Reiki treatment is balancing to the individual’s system. The more balanced a system is, the less stressed it is. The less stressed the system is, the more resilient it is, and the more efficiently it self-heals. Reiki treatment encourages the receiver’s system to regain balance and thus optimizes self-healing. Reiki treatment supports and does not override the body’s natural process of self-healing.

When Reiki treatment is used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for someone with a medical diagnosis, the Reiki treatment does not address the disease or any symptom directly. Rather, Reiki treatment encourages the person’s system toward balance so that the person is better able to address both the disease, and the side effects of medical treatment. Reiki treatment supports the person undergoing medical treatment, and does not interfere with the processes involved in the medical treatment.

Besides looking at the treatment itself, health care also looks at how a treatment is delivered, meaning how it gets to the patient. It is conceivable, for example, that there might be reasons why a treatment that might help a patient cannot be safely delivered to that patient. For example, some cancer patients who could theoretically be helped by massage might be too fragile to be able to safely receive massage, or there might be limitations as to what parts of the body could be safely massaged (perhaps hands and feet only).

Reiki treatment is most commonly delivered through light, non-invasive contact. The Reiki practitioner’s hand can also be held just above the body. In a quarantine situation, the Reiki practitioner offers treatment while wearing gloves. Since Reiki touch is non-manipulative (or non-contact), it carries no contraindications.

Reiki treatment involves no substances. The receiver is not asked to swallow anything, nor is any substance applied to the skin. There is nothing material involved in Reiki treatment that could interfere with medical care or impact the receiver’s health.

Therefore, from a health care perspective, there are no known medical contraindications, no time when Reiki treatment is unsafe.

It is always safe to offer Reiki treatment, as long as you are also taking care of whatever else is needed. For example, in an emergency, you can place a Reiki hand on the victim while calling 911. Reiki is not a replacement for needed conventional medical care, but used sensibly, Reiki can be a valuable resource that can help improve health care outcomes.

If you have a specific question or comment, please post it below.

As Reiki becomes more visible to the public, Reiki practitioners and students will come across not only more people who are interested in Reiki, but also, those who dismiss or oppose it. It is critical that a mature Reiki practitioner understand the arguments that are made against Reiki and be able to address them reasonably.

A thoughtful discussion of the issues raised would benefit the Reiki community, and I hope you will share your perspective after watching the video. What are the points that you found particularly useful? Do you have a well reasoned rebuttal to any of the points made? Are there other questions or points that you would have liked to see raised?

Let’s use this as an opportunity to practice communicating about a controversial issue without being inflammatory or disrespectful of other perspectives. In this way, we honor Reiki founder Mikao Usui’s advice, Today only, do not anger.

Since there are no agreed-upon standards for Reiki education, Reiki certificates are essentially meaningless. A First degree (beginning level) student might have more training than someone who advertises herself as a Reiki master. This creates a credibility challenge both for people who are new to Reiki, and  for  practitioners who want to showcase their credibility.

How can this challenge be met? If you are new to Reiki, what should you look for? And what can Reiki practitioners communicate to help someone new feel safe enough to follow Dr. Oz’s suggestion to give Reiki a try?

Usually a combination of gut feeling and information tips the trust scale in a Reiki practitioner’s favor. Here are some questions that can help gauge a Reiki practitioner’s credibility quotient, followed by my thoughts on the responses to look for. Most of the questions are a matter of gathering information that needs to be evaluated as a whole; to me, only one is a dealbreaker:

