Reiki:
From Relaxation to Spiritual Path
Terri
Lyne Anthony
|
Doors
open, new paths beckon… |
What
is Reiki and how does it work? This is the question I asked my
Reiki practitioner friend when she suggested that it might help me
during a particularly stressful time in my life. She explained that it
is a form of energy-work done through the hands, using light touch or no
touch at all. It reduces stresses, brings about deep relaxation, and
promotes natural healing. (I decided that I could use every bit of that
I could get and scheduled a session!)
The name Reiki (pronounced “ray
key) translates as “spiritually guided life force energy”. This
energy (Ki in Japanese, Chi
in Chinese) pervades all living things. When Ki
becomes blocked or constricted, a variety of symptoms can manifest
– at the physical, mental/emotional, or spiritual levels.
I have seen in my clients many
ways that Ki can be distorted
or blocked. For some, it manifests as a result of negative thought
patterns and beliefs about themselves or others. For others, the
blockage occurs because the client is practicing dysfunctional or
addictive behaviors. Another reason can be that the person has denied
his/her True Self, the Divine Spark Within. Old unresolved karma is
another possibility.
A Reiki practitioner, one who has
been attuned by a Reiki Master or Teacher, channels the Reiki energies
through his/her hands with the intent of healing. The energy flows
automatically to the areas of greatest need without the direction of the
practitioner and communicates with the recipient’s Higher Self. The
amount of benefit received is up to the recipient, depending on how open
he/she is to the flow of this energy and to the healing process. Reiki
energy is always positive and can never cause harm.
As I send Reiki to a client, I
receive information about their energies in the form of sensations of
heat, cold, vibrations, pushing/pulling of energy or even images. My
hands usually become extremely hot as I am doing the session. The
wonderful thing about Reiki is that it does not use my energies in any
way. I am merely the conduit through which the Reiki energies flow, and
I receive benefits from Reiki as well as the client.
Most clients report experiencing a
deep relaxed state, feeling more centered and rested after a session.
Some feel the heat and vibrations similar to what I experience. Others
have reported receiving guidance and inspiration during the session.
Reiki complements traditional
medical and psychological treatments, improving their effectiveness. It
shortens healing time, reduces or eliminates pain, lowers blood
pressure, increases immune responses, eases emotional trauma, etc.
For example, a recent client had a
blood pressure of 169/102 prior to a session. Immediately after our
one-hour session, I took his blood pressure again. The reading was now
130/82. Needless to say, this person was very receptive to the idea of
continued Reiki sessions and establishing a routine of meditation and
stress reduction for himself.
My husband had been very skeptical
of this process and up to the time of the reconstructive surgery on his
left shoulder, had refused to let me practice on him. However, severe
pain opened his mind to the possibility that Reiki could help. To his
amazement, the first session brought about a significant reduction in
his pain levels. He eagerly requested Reiki on a more regular basis
after that. Several years ago, he fell off the garage roof, breaking and
dislocating his left foot. Once again, we used a regimen of Reiki
sessions to get him through surgery and the healing of his foot. His
doctor was quite impressed that he healed so well and so quickly.
Reiki is very spiritual in nature.
It has no dogma and does not require any belief system to receive it or
to learn to use it. It works whether you believe in it or not. Reiki
comes from God (use whatever concept or name that you choose) and it
enables people to go beyond intellectual concepts, to directly
experience their religion.
I had been seeking my spiritual
path for a long time before I found Reiki. My Reiki Master/Teacher told
me that if I was not willing to accept change in my life, don’t take
the Reiki training. But changes were already unfolding because of the
three sessions of Reiki I had experienced. I was beginning to sense the
world in new ways, to feel the flow of energies, to encounter strange
synchronicities, to have greater connectedness with the world of Spirit.
Little did I know what changes were in store for me!
I quit my high-stress job and
moved to Germany for several years. While there, I was “shown” a log
house in the mountains where I would “do my work.” Knowing our
old home in Texas was definitely not that place, we sold it. Upon
returning to the States, we traveled the western 13 states, looking for
“The Place.” To make a long story short, we found our log
house outside of Wasilla, Alaska. My spiritual path continues to change
and evolve as I use Reiki for myself and share it with others.
This change—this inability to
remain stagnant in one’s life—is a theme which I have seen over and
over with many clients and students. Once they open themselves to the
Reiki energies, that part of their beliefs, their lives, those old
patterns that no longer serve them begin to be shed. Doors open, new
paths beckon them.
It’s often difficult, even now,
for me to describe what Reiki is to someone unfamiliar with it. It is
something that must be experienced to be understood fully. Yes, it
reduces stress, causes deep relaxation, and can even bring about healing
at different levels. But Reiki is so much more than that. It is a
connection to the Divine, a force that gently draws us closer to being
who we Truly Are. Perhaps a better definition of Reiki is that it is
Unconditional Love. Who among us is not is need of that?
Terri Lyne Anthony is a
Reiki Master/Teacher and practitioner with HeartPath Wellness Center in
her home outside Wasilla. Reiki classes and private sessions available.
Call (907) 373-3227 or email t.l.anthony@att.net
