Reiki for the Skeptical Client

Article by Deborah Lloyd, Reiki Master

Often, people ask me if Reiki works for clients who are totally opposed to the whole idea of Reiki, or those who are skeptical. With a smile on my face, I reply I cannot answer the question about those who are totally opposed, as they would never give me the opportunity to give them Reiki! As for the skeptics, yes, it certainly works. I love it when a good skeptic says, “I don’t know if I believe in it, but I’m willing to give it a try. What do I have to lose?” In fact, that skeptic is just like me, fourteen years ago. So, I can relate to those feelings very well.

If you look at the whole concept of Reiki rationally, there are many aspects that do not make logical sense, especially in our world of scientific, western-medicine thinking. No pills to take, no expensive equipment to buy, no educational degree needed. A short, inexpensive class, and one can claim to access energetic healing energies? Let’s be honest, it can be hard to believe….

…..until you experience Reiki for the first time. A true believer in alternative energy healing modalities – and a skeptic – will have similar experiences of that first session. Both will feel calmer and more relaxed. Both will experience some relief of the symptoms that brought them to the session. Both will experience the warm touch and compassion of the practitioner. Both will know something unique happened, something they had never experienced before that moment.

Being a skeptic is actually a positive quality, not a negative one. The skeptics are the ones who have gone online, looked up Reiki, read books, articles and reviews. They did their homework and have intelligent, thoughtful questions. They may have looked into other alternative energy healing modalities and decided Reiki was the one they would try.

The true believer, on the other hand, may, or may not, have been so diligent. Perhaps, they did not go through the process of discernment, but rather took someone’s word for it. That is not necessarily a negative thing, but some people can be too trusting or gullible, in not investigating various modalities. If they did not do the homework to learn about Reiki, they are probably not making mindful choices in other aspects of their lives either.

If someone approaches you with lots of skepticism and many questions about Reiki, he is helping you to become a better Reiki practitioner. As you become more articulate in the expression of your own thoughts, and in the way you answer questions, you become a stronger and more confident practitioner. Today’s skeptic will not be your last, and your ability to address the many positive aspects of Reiki has improved.

Embrace the skeptic! He may just become your most faithful client, your best Reiki student, or the strongest word-of-mouth advocate ever. Be thankful for the learning opportunities he has brought into your life.

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Deborah Lloyd is a Usui and Karuna Reiki® Master and certified holistic therapy practitioner, providing Distant Reiki sessions and training in Asheville, NC. Deborah is the author of two books, 22 Messages from the Archangels; and, Believe and it is True: A Story of Healing and Life Lessons. She is also one of the co-authors of Reiki 101: 101 Answers for Your Reiki Questions. Reach Deborah at deb@deblloydhealing.com and on Facebook at Deb Lloyd Healing.