^{Crystals on man’s body showing what makes Reiki different | Photo by Arina Krasnikova}

What is Reiki, and how does it work?

In addition to counseling and pharmacotherapeutic approaches, contemporary healing modalities recently adopted techniques rooted in Eastern philosophies. One of them is Reiki—an energy healing modality.

Reiki is a traditional therapy rooted in Buddhist and Eastern traditions. In Japanese origin, it is translated as “universal life energy.”

This article will discuss what makes Reiki different and compare traditional energy healing vs Reiki.

Reiki as a Contemporary Healing Approach

In both formal and informal settings, therapeutic interventions are constantly evolving. Healing approaches today are not limited to counseling, medications, and invasive techniques. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as Reiki, are now slowly integrated into conventional healing modalities.

Traditional Reiki Hand Positions

The hands of the practitioner can guide the life force energy of the Reiki recipient to enhance specific health aspects by positioning the hands on a target area of the body.

1. Top of the head

The practitioner places the hands on the crown to stimulate brain function and enhance cognitive abilities.

• Forehead and Eyes

Placing the hands lightly on the forehead and cupping the eyes promotes relaxation and clarity.

• Sides of the Neck

When the hands are placed in these areas, it encourages a healthy flow of energy that can potentially enhance thyroid function and improve communication skills.

Depending on the practitioner, Reiki hand positions may have slight differences. Some may choose to hover their hands over the body, others choose direct contact, while some depend on client comfort. Overall, these hand movements bring potential health benefits to the recipient.

Crystals

Some practitioners incorporate crystals to amplify the healing energy. Quartz, amethyst, or any specific crystals are placed on or around the recipient during sessions.

Tuning Forks

Depending on the preferences of the practitioner and client comfort, tuning forks may be used instead of or alongside other sound healing instruments, such as singing bowls. The use of these instruments is to promote relaxation and alignment of the body’s energy centers.

Please note that these are just a few of the many hand placements and tools that Reiki practitioners use.

Tuning Forks

Depending on the preferences of the practitioner and client comfort, tuning forks may be used instead of or alongside other sound healing instruments, such as singing bowls. The use of these instruments is to promote relaxation and alignment of the body’s energy centers.

Please note that these are just a few of the many hand placements, symbols, and tools that practitioners use.

Comparison with Other Modalities: What Makes Reiki Different

Aside from Reiki, integrated contemporary health approaches also include other modalities, such as:

• Pranic Healing
• Qigong
• Therapeutic Touch

Pranic Healing

As a no-touch energy healing system, Pranic Healing focuses on cleansing and energizing the body’s energy field or aura. The goal is to promote physical and emotional well-being by removing stagnant or “dirty” energy. Upon removing those stagnant energies, Pranic Healing accelerates the body’s natural healing process.

What makes Reiki different from Pranic Healing?

Pranic Healing is completely hands-off. Reiki involves gentle hand placements on or off the body. Pranic Healing aims to clear “dirty” energies.

Overall, Reiki focuses on channeling and balancing energy in a calm, meditative way. On the other hand, Pranic Healing focuses on removing unwanted energy and energy manipulation. With the use of symbols, it is uniquely spiritual.

Qigong

 Combining breath control, movement, and meditation, this traditional Chinese healing approach cultivates and balances “qi” or life energy within the practitioner’s body.

What makes Reiki different from Qigong?

In Reiki, the practitioner channels universal life energy to the recipient, i.e., through light touch or hand placement. Therefore, the practitioner serves as a conduit for the energy. This is where Qigong and Reiki vary on some levels.

Reiki can be used for self or others’ healing. Qigong is performed as a self-energy-healing practice.

Therapeutic Touch

Therapeutic Touch (TT) involves the practitioner influencing the recipient’s energy field without physically touching the body. Significantly, the practitioners use their hands to sense and manipulate the energy field. The goal of this healing modality is to clear blockages, reduce stress, and promote healing.

What makes Reiki different from Therapeutic Touch?

The primary difference between the two is the hands-on approach of Reiki and the hands-off method of Therapeutic Touch. Another thing is the incorporation of symbolic and spiritual elements. Reiki uses those elements along with intuitive action which is also the cornerstone of Therapeutic Touch, while Therapeutic Touch relies on intuitive energy work.