What to Expect from Your First Reiki Session
By Jessie McKinney-Reedy
Quite often, clients who schedule a Reiki session may have never experienced a treatment before and are curious as to what to expect. Will it assist in alleviating stress and anxiety, reduce insomnia or heal emotional traumas? The answer always lies within the clients themselves as they are in charge of their own healing process. The Reiki practitioner simply acts as the vessel for the energy, allowing it to go where it is needed most. Think of a hose allowing water to flow through it, nourishing your flowers as you water them.
As a Reiki practitioner, I’ve been trained to allow the energy to flow to my clients, who receive it as needed. There is no attempt to manipulate the energy in any way, as I’ve been trained to release ego and be in a space of non-judgment and compassion. I am simply a conduit of energy and divine messages for your best and highest wellbeing.
Since Reiki is a holistic energy healing modality that helps to create balance in mind, body, and spirit, it could be that while the client is seeking relief from knee pain, a deep emotional release might occur instead. What is important to remember is that each Reiki session is unique; your healing journey may not always be what you think you want or expect.
It is imperative that you feel safe and well informed. Fear and worry are not part of the system of Reiki; there is only loving kindness and compassion.
What Reiki is Used For:
While Reiki can be used for anyone regardless of age or medical diagnosis, it is important to emphasize that Reiki is not a replacement for traditional medical care. However, it can be used as a safe complementary therapy and there are no medical conditions it cannot be used for. Clients often experience quickened healing after surgery and reduction in other physical symptoms after a Reiki session.
Reiki is love, simply put. Love, not as an emotion, but as the underlying power that exists in all life. Therefore, anything that is not love is moved out of the way by the Reiki energy during a session. Low vibration emotions/behavior patterns are replaced with high frequencies, allowing the client to shed habits, thought patterns, and feelings that no longer serve their highest interest.
It can be used to help anxiety, depression, physical stagnation, connection to others and the world around us; to heal grief and remove impediments to emotional, spiritual, and physical growth; promote rest and relaxation.
What YOU Can Do:
It is important to remember that you, as the client, are very much a part of the Reiki session and your healing process. Many people ask if there is anything that they need to say or do during the treatment. It is always helpful to set a clear intention to be open to the energy going where it is needed most.
The energy of Reiki has its own intelligence and intuitively knows where to go on its own. Although this might be an abstract concept for many people, those who experience a session often understand it more thoroughly after the session is completed.
The beauty of Reiki is in its simplicity – just allow the energy to flow. Our bodies have the innate ability to bring about balance, and the body knows exactly where to accept the energy as it is needed.
Remote Reiki treatments are done from the comfort of your home. Be sure to wear cozy clothes, removing all jewelry, lying down or settling into your space however is best for you. It’s highly recommend you play music that relaxes your senses with ease.
It is not unusual for a client to fall asleep or go into a meditative state during the Reiki session. (Think of that feeling you have just before you fall asleep – that has since been recognized as a Theta brain wave state.)
When the body is in this relaxed state, it is better able to work on repairing itself. If you are comfortable with closing your eyes during the session, it is strongly encouraged so that a deeper relaxation may occur.
What You May Feel:
Given we are all intuitive beings, you may desire to keep awareness of your thoughts and feelings during the session, as they may guide you in a richer understanding once the session has concluded.
During the Reiki session, clients may feel waves of subtle energy gently moving through their body. Others may experience heat or coolness, tingles, and perhaps even see comforting colors or visions. I’ve even had clients explain “visits” from passed loved ones during our sessions.
While the above are all normal responses, it is also completely common to “feel” nothing during the session, but still be left with a sense of deep relaxation, overall wellbeing and inner peace. What is important to remember is that Reiki works on all levels, so even though there might not be a physical sensation, the energy could be working on a deep emotional or spiritual level.
Reiki is very experiential, and because each one of us is very unique, it is quite difficult to explain what might occur during your session. There is no “right” way to experience Reiki. Your experience is unique and perfectly aligned with your needs.
What You May Feel:
Drinking water is always encouraged after a session as it helps to facilitate the cleansing process. This sometimes takes the form of tears or even a runny nose and is always a good sign as the body is finding its way back to balance and ridding itself of things that are no longer needed.
Be sure to allow yourself plenty of rest the night after your session. Oftentimes a good night’s sleep acts as a “reboot” to lock in any treatment that may have occurred during the daytime.
Give it a go!
Your first Reiki session can bring about personal change, inner balance, clarity and a spark in your intuitive guidance. You may feel light and free, less burdened than before.
I always highly recommend giving Reiki a try… it may be something you never realized your life was missing!
“When you are ill and unable to hear your life’s song, Reiki sings it to you so your cells, heart, mind, and spirit can remember the truth of your inherent divinity to remember your true self.” – Raven Keyes, Medical Reiki
Do you want to try Reiki?
Colorado State Employees get a discounted rate
Jessie - Enlightened Energy - 303-681-6200
Scott & Monica - Harmonious Hearts - 719-639-6586
Laney - Luminous Aura - 720-322-5225
Jessie is a White Light Reiki I/II Practitioner as well as a Holy Fire ® Reiki Master/Teacher and has been practicing Reiki since 2016.
