I often hear of Christians who are afraid to accept or practice Reiki because they feel it is going against Christianity and the teachings of Christ. It is not necessary for either the practitioner or the recipient to follow a particular belief system, or any belief system at all in order for Reiki to work. Reiki is not dependent on religion. I would not tell someone what to believe. But I would like to show various ways in which Reiki is in alignment with what Jesus taught.
1) Jesus was a healer. This is not denied by any Christian that I know. There are a great many instances of Jesus healing people in body, mind, and spirit.
2) Jesus taught others to heal. He taught all of his disciples how to heal, and often encouraged their efforts and corrected them so they might heal more effectively.
3) Jesus said that all who learned from him would do the things He did and more. In the book of John, Jesus said that others would be able to do everything He did. They only needed to believe they could. “Do not fear, only believe,” He told the grieving father whose little girl had apparently died.
Image by timsackton
4) Jesus was compassionate. Jesus taught love and compassion above all. He asked that we all love and help our “neighbors”, which He described as anyone and everyone. It seems He wanted all to receive healing and love. He healed His followers as well as those who were of other cultures and religions. Healing was for all.
5) The early Christians seemed to realize that healing was teachable to all. The parts of the New Testament that take place after the death of Jesus have many instances of healing done by Christ’s followers. Paul and Peter, in particular, were frequent healers and taught other followers that they should do the same.
6) The Reiki principles embody the teachings of Jesus. When we say the “Just for today…” principles and follow our path of spiritual seeking, we are in alignment with what Jesus taught. We do not have to be Christians to practice calmness, compassion, kindness, and respect for self and others. These principles are inherent in all forms of spiritual practice and in coping well with life.
The primary purpose of following Jesus is to learn His teachings and then embrace and embody them. Healing is doing just that. To receive healing in modern times is no different than it was for those receiving healing from Jesus or his disciples. The healing Reiki energy comes from the Source. This healing energy flowing from the Divine is mentioned all throughout the Bible (Old and New Testament). Jesus was a teacher in how to use and direct this flow of energy for the greatest and highest good.
Article by Angie Webster
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Angie Webster
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.
Very simple and direct explanation for those who don’t really understand this concept of Reiki not being aligned with any one religion, but with ALL religions.
Thanks, Judy! It is my hope that Reiki will be shared with all. To do that, some helpful education is needed to clear up misconceptions.
I Loved it, it was a very good and informative article…
Thanks, Frederick! So glad you enjoyed it!
But Catholics say that this energy comes from evil and that guidance comes from demonds. How can you defend reiki against this?? (I don´t belive so, but would like to hear the defence)
Nieves, First I would say that not all Catholics believe this. In there area where I live there is a Catholic nun who practices and teaches Reiki. In fact, she taught both of my Reiki teachers. She gives Reiki to many local priests, who have been greatly helped by her services.
The energy that Reiki uses is the life force energy. There is only one life force energy and it flows through all things, providing us with life. To me, life can only come from God. There is no other Source for life.
As for guidance–while I believe it is possible for evil entities (low vibrational beings or demons) to communicate with us also, they do not guide us to be compassionate, kind and loving. The type of guidance received in Reiki is very loving and compassionate. It is healing and harmonizing. Evil entities do not lead to this. They lead to anger, hatred, violence and depression. Reiki leads people out of these types of patterns, not into them.
Does that help?
Why then was Jesus able to resurrect the dead? No one today that i know of – christian, reiki master, no one is able to do this. We all surrender to death in the end. so i don’t think that the reiki energy is the same as what Jesus used. Not saying it’s evil, just saying i don’t think it’s the same.
Jesus taught that we could all learn to do what he did, that all of it was/is inside of us. To me, it really makes no difference if you call the different types of energy and what they do or accomplish Reiki, or something else. They all come from Source/Creator/God. People debate over this all the time,what to call the energy and what the types of energy does, where it goes. And you are right, the goal of a Reiki practitioner is not to stop death or to reverse it. Our goal is to simply let the peaceful energy flow through us, allowing peace and healing to occur naturally, whatever that means to each individual. To some it means leaving the body and this realm, and finding peace with that. There are energy workers who more purposely direct the energy they heal with, but most who use Reiki do not. Jesus taught that we were not limited, don’t forget that.
