By Josslyn Streett, Reiki Master/Teacher for Rain Shadow Reiki, in Sequim, WA
I’ve recently updated my page on, What is Reiki?, to be more of the explanation I give to my students verbally. Many people, even people who have taken Reiki, still do not have a strong grasp of what Reiki truly IS. This does not help their confidence in doing it or talking to others about it. I pray you find this helpful in your moving forward with Reiki and very much welcome your loving questions, comments and responses.
Blessings,
Josslyn
What is Reiki?
Reiki at the core is a band of vibration of healing energy that comes from a Divine and intelligent source.
One of the ‘definitions’ of Reiki is, “Divinely Guided Life Force Energy.” Meaning, the energy itself comes from a Divine, intelligent source, it knows what to do, where to go, how much Reiki you or your client needs and does this part for us. What we must do as clients or practitioners is ‘get out of the way’ mentally, and allow the healing to happen.
Reiki is not a technique, although many people, even Master/Teachers, even myself, talk about Reiki as a technique because that is a tangible thing that people can grasp onto and understand. We teach basic technique with a Reiki class to give students a starting point and some confidence in working with their Reiki. But, Reiki is the energy and not the technique.
As a student practices, they gain inner wisdom that guides them giving them even more confidence and ability along their healing path. The Reiki and their Reiki Guides, guide them as to where to put their hands, for how long and when to take their next class. It’s a beautiful process and one that, if allowed, unfolds naturally and gracefully.
Why is this important? Why does it matter that we know that Reiki is the energy and not the technique?
I have found that many of my students get wrapped up in their heads with Reiki when they are first starting. They focus on the hand positions I taught them and not the part where I said “You cannot do it wrong.” Many of us are so trained to do things ‘right’, do things a particular way, do things the expert’s way, that we forget, Reiki and our Higher Knowing guide us, we already know how to do this, out human self just needs to step aside, break through the fear and go for it.
Reiki being the energy, allows us the freedom to know that as long as we’re doing it, we are doing it ‘right.’
You literally cannot do it wrong!
Even if you are not doing your Reiki, you are learning from it. You learn how much better you feel when you do, do your Reiki. You learn about yourself and what you need, want, desire in your life. You learn about your fears that are keeping you from doing your Reiki and you learn about your connection or lack there of, to Divine Creator. We learn so much from the times we are NOT doing something, that when we start doing it again, anything healthy for us, we get important information.
So do your Reiki, knowing you cannot do it wrong. Knowing it always is ON when you ask it or intend it to be. Knowing you have done this before and are just re-learning in a new body and knowing that no matter how much or how little you do, it’s all good for you.
Knowing you cannot do it wrong, gave me permission to be daring, to play with it, to try new things, my way things and to be DAUNTLESS!!!
An oldie but goodie, JUST DO IT!!!
Email questions about Reiki to rain shadowreiki@gmail.com
Blessings,
Josslyn
Here is another explanation of what Reiki is by William Lee Rand from the Reiki News Magazine and the International Center for Reiki Training.
By William Lee Rand at the International Center for Reiki Training

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.
Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.
An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an “attunement” given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of “life force energy” to improve one’s health and enhance the quality of life.
Its use is not dependent on one’s intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.
While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not religious. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.
While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.
William Lee Rand at The International Center for Reiki Training can be found on my links page

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”
Helen Keller
DISCLAIMER: I, Josslyn Streett, am not a medical doctor and do not practice medicine. I do not diagnose, cure, heal, treat disease or otherwise prescribe medication. I assist people in correcting energetic imbalances in their bio-field that assists the body to release its innate healing ability. When the energy of the body is balanced and moving correctly, the body’s innate natural energy heals itself. All healing is self-healing between you and your Higher Power of Love and Light. I recommend that clients continue to see their regular medical doctors and follow their advice and my work is a complement to regular allopathic medicine and any other healing modality. My spiritual energy work is not a substitute for conventional medical diagnosis or treatment for any medical or psychological condition. For such issues, you should seek the proper licensed physician or healthcare professional. I am a minister and my work is spiritually based and I believe all healing is spiritual in nature. I do not make any promises, warranties or guarantees about results of my work or of the energy sessions. The energy sessions help many people but like any modality it won’t work for everyone. The healing is up to you and your soul, I am just the facilitator, channel and translator. Blessings, Josslyn