What is Reiki?

Where it comes from

Reiki was developed in Japan by Mikao Usui in the early 1920s. The name is often translated as “universal life energy”. Today there are many styles, and most trace their roots back to Usui's teaching.

What happens in a session

• A short check-in about what has brought you and anything that would help you feel comfortable.
• You stay fully clothed, lying down or sitting comfortably.
• Your healer rests their hands lightly on, or just above, a series of places on your body. You can ask for a completely hands-off session.
• There's nothing you need to do. You can rest, breathe normally, or even drift off.
• A short close, where you can share anything you noticed.

Session length varies by healer and is shown on each offering.

Touch and consent

Reiki can be given with light touch or completely hands-off. Touch only ever comes up in person, and our code of conduct requires healers to ask before any touch. You can ask for a hands-off session or change your mind at any point, without explaining why. If anything ever feels wrong, you can end the session and report it through our Safety center.

Reiki online

Many healers also offer Reiki over video or as distance healing, with no touch at all. For an online session, find a quiet, private space where you can sit or lie down, and keep some water and a blanket nearby.

What you might feel

Some people feel warmth, tingling, heaviness or lightness, deep relaxation, or emotion. Others notice very little, and that's fine too. There's no right way to experience a session.

Reiki and your health

Reiki is a complementary practice. It is not a substitute for medical or mental-health care, so please keep up any treatment you've been prescribed. If you're pregnant, have recently had surgery, are sensitive to touch or are working through trauma, let your healer know so they can adapt the session for you.

About training

Reiki is usually taught in levels, often called Level 1, Level 2 and Master. Healers list their own training on their profile. We review every profile by hand, but we don't verify certificates, so you're always welcome to ask a healer about their training.