What actually happens in a Reiki session?

A first-timer's guide

If you've ever been curious about Reiki but held back because it sounded a little too out there — this one is for you. I hear it all the time. People come to me half-expecting something theatrical. Dramatic energy shifts, strange sensations, something they'll need to explain to their friends afterwards.

What they actually get is something far quieter. And far more powerful.

"I expected something strange. What I felt instead was the deepest calm I'd had in months. I didn't want it to end."

That's the most common thing I hear after a first session. Not "wow, that was wild." Just a quiet, slightly surprised: I feel peaceful.

First — what is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced "Ray-key") is a Japanese energy-balancing practice developed by Mikao Usui in the early 1900s. The word itself means "universal life energy" — and the practice is built on the understanding that we all carry this energy, and that when it becomes blocked, depleted or out of balance, we feel it. In our bodies, our mood, our sleep, our ability to think clearly and cope with daily life.

Reiki works to gently restore that flow. It isn't a religion. It doesn't require any particular belief system. You don't have to understand it fully for it to work. What it does ask of you is something quite simple: willingness to receive.

Before the session begins

Around three hours before your session, you'll receive a message from me asking you a few simple questions — how you're feeling, what you're carrying, what you're hoping for. This isn't just small talk. It helps me set my intention clearly and focus the energy where it's most needed for you.

Then, about ten to fifteen minutes before we begin, you'll hear from me again — a gentle prompt to find your quiet space, get comfortable, and let yourself settle. That transition time matters. It's the beginning of the process, even before the session officially starts.

What happens during the session

My sessions are conducted at a distance — which I know raises an immediate question. But distance Reiki is just as effective as in-person work, and many clients actually find it easier to fully relax in the comfort of their own space. I'll cover how distance Reiki works in detail in Part 2 of this series.

While you rest quietly — lying down, eyes closed, in whatever position feels comfortable — I'm at work on my end. Here's what's happening during those 45 to 60 minutes:

The opening. I ground and centre myself, set my healing intention, and use a pendulum to ask permission to connect with your energy. I only proceed when that connection is clearly confirmed. Your energy field has its own wisdom, and I honour that completely.

The initial chakra scan. Before any healing begins, I scan all seven chakras — your body's main energy centres, from the crown of your head to the base of your spine. I note which are flowing freely and which feel blocked, heavy, or stuck. This gives me a clear picture of where to focus the session.

The healing. I work through twelve hand positions in sequence — moving from the crown chakra down through the head, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and root centres, and then the back of the body. I spend one to two minutes at each position, giving extra time and attention to any areas that need it. Throughout, I note any words, images or sensations that come through — these often carry meaning for the client.

Oracle cards. As the healing draws to a close, I draw oracle cards — guided by intuition — to offer additional insight and messages for you. These often speak directly to what came up during the session in a way that can feel quietly remarkable.

The closing scan. I do a final scan of all seven chakras to confirm that balance has been restored, and then I close the session with gratitude and intention.

What you might feel during the session

• Deep warmth or tingling through the body
• A pleasant heaviness — the feeling of truly sinking into rest
• Emotional release — sometimes tears, sometimes simply a quiet letting go
• Vivid colours or imagery behind closed eyes
• A half-sleep state, deeply restful
• And sometimes — nothing dramatic at all. Just calm.

There is no wrong experience. Whatever you feel — or don't feel — the energy is working. Reiki gives you what you need, not necessarily what you expect.

After the session

Immediately after we close, you'll receive a message from me letting you know the session is complete and giving you a few simple aftercare suggestions — drinking water, resting, being gentle with yourself.

Within 24 hours, you'll receive your full session report. This is one of my favourite parts of the work. It contains everything I observed — the chakra scan results before and after, what came up during the healing, any messages or impressions received, and the oracle cards drawn for you with their meanings. Clients often tell me the report names things they were already feeling but hadn't found words for yet.

The days after a session

• Unusual tiredness — rest is part of the integration, go with it
• Emotional tenderness — be gentle with yourself
• A sense of clarity that wasn't there before
• Physical sensations as your body integrates the shift
• A general feeling of having been genuinely looked after

How many sessions do I need?

A single session will always do something beneficial — most people feel a noticeable shift even after one. But the real power of Reiki is cumulative. The effects build over time, and a course of four to six sessions at regular intervals tends to produce the deepest and most lasting changes.

Think of it less like a one-off treatment and more like any other practice you invest in consistently — the more you show up for it, the more it gives back.

The 5 Reiki principles

At the heart of Reiki is a set of five simple principles — developed by Mikao Usui as a daily practice for anyone, whether they receive Reiki or not. I love these because they ask nothing complicated. Just presence, and intention, one day at a time.

A DAILY PRACTICE FOR BALANCE AND PEACE

Just for today, I will not be angry

Just for today, I will not worry

Just for today, I will be grateful

Just for today, I will do my work honestly

Just for today, I will be kind to every living being

You don't need to be a Reiki practitioner to live by these. They are simply an invitation to meet each day with a little more intention — and a little more compassion for yourself and others.

The most common thing I hear after a first session isn't "that was strange." It's "I didn't realise how much I needed that."

If you've been curious — that curiosity is worth listening to. Your energy already knows what it needs. Sometimes the first step is simply allowing someone to hold the space for it to be heard.

Read Part 2 of this series: Distance Reiki — how it works and why it's just as powerful as being in the room →

Ready to experience your first session?

Distance Reiki sessions available worldwide. No experience necessary — just an open mind and a quiet space.

Important: Reiki is not a substitute for medical treatment. If you have any symptoms of illness you should see your doctor. Reiki is safe and will complement any form of complementary or medical treatment. A Reiki practitioner will not diagnose or recommend any form of treatment.