• When were you trained to each level that you practice?
  It’s optimal for each level of Reiki training to be given separately, with adequate time to practice before going to the next level. You need only a First degree practitioner to give you hands-on treatment.
• How many hours long was your training at each level?
  Eight to 12 hours of a group class is adequate for First or again for Second degree. There is much controversy about Reiki master training. Traditionally, becoming a Reiki master was a serious commitment to teach that was offered to only a handful of senior students. This is rarely honored today. Most Reiki masters don’t even teach, so you really have to consider what being a Reiki master means to the individual, and what’s important to you.
• Was your training in-person with a Reiki master?
  Internet training does not replace the onsite presence of a qualified Reiki master and her availability to provide you continuing support.
• What clinical experience do you have? Have you offered Reiki treatment to people outside your family and friends (and pets, if applicable)?
  This question will help you get to know the practitioner better, and provides valuable information for you to factor into your choice. Remember that a practitioner need not be a professional to give you a treatment, but if someone is advertising himself as a professional and charging you, he should have the training and experience to back it up.
• What happens during your Reiki sessions?
  I’d take it as a bad sign if the practitioner gets all cosmic on you at this point. What you’re looking for here is a down-to-earth description of the experience, that you will lie fully clothed on a treatment table, that the practitioner will place hands lightly and non-invasively, how long the session will last, that you will be receiving a Reiki-only session (no crystals, no massage, etc., unless, of course, that is your choice).
• Where will the Reiki session take place?
  Expect a professional to have a private, dedicated treatment space.
• What is the fee and how/when is it paid?
  Fees for Reiki treatment vary enormously depending on location, the practitioner’s level of experience, and whether she is practices Reiki full time or has another source of income. Keep looking until you find a situation that is financially comfortable for you. Remember you can also forego treatment from someone else, and choose to learn to practice First degree self-treatment, a one-time investment that pays lifelong dividends.
• What is your unique perspective as a Reiki practitioner?
  This is where the practitioner has a chance to shine and show you how professional he is, or you may watch him dive off the deep end…
• Do you practice Reiki self-treatment every day?
  Here is the DEALBREAKER. Daily self-practice is the most important way that we develop our understanding of Reiki. Someone who recognizes Reiki as a healing practice (like meditation and yoga) and who actually practices daily self-treatment, will be able to support you with greater depth and confidence than someone who regards Reiki merely as a treatment for others, or for when she’s not feeling well. Why would you want to receive a treatment from a practitioner who doesn’t value Reiki enough to use it to protect and maintain her own health and well-being?

Keep in mind that you don’t need a professional to receive a Reiki treatment. You can receive a Reiki treatment from a friend who practices. But if you are paying someone who considers herself to be a Reiki professional, make sure she meets your professional standards.

And use your common sense. If you don’t like a practitioner, go on to the next.

Any other points you would add? Please post a comment below.

How often do we hear that from people after a Reiki sample?

Just relaxed.

No big deal.

Wait a minute!

Just relaxed is a very big deal.

Just relaxed is a biochemical event, the beginning of healing.

And just relaxed is what you’re not getting enough of.

So get your Reiki hands on yourself (if you’re a practitioner), connect with a Reiki buddy, or make an appointment with a Reiki pro.

And just relax.

Give Reiki a try. Doctor’s orders.

Dr. Oz, that is.

It’s either modern (a practice started by Mikao Usui in the 1920s in Japan), or it’s timeless (if by Reiki, you mean the unified field, source, primordial consciousness, pure awareness, great mystery, whatever you call that all-pervasive, unending reality to which we connect when we practice Reiki).

Using the term Reiki without specifying what comes after it (Reiki treatment, Reiki practice,  Reiki sensations, Reiki state, etc.) leads to confusion, especially when we’re addressing people who are new to the practice.

But no matter how you look at it, Reiki is not ancient.

It’s right here,
right now,
as you place your Reiki hand.

Not only adults, but–even more alarming–many school-aged children are suffering from a lack of deep, nourishing sleep. And I mean suffering. Science links poor sleep with an increasing list of serious health conditions, including obesity and depression.

In one of life’s great ironies, as you become more exhausted, your body seems to forget how to sleep well. Reiki treatment reminds your body how to shift that gear, and quickly improves the quality of your sleep. People often notice benefits after their very first Reiki session.

How exactly can Reiki treatment help you sleep better? A shift toward a more open, easeful breath is one of the first responses to the light touch of a Reiki hand. This shift happens so effortlessly that people may not notice it at the time, yet it is the first domino in a powerful healing cascade.

As the breath is, so becomes the mind. When the breath becomes open and even, the mind naturally becomes quieter, more peaceful. A calm, centered mind leads to many benefits, including deeper, more refreshing sleep.

