A Reiki practitioner places his or her hands lightly on the recipients’ body, or may not even touch the person at all.  A treatment is typically relaxing; though if the practitioner tries to direct the flow of Reiki energy or impose his/her will on the client, the treatment may become uncomfortable.  For example, I once had an experience of receiving Reiki during which I felt the practitioner’s hands become increasingly heavy on my forehead.  The pressure became unbearable, and I asked her to remove her hands and tell me what was happening for her.  It turns out she was mentally yelling at me.  At the time I was in a disastrous relationship.  This woman was about the age of a grandmother, and was feeling protective of me.  As she was treating me, she was mentally saying to me: you deserve better, get out of that relationship, what are you doing, etc…. This may have been good advice, but not appropriate for the treatment table.

In general, it doesn’t feel good to have another impose their will upon you.  Here’s a simple experiment you can try if you’d like, which offers the opportunity to experience how we affect one another.  You will need a partner for this.  Ask your partner if you may place a hand on their arm/back/shoulder/leg, and ask your partner to close their eyes.  With your hand on your partner, send them a mental message.  Start with something negative, maybe that you don’t like them, they aren’t worthy, or multiple negative messages.  Spend 15-30 seconds this way.  Then remove your hand and ask your partner how they feel, what they experienced.  Then repeat placing your hand on your partner and asking them to close their eyes.  This time send positive, loving, affirming messages for 15-30 seconds.  Again, remove your hand, have your partner open their eyes and share their experience.  Repeat this experiment one last time, this time keep the message neutral.  Perhaps simply focus on your breath as you have your hand placed on your partner.  Compare and discuss the differences that your partner felt with each message received.  Then change roles.

We absolutely affect one another at all times.  Reiki is a healing modality, and also a method of spiritual development which assists us in becoming a clear channel.  The clearer we become, the less we bring our own agendas into our relationships.  The less we bring our own agendas into relationships, the more relaxed we can be with one another, the more we can just BE.

~Lisa McNett

*Interested in learning Reiki?  Lisa McNett is now accepting students for Reiki Level 1, 2 & 3.  Call (352) 870-2218 for details.