expo last weekend, a year from the first time I met Deborah, when I saw her again. She had just finished her level 3 training in Usui Reiki, and was still doing great. She let me video record her talking about her experience and the profound change that Reiki made in her life.

Here she is:

The bottom line is that the less we try to define or understand the possible limits of the effectiveness of Reiki, the better. Let it happen, and ask that the recipient receive the healing that is needed. Then just be grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the process.

On the other hand, a tattoo that has been forced upon a person (i.e. the way prisoners in WW2 had numbers tattooed on their wrists) would have damaging effects to the emotions and the energy because of the negative reminder of being no more than a number to those in power over them.

So, as with many things in life, the energy associated with the experience is what will have the most effect on the person’s energy. Will it affect the ability of a person gives Reiki? No reason to think so.

If a person has negative connotations with his or her tattoo, however, it may be something that is a reason to receive healing energy to resolve.

Learn more about Reiki in a down-to-earth, simple and clear way at ReikiAwakeningAcademy.com

Q: Do I need to protect myself when I give Reiki?

A: It is always prudent when working with higher frequencies of energy, which is what one is doing when giving Reiki, to protect one’s energy before beginning. This isn’t because Reiki is dangerous, or because there could be energetic “backwash” from the person you are treating. Instead, it is because of the nature of what you are doing.

When a person is working with Reiki, the person’s energetic frequency is raised higher. The subtle frequencies of Reiki energy, as well as many other energy sources, are at a higher frequency of vibration than those which we embody day to day. It’s like we’re playing a lower note usually, but when working with Reiki we are reaching for a higher note.

Other practices also raise one’s energetic frequency. Some examples are: meditation, yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and other energy healing practices. We raise our frequency in doing these things, which allows connection to the Source energy – of which Reiki is a part. Then we can ask that energy of this frequency enter and replenish us or our client. This asking is called “intention” and it’s not a prayer, hope, dream or wish – it’s a directive. When we intend to connect with Reiki energy, meditate, or do these other practices mentioned above, we are open to allowing this higher vibrational Source energy to flow into and through us. Our intuition allows us to communicate with these higher frequencies. This communication assists Reiki practitioners in sensing the needs of the client or self, and sometimes receive guidance or intuitive messages.

So this “opening” to connect with the subtler frequencies raises our vibration just enough to do the work we are intending to do. As is the case with magnetic energy, opposites attract. There are negative energy bits around us as well. They are attracted to higher energy frequencies, and may find an open person a handy entry point.

We can avoid attracting negative energy by using energetic protection techniques. There are many simple ways to protect your energy before giving Reiki or working with intuition. The easiest is just to ask. Say or think an intention that your field be energetically protected as you do this work. I usually think, “I ask for protection and assistance from my guides, angels, and Spirit as I offer this Reiki session.”

Another technique that is especially protective include visualizing and intending that a shield of blue, gold and white light surround your aura, only allowing positive energy to enter. Do this before beginning a healing. Some Reiki practitioners place symbols around the room and in their aura and hands before beginning a treatment, with the intention of protection, support and healing. It’s all intention, and all of them work. So choose what you like and make it a part of your practice.

If you’d like to learn more about energetic protection techniques or increasing your intuition, visit the Reiki Awakening Academy.

Q: What should I be thinking about while giving Reiki?

A: It’s best to be in a space of quiet observation during Reiki, whether you are giving or receiving. Most of all, you want to avoid “pushing” the energy. That sort of effort is not only unnecessary, it uses your own personal energy, which Reiki practitioners should never do.

Reiki healings should have two basic steps for the practitioner:

1. Setting the intention – this includes connecting with the Reiki energy (essentially intending “Reiki on” or “Reiki”, which indicates your desire to start the Reiki flowing), and then giving directions to the energy (such as “self healing,” “relieve pain,” “release stress,” or “the healing that is needed,” just for some examples). This is called “Intention.”

2.  Paying attention to the sensations you experience as the energy flows. This is called “Attention.” You may experience changes in temperature, tingles, heat, colors, intuitive messages, sounds, or other sensations which relate to the way your intuition communicates with you. For more on intuitive communication, or clairs, read this post.

So Intention and Attention are the ways you should direct your thoughts when giving Reiki.

That said, if you suddenly find yourself thinking about your to do list, planning your menu for dinner, or mulling over something that happened that morning, it won’t “ruin” the Reiki healing, but it’s best if you could redirect your thoughts to what is happening right now, in this session. That’s going to allow you to give the highest quality of service to your client or recipient. If your thoughts are wandering, you might miss an intuitive message that could be good to share with your client.

If your mind wanders, the Reiki will continue to flow. But consider this…would you want your doctor, pharmacist, counselor, teacher, or even friend to be attending to you but thinking about other things? Of course not. It’s respectful and kindest to be present – here, now – when giving Reiki…as in most things we are doing. Practicing mindful presence will make your life better and improve the quality of your Reiki healings for you, the practitioner, and your client.

To learn more about Reiki and expanding your intuition, visit The Reiki Awakening Academy.

for an ebook on distance healing, click here

A: Yes! Absolutely!

