NDSU College Students describe what Reiki feels like during class demonstration. The most effective way of explaining Reiki is by experiencing it firsthand. Sharing this story, however, may give you more insight into understanding Reiki. by: Reiki Master Teacher, Jennifer Kruse, LMT CRMT - Fargo
 | Reiki is an amazing energy healing technique which is difficult to explain with words alone. "What is Reiki... EXACTLY?" If I had a quarter for every time I've heard THAT question! In 2010, an NDSU Professor contacted me requesting that I come teach their Wellness classes more about Holistic forms of medicine and CAM therapies. He especially wanted the students to understand Reiki, a nearly impossible task! NDSU Students were ecstatic about Reiki after class demonstrations. Sharing this story may give you more insight and understanding of Reiki. |
Reiki is considered a Holistic Form of Medicine.
Holistic Medicine is actually more of a "Concept" which essentially means:
Treating the Whole Person... Mind, Body, Spirit & Heart.
Mind: Thinking Health (how are you thinking?)
Body: Physical Health
Spirit: Spiritual Health
Heart: Emotional Health
An imbalance in any of the above areas can lead to illness.
Holistic Medicine is actually more of a "Concept" which essentially means:
Treating the Whole Person... Mind, Body, Spirit & Heart.
Mind: Thinking Health (how are you thinking?)
Body: Physical Health
Spirit: Spiritual Health
Heart: Emotional Health
An imbalance in any of the above areas can lead to illness.
There has been a massive increase in the Conventional Medical Doctors who encourage their patients to add Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) to their treatment plan.
CAM is a category of Alternative Therapies which provide more of the Natural and Holistic Concepts of Healing. These are added to Complement the patient's regular medical treatment.
CAM therapies accepted by Mainstream Medical community include: Reiki, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Chiropractic, Native Medicine, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, etc.
Reiki was approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing for Continuing Education.
Many people are curious about Reiki & usually wish to understand Reiki before considering it as their CAM Therapy of choice. Time to start collecting all those quarters!
CAM is a category of Alternative Therapies which provide more of the Natural and Holistic Concepts of Healing. These are added to Complement the patient's regular medical treatment.
CAM therapies accepted by Mainstream Medical community include: Reiki, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Chiropractic, Native Medicine, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, etc.
Reiki was approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing for Continuing Education.
Many people are curious about Reiki & usually wish to understand Reiki before considering it as their CAM Therapy of choice. Time to start collecting all those quarters!
"What is Reiki... EXACTLY?" |
Writing an article to successfully explain Reiki is a challenge which ranks right up there with explaining Reiki to nearly 200 NDSU students per Wellness Class! Sharing the experience will help to explain Reiki to you too!
The NDSU Professor contacted me because I am known locally as an Expert Massage Therapist & Certified Reiki Master Teacher. Previously, all other certifications & services were not advertised. People often take more time asking questions to understand those services, than it takes to help them feel better. Holistic Healers often mix and match everything together to best suit each client's specific health needs.
The Professor forwarded the class material already covered in the Wellness Class so no time would be wasted repeating information. He had not realized I fell under almost every CAM category within the provided course materials, which was a lot to cover in only 90 minutes!
Touching on all of them PLUS helping the students to understand Reiki?
Pulling this off would be some sort of Miracle in itself!
As a form of energy healing, Reiki energy can be felt. In smaller groups, a Reiki Circle would allow for everyone to have the opportunity to experience a sample of Reiki. Arriving at the theater-like classroom, many of the students seemed to be sitting so far away, a Reiki Circle would not be possible. Considering this possibility in advance, my power point presentation was prepared by arranging the therapies in a specific order.
I wondered how in the world could anyone succeed in this task?
The NDSU Professor contacted me because I am known locally as an Expert Massage Therapist & Certified Reiki Master Teacher. Previously, all other certifications & services were not advertised. People often take more time asking questions to understand those services, than it takes to help them feel better. Holistic Healers often mix and match everything together to best suit each client's specific health needs.
The Professor forwarded the class material already covered in the Wellness Class so no time would be wasted repeating information. He had not realized I fell under almost every CAM category within the provided course materials, which was a lot to cover in only 90 minutes!
