What Is Reiki? How Energy Healing Works and What a Session Feels Like

Reiki is one of the gentlest, most comforting things I offer, and also one of the most misunderstood. People arrive expecting something mysterious or intense, and they leave saying, "That was the most relaxed I have felt in years." As a Reiki Master, let me explain what Reiki really is, in plain English — and what a session with me actually feels like.

If you would like to experience it, Reiki healing sessions are available in person in Fultonville, NY.

What Reiki is

Reiki is a Japanese practice of energy healing. The word is usually translated as "universal life energy" — the same vital energy that flows through every living thing. You already know this energy in ordinary ways: the warmth you feel when someone you love holds your hand, the calm of sitting beside a sleeping pet, the lift you get from a walk in the sunshine.

A Reiki practitioner is trained to be a channel for that energy. Through gentle hand positions — either resting lightly on you or hovering just above — the practitioner offers a steady flow of calming, balancing energy. Your own body and spirit take what they need. That is the beautiful part: you are the one doing the healing. Reiki simply supports and encourages your natural ability to restore balance.

What Reiki is not

A few gentle clarifications, because I hear the same worries often:

• Reiki is not a religion. It asks nothing of your beliefs. People of every faith — and none — enjoy Reiki.
• Reiki is not massage. There is no manipulation of muscles, and you remain fully clothed.
• Reiki is not a medical treatment. It is a complementary practice for relaxation and wellbeing, never a replacement for your doctor's care. For anything medical, always consult a qualified professional.
• Reiki cannot harm you. The energy is intelligent and gentle; it goes where it is needed and only where it is welcome.

What a session with me feels like

You will lie comfortably on a table, fully clothed, perhaps with a soft blanket. The room is quiet and peaceful. I begin with a few moments of stillness, and then I move through a series of hand positions — at the head, shoulders, and down the body — spending a few minutes in each place.

And then? Mostly, you rest. Guests describe the experience in lovely ways:

1. Warmth — many people feel a gentle heat under my hands, sometimes surprisingly strong.
2. Deep relaxation — it is very common to drift into a dreamy, half-sleeping state. Some guests simply fall asleep, and that is perfectly fine.
3. Tingling or gentle waves — a soft sense of movement or energy, especially around areas that need attention.
4. Emotional release — occasionally a feeling of lightness, or a few unexpected tears that leave you feeling unburdened. This is normal and welcome.
5. Peace — the most common report of all: "I feel peaceful."

Every session is different, and every person is different. Some feel a great deal the first time; others simply feel rested, and notice the effects over the following days — sleeping better, feeling calmer, carrying less tension.

What Reiki can support

People come to Reiki for many reasons: stress, grief, life transitions, trouble sleeping, or simply the feeling of being run down and out of balance. Reiki meets you where you are. It is also a lovely companion to other work we might do together — many guests pair it with a psychic or medium reading, or ask about Reiki for their animals through animal communication, since animals respond to energy work beautifully.

I also make hospital visits, and Reiki is often the most welcome thing I can bring to a bedside — quiet, comforting, and requiring nothing at all from the person receiving it.

What "Reiki Master" means

Reiki is taught in levels, passed from teacher to student through training and attunement. A Reiki Master has completed the full training and is also able to teach and attune others. I teach classes in Reiki — as well as Angels and Tarot — so if you feel drawn to learn this gentle art for yourself and your family, you absolutely can. You can read more about my fifty years of experience on the about page.

After your session

Plan a little softness for yourself afterward if you can — some water, a quiet evening, an early night. Reiki keeps working gently for a day or two, and many guests say the best sleep of their month comes the night after a session. There is nothing you must do; just be kind to yourself and notice how you feel.

What to do after a Reiki session

The best aftercare is simple: give yourself room to notice. You do not need to analyze every sensation or create a demanding routine. Move gently back into your day and let the quiet of the session stay with you for as long as it naturally does.

Drink some water, choose a comfortable meal, and avoid packing the next hour with unnecessary rushing if your schedule allows. Some people feel refreshed right away. Others feel thoughtful, sleepy, or emotionally tender. None of these responses is a test of whether you received Reiki “correctly.” Your experience belongs to you.

A few supportive choices can help:

• Take a slow walk or sit outdoors for a few minutes.
• Write down any images, emotions, or ideas that stood out.
• Choose an early, quiet evening when possible.
• Notice your energy without judging or trying to change it.
• Continue any care plan given to you by a qualified professional.

If a new insight appears, record it before deciding what it means. Sometimes a session creates enough stillness for an answer you already carried to become easier to hear. You can return to that note the next day with a fresh perspective.

Reiki is not about chasing dramatic sensations. A subtle sense of ease can be just as meaningful as warmth or tingling. Let the session be complete without comparing it with anyone else's story.

Preparing for your first appointment

Wear comfortable clothing that lets you rest easily. You remain fully clothed throughout the session, so layers can be helpful if you tend to feel warm or cool. You do not need to bring special objects or understand energy work before you arrive.

Think about what would help you feel at ease. You are welcome to ask how the session will unfold, where I will place my hands, or whether I can work just above the body instead of using light touch. Clear communication matters. Your comfort and boundaries remain important from beginning to end.

You may wish to arrive with a simple intention such as “I would like a quiet hour” or “I am ready to feel more settled.” An intention is not a demand for a particular outcome. It is simply a gentle direction for your attention.

Before the session begins:

1. Share any comfort or mobility needs that affect lying on the table.
2. Ask the questions that will help you relax.
3. Silence your phone so the time feels protected.
4. Take a few slow breaths and allow yourself to receive.

If you are deciding between Reiki and a reading, consider what you need most that day. Reiki centers on quiet rest and supportive energy. A psychic and medium reading is a spoken conversation with guidance and messages. Both can be meaningful, but they offer different experiences.

Bringing Reiki principles into ordinary days

The calm of a session can inspire small moments of care at home. You do not have to reproduce a formal treatment. Instead, create brief pauses that help you reconnect with yourself: sit with both feet on the floor, rest a hand over your heart, or take five unhurried breaths before answering a difficult message.

Choose one practice that fits your life rather than making a long list you will not enjoy. A candle at breakfast, a quiet cup of tea, a few minutes without a screen, or a grateful thought before sleep can become a steady anchor.

Reiki classes offer a deeper path for people who want to learn the practice, but receiving a session does not obligate you to study it. Curiosity is enough. The FAQ page answers more practical questions, and the contact page is there whenever you feel ready to ask about scheduling.

The important thing is to let calm be ordinary. A peaceful pause does not have to be earned, explained, or turned into another task. When you notice yourself rushing again, return to one breath and one kind choice. That simple awareness can help you remember the grounded feeling you found during the session.

Common questions

Do I have to believe in it for it to work? No. Come as you are — curious, skeptical, or hopeful. Relaxation needs no belief, and neither does Reiki.

How many sessions do I need? That is entirely up to you. Some people come once for a deep rest; others make it a regular part of caring for themselves.

Can Reiki be combined with a reading? Yes — just mention it when you book and we will plan your time together.

More answers live on the FAQ page.

Come and rest

In a busy world, an hour of pure, supported rest is a radical act of self-care. That is what Reiki offers, and it is why I have loved this work for decades. Send your request and I will call you back to schedule — I would be honored to share this gentle energy with you.