Welcome to our FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions page. These questions are by no means exhaustive but they do address some of the main topics and questions that clients usually like to have clarified. Please feel free to ask me about anything that has not been addressed here.
1. WHAT IS REIKI?
Reiki is an ancient Japanese healing modality that uses Universal Energy to heal emotional, physical, spiritual and energetic imbalances. This Universal Energy is transmitted through an attuned practitioner’s hands to the recipient through the hands-on healing method.
The word Reiki comes from the Japanese word (Rei) which means “Universal Life” and (Ki) which means “Energy”.
Reiki is predicated on the premise that every living being emits an energy field, a belief that in the last few years has become supported by multiple scientific studies on resonance and frequency.
2. WHERE DID REIKI COME FROM?
Instead of reinventing the wheel, this is a rather comprehensive article on the History of Reiki written by Willian Rand.
3. WHAT IS KARUNA?
Let me just say that as a practitioner and a recipient, I absolutely love working with Karuna energy! Karuna is a Sanskrit word that means “compassionate action”. Karuna healing energy is very similar to Reiki energy but is, in my opinion, a much stronger earth-bound energy that feels much more intense and powerful. It works on the emotional and spiritual levels and can assist in releasing karma and past life issues. I’ve had amazing success with breaking up and healing negative or unconscious patterns and addictions. Karuna energy is a very dense energy that is incredibly effective at filling a person with grounding, calming love and balance, aligning the chakras and cleansing the aura. It also supports and enables us to see through our illusion, delusion and denial, so we can heal our shadow self of the self-sabotaging behaviors that we engage in.
4. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF REIKI?
The benefits of Reiki are myriad and is beneficial on so many levels. Reiki energy seeks to heal and remove the blockages and imbalances within the chakras and the multiple layers of the aura that can lead to illness and disease — for spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wholeness. Reiki also works in harmony, as a complement, with many other forms of alternative and traditional healing practices, as well as prescribed medication, psychological and physical therapy, and any other conditions where there is a correlative mind/body connection. Medical treatments can often have negative side-effects and these can also be greatly reduced or eliminated with regular Reiki sessions. Reiki is also known to improve the healing rate, and thus reduce the length of time spent in hospital, for patients receiving medical treatments, for example, the debilitating effects of chemotherapy, post operative pain, and any resulting depression.
Reiki provides stress and pain relief by relaxing and calming the recipient. As it also soothing, both emotionally and mentally, it can have a positive affect on minor conditions, such as head or stomach aches, colds, flu, tension and anxiety as well as more serious, and oftentimes stress-related, illnesses like heart disease, cancer and leukemia.
Reiki is also widely used, and increasingly recommended, in palliative, end-of-life care.
As a side note, the benefits of human touch have been observed as having wide-ranging physical and emotional benefits for people of all ages. In multiple experiments, touch has been shown to lessen pain, improve pulmonary function, increase growth in infants, lower blood glucose, and blood pressure, and can induce a state of relaxation that improves immune function.
5. WHO DOES REIKI WORK FOR?
Reiki energy works with, and for, anyone and everyone: Young, old, sick, healthy, men, women, children, even animals and plants, can all benefit from the healing energy of Reiki.
Many of the people that find themselves drawn to Reiki have either had some experience with alternative energy healing — or none at all but are searching for answers or a cessation from some form of pain. Regardless of what your level of experience may be, or why you are seeking energy healing, Reiki is an extremely non-invasive practice that has a noticeably positive effect on our emotional, spiritual and physical health and vitality. Reiki works wonderfully well in conjunction with any mainstream medical or psychological treatment. If you are currently receiving treatment for a medical or psychological condition, and are under the care of a licensed health care professional, receiving Reiki treatments has the potential to augment the healing effects of your traditional care.
6. HOW IS A REIKI TREATMENT PERFORMED?
The client lays on a treatment table, fully clothed, whilst the Reiki practitioner places their hands in a series of choreographed hand positions, either on or over specific chakra points throughout the recipient’s body, in order to channel Universal energy.
The practitioner may also employ the use of Essential Oils and crystals within the healing session to facilitate and maximize the benefits for wellness.
7. WHAT DOES REIKI FEEL LIKE?
Everyone experiences Reiki differently, and each session is unique. Some common sensations include warmth, tingling, or twitching. Some people feel energy pulsing through their body, while others experience temperature changes.
You might also see images, feel your mind quiet down, or even fall asleep – which is perfectly normal! Most people leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, and centered. The real benefits often unfold over time as the healing effects accumulate.
8. ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM A REIKI TREATMENT?
There are no known contraindications or side effects with receiving Reiki.
