Reiki Healing: How It Actually Works

Hi, All You Lovely People,

We often get asked about Reiki Healing at the shop, as we offer Reiki healing sessions and we also teach and attune people to it.

So, I thought I would offer up some info on here for anyone that has wondered about it or even thinking about becoming a practitioner.

In today’s fast-paced world, many people are turning to holistic healing methods to restore balance and well-being. Among them, Reiki stands out as a popular practice that often sparks curiosity—and skepticism. But what exactly is Reiki, and how does it actually work?

Let’s unpack the essence of Reiki healing, separating myth from mechanism, and looking at what both practitioners and science have to say.

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese energy healing technique developed in the early 20th century by Mikao Usui. The word “Reiki” comes from two Japanese words:

• Rei, meaning “universal,” and

• Ki, meaning “life energy.”

Reiki is based on the idea that life force energy flows through all living things. When this energy is low or blocked, we’re more likely to get sick or feel stressed. When it’s high and flowing freely, we’re more capable of being healthy and happy.

At its core, Reiki involves a certified practitioner placing their hands lightly on or just above the recipient’s body in a series of positions. The goal is to channel healing energy into the client’s body to support physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

The body, being more intelligent than we realise, knows exactly where this energy is needed.

1. Energy Transfer

The Reiki practitioner acts as a conduit for universal life energy. They don’t use their own energy, but rather tap into a universal source (often described in metaphysical terms) and allow it to flow into the recipient.

2. Balancing the Body’s Energy Centers

Reiki is often focused on the body’s seven major chakras—energy centers aligned along the spine. The idea is that blockages or imbalances in these chakras can manifest as illness or emotional distress. Reiki seeks to “unblock” or “rebalance” these areas.

3. Triggering the Relaxation Response

From a physiological perspective, Reiki may help the body shift into a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes. This is where Eastern tradition and Western biology meet.

What Does Science Say?

While research on energy healing techniques is still evolving, several small studies have suggested benefits like reduced anxiety, pain relief, and better sleep are evident.

However, we have now seen the practise of Reiki used in clinics and hospitals with some very positive results. Plus over the many years (27 to be precise!) of It being practised at the shop, we have seen some incredible results.

What a Reiki Session Feels Like

If you’ve never experienced Reiki before, here’s what to expect:

• You lie down, fully clothed, in a quiet setting.

• The practitioner may place their hands gently on or above different areas of your body.

• Most people describe sensations of warmth, tingling, or deep relaxation.

• Some feel emotional releases or insights; others simply feel like they took a really good nap.

Is Reiki Right for You?

Reiki isn’t a replacement for medical care, but many people use it as a complementary practice alongside traditional treatments. If you’re dealing with chronic stress, emotional tension, or just looking to reconnect with your body, Reiki could be worth exploring.

What are the Reiki Symbols All About and How are they used in a treatment?

Reiki symbols are sacred tools used by practitioners to enhance the flow of universal life force energy. Though invisible to the recipient, these symbols are believed to act like energetic “keys” that unlock deeper levels of healing, intention, and connection.

Reiki symbols are visual representations of specific energies or intentions used in Reiki healing. They are typically introduced during Reiki Level 2 training (and beyond), and are considered sacred—passed from master to student during an attunement.

I always find these symbols fascinating.

Imagine how many times they have been passed down and used all over the world, by probably billions of people over Millenia..

and used especially for healing with loving intension every time they are used!

Each symbol has its own frequency and purpose, and is activated by Mentally visualizing or drawing the symbol and saying the name of the symbol (silently or aloud)

Or Intentionally channeling its energy during a healing session

The Main Reiki Symbols & Their Functions

There are traditionally four primary Reiki symbols in the Usui system. Here’s what each one is believed to do:

I will not name or show them here, as Dr Usui was quite clear that they remain sacred and confidential until they are handed down from teacher to student.

Of course, with the coming of written literature and the media, they are to be found in many books and all over the internet.

But for me..

I will honour his wishes regardless.

I will just number them and explain the translated title.

1. (The Power Symbol)

Meaning: “Place the power of the universe here”

Function:

• Amplifies the flow of Reiki energy

• Clears negative energy from spaces, objects, or the aura

• Used at the beginning of a session to “power on” the healing

Think of it as a light switch or energy booster.

2. (The Emotional/Mental Healing Symbol)

Meaning: “God and man become one”

Function:

• Balances emotions and mental patterns

• Helps release trauma, anxiety, and subconscious blocks

• Used for emotional clarity, stress relief, and habit breaking

This is your go-to symbol for inner healing and emotional harmony.

3. (The Distance Healing Symbol)

Meaning: “No past, no present, no future”

Function:

• Sends Reiki energy across time and space

• Allows healing of past trauma or future worries

• Enables remote healing sessions

Perfect for sending energy to someone (or something) not physically present

4. (The Master Symbol)

Meaning: “Great shining light” or “Enlightenment”

Function:

• Used in Reiki Level 3 (Master level)

• Connects to higher consciousness and spiritual healing

• Amplifies all other symbols

This is the symbol of awakening, transformation, and spiritual guidance.

How Do These Symbols “Work”?

From a metaphysical perspective, Reiki symbols work by:

• Focusing intention: Like a mantra, the symbol channels your attention and energy.

• Activating specific frequencies: Each symbol represents a certain vibrational energy, which the practitioner “tunes into.”

• Reinforcing the practitioner’s connection: They serve as a gateway to deeper levels of Reiki consciousness.

From a psychological or energetic view, they may:

• Prime the brain for healing

• Set clear energetic boundaries

• Trigger subconscious healing through focused intention

  
  

Even if you’re skeptical of their spiritual origins, symbols are powerful archetypes that influence the mind-body connection. I also feel that esoteric symbols work deeply into the unconscious mind and help us connect with our true nature and lead us to higher states of awareness and alignment.

Do You Need to Be “Attuned” to Use Reiki Symbols?

Yes. In traditional Reiki, you must receive an attunement from a Reiki Master to fully access and use the symbols. This isn’t just a formality—it’s considered a sacred energetic initiation that connects you to the lineage of Reiki energy.

After attunement, practitioners report feeling an enhanced ability to work with energy, more intuitive sensitivity, and a stronger connection to the symbols themselves.

Reiki Symbols as Tools for Intention and Healing

Reiki symbols aren’t magic spells—they’re tools for focused intention, energy alignment, and spiritual connection. Whether you see them as sacred codes, energetic frequencies, or simply visual mantras, they can deepen your healing practice in powerful ways.

If you’re exploring Reiki for personal or professional growth, learning about and working with these symbols can open up an entirely new dimension of energetic healing.

Final Thoughts

Reiki remains one of those practices that defies easy explanation. While science hasn’t fully decoded its mechanisms, its effects are real for many who try it. Whether it’s energy, mindfulness, or the healing power of human connection, Reiki offers a gentle, non-invasive path toward greater balance.

It is more than just a healing technique—it’s a practice of tuning into your body’s natural rhythms, restoring balance, and reconnecting with your inner self. Whether you’re new to holistic healing or a seasoned wellness enthusiast, Reiki offers a gentle, powerful way to realign your mind, body.

I hope that this info has helped you to understand Reiki a little better.

We offer Reiki healing sessions at the shop by appointment with Ann our Reiki Master. She also teaches Reiki groups regularly.

If you are interested in booking a session or learning. Please call us at the shop on 01923 852522

Love and Blessings

Dana ♥