By: Nicole Cook, Reiki Master
It’s a good question!
If you’ve never tried Reiki before, maybe you don’t even have a concept of what to expect. Or if you’ve tried it before, it’s reasonable to wonder how a session with me might be similar or different.
So here’s my best attempt at a rundown of what an in-person body reading session with me might look like. I call my full Reiki sessions “body readings” because I’m not just facilitating Reiki. I’m also sharing information that your body, field, and spiritual team are passing on to you.
How We’ll Work With Your Energy
Most sessions focus on balancing the energy centers in your body, but there’s no strict formula. I’ll begin by creating a safe energetic “container” to work within.
I usually start at the crown (above your head), but sometimes I feel called to begin elsewhere, maybe the feet or even the soul star chakra below the feet. I follow the energy.
The best way to describe it is that your body and your field sort of act as a Tarot deck for me, painting a picture, telling a story. For whatever reason, your body and energy centers become my divination tool. No shuffling required!
The Disclaimers!
Ok, this is the boring but very important part. Reiki and energy healing should never be used as a substitute for actual medical or mental health care. I am not licensed for anything.
Our session may echo things your doctor or therapist said, but take that as validation, not as medical advice. If I mention any foods, supplements, herbs, exercises, etc., always check with your medical providers before trying anything.
Ok, glad we got that sorted out. On to greener pastures.
You’re Calling in Whom?!?
I will invite in energies who may be interested in assisting with the session: guides, ancestors, and soul family. If you are uncomfortable with any of that, just let me know before we start.
If you have family history that makes you feel unsure about calling in ancestors, we can skip that as well.
The first time I decided to ask if ancestors were ok, the client sheepishly said, “It’s crazy that you asked that because I would prefer not to include ancestors at this time.” So, spirit always knows, but I may not know what you need.
Ok, but this topic comes with a huge caveat. When I do invite your soul team through, sometimes they make themselves known very specifically. Sometimes we get really cool information and stuff to take home and research. Sometimes they stay anonymous and just pass on bits of info that just sound like me asking off-the-wall questions.
Please try to remember, both types of experiences are valid. I know a lot of times we’re looking for undeniable validation or messages from a specific person, and I totally get it. I’ve been there.
But we don’t always get that, and I don’t get to decide when or how it happens. They are there, I promise. Sometimes they hold back—they have the TEA, but they know your human isn’t ready to understand it. So they’ll give information that will help you prepare for more info down the line.
The Mechanical Stuff
During your session in my private office suite, you’ll typically lie on a padded massage table (heated in the winter!) with extra sheets and blankets you can use.
Can’t lie down? No problem. We can work in a chair, or you can move around if that feels better. I have some big bean bags and some yoga mats we can use.
There’s no such thing as distance when it comes to energy work, so whatever you need to do, we can work with it!
What You Might Feel (or Not)
As I begin to work on your energy centers, I will hold my hands a few inches from your body. Some people notice energy moving—tingling, heat, cold, or even like something has shifted or lifted.
Sometimes tears sneak out, or emotions bubble up. Other times, nothing seems to happen at all. That’s perfectly fine!
Sometimes energy is busy working quietly behind the scenes, and you might only notice later. The energy will meet you where you are, and that might need to be baby steps!
I might occasionally slide one or both hands under your back, neck, or knees to access the backs of your energy centers. I will ask you if that’s ok before doing so. If it’s not, please do not hesitate to tell me.
Messages, Insights, and Takeaways
Every session is different, and sometimes your body or energy field offers guidance. You might notice little nudges or insights—maybe a message from an ancestor or past loved one, a gentle hint about your life path, a suggestion for grounding exercises, or even realizations about patterns in your life that need attention.
These things can be profound, but they don’t happen every time. Sometimes we just need to focus on balancing and clearing.
Energy work is unpredictable, and anything beyond supporting your energy depends on a multitude of factors—from your health to your state of mind to your life history.
Most people leave with a take-home sheet I make just for them, tying insights to energy centers and suggesting small, gentle ways to continue caring for yourself. Think of it as a little roadmap for your energy with some low-pressure “homework” assignments.
Expectations
Occasionally I’ll get a call from a prospective client who wants to know if I can “clear all of their blockages.” The short answer is no, I probably can’t.
Sometimes we move an awful lot of energy, and sometimes we have important breakthroughs. But I’m not going to promise anything I can’t guarantee.
And I think it would be exceedingly rare for anyone to clear even a majority of blocks in one session. Energy work is like peeling an onion, layer by layer.
Some clients have already done a lot of work and might have deep releases or insights; others are just starting and notice smaller shifts. Most, if not all, report feeling lighter and more relaxed at the end of their session, so that’s typically what I tell folks they can expect.
But what can Reiki do reliably? According to medical research, Reiki can lower blood pressure, help with pain management, and ease anxiety. It leaves your nervous system feeling safer and more balanced, giving your body the space to heal.
That’s when the real magic happens! Our bodies are so amazing, and we rarely give them the credit they deserve.
But What if I’m Scamming You?
Skepticism is healthy; I actually encourage it. That said, too much skepticism in the moment can sometimes make it harder for the energy to move freely.
My suggestion? Try letting the session unfold naturally, and then take a step back afterward to look at it with your critical lens. You can reflect, ask questions, and process everything once your body and energy have had a chance to do their work.
If the energy is meant to help you, it will help you. You don’t have to make any decisions about whether or not you believe it’s real. Ever.
You could come to 100 Reiki sessions and never decide if it’s real or not. Isn’t that cool?
Preparing for Your Session
You don’t need any prep. The most important thing is showing up with an open mind.
That said, a few little things can be helpful if you’re feeling up to it before you come in:
- Gentle breathing exercises, like box breathing, to settle in
- Relaxing your throat and heart spaces—think “softening, not forcing”
- Setting an intention, even just a simple one like “I’m ready to receive”
- Drinking water before the session
And again, I will be sending you home with a sheet full of notes and suggestions taken during your session. Extra credit if you can read my writing!
I think that about covers it. Did I miss anything? No two sessions are alike, but they are always interesting!
And I hope this information will help you as you are trying to decide who the best practitioner is for you. If you read this and thought, “Oh my goodness, this isn’t for me!” then we still accomplished something because now you know that.