What Happens During a Reiki Healing Session?

Key Takeaways

1. What happens during a Reiki session?
During a Reiki session, the practitioner channels universal life force energy through their hands to balance your body’s chakras and restore emotional and physical harmony.

2. What does Reiki feel like?
You may feel warmth, tingling, deep relaxation, or emotional release as energy flows and restores balance in your body and mind.

3. Do you touch during Reiki?
Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive therapy. Practitioners may use light touch or hover their hands above the body’s energy centers.

4. What happens after Reiki?
Post-session, clients often report peace, mental clarity, emotional release, or temporary tiredness as the body integrates the healing energy.

5. Is Reiki safe for everyone?
Yes. Reiki is gentle, natural, and suitable for all ages and conditions when performed by a certified Reiki practitioner.

1. What Happens During a Reiki Healing Session?

A Reiki healing session involves the transfer of universal life force energy from the practitioner to the client to promote natural healing and balance.

During your first session, the Reiki practitioner begins with a brief consultation to understand your goals — whether stress relief, emotional balance, or physical comfort. You’ll then lie fully clothed on a massage table or recliner in a quiet, comfortable space. The session typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes.

At Spiritual Reiki Healing, sessions begin with intention-setting and grounding techniques to establish a safe energetic environment. Reiki is based on the principle that vital energy flows through all living beings, and when that energy is blocked or depleted, imbalance and illness occur.

2. How Does the Reiki Healing Process Begin?

A Reiki session begins with energetic attunement and preparation. The practitioner centers themselves through meditation or breathwork to become a clear conduit for Ki — the Japanese term for life force energy.

Environment setup:

• Soft, ambient music or nature sounds

• Dim lighting and aromatherapy (lavender, sandalwood)

• Use of crystals or sacred symbols for energetic alignment

Practitioners should explain every step beforehand, ensuring you feel at ease before the session begins.

3. What Happens When Reiki Energy Is Activated?

When Reiki energy is activated, the practitioner channels universal energy through their palms into the client’s energy field.

This process is known as attunement — aligning with the higher frequency of healing energy. Reiki energy naturally flows to where it is most needed, guided by both intention and the body’s intelligence.

Scientific frameworks describe this as influencing the biofield, a measurable electromagnetic energy field surrounding the body. Research from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) suggests Reiki may help reduce anxiety, pain, and fatigue by triggering the body’s relaxation response.

How to activate Reiki energy:
Through Reiki attunement and mindfulness. Certified practitioners use sacred symbols and focus their awareness to channel healing energy efficiently.

4. What Do You Feel During a Reiki Healing Session?

Most people feel deep relaxation during Reiki — as though entering a meditative state. Physical sensations may include warmth, tingling, gentle pulsations, or waves of energy.

Table 1: Physical vs Emotional Sensations During Reiki

Some clients cry or laugh softly — a natural release of pent-up emotions. Falling asleep is common; your body continues to absorb energy even while resting.

Why do I cry after Reiki?
Tears often represent emotional detoxification. As blockages dissolve, emotions long suppressed find safe expression.

What if I fall asleep during Reiki?
Reiki energy continues to flow. Sleep simply means your body is deeply relaxed and receptive.

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5. What Are the Stages of a Reiki Session (Step-by-Step)?

Here’s what typically happens during a Reiki session from start to finish:

1. Consultation & Intention Setting – The practitioner discusses your needs and goals.

2. Centering Meditation – Both practitioner and client relax into the session’s energy.

3. Energy Scanning (Byosen Reikan) – The practitioner senses areas of imbalance in your aura.

4. Hand Placements – Reiki energy is directed through specific areas such as:

   • Head and crown (mental clarity)

   • Heart and chest (emotional balance)

   • Abdomen (grounding and vitality)

   • Legs and feet (stability and integration)

5. Chakra Balancing – The practitioner focuses on energy flow through the seven chakras.

6. Closing the Session – The energy field is sealed for integration.

Are you touched during Reiki?
Only lightly, if at all. Reiki is non-invasive, and touch is used only with consent.

Do you wear clothes during Reiki?
Yes, Reiki is done fully clothed. Comfort and modesty are maintained throughout.

6. How Reiki Balances Chakras and Emotions

Reiki energy moves through the seven major chakras, clearing stagnation and restoring alignment.

