Is Reiki Dangerous?

If you have never experienced a Reiki treatment or attunement, you might be asking yourself whether Reiki is dangerous. For reasons we will see, Reiki can only be dangerous to your physical health if you use it to replace the care of a licensed medical provider. But I can also understand if you worry that Reiki could be dangerous to your sense of spirituality. Or, if you follow a specific religion, you might have a concern that Reiki will be opposed to it. Furthermore, you might wonder whether the Reiki practitioner will impose his or her concept of God or spirituality on you.

For those unfamiliar with Reiki, I can well understand those concerns. However, I would point out that these worries are not unique to Reiki masters. They can arise when dealing with any professional or human being in any number of circumstances. None of us should force our beliefs on anyone, or interfere with anyone else’s spiritual path. It is my personal belief that Reiki is no different and that a good Reiki master will never impose his or her beliefs on others.

In this article, I address some of the most common concerns you might have about Reiki treatments or attunements.

Is Reiki A Religion?

Reiki is not a religion. Rather, Reiki is a system of spiritual, mental and emotional healing because it works on all of those levels. Because Reiki is not a religion, it includes no creed or dogma, and it does not require faith in order for it work. Reiki is a universal energy that has always existed and will always exist, regardless of whether a person believes in it. In this way, it is similar to the air we breathe, or to the trees and plants we see around us. Reiki is simply part of nature.

Just like the trees or the birds do not interfere with a person’s faith, neither does Reiki. However, Reiki masters and practitioners are imperfect human beings just like anyone else. Therefore, it is certainly possible for a Reiki master to bring up religion or religious practices during a Reiki session. It is also possible for the practitioner to draw on elements of his or her own faith when speaking to client. In my opinion, the Reiki master must tread carefully here to avoid imposing on someone’s beliefs. Unless a person is asking for spiritual guidance, it is my personal belief that the topic should be avoid.

As you can see, it is not the system or energy of Reiki itself that risks imposing on a person, but fallible human beings. For this reason, my recommendation would be to choose a Reiki master who is compatible with you. This is no different than choosing a doctor or other professional, or even a friend.

But Don’t The Five Reiki Principles Make Reiki A Religion?

No. The five Reiki principles do not make Reiki a religion. These principles were suggested by Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of Usui Reiki, as part of a system for greater self awareness and spiritual development. Every Reiki master or practitioner, every recipient of Reiki, is free to live by these principles or not. They do not constitute a religious dogma or creed. Rather, I see them more as a set of ideals that serve as sign posts as we live our lives each day. For example, if I find myself beginning to entertain thoughts of worry, I remember the first ideal. That helps me set aside my worry and live more in the moment.

As a reminder, the five Reiki principles include:

• Just for today, I will not worry.
• Just for today, I will not be angry.
• Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
• Just for today, I will be grateful.
• Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.

You are always free to live by these principles if you wish, or not.

Is Reiki Dangerous Because It’s Superstitious?

Because we cannot see Reiki with our eyes, I can understand the concern that the belief in Reiki is superstitious. However, consider what happens when you use a microwave oven. You put the food in and turn it on. You may see the light go on, and hear the noise the oven makes, but you can’t see the microwaves. But, when you take the food out of the oven, it feels hot, it smells good, and you can see that it was cooked. You can see the effects of the microwaves, even though you can’t see them. The same is true for Reiki. You might not be able to see the energy, but you may feel a tingling sensation, or hot or cold, or you may feel much more relaxed than you did before the treatment. You might also even feel more profound physical, mental or emotional effects.

A superstition is an unjustified belief in something. Because Reiki requires no belief, and no faith, and because its effects are apparent even if you can’t see the energy, Reiki is neither dangerous, nor based on superstition.

Is Reiki Dangerous Because It Draws On Supernatural Powers?

It should be clear by now that Reiki does not draw on any supernatural powers or forces to heal. Because we Reiki is found in everything and everyone, Reiki uses the body’s own resources to heal. Much in the way that one does not draw on supernatural powers when one drinks a glass of water to stay healthy and hydrated, no supernatural powers are at work when giving or receiving Reiki. In this way, Reiki should be understood as a completely natural energy, rather than a supernatural one.

Do I Need Help From Guides For Reiki To Be Effective?

No help from guides, or any other spiritual beings is needed in order for Reiki to be effective. Reiki is all around us in abundance. The series of attunements that the master or practitioner undergoes is sufficient for the Reiki to begin flowing. The intention to channel Reiki begins the flow of Reiki from the master or practitioner to the recipient. No additional help is required for the treatment or attunement to be effective. Therefore, no belief in spirit guides is needed to benefit from Reiki.

Are There Any Physical Side Effects?

You need not worry about any physical side effects of Reiki. Unlike other complementary modalities, such as massage, Reiki can be done without any physical contact between the practitioner and the recipient. So, there is no danger of bruising, or muscle or skin injuries. In some cases, you may experience what some people call a healing incident. This can happen when your being rids itself of un-necessary energy after receiving a Reiki treatment. Some people report some stiffness or some minor aches. These symptoms are typically minor an disappear within a couple of days at the most. You may also experience a healing incident at the emotional level, where you feel you emotions more intensely, or you may even have the urge to cry as part of the cleansing process. It is important to listen to your being and to provide it with what its asking for. As long as you are not using Reiki as a replacement for the care and guidance of your medical professional, it is completely safe!

Is Reiki Dangerous Because It Is Not Proven By Science?

Remember that you should not use Reiki as a replacement for conventional medical treatment, but rather as a complement to it. In other words, you should continue with any treatments that you are currently receiving and that has been proven effective by today’s science.

In addition, there have been a small number of studies on the effectiveness of Reiki. I would encourage you to check out this study, for example, on the National Institutes of Health website on the effectiveness of Reiki. This article discusses whether complementary modalities in general are evidence based.

Although the effectiveness of Reiki has not been proven by today’s science, the National Institutes of Health states that Reiki does not have any harmful side effects.

Can Reiki Make Me Do Something I Don’t Want To Do?

If you are wondering whether Reiki is dangerous because it can make you do something against your will, the answer is no. Reiki can never make anyone do anything against their will. You cannot use it to cast spells, and you cannot use it to make anyone do anything they don’t want to do. If someone tries to use Reiki in that manner, it simply won’t work. In fact, one of the primary responsibilities of a Reiki master is to ensure that he or she always has the recipient’s permission before starting a treatment. If a person comes to the practitioner’s office for a treatment, that is considered proper permission to do the treatment. If the practitioner is doing a distance treatment and the recipient is not physically able to give their permission, the practitioner must ask the recipient’s higher self before proceeding. Simply put, it is impossible for anyone to exert any control over you by using Reiki.

Is Reiki Dangerous Because It Comes From Another Person (The Reiki Master)?

Reiki is a universal energy is within us, and in everything around us. Therefore, when the Reiki master or practitioner channels the energy, they are not creating it by their own efforts. They are only channeling what is already there. The recipient simply draws the energy from the practitioner’s hands and into their own being. This is a completely passive process and requires no effort on the part of the recipient. In any case, Reiki is not dangerous because no person produces or generates it. It is only channeled and then it flows where it is needed.

Conclusion

As you can see, Reiki is a safe, simple complementary modality. Ultimately, it will be up to you to do your research to determine whether Reiki is right for you. I would be honored to answer any questions you may have. Let me help you on your healing journey!