WHAT IS REIKI?
Have you ever been completely drained, then stepped outside into nature and felt instantly restored?
Or hugged someone you love, and suddenly everything felt possible again?
That surge of vitality isn't just physical;
it's an energetic renewal —
the same intelligent energy that Reiki practitioners work with.
So what exactly is this energy?
And what is Reiki?
It's a question many people wonder about — and the confusion is understandable, because the word "Reiki" is actually used in two different ways:
01
To describe the energy itself.
02
To describe the system, or practice that works with this energy.
Reiki as Energy
In Japanese, Ki simply means "energy" and Rei refers to the spiritual or sacred aspect of this energy — the unseen intelligence that animates and connects all of life.
As a whole, Reiki can be defined as "spiritual energy", though its true meaning can only be fully grasped as a felt experience.
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Reiki as a Practice
A different approach to energy work
This spiritual energy underlies all types of healing practices.
However, in the system of Reiki, it's approached in a unique way.
Unlike many forms of energy work that involve the practitioner actively giving, directing, or manipulating energy, Reiki is a passive practice of “non-doing”.
This non-doing approach is what makes Reiki so safe and sustainable — the practitioner isn’t using their own energy, so rather than feeling depleted, they too receive healing.
In a typical session, the practitioner simply enters a state of relaxed presence, places their hands on or above the receiver’s body, and allows Reiki to flow where it’s needed — dissolving pockets of stagnation and revitalising areas of depletion.
Although Reiki works on the subtle energy body, it touches every layer of our being, gently supporting whatever level of healing is needed in that moment.
The Heart of Reiki
While many people associate Reiki with treating others, that’s actually just one part of the practice.
Although Reiki is a beautiful gift that can be shared with others, at its heart it’s a path of self-practice — a holistic system that weaves together hands-on healing, meditation, and spiritual principles.
What emerges through practice is different for everyone…
Some people find it becomes their everyday tool for managing stress or physical discomfort.
Others discover it helps them understand themselves more deeply, express themselves more effectively, or navigate life with a greater sense of clarity and trust.
For many, it helps them feel more connected — to themselves, to others, to something bigger.
At its deepest level, Reiki guides us back to the essence of who we truly are — so we can live with greater awareness, authenticity, and a sense of purpose that comes from within.
