Hands-on or Hands-off Reiki Treatment
 

Reiki differs in a few different ways from other energy-based healing modalities.  One major difference is that practitioners can choose hand placement – either directly on the client’s body or slightly above, depending on the circumstance.

It’s Personal
Except for doing “distant/absentee” Reiki, choosing the “touch” (hands-on) or “no-touch” (hands-off) technique is generally just a personal preference.  Some practitioners simply do not feel comfortable touching others.  However, in order for Reiki to be more beneficial to the client, this is a hang-up that a practitioner should learn to overcome.

Regardless of how a practitioner was taught, there may be a myriad of reasons for choosing the no-touch method.  Most often this type of decision is created partly from personality, partly from learned thinking or behaviour patterns and partly from fear – fear of attracting negative or lower vibrating energies, fear of getting someone else’s illness or disease, fear of becoming emotionally involved, or fear of contaminating their own energies, chakras or aura.

Precautions to Observe
Keep in mind that despite the technique used, whenever Reiki is being administered, both the practitioner’s and the client’s souls are connected at the spiritual level.

So in order to avoid energetic cross-contamination, it is imperative for the practitioner to dis-connect the two energies immediately following treatment by using a favourite cleansing technique.  (E.g. Dry brush method or waterfall method or shower method, etc.).

As a rule of thumb, whenever working with universal energy such as Reiki, it is advisable for the practitioner to practice grounding, protection and cleansing techniques before and after administering Reiki treatment, as well as embrace it as a regular daily routine.  Doing so will help to continuously purify, detox, re-align, re-energize, strengthen and re-balance the practitioner’s energy on all levels – mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.

Choosing Hands-on or Hands-off
When deciding whether to apply hands-on or hands-off treatment, a Reiki practitioner must first have the client’s permission “to touch.”  Although verbal permission will suffice, a signature is safer. 

The practitioner should then be guided first by common sense, as well as intuition and then by extenuating circumstances.  Be sure to discuss any concerns with your client before proceeding with Reiki treatment. 

For instance, if a client suffers from body pain or discomfort (except for headache), due to injury, burns, open wounds or chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis, stroke or fibromyalgia, then it’s probably better not to touch the client’s body.  Instead, hand positions should be placed just slightly above the body to avoid adding to their discomfort. 

Or if the client suffers from pain in just one area due to injury or chronic illness, then the practitioner can use a combination of hands-on treatment for painless sites, but use hands-off treatment for just the painful area. 

If the client has no pain and only seeks re-alignment, energy infusion or re-balancing of their energy levels, then a hands-on treatment should be the method of choice.  The amount of energy received by the client, plus the amount of comfort experienced by the client through hands-on treatment is ten-fold compared to a hands-off treatment. 

For headaches, whether migraine or tension and despite the client's pain, the preferred method is still hands-on treatment.  The practitioner can zone into just the head positions, and especially apply the “Stillpoint” technique at the occipital, which switches the body from stress mode into relaxed mode.

Good, Better, or Best
Since Reiki can be administered directly by light-touch, no-touch or distant/absentee, does it really make a difference? 

Each method naturally has its own strengths and weaknesses. The following table is a guide......

While distant/absentee treatment is a very powerful healing method, it still cannot replace a direct hands-on treatment.  However, sending Reiki using this method is certainly better than no treatment at all.  It provides a very fast, efficient and effective method to send Reiki healing globally and one that can also embrace all circumstances.

No-touch treatment also differs in the amount of healing energy and comfort felt by both the client and the practitioner, but it simply doesn’t compare to a direct hands-on treatment.  However, given certain circumstances, it still provides a viable and potent healing method. 

Choice Based on the Client
The method in which a practitioner administers Reiki should always be based on the client’s needs.  After-all, it’s all about providing service to the client.  Therefore, the practitioner’s fears or inhibitions should take a back-seat to the client’s priorities. 

Each time Reiki is administered to a client, both receives healing energy.  So this is a perfect opportunity for a Reiki practitioner to overcome the fear of “touch,” thereby strengthening their ability as a proficient healer.  The more you practice touching or hugging others, the less fearful and less inhibited you become.

But whether using hands-on, hands-off or distant/absentee methods, what really makes a skilled Reiki healer is simply practice, practice and more practice, combined with pure and loving focus and intention.

© Margaret I. Jang
www.onesourcelearn.com
March 26th, 2011

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About the author: Margaret Jang is a spiritual poet and inspirational writer, as well as an intuitive arts teacher focusing on psychic/channelling development.  She also dedicates her time to soul numerology readings and is a Reiki Master Teacher and practitioner.  Margaret established One Source Learning Centre for Inner Healing in 2005 in Vancouver, BC, Canada.  She may be contacted via e-mail.

Note: Articles, poetry and soul inspiring expressions are © Copyright protected - all rights reserved. In order to copy, reprint, publish, quote, electronically transfer, post to websites or blogs, or reproduce in any manner, please obtain written permission from author Margaret I. Jang.

Disclaimer
The above information is not intended to replace, diagnose, prescribe or treat any ailment or to be used as a replacement for medical treatment or consultation.  It is only intended to enhance your knowledge or general interest and is offered as an alternative and complimentary source of information.   In all cases, it is recommended that you continue to follow medical treatment as prescribed by your medical physician.
 

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