In the Bible , the verse Psalm 43: 3 says, “Send me your light and your truthful care, let them lead me”. Personally I believe this light is called reiki.
As an Orthodox Christian and as a Reiki master I can’t agree that Reiki has a Divine nature in any sense. It is an energy of Nature as any other form of chi/qi is. It is impersonal. As such it can be investigated by modern science. Certainly, Reiki was created by God as well as any other thing. But any statement that Reiki is spiritual Divine energy and belongs to God contradicts to Christianity. Any Reiki community or Reiki school that states the Divine Nature of Reiki isn’t compatible with Christianity. I think so.
Denis, To me, their is only one life force energy. Possibly you could say there are different vibrational levels, or “types” of it, but ultimately it is all life force energy. This energy was used by Jesus and many others to heal. Many people also see things as all things coming from God–I am one of them. There may be many ways we humans can use them, study them or investigate them, but that doesn’t change their source. I tend to agree with what you are saying about Reiki being studied by science–I have written articles about the scientific study of Reiki. Many things are studied by science and they still come from God, including our own bodies and the Universe itself.
Disagree. Jesus Christ as God and Creator of all things used his own energy to heal. Christian Saints made healing by the Divine energy, which was sent by God through them. Reiki isn’t the Divine energy. Occultists and Pagans can be Reiki masters but they can’t certainly be blessed by God.
Respectfully, I believe we have a difference in how we see things. The world is made more full by all our differences. A point for thought–most of the Saints were persecuted and even killed because they were seen as evil and using forces not of God. It is only time and perspective that has changed that view so that we now see them as saints. This is true of Jesus and many of his disciples as well. To me, it is intent that changes the nature of a person and their actions. Not their religious label or what society thinks of them at that point in time. We all have to do what we believe God would have us do. Occultist is a blanket term (often applied to Reiki practitioners) and it really has no concrete meaning. Pagans do believe in God. They may have a broader definition of God than many of the Christian religions do.
I agree that Pagans as well as Muslims, Induists or Judaists believe in God but their belief is not compatible with Christianity. And a point of view that other religions don’t contradict to Christianity is not compatible with it, too. In fact, we discuss the compatibility only.
Sorry Denis but you are saying that are 2 diferents way of energy… is that possible? so you believe that something is like God? Reiki is spiritual yes, and also divine!!!
You need to believe in God no to be any religion practicioner. That is the spiritual way, maybe share an philosophy like budist, but no practice any religion at all, and can be a good Reiki master. Because God is in EVERYTHING! No matter what we do or not to praise him/her.
God is! and Reiki is a way to be close to God.
I love how you have put across reiki, its energy comes from Nature and can be used by all who can tap into it! the energy doesn’t look at religions.
Anthony, that’s right! Reiki has no concern for religion. Religion is a man made way of understanding God, energy and the Universe. Religion can be a very helpful tool in helping us understand better, but what we are trying to understand has no need for religion.
Angie,
I love the way you explain things, and deal compassionately with those who disagree with you. For me Reiki is a Journey of self discovery which was not available to me anywhere else.
While I help others I am learning too.
Thank you to all who are offering Reiki to the world and it’s people.
Dear Angie
After i learned Reiki and start practicing..i found real truth about god the creator..i become compassionate i stopped eating non vegetarian food..i am calm, peaceful and serene..All those years of practicing religion never gave me the tranquility , Thank you reiki…..
As a Christian and Reiki Practioner this was awesome to read. Thank you…
Thank you I am a Christian and have stumbling with this for a while I do believe it is a gift from God not sure people in my church think so ! Drawing symbol is what they have a problem with they see it a idealism but they do believe in laying hand on the sick and praying I just want to help people !
A fascinating article and debate – Vicki, I am curious why your fellow Christians would have a problem with drawing symbols – is the cross not a symbol and does the priest not draw this symbol over the bread and wine before communion and during the blessing? I suspect it is the age old failing of all human beings in that they fear what they do not know or understand. Remember Jesus was persecuted for his beliefs and practices – be proud in what you believe and practice and help people regardless of their views.x
“Give us today our daily bread…” (Our Father in Heaven)
This concept same with Just for today in Reiki.
