What Reiki can and cannot do

February 5, 2003

Hi Monica,

I am a Reiki Master/Teacher, and perhaps I can answer your questions.

Can you give me some more info as to why the R3 practitioner says he cannot help your mother? There could be several valid reasons for his feeling this way, I just was wondering what he gave you for details.

Reiki is a very powerful healing method. But, like any method of healing, it does have its limitations. And it's important to determine if the person in question actually *wants* to be healed.

I know, you're saying, "who on earth wouldn't want to be healed?!" But think about it for a minute. Whenever someone is ill, and comes to me for treatment, I always ask them what their illness gives them. When a busy mom comes down with a bad cold and has to spend the day in bed, that illness is giving her a chance to rest and take a break that she otherwise might not take.

When someone with a chronic illness joins a support group, they often find a whole lot of friends and emotional support that they would not otherwise have if they did not have their illness. So in a sense, their illness is indeed giving them something good. And often people with chronic illness have changed their lives to revolve around the illness, and if the illness were gone, they'd be at a loss as to where to go from there. So healing a chronic case is harder, and impossible if the person in question doesn't really want to change their life to a large extent. It may not be obvious to them on the surface, but their heart and subconscious know they are happy the way they are, if that makes any sense.

As well, it's important to note that *Reiki goes where it is most needed.* I had a friend once ask me to treat her for a sore shoulder (using distant healing, she was in NY, I am in MN.) I sent her Reiki that night, and spoke to her the next day. She said her shoulder still hurt, but she'd been able to deal with an emotional issue that had been bothering her for some time, just after I sent the healing. So, in that instance, the Reiki healed the thing which most needed healing, her emotional state, rather than her shoulder.

I don't know the particulars of your mother's case. I do know there are more than just surface issues to deal with when someone has a chronic illness. It's possible the R3 practitioner feels that your mom's illness can't be cured, but just improved. And maybe that's not what you're looking for. So perhaps he doesn't want to take the case on at all? I don't know.

I do know that Reiki can work miracles, and sometimes it doesn't do a thing. A lot has to do with the person being treated. And often, with chronic things, multiple treatments are needed, and people aren't willing to pay for that many treatments. When I have someone come to me with a chronic issue (like fibromyalgia or arthritis or something like that), rather than treat them repeatedly, I will suggest that they take the R1 course and learn to treat themselves! Much cheaper in the long run, and I love being able to give people the power to heal themselves (I am not interested in holding onto someone else's power.)

At any rate, I hope this helps to give you some insight on the way Reiki heals.

Cheers,

Laura