| Introduction | | | | probably in your arms and hands). |
| Wouldn't it be nice if there were a few simple tricks | | | | Gassho (join your hands together in prayer position |
| for strengthening your connection to Reiki energy? | | | | [namaste] in front of your chest) and give thanks. |
| Things that didn't take much effort but could have | | | | Technique 2: Rubbing Hands Together |
| an immediate effect? | | | | Rub your hands together vigorously for ten seconds |
| This article explores five simple ways to do just that. | | | | before giving yourself or another Reiki. This will |
| Undoubtedly there are many more, but these five all | | | | stimulate the energetic channels in your hand, thus |
| have the virtue of being available to anyone at any | | | | making it easier for the Reiki energy to flow. |
| time, at any Reiki skill level. | | | | Technique 3: Keep Fingers Together and Hands |
| Technique 1: Dry Bathing (Kenyoku Ho) | | | | Cupped |
| Although this is by far the most complex energy | | | | Reiki will generally flow more strongly if you keep |
| 'trick' of the five, it is still relatively simple. Doing it | | | | your fingers together (although the thumb may, at |
| before each Reiki session will definitely make a | | | | times, separate from the other fingers). |
| difference to the flow of energy. | | | | Mrs Takata, the founder of Western Reiki, |
| Method: | | | | apparently proclaimed: 'Scattered hands, scattered |
| Put your right hand on your left shoulder, breathe | | | | energy'. She was right, although you should naturally |
| into your hara (i.e. the 2nd chakra - located about | | | | never be dogmatic (sometimes, after all, you may in |
| 5cm below your belly button), and sweep diagonally - | | | | fact desire a more spread out sort of energy). |
| exhaling forcefully - across the front of your body | | | | That said, 9 times out of 10 you will feel more if you |
| down to your right hip. | | | | keep your fingers together. |
| (By 'sweep', we mean brushing your hand over your | | | | The same can also be said for keeping your hands |
| body as if you were 'sweeping' dust away from your | | | | held cupped rather than flat on the body. The |
| shoulder, past your hip and onto the ground.) | | | | reasons for this are not exactly clear, but try it if |
| Put your left hand on your right shoulder, inhale into | | | | you are not already doing so. The energy almost |
| your hara, and 'sweep' - exhaling - down to your left | | | | always seem to flow better. |
| hip. | | | | Technique 4: Hover Above Each Hand Position Before |
| Put your hand back on your left shoulder, inhale, and | | | | Touching The Body |
| sweep your hand - exhaling - down to your right hip. | | | | A good way to get a stronger connection to each |
| Extend your left arm out in front of your body, palm | | | | Reiki position is to hover above it with your hands |
| facing upwards, arm horizontal to the ground. Put | | | | before lowering them onto the body. |
| your right hand on your left shoulder - inhale into | | | | The trick is to wait until you get an energetic |
| your hara - and 'sweep' along your arm - exhaling - all | | | | connection and only then put your hands on the |
| the way past the left fingertips. | | | | body. For some reason this makes it easier to |
| Repeat the process on your opposite side by | | | | connect to the Reiki energy of each position. |
| extending your right hand palm facing upwards in | | | | Technique 5: Keep One Hand On The Body When |
| front of your body (arm horizontal to the ground), | | | | Changing Hand Positions |
| placing your left hand on your right shoulder, inhaling | | | | To keep the energetic connection going (and build |
| into your hara, and sweeping along your right arm - | | | | momentum, thus strengthening it), it is a good idea |
| exhaling - all the way past the right fingertips. | | | | not to take both hands off your body when |
| Extend your left arm out in front of your body, palm | | | | changing positions (the same applies when you give |
| facing upwards, arm horizontal to the ground. Put | | | | Reiki to someone else). |
| your right hand on your left shoulder - inhale into | | | | Keep one hand grounded while you move the other. |
| your hara - and 'sweep' along your arm - exhaling - all | | | | Then anchor the one you have moved, and move |
| the way past the left fingertips. | | | | the one you had kept grounded. That way the |
| Let your arms hang down by the sides of your body | | | | energetic space and connection you have established |
| and feel any energetic currents that may arise (most | | | | is not short-circuited. |