Someone asked my on a reiki training course the other day if giving reiki was like meditating and it got me thinking…maybe it is…
Meditation has hugely grown in popularity over the past few years as more and more us recognise the growing need and value of making it a part of our lifestyle and self care toolbox. It’s pretty firmly embedded in our culture now and is openly discussed and talking about in a wide range of circles, media etc and is now known to be an amazing health practice that is even recommended by medical professionals – eureka!
The benefits of relaxation, mindfulness, calmness, awareness and being grounded in the body are just some of the reasons why people turn to meditation. So, what about reiki? Well…the same effects are felt by the client or person receiving a session or treatment of reiki healing.
Passively receiving one session of Reiki can create equivalent results when compared to actively performing one meditation session. Another similarity between both practicing and receiving Reiki and meditation is that deeper, longer lasting shifts on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels come through regular sessions. So that means the benefits are felt not only for the person receiving the reiki energy but also for the person giving the treatment.
As a reiki practitioner one of the most important skills is the ability to enter into a meditative-like state of awareness, calmness and observing to allow the wonderful reiki energy to flow through the practitioner smoothly.
The practitioner does not direct the Reiki with their minds or force or control the flow but rather simply (but not always easy to do) allow the energy to direct the session.
It is very common the practitioner will describe feelings of expansion and oneness while giving a treatment. So all in all, I’d have to say…yes…reiki and meditation have many similarities, a similar effect but are of course different in approach and modality.
