Reiki Resources

As a Reiki aficionado, I use Reiki multiple times a day, every single day.

A few things have made my life much easier in my Reiki practice, and I want to share them with you in case you can benefit from them, too.

So, without further adieu, here are a few of my favorite things…

Reiki Tables

Although there are various portable Reiki table brands out there – and I bet any one would do just fine – my favorite Reiki tables by far are those from Earthlite and Inner Strength (a division of Earthlite.) EarthLite is an extremely eco-friendly company and really seems to care about our planet.

Here are a few articles to check out if you need help choosing the right portable Reiki table:

• How to Find the Best Reiki Table for You
• Reiki Table Do’s and Don’ts
• Portable Reiki Table FAQ.

Reiki Table Accessories

Here are some helpful items I didn’t even realize could enhance my Reiki practice until I started it!

EYE PILLOWS – Eye Pillows can really help clients relax and get deeper into “Reiki sleep” mode. I particularly like this eye pillow because it has a slight lavender scent. The side zipper is nice as well, because not only can you take out some of the flax seeds to make the pillow lighter if need be, you can also wash the cover.

Note: You still want to put a tissue over every client’s eyes before putting on the eye pillow.

FLEECE COVERS – Fleece Covers for your portable Reiki table make your clients’ experience of lying on the table that much more comfortable. Virtually every single one of my Reiki clients has commented on how much they love the fleece cover. If price is an issue, you can always just buy a fleece cover for your portable Reiki table’s headrest, which costs about $6 or so.

BOLSTERS – Most clients love when I put a bolster under their knees while they’re lying on their back. I like the subtlety of a half-bolster personally, although a full-size bolster works just fine as well.

SHEETS – Of course, you need a few twin size sheet sets for your portable Reiki table. My favorite sheets to use for Reiki sessions are from Zen Bamboo. I love the company, they’re made out of the amazing sustainable resource that is bamboo, and last but not least my dog’s name is Bamboo!

Since I used to be a massage therapist, I’m used to putting on new sheets for every single person that gets on the table. But you want to get into the habit of doing that too, not only for cleanliness reasons, but also so the previous person’s energy doesn’t linger when your next Reiki client gets on the table.

PORTABLE REIKI TABLE CARRYING CARTS – Portable Reiki Table Carts are a godsend, especially if you have a mobile Reiki practice (meaning you go to clients’ homes) and will be seeing multiple Reiki clients in one day. Lugging the table to and from your car and then back and forth into your clients’ homes is certainly no picnic!

Reiki Books

I live for books, and like to think of the Internet as the best book known to man, the best part being that it never ends!

Aside from the intangible parts of Reiki that I feel you can only learn from experience and practicing this powerful Japanese healing art. I have learned so, so much from the various Reiki books that I’ve read.

Of course, I also learned a ton of when I wrote my own Reiki book!

REIKI FOR BEGINNERS: HOW TO HEAL YOURSELF WITH REIKI by Brooke Betts. In my book, I really focus on the essentials of this sacred healing practice: what Reiki is, how it works, what a Reiki healing session entails, etc. I also go into the five Reiki principles in great detail.

 

Here are some of my other faves…

REIKI: THE HEALING TOUCH by William Rand. I love William Rand’s writing style. He has an eloquent way of putting things, much like the eloquence of Reiki itself. I bought Reiki: The Healing Touch not too long ago when I wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed anything in my own Reiki training guides that students receive in my Reiki classes. Even though I had already covered all the topics he does, I thoroughly enjoyed his explanations about Reiki. This Reiki Master definitely has a way with words.

ESSENTIAL REIKI: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO AN ANCIENT HEALING ART by Diane Stein. I enjoy Diane Stein’s approach to Reiki as well. She definitely comes from more of a feminine perspective, and her version of the Reiki Master Symbol feels much more feminine than the Traditional Usui Master Symbol. I use both versions of the Reiki Master Symbol, depending on the situation.

ANIMAL REIKI: USING ENERGY TO HEAL THE ANIMALS IN YOUR LIFE by Elizabeth Fulton & Kathleen Prasad. I love, love, LOVE this book. The authors intersperse the practical advice about Animal Reiki with stories about their personal experiences sending Reiki to animals.

All I can say is that I teared up multiple times. :* ) Have a tissue box ready!

I recommend every single book by Kathleen Prasad on Animal Reiki, actually. She is a beautiful Reiki practitioner as well as a co-founder of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA).

SARA is an organization that supports any Reiki practitioner who wants to set up a Reiki program at his or her local shelter. I haven’t had a chance to do so at the animal shelter where I volunteer and offer Reiki to all the beautiful animals, but it is on my list as soon as I do!

