What Is Reiki? Understanding the Ancient Art of Healing Through Touch
Reiki is a gentle yet powerful energy healing practice that promotes relaxation, balance, and overall well-being. Rooted in the ancient art of “laying on of hands,” Reiki works with the body’s natural life force energy—known in Japanese as ki—to support physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Although Reiki is often described as a modern energy healing technique, its roots trace back to ancient traditions that recognized the power of touch as a sacred way to restore harmony within the body and mind.
The Origins and History of Reiki
Reiki, as we know it today, was founded in Japan in the early 1900s by Dr. Mikao Usui, a spiritual teacher and scholar. Dr. Usui devoted many years to studying ancient healing methods, Buddhist teachings, and sacred texts in search of a way to awaken the natural healing power that resides within every person.
After a period of fasting and meditation on Mount Kurama, Dr. Usui experienced a profound spiritual awakening—receiving a direct understanding of how to channel universal life energy through the hands. He named this practice Reiki, combining the Japanese words Rei (universal or divine) and Ki (life energy).
Dr. Usui began sharing Reiki with others, teaching students how to connect with this universal energy to promote healing, peace, and spiritual growth. The practice was later introduced to the West in the 1930s by Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman who studied under one of Usui’s students, Chujiro Hayashi. Through her work, Reiki spread across the world and continues to evolve as a deeply respected healing modality today.
The Connection to “Laying on of Hands”
The concept of healing through touch is found in cultures and spiritual traditions across the globe. Known as the “laying on of hands,” this sacred act has been practiced for thousands of years as a way to comfort, bless, and restore balance. Reiki honors this same timeless principle—that healing energy can flow through the hands of a practitioner who serves as a channel for divine life force energy.
In a Reiki session, the practitioner gently places their hands either lightly on or just above the client’s body. The energy flows where it is most needed, helping to dissolve energetic blockages, release tension, and restore harmony to the body’s natural systems. Clients often describe sensations of warmth, tingling, or deep relaxation, as the body enters a calm state conducive to healing.
The Benefits of Reiki
Reiki supports healing on all levels—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Common benefits include:
- Deep relaxation and stress reduction
- Improved sleep and emotional clarity
- Support during periods of transition or grief
- Relief from anxiety and physical discomfort
- A deeper connection to peace, intuition, and inner stillness
Because Reiki works with universal life energy, it is safe for everyone and complements all other forms of healing and medical care.
Reiki in the Modern World
Today, Reiki is practiced worldwide in private sessions, hospitals, wellness centers, and holistic healing spaces. Many people turn to Reiki to support their self-care, enhance spiritual growth, and reconnect with their body’s natural capacity to heal.
I offer Reiki sessions for clients in the New England area or near Concord, NH. The sessions combine traditional Usui Reiki with other Reiki techniques including Tantra Reiki and Crystal Reiki practices to help you restore balance, ease, and vitality. Whether you’re seeking relaxation, emotional release, or a deeper spiritual connection, Reiki offers a gentle yet powerful pathway back to wholeness.
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