Reiki is a wonderful practice. It is amazingly versatile and full of surprises. Even after many years of practicing and teaching Reiki, I learn something new with every treatment I give, and every class that I teach. Thinking back to the beginning of my journey as a Reiki practitioner there are many things I wish I had known when I first started out. There is one thing, in particular, I want to share with you today in the hope that it will make the beginning of your journey as a Reiki practitioner a little easier.

Right after I received my first Reiki attunement, I had the most unusual and unnerving experience. I felt completely naked – literally. I had to actually look down my body to make sure that I was wearing clothes – the sensations were that intense.

Everything felt different. The wind felt stronger, the sun warmer; it was as if a layer around my body had been removed – and I believe that it was exactly that! A protective layer that I no longer needed was taken from me to make way for my new journey and the person I was about to become.

When I went home that day, I felt as if I could conquer the world! I was ready to just dive in and give Reiki to anyone who was willing to give it a try. But as it turned out, this was not as easy as I thought it would be.

The first time I attempted to give a Reiki treatment was to members of my family. I wanted to show them how amazing the energy felt and I was so sure they would love it just like I did. But when I began the treatment, nothing happened. I did not feel any energy coming from my hands and neither did my family members. I was so embarrassed and felt like a complete failure. I did not understand how Reiki could work so well during my classes and then completely failed me when I wanted to use it on my own.

What I had experienced is a common occurrence amongst new Reiki practitioners. Today, I know of course what had happened and how to prevent this situation from reoccurring. But back then I was ready to give up and I know that a situation like this is the most common reason why many people do not advance beyond Reiki Level I.

So let’s take a look at what had happened and how we can prevent it.

First things first, when you want to prove to someone how awesome Reiki is and that it absolutely works, you set yourself up for failure. Wanting something means you come from an ego-based mindset. The ego is your worst enemy when it comes to Reiki. You will never be able to prove a point with Reiki when you only want to prove a point. It does not work that way.

What’s also important to know is that beginning your journey as a Reiki practitioner by giving Reiki to your family will be very difficult. The reason is again, the ego. I know that it seems simpler to find your first clients amongst your family and friends since they most likely want to support you on your new journey. But this again can cause your ego to interfere. You probably told them all about your experiences during your Reiki class and how awesome you felt and now you want to show them how amazing it is. And even if you are not trying to convince them, you want them to feel the same way you did. This again will cause your ego to get in the way.

So, what can we do to prevent these situations from ever happening? First and foremost we have to understand, that we are not giving Reiki. We are guiding the Reiki energy through us and into the client’s body, but we don’t create it and with that, we don’t own it. We have no influence over how the other person feels during or after a treatment, so there is no need for us to stress over it. What they experience, is none of our business. Period. That being said, we do need to take the pressure off of our heart, mind and soul.

When I prepare for a treatment I call my Spirit Guides and the Spirit Guides of my client and ask them for their assistance in guiding the energy where it is needed most and to guide me to the spots I especially need to work on. I also (in my mind) tell my client to take what they need and I pray for the most wonderful experience they ever had. This is especially helpful when it is a client’s first interaction with Reiki. You can, of course, set your own intentions for your client’s treatment, but I would always add the request for the most wonderful experience. It really works!

What is also important to know is that, especially with a first time client, it may take some time for the energy to flow. This has nothing to do with you. It simply means that your client may unintentionally block themselves from receiving because they don’t really know what to expect. Therefore, it is very helpful to explain to them before the treatment what they may expect in terms of sensations. Encourage them to tell you what they experience so that you can explain to them what that means. Allow them to be part of the treatment if they wish to communicate.

If your client is really tense or blocked, encourage them (in your mind) to let go and take what they need. Even if you don’t voice this message, they will start to relax.

Remember that whenever the client does not seem to feel anything, it has nothing to do with you and your ability to perform Reiki as long as you don’t allow your ego to take over. Sometimes a person just does not sense the energy, but this does not mean that no healing is taking place. Also, some people are just not ready to let go of an issue or aren’t open enough to allow healing to take place.

I hope my article will shed some light into the mysteries of your first steps as a Reiki Practitioner.

First published at Reiki Rays.