The Realities of Being a Reiki Healer 

The realities of being a Reiki healer isn’t just peacefulness and quiet and rainbows. That peacefulness exists too. But what people don’t see is everything that happens around those moments…the before and after a client, the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges, and the obstacles that arise within.

This path didn’t slowly reveal itself to me – it tested me again and again and again. And each time, it asked the same questions: are you sure you want to continue down this path? Are you willing to meet not just the light…but the dark too? And at the depths of it…can you hold steady, and still open your heart just a little bit more? 

What the Room Doesn’t Show You

Reiki healing is actually an immensely physical practice. There are days where I stand over a Reiki table for hours, legs grounded, arms outstretched, in a steady stillness. There are sessions where emotions move through me before a client can feel them themselves. I’ll feel their tears, my body will shake, I’ll take deep breaths while my stomach gurgles and rumbles, clearing energy… my body feels everything the client feels, and sometimes, it can be a lot. 

There are also the quieter moments. Clearing the room before the day begins. Sitting in front of my alter each morning ensuring my energy channel is clear. Lying in bed, body buzzing, letting my system rest after a full day of holding space for others. This is the rhythm of the work. Reiki doesn’t just happen on the table. It moves through the healer too.

How I Stay Strong Enough to Keep Doing This

I learned early on that intuition alone isn’t enough. To stay clear, I had to build strength — literally. Lifting weights, strengthening my legs, glutes, core and back keeps me anchored in my body. It reminds me that I live here, in my physical body, not just in spirit realms.

Yoga and yin are where I soften again. Where I’m held instead of holding. Where my nervous system can unwind without having to be anyone or do anything and I can just melt into the practice. Every morning and every night, I cleanse my energy. This requires so much discipline, because even though I don’t always feel like it, I know the repercussions. I drink water, journal, meditate, practise self-Reiki, and I receive regular healings myself. Clear channels don’t come from pushing through – they come from conscious daily maintenance.

Holding space for others

Holding space for others is one of the most important parts of being a Reiki healer. Not just holding space energetically (although that is the foundation), but holding space with my mind and body, and being fully present in the room. Really listening to my clients, responding in a calm and kind way, discerning when to hold space for their need to be heard and validated, and knowing when to ask the right questions to help them shift their mindset and see a different perspective. 

Holding space means staying grounded when my clients are crying or having an anger outburst. It means calm containment for clients who might be going through kundalini symptoms, spiritual awakenings, and experiencing other energetic and spiritual chaos. 

Why This Path Isn’t for Everyone (And That’s Okay)

There have been real moments where this work has brought me to my knees on a personal level. It asks you to meet fear, grief, shadow, and resistance without flinching. I know I can only hold space for others to the extent I can hold space for myself. Reiki isn’t about floating above life. It’s about staying present while moving through what most people avoid.

The professional work of Reiki is a calling, not a hobby. You don’t choose this path because it’s easy or aesthetic. You choose it because something in your heart and soul won’t let you turn away – even when you want to. And when it gets hard, it’s not love and light that carries you through – it’s devotion, self-responsibility, and the quiet knowing that this work matters.

The realities of being a Reiki healer 

There’s a moment many Reiki healers don’t talk about — the one where you realise loving this work doesn’t protect you from being challenged by it. Where your body asks for rest, your nervous system asks for regulation, and your soul asks you to take this path seriously. I’ve learned that sustainability doesn’t come from pushing harder or “being more spiritual” — it comes from structure, support, and deep self-respect. From knowing when to be open, and when to close. When to hold, and when to be held.

Feeling isolated on this path?

Doing this work full-time can feel immensely isolating at times. Friends who don’t walk this path often can’t quite understand the depth of what moves through you in a day. You might be surrounded by people, yet still feel alone in your experience. That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong — it means you’re walking a path that requires shared language and shared understanding.

Join me for my upcoming Reiki Healer Community Circle

That’s why I created my Reiki Healer Community Circle!

Not as a place to vent, fix others, or perform – but as a grounded container for Reiki healers who take this work seriously. A space to regulate, reconnect, share honestly, and sit alongside others who understand the weight and the beauty of this path. If this blog resonated in your body — not just your mind — you’re warmly invited to join us.

You don’t have to carry this alone.

You can book your spot at our upcoming Reiki Healer Circle here. See you there!