Questions About Reiki
Everything you want to know before your first session or class.
About Reiki
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Reiki, pronounced "RAY-KEY," means "Universal Life Force." It was developed in the late 1800s by Dr. Mikao Usui, a monk from Kyoto, Japan. It is a hands-on healing practice: the practitioner gently places their hands in specific positions on the body, and Reiki energy flows through their palms and into the client.
The energy flows through three broad patterns — the front of the torso, the head and neck, and the back, legs, and feet — gently releasing impurities and revitalizing the body's cells. By the end of a treatment, all body systems operate in a stronger, more vital manner.
Over time and with continued treatments, clients experience deep and lasting shifts — physically, emotionally, and mentally.
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Reiki works by increasing the 'life force energy' that flows through and around all living beings. This energy is influenced by our thoughts and emotions. When it's disrupted — by stress, trauma, or negative thought patterns — we're more susceptible to illness and imbalance. When it flows freely, we feel healthy and centered.
Reiki gives this energy a positive boost. It raises the vibration in disrupted areas, helping stuck or negative energy break up and release. This restores the natural, healthy flow of life force throughout the body.
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No. Reiki is not a religion and does not require any particular belief system. It is a philosophy of care: the practitioner relates to the client's core essence rather than their personality, listens without judgment, and acts as a conduit for universal life-force energy — without controlling the process or claiming personal credit for the healing.
Reiki is practiced by people of all faiths and backgrounds, and complements any existing spiritual practice.
About Sessions
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Every session includes a short check-in at the start to understand where you are physically and emotionally. During the treatment, you lie fully clothed on a table while I place my hands gently in a sequence of positions across the body. Many people fall asleep or enter a deep meditative state. Afterward, we debrief together, and I follow up the next day by phone or text.
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For those new to Reiki, I recommend beginning with four sessions over a short period — ideally once or twice a week. This gives your body and mind a strong foundation for healing.
Physical and emotional issues build up over time and don't disappear overnight. During the first session, the body may be guarded. By the second, it begins to open. The third and fourth sessions go deeper and begin to produce the real healing shifts we're looking for. After the initial four, we find a rhythm — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly — depending on your needs.
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I recommend weekly sessions at first, much like any ongoing therapy or healing work. Weekly sessions allow for deeper, more sustained shifts. Once major patterns begin to release, most clients move to every other week, then monthly for maintenance and continued growth.
Each treatment builds on the last. Reiki works through gentle purification — revealing and releasing what has been stuck or weighing you down. The more we release, the more clearly and fully we live.
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Reiki releases impurities from the body, mind, and emotions. Sometimes that clearing stirs up old pain, trauma, or stored energies that have accumulated over a lifetime. This is temporary — and it's a normal part of the healing process.
What typically follows is a deeper sense of clarity, lightness, and peace. Think of it as the body processing and letting go. Drinking plenty of water and getting a good night's sleep after your session helps support this process.
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Wear comfortable, loose clothing — you remain fully clothed throughout the entire session. Avoid heavy meals right before. Plan to drink water afterward and, if possible, give yourself a quiet evening to integrate the treatment.
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Distance Reiki is sent from the practitioner to the client across any distance — using sacred Reiki symbols that connect the energy regardless of physical location. The client rests in a comfortable space at home during the treatment time.
Yes, it works. My distance clients report results that are just as powerful as in-person sessions. Distance Reiki is particularly helpful for those who are homebound, traveling, or in need of immediate support between in-person visits.
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Yes. Reiki works in conjunction with conventional medicine and enhances the benefits of psychotherapy, surgery, and prescription medication. Many clients use Reiki as a complement to cancer treatment, recovery from injury or surgery, and ongoing mental health support. Reiki does not replace medical care, but it supports and deepens the healing process alongside it.
About Classes
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No prior experience is needed for First-Degree Reiki. The class is designed for complete beginners. You will leave with the ability to practice Reiki on yourself and others.
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First Degree (Reiki 1) gives you the foundation: the history, the attunements, the hand positions, and the ability to practice hands-on Reiki. Second Degree (Reiki 2) builds on this with additional attunements, Reiki symbols, advanced techniques, and the ability to send Distance Reiki treatments. Most teachers, including Dave, recommend practicing First Degree for at least 3–6 months before moving to Second.
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An attunement is a ceremony performed by the Reiki Master that connects the student to the Reiki lineage and opens their hands to channel healing energy. It is the defining element of a legitimate Reiki class — what distinguishes it from simply learning hand positions. In First Degree, students receive four attunements over two days.
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No. Dave travels to teach for retreats, studios, and private groups of 8–12 people. He also offers Reiki Circles and Reiki Meditation on Zoom each month.
The Five Precepts of Dr. Usui
Dr. Usui taught his students five principles to live by:
Just for today, do not worry.
Just for today, do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers, and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to every living thing.
Call or text Dave at (415)-999-2883 or email him at dave@awakenedlightreiki.com to book a free 15-minute consultation.