This page contains an excerpt from my Masters research project final paper: A phenomenologically-inspired study: An exploration of the lived experience of seven participants who experience a session of Reiki with lavender aromatherapy. By Terrie Look, Masters of Education Candidate (granted Dec 2014), Johnson State College, December 2014. Look for the full paper to be available online at a future date!
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(Information continues from Reiki History Overview.)
Reiki Today
Reiki is most frequently described in the current western world as a non-invasive, holistic relaxation method and spiritual practice that is also considered to be a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) biofield therapy practice. It uses light touch and a meditative body-mind connection to help support the body’s natural ability to balance and self-heal on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. No adverse or harmful effects have been associated with Reiki. (Ellis, 1999; Horan, 2000; Miles, 2008; Petter, 1999; Rand, 1998; Vitale; 2007)
Reiki is pronounced “Ray-Key” – which generally translates as Rei: universal, transcendental spirit, mysterious power, essence; God Light; higher knowledge of spiritual consciousness; and Ki: chi, prana, energy, life force, vital energy, universal life force, light (energy). Together, this represents what world-renown Reiki Master Teacher, author, and researcher William Rand describes, “the non-physical energy that animates all living things (Rand, 1999, p. I-1) or “spiritually-guided life energy” (ibid, pp.I-2). (Ellis, 1999; Horan, 2000; Petter, 1999; Rand, 1998; Stein, 1995)
Another world-renown Reiki (and yoga and meditation) teacher, author, and researcher, Pamela Miles (2008) considers the source energy associated with Reiki, rather than chi, to be “the much subtler… primordial consciousness (Miles, 2008, p. 10).”
Miles explains that:
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institute of Health (NIH) classifies Reiki as a form of energy medicine, and specifically as a biofield therapy… biofields as “extremely subtle fields that are said to surround and permeate the human body” (Miles, 2008, p. 9).
But that “although it makes sense to classify Reiki as energy medicine for research purposes, Reiki really is not energy medicine;” she suggests instead that “pulsation, vibration, or oscillation” would better describe it (ibid).
Miles has dedicated her career to helping bring western scientific credibility to Reiki, initiating and participating in science-based Reiki research projects in collaboration with current conventional medical researchers. She considers that “Reiki is not [as] deliberate” as other modalities… that “deliberately reorganize the biofield;” instead, “both the practice and the experience of Reiki are closer to meditation than to any techniques of energy medicine (Miles, 2008, p. 9).”
To those who shy away from Reiki due to its association with “spirituality,” Miles explains what she considers the difference between spirituality and religion, and why one “does not [have] to believe anything to benefit from Reiki.”
You only have to be open-minded enough to experience treatment. Religion involves… a particular set of beliefs. Spirituality… [however] is how each individual relates to the invisible parts of life, how we grapple with issues such as meaning and value. It’s intensely personal and not optional. (Miles, 2008, p. 12)
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(Information continues with Reiki and Science)