How does Reiki work?

Another excellent question! This one has a couple of answers. Reiki lives between two worlds: the spiritual world and the scientific world. Let’s start with the traditional one

In the spiritual realm, Reiki is universal energy. When Reiki practitioners place their hands on clients, universal energy flows through them into the clients. The energy flows to where it is most needed, like water flowing to the lowest point. 

Reiki practitioners have this ability because they have been attuned to it by a Reiki Master. Attunement awakens this ability that is in all of us. It’s like tuning a radio from static to music.

Then there is the scientific world, where we are trying to figure out what the heck is happening. In this world, Reiki activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the “rest and digest” state. (Versus the sympathetic nervous system, which is the “fight and flight” state.)

The parasympathetic system is mediated via the vagus nerve. And, Reiki may stimulate the vagus nerve to activate this calming system.

When people are in this relaxed state, their bodies respond. This state allows for healing, processing, and social connection. 

I like to think about indigenous people chewing bark from the willow tree 3500 years ago. They knew it relieved pain and headaches. They probably didn’t know the chemical compound at work. After thousands of years of effective use of the bark, science caught up, figured it out, and packaged it into Aspirin.

Eventually, science will figure out how Reiki works. 

For now, we will just know that it does.