Preparing for Whole-body Reiki

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It is a good idea to prepare thoroughly for reiki treatment to capitalise fully upon the beneficial effects. The following is a possible routine:

Remove jewellery

Most people wear jewellery of some description, whether stones of a semi-precious or precious nature, metal rings or chains, leather thongs or one of a whole variety of objects. Some metals and stones are believed to attract energies which may interfere with the life energy of reiki. Other items such as watches create a closed circuit which reduces the flow of life energy. In a way, items of jewellery can be seen as objects which create interference in the 'signal' in much the same way that an engine or motor can generate annoying interference in the reception of a radio programme.

Earrings can also be a problem because in the case of pierced ears the earrings conflict with the flow of energy-the ear is very important in other therapies such as acupuncture and must therefore be kept unencumbered. The benefits of washing your hands are twofold. Firstly, there is the physical effect of cleaning which has the additional quality of making the hands pleasant to feel for the recipient of reiki. It is essential that hot, sticky hands are not used in reiki as this would hardly be conducive to the state of relaxation being sought.

The second benefit relates to the aura surrounding the body. This aura may be affected by contact with objects, people, etc over the course of the day and washing removes such influences which could, in sensitive people, have an adverse effect.

Say a prayer

It is helpful at this stage to recite a short prayer asking for healing and to concentrate upon and acknowledge your aims, self-perception and those of the person upon whom your hands will be placed.

Even out the aura

This is a means of gently making contact and starting the therapy, and may be carried out as follows:

This process can be repeated after the reiki therapy when your left hand can be placed on the sacrum of your partner/client/friend.

Energise

When each reiki therapy session is complete the whole body may be energised via the root chakra {see later for chakras). The hand is held vertically above the body and then quickly moved from the pelvis to the head. These preparatory rituals should only be performed when they are perceived to have some significance. There is little point going through the procedures if you do not see the reason why, but clearly some aspects of the procedure can be understood easily and will be accepted readily by the recipient.

Before the treatment

There is great scope for variation in the number and sequence of positions used for whole-body treatment. It will depend greatly upon the practitioner and what is felt to be best for the recipient, but no one sequence can be deemed the best one for all. It is important to be certain that your client/partner is not suffering from any illness or condition that might require the attention of another health professional. Reiki has its particular uses but it is unwise to try to address problems that clearly fall beyond its scope. The client can easily ask advice from their doctor, or other professional, as to whether they should undergo reiki therapy.

When it is clear that therapy can go ahead the next commitment to be made is that of time. It is essential that both parties agree to pledge the time to make the most of the reiki therapy. It is likely that the practitioner will, in acting as a channel for the universal life energy, see their own status develop.

The extent of each session of reiki will vary depending upon circumstances and the individual receiving treatment. Certain positions may be better left out of the sequence or therapy may be focused on a particular area to help relieve blockages or deal with tension. If the recipient is currently on a regime of medication then a shorter session may be appropriate.

Similarly, if dealing with a small child or an elderly or infirm person, it is probably wise to limit the therapy to a session of 15 to 20 minutes. In all cases the reiki practitioner should be sensitive to and aware of the condition, needs and well-being of the recipient.