Reiki Awareness Month!
This month we will be focusing on promoting and educating the community about the subtle work of Reiki (Ray-kee). I will try to keep these posts simple and focused, and with the vastness of the topic of energy work it helps to define things as solidly as human language allows.
First up: What is “Reiki” exactly? What is “energy work”? Are they the same thing? The way I like to think about these two often synonymous terms is that “energy work” is the umbrella of subtle healing practices, while “Reiki” is a rung of that umbrella; a specific tradition coming from Japan and developed in the late 1800’s by Mikao Usui. Over the decades, the traditions have migrated and transformed for various reasons; and now there are many types, or “lineages” of Reiki one can be attuned. I will be focusing on Usui Reiki method from here on, as that is the lineage I have been attuned to.
“Reiki” is a Japanese word which essentially translates to “Highest Cosmic Energy”, where Rei- refers to the highest frequency, and -ki refers to the concept of chi, or prana, or life energy; Reiki therefore is the source energy that binds all life together. Another way to think of reiki is that anyone can do reiki with a small “r”. It's an innate human reflex that literally everyone has access to, as when you place your hand on a small child's skinned knee to offer comfort. Reiki with a capital “R” is a specific frequency to which someone has been attuned.
Think of the attunements as a series of dials on an AM/FM radio. As we turn the dial, or tune the reception of the radio, the song or message is more clearly understood and perceived. With each level of the attunement process, the song becomes clearer, louder, and stronger of a signal. Now take this concept and apply it to the human body, physical and non-physical combined. With each attunement, one’s aura is being dialed in to the higher cosmic frequencies of the universe, and the “signal” becomes stronger, clearer, and louder for the attuned.
If this is sparking any interest to learn more about Reiki and subtle healing modalities, please feel free to ask one of us at the clinic. We will be holding an attunement weekend on March 19th and 20th, so if that interests you, please feel free to sign up! Stay tuned for more info about Reiki and energy work this month!
With much love,
Your friendly neighborhood Reiki Master,
Josh
First up: What is “Reiki” exactly? What is “energy work”? Are they the same thing? The way I like to think about these two often synonymous terms is that “energy work” is the umbrella of subtle healing practices, while “Reiki” is a rung of that umbrella; a specific tradition coming from Japan and developed in the late 1800’s by Mikao Usui. Over the decades, the traditions have migrated and transformed for various reasons; and now there are many types, or “lineages” of Reiki one can be attuned. I will be focusing on Usui Reiki method from here on, as that is the lineage I have been attuned to.
“Reiki” is a Japanese word which essentially translates to “Highest Cosmic Energy”, where Rei- refers to the highest frequency, and -ki refers to the concept of chi, or prana, or life energy; Reiki therefore is the source energy that binds all life together. Another way to think of reiki is that anyone can do reiki with a small “r”. It's an innate human reflex that literally everyone has access to, as when you place your hand on a small child's skinned knee to offer comfort. Reiki with a capital “R” is a specific frequency to which someone has been attuned.
Think of the attunements as a series of dials on an AM/FM radio. As we turn the dial, or tune the reception of the radio, the song or message is more clearly understood and perceived. With each level of the attunement process, the song becomes clearer, louder, and stronger of a signal. Now take this concept and apply it to the human body, physical and non-physical combined. With each attunement, one’s aura is being dialed in to the higher cosmic frequencies of the universe, and the “signal” becomes stronger, clearer, and louder for the attuned.
If this is sparking any interest to learn more about Reiki and subtle healing modalities, please feel free to ask one of us at the clinic. We will be holding an attunement weekend on March 19th and 20th, so if that interests you, please feel free to sign up! Stay tuned for more info about Reiki and energy work this month!
With much love,
Your friendly neighborhood Reiki Master,
Josh
My Journey Into Reiki
Josh Leary, LMT, CRP
My Journey into Reiki
I first started seeking Reiki sessions in 2013 after a series of life altering events hit me, seemingly, all at once. I graduated college, lost a friend to his battle with mental illness, and was working a job that was misaligned with my soul. Essentially, I was a young man, dealing with internal struggles and a slew of crossroads moments. All these stressors led me to seek some kind of therapeutic care with a holistic approach and I decided to try Reiki.
The first few sessions were interesting. I had spent most of my life with my walls up and mask on to hide my authentic self from the world. To be in a vulnerable position with a new person was uncomfortable and it took me a few sessions to be able to fully relax and enjoy the experience. A few sessions into my first round of Reiki sessions, I noticed I was physically feeling the energy and experiencing a deep relaxation. What I was feeling was my physical body releasing blocked Ki (energy) in my system. It felt as if I stood in a doorway for a minute with my arms pressed against either edge of the frame, then to step out and have my arms raise above my head. That sensation exactly, without the physical movement of my arms.
After that session I started noticing many positive shifts happening in my life. In areas where I was too rigid or not having enough energy, I found myself being more flexible and feeling more positive and energetic. These changes inspired me to take Reiki training and I was soon attuned to levels 1 and 2 of Reiki. This experience led me to pursue massage school after which I moved to Colorado to pursue my career as a licensed Massage Therapist.
Reiki energy always goes to the highest good and supports the most benevolent outcome. My experiences absolutely set my life on a positive track and helped me open to remembering my connection with Spirit. It gave me a new, positive framework from which to view life, the human body, and what we are all here to do with this life. It is my passion to share Reiki with others and to support people in their healing journey.
I first started seeking Reiki sessions in 2013 after a series of life altering events hit me, seemingly, all at once. I graduated college, lost a friend to his battle with mental illness, and was working a job that was misaligned with my soul. Essentially, I was a young man, dealing with internal struggles and a slew of crossroads moments. All these stressors led me to seek some kind of therapeutic care with a holistic approach and I decided to try Reiki.
The first few sessions were interesting. I had spent most of my life with my walls up and mask on to hide my authentic self from the world. To be in a vulnerable position with a new person was uncomfortable and it took me a few sessions to be able to fully relax and enjoy the experience. A few sessions into my first round of Reiki sessions, I noticed I was physically feeling the energy and experiencing a deep relaxation. What I was feeling was my physical body releasing blocked Ki (energy) in my system. It felt as if I stood in a doorway for a minute with my arms pressed against either edge of the frame, then to step out and have my arms raise above my head. That sensation exactly, without the physical movement of my arms.
After that session I started noticing many positive shifts happening in my life. In areas where I was too rigid or not having enough energy, I found myself being more flexible and feeling more positive and energetic. These changes inspired me to take Reiki training and I was soon attuned to levels 1 and 2 of Reiki. This experience led me to pursue massage school after which I moved to Colorado to pursue my career as a licensed Massage Therapist.
Reiki energy always goes to the highest good and supports the most benevolent outcome. My experiences absolutely set my life on a positive track and helped me open to remembering my connection with Spirit. It gave me a new, positive framework from which to view life, the human body, and what we are all here to do with this life. It is my passion to share Reiki with others and to support people in their healing journey.