Reiki energy is considered an Intelligent Energy that is always geared towards our Highest Self. So, as the theory goes, it always knows what a person needs and where it needs to go, and will adjust itself to create the effect that is appropriate for the recipient. This means that I can’t “make” the energy do anything that is not in your highest best interests.
9. IS REIKI A RELIGION?
Reiki is not a religion and is not affiliated with any religion or religious practice. So regardless of whether you are religiously devout or have absolutely no idea, Reiki healing is not based on any religious belief, faith or suggestion. Holistically, Reiki resides on the spiritual path continuum of self healing, awareness and growth.
10. IS REIKI A FORM OF MASSAGE?
No. Not in any way, shape or form. Although some massage therapists do employ Reiki techniques into their method of massage; Dragonfly Reiki Healing Practice does not provide or perform massage.
11. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I HAVE A REIKI SESSION?
It depends on the issue/s that you are presenting with, it could be anywhere from 3 times a week, once every 3 months, to once a year. If you have specific, chronic issues, I may suggest coming in twice a week x 4 weeks and then assessing where we are. Otherwise, once a month for maintenance/preventative care is usually sufficient for keeping you balanced.
12. HOW MUCH DOES A REIKI HEALING SESSION COST?
Please see my menu of prices on the Energy Healing Services page.
13. WHAT IS A REIKI HEALING ATTUNEMENT?
A Reiki Healing Attunement is like a condensed, concentrated version of a regular table healing session, but it takes less time. In my opinion, its like receiving an injection of Usui Reiki healing energy.
So what happens? Well, the recipient is seated in a chair, with eyes closed and hands pressed together in front of the fourth chakra. They will be asked to think/meditate on an issue that they would like to release/heal/understand. The rest is a sacred secret. Just kidding. In essence, the practitioner performs a series of hand symbols over all of the chakras, from the crown and leading down to the base charka, in front of the body and from behind.
I find Healing Attunements to be really beneficial when you have something specific in mind that you can focus on or that you have a clarity of intent that you’d like to achieve. For example, releasing negative emotions, finding elusive answers and direction in an area that has so far confounded you, or even sending positive energy towards something or a situation that is in some way important to you and those you care about.
Afterwards, you will feel calm, centered and relaxed. And I would suggest that you pay special attention to thoughts that pop into your head, what you daydream about, and to try and remember your dreams over the next few days. If you regularly journal, even better.
On a side note, I actually spent several weeks learning how to correctly perform and give a Healing Attunement, and I failed my exam twice! Don’t worry, I could probably give one in my sleep now.
14. IS A HEALING ATTUNEMENT THE SAME AS A LEVEL ATTUNEMENT?
Without getting too technical, the simple answer is, No.
A Level Attunement is given to a student by a Reiki Master Teacher, commensurate to the level they are being taught and initiated into, and is not the same as a Healing Attunement.
15. HOW DO I CHOOSE A REIKI PRACTITIONER?
Choosing a Reiki practitioner is very similar to choosing a doctor, therapist or any other healer that you would go to when something isn’t working for you or you don’t feel well.
You have so many choices for Reiki healers, especially in Los Angeles, and sometimes it can take more than one attempt to find someone you click with. When it comes to healing the hurt and damaged parts of ourselves — whether its physical, emotional or spiritual — we need to feel safe and have faith that the person we choose to work with is ethical, on our side and has the skill and knowledge that we need to heal and achieve our goals. My advice is, take your time, do your research, and be willing to keep an open mind when meeting someone that you will be trusting to help you heal. If you don’t feel like they are the best person for you, keep searching.
And so saying, upon our initial appointment, should I feel that I’m not the best practitioner for you or that I’m unable to help with the issue that you are presenting with, I will be upfront and let you know. I will also suggest alternative healers that may be able to help you.
Please Note: Reiki is one part of an integrative healing or wellness program. Receiving Reiki healing energy does not guarantee a cure, nor is it a substitute for qualified medical or professional care.
16. HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY REIKI SESSION?
From my own experience of receiving Reiki healing sessions, I would recommend that before you arrive for your session that you take a few minutes to get clear in your head what it is that you’d like to achieve from receiving Reiki. Emotionally, this could be wanting to find a sense of calmness, being less anxious, or a reprieve from feeling so stressed. And physically, concentrate on where the pain is located, and how you’d like it to feel, and consider what the pain prevents you from doing. Oftentimes, insight into what helped to create the pain in the first place is also the path through it to healing.
Whether your pain is emotional, spiritual or physical, be very clear in your mind that you are making the intention, and asking the Universe for assistance, to be willing to relax and let go of that which no longer serves you.
From a practical, comfort standpoint, you may feel more comfortable by being freshly showered, wearing loose fitting clothes and a wearing a pair of clean socks.
I would also suggest refraining from drinking alcohol or partaking of any non-prescribed drugs prior to our session.
