What is Reiki?

Reiki (ray-key) is an energy healing technique that allows a practitioner (Jessie) to act as a conduit to send healthy energy from an unlimited source to themselves or others. Basically like giving an energy infusion! From there, your body has extra resources to heal itself and help keep you going.

Reiki is an inherently balancing energy, so it can help energize you when you need it, and it can also help calm you if that’s what you need on a particular day.

For more on the history of Reiki, check out this article from reiki.org.

How does Reiki work?

Reiki is the Japanese word for ‘Universal Life Energy’ with Rei- meaning ‘Universal’ and -Ki meaning ‘Life Energy’ (the same as Qi or Chi). This energy is channeled from an unlimited source into your body through the hands of a practitioner. This energy is healthy, it is not taken from the practitioner herself, so it helps infuse the body with a surplus of “good” energy. It can be performed hands-on in person, or at a distance.

During a session, Jessie will place her hands in key positions along the body - from the head all the way to the feet - to send energy to those spots. These locations target all the major organs, glands, and chakras, but can be modified to address anything else the client wishes to focus on, so each session is truly personalized.

How does distant Reiki work?

The session will start off with a phone call to see what has been going on with your overall health lately, and what you’d like to focus on that day, which will help Jessie prioritize what may need the most attention. If it’s your first session, there will be a more intensive intake Q&A to help make sure all your needs are addressed. Then, rather than placing her hands directly on you as if you were in person, she’ll use a prop to act as your proxy.

You can choose to stay on the phone during the session in case you want to give any immediate feedback on what you may be experiencing, or you can simply lie back and relax for the duration of the session. Jessie will follow up with an email noting any observations, an affirmation card chosen specifically for the session, and will also check in the next day and see how you’re feeling. (Please note - not all the effects of Reiki will show up during the session, it will continue to unfold for a day or so afterwards.)

Is a distant treatment better for me?

The energetic benefits of a hands-on vs. a distant treatment by the same practitioner are exactly the same. However - distant treatments can offer easier access to those individuals who don’t live immediately near a practitioner, are unable to travel to appointments for any reason, have any conditions where touch can be painful or unpleasant, or for anyone who is not comfortable with physical contact but would still like the energetic nurturing Reiki provides.

So, you get the same benefits of an in-person session, but from the comfort of wherever you are!

Does Reiki replace other medical treatments?

No. Jessie is not a medical practitioner, and only works on an energetic level. You are encouraged to see your regular doctors and medical experts in tandem with your Reiki treatments.

Reiki is, however, a great supplemental treatment for anything else you may be already doing to better your health or to heal any injuries or illnesses. Remember, Reiki sends the body extra energy, which in turn can give an extra boost to the work being done by any medications, surgeries, or homeopathic remedies. You are encouraged to share about your Reiki treatments with your doctors in order to help monitor your progress, but it will not interfere with what you’re already doing.

Additionally, Reiki is great for preventative care and maintenance, so don’t wait until you’re unwell to book your session!

Is Reiki safe for everyone?

Yes! Everything and everyone is made up of energy, so Reiki is safe for adults, children, animals, plants, and anything else that may need a boost of energy. The energy that is channeled by the practitioner is only ever positive and healthy, and your body decides where it’s most needed and how to use it.

If you’ve had an adverse reaction to any type of energy healing in the past, Jessie will make sure to ease you into trying again with a shorter session. Everyone’s body responds to it differently, but Reiki is inherently safe for everyone.

Can I set up an appointment for my pet?

Absolutely! Sending Reiki to a pet is no different than sending to a human being, except that smaller animals will not require as much energy as a person. Schedule your initial consult, and Jessie will split it into multiple appointments for your house pet. For larger animals, like a horse, a full-length session will be required.

Please reach out to Jessie ahead of time with any questions. Or, if you just want to schedule, please note the kind of pet on the intake form, and Jessie will get back to you for additional info.

What can Reiki be used for?

Reiki is an inherently balancing energy, so it can be can be used in any situation where you need a boost or a bit of calm! Some people enjoy regular sessions to help regulate moods, sleep, and immunity, and others may need specific treatments for an illness or injury. Reiki can treat something that just happened, or something that has been ongoing. Jessie has sent Reiki to help with colds, migraines, a stubbed toe, blood pressure regulation, pre- and post-op after eye surgery, pre- and post-op after a canine ACL surgery, adrenal release after an accident to help prevent the trauma from being stored in the body, and even to help with grief after a loss.

There is no limit to what Reiki can be used for, but bear in mind that there is no guarantee of full relief or how long it may take to get there.

What does Reiki feel like?

This will depend on the person, but many people experience Reiki energy as heat or warmth, or cool or tingling sensations- and some simply experience Reiki as an overall soothing and calming experience, without a specific sensation. As the practitioner moves their hands around different placements on the body, you may feel the sensations more strongly in those spots. For example: if the practitioner has their hands on your knees, you may feel stronger sensations of warmth in your knees.

