Reiki Energy & Clearing
Energy is everywhere and in everything. We are all made up of energy. You are probably aware of the energy centres or chakras, energy channels (called meridians) and auras, the energy field around the body.
What is Energy?
Energy is everywhere and in everything. We are all made up of energy. You are probably aware of the energy centres or chakras, energy channels (called meridians) and auras, the energy field around the body. You may be in tune with your own energy and have felt the energy by rubbing your hands together and pulling them slightly apart; you may feel a tingling or a bounce between your hands. Try pulling them apart some more - what do you feel? Some people are very responsive to their energy and that of others, which can cause problems if they become too attached to all of this energy. Some feel the emotions given off by others - have you ever walked into a room and felt the energy was slightly off, or heavy? Maybe you have noticed that your energy appears cluttered, or stuck when you have been with particular people, in tricky situations or you've been traveling.
Your client’s may arrive to you with lots of chaotic energy - they may have been rushing to get to you, have had a busy day with work and family, or feel under pressure just to be there and ‘relax’. They will carry that chaos with them and, as you start to talk and work with them, your energies will interact; your energy fields will start to react with each other - just like they do with everyone you meet. Your aim is to keep your energy clear and to clear the energy from your client, so the healing energy can work where it needs to.
How do we use Energy in a Reiki treatment?
To allow the energy to flow, we set an intention for our client's highest good. We then allow the Reiki to flow. As practitioners, we do not want to force, direct or influence the direction of the Reiki; we need to let go of any attachments. We may think we know what is best for the client, but we allow the Reiki to bring balance to the client’s energy. We want the energy to move freely, removing any stagnation, blocks or excesses, all of which can cause emotional, physical, mental or spiritual issues within the body. If we try too hard, we can start to use our own energy and drain ourselves. Using our prescribed hand positions, we allow the energy to flow in through the chakras, directly over the organs and to clear the meridians, all of which will allow the body to heal.
How do we check, and clear, our client’s energy
You may notice your client’s energy when they first walk into the room; you may also pick up on their energy and how the client perceives their energy as you discuss why they have chosen to come to you, and as you complete the initial consultation. Listen to what they are saying and how they are speaking, notice how they are acting and tune in to their energy if you can. When they are ready and settled, and you have their consent, ensure they are comfortable before you begin and encourage them to slow, and deepen, their breathing. Once they seem settled and have closed their eyes, you can set your intention and then scan your client. Scanning will give you more information about your client’s energy and can inform your treatment. Starting at the head, steadily sweep down the body noticing any sensations you feel. Your hand should hover above the client, not touching. You can use one or two hands, but if you use both hands, you may not be able to recognise which hand is giving you feedback, so try with one to begin with.
So what might you notice? You may feel heat or cold, tingles, you may feel a ‘stickiness’, or a dip or an obstacle. You might not feel anything to begin with, but keep scanning as part of your treatment and relax your mind - don’t overthink it. If it feels as though there is too much energy in an area, sweep it away from your client, and away from you. Too much energy may feel, for example, ‘busy’, hot, or a pressure forcing your hand up, and you may also notice sensations within your body. Too little energy may feel cool or cold, a dip in the aura, or an area where it is difficult to move from. The more you scan, the more you will start to recognise the changes and what they mean. When you clear, or sweep away, the excess energy, always push it away from you, as you don’t want the client’s energy to mix in with yours. You can also imagine the excess energy dropping from your fingers into the ground, or you can ‘throw’ it towards a window or door to be released. Again, practise this and see what works for you.
Scanning and clearing should be quite a quick process. Remember, your client is getting settled and ready for their treatment; they don’t want to be distracted by wondering what you’re doing if you take too long. You can continue to scan, and clear throughout your treatment. For example, once you have completed treating the area around the head, you might scan just this area to ensure it is now clear. Although we usually start with the positions around the head, you might start by holding the feet and ‘pull’ the energy down through the body, to ground your client, particularly if the head area feels very ‘busy’. You can then return to the head and go through your positions as usual.
At the end of the treatment, complete a final scan to ensure the energy now feels clear. You could return to a particular area, or sweep again, if you feel drawn to do so. You can ‘fluff’ their aura as you have been working in it, and then seal in the healing by placing a beautiful Reiki bubble around your client. You would do all of this before thanking and switching off the Reiki and waking up your client.
Why do we need to clear the energy?
You can think of energy as water. When water flows freely it is clear, oxygenated and can support the plants, fish and animals that live in, or near, it. If water is still, it becomes dirty, stagnant and loses its oxygen so everything in it dies. Like water, the energy system in our body needs to continually move to stay healthy; if the energy stops it can cause all sorts of problems including pain, illness and disease. We want to keep our energy clear so that it can move freely within our energy system. The same is true for our client; we want to help clear their energy. Reiki will bring balance to the body and the process will be enhanced by clearing as part of the treatment. Clearing your client’s energy will create a clear space for you to work effectively and efficiently, which will benefit you both.
Why not try to incorporate some of these techniques in your treatments? If you need any support, or want to attend a future workshop to practise, please get in touch or explore our Events & Workshops.