21 Mistakes Reiki Practitioners Make ~ and Solutions

Do you worry about making mistakes when sharing Reiki, or have you had unpleasant experiences? If so, you're not alone! 

Those listed below are common problems, yet they’re also stepping stones to becoming competent and comfortable sharing Reiki, whether talking about this mysterious, powerful healing arts system or offering healing sessions.

I invite you to gently set your self-criticism aside - this is a powerful healing practice in itself! Put your Reiki hands on yourself to create safe, sacred healing space, just open to learn and keep reading. 

There’s always more support in the Essential Arts community, so please reach out if you’re feeling challenged or just want to advance your Reiki practice even further. I love supporting Reiki practitioners and learning from you too!

Let’s dive in and transform confusion into clarity and cringing into confidence.

Talking about Reiki

1. I keep taking more and more Reiki training in multiple traditions because I don’t feel confident. What you need is practice, study, support and experience, not more symbols, Attunements, complex teachings, etc. Keep it simple and keep showing up.

2. I need to memorize the one perfect, correct Reiki definition or explanation. Your best explanation comes from your experience. People are interested in what it’s really like for real people. 

3. I feel dumb because I don't remember everything from Reiki training or know how to use it all. The magic of Reiki isn’t in the information or mental effort. If you’ve had a Reiki Attunement, the energy is within you and always available. And you can train and practice to gain experience using the information you have and learning what you need.

4. I don’t want to be a pest. If you offer and don’t stalk, listen as well as talk, sense and respond, you won’t pester. Don’t leave people in the dark when they want to know about Reiki and you have a chance to share it with them.

5. I keep trying to convince people to be interested. The best healing and support you can offer them is to simply radiate the compassion and wellbeing you find in your Reiki practice. They’ll feel it even if they aren’t ready to engage with Reiki right now and your success doesn’t depend on them.

6. I need to know everything about Reiki before I start talking about it. If someone asks you something you don’t know about Reiki, you can always find out. You can model humility and willingness to learn, and share from your own experience.

7. I assume people will be hostile, especially in medical settings,  so I get defensive or try to persuade them. Even in hospitals and nursing homes, I’ve found most people are more likely to be interested or even supportive. And it’s okay if some are not.

8. I’m confused when I ask people if they’ve experienced Reiki and they don’t know or they think they know and they’re wrong. I’ve met many people who have had some experience that may be Reiki, but it was combined with meditation, yoga, massage or other energy work and it’s not clear to them. They may feel embarrassed, so the best support you can give them is compassion and respect, and clarify what Reiki is and isn’t in a simple way.

   
   

   Reiki Sessions 

9. I don't trust myself because it doesn't feel like I expect or remember, so I don’t think I’m doing it right. It won’t always feel the same, for you or your client. The more experience you gain, the more variety you’ll see along with repeating patterns. Reiki can be very subtle and still work.

10. I skip my self-practice because I just want to help people and so many need it. Reiki always begins with ourselves. Everyone will benefit from your dedicated self-practice because you’ll be more present and experienced and you’ll radiate Reiki!

11. I need to know and provide the same perfect, correct hands-on session every time. Reiki is a unique experience every time even if we do the exact same things. It’s okay to use your intuition, or a standard sequence of hand positions and protocols, or a combination.

12. I feel like Reiki isn’t enough so I add in crystals, massage, shamanic journeys and every magical thing to compensate. Reiki is enough on its own. Adding more elements may be confusing, but when you’re ready these can be powerful combinations. Meanwhile, keep practicing Reiki and get the training and support you need.

13. I feel unprepared to offer a full Reiki session. There’s no need to jump into giving full sessions when you can start with short demonstration sessions.

14. I get tired and sore holding positions that aren’t comfortable when doing hands-on sessions. Reiki is meant to be healing for ourselves as well as those we share it with, not to cause discomfort. You can learn postures that will be safe and comfortable for you while you’re supporting others, take breaks when you need, and other ways to take care of yourself.

15. I feel pressure to give intuitive messages, or not to. Reiki can help us develop intuition and connection with Spirit, yet a Reiki session is complete without sharing any intuitive or mediumistic messages. You can decide whether you want to offer this.

16. I want to diagnose what’s wrong with people or they expect this. We just offer our support and trust the recipient to use the healing energy in their own way. As Reiki providers, we don’t act as licensed professionals.

    
    

    Professional Reiki

17. If I charge money for healing people will think I’ve sold out so I keep giving it away. Healing includes financial wellbeing as well as service, so you can find your own balance that feels prosperous and mutually empowering for you and your Reiki clients and recipients.  

18. I've tried following a business coach’s (or anybody else’s) program or plan that doesn’t feel right. Learn from others and make it your own.

19. I need to invest in space and equipment to boost my confidence and feel like I’m really capable. Maybe what you really need is experience and support in a dedicated Reiki community, and help discovering and creating your best Reiki Path before you get started.

20. I don’t think there should be any responsibility or regulation because it’s a gentle spiritual art. Bringing Reiki into the world comes with responsibility and this is part of the healing support you’re providing. The legal requirements vary from state to state or country so please do find out what yours are, both for your own protection and your clients/recipients as well as building strong community. 

21. I’m in a hurry to set up my business now that I have some Reiki training. It’s usually most helpful to volunteer and get experience first so you can feel successful and provide high quality support. You may also need to learn business skills not taught in Reiki classes.

If you see yourself reflected in any of these situations, rest assured, I’ve experienced most if not all of them, and found ways to overcome my own embarrassment, fears and frustrations many times over.

That doesn’t mean I’m finished learning or never feel awkward anymore. I’ve accepted that it’s okay to feel these things and just keep learning and practicing like everybody else. The feeling that we’re all in this together, even though we’re on unique Reiki journeys, is comforting and keeps us humble even as we gain mastery and confidence.

Join the Sharing Reiki with Clarity & Confidence class starting Wednesday, May 13, and Vermont retreat June 23-25, and discover just how much you already have to share that’s valuable and will be appreciated by people in your life, as well as new skills and practice that will boost your confidence and help you feel comfortable and actually enjoy your opportunities to share Reiki.