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Experience of a Reiki session.
Joan Engebretson1, Diane Wind Wardell
1University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, USA.
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine
|March 14, 2002
Summary
Reiki recipients experienced a unique liminal state of awareness, characterized by paradoxical sensations and perceptions. This holistic healing experience highlights the limitations of linear research models for touch therapies.
Area of Science:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Holistic Healing
- Mind-Body Therapies
Background:
- Touch therapies, such as Reiki, are increasingly popular.
- Previous research on touch therapies has produced inconsistent findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the subjective experiences of Reiki recipients.
- To understand the popularity of touch therapies.
- To identify potential variables for future research.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive study focusing on interview data.
- Thematic analysis of audiotaped interviews from 23 generally healthy Reiki-naive volunteers.
- Standardized 30-minute Reiki sessions conducted in a controlled setting.
Main Results:
- Participants reported a liminal state of awareness during Reiki.
- Experiences were characterized by paradoxical perceptions of time, place, self, and relationship to the practitioner.
- Both sensory and symbolic phenomena were described paradoxically.
Conclusions:
- Liminal and paradoxical experiences are integral to the holistic and individualized nature of ritualistic healing.
- Linear research models may be insufficient to fully capture the complexity of touch therapy experiences.
- Understanding these subjective experiences is crucial for advancing research in complementary therapies.