In med-speak, we’re talking about a shift from sympathetic nervous system dominance to parasympathetic nervous system dominance. And not only is there abundant anecdotal evidence of this happening, there is also a growing body of research evidence that Reiki treatment is a catalyst for this healing shift to occur.

You can receive Reiki treatment from a friend or professional, or you can learn to practice on yourself. Once trained, you can practice literally in bed, as you fall asleep and/or awaken in the morning–and you’ll have this healing practice for the rest of your life.

People who are sleep-deprived are also often squeezed for time, but you can go ahead and heave a sigh of relief. You can learn to practice First degree (entry level) Reiki on yourself, your family, friends, and pets in a group class that lasts 8-12 hours. Find a class in which you are physically present with a qualified Reiki master (I strongly recommend avoiding online classes).

Since there are no standards for Reiki treatment or training, it’s important to take the time to find a credible local practitioner who is right for you. This is so important that I devoted an entire chapter of my book REIKI: A Comprehensive Guide to help you do this. You can also click here to learn a few tips from a short video I made.

An open, comfortable breath, calm mind, and good sleep are not just good ideas; they are necessities. We simply cannot regain or maintain health without them, and Reiki practice puts them literally in the palms of our hands.

My friend Elena Brower shares how she uses Reiki self-treatment to connect with her breath and improve her sleep in her Huffington Post blog. Click here to read.

Think of the people in your (extended) family who are most different from you (and put aside how many times you tried to talk to them about Reiki in the past). Thanks to Dr. Oz, Cousin Vinny is now encouraged that maybe this Reiki thing will relieve the pain in his arthritic joints. Aunt Sally is hoping Reiki treatment will help her sleep after years of insomnia.

They turn to the internet to learn more. Do they see much that speaks to them?

Probably not.

But they trust Dr. Oz, so they soldier on. Now they are standing in front of the community bulletin board at the local health food store, a store they may be visiting for the very first time, looking for a Reiki practitioner, and they see a number of listings. They wonder how to know who is credible. Common sense helps, but still, they’re losing confidence and wishing they had more to go on…

The public expects health-care professionals to have meaningful credentials, but Reiki practice is not regulated in that way. There are no agreed upon standards for Reiki training or treatment. Some people become “instant powerful Reiki masters;” others take longer training, but start charging for their services without having any supervision or professional training. How can people new to Reiki know who is credible?

And without meaningful credentialing in the field, how can serious Reiki professionals distinguish themselves in their communities?

Here’s the current situation. We have three groups in need of help:

1. The public needs help finding credible Reiki professionals.
2. Credible professionals need help connecting with clients.
3. Reiki practitioners need help developing themselves as credible professionals.

I made a short video that can help all three groups. Click here to view it on my Reiki video page.

If you agree with the criteria I mention, please share the link. If you find the video helpful, you are welcome to add the video to your site.

If  you have something to add, or you don’t agree with what I’ve said, please post a thoughtful comment so we can discuss it here. Let’s pool our collective wisdom and experience to meet the credibility challenge. We need to raise the credibility of our practice if Reiki is to become available in the mainstream.

Let’s address this challenge as a community. If we do this in a respectful, inclusive way, we can inspire Reiki practitioners of all perspectives and practice styles to raise the credibility of Reiki practice before the public. We want to maintain Reiki diversity so that individuals can make connections that are meaningful for them, and we need to maintain high professional standards if we are to earn the public’s trust and respect.

Marta remembers the petite 79-year-old as a “remarkable woman, clear and very strong.” Marta says, “In any space, she really filled it, so you could feel her no matter what she was doing. She was a very powerful speaker in a very gentle and soft way.”

Marta arranged a talk for Mrs. Takata at a local bookstore the evening before a Reiki class was to begin. After the talk, a visibly moved attendee approached Marta with a plea for a fee reduction or payment plan. She wanted so much to practice Reiki but did not have the cash.

Marta dutifully carried the request to Mrs. Takata, but was taken aback by her response. Mrs. Takata said the lady should save her money, so that when she is ready, she will be able to pay the fee, and she will feel better about taking the class.

The woman left on the verge of tears. Marta and her bleeding-heart newbieness were nonplussed.

