Reiki is calming, restorative, and deeply healing – but if you’ve never experienced it before, it can feel a little mysterious. What actually happens during a session? What will you feel? And how do you know if it’s working? In this post, I’m going to walk you through what to expect when you come in for a Reiki session so you can arrive feeling informed, at ease, and open to whatever your body is ready to release or receive. I am trained in both Holy Fire® and traditional Usui Reiki. I will explain a bit about the differences and my practice.
To start, I am going to give you a comparison of Holy Fire® vs. traditional Usui Reiki. Holy Fire® Reiki is essentially an evolution of the Usui Reiki system, developed by William Lee Rand and introduced through the International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT). It incorporates the foundational Usui Reiki techniques, symbols, and principles, but adds the Holy Fire® energy, which is described as having unique qualities, such as being more refined, gentle yet powerful, and self-directed.
Holy Fire® Reiki training still includes the core Usui Reiki lineage – the hand positions, symbols (Cho Ku Rei, Sei He Ki, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, Dai Ko Myo), and the methods are all compatible with what is taught in traditional Usui Reiki.
I offer sessions purely in the traditional Usui style if that’s what my clients prefer, or I blend the Holy Fire® techniques with traditional ones.
As with all my modalities, I have a discovery call with my clients beforehand and discuss which technique(s) best meet their needs.
Traditional vs. Holy Fire® Reiki
1. Origin & Lineage
- Traditional Reiki
- Originates from Mikao Usui’s teachings in Japan (early 1900s).
- Passed through various lineages like Usui Shiki Ryoho, Jikiden Reiki, etc.
- Uses traditional symbols, attunements, and hand positions.
- Holy Fire® Reiki
- Introduced in 2014 by William Lee Rand (International Center for Reiki Training).
- Considered an evolution of Usui Reiki energy — said to come from a higher vibrational source of “pure consciousness.”
- Includes Usui Reiki techniques but adds Holy Fire® placements/ignitions rather than traditional attunements.
2. Energy Quality & Feel
- Traditional Reiki
- Often feels warm, calming, grounding, and steady.
- Can be gradual in dissolving blockages and balancing energy.
- Practitioners may focus more on the body’s chakras and specific hand positions.
- Holy Fire® Reiki
- Described as gentle but incredibly powerful
- Many recipients feel a deep inner peace or an immediate connection to unconditional love.
- Some report sensations of light, expansion, or even spontaneous emotional release without conscious processing
3. Attunements & Placements
Tradition Reiki uses “attunements” and Holy fire uses “placements”:
- Attunement – uses specific hand positions, symbols, and intention to connect you with the Reiki source. This involves light touching and scanning my client’s body and energy centers.
- Placement – instead of manually opening my client’s energy channels, the placement process is guided by the Holy Fire® energy itself through a short, meditative experience. I then facilitate this by leading the client into a receptive, relaxed state and then allowing the Holy Fire® energy to “place” and channel Reiki directly into the student’s system.
How I Prepare for ® Reiki Sessions
Before the session starts, I clear away negative energy – from myself and the room. I start by doing Kenyoku (dry bathing) on myself, stroking down from the chest across the stomach, and end at the hip at each side of my body. I then burn sage and use my selenite wand. Lastly, I wash my hands before beginning the session.
How I Prepare Clients for the Session
When the client comes into the room (in-person or virtual room), we talk about what is going on and what they would like to get out of the session. Perhaps what they would like to receive, or maybe they want to release- this can be physically, spiritually, or emotionally. I then explain the Holy Fire® Reiki process and answer any questions they may have. I let the client know that they can talk during the session, or be silent, whatever is most comfortable for them.
Beginning the Reiki Session
I have the client get into a comfortable position on the table or in their home space.
Next, I instruct the client to close their eyes and take a few deep breaths in and out, and take a few moments to mediate on what they are thankful for, and to be open to the healing energies they are about to receive.
While they are meditating, I put my hands on my legs and do reiki on myself for a few moments and then draw the power symbol (see below) down from the top of my head to the root chakra, to clear, protect, and empower me.
