Reiki: The Art of Sacred Energy Flow

Reiki is not something you “do.” It’s something you allow.A remembering.A surrender.A return to flow.

Rooted in Japanese lineage, Reiki (霊気) translates to “spirit energy” or “universal life force.”It’s the frequency that moves through all things—trees, tides, touch, breath. When channeled with intention, this energy becomes a powerful tool for healing, regulation, and reconnection.

So... what is Reiki, really?

Reiki is a gentle, hands-on (or just-off) healing technique that facilitates the body’s natural ability to heal by working directly with its energy systems—physical, emotional, spiritual, and etheric.It’s not about diagnosing, fixing, or analyzing. It’s about being the hollow bone, the open vessel, the compassionate conduit for divine intelligence to flow where it’s needed most.

Whether you're holding pain, fatigue, grief, or simply seeking clarity, Reiki invites deep stillness—the place where your cells can remember how to repair themselves.

How It Works

Reiki works through frequency and intention.When a practitioner places their hands over or near the body, they become a channel for the universal life force energy—what some call Qi, Prana, or Source.

This energy doesn't come from the practitioner; it flows through them.The client’s system receives only what it’s ready for—no more, no less.

Like tuning forks, the body responds to vibrational cues. Blockages, tension, and disharmony begin to unwind as the energy moves.Often, this means nervous system regulation, emotional release, and a return to parasympathetic states (rest, digest, and restore).

Intuitive Reiki vs. Usui Reiki

There are many paths into Reiki, and each practitioner carries their own flavor.

Usui Reiki is the original system founded by Mikao Usui in Japan in the early 1900s. It’s rooted in structure and includes specific hand positions, symbols, and attunement rituals passed down through lineage. The symbols—such as Cho Ku Rei (power), Sei He Ki (emotional balance), and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (distance healing)—act like keys to unlock specific frequencies or intentions during a session.

Intuitive Reiki, on the other hand, leans into the practitioner’s inner knowing, sensing, and energetic sensitivity. It’s less about technique and more about deep listening—feeling into what’s present, moment to moment. It may weave in elements like sound, crystals, breathwork, or personal guidance, without relying on traditional steps or symbols.

Both forms are powerful.Neither is “better”—just different languages for the same universal energy.

Some practitioners (like me) blend both—holding reverence for the structure while allowing spirit to move freely through intuitive awareness.

What It Feels Like

Each session is different. Some people feel warmth, tingling, or waves of emotion.Others drop into deep rest or experience vivid visions, colors, or memories.Many feel peace they haven’t felt in years.

It’s subtle. But real.

Reiki is not always loud—but it’s always listening.

A Brief History

Reiki was rediscovered by Mikao Usui, a Buddhist practitioner who embarked on a spiritual quest to understand how ancient masters healed through touch. After 21 days of fasting and meditating on Mount Kurama, he received the symbols and energetic insights that would form what we now know as the Usui Reiki system.

Reiki later traveled to the West through Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman who helped preserve and adapt Reiki across cultures. Over time, different branches and styles have emerged—Karuna Reiki, Holy Fire, Intuitive Reiki, and more—each adding its own voice to the healing song.

Reiki + Your Journey

In my own practice, Reiki isn’t separate from other modalities.It flows into sound baths, reflexology, breathwork, and outdoor experiences.Energy doesn’t live in boxes—it’s everywhere, and Reiki simply reminds us to tune in.

Whether on a massage table or beneath a pine canopy, Reiki is an invitation:

Come back to yourself. Feel. Trust. Heal.