The journey of healing might take various forms throughout your life. After all, there are many types of healing that can help you improve your well-being. One such healing is Reiki Healing. Originating from Japan, this type of healing focuses on the flow of energy throughout the body for relaxation and well-being by helping you maintain harmony between the body and mind. To improve the experience, more often than not, incense sticks are used in the process.

What is Reiki Healing?

In Reiki Healing, the practitioner uses their hands to deliver energy to your body. He moves his hands slowly on specific areas of your body to improve the flow of energy and remove negative energy. This technique works well for relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety.

This healing technique is believed to have originated in Japan and was developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. It is based on the idea that unseen life force energies flow through our bodies. 

When it comes to the principles and philosophies of Reiki practice, there are 5 of them, known as the Five Reiki Precepts:

1. Just for today, I will not be angry.
2. Just for today, I will not worry.
3. Just for today, I will be grateful.
4. Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
5. Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.

These principles serve as a reminder and help to maintain balance and harmony. They emphasize the importance of living in the present moment and practicing these principles daily. They cultivate a positive mindset, achieve emotional balance, and experience life to the fullest.

How Reiki Healing Works

To understand how reiki healing works, you first need to understand the concept of life force energy (Ki). It is a subtle energy that flows through our bodies and brings us to life. It is the basis of all life and the universe. Even though we can’t see or touch it, most yoga practitioners have felt its presence. It moves through us, affecting everything from big physical movements to tiny biochemical processes. It helps us control our breathing, digestion, blood flow, waste removal, and cell growth and healing. Furthermore, it has an influence over our thoughts, emotions, and consciousness, which directly impacts our overall health and well-being.

Ki is closely connected to chakras, which are energy centres that regulate different aspects of our physical and emotional health. In Reiki healing, the aim is to balance and unblock these chakras for a free flow of energy. Another way to achieve this is through chakra healing, which focuses on directly cleansing and balancing each chakra to ensure the natural flow of life force energy, essential for overall health. To know more about chakra healing, read this blog.

So, how can you actually do Reiki healing? The process of channelling and transferring reiki energy involves several steps:

Preparation: The practitioner prepares by centering themselves, often through meditation, and setting an intention for the healing session. 

Connection: The practitioner connects to ki through a prayer.

Hand Positions: After connecting with ki, the practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above your body. They use specific hand positions that correspond to different chakras or areas needing healing.

Energy Flow: The practitioner channels the Reiki energy through their hands into you. As it happens, you will be able to feel the reiki energy flowing as warmth, tingling, or a gentle pulsation.

Intuitive Guidance: Practitioners may move their hands intuitively to areas where they sense you need more energy.

Closing: The session is concluded with the practitioner gently removing their hands and possibly grounding them by placing their hands on their feet or shoulders.

Integration: Lastly, both you and the practitioner take a moment to integrate the energy through a quiet reflection or sharing observations.

Benefits of Reiki Healing

Reiki healing offers many benefits for your body, mind, and spirit.

• Physical Benefits of Reiki Healing
  
  

1. Pain relief: It can help ease pain, discomfort, and tension by promoting relaxation and improving energy flow, supporting your body’s natural healing processes.
2. Immune system support: Regular Reiki sessions may strengthen your immune system, making you less likely to get sick.
3. Better sleep: It helps you relax deeply, leading to better sleep and overall well-being.
4. Faster healing: Reiki energy speeds up the healing of injuries, surgeries, and other physical conditions.

Emotional and Mental Benefits of Reiki Healing

1. Stress reduction: It calms your mind, reduces stress, and helps manage anxiety, promoting emotional balance and mental clarity. 
2. Emotional release: During the session, you might release suppressed emotions, which contributes to overall wellness. 
3. Improved mood: Regular Reiki practice can lift your mood, increase feelings of joy, and reduce symptoms of depression.
4. Mind-body connection: It helps you connect your mind, body, and spirit, promoting overall well-being.