There are three symbols used in Holy Fire® Reiki: ChoKu Rei (Power symbol). Sei HeKi (Mental and Emotional Symbol), and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (Distant Symbol). I use all three symbols in-person and virtually, but the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is used more frequently for my virtual clients. What is so magical about Holy Fire® Reiki is that it can be performed at a distance, without the client even being present. In these cases, I use a photograph of my client.
Next, I “draw” the Power Symbol in the middle of the room and visualize it to clear the room (in person or virtually) of all negative energies and to fill the room with light and love. Then I say the Holy Fire® Reiki prayer: “I call upon the Holy Fire® Reiki energy and the holy spirit, God, Jesus, the brothers and the sisters of the light, all the masters, all the angels. I ask them to guide us and heal us in this meditation” Even though the prayer mentions God and Jesus, it is spiritual not religious.
I draw the power symbol on each of my palms, and all three symbols over my client’s crown chakra, imagining the symbols going from the crown of the head to the heart. As I do this, I have the energy from each symbol go where it is needed. I then say a brief prayer to put my personal energies aside so only the pure Reiki energy can flow to my client.
There are “Three Pillars of Reiki” which increase the energy flow of reiki. The first is Gassho, the second is Reiji-ho, and the third is Chiryo.
I do a short Gassho meditation focusing on the space between the palms of my hands and releasing all other thoughts to strengthen the reiki energy and getting it flowing. I close my eyes, fold my hands in the prayer position with my fingers pointing up and my thumbs touching my heart chakra.
Reiji-ho is the second pillar of Reiki, which means indication of the spirit. It allows me to be guided to where the person most needs Reiki. I move my hands up so the thumbs touch the third eye. I ask Reiki to guide my hands where they are most needed, or where to be shown the best places to treat a specific condition or which of the three symbols and techniques to be used.
Chiryo is the third pillar of Reiki. This relies on one’s inner guidance rather than on a predetermined set of hand positions. In this way, each session is unique and focuses on what the client needs to create wholeness.
Once I have finished the three pillars, I do the Byosen Scanning to treat the areas in the aura that are in need of healing. This will create unity in the person’s energy field, allowing reiki to flow more strongly. I place my hands slightly above the persons head and scan their body from head to toe. I move my hand very slowly to be aware of any energy changes that register in the palm of my hand and move my hands to where the need for healing is most pronounced. This can be done virtually as well! It may seem a bit incomprehensible, but that is the magic about Holy Fire® Reiki.
Next, I use the complete set of standard hand placements. While I use the hand placements, I meditate to facilitate the soothing energies of Reiki to flow through me and visualize the Reiki symbols that feel appropriate at the time.
If during the sessions the client has feelings come up like sadness and anger, and begins to cry and /or scream, I remain calm and continue to give Reiki. This means that old feelings and unwanted energies are awakening and being released. At most, I offer a tissue but let them be. If this goes for an extended time (say 15 minutes or more), then I may ask them how they are doing, and if the session is nearing the end, I then let the client know this and help them get back to the present moment.
How I End a Reiki Session
It is important to end the session by giving Reiki to the client’s feet. This helps ground them and bring them back to their body and integrate the healing that has taken place.
The session ends with sealing the client’s energy field by drawing the power symbol on the client’s solar plexus, and briefly covering it with my hand, and silently saying, “I completely seal this Reiki session with divine love and wisdom” as I brush down the aura from the head to the feet.
Repeating the prayer from the beginning of the session, I then bring the client back slowly, allowing them to lay quietly for a few minutes. When they return, I we talk about what the client observed or felt about the experience. I also tell them what I observed.
When the client leaves, I wash my hands and do Kenyoku (dry bathing) on myself to clear the energy, and sit quietly doing Reiki on myself, visualizing the power symbol on the walls and clearing the room.
Every Reiki session is a little different because every person’s energy is unique, but the above is a pretty good idea of what to expect during a Reiki session. Whether you leave feeling lighter, more grounded, or simply more at peace, the experience is always one of gentle support.
If you’re curious to try Holy Fire® Reiki or traditional Reik, I invite you to book discovery call and see how it can help you reconnect, restore, and realign. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.
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