The difference and connection between Reiki and energy healing

Reiki is one of the most widely spread and mature schools among the many branches of energy healing. The core differences between the two focus on the three dimensions of energy source definition, operating specifications and entry thresholds. The underlying logic is highly unified, with "integrated adjustment of body, mind and soul" as the core. The goal is to clear energy blockages and activate the body's self-repair ability.

I have been involved in the field of mind-body and soul healing for almost 8 years, and have taught more than 200 students of Reiki and energy healing. The most common misunderstanding I have seen is that newcomers equate the two concepts. Last month, a student who opened a yoga studio came to me and said that he used to make singing bowls for members to condition their shoulders and necks. He always said that what he was doing was Reiki. It was not until he was criticized by another Reiki master that he realized that he had confused the concepts.

Let’s talk about the most obvious differences everyone perceives first. In the orthodox Usui Reiki system, it has always been emphasized that the healer is only a "conduit of the life energy of the universe" and does not need to use his own inner energy. Therefore, even if he does three or four cases in a row, the healer will not feel exhausted. The first time I performed Reiki on someone, I put my hands on the person's shoulders and neck that were as stiff as stone slabs. Within three minutes, I yawned several times. Later I found out that it was because I was receiving the energy from the other person to relieve the burden. After the whole process, I felt refreshed and I didn't feel the soreness all over my body that I had when I used to give massages to people. There is no unified definition of energy source in the broad sense of energy healing, and the different branches are very different: Taoist guidance relies on the internal energy of the healer's own practice, crystal healing relies on the vibration frequency of minerals, and EFT emotional release does not even require external force, just tapping acupoints to clear blocked emotional energy. Of course, here we must also mention the common view in the academic community: So far, no specific physical properties of the so-called "cosmic energy" have been detected. Mainstream research generally believes that the effect of this type of healing is essentially a placebo effect. It activates the parasympathetic nerves of the human body through positive suggestions, allowing people to enter a state of deep relaxation to achieve self-healing. This statement is currently more accepted in the public domain.

Compared with the "letting a hundred flowers bloom" of energy healing, Reiki has many more rules. Orthodox Reiki inheritance must have an "initiation" ceremony from the master, which is divided into first, second, third and mentor levels. Each stage has corresponding symbols and fixed hand positions. For those who have not been initiated, even if you have memorized all the hand positions, the circle will not recognize you as an orthodox Reiki master. This is also the most controversial point in the circle: Old-school reiki inheritors believe that using energy without enlightenment will not only easily consume your own energy, but may also bring messy energy to visitors, which is an unruly "wild way"” ； However, there are also many new generation healers who feel that attunement is essentially a ritual to strengthen beliefs. As long as one's own perception is sufficient, healing can be done without attunement, and there is no need to engage in the practice of cultivating teachers. On the other hand, energy healing does not have these rules and regulations. If you are sensitive to crystals, even if you have not taken any classes, you can put a piece of demagnetized white crystal under the pillow of a friend who has insomnia to help him sleep peacefully. This is also a practical practice of energy healing.

However, when it comes to dealing with individual cases, few healers will stick to a single technique, and the combination of Reiki and other energy healing is more common. Last month, a visitor who worked in Internet operations came to see me. She had chronic gastritis and took medicine for two weeks, but it was not cured. A gastroscopy showed no organic problems. I first gave her 20 minutes of spiritual energy to clear the central channel. I felt that her navel chakra was as cold as ice, so I took it. He applied a piece of demagnetized citrine to her and guided her to express her grievances about not being able to raise her salary with her boss recently. She cried for more than ten minutes and burped several times. When she went home that night, she said her stomach was no longer bloated. After three weeks of treatment, she never suffered from chronic gastritis again. Do you think this is the effect of aura or crystal? In fact, they both do. The core thing is to help her get rid of the accumulated emotions and let the body's energy flow. This is also the core common point between the two: they never break people into separate parts for medical treatment. They don't just focus on the head to treat headaches. They don't just treat stomach pains. They always default to the body, mind and soul as a linked whole. Where the energy is blocked, there is the problem.

Of course, I have also seen many people exaggerating these two things, saying that they can cure cancer and change their destiny, but that is pure deception. Whether it is Reiki or other energy healing, it is an auxiliary method for mind-body adjustment and cannot replace regular medical treatment. This is the bottom line that all regular healers must abide by. Nowadays, the psychosomatic departments of many hospitals have begun to introduce content related to mindfulness and energy regulation. In essence, they recognize the correlation between emotions and physical states, and there is nothing to be deified.

In fact, for the general public, there is no need to worry about which technique is authentic and which school is more powerful. If you feel that your whole body is relaxed when doing Reiki and you feel good when you sleep after doing Reiki, then Reiki will be useful to you. ； If you feel good when you touch a crystal, then crystal healing is no problem. After all, the essence of all healing is to help you find your own power, and everything else is just a tool, right?