Hi one and all
I'm fairly new to Reiki in as much as I had my first attunement 5 months ago and the second a few weeks ago and in the main I have only treated close family so far.
I believe I have a psychological problem that is stopping the Reiki flowing. I would be grateful if someone can help me get over it.
I was giving a Reiki treatment to a very good friend last night (it was his first time) and I started the first position and intended for the Reiki to flow for the highest good etc. My hands were cold despite rubbing them vigorously beforehand and relaxing my arm muscles. I felt my shoulders warming up but my arms & hands were steadfastly cold. The heat in my shoulders got more and more intense to the point where my head was dripping with sweat and my shirt was wet.
I felt as if the Reiki was being blocked from flowing down my arms. Telling myself to relax seemed to just make me more aware that I needed to relax rather than actually helping!
I tried changing hand positions but at no stage did I feel that it was flowing well. I had some mild tingling in my palms at times but not much else. This has happened to me twice before but I forced through the blockage on the previous occasions and my hands suddenly got hot. I must have used my own energy to do this though as I was very tired the next day. My master told me not to do this again so last night I didn't force it with the result that the treatment seemed a waste of time. The client fell asleep quite quickly but he was tired anyway and the environment was conducive for him to nod off too.
On the three times this has happened it has been important to me for the Reiki treatment to go well and therein lies the problem I feel. I know I am but a channel for the Reiki and it is the client and the Reiki that does any healing that may occur. I guess I am concerned about what other people think about me giving Reiki and I shouldn't be, I'm fine with it and it feels wonderful to do. It feels to me that I am too keen and thinking about it too much. Perhaps this question should be in the Psychology forum rather than the Reiki one!!
Has anyone else been through this? If so were there any tricks you learned to get over it that you can pass on to me other than deal with my apparent self respect issues!!:D
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi olivebranch
It is possible that you have blockages in both your arms but then it would not flow at all, do you do lots of energy exercises to help improve the flow? if you go to an energy circle have you had any feedback from the members about this as it is easier to sense something like this in person 
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hello Olivebranch,
Too be honnest, I think that the Reiki flows anyway, even if you are tensed up. But the receiver will pick up on you being tense and so might not relax as much...
As you noticed, trying harder does only make things worse. SOme of the best treatments I've given were when I felt that I was "so obviously doing a crap treatment that it wasn't even worth bothering abotu doing one".. but how could I possibly say this to my receiver???!!! So I "gave up" and kept doing something because I had to "fill in time". Feedback was always very good, because I had given up on doing an excellent treatment.
Artemis
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi Paul
Thanks for your input.
I don't do any specific energy flow exercises for my arms. I do a self treatment or chakra balance on myself every day and give treatments to others regularly now so I use the Reiki a lot. My Reiki master thinks the flow from my hands is fine but just need to relax and not worry about it. I gave a "top up" treatment to my wife tonight and everything was fine, my hands were really "toasty" and I could feel the difference. I will admit to a internal sigh of relief when the flow came through. My wife came out of it relaxed and feeling good. So I think fundamentally things are OK.
Phil
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Thanks Artemis
I appreciate your kind words. It was nice to hear of your experiences. I was pretty despondant towards the end of the session yesterday and had given up. Once I had let go I did receive an insight into the clients problem (although the Reiki still didn't flow as it usually does) so it wasn't a complete waste of time.
Phil
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi Phil
If you hold your hands a few inches apart and start the energy flowing then direct it to flow down your right arm and up your left until you feel a good flow, then reverse it until that way is flowing fine that might help you a little.
You can speed it up, slow it down, increase the strength and then decrease it as you wish or you will when you have done it for a while
As you have realised there is a state of consciousness involved with energy work and getting the right balance between being relaxed enough to allow the flow whist being conscious of what is happening and fine tuning the flow to what is required takes a while to master, but practice make perfect and the more you do it the easier it becomes
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi Phil,
The Reiki will flow - and was flowing - when your hands and arms were cold. Each reiki session can be totally different and you cannot expect to feel the same each time.
I jhave had ocassions when, like you, the perspiration was running down both sides of my body and the person I was treating said that they felt nothing at all. And then there are times when I am feeling absolutely nothing at all and just go through the motions using the 'standard' hand positions for the paid time, and the client gets off the couch saying " Wow!!! What were you doing??? I saw colours, heard voices, etc, etc".
I have learnt not to worry because the Reiki flows regardless of what I feel. So please relax, enjoy and - as I have learnt to do - please do not worry.
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
although the Reiki still didn't flow as it usually does
Or maybe it could be rephrased as "did not feel the Reiki flowing as I usually do"?
