What is Reiki?
The Reiki healing system was founded in Japan in the early 20th century by Mikao Usui. Pronounced ‘ray-key’, it means universal life energy in Japanese and it is believed this energy flows through all living things and a therapist can channel and balance this energy by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the your body and restore physical and emotional well-being.
One of the aims of Reiki is to restore balance to and open the energy centres in the body which are known as chakras. There are believed to be seven main chakras: crown, brow/third eye, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral/navel, root/base chakras. In addition, there are more than twenty minor chakras.
A Client’s Reiki Experience
With views of open fields and big skies, Paula’s treatment room is in a tranquil setting which immediately brings a sense of calm. The room has a warm and relaxing atmosphere with gentle soothing music in the background, soft lighting and a Himalayan salt lamp and it smelled gorgeous with the subtle fragrance of frankincense and cedarwood essential oils.
Paula then explained in detail about what would happen during my session. There are times when she may touch you, for example, the head and feet, but at other times her hands are a few inches above your body, and she may spend more time around areas where she senses an imbalance.
I lay fully clothed and face up on the treatment bed with a blanket covering me. The blanket is optional, however I personally found it comforting and it helped me to relax. The treatment began with Paula holding her pendulum above areas of my body to gauge what was happening with my chakras. The pendulum then swings from side to side if there is an imbalance or spins when it detects energy.
Paula’s pendulum is made of moonstone and has a small purple amethyst ball that she holds at the end of the chain and is very sacred to her. When somebody selects a pendulum, they are usually drawn to a particular stone, however, Paula couldn’t decide between three stones until the moonstone suddenly dropped in front of her and the decision was made for her!
Eyes closed, the next part of the session began with Paula holding my head in her hands (her hands felt warm and soothing) and she asked me to think of a white light and a time or place where I had felt content. I then found myself drifting into a more relaxed state. I was aware of Paula’s presence but at times was unsure of whereabout she was in relation to my body.
There were a couple times during the treatment when I experienced some quite profound feelings. At one point I spontaneously shed tears - not sobbing, but gentle tears that trickled down my face. I also had the most intense feeling that literally felt like I was full to bursting of love for my two children. The other sensation I had was in the chest area which at one point felt very heavy almost as if I were being squeezed or sat on – not unpleasant but something I was aware of. I also saw various colours fading in and out. As the session progressed, Paula laid her hands on my knees and then finally finished by holding my feet in her hands (still warm!).
Finally, I lay there in a dreamlike state until I was awoken by the sound of a Tibetan bell.
Following the session, which lasts about 45 minutes, Paula then asked me about my experience and what she had sensed as well.
I am so pleased I had the opportunity to have a treatment and especially with Paula who is so kind, caring and knowledgeable.
Everyone’s experience of Reiki will be unique, but it is something I would highly recommend trying. I intend to have further treatments with Paula in the future and am especially looking forward to the Reflexology/Reiki combination!
Karen K, Norwich
How I found Reiki
During my reflexology training in 2017, I started sensing subtle signs of energy when giving treatments and some of my clients could also feel something too. Intuitively, that was when my Reiki path began, and when I realised I could channel this energy to support clients on a mind, body and spirit level.
Paula Holmes
Usui Reiki Master Teacher Member
Full member of the UK Reiki Federation
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