What Reiki Actually Is (Without the Fluffy Nonsense)
Let me save you twenty minutes of Googling through websites that say things like "Reiki is a beautiful flow of universal divine light consciousness."
Cool. What does that mean though?
Here's the deal…Reiki is a hands on (or hands off) energy healing technique that works directly with your nervous system. That's it. That's the foundation. A trained practitioner channels energy through their hands to help your body do what it already knows how to do… heal itself.
I've “called on the light” over 1,000 times since I’ve been atuned. And I've seen high energy athletes and performers fall asleep on the table for the first time in months. I've watched people with chronic pain stand up and move differently after one session. I've sat with hospice patients and helped them transition during the hardest moment of their lives.
None of that required fairy dust. It required skill, precision, and training.
So What Actually Happens During a Session?
You lie down fully clothed on a massage table. I place my hands on or near specific areas of your body. Most people feel some bodily sensations or a deep sense of calm. Some people feel nothing at all the first time ( like I did, I was SUPER cut off from the light my first reiki session in 2022) and that's completely fine. Your nervous system is still receiving input whether your conscious mind registers it or not.
What's happening under the surface is nervous system regulation. Your body shifts from sympathetic mode (fight/flight, stress, tension) into parasympathetic mode (rest, digest). That shift is where the magic happens…except it's not magic. It's biology responding to energy work performed with intention and training.
Who Is Reiki For?
Everyone. But here is who I see walk through my door most:
People dealing with anxiety who are tired of white knuckling through every day. Almost like you’re just hanging on by a thread to survive. People carrying grief that has physically settled into their body. People with chronic pain who've tried other modalities but they didn’t work. People in recovery… addiction, trauma, from burnout. Healthcare workers who give everything to everyone else and have nothing left. And people who are simply curious and open enough to try something different.
I'm also proudly LGBTQ+ affirming. You don't need to shrink any part of yourself to walk into my space. You come as you are. That’s why it’s called the Rainbow Reiki Center (also because God, the superconscious, is light… which looks like rainbows… more on that later).
What Reiki Is NOT
It's not a replacement for medical care. I will never tell you to ditch your doctor or stop your meds. What I will tell you is that Reiki works beautifully with regular treatment. It supports your body's healing process. It gives your nervous system room to breathe.
It's also not religious. You don't need to believe in anything. You don't need crystals or incense or a spiritual awakening to benefit. (it does make it more fun) but in reality, you just need to show up.
Why Training Matters
Not all Reiki practitioners are created equal. I'm a Certified Reiki Master Teacher (trained by the best “if-you-know-you-know” mentors with over 700 hours of additional training in therapeutic yoga and trauma-informed practices. I am always learning and consider myself a student. I didn't learn Reiki from a weekend workshop and call it a day. This is my life's work. I was told I used to do energy work as a baby.
When you're choosing a practitioner, ask about their training. Ask about their experience. Ask how they approach trauma. The answers matter.
Ready to Try It?
If you've been sitting on the fence about Reiki, get off the fence. Book a session. The worst thing that happens is you get an hour of deep rest. The best thing that happens could change how you move through your life.
