Feel Better with Reiki

Caroline performs a reiki treatment for her client. Carolines hands are placed over her eyes whilst the client lays on the treatment table.

As an attuned Reiki practitioner, I am simply a channel through which the positive Reiki energy flows via my hands to your body so it can be used by you as needed.

  • The word Reiki is a combination of two Japanese words ‘Rei’ meaning ‘universal life-giving’ and ‘ki’ meaning ‘energy’. It works on the principle that everything in the universe is made up of indestructible energy that flows continually through and around us. Sometimes this flow of energy can become ‘stuck’ or be converted to negative energy which can in turn lead to illness, disease or distress.

    We are not always aware of the flow of energy but we can see it in action when a flower unfurls its petals and feel it when the breeze touches our skin.

    Have you ever walked into a room and known instantly that something has happened without being told? Or maybe you have become aware that someone is standing behind you without being able to see or hear them approach? These are examples of our own energy fields being touched by those of other people around us.

    The modern world we live in exposes us to an increasing number of experiences and situations that can disrupt the flow of positive energy. Our brains and bodies were built to protect us from the very real and physical threats of wild beasts and other threats to our survival by releasing large quantities of the stress hormones, such as Cortisol, which would launch us into action to save ourselves. Lions and bears have been replaced by perceived threats in our work lives, our relationships and within the wider society, meaning that lower, but more consistent levels of stress hormones are released into our bloodstream which our bodies are not equipped to handle. This chronic stress leads to issues with our sleep, our ability to manage our emotions and can ultimately lead to physical illness and disease.

    Remember back to a time when you were in a stressful situation. Maybe you were going into an important interview, needed to have a difficult conversation with someone or were waiting on test results from the hospital. How did you feel emotionally and physically? Heart racing, a sick feeling in your stomach, tightness across the chest, headache, running to the toilet? These are all physical responses to the emotional trigger of the stress hormones and they likely passed quickly once the interview or conversation was over or the results came back negative. However, if the stress hormone level remains raised over a long period of time, the positive energy is unable to flow freely, the physical symptoms continue for longer and can lead to long term health problems.

    Reiki is a hands on, non-manipulative way of gently and safely helping the body to lower your chronic stress levels in a non invasive manner so you can gain a deeper level of relaxation. In this more relaxed state, the cells of the body are able to retreat from their ‘fight or flight’ position and get back to their intended role of dividing, multiplying and repairing, also known as healing! In simple terms, Reiki helps your body to do what it does best and heal itself!

Treatments which Include Reiki

What can Reiki help me with?

The simple answer here is…whatever it is your body and mind need!

For me it was managing very poor sleep but Reiki can be equally effective for any physical, mental, emotional or spiritual condition in need of healing. As the aim of Reiki is to allow the body and mind to heal themselves then how and where the healing happens is determined by you and your body. Although you will likely come to a Reiki session with a particular thing in mind that you would like to manage or heal, you may find that other things also start to improve or fall into place for you.

    • Promoting a state of total relaxation

    • Stress reduction

    • Improves sleep

    • Releasing blocked emotions

    • Cleansing the body of toxins

    • Eases and balances emotions

    • Relieves pain on all levels

    • Eases aches, pains, illness and disease

    • Soothes shock

    • Helps us to release deep emotions and ties

    • Enhances the effectiveness of other types of medical treatment or therapy

Man receiving a reiki treatment session.
  • So you’ve decided to book your first Reiki session and completed your consultation form, but what actually happens during the session?

    On welcoming you to The Peacock Retreat I will begin by going over with you the answers you have noted on your consultation form or asking how you have been since your last session if its not the first. I will also ask if you have any questions before I begin and discuss with you what to expect.

    Once you are happy to go ahead, I will invite you to remove your shoes only and make yourself comfortable on the treatment couch with your head on the pillow provided. (Most sessions take place with the client on their back unless this is not comfortable for them or we have discussed beforehand that treatment will be concentrated on an area on the back of the body such as the lower back). A covering will be available on the couch for you to pull up over you as you can feel a little cold when laid still for a long time and a bolster cushion can be placed under the knees to take pressure off the lower back if required.

    I will invite you to take a couple of deep breaths to help you to relax and to close your eyes – there is nothing more for you to do now!

