Reiki Touch Issues

Touch is an essential part of wholeness and love.  Without touch, we can die.  In the early 1900’s they did an experiment in the nursery of an orphanage dealing with touch or the lack there of.  The babies were divided into 2 groups.  One group was held during feedings, rocked, sung to, and touched a lot by the nursing staff.  The other group was only touched when propping a bottle up feeding and changing diapers.  Other than that, the nurses were not allowed to touch them.  Unfortunately this experiment was not stopped soon enough and some of the babies from the group seldom touched, actually shriveled up and died.  So touch is vital to the very existence of humankind.   

The power of touch is part of what makes Reiki such an effective healing tool.  To touch others as a Reiki healer is a very loving act, which should be exercised with integrity and respect for the recipient.   

1.      Since Reiki energy easily passes through clothing, there should never be a need for the recipient to disrobe.   

2.     In addition, it is always a good practice ask permission before even reaching out to touch someone.   If they are a minor, it is vital to ask their parent(s) for permission to do so. 

3.     Be sure to ask if they have any specific areas they wish one to avoid (besides the obvious private areas).  For example:

        a.     Someone who may have been strangled may not want anyone to touch their throats. 

        b.    Someone, who may have nearly suffocated, may not want a stack of hands on their chest.  

        c.    Or maybe they might have a bad burn and to physically touch it would cause intense pain.

In these instances, one can hold their hands 3-5 inches above the affected area and offer energy from that location.  This respects the recipient’s wishes and does not violate their trust in you.

4.     Hand pressure is another area to pay attention to, especially in a group treatment, where there is a stacking of hands.  Sometimes this exerts too much weight on an already sensitive area.  Be sure to maintain a light touch as a group.  This is also important for those working on the face or back of the head.  You don’t want the recipient to feel like you are trying to push their heads through the face-support of the table. 

5.      Because touch is also a vital component to intimacy, it is not at all impossible for a male recipient to become aroused while being treated by a female practitioner.  First of all realize that this is natural, secondly do not bring undue attention to the situation, and thirdly move your hands and your focus to another area of the body.

By:  Jacqueline Windon

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