What Is Reiki and Does Reiki Healing Practice Require Any Tools?

Reiki is an ancient healing technique originated in Japan used to reduce stress and promote relaxation by channelling the energy of the universe. Reiki is one of those practices that’s often mentioned by experts in wellness. But a good explanation about it is rare to find. A lot of people have heard of it, some have tried it, and many are still not sure what it actually involves.

We’ll start with the basics and work our way up. What is Reiki? Does it really work? And do you need anything like crystals or tools to get started or benefit from it?

What is Reiki Healing?

Reiki is about channelling the life energy available in the universe, specifically your surroundings, to you to help you heal physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique that was developed by a man named Mikao Usui in the early 1900s. The word itself is made up of two parts: “Rei” which means spiritual or universal, and “Ki” which means life energy.

Reiki is not a religion, nor is it a religious practice. It doesn’t require you to have faith in anything specific; well, probably some in yourself. Reiki is simply a way of working with energy to support balance in the body and mind.

How Is Reiki Healing Therapy Done?

Reiki healing therapy usually involves a practitioner, often called a Reiki Master, placing their hands lightly on or just above the body. The person receiving Reiki lies down, fully clothed, and the environment is kept calm and quiet. 

The practitioner usually never touches their palm literally on your body as they leave a gap between the two surfaces. Some practitioners believe that a small gap allows for a more subtle and perhaps more effective transmission of Reiki energy. The practitioner adjusts the gap to regulate the flow of energy as well.

Practitioners use their hands to scan the body for areas of imbalance or discomfort. This is called byosen scanning. The gap might change as they move their hands to different areas and feel for changes in energy flow.

The art of gliding the practitioner’s palms over your body sure looks like they are “giving” some kind of energy to you, but that’s not the case. They just channel the universal energy to you and the palms are mere devices to do it.

There is no pressure, no manipulation of muscles, and no talking during the session. Some people feel warmth or tingling. Others feel nothing but still report deep relaxation afterwards.

How Does Reiki Healing Therapy Work?

The foundational idea of Reiki is that a life force energy flows through all living beings. When this energy becomes blocked or disturbed, it can contribute to feelings of imbalance or illness. Reiki healing can help restore the natural flow of energy and bring your body’s energy centers back into harmony.

If you’re looking for the science of Reiki, you may become disappointed. But just because something is difficult to be explained by science, doesn’t mean it’s not real.

While there isn’t a scientific explanation that fully explains how Reiki works, many studies have been conducted to gauge the effects of Reiki healing. A 2017 review published in the National Institute of Health showed that Reiki had a positive effect on pain, anxiety, and depression in various patient groups.

Some people think it has to do with the body’s electromagnetic field. Others believe it’s related to calming the nervous system or activating the body’s natural healing response.

From a medical point of view, Reiki may not be measurable, but it does seem to help people feel better.

One theory is that Reiki helps switch the nervous system from “fight or flight” mode to “rest and digest.” That’s the mode where healing and repair can happen.

This alone might explain why people report feeling calmer, sleeping better, or experiencing pain relief after a session.

Reiki can also support relationships by helping you release old, stagnant energy that may be lingering in your body. This release makes it easier to let go of past experiences and reset patterns that might be drawing you toward the same kind of person again and again.

Does Reiki Healing Require Any Tools?

You do not need any tools to practice or receive Reiki. Traditional Reiki, as taught by Usui, only involves the hands, the energy, and intention. That said, some modern practitioners like to use tools to enhance the experience. Crystals are one of the most common additions.

These tools are optional. They are not essential to Reiki, but they can support the practice in interesting ways. Crystals can elevate the results you get as they are said to amplify the energy channelled to you.

How Crystal Healing Stones Support Reiki Healing

Crystals are not a requirement. They are more like tools that help tune the experience.

Crystals have been used in healing traditions for centuries. Cultures in Egypt, India, China, and South America all used stones in rituals or spiritual practices. Crystals are used to remove energy blockages and spread positivity in your surroundings and these qualities make them a good aid in Reiki healing.

In the context of Reiki, crystals are used to enhance or support the energy channelling being done. Crystals help to focus intention and some believe the carry their own energy that resonates with certain parts of the body or mind.

For example, if you are feeling anxious you might place amethyst near the crown of your head to encourage calm and mental clarity. If you’re working through grief, you might use rose quartz near the heart area.

Common Reiki Healing Crystals and Their Uses

If you’re looking to try crystals in your Reiki sessions, here are some of the most commonly used ones and what they’re believed to support:

Clear Quartz

This crystal is called by the practitioners an “energy amplifier”. It is said to amplify intention and balance your chakras as well. It also amplifies and enhances the effects of other crystals when used in combination. During Reiki, you can place clear quartz on or near your body, sometimes over specific chakras, to help focus and intensify the energy being channelled.

Amethyst

Amethyst is traditionally associated with peace, intuition, and higher states of awareness and this is exactly what you need if you’re in a Reiki session. Amethyst gives you emotional balance and a relaxed mind. During a Reiki session, you can place Amethyst near your head or third eye area.

Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz is linked to love, compassion, and emotional healing. It helps open the heart to forgiveness and self-acceptance while encouraging a sense of inner peace. During a Reiki session, you can place Rose Quartz over the heart chakra to support emotional release and balance.

Black Tourmaline

Black Tourmaline is known for its grounding and protective qualities, which are valuable in a Reiki setting. It helps you feel safe, stable, and connected to the earth while shielding against unwanted energy. During a Reiki session, placing Black Tourmaline near your feet or root chakra can create a strong energetic foundation and promote a sense of security.

Citrine

Citrine is often associated with joy, confidence, and motivation. These are qualities that can uplift your energy during Reiki healing. Citrine stimulates the solar plexus chakra, which governs personal power and self-esteem. In a Reiki session, Citrine can be placed near the stomach area to encourage positivity and a renewed sense of purpose.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is traditionally connected to truth, wisdom, and clear communication. It resonates with both the throat and third eye chakras, helping you speak your truth and strengthen your intuition. During a Reiki session, Lapis Lazuli can be placed near the throat or forehead to support honest communication and spiritual clarity.

Salantine

Selenite is traditionally associated with clarity, purification, and high-vibration energy. It is believed to cleanse stagnant energy and create a peaceful, uplifting environment. During a Reiki session, you can place it above the head or used to gently sweep through the aura to clear blockages and promote a deep sense of calm and lightness.

How to Choose the Right Crystals for Reiki Healing

Not all crystals feel the same to everyone, and choosing the right ones for your Reiki practice often comes down to intuition and personal resonance. Some practitioners select stones based on chakra associations, while others choose by color, texture, or the energy they sense from the crystal. 

Here’s how you can choose the right crystals:

• Start with versatile stones: Clear quartz and amethyst are great beginner choices because they’re believed to work well for a variety of intentions.
  
• Match crystals to chakras: If you are focusing on a specific blockage or emotional problem, find the chakra associated with it and choose the crystal linked to the chakra.
  
• Trust your intuition: Your intuitions are more powerful than you think. You can choose stones simply by noticing which ones you feel drawn to at the moment.
  
• Pay attention to energy and feel: The weight, temperature, or even the “vibe” of a stone can influence your choice.
  
• Use color as a guide: Many people match crystal colors to corresponding chakra colors, for example, green for heart, blue for throat, and so on.

How to Use Crystals for Reiki Healing

Crystals can be added to a Reiki session in simple, practical ways. There is no need to follow strict rules and you can just focus on creating a comfortable, balanced environment for yourself.

Here are some points to keep in mind while using crystals during your Reiki session:

• Place them on chakra points: We’re already told you how some crystals are linked to your chakras. You can choose the right crystal and place them on your chakra points during the session.
  
• Arrange them around the body: Create a circle or grid of stones around the person receiving Reiki to create a gentle, supportive energy field.
  
• Hold them during the session: In Reiki, holding crystals in your hands can be a simple way to connect with their energy while receiving or giving healing. Even if you do not physically place crystals on the body, simply holding them can serve as a point of focus for intention and meditation during Reiki.
  
• Use them with intention: Before starting, set a clear intention for what each crystal will support, such as emotional healing or energy clearing.
  
• Incorporate them into a crystal grid: Combining Reiki with sacred geometry patterns can help amplify the session’s purpose. There are grids and crystal beds you can use to amplify the effects of your session.
  
• Cleanse before and after each use: This keeps the crystals’ energy clear and ready for the next session. Common cleansing methods include rinsing with water (for water-safe stones), placing under moonlight, or using sound vibrations.

Crystal Reiki Healing with Chacrys Tools

At Chacrys, we create tools designed to support both beginners and experienced Reiki practitioners. These tools combine crystal healing stones with sacred geometry to create a focused and balanced energy field.

Geometrically cut crystals like Vogel Crystal can create a sort of energetic blueprint that supports stability, intention, and focus. It’s like adding an extra layer of grounding and clarity to the space. You can choose your own Vogel crystal, amethyst, citrine or rose quartz, based on your chakra and emotional need.

Another popular tool is our crystal grid panels, which use shapes like the Flower of Life or Sri Yantra, embedded with stones like clear quartz or amethyst. Some practitioners place these under their Reiki table or in the room to hold the energy during a session.

We also make handheld tools like crystal points and spheres, which are sometimes used to direct energy more intentionally during Reiki.

Reiki healing is an ancient technique that has now transcended time and cultures. With the right practitioner, Reiki is an amazing way to channel the universal life energy to you. It does not require tools but healing stones and crystal grids can be useful. They help some people focus. And for others, they simply feel good to have around.

If you’re new to Reiki, you can start without anything at all. If you’re more experienced or just curious, crystals might be worth exploring.

If you’re looking to explore crystal Reiki healing, check out our tools at Chacrys. We offer handcrafted pieces made from natural stones and designed to support both personal and professional healing practices.

Want to learn more about how crystals work in healing? Or which stones to choose based on your energy type? Head over to our blog for more in-depth guides.