When I looked up the definition of Energy Medicine on Google, this is what I found, “ A branch of alternative medicine based on a belief that practitioners can channel “healing energy” into a patient and effect positive results. As a practitioner, this definition feels very vague to me. I feel that Energy Medicine is a gray area for many people because it is not yet widely recognized as an integral part of a holistic wellness plan in the same way many other therapies are.
There are many modalities of Energy medicine out there to learn about, but in this series, I want to introduce the modalities I work with here in the clinic.
The first and most popular modality I’m going to introduce is REIKI:
The word Reiki means “mysterious atmosphere, miraculous sign.” It is a Japanese energy modality that involves the practitioner using gentle hand movements to guide the flow of healthy universal energy through the body. You might wonder what that means and why this would be important for you. To understand that, I should start by introducing the Chakra system. The basic Chakra system includes 7 points of spinning energy centers running along the head and spine that correspond to different organs and nerve bundles. The points are as follows :
Crown Chakra- Top of head- Knowing, Thought
Third Eye Chakra- Middle of forehead -Awareness, Intuition
Throat Chakra- Throat- Communication
Heart Chakra- Heart/Chest- Love, Acceptance, Compassion
Solar Plexus Chakra- Solar Plexus- Self Identity, Self Esteem, Ego
Sacral Chakra- Below Navel- Creativity, Sexuality
Root Chakra- Base of the spine- Stability, Security
To function correctly, they must remain open and unblocked. They are becoming "blocked, “resulting in emotional and sometimes physical imbalances. This is where Reiki comes in, clearing these energetic “blockages” while renewing and resetting energetic harmony throughout the body and the Chakra system.
Who Can Benefit From Reiki:
The answer is EVERYONE! Whether or not we are consciously aware of energetic imbalances in the body, everyone has them. This isn’t something that should cause alarm, though—being human means having all kinds of experiences that can affect us on multiple levels, especially the subtle energetic level. While Reiki is great for everyone to try, it is especially beneficial for people who are going through a rough time, feeling at a crossroads in life, struggling with anxiety/depression, and many other emotional disorders.
What a Session Looks Like:
I start every session by pulling a few oracle cards to connect with the patient's energy and open up a dialogue with Spirit. Oracle cards are a powerful tool that has a magical way of bringing forward points and messages at the forefront of one's mind so that we can work with/through them for the highest healing. Next, we will have a small discussion about the goals for the session. After that, I have the patient on the table as I seal the room with protective energies. On the table, as I start to fill the space with completed protective energy, I like to incorporate Shamanic drumming to begin breaking up stagnant energy that is immediately ready to be cleared. Finally, I start channeling the Reiki energy through the palms of my hands. It is common to feel warmth, tingling sensations, and cool air releasing as the power works through the body. I can tell when the healing is complete because I will start to feel the power diminish, or the body will tell me it has had enough. Afterward, we chat about the experience and the takeaway. Spirit loves to leave us with messages and lessons we can use in our daily lives. You can expect to feel lighter and calmer for the rest of your day!