Touching on all of them PLUS helping the students to understand Reiki?
Pulling this off would be some sort of Miracle in itself!
As a form of energy healing, Reiki energy can be felt. In smaller groups, a Reiki Circle would allow for everyone to have the opportunity to experience a sample of Reiki. Arriving at the theater-like classroom, many of the students seemed to be sitting so far away, a Reiki Circle would not be possible. Considering this possibility in advance, my power point presentation was prepared by arranging the therapies in a specific order.
I wondered how in the world could anyone succeed in this task?
We began with an aromatherapy example, asking for anyone who had just gotten a sore throat TODAY and wished to avoid getting sick. A young woman raised her hand & came down to the front. She smelled an open bottle of Essential Oil, then asked if she minded smelling like this today? No.
Applied the oil to my fingers, then placed my hands upon her throat for a few moments, while asking someone to please time how long it takes before she can taste it. A girl in the front looked at her watch just as she said, "I can already taste it!"
"Your sore throat will be gone in about 10-20 minutes. You may return to your seat."
Continued teaching about Aromatherapy, explaining that plant oils can be used like medicines by applying them topically, etc. At the end of the class, the student returned to the front to share that her sore throat was gone.
She was truly ecstatic, especially since just that morning she had been seen by her doctor, who told her: "it was too late, she was sick, she'd have to let the virus run it's course." She asked if her friend could have the same oil for her sore throat too!
After completing the Aromatherapy topic, moved to the next power point slide... Massage Therapy.
Applied the oil to my fingers, then placed my hands upon her throat for a few moments, while asking someone to please time how long it takes before she can taste it. A girl in the front looked at her watch just as she said, "I can already taste it!"
"Your sore throat will be gone in about 10-20 minutes. You may return to your seat."
Continued teaching about Aromatherapy, explaining that plant oils can be used like medicines by applying them topically, etc. At the end of the class, the student returned to the front to share that her sore throat was gone.
She was truly ecstatic, especially since just that morning she had been seen by her doctor, who told her: "it was too late, she was sick, she'd have to let the virus run it's course." She asked if her friend could have the same oil for her sore throat too!
After completing the Aromatherapy topic, moved to the next power point slide... Massage Therapy.
The students could see Massage Therapy on the power point displayed up on the wall, this was purposefully sneaky on my part.
"May I have another Volunteer to experience what I do?" Most arms in the classroom FLEW UP in the air! Randomly pointed at one young lady & she excitedly bounced down to join me on the stage.
Instructed her to sit upon the chair placed. After placing another chair in front of her, we sat facing each other, our knees nearly touching. Instructed the volunteer to rest her arms on her legs, palms facing up.
I reached over, placed my palms on top of hers, while giving her this instruction:
"I'm going to keep teaching the class, please let me know when you start sensing something, ok?"
The confused panic look on her face was really funny, it was everything I could do NOT to burst out laughing!
She said, "but what am I supposed to be doing or feeling?"
"You'll know when it happens! just let me know when it does. I'll keep teaching the class now, ok?"
This was obviously NOT what she thought she was volunteering to do!
"May I have another Volunteer to experience what I do?" Most arms in the classroom FLEW UP in the air! Randomly pointed at one young lady & she excitedly bounced down to join me on the stage.
Instructed her to sit upon the chair placed. After placing another chair in front of her, we sat facing each other, our knees nearly touching. Instructed the volunteer to rest her arms on her legs, palms facing up.
I reached over, placed my palms on top of hers, while giving her this instruction:
"I'm going to keep teaching the class, please let me know when you start sensing something, ok?"
The confused panic look on her face was really funny, it was everything I could do NOT to burst out laughing!
She said, "but what am I supposed to be doing or feeling?"
"You'll know when it happens! just let me know when it does. I'll keep teaching the class now, ok?"
This was obviously NOT what she thought she was volunteering to do!
Continued with instructing the class, explaining my concept of Holistic Medicine, treating the person as a WHOLE PERSON, addressing their Mind, Physical Body, Emotions & Spirituality. Moved on to Massage Therapy, the different ways that works, etc. Purposefully saving Reiki for the very last topic.