17. WILL I HAVE TO GET UNDRESSED?
No, you will never need, nor be asked, to get undressed. You will, however, have to remove your shoes. So don’t forget to wear clean socks!
18. WHAT HAPPENS IN A REIKI SESSION?
Once you step into my peaceful Healing Room, you’ll be able to leave the frantic, chaotic energy of the outside world, at the door. Dragonfly Reiki Healing Practice is a safe and comfortable environment (both energetically and physically) where you can to relax , let go, and just BE. Take a deep breath…and breathe!
So having said that, for your initial session, we will begin with a consultation where I will provide a brief description of what will happen and what you can expect during your session. Following that, I will ask a series of leading questions so that I can gain an understanding of what is going on with you and why you have come to Dragonfly Reiki Healing Practice. Many times, talking in and of itself can be very enlightening and therefore, healing; it doesn’t always need to make sense as, oftentimes, clarity will come through our work together.
After our conversation, please remove your shoes and lie face-up on the treatment table. You may remain fully clothed. I will place a relaxing eye pillow over your eyes. A comforting blanket is available if you’d like one.Providing you are not allergic or sensitive to essential oils*, I will choose one or more for you to inhale that will aid in the relaxation and healing experience.
You won’t see this, although you may sense the movement, I will then use my hands to scan your aura (called Byosen scanning) from the top of your head and down to your feet. I use energetic sensations to understand imbalances and determine the areas, chakras, and points needing attention during treatment.
The Reiki healing session then commences with a series of choreographed hand positions, which I place over specific chakra points throughout your body. While Reiki practitioners often use touch, Reiki healing can also occur without any physical contact.If you’d prefer this type of hands-off healing, please be sure to let me know.
The essential oils that I typically use: Young Living, DoTerra and Tisserand.
19. WHO DID I TRAIN WITH?
I am a qualified Usui Reiki Master, having studied under Arleta Soares, Usui Reiki Master (Trained by Joyce Morris, Usui Reiki Master; Trained by Virginia Samdahl, Usui Reiki Master; Trained by Hawayo Takata, Usui Reiki Master; Trained by Chujiro Hayashi, Usui Reiki Master; Trained by Mikao Usui, Founder, Usui Reiki Treatment for the Improvement of Body and Mind.)
I am also a qualified Karuna Master, having studied under Jang Chup Pema.
20. DO I HAVE ONGOING TRAINING?
Absolutely! Everything about Reiki, energy, and healing fascinates me so I am constantly reading books, blogs and articles on the subject. I also meet with my teacher and fellow students a couple of times a month for Reiki healing nights. This is where we all get the opportunity to get on the table for a healing session and to have time with our mentor to ask questions, discuss strategy on how to heal a specific condition that we may have come across, and to receive healing, much in the same way that a therapist would: we all have life issues that we are dealing with.
21. DO I TEACH?
No. Although I am an Usui Reiki Master Teacher, I am a Reiki healing practitioner only at this time.
22. DO I ACCEPT HEALTH INSURANCE?
No. I do not bill clients nor do I provide direct billing for insurance. Please provide payment at the time of service unless we have made other arrangements before your treatment.
23. DO REIKI PRACTITIONERS NEED A LICENSE?
California doesn’t have a Board or Licensing for healers. There are two ways to practice healing legally in California:
- Become a licensed minister: A license allows me to touch, heal, and counsel clients.
- Comply with SB 577: In 2002, California passed SB 577 to regulate alternative healers. To comply with SB 577, I require clients to sign a waiver form that I keep on file for 3 years.
24. DO I BELONG TO ANY GOVERNING BODIES OR ORGANIZATIONS?
There are currently no formalized governing bodies for Reiki.
25. WHAT ABOUT CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY?
Rest assured that client confidentiality is essential to me. I uphold the highest standards of professional integrity. All our conversations are completely confidential. I will honor and protect the information that you share with me and ensure that it remains private and confidential.
Disclaimer: Unless you tell me that you’ve done something funky with children or animals, or threaten to commit suicide, then all bets are off. #SorryNotSorry.
ETIQUETTE & TIPS
- Please be on time. I value our time together and I will be ready for you.
- Avoid alcohol or non-prescribed drugs before your session.
- I do not allow abusive language or behavior. I may end a session without a refund if needed.
- I will touch your head and feet. Clean hair and fresh socks may be more comfortable. I will firmly hold the arch of your foot. I will not tickle or torture your feet.
- Do wear or bring a jumper/cardigan/sweater as it can get a little chilly once the body starts to relax.
- To tip — or not to tip? Personal preference: Some people do, some people don’t.
Do you have any other questions or need additional tips? Please feel free to contact me. If it’s a good one, I’ll add it 😉
