Pranic, Tantric and Reiki Are Energy Healing Methods

You have probably come across exotic-sounding terms such as chakra, prana, aura, and tantra in your course of reading books on spirituality, sex, and healing in the New Age literature section of the bookstore. But what do these exotic vocabularies mean?

Are All Energy Healing Methods the Same?

Chakra or energy center is a term used in Pranic healing, an ancient Hindu system of energy healing. “Prana” means life energy. “Aura” is another terminology traced to Pranic healing. Aura is a non-physical body that consists of energy, which exists along with our physical body. The aura that covers our body is said to have seven layers pertaining to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of an individual as manifested by energy. Studying the color and thickness of auras give ideas on the state of health of individuals.

Six colors are associated with aura and interpreted into six personalities. These colors are all present in an individual but one or two are more pronounced.

1. Green – ambitious achiever
2. Blue – spiritual peacemaker
3. White – unconventional chameleon
4. Red – activist
5. Orange – creative communicator
6. Violet - psychic

Although Tantra is popularly associated with the peculiar practice of sex and spirituality, it is another method of energy healing. It comes from the word “tan” which means to spread or expand. The concept of connectedness is a recurring theme in Tantric writings on sex and spirituality. As a method of healing, spirituality and sex figure prominently. It is presupposed that the union of man and woman can reach spiritual levels during orgasm, which removes the body and mind off collected impurities. These impurities being negative energies can in turn manifest as physical illnesses.

Unlike Pranic and Tantric healings, which have Hindu origins, Reiki originated from Japan. It is relatively younger than Pranic and Tantric healings having been rediscovered in the early 1900’s. Reiki stands for universal energy, an energy brought forth by higher intelligence. Students of Reiki are taught how to tap this energy to heal physical, emotional, and mental illnesses.

Although Pranic, Tantra, and Reiki are all systems of energy healing, they differ in the type of energy tapped for healing: life energy, sexual energy, and universal energy respectively.

The concepts of the connectedness of mind, body, and spirit; the connection of individuals to all living and nonliving things around them and to the universe; and how energy impacts physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are some of the salient similarities of these three healing methods.

Why Do People Turn to Energy Healing?

Pranic, Tantric, and Reiki are considered alternative methods of healing. In spite of the availability and relative accessibility of modern medicine, how come more and more people are being drawn to them? Here are some possible reasons:

• Energy healing worked where modern medicine failed.

For several reasons both explainable and unexplainable, modern medical treatment failed to heal ailments and conditions in several if not many persons. Research or data may not be able to support this statement. But for the families of the dying as well as for the dying patient, they would take the risk of using alternative methods ranging from herbals and organics, faith healers, witch doctors, and New Age healing techniques just to be get well.

• People perceive modern medicine to be isolating.

Medical treatments are oftentimes focused on the disease and its causative agent, which can make a patient feel isolated and treated like a mere host of the disease. Although recent developments in hospital practice are gradually promoting the holistic treatment of a patient, the perception still persists. Unlike in energy healing, since energy and spirituality are intimately linked, the patient feels that all aspects of his health are being attended to.

• Energy healing is non-obtrusive and natural thus it is safer.

Repeated surgical procedures are physically and emotionally traumatic for most patients. It is but a logical and attractive option to both patient and families to look for less stressful health interventions. Moreover, with the rising popularity of New Age religions, going natural is the way to go.

• Energy healing is a good way of relieving stress.

Meditation is part and parcel of energy healing methods and this is an added come-on for highly stressed people. Moreover, sophisticated equipment is not required thus it becomes all the more convenient for students and future students of energy healing.

The battle between alternative healing and mainstream medicine continues as both present the benefits of their approach. But in the final analysis, what matters is the restoration of good health.

Reiki Therapy Is An Alternative Healing Practice

Reiki therapy involves a lot of elements in just about every alternative healing practice. This is because it uses spiritual healing, meditation, aromatherapy, naturopathy and homeopathy among others to make the person or another feel better. But what makes this Japanese healing art so unique and popular is that it involves the transfer of energy in order to restore balance in the force.

Reiki therapy has several basic effects. These include deep relaxation, detoxification of the system, the increases the vibration or frequency of the body, provide new vitality in the form of healing energy and removal of negative energy.

In Reiki therapy, the practitioner places his or her hands over the patient. The recipient should be lying down so he or she is completely at ease and ready to welcome the positive energy.

Reiki therapy begins from the head and then works all the way down to the feet. Ideally, this should be placed 2 to 4 inches away from the body of the patient. The hands must be cupped with the fingers closely bonded together and the thumbs pulled upward against the hand so the positive energy that you possess is directed to the one who needs it.

For this to work, both the healer and the person being healed need to take an active part in the healing process. One sends forth the energy while the other should openly receive it.

The strength of Reiki therapy depends on the level of the healer. There are three types and this improves through attunements.

Reiki healers in the fist level are only taught the basic hand positions and the scared symbol so they can perform direct healing over others. In level two, they can now teach the symbols and hand position so they can practice distance healing. In level three, the person should be able to know everything and thus earn the title of master and can already teach this to others.

Are there risks in Reiki therapy? The answer is no. The only thing the patient can do is block the positive energy that is being given but this does not cause him or her harm in any way. Another thing people should remember is that Reiki therapy works in conjunction with western medicine and other practices. It is simply designed to help the person heal especially for those who need to undergo surgery.

Reiki therapy is not successful after only on session. This has to be done several times until the patient is completely healed and this can only happen the body becomes in tune with itself. A practitioner can even do this to him or herself to reduce the anxiety and stress that happens everyday as people live a happier life if there is both harmony and peace.

If you want to become a Reiki practitioner, you first have to sign up in a class that is conducted by a certified Reiki master. Level one students will have to undergo training for a couple of days and then a 21 day cleansing period before proceeding on to the next one so read the manual and keep an open mind.

There are also Reiki therapy classes offered through distance learning programs and online so its really up to you to embrace the power of this alternative form of healing or not.

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