Artemis
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi there, couple of things I spotted in your post...
I believe I have a psychological problem that is stopping the Reiki flowing. I would be grateful if someone can help me get over it.
Okay, stop right there! You do NOT have a psychological problem and the more you dwell on this assumption, the more you will affect your abilities. It's not a problem, it's a tool for growth. It's something which is part of your learning and should be treated as such. So, take that thought out and strangle it at once! [8D]
Re:treating your friend. Okay, you've had this difficulty before, but people can quite easily block the energy even when their conscious mind has agreed to it. It is possible that each time you have encountered someone who will not receive, or at least, not in the way you assume they 'should'! You master is quite right - you should never force through a 'blockage' and use your own energy. If it's blocked, there's a reason for it.
On the three times this has happened it has been important to me for the Reiki treatment to go well and therein lies the problem I feel. I know I am but a channel for the Reiki and it is the client and the Reiki that does any healing that may occur. I guess I am concerned about what other people think about me giving Reiki and I shouldn't be, I'm fine with it and it feels wonderful to do. It feels to me that I am too keen and thinking about it too much.
Well, you provide your own answers there. Important that it goes well... concerned about what others thing...too keen, thinking too much... It appears to me that you are investing too much into your assumptions and personal expectations of being 'A REIKI HEALER (tm)' ;). It happens to us all. I struggled for years with my 'Master on a pedestal' assumption until I decided that I didn't want to be that way. I reached master level shortly afterward and it is still mastering me.
With Reiki, don't put assumptions on it or the outcome - let it go and just Reiki, Reiki, Reiki. I'd advise you to spend some time Reiking the situation and whenever you treat, focus on the unconditional love aspect and allow whatever happens to happen. If there is a 'blockage', step back, re-centre and ground, breathe deeply and mentally ask if this is your issue or the patient's. If it's yours, then let it go and continue, being gentle with yourself and avoiding force of any kind. If it's theirs, then let it go and continue with the intent that they receive whatever they need.
To repeat, try not to see this as a problem but as a lack of understanding on your part, which can be revealed as soon as you peel back another layer... 
Self-respect is difficult. Let Reiki heal your inner child.
Blessings
otter
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi Otter,
Any "magic formula" for strangling negative thaugths at once?
Artemis
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi Otter,
Any "magic formula" for strangling negative thaugths at once?Artemis
Well I usually find visualising the pesky thought as a cartoon character with my hands round its throat squeezing till the eyes pop a useful technique! 
I kid you not - it works, and it's fun.
'Press Play' is another good one. Think of your mind like a DVD player (or video/tape deck for those of more 'mature' years...lol ) A negative thought is when the mind gets stuck on a track and to get it to move on, repeat 'Press Play' in your mind every time. Since some thoughts are more persistant than others, you may have to do this a lot in one day but it does lessen and improve. I also use 'Move On', which suits me better.
For the computer-minded, 'Delete that programme' is another good one.
Simply put, you're refusing to allow the negative thought to drain energy, so you can use any phrase you like, but don't bring any negative links into it like 'Don't do - ' because your mind only hears 'don't' and goes no further.
Hope these hints help you!
BB
Otter
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi Otter
Thanks for your input.
I'm grateful for your observations and suggestions. I'll do as you suggest.
The image of the cartoon character being strangled was superb and I'll certainly use it.
Many thanks again.
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
HI Phil, how about trying quartz crystals? Have a look at
They are cheap and widely available, and intensify the Reiki experience.
I think "Reiki Music" helps set the atmosphere and gets things flowing too.
Sharonx
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Hi olivebranch,
In my experience I find that no 2 sessions of Reiki feel the same to me, nor to the person having the treatment. But I do know that as long as it is given for their highest good and with loving intent then they will receive it and benefit from it. Just keep going and have faith in yourself.
Mandy
X[sm=1syellow1.gif]
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
ORIGINAL: artemis
Any "magic formula" for strangling negative thaugths at once?
Hi Artemis,
Having recently become a practitioner in EFT I can definitely recommend it as a good way of removing those negative beliefs and it works very quickly indeed.
Love and Reiki Hugs
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Thanks for your support Mandy.
Phil
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
Well I usually find visualising the pesky thought as a cartoon character with my hands round its throat squeezing till the eyes pop a useful technique!
;););););););)
RE: I'm stopping the Reiki flowing?
You really like that one, don't you Artemis? LOL!
[sm=rollaugh.gif][sm=rollaugh.gif][sm=rollaugh.gif][sm=rollaugh.gif]
Moonfeather