If you’ve ever wondered, “What is a Reiki attunement?” this post will clear up all your curiosities. In the Usui/Tibetan lineage of Reiki, there are two kinds of attunements (sometimes referred to as an ‘empowerments’). The first is associated with those who are interested in practicing self-healing, or sharing Reiki with their family, friends, or clients. The second is a Reiki Healing Attunement, which is for those who seeking healing from a Reiki Master Teacher. This post will cover the former, giving you a complete understanding of the process and how it can change your life.

Unlike other techniques of energy balancing and healing, the ability to channel the Reiki energy is transferred from the Reiki Master Teacher to the student during the Reiju, or attunement process. This is a sacred spiritual initiation that connects you directly to the Reiki Source. There are no specific requirements or experience necessary to receive this beautiful energy. All that is required is a willingness to learn and an openness to receive.

During the attunement, the “Rei” or Universal Consciousness makes adjustments in your aura, chakras, and energy channels so that the Reiki energy can flow easily and effortlessly through them. The attunement creates a permanent spiritual channel between you and the Reiki energy. This “channel” flows through the crown of your head and moves through all of your energy channels. The energy branches off at the Heart Chakra, flows into the arms, and out the palm chakras in the center of the hands. The energy also moves down from your Root Chakra, through your legs, and out the chakras on the bottoms of your feet. In a sense, you become a physical conduit for the spiritual energy to move through.

Receiving a Reiki attunement begins a cleansing process on all levels of your being. For most, the cleansing process lasts an average of 21 days. Everyone experiences changes differently depending on what needs to be released in order to become a clearer channel for the Reiki energy. There can be a processing period where some, if not all, areas of your life adjust to accommodate these new and healthy conditions.

Below are some common effects that students report feeling after receiving Reiki attunements:

  • Your physical body may begin a cleansing process. Toxins that have been stored in the body may be pushed to the surface and out. You may find foods that you used to crave no longer seem appealing. You may need more rest.
  • Emotions that you may have been storing might come to the surface for you to release. Suppressed fear, sadness, and anger may feel more intense depending upon how long you have held emotions in.
  • Your mind may experience the cleansing process as old, outdated, limiting beliefs and thought patterns come to the surface for you to release. In the mind, you can choose to accept or reject a situation. This is where the law of attraction comes into play. Remember, thoughts become things, so which thoughts are you going to accept as true going forward?
  • Your spirit and astral body will start cleansing by releasing negative or stagnant energy that you may have been carrying around in your auric field. You may become aware of the deeper spiritual lessons of your life and strengthen your connection to the Divine (Universe, God, Source, etc.).

One student in my most recent Reiki 1 & 2 Class (who wishes to keep her name anonymous) experienced her cleansing in a powerful way. After receiving her attunements, I received an email from her that read:

I wanted to share with you that this past week was (in my opinion) a true clearing of old toxic energy.  I ended up in the hospital last week with a ruptured ovarian cyst and internal bleeding.  I’d had a CT scan and while they were doing the scan, the bright purple light was so present and deep. I was terrified and they were suggesting surgery and a blood transfusion.  I was in a lot of pain and my heart rate was really high due to the stress.  I asked them to wait 4 hours and see if the bleeding would stop (I’d lost about 1/3 of my body’s blood).  During that 4 hours I practiced self-Reiki, prayers and meditation.  I could feel my heart rate starting to lower slightly and I felt calmer and more in control.  The next time they checked my blood levels, they had leveled off, which showed that the internal bleeding had stopped… so I avoided the surgery and the blood transfusion which both come with longer recovery and higher risks.
Long story short, I am home now resting and recovering.  I wanted to share the story with you for a couple of reasons.  The first being that Reiki was really helpful for me during this medical crisis.  The second being that I fully believe that this release (literal) was still a part of the attunement.  I know you had mentioned that our bodies would be releasing a lot within the 21 days post attunement and I feel like in some way, this was my body’s way of letting go of something that was no longer serving me.
I share my student’s experience with you to demonstrate the truly healing power that Reiki can have in your life. We must remember that our healing journey may challenge us in the deepest of ways. If we face the challenges with trust and love, instead of fear, we can grow to create more space for health and healing on all layers of our being. When you receive the Reiki energy through the attunement process, you become connected to one of the most beautiful, powerful, and healing energies that exists in the Universe. It stays with you for the rest of your life and never lessens in power or intensity.
Love, light, and healing always,

Lauren