What is Reiki Really? Debunking Myths and Sharing My Journey

Photo by Matt Park on Unsplash

I often get asked, “What is Reiki really?”, or “Do you just wave your hands around and make people feel better somehow?” And well, let’s also face the fact that Reiki (and wellness in general) has been made trendy in the age of social media and the ways in which people look for answers to solve their complex life problems. 

I wanted my first blog post for Raido Reiki to be me not only introducing myself, but also the practice of Reiki and where it originated. I would also like to take some time to debunk some myths that I hear about Reiki and energy work itself. Hopefully by the end of this blog, you will know me and Reiki a little bit better.

Let’s start with the sentiment that energy healing like Reiki is more than just a trend - it’s instead a powerful healing modality rooted in tradition. My journey to this path was a long one, and being a scientific person for most of my life, I would never have guessed I would land on Reiki as a career and a way to heal myself. Not because I didn’t believe, but because I didn’t understand. To me, I was just getting through the day the best way that I could, so could not connect spiritually. I lived in fight or flight the majority of my life, and did not address or acknowledge it. Instead of digging deep and connecting to myself, I chronically overworked and spent my time doing activities that didn’t require me to think about those complex feelings and ways that I had experienced loss and disengagement in my life. It was when I connected to myself on a soul level that enabled the tools for my healing - including Reiki.

Reiki Myths Busted

Before I get too much into my story, I would like to lay the groundwork for the practice of Reiki, and hopefully shine some light on what it does for us. Reiki is often misunderstood, especially in Western wellness spaces. So let’s clear a few things up:

Myth #1: “Reiki is just woo-woo nonsense.”

Not quite. While Reiki is energy-based and non-physical, it is also a structured healing modality with roots in Japanese tradition. It’s not about “believing in magic” (although that is completely acceptable ;)) - it is about allowing your body’s natural healing processes to activate with support.

Myth #2: “You have to believe in Reiki for it to work.”

Nope! Reiki isn’t faith healing - it’s energetic. You don’t have to be spiritual or “into” this kind of work to feel the effects. Many people come in unsure and leave feeling grounded, calm, and/or emotionally lighter.

Myth #3: “Reiki is a religion.”

Reiki isn’t religious, though it can be spiritual. It has no dogma, no belief system to follow. It simply honours life-force energy (known in Japanese as ki, like chi in Chinese medicine) and the body’s ability to rebalance.

Myth #4: “It’s just someone waving hands over you.”

While Reiki is hands-on or hands-near, what happens is much deeper than it looks. Practitioners are trained to connect with universal energy and direct it with intention, technique, and intuition - not just random gestures.

The Origin of Reiki

Okay! So now that we have that out of the way, let’s chat about the origins of Reiki. Reiki as we know it today was developed in Japan in the early 20th century by Mikao Usui. Usui was a spiritual seeker who, after a long meditation retreat on Mount Kurama, received insight into a healing system that balanced mind, body, spirit. He began teaching and sharing this method, which later became known as Reiki - “rei” meaning universal or spiritual, and “ki” meaning life force energy.

It was brought to the West through Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman who studied Reiki in Japan in the 1930s and helped adapt it for Western understanding. Since then, Reiki has continued to evolve, with many practitioners bringing their own lineage, culture, and care to the work.

In my own practice, I hold deep respect for the roots of Reiki and aim to honour its original spirit - while also weaving in my own cultural tools, like Nordic runes and ritual work. I like to make my sessions highly personalized, and offer many different ways to receive Reiki energy for this reason. I recognize that we all have our own paths, and what works well for one person doesn’t always work well for others. For me, it’s about finding that spark, or place where a spark should be - and making it the center of the session. 

My Path to Reiki

As I have walked my own unique path, I know that healing is not linear, and it’s also not one size fits all. Having faced childhood trauma and abuse, navigating chronic illness and medical gaslighting, being a child in a household fraught with addiction, undiagnosed ADHD, and parental abandonment left me on the edge. On the edge of depression, on the edge of sanity, on the edge of finding out who I really was - that was where the real work started to take hold. After experiencing a great loss in my life, I found that my life had been turned upside down and I had a choice to make. I could either continue to bury my heart and mind to avoid healing, or I could face it head on and become what I knew I could become. It was time to believe in myself.

I absorbed self-help books, podcasts, and different healing practices. I leaned on my community that was also on a healing journey, and we found a way on the path together. I got more absorbed in nature and my spirituality. Every week it seemed that I had a new way to look at the world, a new fire to do better and be better. Especially in my career, which was centered around helping others. I knew I had to be able to hold space for myself to avoid the regular burnout I was experiencing, and to show up stronger for those who needed my unique voice and perspective. 

One day, I was working (on my birthday) and feeling VERY disconnected to myself and not very happy. So I decided to take myself out to lunch, and visit my favourite herbalist business to get some treats for myself. When I was there, I noticed a poster for a local Reiki Practitioner training that was coming up, and instantly a light was activated. It was just what I needed, but I wasn’t sure how I would be able to afford the training. That’s when an unexpected birthday surprise gift landed in my bank account that made it possible for me to book the training. I did it on the spot! I knew I was being led by the universe, and I was not going to ignore that call.

Receiving the first attunement and training was like everything aligned. I had found a way to quiet the noise, a way to heal myself and expand my practice beyond myself. I felt like I had unlocked a new level, a new experience. And I also knew I could be a vessel for others to enjoy the same peace, contentment, and powerful self-worth that comes with self-compassion and healing. So, here we are now - Raido Reiki was built on those concepts and continues to evolve because of our community.

What Sets Us Apart

At Raido Reiki, healing isn’t one-size-fits-all - it’s a sacred journey. My approach blends traditional Reiki with personalized, intuitive tools designed to meet each person exactly where they are.

Here’s a few ways that sets Raido Reiki apart:

• Rune-infused Energy Work - By weaving Nordic runes into my Reiki practice to enhance intention, symbolism, and energetic clarity. Each rune carries a story and a purpose - whether you are calling in strength, release, protection, or growth. They may appear in your session through visualization, drawn over the body, or sent home with you as a tool for continued support.

• Grounded Spirituality & Ritual - My work is deeply rooted in nature, ancestral wisdom, and personal empowerment. Sessions might include grounding rituals, intention-setting, or small ceremonial elements that bring depth and meaning to your healing process. Think of it as a soul-centered experience, not just an appointment.

• Inclusive and Sensory-Aware Space - Everyone’s nervous system is different. I offer an intake process that welcomes you to share your sensory preferences - whether you love soft music, prefer silence, want to avoid certain scents, or need adaptations for accessibility. I hold space gently, especially for those navigating trauma, chronic illness, or neurodivergence.

• Take-Home Tools for Integration - Healing doesn’t stop when the session ends. Clients often receive custom supports like journaling prompts, crystals, reiki-infused essential oils, or ritual suggestions to continue the work at home. These aren’t just “extras” - they’re part of making healing real and lasting in your everyday life.

  
  

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey? 

Whether you’re brand new to Reiki or looking to deepen your spiritual practice, you’re welcome here. Sessions are gentle, intuitive, and tailored just for you - with options for in-person or distance healing.

Let’s work together to help you feel more grounded, clear, and connected.

Book a session: calendly.com/raidoreikiwellness

Questions? Reach out anytime at raidoreikiwellness@gmail.com

Follow along on Instagram: @raido_reiki OR Facebook at www.facebook.com/raidoreiki

You don’t have to walk this path alone. Let’s reconnect you with your inner power - one breath, one rune, one session at a time.