Using Reiki To Scan Yourself

As you continue to use Reiki, you may find some of your natural energy abilities increasing. One of these is the ability to sense energy within or around the body with your hands (your non-dominant hand is usually best).  This is especially true of areas where emotional and mental energy has slowed down and become stagnant, often called energy blocks.  A technique that makes use of this skill, called Scanning, can be used in locating these areas on yourself or a client. Reiki can be directed to this area and the energy may immediately begin to return to it's normal vibration.  If this is done in the emotional and mental layers of the body (about 2 to 10 inches above or away), potential problems that may arise may be avoided before the energy manifests in the physical body. Long-term blocks may also begin to slowly dissipate, causing emotional and mental relief. 

Since we normally apply Reiki at the body level (hands on or about an inch away), we will usually deal with the physical blocks as we do a full treatment. Ultimately this energy will work its way to the other levels of the aura as well. However, if we have the time and the desire, we can try to effect change at the mental and emotional layer more quickly by scanning these layers, and then applying Reiki to any place we feel an unusual energy. You may also find scanning at the body level useful as well, as it can give you a detailed idea of how you or the recipient are doing at the physical level.
 

Use 2 hands …

.. or 1 hand

Sense the Area

Apply Reiki on the Body …

... or in the Aura

To scan your own energy, simply follow the Self Treatment positions but hold your non dominant hand about 2 to 10 inches away from your body.  Do one quick pass, trying to pay attention to the overall feel of your energy.  Then do a second pass, this time noticing the subtle differences from place to place.  An area may feel hotter (drawing energy in) or cooler (energy flowing out). Or perhaps it feels thicker or thinner, with your hand moving more slowly or faster through this space. There may be subtle vibrations that change from place to place.  Again, this is all about 2 to 10 inches away from you (in the mental and emotional space). 

There is an interesting article on the sensations you might experience at  http://www.acupuncture.com/education/diagnosis/qiqualities.htm.  The article is called “The Qualities of Qi in Meridian Diagnosis.” (You will need to scroll down the page a bit for that section.)

These sensations usually indicate that the energy is either in a state of change, or needs some assistance.  Next, apply Reiki in your aura with both hands wherever you felt something unusual or different.  Just give Reiki for a minute or two in each place.  When you are finished, begin a normal Reiki treatment on yourself.  Notice if the Scanning and Reiki in the higher levels of the aura have made a difference in how you feel (mentally, emotionally, physically).  Over time you will become familiar with the energy feel of your aura and body.

While right handed people might find their left hand is more sensitive for scanning, I find that a typical left handed person is often omni-handed (i.e. equally left and right handed).  The dominant hand rule really applied to most right handed people, and a few left handed, however, in either case I suggest the student can use whichever hand feels best each time. 

In a live class, I often give an additional exercise to students to help them realise that they already have the ability to sense energies. I ask them to look out my living room window.  Across the street are some large Japanese Cherry trees - the kind that have the pink blossoms in the spring.  I ask them to look at one of them (Tree A) and try to determine in their mind how they feel about the tree.  Then after a minute I suggest they determine where on the tree their attention is mainly drawn to.  What point would they touch if they could reach out and do so? 

Next I have them do the same to the tree next to it (Tree B) or sometimes with a different type of tree (Tree C).  I also ask them to compare what they feel and also where their attention is drawn on both trees. What is interesting is that everyone is able to do this and has some kind of feeling about each tree and some special point they seem to be drawn to look at. 
 

Tree A

Tree B

Tree C

I then tell them that what they have just done is scanned the trees from a distance, and they have also used a form of the Reiji Ho or intuitive Reiki (from the Shoden section) on each tree.  I suggest that they might want to try the same idea when they see 2 people walking towards them outside (even if they are far away at first).  This will help develop their energy sensitivities for these methods  with people.  There are many things you can gradually sense about others (and things) if you wish to pursue this.

In my article on the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, at the end I talk about the former society president Mrs. Koyama whom my student Shiya Fleming met.  She said Mrs. Koyama was able to scan people as they came into her house and know what their problem was and even how many treatments would be required.  It is also possible to scan someone you cannot see, as in giving a distant treatment, even if you have never met them.

In the URR Gakkai, a Reiki 1 student (or Shoden level) must demonstrate certain abilities before being able to continue with Reiki 2 (or Okuden level).  2 of these tests are being able to demonstrate Byosen Reikan Ho and Reiji Ho with precision.  These are the preferred techniques used in traditional Japanese Reiki healing.  Please see my  “Sample URR Shoden” pages for more in these 2 techniques