“They are no ordinary hands, so must have a connection with some kind of power.”
– Hawayo Takata
When Hawayo Takata received her first Reiki treatment in 1936 at Dr. Hayashi’s clinic in Tokyo, she experienced so much heat coming from her practitioners’ hands that she thought they must be hiding some sort of electrical device up their sleeves.
She grabbed the arm of the man working on her right side, trying to locate the device. When she explained that she was looking for the machine making the heat and vibrations, the practitioners laughed and shook their sleeves to show they were gadget-free.
As the practitioners worked on Hawayo, gently placing their hands on her body, she found that they somehow knew where she was experiencing pain, and what her illness was.
Afterwards, she quizzed Dr. Hayashi about his strange, drugless clinic. Why were their hands so hot? They were “no ordinary hands” and they were getting “messages” from her body about her pain.
Dr. Hayashi explained that she had experienced universal life force – which they called Reiki – and that he and his practitioners had learned to connect with this limitless energy, which flowed through their hands.
Takata had been referred to Dr. Hayashi’s clinic with abdominal pain from a tumour and gallstones. She had been minutes away from surgery when she had the intuitive message to ask the surgeon if he knew of an alternative. He did!
After many months of daily Reiki treatment, Takata made a full recovery. She became Dr. Hayashi’s apprentice, learning how to contact this limitless energy herself and working diligently in his clinic and also making house-calls.
After a year had passed, she took her knowledge home with her to Hawaii and, with her teacher’s blessing, established the first Reiki clinic outside Japan.
“Reiki is, increasingly, being incorporated into modern medicine because of one compelling reason: It works.”
– Larry Dossey, M.D.
My Reiki Story
Like Hawayo Takata, I too found Reiki when my body was sick. However, unlike Takata, my illness proved to be an enigma for my doctors – an undiagnosable, untreatable mystery.
I was sick, yes, but not one of the many doctors I saw could tell me what condition I had, nor were any of their numerous treatments the slightest bit successful. After over two years of constant medical appointments, medications, and surgery, I was turned away as a hopeless case and told to just get used to my sick body.
But I desperately wanted to be well again, and I decided that if the doctors couldn’t help me I’d just have to go it alone and find my own cure. So, having exhausted all that modern science could offer, I (reluctantly) went looking for alternatives to restore my wellbeing.
I experimented with several alternatives before I came across Reiki – a method for connecting with what the Japanese called universal life force.
I became a student, and, after diligent self-practice, I became well again – the first time in several years.
Not only did I become well again, I actually became more vibrant than I had ever been. My life started shifting in positive ways. I lost weight, changed careers, released toxic relationships, became more outgoing – I even became a black belt! In this way, Reiki is truly a holistic practice; it works on the whole person – mind, body, and spirit.
People who knew me when I was sick and struggling couldn’t believe the difference in me. Now I spend my life sharing this simple yet profound practice.
Related Articles:
Michael’s Healing Story
Hawayo’s Prayer
The Wellness Formula: Three Things Sick People Have in Common
So what is Reiki, exactly?
Reiki is the Japanese name for universal life force: the energy of all things. Practitioners use Reiki for self-treatment, and the treatment of others, to increase the flow of this energy in and around the body, which has many helpful benefits.
“My name is Margaret F. I received distance Reiki last night from Louise. I suffer from chronic depression and occasional insomnia. I had just been four nights not sleeping. During this session I fell asleep and most amazing, I stayed asleep for the night! Thank you so much, Louise! I recommend everyone to receive her Reiki!”
Margaret F.
What happens during a Reiki treatment?
There are two methods for receiving a Reiki treatment: the in-person method and the distant method. Both are effective.
- An in-person Reiki treatment involves lying fully clothed on a treatment table whilst a practitioner lays their hands on, or slightly above, the body in various positions from head, torso, legs and feet. Reiki flows through the hands of the practitioner and is drawn in by the recipient where it is needed.
- The distant Reiki treatment method involves the practitioner “sending” Reiki across a distance – where practitioner and recipient are in separate locations.
Related Articles:
What happens during a distant Reiki session
“My hour-long session [with Louise] was extremely peaceful. It felt like cozying up with a warm blanket and sipping soothing tea. My whole body felt at ease and I could feel the Reiki energy flow and it was just as powerful as getting a hands-on treatment.”
– C Y, Westford, MA
What will I experience?
Like Takata, many people report feeling heat or pulsations coming from their practitioner’s hands. Other people report feeling deep relaxation and peacefulness.
At the end of a treatment – whether in-person or distant – people often report a sense of overall well-being, calmness, or feeling light and happy. Often people feel like they’ve just woken up from a very deep and peaceful slumber.
Regular treatments produce a variety of beneficial results such as physical well-being, emotional well-being, heightened intuition, and spiritual growth. Benefits can be experienced after one treatment, and the most benefit comes with regular repetition, just like anything in life.
Although many people experience physical benefits from Reiki, it is not to be used as a substitute for medical care, but rather to enhance the care you are already receiving.
“This was a very pleasant and interesting experience for me. After a few minutes, I fell into a sort of a meditative state, relaxed but still aware. I definitely felt affected by something other than me. The most significant sensation I felt was something like breaking through higher and deeper plateaus of relaxation. I especially felt a deep relaxation around my head and throat area. After an hour, I got up feeling very light and energetic.”
M.T.
Reiki FAQs
Is there any scientific evidence to support the benefits of Reiki?
Yes! I have collated several scientific findings here.
How long have you been practising Reiki?
I first learned Reiki in 2001 and became a Reiki Master Teacher in 2003.
Are there any prerequisites for receiving Reiki?
No 🙂
Are there any restrictions for receiving Reiki?
There are no restrictions. People of all ages, backgrounds, and belief systems can benefit from Reiki.
Where can I learn more about Reiki?
My favourite book on the subject is Reiki: Hawayo Takata’s Story by Helen J. Haberly.
How much do you charge for a Reiki session?
Distance Reiki appointments are by donation only. I currently do not offer in-person appointments.
“As I sit here typing away, and after two distance Reiki treatments in twenty-four hours time, I report a complete range of motion restored to my left knee, with no pain associated with movement of it. The swelling in the knee joint appears to be totally gone, as well. The rest of my body feels very good, too – at least better than the feeling of bodies that most sixty-year-olds have.”
Michael, NY
Experience the benefits of Reiki
I love helping people change their lives and heal through the use of energy. One of the ways I do that is by offering distant Reiki sessions. I choose to work with Reiki at a distance so I can assist people beyond my geographic location, and I have found it works just as well as in-person sessions. You can read more about what distant Reiki sessions are like here.
If you would like to book a distant Reiki appointment, please contact me using the link below.