At some point while I was explaining Massage Therapy, my volunteer excitedly shouted, "I FEEL SOMETHING!!"
Stopping mid-sentence, to ask her to repeat what she just said, but louder so everyone could hear her, also describing to the class what she felt.
She said, "I feel a vibration coming from your hands!"
At some point while I was explaining Massage Therapy, my volunteer excitedly shouted, "I FEEL SOMETHING!!"
Stopping mid-sentence, to ask her to repeat what she just said, but louder so everyone could hear her, also describing to the class what she felt.
She said, "I feel a vibration coming from your hands!"
Thanked her, then asked her to let us know if it changed & picked up talking about Massage right where we had left off. Resisting the urge to laugh because of the curiously confused look on her face, the other students faces began sharing the same curious expression.
It was important to keep everyone in the dark about what exactly this was demonstrating. All the students looked puzzled, it didn't make any sense and they may have been too perplexed to actually comprehend the other information being shared.
A little while later, my volunteer interrupted again,
"I feel something else!"
She described to the class that the vibration was feeling stronger and traveling like waves up her arms, into her torso.
The excitement she felt was intense, she wanted to know what this was and why? Continued behaving as if all was no big deal, asked her to let us know if it changed again while we continued with the class. Everyone looked even more puzzled and confused!
After a bit, my volunteer interrupted yet again, "It's different again!"
She explained it felt even stronger now and the wave vibrations were now traveling down her legs too!
This time she desperately blurted out, "what is this?"
It was important to keep everyone in the dark about what exactly this was demonstrating. All the students looked puzzled, it didn't make any sense and they may have been too perplexed to actually comprehend the other information being shared.
A little while later, my volunteer interrupted again,
"I feel something else!"
She described to the class that the vibration was feeling stronger and traveling like waves up her arms, into her torso.
The excitement she felt was intense, she wanted to know what this was and why? Continued behaving as if all was no big deal, asked her to let us know if it changed again while we continued with the class. Everyone looked even more puzzled and confused!
After a bit, my volunteer interrupted yet again, "It's different again!"
She explained it felt even stronger now and the wave vibrations were now traveling down her legs too!
This time she desperately blurted out, "what is this?"
"Thank you for describing what Reiki feels like to the class."
A Reiki Master learns to take more energy into their body, then focus that energy into another person for the purpose of breaking up their negative energy blockages. This supports the other person's body to heal itself, as the energy flows freely through their body again.
A young man volunteered to experience Reiki using the same experiment.
He also felt the Reiki energy, describing to the class what he was experiencing and feeling.
The students looked intensely interested in learning more about Reiki.
I told them that when the Professor asked me to help the students understand Reiki, which was nearly an impossible task! One could lecture, for the entire hour and a half, in an attempt to explain Reiki to them with words alone, but they would not have connected to it without either experiencing it themselves OR hearing their classmate's description of what they were experiencing. I have found that this is the BEST way to help others understand it.
While writing this blog, a young college-age woman called. She wished to visit about learning massage therapy. When she arrived, this draft was saved to finish later.
A young man volunteered to experience Reiki using the same experiment.
He also felt the Reiki energy, describing to the class what he was experiencing and feeling.
The students looked intensely interested in learning more about Reiki.
I told them that when the Professor asked me to help the students understand Reiki, which was nearly an impossible task! One could lecture, for the entire hour and a half, in an attempt to explain Reiki to them with words alone, but they would not have connected to it without either experiencing it themselves OR hearing their classmate's description of what they were experiencing. I have found that this is the BEST way to help others understand it.
While writing this blog, a young college-age woman called. She wished to visit about learning massage therapy. When she arrived, this draft was saved to finish later.
She heard that I had taught someone Reiki & certified them to do it too.
She assumed this was a form of massage therapy & she wished to learn!
Reiki is not a form of massage therapy, but encouraged her to explore learning Reiki.
She asked the FAMOUS question... "What is Reiki.... EXACTLY?"
We did the same experiment as used with the NDSU classes.