    I will begin the session seated or stood behind your head and will start the session by performing a grounding technique to prepare myself and will draw the Reiki symbols in the air above you with my hands. The remainder of the session involves me placing my hands on or just above specific points on your body known as ‘chakras’ or ‘energy centres’. These are spots where energy can often get ‘stuck’ and cause issues. I will hold each position for between three and five minutes each before moving onto the next area when I feel the energy is moving more freely again. Below is a general guide to the order I will follow but I will always be guided by my intuition as to which areas need the attention of the Reiki.

    Crown – top of head. Third eye – over the eyes and forehead. Ears. Back of neck and top of head. Throat – (hovering above, not touching). Shoulders. Heart. Solar plexus – just under the ribs. Sacral – lower stomach. Root (hovering above the hip/pelvis area). Knees. Feet.

    When I am done, I will perform a short closing sequence in the air above you and then gently tap your arm to let you know I’m done. The whole thing takes approximately 50-60 minutes.

    You can then take your time to come out of the deeply relaxed state at your own pace before sitting up. I will offer you a glass of water to help flush out any toxins that have been released from your system during the session and we can discuss any sensations or feelings you experienced.

    Before you leave, I will offer some aftercare advice, and we can agree on a treatment plan going forward. A series of Reiki sessions relatively close together is usually recommended to begin with to allow the positive Reiki energy to build in your system and to allow any negative energy that may have been stored within the body for a long time to be released at a gentle pace. After this initial treatment period we can agree on a long term maintenance plan.

  • Most clients prefer to visit my tranquil treatment room for their Reiki session, but I do also offer remote sessions if this is more convenient.

    Some people may be unable to attend in person due to the distance they would need to travel or due to mobility or health issues which make it difficult for them to leave the home or travel. Home-based Reiki was also the perfect solution when in person visits were prohibited by the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Now bear with me for this one as this is where it starts to sound a bit weird!… But all I will say is don’t knock it until you’ve tried it as after my first time it blew me away!

    Reiki energy can be transmitted across time and space using the energy fields that surround us.

    I will still send you a consultation form to complete and we can discuss this over the telephone prior to your treatment. You will need to find a quiet space where you can lie or sit comfortably for up to an hour without distraction or interruption. If you have access to some soothing background music it is good to pop this on too, lie back with your eyes closed and relax. The session then proceeds much as an in person one would (see above) but this time I hold my hands over the corresponding chakra points on a teddy bear that I use as a proxy for your own body and send the healing across the energy fields to you.

    At the end of the session, I will send you a quick text message to let you know I am done and then call you a few minutes later to discuss what you experienced and arrange your next appointment.

    Yes, I know… weird right? I have had some really great results working in this way, and it only takes one remote session for clients to be convinced. Here is what one regular client had to say about the home-based Reiki sessions she had during the first lockdown in 2020 when she was unable to visit in person. “These sessions were a god-send to me during lockdown and helped get me through”

    Home-based Reiki is also perfect for anyone who suffers from agoraphobia, social anxiety or is physically unable to leave their home. The benefits to be had are exactly the same as when in person.

Reiki is a very safe and gentle practice; therefore, it is accessible to almost everyone, including children.

Is there anyone that Reiki isn’t suitable for?

  • Please do not attend your Reiki session if you are generally unwell i.e. have a cough, cold, high temperature etc or have any kind of contagious illness.

    If you are taking certain medications, I will discuss with you the possibility that Reiki could alter the levels you need to take as your body begins to heal itself, but this should always be done in discussion with your GP/consultant and under their supervision.

    Reiki can offer significant benefits to people undergoing treatment for cancer as it can help the body to cope with the symptoms of aggressive treatments and find relief from the emotional toll.

    Reiki is also commonly offered as a palliative treatment in hospices during end-of-life care, as it can offer comfort and release during the patient’s passing. If you are undertaking medical or any other treatment for cancer, please make this clear on your consultation form and at your sessions so I can be sure that you fully understand how Reiki may be used by your body during your illness.

  • It is not recommended as a treatment during the first trimester of pregnancy.

  • Reiki cannot be performed on a suspected broken bone until the injury has been assessed and reset by a specialist. Once this has been completed, Reiki can speed up the healing process!

  • If Reiki is to be performed on a person under the age of 18, then a parent/guardian will need to complete and sign the consultation form on their behalf and be present in the room during every session. I will also help the child or young person to understand how Reiki works and what will happen during the session in terms appropriate to their age and understanding.