Reiki Hand Placements for Treating Others

Reiki Hand Placements for Treating Others

There are twelve basic hand placements used when conducting a Reiki treatment.

_{About these images: The Reiki hand placements in this step-by-step pictorial are the same pictures in my book, The Everything Reiki Book, originally published in 2004. The artwork was adapted from real photos of my daughter (the girl) and me (the hands) demonstrating Reiki hand positions.. They are also featured in the revised edition of the book. The Everything Guide to Reiki published in  2012.}

Face

First position: Hands are placed over the recipient's face. Place your palms gently on the forehead, cupping your fingers lightly over the eyes. Take care not to constrict the recipient's breathing, keep the nostrils' airways open.

Crown and Top of the Head

With your inner wrists touching wrap your hands around the recipient's head, allowing your fingertips to touch the ears.

Back of the Head

Tuck your hands gently under the recipient's head. Your hands will form a comfortable cradle for her head. Allow the back of your hands to relax and rest upon the table (or pillow).

Chin and Jawline

Surround the recipient's jawline with your hands. Allowing your fingertips to touch underneath the chin, rest the heels of your hands near or gently over her ears.

Neck Collarbone and Heart

Wrap your right hand ever-so-lightly upon the recipient's neck. Or if the recipient is uncomfortable, allow your hand to hover slightly above the neck. Stretch your left arm downwards and place your hand over the heart center.

Ribs and Rib Cage

Place your hands on the upper rib cage directly below the breasts. Remember, it is not appropriate to touch private areas when treating others.

Abdomen

Place your hands on the tummy (solar plexus area) above the recipient's navel.

Pelvic Bones

Place one hand over each pelvic bone.

Shoulder Blades

Help the recipient change positions from laying on her back to laying on her stomach.

Ninth position: Place your hands on the shoulder blades. This is the region where emotional burdens are often stored so you may need to keep your palms on this position longer than some of the other hand placements to help dislodge stuck energies.

Midback

Place your hands on the middle back area.

Lower Back

Continuing down the back of the body, now place your hands on the recipient's lower back.

Sacrum

Twelfth position:

After completing the session the practitioner combs the recipient's aura with his or her hands to clear away any energetic debris that has lifted from the physical body during the treatment. It is also beneficial to make a silent request that any negative or stagnant energies be transformed into positive energies and returned to the Universe.
Reiki hand placement artwork in this tutorial was adapted from photography by Joe Desy

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.