REIKI (PRONOUNCED ‘RAY-KEY’) is a healing art and spiritual practice founded in Japan by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. By placing hands over the body to share the life-force energy that flows through everything, we use Reiki to heal, reduce stress and increase relaxation.
In Japanese, rei means ‘spirit’ or ‘soul’ and ki means ‘the energy of the universe. The combined word can be translated as ‘universal energy’ and also describes the practice of healing with energy. Reiki is more than a complementary therapy for our body, mind, and soul. It can also take us on a journey to inner peace, connects us to all other beings and the universe, and opens a door to our true potential.
Reiki can heal by sharing universal energy to sustain and harmonize the energy field that surrounds every single one of us. Anyone can practice Reiki, although you will need to receive training and attunements from a Reiki Master teacher, who will share universal energy with you as part of the Level-1 training. There are three levels of training to be undertaken in the Reiki system, with five elements – my book (see right) outlines the basics through practical self-care exercises.
The spiritual practice of Reiki is often described as heaven and earth energy coming together in our hearts, unifying our mind, body, and spirit. The more we practice it, the more we embody oneness, compassion, and kindness. Each soul that connects with the process of Reiki is a star that shares its energy and light throughout the universe. When you heal yourself, you help others too.
We can spend hours in front of the mirror scrutinizing every pore and perceived flaw, but we seldom look beyond this. Our skin, on a deeper level, serves as a barrier between our internal and external realms. It’s both public and intensely personal at the same time. This is why skincare makes for a great spiritual practice when applied the right way. This skin allows us to experience the universe around us, to touch and be touched in return. It’s a vehicle through which we can connect with other people, both physically and emotionally.
Skincare is no different from the way we communicate our thoughts and feelings to others, except that this time it’s directed at ourselves. In essence, skincare is to the body what meditation is to the mind: a method of slowing down and tuning in so as to be more mindful of one’s surroundings.
I began to see that while lotions and procedures can externally heal the skin, they do nothing to address feelings of not being adequate, shame, or endless comparison. So, I took a step back to shift my attention away from how the skin appears on the outside and toward what it reveals about our inner life. To evaluate the impact of spiritual tools like reiki, meditation, and so on our emotions while we’re in those skins.
Reiki For your skin
Reiki is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us, and that’s what gives us life. If one’s life force energy is low, we’re more likely to get sick or feel stressed; if it’s high, then we’re better able to feel healthy and happy. It can revitalize your skin in two ways. Reiki has a direct impact on the top layers of the skin. Reiki indirectly aids your health by boosting your general well-being. This is why you can expect immediate and long-lasting benefits from it.
Reiki can improve the appearance of your skin in several ways. For one thing, it will make you feel better about yourself and this alone can greatly enhance your beauty. You’ll also notice that your skin looks more radiant, healthier, happier, and younger when you’re feeling good about how you look. This is because stress makes us age faster; both by causing fine lines and wrinkles to form around the eyes and mouth plus by making our hair grayer faster than normal (not to mention triggering acne).
But Reiki goes beyond simply eradicating stress. Its all-natural approach makes it safe for everyone – even pregnant women – to use on their skin every day. And there are no harmful side effects associated with its use. Plus, it is a great way to encourage a positive inner beauty image while banishing the problems of aging and dry, wrinkled skin.
Reiki Treatment
The Reiki healer transmits the energy into the skin of the patient. This transfer of energy enhances the efficacy of natural ingredients found in skincare products to repair damaged skin. The raw materials, such as essential oils, organic botanicals, and crystals, become positively charged. Because these beneficial substances are now able to function on the skin completely, it is restored quicker and deeper.
During the treatment you may feel a gentle warmth. Some people may experience muscle relaxation during this time, which is similar to the effects of a spa or massage treatment. Others feel an increase in their overall energy levels and mental clarity after a Reiki skin care treatment. The skin also feels soft and smooth, as if it has been polished from the inside out.
Unlike some holistic therapies where essential oils are used to create energetic pathways between healer and patient, Reiki practitioners believe they are facilitating the body’s own innate healing ability rather than doing something proactive themselves. Reiki symbols are believed to act as triggers, allowing blocked energies to flow freely through the body and releasing toxins that have collected in the surrounding tissue.
Reiki skincare treatments integrate different modalities of holistic healing techniques including acupressure, shiatsu massage, reflexology, crystal therapy, and aromatherapy. Combining these activities into a single session allows time for each person to experience their full effects while spending less time with an individual practitioner. This can be especially helpful for those interested in learning more about Reiki who do not live near established practitioners or who would like to receive treatment one-on-one but cannot afford or find local private sessions.
DIY Reiki Skin Care
As the outer layer and largest organ of the body, our skin often reveals how we feel deep inside. By creating a mindful relationship with our skin, we can accept how we look and feel in the present moment. Use this Reiki-infused ritual to share kindness with your face and body.
BENEFITS: Helps you connect to your skin in the present moment; sends love and compassion to your skin.
PREPARATION: In a quiet place, close your eyes and put your hands in ‘gassho?’ (hands together at the middle of your chest, covering your heart, as shown left). Breathe slowly, focus on your middle fingertips touching, until you sense Reiki flowing into your hands. Take deep, slow breaths into your ‘hara’ (your body’s physical core and main energy source, in your lower abdomen).
1 Visualise yourself as the sun rises, sitting near a clear stream. Imagine rubbing wet earth into your skin, let it dry, then gently wash it away. Feel a warm glow inside and around you. Notice and accept any feelings that arise.
2 Bring your hands to your face and share Reiki, still visualizing this freeing, warm space. When ready, bring your hands down to your heart space. Take a slow breath and feel deep gratitude for your skin in the present moment.
3 When you are ready, open your eyes and say three times, ‘I am beautiful and I am enough’. Put your hands in gassho?. End by thanking Reiki.
Sometimes people experience heat during a reiki session, which can turn into steam on your skin. This does not mean there is something wrong with the air conditioner; rather it means that the process of metaphysical cleansing has begun and toxins are leaving your body through your pores (if you’ve had smelly feet, for instance, they might suddenly smell like oranges). This skincare treatment here helps to facilitate this process of releasing toxins from the skin and mind. After a reiki treatment, you should feel relaxed and energized. If you feel tired or exhausted, it is likely that you didn’t receive complete reiki healing after the treatment.
How you see yourself and feel about yourself is important. You can do a lot of things to change your exterior but the real work begins within. Your body image, or how you feel about your body, is created by what you tell yourself.
Many people will read this and think that’s icky and they don’t want to talk about it. They might even not like the idea of discussing the ‘spiritual side’ with a personal trainer or certified nutritionist because it goes into a deeper level than some groups may consider a taboo topic.
However, inner healing is extremely important when looking at overall health and feelings towards food, activity, etc. My spiritual skincare experience has been great overall, I feel a difference internally in regards to how I see myself and externally when I see myself.