There are many techniques that will make it easy to do this. You can send distance healing to one, two, ten, a hundred, a million, a whole country, or the world if you want to. Why? Because the limits are all in your intention. Intention is the way we tell the Reiki energy what we want it to do.

Here are some techniques for getting distance healing flowing to any number of people you designate:

• Use words. This is the simplest method. Simply activate the Reiki energy (most practitioners just say or think “Reiki” or “Reiki on” to do this.) Then intend for Reiki to flow to who you want. For example, “Reiki on. Reiki healing for Jim Smith, Suzy Jones, and Sammy Lee. May each receive the healing that is needed at this time.” Then let the Reiki flow.Another example: “Reiki on. Reiki healing for all who need it in Japan, for their highest and greatest good.” Then let the Reiki flow.
• Make a list. Write down the names of everyone who you want to send distance healing to. Then intend for the Reiki to activate. Hold the list and intend that Reiki energy flow to all whose names are on the list. I like to read the list while doing so to emphasize the intention to send healing to each person whose name is written on the list.
• Use a Reiki box. Write the names or intentions (i.e. abundance, a better job, finding my life’s purpose, etc.) each on their own slip of paper. Put all of the papers into a box. Then send distance healing to all intentions in the box. Activate the Reiki energy, then intend “Allow Reiki energy to flow to send healing to all people and intentions written on paper in this box.”
• The group between the hands method. Intend that the specific group of people you are sending healing to is represented in mini size small enough to fit between your hands. Intend to activate the Reiki energy. Then hold your hands with palms facing each other, and intend to send Reiki to the entire group at once.
• Make a crystal grid. Here are detailed instructions how to prepare and use one. This is a very visual and concrete way to represent the intention for continuous healing. People who like to have altars or a decorated sacred space for meditation or Reiki practice may gravitate toward this method.

Keep in mind:

• Personal one-to-one distance healing is often strongest and allows you to be involved enough to scan the person and determine where the energy is flowing.
• Permission is ethical when sending Reiki to another person. If you know the person or people you wish to send Reiki to, you should try to get their permission first. There are solid reasons for this. For more on the ethics of permission, click here.

To learn more about distance healing, click here.

Comments and questions are welcome!

A: It could! One of the wonderful things about working with Reiki is the versatility of the practice. If you want, you can ask for angelic and Divine help with the healing, and you will feel that support. But the Reiki will work if you do not do that.

Reiki is not tied to any one religion, or any at all. It is a spiritual practice because it works with the energy that connects all life. But whether you feel connected to a religion or not, Reiki will work for you.

You can incorporate your own spiritual/religious connection into your Reiki work by silently asking for the support of whichever Divine presences you feel connected. This can help enhance the effectiveness of the session. It is your option whether you wish to do this.

Angels are available to help when asked. Whether you believe in them or not, you have the option to try asking them to help offer the healing session. In my experience, it helps. I didn’t used to ask for angelic help when offering Reiki. Since I decided to try asking angels to support the session, I’ve sensed signs of their presence and felt supported. If you haven’t tried this, I encourage you to try for yourself. That’s the best way to learn, isn’t it? And you have nothing to lose.

Just as working with Reiki required you to be open to try the experience, incorporating angelic assistance into the Reiki sessions you facilitate does too.

Something else that helps increase the effectiveness of a Reiki session is having a sense of gratitude for the ability to do the work. It’s a given that most Reiki practitioners naturally feel this way, but if you are not normally focused on a moment of gratitude at the start and end of your Reiki session, adding a moment of “Thank you” to the universe can do wonders. “I will be grateful” is one of the 5 Reiki precepts, and it is more than just a nice saying. Gratitude has been found to be a powerful energy in itself (it’s a big part of the Law of Attraction, for example.)

So if you’ve never incorporated angel energy into your Reiki practice, give it a try when you feel open to it. We learn, evolve and grow as we try new things!

Learn more about Reiki here, or purchase the new book Practical Reiki: for balance, well being and vibrant health. A guide to a new revolutionary energy healing method for more!

A: Although it depends on how willing you are to be open to the energy, learn what it’s about, and practice the techniques, there is a method of Reiki which is simple enough to learn through Master level in about three weeks. Master level means that you will have the ability to teach and attune others after you complete your training.

That method is Practical Reiki ^TM  I have developed this method and just completed writing a book about it. It is meant for those who don’t need or want to learn a lot of structure or ritual. Practical Reiki gives you the straight talk on learning to access and guide the Reiki energy.  The book gives a down to earth explanation of what Reiki is, how it works, how it helps, and many ways to use it. There’s also information on clairs and chakras that everyone working with energy should know. The book includes important considerations for Reiki practitioners, such as the ethics of permission, energetic protection, and more. The last chapter shares some important FAQs and other excellent resources.

