Reiki and religion

I would like to share my thoughts about the relationship between Reiki and religion, especially Christianity. Unfortunately, there is a misconception that Reiki practitioners, and people who receive Reiki treatments, don’t have a relationship with God and that they “open themselves up to the devil”. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Is Reiki a religion?

No it’s not a religion. Reiki is not a belief system, so it doesn’t matter what faith you are or what name you give to your Creator. It is a form of energy healing without any religious affiliations and that is why it doesn’t matter what faith an individual holds when they seek Reiki therapy or want to learn Reiki. 

Can Christians Get Reiki?

Yes, Christians can get Reiki! I have Christian clients who pray before a Reiki treatment that God bless the treatment and my hands so that the will of God can be done. Many of my Reiki students also tell me that they had prayed to God, asking for a way in which they can improve their relationship with Him and was shown Reiki as the way to strengthen their spiritual bond with God.

Allow me to explain further: Reiki is a Japanese word that can be translated into English as “Divinely Guided Energy”. Reiki is also the name of the system of energy healing (just as Acupuncture refers to the system of energy healing through the use of thin needles all along the energy channels, or Reflexology refers to the system of energy healing through stimulation of specific points under the feet to open the energy channels). Thirdly, Reiki is also the type of energy that is absorbed by the person receiving the treatment.

It is important to realize that Reiki as a system and as an energy isn’t trying to be God but is in fact guided and inspired by God (hence the translation as Divinely Guided Energy). It is basically the same as the practice of laying on of hands in church. Just as the parishioners or the church leader allow sacred energy to pass through them to the person, accompanied by a deep faith and belief that the healing is taking place, a Reiki practitioner places their hands on a person’s body and allows the pure, loving, healing energy to flow from our Creator to the person. Jesus healed people in the same way by laying his hands on anyone who came to Him for healing.

What does the Bible say about energy healing?

Here are examples from the Bible that confirm that there are people who may, are able to – and indeed must – help heal when they are asked and that the ability to do so is from God:

1 Corinthians 12:4 and 12:28 “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them.” and “In the church God has put all in place: in the first place apostles, in the second place prophets, and in the third place teachers; then those who perform miracles, followed by those who are given the power to heal or to help others or to direct them or to speak in strange tongues.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Mark 16:17 – 18 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.“

For an example of how Reiki and Religion can work together, let’s take a look at the story of Danielle Groth (a Reiki Master) and Vicky Lovell (a Christian Reverend) in America, who have partnered up in spiritual care. They use prayer, scripture from the Bible, sound vibrations and Reiki at the same time, and they complement each other beautifully. Read more about their collaboration here.

Just as long as we help

As followers of a religious faith, it is our duty to help people, whether it be on the physical or emotional level. But not everyone who is sick, feels discouraged, has worries or is frustrated because they feel “stuck” belongs to a church. It is not our place to judge them – but what we can do is offer them the opportunity to find healing and hope. Maybe a Reiki therapist is just the right person to help the man who is seeking spiritual guidance and healing but feels out of place in a church?

The Reiki therapist, the church member, the pastor/reverend, and members of the Bible study group all have the same Godly love for their fellow man. We just refer to our methods of healing by different names.

In the end, we are all doing God’s work.

(This post was originally published in Afrikaans. You can read the Afrikaans version here.) –