Why Reiki Doesn't Work ... Sometimes

Why Reiki Doesn't Work ... Sometimes

Jan 21, 2022

Every practitioner who’s been into Reiki for a while knows that it does work. Some people though fail to get great results, and conclude that it doesn’t work.

There are a few things which could cause Reiki to “not work”, and people who don’t get the expected results are most likely doing or having at least one of the following. There are of course other factors too, but these are most common.

Silver bullet mentality

Myth: Reiki will kick in and solve all your problems

Some people expect Reiki to just kick in and solve all their problems for them. That is not usually what happens.

Reiki is not a silver bullet and it doesn’t work that way. The way it does work is, with practice, it will help you see your problems, and it will show you a way to solve them, or many times teach you to just let go of them – but in the end it will be you solving your own issues.

Impatience

Myth: Reiki will fix you up quickly

Many people have unreasonable expectations and for some reason believe that Reiki is like a magic pill that you just take and you’re fixed. There is unfortunately no such pill, and these pill seekers won’t find it in Reiki, nor will they find it anywhere else, for such pill does not exist.

Reiki takes time, and its practice is very much like growing children. Parents will definitely agree with this one. Just like when feeding children, you’ll surround your daily practice with love. Just like time spent with your kids, the sessions are something practitioners enjoy and look forward to.

Reiki is a way of life. Just like kids growing, little difference (if any) can be noticed from one day to the next. But when looking back at months and years of practice, the changes incurred are very obvious and profound.

Lack of Practice

Fact: Just like any other craft, the more you do it, the better you’re at it.

The energy channels are cleared with each session. Every time you invoke a symbol, even if it’s just for a few seconds, the energy is reinforced. The performance of an athlete who trains every day will be very different from the performance of an athlete who trains once a week.

Approach

Myth: You get enlightened at the Master level

Reiki is a journey, not a destination. It should be approached as an exploration, as an expedition to discover new territory, new things, that will come in time. Not with over-excitement, but with tranquility, joy, and a smile.

It is not a destination with stages 1, 2 and 3. It most certainly does not end with the Master / Teacher level. In fact, it never ends. It’s a continuous, transformational journey, filled with growth experiences and great learnings. It’s a peaceful journey, and it starts with the certainty that life is already great, and it can only get better.

There is always something new to learn and to experience, and just when you thought you’ve reached the destination, the path to the next stage becomes clearer. The wise practitioner approaches Reiki as a journey, not as a destination.

Attachment to Outcome

Myth: Reiki will help you get this job, heal this condition, fix this relationship, win the lottery

This is probably the number 1 reason why Reiki does “not work”, and it’s even more subtle and difficult to “self-diagnose” than the last reason.

Especially when new to the practice, people tend to channel the energy towards a specific outcome, instead of a specific situation. For example, you might channel the energy intending that you pass a specific job interview, instead of just sending the energy to the entire situation, being open to any outcome that serves the highest good of all involved. Attempting to channel to a purpose will simply negate the effect. It will strengthen the attachment, creating a “clingy” feeling, which will in turn create resistance and stress.

When channeling Reiki, detach yourself from any outcomes. Resist nothing, and be open to anything. Trust that Reiki is an intelligent energy that will find its way to the highest good. Perhaps failing that job interview is a prerequisite to your discovering that you can contribute in a better, different way. Or perhaps you’ll just do great in the job. The key is to just be open to both outcomes, and to all other outcomes. Perhaps you’ll get a job at that company, just not the one you’re thinking about. Or perhaps you will refer your friend to this job. The possibilities are infinite, and we can only appreciate the abundance of opportunities we see at every step we take.

So don’t cling to any outcomes when sending Reiki. Instead, aim for a feeling of flow, of peace, of openness, and trust (and aim for) that whatever will happen is the best thing for everyone involved – even if they don’t know it yet.

So why doesn’t Reiki always work?

The truth is Reiki always works, at some level and to some degree. But a person shouldn’t go to a Reiki healer and expect that the healer is going to do all the work. They are accountable for their own self, and they are responsible for eight of the nine factors of a successful Reiki treatment. There is a reason Richard Gordon says the healer is the person who is sick and gets better. The sick person controls their fate.

And for the Reiki practitioners who ask “Why should I go to so much trouble to hone my skill when it’s only a small part of the results?” We do it because it’s the part we can control, and we do not want to be the weak link in the healing process.

First published on 22 August 2017 at Reiki Refuge's Jots & Thots

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