My Reiki master was a Catholic nun. Her order ran a busy holistic healing center that offered lots of different classes, counseling, and reiki training, including a free clinic for Cleveland Clinic cancer patients. In my classes were people from all walks of faith, from Catholics (whose priests warned them not to get involved in Reiki) to Pagans to atheists. Unfortunately the “powers that be” in the church hierarchy forced them to stop their ministry, which to me is so unbearably sad.
After I completed reiki training, when I’d participate in Bible study, everything Jesus said seemed to dovetail perfectly with Reiki/Buddhist principles. Nobody else in those groups wanted to hear that, though. *sigh*
Hello, I think we should keep reiki above religions, because, religions which is older than Christianity like Hinduism and Buddhism has got do many examples of healing and even giving back lives with touch, look and even with ragas of music. As a person from India who prayed ” lokaa samasta sukhino
Hello, I think we should keep reiki above religions, because, religions which is older than Christianity like Hinduism and Buddhism has got do many examples of healing and even giving back lives with touch, look and even with ragas of music. As a person from India who prayed ” lokaa samasta sukhino bhavantu ( may the whole universe be blessed all good things ). I repeat the prayer
Yes, all religions are really speaking about the same energy and the same healing. Though they do speak of it in different ways, according to the culture in which they are written about. Reiki is not a religion. Reiki simply works with healing energy. All of the religions speak of hearings which, in my opinion, work with this same life force energy. They were teaching us how to do this. That is why I feel it is too bad when someone who feels they are following the Christian religion feels that that it is wrong to do healing work, that they are somehow going against the teachings. This comes from fear. It is not wrong and it is precisely what Jesus and so many other great spiritual teachers have taught for all time. They all taught healing and they all taught us how to help our fellow man, giving us the tools to do so.
You stated, “The primary purpose of following Jesus is to learn His teachings and then embrace and embody them.” If you are a Christian, the primary purpose of following Jesus is believing that “by His stripes we are healed” believing on faith that Jesus is the son of the one true God, sent to earth to die for our sins, arise from the dead, and reign in heaven. By believing this, we receive eternal salvation through his sacrifice.
Only God heals. He alone is sovereign. And He can use whoever he wants to accomplish anything. When we as Christians operate in the gifts, It is the Holy Spirit living within us that heals others, casts out demons, raises the dead, etc.
But know this, the bible says in Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
We are called to share the good news about Christ crucified and to tell what Jesus has done for us personally in our lives–to be a living testimony to the love and grace and goodness of God our father.
Amen, sister! I agree 100%, Mary. I know it’s been stated numerous times that reiki is non-religious, BUT as a bible-believing Christian, I want/need to know if practicing reiki can be considered a gift of the Holy Spirit…? Would it be incorrect for me–holding a biblical worldview–to attribute energy healing to my Creator God?
I think that Reiki being non-religious practice is a part of medicine. Hence, one may suspect that its invention was blessed on the same reason as for a new medical invention is blessed. No more. I need to stress that reiki being some form of chi(qi) has all properties of a natural energy. It claims time to obtain any result. It doesn’t produce any miraculous action. And hence it is essentially differs from the Divine actions in our world. Actions that are instant and miraculous.
Loved this article, great explanation.
The Pope has declared Reiki to be evil and the work of the devil. I wish more Reiki articles would address this from the point of Paganism. Not everyone is Christian
Reiki is not actually about any religion at all, but about healing, just as massage and acupuncture are not about religion, but are healing methods. However, the practitioners of any form of healing can follow any religion, and there are followers of most all forms of religion that practice Reiki. This article was meant to address some of the fear that some branches of Christianity have around this form of healing, such as you mentioned above.
Angie…. This was the first article I read of yours that hooked me on reading all of your pieces on Reiki Rays. 🙂 I don’t think I ever told you that!
Sending you love! ❤️
Justine
Awww, Thanks for sharing that, Justine! It was my first Reiki Rays article ever! Divinely guided!
I had my first session yesterday…It’s not about religion….I pray for help and healing!! I believe in God…I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior…I also know that I personally have had much loss and emotional upset through the years. I have been so fatigued and depressed I felt it would kill me at times. Reiki fell into my lap by a friend. For me it is stress relief. I was so relaxed I forgot everything…but not at first…the negatives are strong. I was very relaxed when I left. The whole atomosphere was part of it too. I don’t worship it!! It’s time for relaxation and healing touch. It’s that simple!!!
