Hi, it’s Karen here….I’m always happy to talk directly with you about any questions you have, but since we are all busy people here are some of the regular questions people ask…..if your question is not here, you want to know more, or just want to chat about your needs or concerns….give me a call on 0412562832…..I want to help you in anyway I can.
(Please scroll all the way down the page so you don’t miss anything juicy!)
Q. Where does Reiki come from?
A. Einstein said that everything is just energy in different forms. Reiki is a subtle healing, loving energy that is known as the Universal Life Force Energy. It comes from a higher source and if viewed psychically it comes from above entering the practitioner’s head, flows through their body, through their heart Chakra and out of their hands. It can also be beamed through their eyes. It is different from electrical, chemical or other kinds of physical energy. The true source is from our higher selves connected to the infinite supply of healing energy in the Universe, so it’s not our personal energy we are giving during treatment.
Q. Is Reiki a Religion?
A. Although Reiki energy is spiritual in nature, Reiki is not a religion, cult or organisation. Practitioners are not asked to change any religious or spiritual beliefs they may have and Reiki works for everyone regardless.
Q. How is a Reiki treatment given?
A. In a standard Reiki treatment, energy flows from the practitioner’s hands into the client, who is fully clothed throughout. The client is usually laying on a healing table but treatments can also be given while the client is seated, standing or from a distance. The practitioner places their hands on (or near) the client’s body, usually in a series of hand positions. These include positions around the head and shoulders, the chest and stomach, legs, arms, hands and feet. If required I also work on the back of my clients. Other, more specific positions, may also be used based on the clients specific needs. (Please note: I am always respectful of my client’s privacy and personal space, and would not use “hands on” positions over breasts or genitals ….if such treatment was ever required). Each position is usually held for three to ten minutes depending on how much Reiki the client needs at each position. The whole treatment usually lasts between 45 and 90 minutes. People who have regular Reiki Treatment with me may just need a 10-15 min top up session.
Q. What does a Reiki treatment feel like?
A. Experiences during a Reiki treatment vary from person to person. However, everyone seems to experience feelings of deep relaxation and calm. Many feel a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and surrounds them afterwards. As the Reiki energy encourages the letting go of all tension, anxiety, fear or other negative feelings a state of peace and well-being is experienced. Some people say they feel tingling or heat. In some circumstances clients can become emotional as they release negative feelings and pain. Some clients want to talk about things as they arise, but mostly the treatment is conducted with little or no talk. Some people can drift off to sleep, report floating outside their bodies, see colours/visions or have other mystical experiences. All of this is “normal”. At the end of the treatment, the client usually feels refreshed with a more positive, balanced outlook.
Q. What type of things can be treated with Reiki?
A. Reiki has been proven to have a positive, beneficial affect on all forms of illness and negative conditions. From minor things like head or stomach aches, bee stings, colds, flu, tension and anxiety through to serious illness such as heart disease, cancer or leukemia. The side effects of regular medical treatments can also been reduced or eliminated, such as the negative effects of chemotherapy, post operative pain and depression as well as improving the healing rate and reducing the stay in the hospital. Reiki can do no harm and always helps in some way. In some cases people have experienced complete healings which have been confirmed by medical tests before and after the Reiki treatments. However, while some have experienced miracles, they of course cannot be guaranteed. Stress reduction with some improvement in their physical and psychological condition are what most people experience. I view Reiki as a complementary therapy to, not replacement for, conventional medical and other treatments.
Q. Do I have to stop seeing a regular doctor or psychologist in order to receive a Reiki treatment?
A. No. Absolutely not. Reiki works in conjunction with regular medical or psychological treatment. If you have a medical or psychological condition, it is highly recommended that you see a qualified health care professional in addition to receiving Reiki treatments. Reiki energy works in harmony with all other forms of healing, including drugs, surgery, psychological care or any other method of alternative care and will improve the overall results. 
Q. Is Reiki a gift you’re born with or can it be learnt?
A. Reiki is a very simple technique to learn and you don’t need any prior experience with healing, meditation or any other kind of special training. It has been successfully learned by over four million people from all walks of life, young an old. It is not “taught” in the traditional sense, the ability to do Reiki is actually transferred from the teacher to the student through a process called an “attunement” that takes place during a Reiki course and MUST be done in person if you wish to be formally recognised and registered with governing bodies. As soon as you receive an attunement, you have the ability to do Reiki and after that whenever you place your hands on yourself or on another person with the intention of doing Reiki, the healing energy automatically begins flowing. There is of course study involved, and a Master would not attune a student without covering the relevant background studies.