Some people fall asleep, and others notice releases during the treatments - things like crying, passing gas, urges to move your hands or legs, and other bodily sensations are totally normal as the energy moves through you. Tightness in the muscles or tension in the throat or lungs may begin to loosen during a session, but it also may be that you don’t realize they’ve changed or disappeared until afterwards.

For many, Reiki can feel uncomfortable as this old energy is released. Things like the aforementioned crying, passing gas, feeling hot or cold, etc. may feel like something is “wrong,” but are generally a sign that your body is taking care of itself by releasing old pressure.

That being said, there is no right or wrong way to experience Reiki. And you may even feel different sensations from one session to the next!

How many sessions will I need?

While there’s no way to know for sure how many sessions someone will need, the strongest indicator will be the reason for your visit. If you’re looking for a bit of relaxation during your week, or for an extra energy boost before a big presentation, one session may be enough for you. If you have a chronic condition, an illness or injury that’s been going on for weeks or months, you may require multiple sessions at the start to help build up your energy, and then regular sessions afterwards to help maintain those energy levels in your body.

Remember, if a problem has taken months to build, it can’t be alleviated overnight!

For pre- and post-op care, you would benefit from daily sessions on both ends of the surgery to make sure you’re as strong as you can be before you go in, and then have extra energy to heal afterwards. Additionally, Jessie will flush your adrenal glands so the stress of the surgery won’t get trapped and recorded in your body as a trauma.

I’d encourage anyone wondering how many sessions they might need to give Reiki a try first and see if you like it before worrying about next steps.

How often can I get Reiki treatments?

As often as every day! Receiving Reiki regularly means you’re infusing your system with healthy energy on a regular basis, which better helps to raise your energy reserves overall. The body will stop receiving Reiki when it’s had enough, so you don’t have to worry about receiving too much.

Most people enjoy a 75-minute weekly session to keep their energy balanced, with more frequent sessions closer together if something urgent is going on. (Like 2 in a row to help head off an illness or speed up healing from an injury.)

How long is a typical Reiki session?

An average session at Sweet Pea Wellness is 75 minutes, which includes the intake discussion as well as around 45-60 minutes of Reiki being delivered. For new clients, an initial session is 90 minutes to make sure there is ample time to discuss priorities as well as send the energy.

For chronic and ongoing medical issues, 2-hour sessions may be recommended or preferred.

Is the Reiki practitioner healing me with their energy?

No. The practitioner is just the conduit for channeling the Reiki energy into your body. They are not sending their own energy to you, but rather energy from an unlimited, healthy, universal source as they use both their intuition and your intake conversation to figure out where to send it. From there, your body is doing all the healing on its own.

Can Reiki make me sick/worse?

No. Reiki channels only good, positive, healthy energy into your body. That being said, when the energy moves through your body, you may feel “unpleasant” sensations as it clears away anything old. Things like feeling warmth, cold, tingling, or coughing, crying, passing gas, or having to go to the bathroom can be common results of a Reiki treatment that has successfully moved or cleared away old energy in your body with the new.

Can anyone do Reiki? How can I learn Reiki?

Yes! Anyone can learn Reiki, as long as they learn it from a Reiki Master Teacher who is able to provide them with attunements. Attunements are the rituals in which the ability to channel Reiki is passed along from the teacher to the student. From there, you’ll be able to give Reiki to yourselves or others. In fact, many people who learn Reiki do so in order to be able to give themselves Reiki treatments.

If you’re interested in learning for yourself, you can search for a Reiki Master near you. Make sure that whoever you choose feels good to you, and the class doesn’t sound too good to be true. (A class that promises “mastery” after 2 hours for $50 will probably not give you the same level of education or practice as a class that takes longer to complete or costs a bit more.)

If you’re interested in virtual classes, Jessie recommends her teacher Lourdes Gray at the John Harvey Gray Center for Reiki Healing. (https://www.learnreiki.org/) Lourdes also offers in-person classes in New Hampshire.

Do I need to believe in anything specific for Reiki to work?

No! Reiki does not require participation in any specific belief system or religion. No matter what you believe, or don’t believe, you will still be able to receive and benefit from Reiki. That being said, the more open you are to the idea that Reiki is working for you, the more likely you are to notice the ways in which it is working.

What happens if I don’t want Reiki?

If you do not want Reiki, the practitioner will not send it. Ethical Reiki is only sent when the adult client wants to receive it and has given their permission. By signing up for an appointment, and agreeing to the terms during checkout, it is assumed you are consenting to a treatment. But if someone else signs you up, you will still get to decide if you’d like to receive it or not.

Exceptions are made for parents who consent on behalf of their minor children, or sending in the case of an emergency to someone who may benefit from it but who cannot give their consent. Reiki can also be performed on animals, who will very clearly tell you when they want to receive it or not. (They tend to be more receptive when it’s at a distance.)