Article by Justine Melton
I am a traditionally trained Usui Reiki Master/Teacher. I was trained as I believe almost all other Reiki Practitioners are to perform Reiki on a client who is laying on a Reiki Table or sitting in a chair. For some reason this just did not call to me. I felt that if it is all about healing a client in an alternative way through Life Force Energy why not do it where the client is most comfortable? Or better yet why not incorporate the wonderful grounding properties of the Earth? I struggled with this issue for awhile thinking that others would think that I was just “out there” and not following Dr. Usui’s methods. I do self reiki daily and always do it in bed or laying outside on the ground so that I am directly touching the Earth. This is clearly not a traditional way of performing a session! Although I used this practice for myself I had yet to use it with clients.
One day I had a neighbor call me and ask me if she could have a Reiki Session ASAP. She had fallen off a horse and had a lot of back pain. She was in distress and didn’t know what else to do. Right away I felt called to perform this session with her laying on the ground and felt that my guides were insisting I do so. I thought this is crazy! How am I going to suggest and furthermore convince a woman in extreme back pain that I feel her Reiki Session would really be best performed with her laying on the ground? I decided to keep this to myself and just head over to perform a typical session.
Once there and ready to start I guided her to have a seat outdoors on a bench. I thought this was a good compromise with her pain and with what I was being called to do with starting to perform sessions outside on the ground. About 5 min into the client’s session the client apologized and said, “you know I don’t know why but I feel like I should have Reiki while laying on the ground.” After the session was over the client reported that as soon as she laid down on the ground she felt her whole body relax and her back pain being pulled directly into the Earth. I found this very interesting as when I was doing a scan of her body before the session my hands were being pulled to her lower back like magnets. It actually took force to remove my hands from her lower back area. At this point I threw up my hands and said, “ok, you win! I will start offering sessions this way and share why I believe there can be extra benefits involved. “
Performing a Reiki Session on a client who is directly laying on the earth can truly create a few extra benefits. Laying on the Earth grounds your entire body and can be especially helpful when trying to help those with anxiety, stress, post traumatic stress disorder, imbalances and inflammation. It naturally adds an extra healing element that can really add to the Reiki Healing Session. In some cases it helps the client more freely get into a deeply relaxed and meditative state. This is especially true for those that feel more relaxed in the outdoors than inside a small indoor space. I happily use this method in my own practice now and actually use it more than I do a traditional Reiki table.
I am lucky enough to live in a mountain range in between two state parks. Holding sessions outside and some with clients laying on the earth is something that is very easy for me to do. However, I realize it is not so easy for everyone especially those that live in the middle of a big city and/or have a health issue that would not allow them to lay on the ground. I would suggest trying Reiki on yourself or a client in a backyard, park, at a beach, etc and see if you notice any special benefits for yourself or your clients. You may be happily surprised with how simple and effective this type of alternative session can prove to be.
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Justine Melton is a Reiki Master/Teacher and an Intuitive Counselor. Reiki came into her life and changed it in amazing ways. It is her passion now to bring Reiki to others and help them to heal in a holistic way. Justine is lucky enough to be an Empath, Clairaudient, Clairsentient, and Clairvoyant. She is able to use these gifts with Reiki if asked to give extra messages during a session for the client’s highest good.
I love giving myself Reiki outside on the ground. I don’t have this option where I live in the winter, but I still often do it on the floor, where I’m closer to the grounding Earth energies. It truly is awesome!
Hi Angie. I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one that does this!:) P.S. I enjoy reading your articles!
I have used numerous outdoor locations including a a nearby beach and my woods.i love it so calming.
Hi Justin,
Love your article. Thanks a lot for sharing such wonderful information. Just need one clarification, while conducting reiki session on ground, do one need to lie directly on the ground or spreading a mat or a carpet is fine?