Reaching for Yourself with Reiki

By Deborah Dixon, Reiki Master Teacher (RMT) in Usui Tibetan Reiki.

Reiki brings a familiar image to mind of lying passively on a massage table and being lightly touched by a practitioner. For the Reiki practitioner, self-treatments are the foundation of the practice. A practitioner with a successful Reiki practice will generally have hands-on self for ten to sixty minutes or more daily. This practice allows the practitioner to increasingly experience a calm and alert state of peace and relaxation. Anxiety and rumination commonly cease during self-treatment. When our energy and focus return home to the body, it can be challenging to focus on the past or future. Reaching for ourselves and being actively involved with our physical being brings us into the present moment.

Though practicing Reiki requires an energetic initiation by a teacher, placing hands on your body can be done by anyone. When you sit with yourself and experience your soothing touch, the body becomes still, the breath follows, and then the mind. This simple expression of self-love is arm’s length away.

• Place one hand on the heart and another on the upper chest or the belly.
• Breathe easily and close your eyes if that is comfortable.
• Allow the hands to rest softly and occasionally focus your attention on the palms.
• Sit like this as long as you like and as long as you are comfortable.

Feel free to explore other hand positions. Allow your hands to find any area that they are drawn to. Don’t worry if you are uncomfortable and only stay with your hands down briefly. You can return to this time and time again. Your hands are always with you, extending from your heart space and ready to provide care.

Interested in Learning more about Reiki?

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About Deborah Dixon, Reiki Master Teacher (RMT) in Usui Tibetan Reiki.

Deborah is a Reiki Master Teacher practicing since 2006. She is also an aromatherapist, a certified MindBody therapy practitioner, and a 500 RYT yoga instructor with certifications that include Restorative, Yin, and Yoga for PTSD.