04/06/2025
Is Reiki Really “Out There”? Or Is It Rooted in Something Timeless?
When people first hear about Reiki or energy healing, they might feel skeptical.
Is it real? Is it spiritual? Is it just “woo-woo”? Some may even question if it’s appropriate within their own religious or cultural beliefs.
Reiki is unique in its systematized form, but its essence reflects a global spiritual truth: that we are energetic beings, and touch can transmit healing, compassion, and connection.
But here are a couple of questions worth reflecting on:
- Have we forgotten how powerful intentional touch can be?
- Have we dismissed something ancient just because we don’t understand its language?
What many don’t realize is that healing through touch — or spiritually-guided energy healing — is not new, nor is it exclusive to one belief system. In fact, the idea that energy, spirit, or divine power can be transferred through the hands is woven into the fabric of nearly every spiritual tradition in the world.
🕊️ Christianity
The laying on of hands is a sacred act used for healing, blessing, and anointing. Jesus is described as healing the sick with touch, as are his disciples.
“He laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.” — Mark 6:5
Ananias lays hands on Saul to restore his sight. — Acts 9:17
🕉️ Hinduism
In Hindu teachings, life force energy — known as Prana — flows through all living beings. Practices like Ayurveda, chakra balancing, and yoga use touch, breath, and intention to restore energetic harmony.
☸️ Buddhism
Especially within Tibetan and Ta***ic Buddhism, healing is guided by compassion, visualization, and spiritual energy. Touch, sacred symbols, and mantras are used to clear blockages and connect with the universal life force.
⛩️ Japanese Traditions
Reiki itself was developed in early 20th-century Japan by Mikao Usui, influenced by Shintoism, Buddhism, and ancient esoteric teachings. Reiki translates as “universal life energy”, and it is channeled through the hands to support healing of the body, mind, and spirit.
🌿 Indigenous & Earth-Based Traditions
Across Indigenous cultures — from the Americas to Africa to Oceania — spiritually guided touch, often in combination with chanting, drumming, or plant medicine, is used to restore balance and harmony within a person and their environment. Healing is seen as a communal, holistic process.
🇨🇳 Traditional Chinese Medicine
The concept of Qi (vital energy) is central to practices like acupuncture, Qi Gong, and Tui Na (therapeutic massage). These systems involve moving energy through the body with touch and intention to promote wellness and clarity.
🌟 A Universal Language
From temples to cathedrals, from village fires to modern healing rooms, the act of hands-on healing transcends culture and religion. While the names and rituals differ, the deeper message remains:
We are more than physical bodies. We are energy, spirit, and soul — and we can heal when we remember how to connect.
💭 Final Thought
So, before we dismiss practices like Reiki as unfamiliar or strange, perhaps we can pause to ask:
Is this really “new” at all — or are we simply remembering something our ancestors always knew?
