| What It Is | | | | destroys one's sense of Self. If a physical injury can |
| Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a gentle and natural | | | | strip away all the things we think we know about |
| system of energy healing. One of the most ancient | | | | ourselves, then what remains? What is that underlying |
| healing methods known, it originated in Tibet and was | | | | Awareness? Does the universe really deliver random |
| rediscovered in the 19th century by a Japanese monk | | | | blows, or did this injury happen for a reason? |
| named Dr. Mikao Usui. The Usui System of Natural | | | | If everything happens for a reason, then what might |
| Healing is named after Usui and has been passed | | | | TBI carry as its message? Returning to the idea of |
| down by Reiki Master Teachers since that time. The | | | | chakras, TBI is a 7th chakra issue. The 7th chakra sits |
| Japanese word, "reiki," consists of two syllables: "rei," | | | | at the crown (top) of the head and is associated with |
| which means "universal," and "ki," the "life force | | | | the hypothalamus and pineal glands, spirituality, oneness |
| energy," corresponding to Chi in the Chinese system of | | | | consciousness, and the colors violet and white. |
| Qigong and acupuncture, and to the concept of prana | | | | Tradition says that whenever an illness or injury strikes |
| in the various Indian systems of Yoga. Thus, Reiki | | | | a particular chakra, the spiritual issues connected with |
| refers to the healing qualities of universal life force | | | | that chakra will aid the healing process. Well, the 7th |
| energy. | | | | chakra is THE spiritual chakra. The crown of the head |
| Today, people practice Reiki worldwide. Many | | | | provides our closest connection to "God |
| hospitals, clinics, and hospice settings now offer Reiki | | | | Consciousness" or "Universal Love." This chakra also |
| as an adjunct therapy given by volunteers or | | | | controls all the other chakras, in the same way that |
| specialists trained in multiple modalities. Reiki is a | | | | the brain influences the entire body. For most survivors, |
| wonderful complement to massage therapy, | | | | TBI presents challenges in the form of finding one's life |
| cranio-sacral work, and psychological therapy. | | | | path, opening to a greater sense of connection and |
| What It Does | | | | service, embracing traces of Divinity in everyone and |
| Reiki works on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual | | | | everything, and coming to recognize an underlying |
| levels. It engages a precise method for combining this | | | | order in the universe. |
| universal energy with the body's own, innate powers | | | | Because Reiki addresses all levels of healing, it also |
| of healing. Reiki is not meant to replace professional | | | | helps balance the spiritual elements so crucial to |
| medical advice but rather to complement other | | | | recovery. Unlike other forms of energy work, |
| treatment modalities by encouraging very deep | | | | however, Reiki does so in a very gentle way. Kundalini |
| relaxation. When the body relaxes deeply, it can begin | | | | energy, for example-also known as the human |
| to heal itself. | | | | potential that lies coiled at the base of the spine-does |
| Reiki practitioners do not diagnose or prescribe | | | | not present itself as gentle. Powerful, strong, and |
| medication. Instead, they allow healing energy to flow | | | | potent-yes, but if awakened too quickly, Kundalini |
| through their hands. Recipients often perceive this | | | | energy can actually cause TBI-like symptoms. Reiki, by |
| energy as warmth or tingling. Many fall asleep during | | | | contrast, always works as an adaptogen. It does not |
| treatment sessions, further allowing the body to relax | | | | force rapid change. Instead, it allows healing to unfold |
| and regenerate. | | | | and reveal itself in its own time and in its own way. |
| Reiki works with the human energy system, which | | | | Given that the 7th chakra represents a culmination of |
| consists of meridians (energy channels) and chakras | | | | all the other chakras, we might extrapolate that TBI |
| (energy centers). Traditional Chinese Medicine identifies | | | | and other neurological problems demand compassion |
| twelve main meridians-plus a governing and functional | | | | and respect. These are extremely complex and |
| channel-that run like roads up and down the body. | | | | dynamic health issues. Attempting to force recovery |
| Although acupuncture was once considered | | | | never works, because that would require superseding |
| completely "alternative," research has shown | | | | something we don't fully understand. Ultimately, TBI |
| correspondence between major acupuncture points | | | | offers a chance for integration in the deepest and |