The look on their faces during these demonstrations never loses it's entertainment value! This has become my preferred method of explaining Reiki ever since it worked so successfully at NDSU.
After she began feeling the vibrations from my hands and it increased more, we went a step further (often do this)... pulled our hands apart, only about 3 inches between our palms. Then asked her to explain what she experienced this way.
She said it felt like an electricity coming from my hands, traveling up her arms. She kept looking between our palms making sure there was really nothing else touching her palms. Of course, this sparked the immediate interest in knowing more.
It was funny she should ask that question on this particular evening. Verbally sharing the NDSU story with her seemed appropriate until reaching the part about the first volunteer... turned my laptop towards her and encouraged her to read what the volunteer shared with the class. Her facial expressions were quite dramatic as she read someone else describing what she had just experienced.
She assumed this was a form of massage therapy & she wished to learn!
Reiki is not a form of massage therapy, but encouraged her to explore learning Reiki.
She asked the FAMOUS question... "What is Reiki.... EXACTLY?"
We did the same experiment as used with the NDSU classes.
The look on their faces during these demonstrations never loses it's entertainment value! This has become my preferred method of explaining Reiki ever since it worked so successfully at NDSU.
After she began feeling the vibrations from my hands and it increased more, we went a step further (often do this)... pulled our hands apart, only about 3 inches between our palms. Then asked her to explain what she experienced this way.
She said it felt like an electricity coming from my hands, traveling up her arms. She kept looking between our palms making sure there was really nothing else touching her palms. Of course, this sparked the immediate interest in knowing more.
It was funny she should ask that question on this particular evening. Verbally sharing the NDSU story with her seemed appropriate until reaching the part about the first volunteer... turned my laptop towards her and encouraged her to read what the volunteer shared with the class. Her facial expressions were quite dramatic as she read someone else describing what she had just experienced.
Q.) Can anyone feel Reiki this way?
A.) YES.... if they really try to!
The human brain thinks at about 400 Billion Bites per second, but the average human is only Consciously Aware of 2000 Bites per second.
In actuality, everyone feels energy flowing through and around their bodies all the time, they just aren't consciously aware of it!
By asking them to tell me what they experience, without telling them WHAT they will experience at all... they open their awareness searching to sense everything and anything that could be there. I believe their sense of it increasing is actually their awareness increasing, because the energy levels didn't change from the start to the end of the experiment.
Everyone has sensed energy at some point, most people even talk about it!
A.) YES.... if they really try to!
The human brain thinks at about 400 Billion Bites per second, but the average human is only Consciously Aware of 2000 Bites per second.
In actuality, everyone feels energy flowing through and around their bodies all the time, they just aren't consciously aware of it!
By asking them to tell me what they experience, without telling them WHAT they will experience at all... they open their awareness searching to sense everything and anything that could be there. I believe their sense of it increasing is actually their awareness increasing, because the energy levels didn't change from the start to the end of the experiment.
Everyone has sensed energy at some point, most people even talk about it!
"that guy really gives me the creeps! He didn't do anything, I just got a bad VIBE from him."
Bad Vibes or Good Vibes.... people trust their own gut instincts about these things. They even use the right descriptive word to explain it... VIBES!
Reiki isn't new, it's actually very old.
You probably already believe in it and don't even realize it!
Reiki is actually two Japanese words:
Rei - spiritual divine wisdom, wonder, universal, divine brightness, omnipresent, omnipotent, shining, clear, etc.
Ki - life energy, vital energy, universal force, the force generating the heaven & the earth.
Bad Vibes or Good Vibes.... people trust their own gut instincts about these things. They even use the right descriptive word to explain it... VIBES!
Reiki isn't new, it's actually very old.
You probably already believe in it and don't even realize it!
Reiki is actually two Japanese words:
Rei - spiritual divine wisdom, wonder, universal, divine brightness, omnipresent, omnipotent, shining, clear, etc.
Ki - life energy, vital energy, universal force, the force generating the heaven & the earth.
Ki in Chinese is called- Chi,
Ki in Sanskrit is called- Prana,
Ki in Christianity is called- The Light, etc.
The Light... many reading this already believe in that!
You see, they already believed in Reiki and just didn't realize it.