Blocked energy in chakras can manifest as anxiety, fatigue, or irritability. For instance:

• Root Chakra: Grounding issues or insecurity

• Heart Chakra: Emotional pain or grief

• Third Eye Chakra: Overthinking or lack of intuition

Energy flows freely again, you may feel lighter and more centered.

For a deeper understanding, see our Complete Chakra Healing Guide.

7. What Happens After Reiki Healing?

After a session, it’s common to feel deep calm, clarity, or mild fatigue. Some people experience emotional release or vivid dreams as energy continues integrating.

What if you don’t drink water after Reiki?
Hydration is essential — Reiki enhances detoxification, and water supports energy flow and cleansing.

Aftercare Tips:

• Drink water and rest for a few hours

• Avoid heavy meals or stimulants immediately after

• Journal insights or emotions that arise

• Ground yourself with nature or gentle stretching

Your body may take 24–48 hours to stabilize after deep energetic work.

8. How Does Reiki Work Scientifically and Spiritually?

Reiki bridges science and spirituality.

From a scientific perspective, Reiki activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering heart rate and cortisol levels. Studies from PubMed show measurable relaxation effects in Reiki recipients.

Spiritually, Reiki is guided by universal consciousness — often described as “Divine Life Force.” It operates beyond belief systems, responding to the body’s natural capacity to heal.

Is Reiki positive or negative?
Reiki is inherently positive — it is pure energy that adapts to the recipient’s needs, never causing harm.

9. What Are the Risks or Precautions in Reiki Healing?

Reiki is considered extremely safe. There are no known harmful side effects, though emotional or physical detox symptoms (such as mild fatigue or mood release) can occur temporarily.

Precautions:

• Inform your practitioner of major health conditions.

• Seek medical attention for serious symptoms — Reiki complements but doesn’t replace healthcare.

• Choose a certified practitioner with proper ethics and training.

10. How to Prepare for Your First Reiki Session

Preparation enhances your Reiki experience.

What to do before first Reiki:

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

• Eat light and stay hydrated.

• Set an intention for what you’d like to release or receive.

• Arrive with an open mind and heart.

What should I wear to a Reiki session?
Comfortable, breathable clothing that allows relaxation. Avoid heavy jewelry or restrictive attire.

11. Can You Do Reiki at Home or On Yourself?

Yes — Reiki self-healing is a valuable practice for daily balance.

How to do Reiki at home:

1. Find a quiet space and sit comfortably.

2. Place hands gently over your heart, head, or abdomen.

3. Breathe deeply and visualize white light flowing through your palms.

4. End with gratitude and grounding.

To practice safely and effectively, training and attunement are essential.

12. How Do You Know Reiki Is Working?

You may notice subtle or profound signs:

• Feeling lighter, calmer, or more centered

• Physical symptoms easing gradually

• Emotional clarity or release

• Better sleep and focus

How do you know if someone is doing Reiki on you?
You might sense warmth, pressure, or tingling in specific areas. Energy awareness heightens with regular practice.

13. Why Is Reiki Considered Powerful Yet Gentle?

Reiki’s power lies in its intelligence — it flows where healing is needed without force.

Unlike physical manipulation therapies, Reiki works on subtle levels, promoting harmony through resonance rather than pressure. This makes it both powerful and deeply gentle.

Why Reiki is powerful:

• It aligns mind, body, and spirit simultaneously.

• It works through quantum-level vibration and intention.

• It promotes deep relaxation, aiding the body’s innate healing mechanisms.

14. Who Can Benefit Most from Reiki?

Reiki benefits everyone seeking holistic balance.

Common beneficiaries include:

• Those with anxiety, depression, or stress

• People in chronic pain or fatigue

• Pregnant women seeking calm energy

• Children and seniors needing gentle healing

• Professionals seeking emotional clarity and focus

Reiki complements medical care beautifully. Studies from Harvard Health Publishing highlight its benefits for stress reduction and emotional regulation.

15. Final Thoughts: Experiencing Reiki as Energy Harmony

Reiki is a journey of reconnection — a return to the body’s natural rhythm and peace.
The practitioner should simply facilitates what your body already knows how to do: heal itself. Whether you’re new to Reiki or exploring deeper training, remember — Reiki isn’t about belief; it’s about experience. The moment you open yourself to receive, healing begins. With this article we hope you got to know what happens during a reiki healing session