Reiki is hands on healing. It is instinctual for us to assist people in this manner. When you stub your toe, you reach down and hold it. When a child gets a scrape, the mother kisses or touches it to make it better. When someone is in pain, your instinct is to reach out and touch them or hold them. That is Reiki in action. Every living being radiates with energy. There are many names for this life force energy: Mana, Orenda, Prana, Ruach, Barraka, Ch'i, and Ki; to name a few. Ki is actually the Japanese word for energy. It is from this word that Reiki was formed. To become a Reiki practitioner a person receives a series of attunements. These attunements open the Reiki healers energy channels and clear any obstructions in the body that may block the channels. After the attunements the Reiki healer receives an increase of Ki for his/her own healing and the healing of others. There is a clear connection to the souce of Universal Ki. This source goes by many different names and it can be described any way the healer chooses. Some terms used are God, Goddess, the Higher Self, the Universe, or whatever can be termed life energy. Reiki is not a religion or affiliated with religion. This life force energy is the source of life itself and far older in concept and fact than any religious philosophy. Healing energy goes where it is needed most; be it body, mind, or spirit. Healing can happen on any, or all levels of ones being. Sessions can be done with the Reiki healer working over the body of the client, directly touching the client, or at a distance. This Universal energy travels great lengths with ease. It is free from time restrictions. Reiki healing can instantaneously go from point A to point B; crossing state lines, the great oceans, etc.