Slightly quirky alternative therapy maybe, but a dose of Reiki will ease physical and emotional tensions and get you back in sync, says Elspeth Waters

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) has often been consigned to the realm of new-age hippy types – considered to be just a little too “out there” or “spiritual”, compared with the more tangible processes involved with, say, acupuncture or aromatherapy. However, as more and more people are going down the complementary route, Reiki seems to be gaining ground outside of the joss-sticking burning arena; and not only are some NHS doctors willing to suggest it, but I know of one who actually practices it himself.

I found Reiki or, rather, Reiki “found me” – as seems to be the popular parlance – nearly 10 years ago, when my darling mum, desperate to ease my GCSE-induced neurosis, tried to get me to sleep by laying her hands on me. At that time, no-one I knew had even heard of it and I was hugely sceptical that what basically amounted to little more than a hug, as far as I could tell, could achieve very much. Sleep-wise, it didn’t always work but it certainly helped to slow me down, physically and mentally, and when I started to develop chronic ailments such as sinusitis and poor digestion, the warmth emitted from her hands seemed to ease my discomfort. But, above all else, it made me feel incredibly loved and cared for and definitely strengthened the bond between us.

Two years down the line, I was still a fairly terrible stress-head so mum suggested I acquire the means to help myself, as it were. So, in the run up to my A-levels I became attuned to Reiki level I, through her Reiki master friend. I didn’t really talk about it much, but if friends were keen, I would gladly give them Reiki. Several of my boyfriends have shown surprising willing; I’ll never forget the shock of walking into my living room aged 17, to find my Rugby-buff boyfriend laid up on the sofa with my mum and her actor friend (a very leggy, rather cantankerous Scotsman and fellow Reiki enthusiast) with their hands on his groin, after a particularly grievous injury. It was hard to tell who was more mortified; I remember switching the TV on and trying to convince myself the situation was perfectly normal!

I used Reiki on and off over the next few years, mostly just lying in bed as a soothing way to drop off. Then last year, my health took a turn for the worse and I decided to explore alternative therapies in more depth – my particular complaint being viral in origin, there wasn’t much the conventional docs could prescribe except rest and abstention from alcohol and all things tasty.

I have found kinesiology (more on this to follow) particularly helpful and my kinesiologist, Rose-Marie Finlay who is also a Reiki master, often finishes off a session with a few minutes of Reiki, which leaves me feeling amazingly peaceful. When I told her my hands-on ability seemed to pale in comparison, she suggested I redo the level I attunement to see if I could boost my “powers” that way. So, two weeks ago I spent a weekend in Clapham South with Rose-Marie and four other women in their 20s and 30s, getting re-attuned, and learning about the origins of Reiki healing and how to give it to myself and others.

Reiki is a Japanese word, which translates as “universal life force energy”, from “rei”, meaning “universal” and “ki”, meaning energy, like the Chinese term “chi”. The idea behind it is that the giver isn’t actually doing the healing; rather, he or she submits to being a channel for energy to flow through to where it is needed by placing their hands on the body’s “chakras” or energy centres; and all that is required of them is to concede to this higher force, adopting what Rose-Marie calls “an attitude of gratitude”. As such, there’s nothing exclusive about it; you don’t need to be “gifted” in any way to be attuned – you just need an open mind…and heart, too.

There is a definite spiritual element to it, with talk of God and angels, at which my inner cynic really wants to balk. But, even if it’s only in an energetic sense, the idea that we are part of, or able to tap into, a greater power is strangely humbling and reassuring. The weekend ended up as something of an extended therapy session. We listened, we talked, we laughed, we cried – as only women can. Our situations may be quite different but the empathetic bond was immense, as was the uniting desire to help ourselves and our nearest and dearest with the gift of healing. Such was our connection that we are all planning to meet up for regular Reiki “share” sessions and hoping to take the Reiki level II course in a few months’ time, which aims to strengthen one’s ability to channel the energy and send it to people across time and distance (again, something my rational brain struggles with…but, just maybe…?)

Believing you can heal someone by touch alone unquestionably requires a leap of faith. But, even if it is purely psychosomatic, so what, if it works? And, if it doesn’t, I always reason that the act of giving someone your time and devoted attention is a pretty nice gift in itself. It is widely referred to as the energy of “love” and that seems pretty fitting to me. And you don’t need to be a sickly creature to feel the benefits; a totally non-invasive procedure, Reiki can help ease physical and emotional tensions, help you get back in sync when life throws you a bit more than you bargained for, or simply keep you in check so that all stays hunky-dory.

A brief history of Reiki, according to the oral tradition
Reiki was introduced in the early 20th century by a Japanese doctor, Mikao Usui. Influenced by Buddhist teaching, in the 1920s Usui became a Tendai Lay Priest and during a meditative retreat at a temple on Mt Kurami, believed he could feel a spiritual light entering his crown chakra, which developed into a healing power. Usui started a healing society and trained more than 2,000 people, including 16 teachers, before he died in 1926. One of Usui’s students, Chujiro Hayashi formed his own association and opened a clinic where he treated and later trained Hawaya Takata, a Japanese-American. In 1937, the pair returned to Takata’s native Hawai, where she established her own practice before expanding Reiki’s influence to America and the rest of the Western world.

For more information about Reiki, visit the Reiki Evolution website or contact Reiki master teacher Rose-Marie Finlay by emailing Rose-Marie@zen.co.uk or by calling 07766685785. Also check out Sunbeam Reiki in the marmaLADYa Marketplace.