Ki in Sanskrit is called- Prana,
Ki in Christianity is called- The Light, etc.
The Light... many reading this already believe in that!
You see, they already believed in Reiki and just didn't realize it.
 | The look of shock was apparent on the faces of the NDSU Students who suddenly realized that the "Spirituality" many of their parents had tried to share with them could be PHYSICALLY FELT. |
Reiki and Native American Medicine are both good examples of how some CAM Therapies incorporate Spiritual Healing as a large portion of their Holistic approach in treating the WHOLE person.
This is where Healing & Spirituality merge.
Physical well-being is associated with spiritual balance and illness is associated with spiritual imbalance.
Reiki students learn how to connect with this healing energy/light.
Once they are able to maintain the energetic connection at the Master Level, I am no longer their teacher.
They are reconnected with the Energy of the Divine, which takes my place as their teacher. They continue their own growth and learning via their connection with the Divine Energy. It guides them, teaches them, heals them & helps them to heal others. Reiki Master Teachers trust the Creator to take the students from there.
Each Reiki Master is at their own individual "level of understanding," as we all grow and learn at different paces. Each Reiki Master has a unique gift that is special to them, therefore, the way one Reiki Master uses their gift may be completely different from another.
If they run into a "speed bump" in their healing journey & feel "stuck," I'm available to provide guidance, which we call Reiki Guided-Learning. You can access my website for more information about Guided-Learning and Reiki.
This is where Healing & Spirituality merge.
Physical well-being is associated with spiritual balance and illness is associated with spiritual imbalance.
Reiki students learn how to connect with this healing energy/light.
Once they are able to maintain the energetic connection at the Master Level, I am no longer their teacher.
They are reconnected with the Energy of the Divine, which takes my place as their teacher. They continue their own growth and learning via their connection with the Divine Energy. It guides them, teaches them, heals them & helps them to heal others. Reiki Master Teachers trust the Creator to take the students from there.
Each Reiki Master is at their own individual "level of understanding," as we all grow and learn at different paces. Each Reiki Master has a unique gift that is special to them, therefore, the way one Reiki Master uses their gift may be completely different from another.
If they run into a "speed bump" in their healing journey & feel "stuck," I'm available to provide guidance, which we call Reiki Guided-Learning. You can access my website for more information about Guided-Learning and Reiki.
Everyone Could Benefit from Learning Reiki
 | If you feel helpless... |
My Reiki Students enjoy this example:
Look at the light fixture on the wall, there are wires in the wall supplying electricity to the light fixture. If those wires came into this room, without a light fixture, that energy could not light up this room, the fixture is a physical tool the energy needs to light up the room.
Reiki energy is like that electricity running through the wires....
YOU are like the light fixture it needs to light up the room.
Letting the Reiki energy flow through you.... just be the Lamp.
 | In order to get an even better understanding of Reiki... you must Experience Reiki yourself. Schedule an Appointment, Speaking Event or Class so that you may "feel Reiki" for yourself. Once you do, think about ways to describe your experience to someone else. It can be as difficult as describing the Blue Man Group's performance to someone. If you have an interesting Reiki story to share, please share it with us! |
May your Journey be blessed as you discover the Peace with and within you. :) Namast'e
written by: Jennifer Kruse, LMT CRMT
Visit Jen's Blog
Like this? Jen is available for speaking events, this topic and many more.
As a Holistic Healer, Teacher and Practitioner of many Alternative Medicine Modalities,
Jen helps people connect & understand aspects of SELF in a Profound Healing Experience.
Helping YOU Transform Your Life!
Interested in scheduling an Event or Class? Call Jen at (701) 371-3111
www.JenniferKruse.com www.Aspire2Heal.com
Visit Jen's Blog
Like this? Jen is available for speaking events, this topic and many more.
As a Holistic Healer, Teacher and Practitioner of many Alternative Medicine Modalities,
Jen helps people connect & understand aspects of SELF in a Profound Healing Experience.
Helping YOU Transform Your Life!
Interested in scheduling an Event or Class? Call Jen at (701) 371-3111
www.JenniferKruse.com www.Aspire2Heal.com
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