Reiki Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Helps

A Reiki practitioner uses gentle hand positions to channel healing energy during a session, illustrating the calming practice discussed in "Reiki Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Helps."

The purpose of this article is simple: to explain, educate, and hopefully inspire you to explore the positive benefits of Reiki. Reiki is a gentle yet powerful practice that anyone can experience. I’ve been on both sides — first as a client, and now as a practitioner — and I can say with certainty that Reiki has supported me in ways I never expected. My intention here is not to convince, but to open the door for you to see how Reiki might support your own healing journey.

What Is Reiki?

At its core, Reiki is a form of energy healing that supports the body, mind, and spirit. The word itself is Japanese: “Rei” meaning universal and “Ki” meaning life force energy. Put together, Reiki is often translated as “universal life energy.”

Unlike medication or physical therapy, Reiki doesn’t target a specific symptom. Instead, it works by restoring balance to your whole system. Stress, trauma, or even day-to-day worry can create stagnation — like a river that gets dammed up or blocked. When that flow of energy slows down, it can eventually show up as tension, illness, or emotional distress. Reiki helps restore that natural flow.

👉 If you’d like to learn more about this connection between the body and emotional health, you might also enjoy my blog on Holistic Healing: The Mind-Body Connection.

How Reiki Works

When a Reiki practitioner is trained, they learn how to serve as a channel for universal energy. Think of it less like “special powers” and more like an ability to connect, listen, and guide energy where it is needed most. During a session, the practitioner may place their hands lightly on or just above different points of the body — encouraging blocked energy to release and balance to return.

There is nothing mystical or frightening about Reiki. It isn’t a religion, and you don’t need to “believe” in anything for it to work. Many people simply describe it as a profound state of relaxation, peace, and inner reset.

👉 This is exactly what I offer in my Energy Reset Sessions, which are now primarily available online for clients nationwide. Energy is not bound by distance, and remote Reiki sessions are just as effective as in-person. For those local to southern Oregon, in-person sessions are available by request.

The Benefits of Reiki

So, how can Reiki help? People come to Reiki for many reasons, but the most common benefits reported include:

• Reduced stress and anxiety

• Relief from depression and emotional heaviness

• Improved sleep and relaxation

• Lower blood pressure

• Faster recovery from surgery, illness, or injury

• Reduced physical pain and tension

• Support for trauma recovery

• Greater emotional clarity and mindfulness

  
  

👉 For a deeper dive, I’ve written about how Reiki calms the nervous system, which explains one of the most powerful benefits clients experience.

Beyond the physical benefits, Reiki can also create a deeper sense of connection to yourself and, for many, a connection to the divine.

What to Expect in a Reiki Session

If you’ve never experienced Reiki before, you may be wondering what actually happens. Here’s what a typical session looks like:

• Conversation First – We begin by talking through what brings you to Reiki, your intentions, and any concerns you have. This is also the time to share allergies, sensitivities, or anything that might help me hold space for you.

• The Session – You’ll remain fully clothed and lie comfortably on a Reiki table (in-person) or rest in a quiet space (online). If you prefer, you may use a blanket for comfort. Depending on your needs and comfort level, I may gently place my hands on specific areas — such as your feet, abdomen, heart, shoulders, or head — or work just above the body if touch is triggering.

• The Flow – Reiki flows intuitively. I may spend more time in areas that need deeper attention. Each session is unique and unfolds in response to your body’s needs.

👉 Curious about the signs your body might be giving you? You may want to read Signs Your Nervous System Needs a Reset.

What Clients Experience

Every client’s Reiki experience is different. Some feel warmth, tingling, or waves of energy moving through the body. Others see colors, have visions, or receive intuitive messages. Many simply feel deeply calm, peaceful, and safe.

Often the most profound shifts happen in the days and weeks that follow — greater clarity, emotional release, or a sense of alignment that wasn’t there before. Nearly every client leaves feeling lighter, more balanced, and deeply relaxed.

👉 Some of these insights can even mirror what comes through during my Clarity Reading Sessions, where intuitive guidance helps you better understand your next steps.

Taking the Next Step

If you’ve been curious about Reiki, the best way to understand it is to experience it for yourself. Reiki is not about quick fixes — it’s about supporting your natural ability to heal, recover, and thrive.

I offer Reiki through my Energy Reset Sessions, which are available online for clients across the U.S. Distance Reiki allows me to hold space for you no matter where you live, and you’ll receive the same healing benefits as if you were in the room with me. For those in southern Oregon, in-person sessions are available upon request.

You are welcome to bring your questions, hesitations, or curiosities with you — this is a practice that meets you where you are.

Reiki helped me reconnect with myself, and I believe it has something meaningful to offer you, too. 🌿

How Distance Reiki Works (and Why It’s Just as Powerful Online)

One of the most common questions I hear is: “Does Reiki really work from a distance?” The answer is yes — and sometimes remote Reiki can feel even more powerful than in-person sessions.

The reason has to do with energy and connection. Reiki is not limited by physical space because energy is not bound by time or distance. Just as you can send a text message across the world in an instant, Reiki flows through intention, focus, and universal energy fields.

Even modern science gives us a way to understand this. Quantum physics shows that everything is energy and that particles can remain connected, even when separated by distance (a phenomenon known as “quantum entanglement”). Reiki practitioners harness this principle — focusing intention and energy to support healing no matter where the client is.

Many of my clients report that remote Reiki actually allows them to relax more deeply, since they’re in the comfort of their own home. Without travel or outside distractions, they often enter a calmer state — which helps the energy flow and integration process.

👉 This is why I now primarily offer Reiki through online Energy Reset Sessions. The experience is just as effective as in-person, and for some, it can feel even more impactful. For those in southern Oregon, I still offer in-person Reiki by request.