So nonplussed that she overcame her awe of Mrs. Takata long enough to ask Why, since the woman obviously really wanted to take the class, Mrs. Takata wouldn’t make a concession?

Marta recalls Takata saying, “When she earns the money for this class, and she’s ready to do the class, she will experience it in a completely different way. If I gave it to her I would be making a beggar out of her.”

Marta admits Takata’s point was lost to her at that moment. Mrs. Takata surprised her further by saying, “Don’t worry, I think she will be in this class anyway.”

“You do?” Marta asked.

“Yes,” Mrs. Takata said, “I have a feeling she will be in this class.” Marta was certain there was no chance of that happening.

But the next evening, as the new students were gathering, the woman arrived, cash in hand.

Are you as intrigued as I was?

Revisiting her experience, Marta realizes her sense of awe kept her from getting to know Mrs. Takata “as a human being and as a person.” Marta wishes now that she had known enough then to “ask different questions and to be with her in a different way.” But how could she, when she’d only been practicing Reiki for six months?

Marta’s memories of Takata are priceless nonetheless, meaningful not only to those of us who stay very close to Takata’s teachings and practice style, but also to the diverse Reiki community–and perhaps especially to practitioners who don’t have a continuing relationship with their Reiki master.

I treasure the stories of Mrs. Takata that are told by Reiki masters who deeply honor her. Their memories take on life in my imagination, and I contemplate them again and again to discover more Reiki pearls.

It’s tempting to take stories of great teachers and turn them into rules, but doing this stunts your growth rather than nurturing it.

Instead, give yourself the time to let these stories settle into your heart. It’s not that Mrs. Takata never discussed a fee. But she sure didn’t this time.

Click here to listen to Marta share this and a couple of other stories in the first 15 minutes of her recent interview with Phyllis Lei Furumoto, Takata’s granddaughter.

If listening and contemplating Marta’s stories brings you deeper insight, please share your understanding in a comment below. To keep this a safe space for everyone to share, I ask you to write only your personal understanding; please do not comment on someone else’s experience.

And if you enjoy Marta’s stories, you will surely enjoy Helen Haberly’s book Reiki: Hawayo Takata’s Story. Although we now understand that the story of Reiki given was not factual, the second part of the book is a series of stories from Mrs. Takata’s Reiki treatments, as told by one of her students. Click here for more information.

*Mrs. Takata brought Reiki from Japan to the US with her Reiki master, Chujiro Hayashi.

May we live with the awareness that each time we place our Reiki hands on ourselves, we are placing another brick in the road to world peace.

As you look back over the last year and ahead to the new, contemplate the gifts your Reiki practice has brought you.

Was there a time when your self-practice brought you peace, or enabled you to carry peacefulness into a stressful situation? If so, please tell us about it.

Sharing a simple insight from your practice may inspire someone else to recognize the enormous benefit we bring to others each time we place our Reiki hands on our own bodies.

Our self-practice is the effort we can make to create peace, an offering we can give ourselves and the world every day.

With gratitude, work diligently.

Please write a comment below to share how your Reiki practice has brought peace to your life. If you are receiving this as an email, click here.

So it was a bit surprising when a year after her diagnosis, Milliken’s next MRI came back clean.

Not only were there no new lesions, meaning the disease had not progressed, but also, the lesion seen on her first MRI had faded significantly. Her March 2009 MRI was the same.

Like most people facing a devastating diagnosis, Milliken’s first response was to receive conventional medical treatment. Several months later that she reached for yoga to help her cope, inadvertently embarking on a healing journey that took her far beyond coping.

Milliken started looking at her life, and herself, differently. She slowed down, exercised less, went to sleep earlier, became more present. She continued yoga, followed a complicated regime under the guidance of an osteopath, and received Reiki.

This is not a case of Reiki curing anything. Reiki is one of many healing practices and treatments in this story.

This is an encouraging picture of how one woman took an integrative approach to a debilitating illness with stunningly positive results. Milliken’s story is an example that can inspire people addressing MS, or any serious disease, to courageously engage in maintaining their wellness and their well-being in ways that are meaningful to them and that don’t stop at what conventional medicine has to offer.

Milliken details her treatment choices in an article published in Marie-Claire magazine.