Q. How long does it take to learn Reiki?
A. A beginning Reiki I class is usually two days long. Along with the initial Reiki attunements, it is necessary that the student be shown how to give treatments and practice giving treatments in class. Reiki I is for self healing and sharing with friends and family only. It is NOT a Reiki Practitioner qualification. Reiki II is another two day course with a special set of attunements and specialised Reiki Symbols, to become qualified as a Reiki Practitioner and treat the public. Reiki III is a special level of Master training. It is not to be entered lightly as this will give the Practitioner the ability to teach Reiki and conduct attainments, thereby passing on this gift. Most Reiki Masters will “hand pick” their students to become Masters, and therefore usually insist that the student has studied under their guidance at prior levels.
Q. What is a Reiki attunement?
A. A Reiki attunement is the process by which a person receives the ability to have Reiki flow through them and give treatment. The attunement is administered by the Reiki Master during the Reiki Course, the Reiki Master will touch the students head, shoulders, and hands and use one or more special breathing techniques. The attunement energies will flow through the Reiki Master and into the student. Although Reiki can be done through Distance Healing, it is not recommended that attunements be done in this way, in fact governing bodies do not recognised people who have had attunements done over the internet – so keep this in mind when choosing the right Reiki Master and Course for you. Because the energetic aspect of the attunement is guided by a higher source, it has its own wisdom and intelligence, so adjusts itself to be exactly right for each person as it makes adjustments to their energy pathways and connects them to the source of Reiki. During the attunement, some students feel warmth in the hands, others may see colours or have visions of spiritual beings. However, it is not necessary to have an inner experience for the attunement to have worked. Most people simply feel more relaxed.
Q. Can Reiki Practitioners treat themselves?
A. Yes, once you have received the attunements, you can treat yourself as well as others. This is one of the unique features of Reiki.
Q. Can you get more than one attunement?
A. Once you receive a Reiki attunement, it will last your whole life. However, if you get additional attunements for the same level, it will act to refine and strengthen your Reiki energy. I have received top up attainments regularly as part of a Reiki Share Group I attend with my Reiki Master.
Q. What is lineage?
A. Reiki is a technique that is passed on from teacher to student over and over, so everyone, who has been attuned to Reiki, becomes part of a succession of teachers leading back to the founder of the system of Reiki they are practicing. In the case of Usui Reiki, which I practice, the lineage would lead back to Sensei Mikao Usui. Some people get concerned about how close in line they are to Sensei Usui, this can be a bit of elitism. There is no place for ego in Reiki, in reality attunements connect you directly to the Universal Life Force Energy – so Reiki is no more or less powerful depending on lineage. What is important is that it leads back to Sensei Usui otherwise governing bodies will not recognise your qualification. This is because Reiki teaching has been tampered with along the way and there are now many forms of offshoots also calling themselves “Reiki”. So be careful that the person you choose to either treat or teach you is correctly qualified.
Q. I have heard that Reiki can be sent over distance to heal someone. How does this work?
A. Yes, in the Reiki II Course you are given three sacred and private Reiki symbols. Unfortunately, some people do not treat these with respect and dignity and have put then on the internet. These symbols are empowered by the Reiki II attunement and are useless to anyone who is not attuned, so it is very disrespectful. One of these symbols is for distant healing. By using a picture of the person, writing the person’s name on a piece of paper or simply by thinking of the person and activating the distant symbol, you can send Reiki to anyone no matter where they are. Often it is helpful to either use your own body, or a teddy bear to help you direct healing to a certain area or intensify the treatment. My Distance Bear is called Horatio. They could be hundreds of km away, it makes no difference, the Reiki energy will go to them and treat them. Reiki can also be sent to crisis situations or world leaders to help them, although a proviso for permission must be included in such cases, so if the person does not wish to receive the Reiki energy sent, it will go to the Earth and heal the Earth instead. Reiki cannot interfere with free will.
Q. How many levels are there to the Reiki training?
A. In the Usui system of Reiki there are really three levels. These include Reiki I (Self Healing) Reiki II (Practitioner), Advanced Reiki (Master Symbol – not all Masters want to teach) or Reiki Master (Teacher).I currently hold my Qualified Reiki Master/Teacher status and am registered with Reiki Australia as a Professional Reiki Practitioner and Master/Teacher. I am also registered with Reiki WA and the International Institute of Complimentary Therapies.
Q. What does it feel like to give a Reiki Treatment ?
A. Because the Reiki energy flows th
rough the practitioner before leaving their hands and flowing into the client, the practitioner actually also receives a Reiki treatment. As the Reiki energy flows through the practitioner, they feel more relaxed and uplifted. Spiritual experiences can take place and the practitioner sometimes receives insights about what the client needs to heal more deeply or is guided to different parts of the body to concentrate on. Reiki Practitioners are governed by a Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct for Reiki practice, and do not make specific medical diagnosis of their clients…. they just share the information they may receive and client’s decide what to do with the information. Sometimes this might involve other types of complimentary therapies to customise the treatment, for Practitioners offering alternative modalities, these should always be explained prior and consent given, or postponed until another treatment session. I go over all of this with my clients on their initial consultation, just in case!
