Reiki for Emotional Self-Healing

Whether you’re just starting your Reiki journey or are further along the path, one of the most profound and empowering aspects of this practice is its potential to support emotional healing. Reiki is not just about easing physical ailments, it’s also a gentle yet powerful tool for nurturing emotional wellbeing.

Understanding Emotional Conditioning

We often use the words feelings and emotions interchangeably. However, feelings are physical sensations. Emotions are when we have judgements about what we are feeling.

If someone sticks a pin into you and it hurts, that’s an external event causing a feeling - physical pain. Emotions are not caused by external events - they are your internal reaction to an external event. In the case of being jabbed by the pin you might get angry about it or scared about it or emotionally hurt because you can’t understand why they would do that.

But - and this is important - we choose, often at a subconscious level, what emotional reaction we will have. Which is why different people react differently to the same situation.

We have built up our subconscious emotional programming from the time we were born. Often, we follow the lead set by our parents. For example, I learnt poor ways of handling anger from my father.

But just because we have created a subconscious habit of reacting in a certain way doesn’t mean we have to be stuck in that habit. Both my father and I, later in life, learnt much better ways of expressing and dealing with anger. We became more patient, more assertive and better able to deal with our fears.

Self-Healing for Emotional Wellness

The first two of Mikao Usui’s Reiki precepts are:

·       Just for today do not be angry.

·       Just for today do not worry.

And, fortunately, the Reiki healing energy he discovered can help us heal and change our emotional reactions, making it easier to follow those precepts

Awareness is key. Once you know you have a problem you can choose to do something about it. Acceptance is also important. Please don’t be ashamed of your emotions. Shame doesn’t help and can lead to repression, which only makes everything worse.

Start by acknowledging your emotions. And how you feel emotionally is ok. It is a fact. How you express or deal with the emotion is where you can make helpful changes.

When we work on our emotions in self-healing, we start to give ourselves the love, acceptance, security and self-esteem we didn’t always get when we were younger. It can be painful so, remember, there is no need to rush it. It’s a bit like losing weight; it doesn’t happen overnight.

Using Reiki for Emotional Self-Healing

Our emotional reactions are energy in motion. When we experience pain, trauma or long-term stress, that emotional energy can become stuck, disrupting our natural flow and affecting our overall health. Reiki, by its very nature, works to restore balance. It encourages the release of stagnant emotional energy, supports clarity and creates a sense of peace and grounding.

As a Reiki practitioner you can begin applying Reiki to yourself to gently explore and heal emotional wounds. Self-healing is a cornerstone of Reiki training, and the emotional layer is where many of us find the deepest transformation.

Below are some ways to begin using Reiki for emotional self-care. Although it is written for Usui and Holy Fire Reiki practitioners these approaches also apply for Angelic Reiki, with the exception of the hand positions and symbols.

Set a Clear Intention and be Patient

Decide what emotion you are going to work on. Emotional healing often begins with intention. It could be as simple as, “I am ready to release what no longer serves me,” or “I invite calm and emotional balance into my life.” I asked for Reiki to heal and release my need to angry.

Invite the emotions in, creating space to be with whatever arises, gently and non-judgementally.  Rather than resisting difficult feelings, use Reiki to hold space for them. Acknowledge them, breathe through them, and allow the energy to shift.

Be consistent, but patient. Deep emotional healing takes time. It took about six months to do most of the healing around my anger, but it was worth it. If you keep a journal to record your feelings after each session you may notice patterns and progress.

Stay hydrated and take time to rest after emotional releases. And seek support, if necessary.  Reiki can bring things to the surface, and having someone you trust to talk to, whether a Reiki master, therapist or peer, can be deeply beneficial.

Use the Hand Positions Mindfully

While the traditional hand positions work holistically, you may wish to focus more on areas associated with emotional processing:

• Heart chakra for grief, self-love and compassion.

• Solar plexus for anxiety, fear and personal power.

• Third eye for clarity, insight and emotional understanding.

• Base chakra for job or money worries

• Sacral chakra for jealousy or sexual compulsions

Trust your intuition. Your hands may be drawn to areas that need attention even if they aren’t part of the formal positions. We all hold emotions in our bodies, but where I hold anger in my body may be very different to where you hold it.

Use Reiki Symbols

If you’ve completed Reiki Level 2, you can incorporate symbols such as the mental/emotional healing symbol. It helps bring balance to emotional distress and can be used to clear emotional blockages. Visualise the symbol or draw it in the air over the heart or head, and let its vibration guide the healing process.

If you have learnt Karuna Reiki symbols such as Harth or Shanti may be helpful.

A Gentle Path Forward

Reiki is not a quick fix, but a pathway to self-awareness, balance and inner peace. As you continue your practice, remember that emotional healing is not linear. Be kind to yourself. Celebrate your courage in showing up for yourself, even on the days it feels difficult.

Your Reiki practice is a gift. Use it to nourish your spirit, soothe your heart and gently transform your inner landscape.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, reach out to Mark:

email: mark.thomson56@outlook.com

tel/WhatsApp: +44 (0) 7812 379251