Practical Reiki works with both Reiki (guided life force energy) and Earth energy together. They combine and you learn to guide this energy for self healing, healing for others, and many other uses outlined clearly in the book. The energy is very strong, so you won’t be left wondering if you’re not believing or trusting enough – it’s there. You can feel it right away. This method does not use a series of hand positions, nor are there any symbols or foreign words to learn. It’s simple, straightforward and powerful.

I teach Practical Reiki, by distance as well as in person. You don’t need to be on the phone with me or even in the same country. All you need is email.

Here’s what to do if you want to get started right away:

1. Get the book. It’s available here. If you use this discount code: FBSBD4JN you can have it for $3 off the list price, just for reading my blog. Around 7/18/11 it will also be on Amazon.com. Shortly afterwards it will be available on Kindle and ebook. The paperback is available immediately.

2. Contact me to receive the attunements you’ll need and for personal guidance in your own journey with Reiki.

I’m here to help and to be a resource on Reiki and intuitive development. I work with each student to ensure confidence and success is achieved. I wrote the book because I really want to help everyone learn Reiki and know that everyone is capable of accessing natural healing energy. My book presents exactly what I say during 8 hours of teaching this method to those new to energy healing as well as seasoned professionals.

Comments and questions are welcome! Tune in to ReikiAwakening.com for information on upcoming events, book signings, and more soon!

A: Here is a list of the books that I think will clarify and deepen your knowledge and understanding about Reiki and energy healing. Get them from Amazon or any bookseller you prefer. I didn’t link them so you could do your own shopping.

REIKI FALSE BELIEFS EXPOSED FOR ALL: Misinformation Kept Secret by a Few Revealed by Steve Murray

This book helps set straight many accepted but false ideas about Reiki.

Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? By Clinton Ober, Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., and Martin Zucker

This book gives a scientific view, supported by studies, of the health benefits of grounding. The earth energy described in this book is that which combines with the Reiki energy when using Practical Reiki.

You Are Energy by Connie Dohan

This book presents a clear, concise guide to chakras, meridians, auras and the energetic aspects of disease. It’s brief, friendly, informative, and to the point. Available on Amazon.com only at this point.

Ultimate Balance: Infusing the Vibrational Energy of Essential Oils into Chakras, Meridians and Organs by LeAnne Deardeuff, DC

This is more than a guide to essential oils, it is a detailed reference book showing major and minor organs, muscles, acupressure points, chakras, and clear explanations of the emotions associated with each, and symptoms and treatments for when the organs are off balance energetically.

Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field by Barbara Ann Brennan

This is the college course on all things energy. Read it to deepen your knowledge. It’s deep and detailed, profound and wise. Everyone involved with energy healing should own a copy.

Practical Reiki for balance, well-being, and vibrant health: A guide to a strong, revolutionary energy healing method by Alice Langholt. <NOW AVAILABLE HERE!>

This last book (yes I wrote it) contains an important foundational understanding of Reiki, a guide to a simple and strong new Reiki method that can be used alone or in combination with other Reiki practices, and has featured Q&A at the end.  If you’re a newsletter subscriber (subscribe via ReikiAwakening.com), there will be a discount code published in the newsletter announcing the launch. You will receive in your email inbox if you subscribe.

A: Before selecting a Reiki practitioner for a treatment, it’s a good idea to know something about what to expect from that person. Here are some questions that may be useful to you. Select those which you want to know and take it from there.

• How long have you been practicing Reiki? While this question may not be relevant to the person’s ability to give an effective Reiki treatment, it will reflect on the confidence and expertise of the person treating you. That could affect the experience. That said, a new practitioner needs experience, so you shouldn’t be put off by someone with less experience, just aware. The more a person practices Reiki, the more sensitive that person becomes to energy and the more comfortable with giving a session.
• Will you incorporate anything besides Reiki in the session? It may be useful for you to know whether to expect aromatherapy, crystals, toning, or acupressure during your session, which are not part of Reiki, but some people use them in addition to a Reiki session.
• How long will a Reiki session with you last? Some Reiki sessions are an hour, some less. It’s good to know what to expect.
• How much do you charge for a Reiki session? Of course, it is a good idea to know up front what fee the practitioner expects for his or her work! Most local Reiki sessions will cost about the same as a massage.
• Where do you give Reiki? Some practitioners work in a wellness center or studio, some out of their homes, and others will come to you. If they come to you, ask if they bring a massage table or where you would have the session. All of these factors should be within your comfort level, and you should expect a quiet and uninterrupted experience. If the session will be at your house, you may wish to be sure no one else is home (i.e. children), and you can have the phone ringer off so you’re not distracted. You want to be as relaxed and tuned in to your session as you can be for the most benefit (and enjoyment!).

  Other considerations:

• Referrals – you may wish to talk to others who have experience receiving Reiki from this person, to find out if they enjoyed their session.
• Ethics – Reiki sessions are done fully clothed. If the Reiki practitioner indicates otherwise….avoid this person.
• Confidentiality – you should be sure (asking is fine) that the practitioner maintains an ethical policy of confidentiality with clients.
• Reiki is a complementary practice, not intended to replace your medical treatment. A practitioner is not empowered to diagnose or treat any specific illness or condition.