Patti Conger
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am so glad you found the help you need and that Reiki is supporting you in feeling better.
I am really struggling with this. ;0(
I KNOW I was meant to be a massage therapist and help heal people’s sore bodies or to help them heal from an injury or relax them after stress and illness and on the side I took a Reiki course all 3 levels…including master level and was attuned.
But I sit so uneasy since then with this battle in my heart and head. I had read no articles and had no one speak to me. But as a person who accepted Christ into her life and was baptized in a Baptist church…while I do not care for organized religion, I have always felt very spiritual and connected to God. As I learned Reiki, I tried visualizing the ‘energy’ or the white light from God, but it kept feeling wrong.
I believe the universe gives us what we believe, what we see…I believe ‘the universe’ is God. But why do I feel so confused and uneasy about the use of Reiki? When I just massage people using those healing modalities it feels right. I was already battling with this and then jumped on the web to read articles both for and against and just like I would expect in organized religion or politics (not that this is politics) the opinions run the gammet from FALL ON YOUR KNEES AND REPENT NOW YOU SINNER! To It is safe and what God wants and then all in between…
I am more confused now after this article than ever I guess because the way you wrote about it, is exactly how I felt about it while learning it. SO why this battle in my head and heart that led me searching?
Hi Alicia,
Each of us has our own inner struggles we have to find our way through. It is the most difficult part of the spiritual path, no matter what road we take. If Reiki doesn’t feel right for you, there is no reason that you have to practice it. It’s OK to stop. You can also leave it for awhile as you sort out how you feel about it.
The word Reiki means Universal Life Force energy, which for some people means God. Others use different words or simply see it as an energy. However, the system of Reiki is simply that–a system. It is a method of working with Universal Life Force energy for hands on healing. Perhaps it is the system that you are struggling with and not the energy? There are many ways to work with Universal Life Force energy other than the system of Reiki. You can decide if this system is right for you. You may also decide that you wish to work with Universal LIfe Force energy in your own way or a different way that is other than what we think of as the system of Reiki. You don’t have to call it Reiki when you place your hands on someone and allow the Universal Life Force to work with/through you to heal another. Good luck on your journey.
Alicia,
I wrote a lengthy post below prior to seeing this. Reading what you wrote, I think you are not wrong. I’m a strong Christian, and I don’t agree with those that make statements like fall on your knees & repent. I don’t think that comes from anything but fear. Fear is not a fruit of the Lord. Now, there are certainly false doctrines out there…however, I also stated that one underlying thing it does say scripturally is if God gets the Glory. So perhaps those people saying that are scared that someone is worshiping a false god. But nevermind on that…I have a favorite saying, Religion is for people afraid to go to hell, Spirituality is for those who have already been there! And trust me, I’ve been there & back multiple times.
Jesus loves everyone, even those we don’t agree with. If a Christian believes God created the world & all of us in it, then sent His Son to atone for our imperfections (which he did out of love since most sound minded adults would sacrifice their son for man) then that has to mean he loves us all, every color, every belief, he understands every hurt and every reason we do what we do, good or bad. All God wants is our hearts.
The Bible is clear on many things but again, speaking from a Christian since age 4 who has gone down many twisted paths only to return back to the Cross…. I believe in the commandment to seek Him first. He is the Kingdom of Love. And I would simply offer this, if you feel like maybe there is something off in anything you are doing (and we know healing is a good thing always, just want to make sure we remember God and God alone is the healer) that we simply pray and ask Him as His children, Lord, what do you think? What do you want? What is Your will? Then I believe you will have peace without any confusion on whether or not you are crossing into territory that could open doors. There is no doubt we can open doors & then wonder why suddenly things are going sideways…but that doesn’t mean it has to be something evil either. I think it’s simple, if we are asking God if this is ok and asking ourselves even, does this feel right, if so, then it’s likely fine. Don’t let other people’s experience impact your gifting. It’s been said at my church a time or two, watch out asking a ‘religious’ person for help or advise, often they will really misguide you and again, it’s not that they don’t mean well, but too often they are operating out of fear. By the way, if you want to learn more about that type of person…I highly recommend going to youtube & looking up Leif Hetland. Find one of his videos explaining ‘the 3 chairs’. Once you see that, you will understand why some Christians operate out of fear & get into a very judgmental state while others just operate out of love & will go to the darkest places and find the most difficult people and still fall in love with them just in order to see an miracle, a healing, take place.
