Reiki, Simplified

Article by Angie Webster

When you have been noticing and working with Universal energy on a daily basis for some time, you begin to see that it is both very complex and very simple at the same time. It is complex to explain all the ways that this energy flows through absolutely everything, mostly because most people are very disconnected from that understanding. It takes working with it and experiencing it to really understand it.

Even at that, we can never see all the ways that this energy connects everything because we simply can’t see everything from our human perspective, as much as our egos convince us there is some way to know it all. If you work with energy deeply for long enough, you can’t help but be humbled, while still having a deep understanding that you are truly loved and important.

In the beginning, when we are first learning Reiki, we are taught many hand positions and techniques. It can seem a little confusing to even understand how the energy flows through us. One of the things I was taught was to not be so concerned about this and to just keep doing Reiki. I was told to do Reiki every day, on myself and on every situation, being and object I could think of as I went through each day until it became second nature to me. It was very good advice.

And yet, I noticed my mind still wanted to make it about the process; order of the hand positions, the movements, the specific thoughts I brought to mind as I asked Reiki to flow each time. My mind made it about the steps I took or the process of using Reiki, more than about the Reiki itself. I felt the energy flowing and it even “turned on” at times when I hadn’t asked it to, so I knew on some level that this entire process was not needed. And yet I continued to build it up in my head, as if I feared I would lose this wonderful blessing I had found if I didn’t do everything just precisely right.

This only increased when I was attuned to Reiki 2 and learned the symbols. Now I had even more steps to remember! I worked very hard and memorized all of the symbols and the many ways to use them and the precise order in which to use them. (Hint: there really is no “correct” order.) And yet, I felt I was moving even further away from the essence of that beautiful, connected feeling that had drawn me to Reiki to begin with.

I began to recognize that I was restricting my own energy channels with the idea of fear and worry that I might do Reiki wrong or that it had to be so precise. Reiki is not simply a set of logical maneuvers. It is spiritual healing, not a mental and logical exercise. It works with energy, which is the reason Dr. Usui advised us to meditate on the Reiki principles. They help to keep our mental and emotional energy channels open and relaxed so that we are best able to let Universal energy flow through us.

Once I began to relax and simply let energy flow through me, knowing my intention was the guiding factor, I was again able to use Reiki throughout my day. Instead of feeling controlled by my mind and a series of complicated steps, I felt connected to Divine energy and all that it touched. I realized that what I learned in Reiki 1 was right. I needed to just do Reiki, use intention and top fretting about the steps and techniques!

It wasn’t long before I explored the symbols again and I now love to use them. I adore each one of them and often receive others from my guides to use during sessions. The difference is that I follow my intuition and go with the flow, rather than feeling as if I am being forced to follow an obsession of my mind to follow a protocol that in reality doesn’t matter. My intuition seemed to know how to connect to Reiki when I allowed it to.

I have come to believe that one of the primary reasons for an attunement is to heal that part of ourselves that feels separated from Divine energy so that we can begin to feel and sense it again. It doesn’t make us special, only re-connected to our own true nature. Part of what keeps us separated from that is the extreme logical mind which tells us that everything must be linear and ordered. That’s simply not correct and it isn’t how Universal energy operates.

Relax and allow yourself to let go of the linear mind and simply “be” in the Reiki. Just ask it to flow. Nothing more. It will flow. Your mind may even tell you it’s not working when you first do this, but I assure you it is. Universal energy—Reiki—is available to you.

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Angie Webster made a significant contribution to the Reiki community, with a particular focus on Animal Reiki, which she had a deep affection for. As a knowledgeable Reiki Master Teacher and Author, she conducted online courses on energy healing, herbalism, flower essences, and personal growth.
She is the author of “Animal Reiki: How it Heals, Teaches & Reconnects Us with Nature” and “Reiki from A to Z”. Currently, Angie has decided to retire from her professional life to devote more time to her health, family, and the little joys of life.