What to Expect in a Reiki Session (A Clear, Honest Breakdown)
If you’ve never had a Reiki session before, you’re not alone — most people don’t know what actually happens.
Some expect flashing lights, some think it’s trance work, and others think they won’t “feel anything,” which makes them nervous.
This guide breaks down exactly what to expect in a Reiki session — clearly, simply, and without the mystical theatrics.
Whether you’re brand new or returning after a long time, this will give you a real understanding of how the session works and why people feel lighter, clearer, or more grounded afterward.
⭐ What Reiki Actually Is
Reiki is gentle, guided energy support.
Not religion, not hypnosis, not mind control — just a system that helps your body and field release buildup and settle.
Think of it like this:
Your physical body holds tension.
Your emotional body holds residue.
Your energy field holds noise.
Reiki helps those layers loosen, so your system can regulate and reset.
There’s nothing you have to “do.”
Your body chooses what it wants to receive.
⭐ How You’ll Be Positioned
You stay fully clothed.
You’ll lie comfortably on a massage table, either face-down or face-up depending on the session type.
Blanket, eye pillow, and headphones may be offered depending on the structure of the session.
Your only job is to get comfortable.
⭐ What You Might Feel
Everyone experiences Reiki differently.
Common sensations include:
warmth
tingling
waves of calm
floating
emotional release
or nothing at all — which is still normal
None of these mean “better” or “worse.”
Your system responds in the way that’s right for you.
⭐ Nervous System Descent (Why the Beginning Matters)
Every session starts with grounding.
This helps your mind settle, your breath slow, and your body drop out of stress mode.
When you relax, the work lands deeper.
Nervous system descent is not hypnosis or trance — it’s simply your body shifting out of survival mode so it can receive support.
This single step alone is why many clients feel calmer within minutes.
⭐ Light Touch or Hovering — Your Choice
Reiki can be done with or without physical touch.
If touch is used, it is always light and placed on:
feet
legs
hips
stomach
shoulders
head
If you prefer no touch, everything can be done hovering above the body.
Your comfort comes first.
⭐ What’s Actually Happening Energetically
During a session, the field begins clearing noise and residue — the stuff that builds up without you realizing:
stress you never had time to process
emotional clutter
overthinking patterns
old attachments
energetic heaviness
burnout
imbalance from giving too much
Reiki helps your system:
clear buildup
release emotional weight
soften looping thoughts
regulate your field
reconnect to your internal baseline
(Baseline meaning your natural state — before stress, overwhelm, relationships, or expectations shifted it.)
⭐ After the Session
You might feel:
clear
emotional
tired
grounded
peaceful
All of these are normal.
This is not a great time to rush into noise, errands, or heavy activity.
Your system is still integrating for a few hours afterward.
Water, quiet, and rest help the reset settle in.
⭐ Who Reiki Helps
Energy work is ideal for:
overwhelmed women
empaths
people going through major shifts
high-achievers carrying too much
people who overthink
people who feel emotionally full
anyone feeling energetically “off” or heavy
It supports the body, mind, and energetic field at the same time — without you having to perform or talk through everything.
⭐ Want to Experience This?
My upcoming Seasonal Healing Session is designed around this exact work:
THE WINTER THRESHOLD — December 14
A one-hour field clearing + untangling reset before the season “sets.”
Booking info is on the website.
You can also take the quiz to see which session you should start with.
