Reiki: a system for mindful connection with life energy for self-healing

Introducing Reiki

Rei Ki is Japanese for universal, or spiritually guided Life Energy.

Rei: universal, or spiritual (the essence that gives something spirit)
Ki: life energy.

So in the System of Reiki, we are specifically interested in the energy which gives something life. This can be described as ‘subtle energy’, and a Reiki practitioner can perceive the quality (vibration, flow) of this subtle energy — of thoughts, emotions, intelligence, will, personality — a living thing’s essential energy.

Natural life-force energy

Reiki is therefore two things:

  1. Rei ki is simply ‘life energy’, and

  2. And Reiki, is a System for learning and practicing becoming aware of life energy, and healing by connecting with personal and universal life energy.

We are part of the universal energy field, and, we have our own personal life energy, which leaves us feeling different depending if it’s resonating at a high or a low vibration.

Things like emotional state, mental wellbeing, environment pressures, relationships, stress and worry all change the vibration of our life energy.

Energy is every thing…

Every thing - whether living or not - is made of energy; every atom is energy. We can also perceive the energies of non-living things e.g. a place (genius loci), a rock, water…

Whether ‘connecting’ (more accurately, remembering that we are already connected!) with something living like a plant, animal or person, or with a place or a situation, a Reiki practitioner can change the energetic state of that living or non-living thing through their practices in raising vibration and flow.

To cite the famous quote attributed to Nikola Tesla:

"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."


So, being aware of and connecting with life energy is the most natural thing!

Noticing, connecting with, protecting and nurturing our life energy isn’t a weird, new idea, or a cultural belief or religion.

Animals, children, sensitive people do it ALL the time. We can connect with our life energy to support it to do this too.