It is a normal part of life as a human being to experience difficulty. We will have aches, pains, and health issues. Our struggles may include anxiety or depression. These things are true for every one of us. There is no escaping pain, illness, loss, death, and struggle. These are things we will all encounter at some time in our lives, even those of us who become Reiki Masters and Teachers.
Some new Reiki Masters (and I was one of them) confuse this with an idea of an eventual physical ideal, with no health issues, pains, or need for medical care or medication. This confusion between the benefits of our spiritual practice in Reiki and an expectation of a perfectly functioning body can cause a great deal of suffering, both physically and mentally. We can unconsciously shame ourselves for the very ordinary course of human life, with all its ups and downs. We can shame ourselves from seeking medical help when it is needed. And, we can unintentionally project those feelings onto our friends, family members, and clients, who may then question themselves before seeking treatment or medical advice.
You are NOT failing as a healer if you still experience pain and illness. You are NOT failing if you still experience difficulties in your life. One of the best spiritual teachings I ever learned was that each of us will, at some point, experience loss, sorrow, death, illness, and pain. Have compassion for yourself and all others, knowing this truth. Reiki can guide us through and help us cope with these things, but it does not remove us from life’s experiences.
Reiki gives us a spiritual practice. The connection with Divine Life Force Energy, the meditative practice of self-Reiki, and the Reiki precepts give us tools that support our spiritual well-being. Supporting our spiritual wellness provides good support for our physical and emotional well-being. Research has shown that healthy spiritual practices, such as prayer or meditation, nearly always support or improve physical and mental health in some way. Sometimes this is simply to increase one’s sense of happiness. Other times, there is a more dramatic improvement. Of course, the effect is different for everyone, but the research demonstrates that having a consistent personal spiritual practice as part of one’s daily life makes a difference.
However, that doesn’t mean that having a personal Reiki practice will provide us with a life free of pain, illness, loss, struggle, suffering, or death. And that does not mean you are failing in any way. Unfortunately, I believe a misunderstanding has evolved regarding a piece of guidance taught years ago. New students learned that a Reiki practitioner shouldn’t practice with others when sick. I recall years ago seeing this advice turning into statements like, “She shouldn’t be practicing Reiki; she has arthritis. What kind of healer can she be if she has that?”
However, Reiki practitioners should not practice when they are…
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