Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reiki?
What is a Reiki treatment and how does that differ from a Reiki attunement?
What does a typical treatment consist of?
What does a treatment feel like?
What is sound healing?
What is a soul retrieval?
How long does a treatment last?
Who can benefit from a Reiki treatment?
What do I wear for a treatment?
How often should I receive a Reiki treatment?
How do I find a Reiki practitioner that is right for me?
Do I need to have a specific healing intention for a treatment?
What do you charge?
How do I make an appointment?
What is Reiki?
Reiki is most commonly described as a Japanese stress-reduction and relaxation technique that also promotes healing. Reiki is translated as universal or spiritually guided life force energy. Reiki itself is not aligned with any specific spiritual path or religion. I have found in my work that it is a set of life tools that is easily incorporated into any believe structure.
What is a Reiki treatment and how does that differ from a Reiki attunement?
A Reiki treatment is a type of energy work that can help bring healing on a physical, emotional, mental or spiritual level. The client lies on a massage table; however, there is no massaging during a Reiki treatment (some practitioners are also Licensed Massage Therapists at which point they can offer a combined treatment). In a treatment, I use Reiki to work with your energy system to align you with whatever your intention is by removing stagnant or unuseful energy in your system, removing energetic blocks to achieving your goals and strengthening your own energy.
A Reiki attunement is the process one goes through as part of learning Reiki. In a Reiki attunement, you are connected directly with the energy. The attunement opens up your energy channels to the energy frequencies of Reiki and activates your hands so that you can access the energies directly and have it flow out through your hands in order to treat yourself and others. There are different levels of attunements, each providing more connection with Reiki (see services for a description of the basic Reiki workshops that include attunements).
What does a typical treatment consist of?
Each practitioner communicates with the Reiki energy in a different way; however generally speaking this is how a treatment works: The client states their healing intention. The practitioner calls in the energy and "scans" the clients body/energy field to feel for places where there is a block in the energy flow or where more energy is needed. The practitioner then gently places their hands on the client in a specific set of hand positions. [Note: A Reiki treatment does not require physical touch, if you are not comfortable with that. You can receive just as much benefit from a treatment where the practitioner is working in your aura field (a few inches to a few feet from your body) or even from a greater distance!]
Each treatment is different because different healing is needed each time. Sometimes I incorporate sound (singing, chanting, toning, rattling, etc.) I have a very playful approach to Reiki and to spirituality and follow the guidance and direction that Reiki gives me during a treatment.
What does a treatment feel like?
"A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through you and surrounds you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit and creates many beneficial effects including relaxation and feelings of peace, security, and well-being. Many have reported miraculous results. Reiki is a simple, natural, and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use." (from www.reiki.org)
Many people fall asleep during a session or go into a deep meditative state. The energy itself is most often felt as a light heat or a tingling sensation.
As I mentioned above, I often incorporate sound healing techniques. Each instrument I use has a different vibration and each intention we work with has a different vibration. Often those vibrations can be directly felt by the client as they flow throughout the body.
For more information on Reiki see:
www.reiki.org
Everything has a vibration, our words, thoughts, tissue, organs, bones, etc. Sound healing involves the basic principle that sound can be a carrier of intention. Because sound itself does not need to flow through the brain's language translators, it is a fast and direct way of "re-programming" the body with a new intention, "re-membering" your body's own unique vibration, realigning your body's vibration to match the intentions of what you want to manifest in your life,and/or releasing energy (injuries) that no longer serve you.
For more information on sound healing, see:
http://www.soundhealersassociation.org
http://www.tomkenyon.com
http://healingmusic.org/default.asp
I the summer of 2007, I completed the 5 day intensive Soul Retrieval training
(through the Foundation For Shamanic Studies) with Sandra Ingerman in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
If you are interested in receiving this type of healing please contact me.
A typical soul retrieval session lasts about three hours.
For more information on Soul Retrievals, see Sandra Ingerman's web site:
http://www.shamanicteachers.com/soulretrieval.html
for photos/results info see:
http://www.shamanicteachers.com/photosresults.html
How long does a treatment last?
Typically, my sessions last one and a half to two hours. However, I am respectful of your time availability and can customize the length of a treatment for you.
Who can benefit from a Reiki treatment?
Anyone can benefit from a Reiki treatment. You can use Reiki to help you through specific problems, empower specific goals, or you can use it as a form of relaxation and personal or spiritual renewal.
What do I wear for a treatment?
Wear comfortable clothing. You are fully clothed for a Reiki treatment.
How often should I receive a Reiki treatment?
I recommend following your inner guidance. You know yourself, your personal care practices and your budget better than anyone else. For myself, I have a regular rhythm of self care practices that include receiving a treatment from another Reiki practitioner at least once a month. I do recommend that when going through a particularly difficult or challenging situation, that you receive more frequent treatments.
How do I find a Reiki practitioner that is right for me?
Since Reiki is a spiritually guided life force energy, I believe that once you set the intention of receiving a reiki treatment or attunement, you will be guided to a practitioner (or teacher) that is right for you. Each practitioner has their own unique approach/style. I recommend you go to someone you feel comfortable around.
Do I need to have a specific healing intention for a treatment?
It depends on the practitioner you go to. Some will ask you for an intention at the beginning of a session. Others will simply begin the healing work focusing on what is in your highest good.
When I give a treatment, I always ask the client for an intention. I invite them to say it out loud or to simply hold it in their hearts. I believe that it is beneficial, and a part of the healing process, to be aware of and ask for the healing you want to receive. Having said that, sometimes just saying "I'm stuck, I don't know what I need, but I need help" or even "fill me with love" is a great intention.
Figuring out your intention is not something you should worry about. This is a healing practice and should not evoke stress in your life! There have been many times where I've made an appointment for myself to have a Reiki treatment with a specific intention in mind and also many times where I didn't know what the intention was going to be until I showed up.
What do you charge?
My requested offering for services is $65 per hour (add an additional $10 if you would like to recieve a recording of the session). A sliding scale is available for those in need.
How do I make an appointment?
If you feel called to me as a practitioner, feel free to contact me for an appointment. It would be an honor to assist you on your healing path, in empowering your goals and intentions and in bringing more divine love, joy and laughter into your life!
