Reiki which means Universal Energy is always available but often because of the separation due to 'thinking" we don't realize that it's available and can come through us.  More importantly..it not only comes through us but is us.  How can it be separate unless we are seeing ourselves as static solid beings--on a molecular level we are vibration just as Reiki is

But whether an individual is aware that they are energy or not is really beside the point because Reiki is this pure essence energy which is always available and doesn't require the practitioner to be awake or not. I believe Reki helps to lead the practitioner to awakeness. 

One of the gifts that Reiki has given me is that I no longer think that I'm the giver (which was extremely exhausting). Most importantly Reiki has reminded me that the receiver is not sick even if they think that they are...(and perhaps that entire belief can be looked at as the only sickness).

But that is just another aspect to come into the light of Reiki.  and...if Reiki can bring me as a practitioner to the awareness that the physical is always a reflection of the state of thinking of the patient and to see the patient in their healthiest place then the practitioner has a very positive impact on the patient--Reiki also allows us the awareness that the patient isn't wrong to feel sick--for several reasons

1. It looks/feels (in the physical world ) like they are.

2. We don't know the reasons why thy choose to go through the physical experience in their mind, body, spirit - so as Reiki leads us always to the deeper truth-we as practitioners just give Reiki..  (How do we give?  Let it Flow, Let it Flow, Let it Flow)

If one is looking to prove the presence of Reiki you won't be able to.When you are in that zone you're not receptive (brings to mind the story of explaining water to a fish).  Reiki bubbles up from the deepest receptive aspects of ourselves. and because we become Reiki healing energy we don't care where it comes from. It justs keeps shining. As Roger Waters  said ..."Shine on you crazy diamond".

It's important to me that we as Reiki student's and practitioners don't become encumbered by books or teachings that have come before us. .  Of course we can use teachers and guides but Reiki (remember it's Universal Energy) is about expansion.  It leads us to our fullest and brightest self, which by the nature of being human and at least in the 3d sense we are unique. This means that we each are going to encapsulate Reiki energy differently.

Sometimes we as humans are attracted to ritual action or the familiar.  ie. sometimes it feels great to have a particular layout or diagram for the lying on of hands--and in the beginning it helps to have a little bit of form but my teachers taught one beautiful and easy truth.  "Reiki goes where it's needed." ( Boy..Does this make this practice easy) The practitioner is not the giver. Reiki flows "through" the practitioner to the patient-As Reiki flows to the patient the practitioner becomes infused with the grace of the Reiki energy.

I tend to write with a Bhakti energy when I write about Reiki. I also tend to refer to Reiki with a more "spiritual" language, but Reiki doesn't care if it's referred to as "spiritual" or not..it will come through and support anyone who is ready for it. I think I use the Bhakti language because to me it is infused with love and Reiki, though it doesn't ask us to be loving, requires us to be open and being open brings in the heart.  After a while Reiki seems to transform us all into love.

Of course I wish to thank Dr. Usui and all his students for the Reiki teachings and also I send love and appreciation to my Reiki Master teachers Skip James and Karen Ashforth for the gifts of their teaching.