Spiritual Benefits of Reiki Healing

1. Spiritual growth: It encourages self-awareness, introspection, and personal growth, helping you connect with your inner wisdom and intuition.
2. Energy alignment: It balances your energy centers (chakras), helping you align with your higher self and purpose. 
3. Inner peace: It creates a sense of inner peace, helping you handle life’s challenges with grace and resilience.

Incorporating Incense into Reiki Healing

The role of scent in enhancing the healing experience

In Reiki healing, incense sticks play an important role in improving the healing experience. They have been used for ages to cleanse spaces and uplift energy, helping to create a healing ambience. These sticks not only improve focus during meditation but also trigger emotional responses, fostering feelings of stability and spiritual connection through their scent.    

Choosing the right incense for Reiki healing 

Choosing the right incense is important as it sets the tone and atmosphere for the Reiki session. Here are some options for you to choose from:

Lavender: The floral fragrance helps you relax. Lavender incense sticks create the perfect, calming atmosphere for healing. 

Sage: The earthy scent of sage cleanses negative energy. Burn this before your session to clear the space.

Sandalwood: Sandalwood calms and balances energy. Sandalwood incense sticks sweet, woody smell that encourages inner peace.

Frankincense: The musty pine notes of frankincense relaxes, deepen meditation, and enhance energy flow.

Palo Santo: Palo Santo's sweet aroma uplifts and purifies energy.

Rose: The sweet and floral fragrance of rose promotes love and compassion, opening the heart chakra.

Cedarwood: Cedarwood grounds and strengthens during Reiki.

Jasmine: The floral fragrance of jasmine enhances intuition.

Patchouli: Patchouli Incense Sticks boost intuition, spiritual awareness, and emotional healing.

Myrrh: Its rich aroma aids emotional healing and grounding.

• Methods of using incense during Reiki sessions

You can use incense sticks in 3 different ways during reiki sessions:

1. Before the session: Light an incense stick in the treatment room before starting the session to set the mood and prepare the space. You can use incense stick fragrances like sage or palo santo to clear any stagnant energy.
2. During the session: Place a lit incense stick near the treatment area. The gentle smoke fills the space with healing energy. You can connect with the scent by breathing it in during Reiki hand positions or energy channelling. Also, trust your intuition and move the incense stick around the body.
3. After the session: Burn another incense stick to seal the healing energy and express gratitude for the healing process. 

How to use Reiki incense?

1. Find a suitable place to burn your incense.
2. Light the end of the incense stick.
3. Let the flame burn for about 10 seconds.
4. Gently blow out the flame.
5. Stick your incense into the holder.
6. Let the incense burn until it extinguishes.
7. Practice proper fire safety.

Section 5: Creating a Reiki Healing Space

Creating a reiki healing space for an effective session is crucial as it is a sacred sanctuary. Here’s how you can do it:

Focus on ambience: Use soft, natural lighting to create a calming environment. Dimmable lamps are great for adjusting the light to suit different moods and times of the day. Avoid harsh lighting, which can disrupt the serene setting.

Choose a nice colour scheme: Choose earthy and muted colours like pastels, blues, greens, and neutrals. These colours are soothing and contribute to a relaxing atmosphere.

Pay special attention to the furniture: Prioritize comfort with a well-cushioned massage table and comfortable seating for relaxation before and after sessions. Arrange the furniture so that energy can flow easily.

Use crystals: Place crystals like amethyst, clear quartz, and rose quartz around the room. These crystals help clear and balance energy.

Bring nature indoors: Place plants and natural wood elements to create a connection with the earth’s energy.

Display symbolic art: Display Reiki symbols, mandalas, or images related to spiritual healing.

Use incense to purify the space: Incense sticks like sage, frankincense, lavender, sandalwood, etc., are known to purify the space in which they are burned. 

Reiki Healing Techniques

Hand positions and techniques for self-healing. Here are the 7 chakras:

Crown Chakra: Place your hands gently on the top of your head. Now, focus on relaxing and channelling healing energy into your crown.