| and scientifically discovered nerve pathways and | | | | most profound way. Many TBI survivors actually |
| trigger points. Similarly, chakras-seven major energy | | | | possess strong spiritual, creative and healing gifts, so |
| centers that run from the base of the spine to the | | | | their soul retrieval and healing offer potential to effect |
| crown of the head-seem to connect via nerve | | | | dramatic differences in our world. Reiki honors this |
| clusters with endocrine glands whose function or | | | | mysterious process and creates a safe space for |
| malfunction result in feelings and physical states | | | | transformation. |
| associated with those energy centers. The study of | | | | Where to Find |
| meridians and chakras spans thousands of years, with | | | | As Reiki continues to gain recognition among health |
| Western medicine only recently confirming what | | | | care providers, you can increasingly find it alongside |
| Chinese and Indian scholars professed so long ago. | | | | other modalities like massage and psychological |
| A Reiki practitioner does not need to understand the | | | | therapy. Many hospitals and hospices also offer Reiki |
| human energy system in order to support it. Through | | | | to help patients feel nurtured and gently supported. |
| mechanisms most people find mysterious, Reiki flows | | | | You can look for flyers or business cards at Health |
| wherever it most needs to go. In this way, it acts like | | | | Food Stores or in local alternative magazines, or ask |
| what herbalists call an "adaptogen"-energizing weak | | | | for referrals from friends and family members. The |
| areas while decreasing areas of overstimulation. This | | | | International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP) |
| makes sense, considering Reiki's status as "universal | | | | offers an online practitioner and teacher search via zip |
| life force energy." Nature always aims for balance. A | | | | code: |
| concentrated saltwater solution placed in fresh water | | | | In general, you want to choose a Reiki practitioner with |
| results in a slightly saline combination. Yin balances | | | | whom you feel comfortable. A standard Reiki |
| yang. As Reiki flows through the body, energy | | | | treatment lasts one hour; however, Reiki integrated |
| redistributes itself in a balanced and natural way. | | | | with other techniques may take more or less time. |
| Why It Works | | | | You can also receive Reiki from a distance, since Reiki |
| As previously mentioned, Reiki works by allowing the | | | | Level 2 and higher practitioners have learned how to |
| body to relax enough to heal itself. As a gentle, | | | | "send" Reiki through Distant Healing. The process of |
| adaptogenic form of energy, it integrates and | | | | Reiki Distant Healing is too complex and involved to |
| reconnects all levels of healing: physical, emotional, | | | | cover here; however, it does not differ in |
| mental and spiritual. This is important for all healing, but | | | | effectiveness from an in-person session. That said, |
| especially so for TBI survivors. In some ways, TBI | | | | some people prefer in-person sessions because they |
| provides the ultimate illustration of the need for | | | | enjoy a human connection and/or spa-like experience. |
| multi-level healing. A physical injury affects mental | | | | A few words about the different levels: Someone with |
| processing and emotions. Depending on the location of | | | | Reiki Level 1 knows all traditional hand positions for |
| brain damage, someone might lose the ability to feel | | | | treating people on the body (with a light touch) or |
| sad, or forget how to do sequential tasks. Synapses | | | | above the body. (Unless combined with massage or |
| become so jumbled that survivors often answer | | | | some other modality, Reiki never involves tissue |
| questions "randomly," drawing upon whatever | | | | manipulation.) Reiki Level 2 practitioners also know |
| connections the brain happens to make at that time. | | | | special techniques for increasing energy flow, creating |
| Rational thought (mental level) becomes a challenge. | | | | mental/emotional balance, and healing past traumas. A |
| Depression (emotional level) affects a majority of TBI | | | | Reiki Master or Reiki Master Teacher has studied |
| survivors, in part due to neurochemistry and certainly | | | | advanced energy techniques and can offer something |
| due to chronic pain and loss of lifestyle. In order to stay | | | | known as a Healing Attunement, a potent technique |
| positive during recovery, many survivors find | | | | that encourages the recipient's Higher Self to take a |
| themselves turning to spiritual pursuits. | | | | more active role in recovery. Many people experience |
| This spiritual questioning naturally follows an injury that | | | | dramatic shifts after a Healing Attunement. |