If you’re curious how Reiki works when your practitioner is not in the room, read on…

Simply put, Reiki is an energy modality. Energy is just as real as matter, but does not have to follow the same rules and parameters as physical matter. Therefore, a practitioner is able to put themselves into a meditative state and connect with their client’s energy from anywhere in the world.

But does it feel the same? Well, according to my clients, yes! The muscle compression piece is missing, but the relaxation and co-regulation is a definite. I’m also able to turn the session into a personalized guided meditation, which can be recorded for you.

The first remote clients I began seeing were deployed military members, living on bases in Japan, Korea and Germany. Since our time zones were opposite, I was able to connect with their energy while they were sleeping — they said the nights that I worked was some of the best sleep they’d ever had! Since they were sleeping I recorded the audio of our session, sharing insights and sensations with them as I worked. They loved it!

Later I began offering distance work for local clients with busy schedules, and now that we’re in a pandemic, 100% of my work is remote.

I begin my remote sessions by setting up my space. I have a workspace in my home where I connect with my client’s energies, and prior to each session I light a candle and some incense, and then I burn some dried herbs or spray some essential oil spray. The smells and ritual help me center my mind and let my own body know, “hey, it’s time to work.”

I use a Reiki symbol called the Distance Symbol to focus my mind as well. I draw this symbol on both of my palms and in the air in front of me. Doing this sets the intention that connecting with the client’s energy and bringing it into my workspace will be as easy as opening a cabinet door and taking out a box of cereal.

I use a series of movements which are like miming — reaching out and picking up the client’s energy, then placing it on my worktable. Is it silly? Yes. It’s not necessary to move in this way but it helps my physical form and analytical mind feel on board with the work. I visualize their body on my worktable and place my hands in the general areas where their body parts would be (head, stomach, hips, etc.)

Once their energy is safely in my space, the session proceeds almost exactly like an in-person session would. I connect deeply with the client’s energy, allowing my own body to pick up on sensations in their body. I also feel into emotions and emotional blockages they may have. I move my hands around to the places where support and warmth feels needed, and send energy just like I would in person.

I offer my clients choices about how we communicate during the session. They can opt to be on the phone or a video call for the whole session, and we can share insights and sensations with each other as I work. Or, they could choose to relax at home while I work, and not be connected via phone or video chat. In this case, I record audio of the work.

Most clients choose the relax-at-home route. In this case, recording audio in real time is the main difference between my remote sessions and my in-person sessions. When I’m in person with someone, I’m usually silent during the work and take notes on any insights I may perceive. This helps them relax fully without having to follow my voice or answer questions.

However, when working distantly I don’t have to worry about my voice being disruptive, so it’s easy to record the insights and sensations in real time. The client doesn’t receive the insights in real time, but is able to listen back later to the recording of the work.

There are some thing s about distance work that may surprise you. Remember when I said my first remote clients were asleep during our work, but I was still able to feel into their emotional state and what their body needed?

Well, distance Reiki works like that for hospitalized and non-verbal patients as well. I have been hired by many families to check in on their loved ones who are in comas or who are intubated and sedated. A person’s emotional and energetic function does not cease during a non-verbal state, so I am able to connect with their energy and monitor their emotional state as well as their physical needs — hunger, thirst, bloating, etc. Reiki can be sent to the person to soothe and support their emotional and physical forms.

This is especially helpful for families in the midst of the current Covid-19 pandemic, since they can’t be with their loved ones at the hospital. This type of Reiki even works when a person is dying. Reiki energy can help support and soothe the body leading up to transition from life to death. When I do this type of remote work, I can connect with the dying person and pick up on messages to pass them along to their loved ones. This is incredibly helpful work because families are currently separated from their dying relatives because of Covid-19.

If you are interested in learning even more about Distance Reiki, I would love to answer your questions. Feel free to get in touch anytime — I am gratefully accepting new clients!