Third Eye Chakra: Rest your hands lightly on your forehead, covering the area between your eyebrows. Then, visualise healing energy flowing into your mind, improving clarity and intuition.

Throat Chakra: Place your hands over your throat and imagine the energy soothing and balancing your communication.

Heart Chakra: Place your hand over your chest, near your heart. Feel the warmth and healing energy comforting and healing your emotional centre.

Solar Plexus Chakra: Position your hands over your stomach, just above the navel, and focus on the energy that boosts your confidence and personal power.

Sacral Chakra: Place your hand on the lower abdomen and visualise the energy, improving your creativity and emotional balance. 

Root Chakra: Place your hands on your lower back, or sit with your hands on your thighs. Then, imagine the energy grounding you and providing stability.

Techniques for giving Reiki to others:

Preparation: Make sure both the parties are comfortable and relaxed. Set the intention for the healing session and create a calm environment.

Scanning: Gently move your hands a few inches above the recipient’s body to sense areas of energy imbalance. Trust your intuition to guide you to the areas needing attention.

Basic hand position: For hand positioning, follow the sequence mentioned above for self-healing. Start from the head and work your way down to the feet. Spend a few minutes on each position, allowing the energy to flow where it is needed.   

Clearing and grounding: After completing the session, perform a gentle sweeping motion to clear any residual energy. Encourage the recipient to take deep breaths and slowly return to full awareness.

Incorporating visualisation and meditation into Reiki practice

Visualisation: While performing Reiki, visualise healing energy as a bright, warm light flowing from your hands into the recipient’s body. Now, imagine the energy dissolving the blockages and restoring balance.

Meditation: Begin and end your Reiki sessions with a short meditation to center yourself. Meditation enhances your focus and deepens your connection to universal energy. 

You can also use dhoop sticks to improve your visualisation and meditation efforts for reiki practice. Want to know which ones would fit your needs? Read our blog on top dhoop sticks for meditation and relaxation.

Reiki Healing and Self-Care

Reiki practitioners need self-care like a human body needs water because it ensures they maintain their own well-being while helping others. By prioritising self-care, practitioners can sustain their energy levels, enhance their ability to channel healing energy and prevent burnout. 

For their overall well-being, they can incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation, yoga, breath awareness, etc. Mindfulness reduces stress, improves sleep, boosts emotional well-being, and brings inner peace. 

Beyond this, HelpUsGreen’s incense sticks can also help to relax and reduce stress. Choose calming scents like lavender, sandalwood, or frankincense, and create a ritual by lighting incense in a quiet space. 

Finally, Reiki Healing offers a holistic approach to improving your well-being by balancing the body’s energy and promoting relaxation. Originating in Japan, this practice is all about channelling energy through a practitioner’s hands to improve physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Incorporating HelpUsGreen’s incense sticks can complement the healing process by creating a calming and positive environment. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

1. Which incense is best for healing?
   The best incense stick for healing will depend on your goal. However, HelpUsGreen’s lavender and sandalwood incense sticks are popular choices.
2. How do you practice Reiki every day?
   You can do reiki healing yourself by setting aside time daily to meditate and place your hands on different parts of your body, focusing on channelling energy.
3. What are the 4 symbols of Reiki?
   The 4 symbols are Cho Ku Rei (Power Symbol), Sei He Ki (Emotional Healing Symbol), Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (Distance Healing Symbol), and Dai Ko Myo (Master Symbol).
4. What are the 4 levels of Reiki?
   The 4 levels are Reiki I (First Degree), Reiki II (Second Degree), Reiki III (Third Degree or Advanced), and Reiki Master.
5. Does incense bring positive energy?
   Yes, incense can help create a positive and relaxing environment.
6. Which incense is best for spiritual cleansing?
   Sage and frankincense are commonly used for spiritual cleansing.