I’m often asked how one can get back into a self-treatment practice after a lapse. The simplest way is to bring your palms to press against one another in front of your heart center and invite the Reiki to flow. You could then recite the Reiki principles, sit quietly with a hand on your heart and one on your belly or anywhere else you feel drawn, or move through the traditional series of hand positions.

Reiki will always be there for you once you’ve been attuned by a Reiki Master Teacher. Luckily Reiki doesn’t begrudge your neglect and will begin to flow when asked. You might not feel it strongly at first, but the more you practice, the more natural it will seem, and the more relaxed and receptive you’ll become. You needn’t do anything more than apply this healing energy in the way you were taught, no matter if it was months, years, or even decades ago.

Another option is to get a treatment from another practitioner, setting an intention to help you ease into a routine. Sometimes just saying your desire out loud can be powerful, and having another person witness this awakens a sense of accountability. Experiencing the benefits of a treatment, at your own hands or someone else’s, can activate devotion to a self-care routine.

Yesterday I provided a long-distance Reiki treatment for someone who wanted to begin a daily self-care practice. She had taken a class years ago, but never followed through in real life. We collaborated on how to best support her goal and the result was a phone call during which I guided her through a series of hand positions, layered with affirmations, while simultaneously delivering Reiki. Somehow she managed to stay awake from this double treatment and reported a deeply relaxing and inspiring experience.

You could also retake the training if that feels helpful. I’ve received a lot of benefit from doing this myself. Even with the same teacher and the same material, I had a very different experience as I was in a different place, with a different level of understanding. As the curriculum is far from standardized, different teachers might provide entirely different content. It’s not at all necessary to repeat a class since Reiki itself can teach you everything you need to know once you’ve been initiated, but I enjoy learning, and fellow geeks will probably understand that I did it for fun as well as knowledge!

Finally, you might consider renewing your attunement. While the attunement you received during class never wears off or goes bad or gets stale, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have another. It’s rather like jumpstarting a car! If you feel the need for a powerful intervention, this is the way to go. I offer refresher attunements as a stand-alone service that could also be combined with a treatment for a super-relaxing double feature. Since Reiki isn’t limited by time or space, this can be done remotely or virtually, depending on your preference.

You have many options! I’d suggest starting with a self-treatment using the hand positions to lay the groundwork for establishing a habit of providing Reiki for yourself daily. Even ten minutes makes a big difference when done consistently. Then if you still find yourself wanting more, consider a treatment, class, or refresher attunement. There’s no shame in getting support from the professionals. That’s what we’re here for!