Q: What does the name Reiki mean?

A: The name Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is composed of two Japanese words, "rei" and "ki" (the Japanese kanji characters for each are pictured paired in the yellow bar at right). The definition of "re\i" is universal, while "ki" means life-force energy. Therefore, Reiki means "universal life-force energy." Many interpret the deeper meaning of "rei" as supernatural knowledge or spiritual consciousness, defining Reiki as "spiritually guided life-force energy."

Q: How does Reiki work?

We are alive because of the "ki" flowing through our body. This life-force energy travels through energy centers named chakras and pathways known as meridians. Disruptions in this energy flow adversely affect the mind, body and spirit, leading to illness. Reiki is spiritually guided to restore the harmonious flow of "ki," directing healing energy to wherever someone has blockages (the God consciousness called "Rei" leads the "ki" to areas of disharmony). Reiki is multi-dimensional and can heal on whatever level problems exist (mind, body or spirit).

Energy blockages on all levels are often caused by negative thoughts and feelings. By raising the vibrational level within and around affected parts of the physical body, Reiki breaks away negativity, clearing and healing the body's energy pathways. Maintaining a positive outlook on life is important to prevent blockages from recurring along these routes. "As we think, so we become."

Q: Is it difficult to learn to treat myself and others with Reiki?

A: No. Reiki is a simple technique that anyone can learn. It is not dependent on intellectual capacity and requires no prior experience with healing, meditation or any other kind of training. The ability to channel Reiki is simply – miraculously – passed from a Reiki master teacher to student during a peaceful attunement process taking only minutes. Once attuned to this force in an introductory Reiki class, students can easily channel life-force energy to themselves and others through their hands.

Q: Where does Reiki energy come from?

A: Reiki practitioners are not transferring their own life-force energy to another when giving treatments. They have been attuned to directly channel Reiki energy from its universal source (an infinite supply). Coming from the Higher Power, Reiki exists on a different plane than electrical, chemical or other kinds of physical energy.

When viewed clairvoyantly, Reiki energy appears to descend from above, entering the top of practitioners' heads (the crown chakra). It then flows through the practitioners' bodies and out through their hands to wherever they direct it (to specific parts of their bodies or to others). Practitioners feel the energy moving along this trajectory when giving treatments. All they have to do is intend to channel Reiki for it to begin flowing.

When treating other people, Reiki practitioners also receive healing because the energy must pass through them first. Instead of depleting their "ki," treating others actually increases Reiki practitioners' life-force energy.

Q: What can be treated with Reiki?

A: Any problem involving mind, body or spirit can benefit from Reiki. In its long history, Reiki has aided in healing virtually every known illness or injury, including cancer, heart disease, AIDS, asthma, back pain, skin problems, cuts, headaches, colds, addictions, etc.

In some cases, people have experienced complete healings which have been confirmed by medical tests before and after Reiki treatments. While some have experienced miracles, they cannot be guaranteed. Stress reduction with some improvement in physical and psychological conditions are what most experience. Outcomes often depend on the regularity of Reiki treatments. The more Reiki you receive, the better you will feel.

Q: Do Reiki treatments eliminate the need to see a regular doctor or psychologist?

A: No. Wellspring Reiki recommends that people with medical or psychological conditions see a licensed health-care professional in addition to using Reiki for their healing. Reiki energy works in conjunction with all other forms of healing, improving the results of drugs, surgery, psychological care, and other treatments.

Q: Do you diagnose clients' health problems at Wellspring Reiki?

A: No. During the course of treatments, I often can detect parts of the body that require deeper healing and sometimes receive intuitive insights about clients' needs. I sometimes share impressions about areas seeming to demand more attention than others. But I do not venture to specify ailments from which my clients could be suffering. I will gently suggest that they consider visiting their doctor if I strongly suspect that something is seriously amiss. If clients share information with me about their particular health problems, I certainly focus energy on those.

Q: Do I need to feel ill to benefit from Reiki?

A: No. For thousands of years, Eastern medicine has known that maintaining the harmonious flow of life-force energy is some of the best preventative care there is. When your energy is flowing optimally, not only do you feel great, but also your aura shines bigger and brighter in a way that others truly sense. You really glow!

Q: Is Reiki a religion?

A: While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. There is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki, which has no dogma. Reiki will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that regularly using this energy deeply enhances their connection to spirit, whatever their particular religious beliefs. Reiki is practiced by people of all major religions around the world.

Q: How many levels are there to Reiki training?

A: In the Usui system of Reiki taught by Wellspring Reiki, there are four levels of attunements (I, II, Advanced and Master) conferring ascending amounts of healing power. Wellspring Reiki offers combined Reiki I/II and Advanced Reiki Training/Reiki III classes (see Reiki Classes for more details). In the ART/Reiki III class, students become Usui Reiki Masters, learning how to attune others to Reiki as well as advanced healing techniques.

After the level II attunement, students must work regularly with Reiki for awhile (a minimum of 21 days) before they are considered ready to take the ART/Usui Master class. The master-level attunement confers a great increase in healing power, so students need to be sure their systems are ready to handle the increased energy. Most people report that after their master-level attunement, their lives were never the same. Mine certainly wasn't, and definitely for the better!

There is also a school of Reiki called Karuna, which is a powerful expression of the evolving nature of Reiki. Stronger than Usui Reiki, the Karuna system was developed by the Internatinal Center for Reiki Training in the early 1990s. Gifted Masters working the center began channeling higher-frequency energies and felt spiritually guided to develop the Karuna training system to share them with the world. The word Karuna means "compasssionate action," epitomizing the spirit of all Reiki. Because its healing energies are stronger, Karuna Reiki is considered the next step after Usui Reiki. Only those who have completed the Usui Reiki Master training are eligible to take this two-day intensive class.

Whatever level of Reiki you've been attuned to, the strength of your ability to channel it depends partly upon how often you use it. The more you channel Reiki, the stronger its flow grows and the more deeply you are healed. If you become attuned to Reiki and rarely use it, chances are this healing method won't make much impact on your life. But once attuned, you never lose the ability to channel Reiki. It will always be there for you when you need it.

Q: Does Reiki have any side effects?

A: Reiki is safe to use on all people of all ages as well as pets and plants. For most, receiving Reiki treatments is a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating experience. However, sometimes people will have what is known as a "healing crisis."

Like massage therapy, Reiki can release the body's pent-up toxins into the bloodstream to be filtered by the liver and kidneys and removed from the system. At these times, people can briefly experience mild symptoms like headaches or weakness. These are good signs, meaning that the body is cleansing as part of the healing process. If symptoms occur, it is a good idea to drink more water, eat lighter meals and get more rest.

Becoming attuned to channel Reiki can also spark a cleansing process. In addition to stored toxins, the body and its energy field may release feelings and thought patterns that are no longer useful. Students often report an increased level of psychic ability and healing of personal problems after an attunement.