My First Year as a Reiki Practitioner – Challenges and Healing Experiences

Article by Jeanie Lechuga

In June 2017 I made an appointment that would change my life forever. Although I was merely seeking an acupuncture treatment for a sore shoulder, little did I know that I would receive so much more.

Having never experienced acupuncture, I was a little apprehensive but determined to find some relief from the constant pain. How fortunate for me that the acupuncturist that I had been referred to was actually a team of two very talented individuals (acupuncturist and acupressure/CMT). My first appointment was amazing and not only did I leave pain free but had an incredible feeling – the only way I could describe it was that I felt as though I was effervescing on the inside. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning or the last day of school! I also had some unusual reactions…during my first appointment, I could feel electric shock coming from her (the acupressure practitioner) fingertips into my forehead. On the second appointment, I felt a great deal of heat escaping from my ears. At this point, I had to ask what was going on and if I was going crazy. She told me that it was Reiki and I wasn’t going crazy!

Of course, at this point, I had to start researching Reiki and then ordering books to learn more. The more I learned the more intrigued and interested I became. The next step was an online class in Reiki I, II, and III and my attunement. I remember feeling as though warm and heavy stones had been placed in the palms of my hands. The next day I began a daily self Reiki ritual combined with meditation that I have continued since then. Luckily for me, my family was trusting enough to volunteer to become my guinea pigs. Their reactions and feedback were pretty amazing. Everyone experienced deep relaxation, some napped, some had very vivid mini-dreams, some saw colors and had out of body experiences, and some have been able to examine and release old memories and trauma. Every single person that I have been able to work with has been a unique and deeply satisfying experience. For me, it’s been 100% true that I have benefited as much or more from each session as the recipient and I feel truly blessed for that.

From there, I began to take classes at a local school for Reiki I and II. During this time, I began to feel a presence during my morning meditation. Although I was never able to meet him, I know that it was my Grandfather Webster who died of pneumonia when he was just 33. It wasn’t a frightening or strange experience, just a warm and loving being who was by my side every morning. It didn’t occur to me until the last day of Reiki class that the school was located on Webster Street. A few days later I learned from my 85-year-old aunt that my Great Grandmother Noeimi was a healer and that folks used to come to her from all over for her to lay her hands on them for healing. She was, of course, Webster’s Mother. Since that time, Webster has been pretty much absent, but Great Grandmother Noeimi has been with me during many Reiki sessions. I was in France earlier this year and walked into a gift shop only to find a bowl with the name Noeimi on the front. Since my relatives (from long ago) were from this area, I felt it was a sign for me and I now proudly display it in my Reiki room.

In the beginning, my biggest concern was that I was going crazy. Why does the top of my head get warm while giving Reiki? Why do my hands get so hot? Why do I see colors? Why do I sometimes get a tidal wave of emotions from the recipient? Why do I sometimes see what my recipient is seeing? Why do I feel so relaxed and awesome after giving Reiki? Now I don’t fret, I just look up and smile and say thank you.

When I first started giving Reiki, I was very structured and used music with bells every three minutes so I would know when to move my hands. I also used a lot of visualization of the Reiki symbols. Now, I follow my intuition and go where my hands take me and stay as long as I feel the Reiki flow. In the beginning, I would sometimes worry that it wouldn’t work; now I know that it always works because it’s not my energy and it is endless. My first few sessions felt as though my hands were fire hoses with Reiki flowing in every direction; now it’s much more focused. Finally, I remember that my whole body would get so hot during the session that I would have to change clothes after because I would be soaking wet with sweat; now I get warm but not to that extreme…and I have a fan!

I have begun to use essential oils during Reiki sessions and have created custom blends for many of my family, friends, and coworkers for various ailments. All of my blends are created with love and infused with Reiki; the feedback has been truly incredible. In the spring, I took a class in Chakra Therapeutics and thoroughly enjoyed it and have been incorporating what I have learned into the sessions as well.

Distance Reiki has also become an incredible part of my practice. My first experience was with a close friend who lives thousands of miles away. Once we began, she fell fast asleep, only to awaken when I sent her a text to let her know we were done. She only reported dozing during the session and feeling relaxed afterwards. She called me two days later to tell me that she had the most vivid dream the night before. She was traveling with both of our Mothers and eating the most wonderful, juicy and delicious figs that she had ever seen. This was particularly impactful to me because the day before we had planted a fig tree in my backyard with my Mom’s ashes. Since that time, there have been many other incredible experiences as a result of distance Reiki sessions.

So, over the past year and a half, my confidence and experience have grown as a Reiki practitioner. I feel extremely blessed that Reiki found me and that I have been able to follow my true passion. There’s not one moment that I believe that I am the one who is creating this energy and love. I just feel so incredibly blessed to have received this gift of healing and the ability to channel it, and cannot imagine my life without Reiki.

On a side note, my exposure to energy had begun to bleed over to my work life. Before I retired I had a few ‘unusual ‘ experiences. A coworker told me that she found out that she was going to have a baby girl. She was so happy and excited when she told me…especially because it was another girl. The following day I heard her tell another coworker that she wouldn’t be able to find out the sex of her new baby for another few weeks. I asked if she remembered telling me, but she said that she didn’t since she didn’t know yet, so I gave her a sealed envelope with a piece of paper with one word written on it and asked her to keep it until her doctor appointment. On the day she found out the sex she came to me with the envelope and asked me how I knew. What could I say except, “you already told me”.

So, over the past couple of years, I’ve had countless experiences that I cannot explain but I don’t try to anymore. I just look up, smile, and say thank you!

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I am certified in Usui Ryoho Reiki I, II, and III. In addition, I completed certification in Chakra Therapeutics and am currently enrolled in an essential oils class. For the past 17 months I have practiced daily self Reiki and meditation and have performed distance and in person Reiki sessions on family, friends, and coworkers. I’ve also been custom blending essential oils for a variety of physical and emotional issues for people with tremendous feedback (all of my blends are infused with Reiki). Since retiring from public service (about as far as you can get from energy work!) in August, I am able to devote more time and energy into my passion, Reiki. I feel so completely blessed to have been given this gift of healing and I thank God every day. Jeanie can be reached through her email address [email protected]