This question comes up a lot. I get it; it’s an unusual situation. When people come into my office for a treatment, I guide them through a chat and then onto the table where they remain mostly still throughout the session, unless discomfort prompts some type of reconfiguration. It’s structured. 

If you’re receiving a session at your own home, there can be some confusion about what you need to do as that structure is not in place. 

The short answer is: you don’t need to do anything. Well… you need to be willing to receive, but that seems a given if you’ve signed up and provided payment for a treatment. 

Willingness? Check. End of the checklist.

But… what do you DO? Again, you don’t need to do anything. I trade sessions weekly with my Reiki buddy and we don’t schedule the timing. She does my session when it’s convenient for her and I usually don’t know when that is. I go about my day with my Reiki receptors open and my system receives and integrates the healing energy without my conscious awareness. 

If you have an actual appointment time and want to be engaged in the process, you might like to lay down and rest. Some of my clients like to set up a spa-like atmosphere and light candles, diffuse essential oils, pull out the fuzzy blankets, and/or surround themselves with crystals. This can be fun for some people, and the ritual of creating a healing space does speak to the subconscious. It’s like saying, “Hey, look at this environment I’ve created for myself. Obviously some deep healing is about to happen.” It can be very helpful to soothe the inner skeptic. 

Now, if you’re getting a Reiki treatment because of anxiety or trauma, trying to force yourself to relax might not lead to a relaxing experience. If curling up on the couch in the middle of the day sounds excruciatingly painful to you, don’t do it. Perhaps you’d be better served by sitting in your favorite chair looking at the clouds. Or going for a walk. Or painting or gardening or playing with your dog. Restorative yoga might be a good choice if that’s in your repertoire.

Reiki is not a one-size-fits-all modality. There is limitless freedom to find a strategy that suits yourself and your own particular needs at the moment. If you love to meditate, but find it hard to carve out the time, you might like to take advantage of this appointment to do so. If attempting to meditate makes you feel like ants are crawling all over your skin, don’t torture yourself. Torturing yourself is unlikely to lead to healing. When I say it so bluntly, it makes sense, right? There is no “should” when it comes to Reiki. 

Your nervous system is a unique entity that has been wired and rewired, connected, disconnected and rewired again based on your unique constitution and experiences. It will let you know what activities are within the safe and acceptable range for you at any moment. So if doing the laundry or reorganizing your desk helps you to feel at ease, that just might be the right choice for you. You get to decide. It’s YOUR session. Make it work for you.