Reiki is a Japanese technique. The practice involves a practitioner gently placing their hands on or just above a person to promote relaxation and healing by channeling this universal energy. Before a person can practice, they must receive a Reiki Attunement, sometimes called a reiju or initiation, from a Reiki Master. This ritual is designed to open and align the recipient’s energy channels, allowing them to connect with and transmit the energy. Many people wonder if the initiation is a temporary boost or a lasting change.
Understanding the Permanent Energetic Shift
The energetic shift resulting from a Reiki attunement is considered permanent once the process is complete. Practitioners and teachers widely agree that the attunement creates an energetic opening or connection that cannot be undone or taken away. This is frequently compared to learning a fundamental skill, such as riding a bicycle; once the body and energy system have learned to access the flow, that ability remains for life.
The attunement process involves a Reiki Master using specific rituals, including symbols and hand placements, to clear and open the student’s primary energy centers, such as the crown and palm chakras. This acts less like installing temporary software and more like flipping a permanent internal switch that activates a latent connection to the universal life force energy. The Master serves as a channel to facilitate this powerful alignment, essentially adjusting the student’s frequency so the energy flows more naturally.
The body and subtle energy system undergo a clearing process during and immediately after the attunement, often called a 21-day detox. Even if the practitioner chooses not to use the energy for years, the ability to channel it is believed to simply remain dormant, ready to be reactivated through practice. The energetic pathways, once opened, are not sealed shut by disuse, confirming the lasting nature of the initial connection.
Factors Influencing Perceived Connection Strength
While the energetic connection is permanent, practitioners may sometimes feel that their ability to channel or sense the energy has become weak or blocked. This diminished perception of flow is not due to the attunement wearing off, but rather to a buildup of energetic stagnation within the practitioner’s system. External factors like chronic stress, emotional upheaval, or poor lifestyle choices can suppress the feeling of energy flow.
Trauma and unresolved emotional issues can cause energetic contraction, making it more difficult for the universal life force energy to move naturally and strongly through the body. A lack of proper energetic hygiene, such as neglecting self-treatment, can allow negative or residual energies to accumulate, slowing the flow. The individual’s personal sensitivity also plays a role in how strongly they perceive the energy; some practitioners feel the flow intensely, while others may notice subtler effects like deep relaxation or warmth.
This difference highlights the distinction between the permanence of the channel and the clarity of the channel. The attunement establishes the ability to transmit the energy, but the practitioner’s daily mental and physical state determines the optimal usability and intensity of that flow.
When Practitioners Seek Subsequent Attunements
Practitioners often choose to receive additional attunements, but this choice is generally for enhancement and advancement, not for renewing a faded connection. The most common reason is for level progression, such as moving from Reiki Level I to Level II, or from Level II to the Master/Teacher Level. Each successive level involves a new, distinct attunement that expands the energy pathways, introduces new symbols, and significantly increases the intensity of the channeled energy.
For instance, the Level II attunement expands the scope of the energy to the emotional and mental planes, enabling techniques like distance healing. Receiving a subsequent attunement is understood to build upon the previous one, layering new capabilities onto the existing, permanent foundation. Another reason some practitioners seek re-attunement is to receive a “refresher” from a different Master or to experience a different lineage’s approach.
These “booster” attunements are optional, serving to deepen the practitioner’s personal connection or realign their focus. They are not necessary for the energy to work. The original connection remains intact, and the decision to receive another attunement is a personal choice aimed at spiritual growth or further energetic refinement.
Daily Practices to Maintain Energy Flow
To keep the permanent energetic channel clear and flowing, consistent daily practice is recommended for all practitioners. This includes dedicating a short period each day to self-Reiki, which helps to regulate new energy and ground the nervous system. Even brief sessions of ten to fifteen minutes can help in maintaining momentum and preventing the buildup of energetic blockages.
Incorporating mindful movement, such as yoga or Tai Chi, also supports a strong energy flow by releasing physical tension and stagnant energy. Simple practices like setting a positive intention before a session or using gratitude practices can elevate the practitioner’s own vibrational frequency. Regular self-care ensures the practitioner remains a clear, open channel.