Q. How do I find a Reiki Practitioner that is right for me?
A. Reiki Practitioners and Masters advertise in many magazines and also post notices at health food stores, new age bookstores, crystal shops and other community places. Reiki Australia also lists their members on their website.
Once you find a Reiki teacher or practitioner you are interested in receiving a treatment from, it is a good idea to ask them some important questions. Here are a few that will give you additional information to help to make a good choice for you:
- Why did you take up Reiki?
- How long have you been working with Reiki?
- What training and qualifications do you have?
- Were your attunements done in the physical presence of the Reiki Master?
- What type of Reiki do you practice?
- What is your lineage?
- How do you personally use Reiki?
- What are your fees?
- Do you work with other modalities as well as Reiki, eg Crystals, Sound, Colour, Psychic or Spiritual Healing, Shamanic Healing etc?
- Are your registered with Reiki Australia or other professional body?
- Do you operate under a recognised Code of Professional Conduct and Code of a Ethics?
- Do you have insurance for your Practice?
- Is your business properly registered and approved?
Be aware of how you feel about their answers, how professional they seem to be and if they are responding in a loving, supportive and empowering way. Listen to your heart and you will be guided to the right practitioner for you.
I personally believe people who come to me for treatment have been sent to me because I am the best fit for them…. I trust that I can offer exactly what they need or they wouldn’t have found me in the first place.
Q. Can children be treated or learn Reiki?
A. Yes, Reiki is safe for both the old and the young, even babies can be treated. Reiki can be taught to anyone but it is not too common for Children. The child needs be old enough to understand what Reiki is and the child themselves needs to request to receive Reiki training.
Q. Is it safe for pregnant women?
A. Since Reiki is guided by a higher source, the Reiki energy has its own wisdom and intelligence, so it will know the condition of the client and adjust appropriately. Reiki can do no harm, only good. Many pregnant women have received treatments with great benefit to them and their unborn child. Reiki has also been used during child birth. The International Centre for Reiki Training states that Pregnant women have also undertaken Reiki training and received the Reiki attunements with beneficial results. I used Reiki on my own daughter and at the birth of my newest grandchild. Little Piper received her first Reiki treatment in utero, and her first hands on treatment within minutes of birth. I also used Reiki to assist my daughter during labour and birth, as well as providing a safe and protected space for it to occur.
Q. What about babies?
A. Babies love Reiki. It is very healthy for them. Don’t worry about it being too strong or powerful for a little one, Reiki automatically adjusts to whatever the baby needs. Babies can even be treated in utero (see above).
Q. Can you treat animals or plants
A. Animals absolutely love Reiki. They seem to have an instinctive 
sense of what Reiki is and its benefits. Once a pet has received a Reiki treatment, they will often let you know that they want more. Plants also respond well to Reiki. My own dog, “Cebar”, and my Daughter’s elderly Chicken, “Chook Chook”, both actively seek me out…they are now Reiki addicts!
Q. Are there any side effects from a Reiki treatment?
A. Most of the time a client will feel relaxed and uplifted by a Reiki treatment. However, in a few cases, a client will have a bit of a “healing crisis”. As a person’s vibration goes up, toxins that have been stored in the body, often over many years, can release into the blood stream to be filtered by the liver and kidneys and finally removed from the system. It can also release emotional blockages. When this happens, sometimes a person can get a headache, stomach ache or feel weak and unwell. If this happens, it is a good idea to drink more water, eat lighter meals and get more rest. The body is cleansing as part of the healing process so this is actually a very good sign. At my first attunement I had to rush to the bathroom and throw up and was unwell for a few weeks with a cold! Thankfully this has not happened to anyone I’ve treated so far! But if it did…I know just how it feels!
Q. How much does a Reiki Treatment cost?
A. A Reiki treatment can usually cost between $70 and $200 depending on the location, the individual practitioner and the time involved. However, some practitioners offer treatments free of charge or for a donation – this is actually against the Principles of the Founder of Reiki, Sensei Miako Usui, who believed Reiki needs to have a value and clients need to take some responsibility for their healing – so a proper value must be placed on Reiki Treatment. That’s not to say I have never offered my services as a gift to those in real need, in exchange or as donations to the community, however generally a cost is applied for my services. All my prices are on this website under SERVICES.
Q. Does Health insurance cover Reiki treatments?
A. Reiki is a bit like some complimentary therapies such as Chiropractic was a number of years ago – just starting to be recognized by insurance companies. Whilst not many are currently covering Reiki treatments, I am told some are. Check with your local insurance company for details.
Q. Are there any scientific experiments that demonstrate Reiki works?
A. Yes, see the section on Reiki Research.