This technique can be used to change unwanted thought processes, even unconscious ones, or behavioural patterns and addictions, like smoking. The power of this technique can seem miraculous, and if you are adept at creating strong, positive affirmations, you can use it in any number of different situations.
Hawayo Takata taught that this technique should be given for fifteen minutes each day, until the person is better.1Quoted in Seiheki Chiryo Ho by James Deacon, aetw.org/d_seiheiki.html, accessed 21 October 2016.
Begin by establishing what the client (or you) would like to change, and agree on a positive, believable, affirmation. For example, if the client has self-worth issues, an affirmation could be “I am a beautiful, valuable and unique expression”. For smoking, it could be “I am successfully living a smoke-free existence”. Ensure the language used is positive and in a present tense. Don’t use words like “not” (e.g. “I am successfully not smoking”), as we want to focus on what we do want, not what we don’t want.
Tell your client that she will use the affirmation to focus during the technique. When her mind wanders, she can gently bring it back to the affirmation.
- Ask your client to sit in a chair, close her eyes, and relax.
- Start with gasshô breathing, to calm and centre yourself.
- Place your dominant hand on the occipital ridge—the base of the skull—and allow Reiki to flow.
- Place your non-dominant hand on the client’s forehead, and let Reiki flow.
- Repeat the affirmation three times, silently or out loud.
- Hold for five minutes, or as long as you feel is right.
- Remove your hand from the forehead while keeping the other hand in place and relax, for up to 5 minutes.
- End by giving thanks with hands in gasshô.
The procedure for a self-treatment is the same, except that it is easiest to lie down instead of sitting in a chair.
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