Reiki healing crisis: what it really is and why the term is controversial
This article is an answer to a frequently asked question: why does the condition temporarily worsen after some Reiki sessions, what is behind this and how to deal with it.And in the end — a hypothesis that is not customary to talk about out loud in the reiki community.
What is a healing crisis
Many non-drug practices are characterized by the phenomenon of temporary exacerbation during work — physical or emotional.This also happens in Reiki, and it is worth knowing before the sessions begin, and not discovering it after the fact.
Before we get into the types of crises, it is important to be clear: Reiki is not a medical procedure or a spa.The Usui Reiki Ryoho manual describes it as a practice that includes spiritual discipline and working with the body through a state of deep peace.The initiated practitioner does not receive an “energy channel”, but the ability to steadily enter the state of the brain’s default system — a passive mode, in which, according to a research group led by Professor Markus Reichel, the body’s natural self-regulation mechanisms are launched.
Reiki does not treat symptoms or “heal” in the medical sense.The method helps the body turn on its own regulatory processes — and this is what sometimes manifests itself as a temporary exacerbation.
Where does the crisis come from?
In the traditional approach of Usui Reiki Ryoho, a crisis is not a sign of “purification” in a metaphorical sense, but a completely understandable phenomenon: when a person first gets the opportunity to deeply relax and enter a state of bodily and mental peace, the body begins to “complete” what has been accumulated and not processed.This applies to both chronic muscle tension and unreacted emotions.
An important emphasis from the methodological manual: “Reiki manifests the Universal Mind in a person” — that is, it does not workinstead ofa person, but helps him to more accurately feel his own state.This is a fundamental difference from the magical logic “Reiki will sort itself out.”
Types of crisis
Physical (health) crisis
Discomfort in certain areas of the body, unusual sensations, and exacerbation of old complaints may appear.As a rule, with continued practice this goes away quickly.However, if the deterioration increases or does not go away, this is a signal to consult a doctor.Reiki does not replace medicine: the manual explicitly states that the practice of Usui Reiki Ryoho is “widely used by specialists in the helping professions” precisely as a complement to medical treatment.
Psycho-emotional crisis
Reiki works well with anxiety and the effects of stress.But the path to calm sometimes passes through a temporary “opening” — painful memories may emerge, anxiety or irritability may increase, and tears may appear.This is not a pathology, but part of the process.If necessary, such work is supplemented with psychological support.
Existential (spiritual) crisis
Regular Reiki practice is essentially regular contact with yourself in a state of silence.For some people, this raises serious questions for the first time: about meaning, relationships, priorities.This is normal and valuable, but it can be uncomfortable.You should seek support from a specialist or a psychologist.
Event crisis is the most controversial category
The claim that unexpected life events “adjust reality” through Reiki has no basis — neither in the traditional teachings of Usui nor in any research.The real meaning behind this idea is probably different: when a person begins to understand himself better, he reacts differently to what is happening — and this can really change the course of events.But this is a psychological, not a mystical process.
What is important to know before starting practice
About legal status
In Russia, the activities of Reiki practitioners formally relate to folk healing (FZ-323, Article 50) and require special permission from the executive authority of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation.Most practitioners operate without it—in a legal gray area.Criminal prosecutions rarely go to court, but only when claiming treatment for specific diseases.This does not mean that the practice is useless, but it does mean that calling it “treatment” is legally incorrect.
About “diplomas” and certificates
Only legal entities with a license from Rosobrnadzor (FZ-273, Article 91) have the right to issue diplomas of professional retraining in the Russian Federation.A certificate from a private school or individual entrepreneur is proof of completion of training, but not a state document on education.
About medical claims
Statements like “Reiki cures diseases” or “shows unhealthy lesions” are a red flag.The studies conducted relate to reducing stress levels, improving sleep and pain threshold — but not diagnosing or treating diseases.
Recommendations for those undergoing internship
- Less expectations of “miracles”, more attention to what is really happening with your condition
- In case of physical exacerbations — do not wait too long, consult a doctor
- In case of emotional reactions — inform the practitioner, if necessary, supplement the work with a psychologist
- Don’t take temporary deterioration as proof that “the method works” — these are two different things
- If a master promises to cure a specific disease or claims that “Reiki cannot be harmed,” this is a signal to ask clarifying questions
Hypothesis: what if “crisis” is awareness?
There is an aspect of the healing crisis that is not commonly discussed openly in the Reiki community.Especially after initiation.
If you remove the mystical shell and look honestly: the state of “crisis” after initiation into Reiki often coincides in time with the moment when a person begins to see the real picture.Not the one that is promised in the introductory lesson, but the one that awaits the practitioner who will try to become a full-fledged independent Reiki master.
This picture looks something like this:
- Reiki sessions in Russia cost on average 1,500–3,500 rubles per hour.To achieve an income above the national average (~65,000 ₽/month), you need to conduct from 20 to 45 paid sessions per month — even before taxes, rent and marketing.
- Level training (and there are several of them) costs from 10,000 to 100,000 rubles, depending on the school.The diploma is not state-owned.
- The legal status of the practice is a gray area.Calling yourself a “healer” is a risk.
- Monetizing a practice without a built personal brand, a client base and an above-average source of income is extremely difficult.This means that most “certified masters” continue to work at their main jobs, and Reiki remains a hobby.
Realizing this is not mysticism.This is a cognitive dissonance between expectations (“I will become a master and help people”) and reality (“I need a client base and an above-average income just to make it worthwhile”).And it is this awareness that is often what is experienced as a “healing crisis” after initiation.
This does not mean that the practice of Reiki is useless — for personal use and working with oneself, it is quite real.But calling a crisis a “sign that the method is working” instead of giving a person an honest economic picture is choosing a beautiful narrative, not a student.
More information about the economics of Reiki practice, transmission lines and legal status can be found in two mini-courses from the Reiki school:
What’s changed from typical Healing Crisis articles:The unfalsifiable logic “it has become worse = the method works” has been removed;the mechanism of action is tied to the default system of the brain (and not to the “energy”);the event crisis is rethought psychologically;a block on the legal status and economic reality of the practice has been added.Original article that served as a starting point:b17.ru/article/reikicrisis/