Very faithfully, I now place before you, dear reader, all the hand positions that I was taught in level I of Reiki. The client may be sitting or lying down in a comfortable position.

1. Eyes:

Place both the hands on the two eyes. The palms are directly positioned over the pupils. I ask the client to close their eyes.

2. Temples:

Place both the hands over the temples. The sensations you receive as you sweep the hands in both the directions – from the head towards the cheeks and back again – give you an instant indication of a host of conditions that the client may be suffering from, *besides* their stated problem.

3. Behind the Head:

For this hand position, of course, the client has to be in a seated position, especially if you have decided not to touch them. (If you follow the policy of physical touch, you can cradle the head in both your hands.) Gently sweep your hands on the small bulge at the back of the head – this is directly behind the eyes, and medicos call it the occipital lobe.

4. Over the Throat:

Place both your hands over the throat region. An important gland – the thymus – is present in this region, extending towards the heart especially in prepubescent children. If the client has immunity-related ailments, your sweep of hands here should give you important signals.

Another important position is behind the throat, that is, you place your hand position on the collar region.

5. The Heart:

Ah, this is the region where you can get the maximum vibes related to the emotional state and psyche of the client. I have found the clients in general deriving maximum comfort when I spend longer duration of my hand positions over the heart.A related position is at the back, exactly behind the heart region.

6. The Diaphragm:

In case you didn’t know it already, the diaphragm divides the body into two – the digestive organs, the genitalia and the pelvis and legs on one side, and the heart, lungs, hands, the head and the brain on the other side. This is an important junction of the body.A related position is, you guessed it, at the back of the client, immediately below the ribcage.

7. Abdomen:

Place your hand position above the abdomen, just slightly below the navel region.

A related position is the one at the back, directly behind the navel.

8. Either Side of the Genitalia:

Place your hand position above the thighs, at either side of the genitalia. This is akin to placing one hand position above the inner side of the client’s legs. The related position at the back is above the buttocks.

9. On the Genitalia:

Place your hand position above the genitalia.

10. Knee and Ankle:

Place one hand position above the knee joints, and the other on the ankles.

11. Soles of the Feet:

Place your hand position above the soles. When the client is lying down, this is quite easy. When they are in sitting position, I have devised a footrest with a very thin and broad mesh, and make the client place their feet on the footrest at the start of the session.

This is it. These are the hand positions that first level Reiki learners are taught. As I have said before, you are free to experiment with other hand positions – I certainly have – and devise your own system for healing that works best for you.

Before beginning a session with the client, based on the problem described by them and based on my own question-and-answer session with them, I note down the different hand positions that may be required for the session.

By default, and especially if the client describes their problem vaguely, I go for the entire set of hand positions to get a clearer picture of the ailment.

Though it takes longer (almost an hour, longer in some cases), I am able to pinpoint with accuracy the locations where energy needs to be channeled the most.

The same set of hand positions may be used to treat oneself, too. You just have to position the hands over your own body. Of course, there are going to be instances when it will be difficult to position both the hands simultaneously in certain areas.

In this case, you may use the dominant hand (the right hand if you sign your checks with it, and the left hand if you are a southpaw).

In fact, after you have learnt the hand positions as a first degree Reiki practitioner, I would suggest that you first begin using them on yourself, and observe your body’s and mind’s reactions to them. This gives you an insight into their functioning, and helps you when you begin healing others.

In the next chapter I introduce to you the exciting concept of attunement. This is the rite of initiation into Reiki.

While traditionalists insist that initiation into each level of Reiki must be with the help of a Master (level IV Reiki practitioner), my own experiments and work have led me to conclude otherwise.

Accordingly, initiation into Reiki may be done on one’s own: it does not require any media.

Continue to Chapter 6 >>