reikijoyliving

http://www.reiki-research.co.uk/research1.html#Intro

This is an interesting UK site that looks at an actual clinical study done with reiki. Though the numbers are small and it appears that the author of the study made a note that the small numbers would make the information of limited use, it is hoped that this study will provide the foundations for future work with reiki. Although this isn’t a major cheerleading study for reiki, I found it interesting reading. It’s nice to look at some of these methods in a scientific light. Sometimes we get so caught up in the metaphysical aspect of things that reality, well, fades away. So I was quite happy to find this website. Good stuff!

There are four different hand positions given for self-treating the feet and each one is listed separately. For me, as long as both feet get done, and the tops and bottoms are covered, then it doesn’t make any sense to separate these positions into four different ones.

The first position is to hold your foot in both hands in a way that is comfortable. Most people cup one hand over the top of the foot and cup the other along the bottom. William Rand’s handbook, Reiki: The Healing Touch, has the left foot as position #11 and the right as #12.

Alternately, you can cup the bottoms of both feet at the same time, with the left hand on the left foot and the right hand on the right foot. Then, I would go to the top and cup them at the same time as well. You could even press the bottoms of the feet together as in a yoga position.

The last position has the person cupping the right food with the left hand, and the left foot with the right hand. The arms cross. This is said to balance out both sides of the nervous system.

Whatever way you chose to treat the feet, it is very important to do so. Ending at the feet helps to ground the person receiving the reiki. It’s a good way to end your treatment and a good way to ground before reentering into the regular world.

This next position builds on the lower back position by working more with the tailbone and lower spine. While, of course, reiki practitioners cannot give medical advice, I find that with my long hours at the computer this position combined with the one yesterday really help. There are muscles between where the gluteus muscles start and your back muscles end, and it’s in this area, that I really need the help. (I don’t have the best computer posture at times, especially when I’m surfing message boards.)

For this position, put your palms on your lower back, centered between your spine and your sides with your fingers pointing down. If you were wearing jeans, think of putting your hands in your back pockets, and use your thumbs off to the side for support. This is a sharper jolt of reiki energy into those muscles.

I’m sure we’re familiar with standing up and putting our hands on our lower back. We might rub the muscles there or lean back to give our body a much needed stretch. This reiki position mirrors the comfort and relief we find when we lean back and stretch those muscles.

You can sit or stand for this position depending on your comfort in each position. Simply rest your hands on your lower back with your thumbs pointed down. Your fingertips should touch.

I find a little reiki with this position really helps me after long hours spent at the computer. After cleaning stalls at the barn, my back hurt (hadn’t done that for 12 years, LOL!). I used this reiki position to soothe my aching muscles.

The next reiki position encompasses the pelvic region. It’s good for the root (or sacral) chakra, and so this is the name I give the position. It’s also very good for women’s issues, or for really grounding and centering. When providing reiki treatments to others, you want to respect their personal space. Therefore the hands are usually held a few inches above this area. We don’t ever want to touch someone in such a fashion without their permission.

This hand position is done by placing your hands on the lower stomach with the heels of your hands on your hip bones. Your fingers are pointed down and touching in a “V” shape. This sends energy into your lower body and acts as a strong grounding force.

Note: I guess the main explanation for the hair on the figures (which return tomorrow), is that I’m having too much fun sketching them out in MS Paint. I hope you enjoy!

The next reiki position is the solar plexus. Personally, I find this to be a very calm and grounding hand position. It’s also good for women’s issues, though the next hand position is also very good for that as well. I find this reiki position to be a very comforting, nurturing one, almost like a reiki hug.

If you’re performing the reiki positions in sequence, then from the last one, simply slide your hands down so your fingers touch just beneath your navel. You want the bottoms of your hands resting just above your hip bones. This is another reiki position where you’ll want to experiment to find what feels best for you.

So I checked with a group of reiki practitioners to see whether you’re supposed to leave your arms uncrossed when doing the shoulder position. And, I’m much relieved to find out that I was right. Unlike other methodologies it doesn’t matter what is crossed, or isn’t, during reiki. The energy will go where it needs to go and will flow regardless of crossed arms. So, when performing the shoulder, or any reiki position, make sure it’s comfortable for you. Don’t worry about getting the hands “just right”. If something feels better, then do it. Move your hands a few inches to one side, or a bit higher or lower. Experiment with finding the perfect way to perform the reiki hand positions for you.

And, because I couldn’t resist drawing another stick figure…don’t be like this guy. Do what feels right to you.

The sixth position for self-treatment is the solar plexus, or stomach. I find this to be a very grounding reiki position, and often use it at work when I need to take a few moments to just catch my breath. It can also be a soothing position for stomach aches or worry. Taking deep breaths and focusing on sending reiki to your center can help spread the reiki throughout your entire body.For this position, simply place your hands flat on your stomach with your fingertips touching. Don’t press and don’t force your hands into position. Simply accept where they rest. Then, you can envision reiki entering your solar plexus and spreading outward throughout your body.

In the tradition I was taught there is not a special hand position just for the heart. The throat position has one hand over the heart, and it’s thought that this, combined with the shoulders, would treat the heart. Personally, I like to create my own hand position specifically for the heart.  Not only does this make the routine for self-treatment flow better, but I think it gives us a warm reiki hug right where we need it most.

Simply place your hands one over the other at the level of your heart. That’s it. Envision the reiki filling your chest, surrounding your heart and from there, being pumped throughout your entire body. I love this hand position, and can’t imagine anything nicer that we would do for ourselves.

The next reiki position is the shoulders. Like the back of the head, I think this is a lovely reiki position for those of us who carry our tension in our shoulders. It’s a great way to self-treat and to send reiki down through our bodies.  This is also a quiet position for sitting and meditating.

This reiki position is simple. Just put your hands over your shoulders close to the neck. Usually when I do it, I find little knots or tense places, so I also use this as an opportunity to give myself a mini massage. Envision the reiki radiating down your arms and through your torso.