And I said this below too, I highly recommend looking into Bethel Sozo, Sozo Healing. It’s really amazing and it’s all about love and getting to the root of any issue to receive deep healing on a level that we wouldn’t find an many other places.
Blessings in your work 🙂 I hope this helps.
I just decided to jump in here because of a couple people close to me have recently mentioned Reiki & I am going to participate in a meditation later this month…. I’m willing & happy to do so to help the friend who is studying this practice. That said, I am a devout and professed Christian (gave my heart to Jesus around age 4) have followed Him most of my life & was lucky enough to be born into a Holy Spirit filled family with friends that were what most HS Christians would refer to as Kingdom family. So I fully believe in the healing power of the Spirit and also that Jesus Christ had this gift, which I also believe came from the Father. I also believe that while there may be many gods (which could also be angels since we really know so little in the scope of things) that the Creator I worship is the God above all & that His son is who he said he was, Jesus. As you mention, Jesus was a great example (in my eyes perfect) of what a loving human should look like, He was definitely a healer and even those who may think they don’t have the gift of healing, probably could tap into that if they felt a need to. In other words, I don’t believe God’s gifts are limited.
So here is where my thoughts are on this practice. It involves laying of hands, definitely Biblical. I’m learning a few other things but immediately I see using the Spirit realm for complete healing. Also, this is Biblical.
I’ve been told, and I accept this with humility, that I have the gift of a spirit energy healer. Now, that I do believe is a more ‘new age’ term. It’s likely I do have a gift in the healing realm. After many, many years of holding back on the spiritual side…curiously I have always wanted to be a Dr or nurse, always read books on healing so I naturally had an interest in healing others. It makes perfect sense that all types of healing would attract me. So more recently as I have grown kids & time on my hands, I started really pressing in. I currently attend a Spirit led church. It’s very grounded in the Word (the Bible) and following the prompting of the Father & Holy Spirit. We also worship the Trinity and especially the Son, Jesus, for sacrificing His own life that we may have Heaven on Earth as well as a complete reconciliation of the Father. Our Church treats some passages in the Bible that are warnings as exactly that, warnings… and they are warnings to keep us safe rather than the older view of ‘if you don’t do this and you do that & sin, you go straight to hell’. So it’s a congregation and home that practices fully the love of Christ.
Where I am going with all this is that in the past couple decades, there has been a huge shift. Christians are now recognizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Especially healing. I just finished a Prophetic Ministry Class & then a 2 week Sozo Healing class. Sozo Healing came from Bethel Church in Redding, CA. It’s become huge, worldwide even & after attending a session myself, I found an interest in working with others to see complete healing.
After reading this, it is very similar to the teachings of complete healing through the Spirit. I would say that the only thing I see different is that in Christianity, God always gets the Glory. Where a person is healed, it’s directly coming from the Most High. So in my opinion, this seems safe as long as the recognition is in the right place. It states plainly that we are always to worship the Creator not the creation. The Creator loves us, He wants us to be whole and well. That means body, mind, spirit, soul. I do not put one religion over another. I loved how Billy Graham said it was not our place to judge, but to love. I think this is true of healing as well.
Again, I am excited to see how this process works as it’s new to me. But will certainly be sure to give thanks for any healing or positivity I get to the Holy Spirit. I love the practice of Yoga as well. I’m studying being a holistic healer & an herbalist. If God created everything, then that means those plants are there for our nourishment & our healing. I don’t see this practice as any different. But when I meditate, it will always be on the Lord, the Word of the Lord, being thankful to my Father (Papa God) and meditating on those things He created me to be and wants for me. Just as a parent wants for a child. That is how Sozo works in some ways too… although Sozo healing goes a bit more into a person’s life events and brining wholeness to the individual through complete healing and reconciliation to have a happier & more fulfilled life.