Additional books by Kathleen Prasad:

• Reiki for Dogs: Using Spiritual Energy to Heal and Vitalize Man’s Best Friend
• The Animal Reiki Handbook – Finding Your Way With Reiki in Your Local Shelter, Sanctuary or Rescue
• Tails from the Source: The Animal Reiki Newsletter Collection, Vol. 1
• Animal Reiki Tails: Vol. 2
• Animal Reiki Tails: Vol. 3

Non-Reiki-related Books About Healing

Although these books aren’t about Reiki per se, they have really helped me in my Reiki practice. In addition to using Reiki, I draw on all the tools I have in my healing toolbox during every Reiki healing session. Besides, the more we know about ancient healing traditions, the easier it is for us to create safe, nurturing environments where clients can come back into balance during their Reiki sessions.

Other books about healing that I refer to frequently are:

YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE by Louise Hay

In addition Louise’s holistic approach to healing – which I agree with completely – this book includes a list of various ailments, diseases and conditions as well as possible reasons for them and affirmations the reader can say to help heal specific issues.

While you always want to make sure anything you read resonates as truth before you believe it, I have found Louise Hay’s reasons for why certain conditions show up to be highly accurate, both for myself and for Reiki clients as well. Besides, I just love the title of this book. It is so, so true!

THE EDUCATED HEART: PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS AND BODYWORKERS by Nina McIntosh

This is an excellent book for anyone working in the healing arts. The author gives tips on how to keep a healthy separation between your energy and your clients’. This book has helped me understand that I should never take clients’ reactions toward me personally.

For example, let’s say hypothetical client ‘Jessica’ is acting annoyed with me after our Reiki session. I am trying to talk about what came up during her treatment, but she is being very short with me and borderline rude.

Before reading this book, I may have taken her behavior to heart and thought I had done something wrong – even though I should know better after reading Don Miguel Ruiz’ The Four Agreements, in which the very first one is ‘Don’t take anything personally’.

But since I’ve read The Educated Heart, I know that perhaps I remind Jessica of her mother because I was in a more authoritative position standing up while she was lying down during her Reiki treatment. Her negative reaction could very well have nothing to do with me and be completely independent of anything I did. I really recommend this book if you’re planning to start a private Reiki practice!

HONORING THE MEDICINE: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO NATIVE AMERICAN HEALING by Ken Cohen.

Even though the healing practices of the different Native American nations vary, they all have a healthy respect for our planet and our body’s innate ability to heal itself.

This book may just change your perspective altogether on doctors, healing and why we get sick in the first place.

ZERO LIMITS: THE SECRET HAWAIIAN SYSTEM FOR HEALTH, WEALTH, PEACE AND MORE by Joe Vitale and Ihaleakala Hew Len.

This book explains the powerful ancient Hawaiian healing system of Ho’oponopono and how it works. I listened to this as an audiobook and have incorporated this Hawaiian approach into my own practice (and life!) ever since.

Dr. Hew Len does a great job of explaining how all healing starts within. Instead of looking outside for the cause of a problem, turn inward for the roots (and cure) instead.

We create our reality, every single bit of it, and the best way to heal ourselves and anything else that comes into our experience is to “clean” ourselves from the inside out.

Ho’oponopono also promotes deep trust and faith in the Universe, something many of us (including me!) can use.

Reiki Music

Music can enhance your Reiki sessions tremendously. Except for the sessions I do outside – where the sound of the birds chirping and the wind rustling the leaves on the trees is the best “music” of all – I always have calming music on in all my Reiki sessions.

You can use any relaxing music in your Reiki practice, but I especially recommend using music that doesn’t have words. When music has words or is a song your client knows, they might find it harder to get out of their head because they’ll be singing the song.

Without words to latch onto, your client can probably drift off and enter “Reiki sleep mode” more easily – which is where the Reiki can really work its magic!

Here are some music choices I use for my Reiki sessions again and again:

Shamanic Dream Vol. II by Anugama.

Canyon Trilogy: Native American Flute Music by R. Carlos Nakai

Tibet Nada Himalaya 2 by Deuter

Questions & Suggestions

So there you have it! A comprehensive guide to all things Reiki-related. If you have any questions about any of these Reiki resources, please feel free to leave a comment below. I am happy to offer any additional guidance that I can.

If you have any suggestions for products that have helped you in your Reiki practice, please share them in a comment as well and I’ll add your recommendations to this Reiki Resources list. Why should new Reiki practitioners have to reinvent the wheel?

Note: Some of the links above are Amazon Affiliate links, which means I get a small percentage (at no cost to you) if you end up purchasing the item through Amazon. However, I only recommend these products because I use them personally and they’ve been a great help to me, both in teaching online Reiki training courses and having a private Reiki practice.

But I hope you never feel like you really need anything to start a successful Reiki practice! You and your intention to facilitate healing with Reiki are the most important factors when it comes to Reiki. Nothing else is necessary.