Reiki at The Honeybee Sanctuary - FAQ
What is ‘Usui Reiki’?
The term ‘Reiki’ as it is widely used in everyday language actually refers to a system for learning how to connect with life energy. There are several styles of Reiki - crystal, Kundalini, Lightarian to name but three; like in yoga, there is one deep rooted philosophy and many styles of practice.
The type I teach and practice is called Usui Reiki Ryōhō, named after the founder Usui Mikao Sensei. This is the most traditional, foundational, Japanese form of Reiki as it is taught and practiced in the West today. The system serves to offer:
A philosophy for a Way of life, based on spiritual self-development, and
A hands-on therapy using flow of life energy for self-healing.
Usui Reiki focuses on natural healing through balancing energy. It is a grounded practice, safe and suitable for every body. People of all ages and with any underlying physical, emotional or mental health concerns can benefit from the self-healing benefits of Reiki.
“How does Reiki (self-) healing work?”
A Reiki practitioner forms an energetic connection with the person ‘receiving’ the Reiki energy, by bringing their hands close to or in gentle contact with the client’s body. Often the practitioner will work with the client to confirm a healing intention, however it is known that energy has intelligence and goes where it is needed - spanning the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies.
Reiki intends to raise or expand your personal energy’s vibration. Because Reiki is working on the personal energy field, I am not the ‘healer’, you are infact self-healing. I don’t ‘give’ you energy, I just channel the purest, hightest frequency of energy I can in my being and by bringing that in connection with your energy field to encourages the raising of your vibration and energy’s unobstructed flow.
I can’t do any harm by bringing my life force energy in connection with yours, in fact, you are sharing in a connection of life energy every time you spend time in nature, cuddle a cat, or mindfully tuck in a child at night.
You are bringing life-force energy fields into connection, and this connnection promotes energy to flow and raises your personal energy’s vibration.
Being in a state of energy flow brings our mind-body into coherence - when we pause, breathe deeply, and soften into stillness, the heart and brain fall into rhythm together. In that state, everything feels calmer, clearer, and more balanced.
In your Reiki session, I am looking to get the energy flowing and expand your vibration. This supports your body to access the parasympathetic nervous system, ‘rest and digest’ or as I like to call it, ‘rest and connect’. I help you connect with your life energy, to support your body’s own self-healing process which it can do when it relaxes. Energy knows where it needs to go and what to do!
“How should I prepare for a Reiki session?”
There is no special preparation required to attend a hands-on healing treatment here at The Honeybee Sanctuary. The most important thing to get the most out of your session is to come ready to relax.
Wear comfy clothes,
Maybe don’t have a heavy meal beforehand,
I recommend little or no coffee… nothing will prevent Reiki (life energy) from flowing, but it's more how much you will notice and experience.
Reiki helps you access to the 'rest & connect' nervous system state (parasympathetic) and helps your body to process, surface, balance, reveal something... who knows! You don’t need to talk or share your personal story / history; I don’t go looking for the trauma, hurt, worry or pain. I simply set an intention that healing energy goes where it is needed.
You can lie down or sit in a chair, however you feel most comfortable.
You remain fully clothed at all times,
I will offer pillows, knee rolls, blankets and eye pillows all as options to help you get cosy and relaxed.
The choice for hands-on or hands-off is entirely yours. The connection with life energy is just as effective either way (energy doesn’t ‘know’ space or time). I will ask you what your preference is.
"What is Reiki healing good for?"
Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that supports deep stress relief and helps ease a wide range of symptoms related to stress, including:
A busy or tense mind (mental)
Anxiety, low mood, and emotional tension (emotional)
Low energy, fatigue, insomnia, physical injury, physical symptoms (physical)
Sense of disconnect or feelings of lack of purpose (spiritual)
It’s also highly effective for promoting grounding, emotional balance, and overall well-being. Reiki works holistically, supporting the body’s natural ability to heal on mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual levels.
Life can be hard work, for children and for adults; things can become unbalanced or blocked. Usui Reiki teaches a philosophy and offers self-healing techniques including hands-on healing by a practitioner to reconnect and rebalance.
“What does Reiki feel like?”
I get asked this quite often, and simply there is no straight forward answer! Reiki gives us, or reveals to us, or feeds back to us, just what we need. No more, no less.
It is important to say that not everyone feels distinct sensations during Reiki. That doesn’t mean it isn’t ‘working’, its just what your body needs in that moment, on that day. In a Reiki healing session, you can know that things are happening on deeper levels that may not necessary manifest as an noticeable external reaction.
Perhaps a few days or weeks later you may feel calmer or less reactive to something that really bothered you before. Or you notice a general improvement in your overall well-being and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
Here are some clients’ descriptions of experiences of Reiki, to give you an idea:
Sensations of warmth or heat are frequently reported during Reiki sessions. This warmth is often felt in the areas being treated or in the hands of the practitioner, and it's associated with the flow of energy.
Sensations of energy pulsing or flowing through the body are also described. It might feel like waves of energy moving through different areas. Some individuals describe feeling tingling sensations, like gentle vibrations, as Reiki is in flow.
One of the most common reactions to Reiki is a deep sense of relaxation and calm, similar to a deep state of meditation.
A feeling of lightness or expansion is also often reported. This might involve a sensation of energy spreading out beyond the physical body, like the edges of the physical body become one - or melt into - the space around you.
During a session, people may experience emotional releases such as tears, laughter, or feelings of profound peace and contentment.
Reiki can quieten the chatter of the mind, bringing a sense of clarity and inner peace.
Some people describe seeing images, colours, or visualisations. This can range from seeing bright lights or specific colours to intricate patterns and imagery.