Reiki is one of the most widely misunderstood healing practices. Because it’s a non-physical, spiritual practice, it has attracted a dense fog of myths and misconceptions that can make it seem strange, cult-like, or even dangerous.
As a Reiki Master-Teacher, a large part of my work involves clearing away this fog to reveal the simple, practical, and profound truth. Reiki is a safe, gentle, and legitimate complementary therapy that can be a powerful tool for anyone.
Here is a clear separation of the most common Reiki myths from the truth.
Myth: Reiki Is a Religion
Truth: Reiki Is a Spiritual Practice
This is the most common and damaging myth. Reiki is not a religion. It has no dogma, no deity, no scriptures, and no system of worship. You do not have to join anything or change your personal faith to receive or practice Reiki.
It is a spiritual practice, much like meditation or yoga. It is a technique for channeling universal life force energy. The Reiki Precepts (e.g., “Just for today, do not anger”) are ethical guidelines for a peaceful life, not religious commandments. I have attuned and worked with clients and students who are devoutly Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, and atheist; Reiki simply complements their existing worldview.
Myth: You Must Believe in Reiki for It to Work
Truth: Reiki Is Not a Placebo
Many skeptics claim Reiki is just the placebo effect—that it only works because you believe it will. This is demonstrably false.
A person’s belief or skepticism is irrelevant to the energy itself. Reiki works on a physiological level by calming the nervous system, a process that happens whether your conscious mind agrees with it or not. The most compelling evidence for this? Reiki has observable effects on:
- Skeptics: I’ve had many clients come to my practice on a dare, state “I don’t believe in this,” and fall into a deep, relaxed sleep on the table.
- Animals: Animals don’t have a belief system, yet they will actively seek out Reiki for comfort and healing.
- Babies and Plants: Both respond positively to the energy without any capacity for a placebo response.
Myth: You Must Be Gifted to Practice Reiki
Truth: Reiki Is a Skill Passed Through Attunement and Polished With Practice
This myth suggests that Reiki is an exclusive psychic gift that only a few special, chosen people are born with. This is 100% false.
The beauty of Reiki is that it is a universal, democratic ability. Anyone can learn to practice Reiki. The ability is not gifted; it is transferred from a Master-Teacher to a student during a ritual called an attunement. This attunement process is what opens the student’s energy channels, tuning them to the Reiki frequency. It is a learnable skill, not an innate superpower.
Myth: Reiki Is a Form of Massage
Truth: Reiki Is a Non-Invasive Energy Practice
Because a Reiki session often takes place on a massage table, many people assume it’s a type of massage. It is not.
- Massage is a physical therapy that manipulates muscles and soft tissue. It requires the client to partially undress.
- Reiki is an energetic practice. The client remains fully clothed at all times.
The practitioner’s hands are either held a few inches above the body (in the aura) or placed with a light, stationary, and non-manipulative touch. There is no rubbing, kneading, or pressure.
Myth: Reiki Can Be Harmful or Send Bad Energy
Truth: Reiki Is Non-Invasive (The Healing Crisis)
Reiki is intelligent, universal life force energy; it is inherently positive and can do no harm. A practitioner is trained to be a “hollow bone”—a passive conduit for this energy. They are not sending you their own personal energy, so it’s impossible for them to “send you their bad mood” or negative energy.
The one point of confusion is the healing crisis. Occasionally, after a very deep session, a person may feel tired, weepy, or even have a mild headache for a day. This is not harm. It is a positive sign of the cleansing process, as old, stagnant energy and emotional junk are finally cleared out of the system.
Myth: Reiki Replaces Conventional Medicine
Truth: Reiki Is a Complementary Therapy
This is the most dangerous myth. No ethical practitioner will ever tell you that Reiki is an alternative to medicine or that you should stop taking your medication.
Reiki is a complementary (or integrative) therapy. Its proper role is to work alongside and in support of conventional medical treatment. In my practice, I work with clients who are in chemotherapy, on antidepressants, or recovering from surgery. Reiki can:
- Reduce the intense stress and anxiety of an illness.
- Alleviate the side effects of medical treatments.
- Promote the deep, restorative rest the body needs to heal itself.
Summary: The Facts and Truths
To be clear, Reiki is a spiritual practice, not a religion. It is an energetic practice, not a massage, and you remain fully clothed. It is a complementary therapy, not an alternative to medicine.
The ability to practice is a learned skill transferred via attunement, not an exclusive psychic gift. Its effectiveness is not dependent on belief, and it cannot cause harm. Finally, the Reiki Master title is not a sign of enlightenment; it is a teaching designation. The symbols used during a Reiki session are to focus energy, not “magic spells,” and practitioners who charge for their time are participating in a fair, professional exchange for a skilled service.
