What if I told you that a two-day course, taken purely out of curiosity, would completely transform the trajectory of my life? February 2023 feels like a lifetime ago now, though it’s only been a couple of years. I signed up for Reiki Level 1 training not because I was seeking enlightenment or healing, but simply because I wondered what Reiki actually was. Rather than book a treatment, I thought: why not do the course and find out for myself? My aromatherapist was running sessions just five minutes from my house. I could manage two days out of work, one each week. What did I have to lose? What would I find out about the benefits of Reiki, above going for a treatment?
Starting From Complete Scepticism
I’d never meditated before that course. Not once. So when we sat down for our first group guided meditation, I felt completely out of my comfort zone. But I thought, what the heck, and just went with it. I’m so glad I did.
Towards the end of that first meditation session, something extraordinary happened. I felt the energy between my fingers when I brought my hands together. This was before being attuned to Reiki, so it was just my own energy – that subtle resistance you feel when you hold your hands closer together, move them apart, and slowly bring them back again. I was amazed. Suddenly, I was excited to see what Reiki would open for me. I was all in with this crazy experiment.
The Benefits of Reiki I Never Saw Coming
When people ask about the benefits of Reiki, they usually expect to hear about stress relief or better sleep. And yes, those benefits are real. But what I discovered went far beyond what I’d ever imagined.
1. Discovering Hidden Abilities
During that first course at my aromatherapist’s beautiful house, I discovered I could not only feel energy but see it as well. It was like remembering something I’d forgotten – or more accurately, something I’d unconsciously blocked as a teenager. As children, we’re often more open to these experiences, but as we grow up, we learn to shut down these channels without even realising it.
The Reiki training gently reopened those doors I’d closed years ago. It was the most amazing experience, honestly.
2. A Practical Tool for Daily Life
Over the past couple of years, I’ve used Reiki in ways I never expected. The benefits of Reiki practice have shown up in the most ordinary moments:
- Sleepless Sunday nights – If you know, you know. When my mind was racing with work worries, Reiki became my go-to practice. I’d use it on myself, particularly on those dreaded Sunday evenings when Monday morning loomed large.
- Helping the kids and animals – When my children couldn’t sleep or had bumps and bruises, Reiki became a natural response. The same goes for our pets when they’re hurt or unsettled.
- Gardening experiments – I even used Reiki on my rose cuttings when I was desperate for them to survive and grow strong. They’re approaching their second year now, against all odds – surviving dry hot summers and a puppy who developed a taste for eating my plants. I know, I know! Major disappointment. My plum tree is now just a broken stem in the ground that I keep in case of miracles, but mostly to stop him starting on my cherry tree nearby.
- Emergency phone revival – Perhaps my most surprising moment: I used Reiki to bring my phone’s flat battery back to life. I’d heard it had been done, so on a cold day in Whitby when my phone died, I gave it a try. It actually worked! That really was amazing.
- Helping hubby with his injuries – not just hubby either but I’ve had great feedback from my case studies about how they found the Reiki treatment. Some of them major sceptics beforehand…yes hubby, I mean you.
3. Unexpected Physical Changes from the benefits of reiki
In June 2023, just four months after my Reiki attunement, something shifted in my body. I had a couple of heavy drinking nights within ten days of each other, and afterwards I experienced heart palpitations and terrible sleep. I decided then and there to stop drinking alcohol.
That was two and a half years ago. Since then, I’ve had a few sips of red wine and a couple of glasses of prosecco when celebrating special occasions. If you added it all together, it wouldn’t even make a full bottle. I find this absolutely mind-blowing, considering how much I used to enjoy a glass of wine with some good Stilton cheese.
Many Reiki practitioners mention that training can raise your energetic frequency, making you more sensitive to substances like alcohol. I can’t say for certain if that’s what happened to me, but the timing was remarkable.
4. A Spiritual Door Opening
Reiki opened a door for me to start exploring spirituality in ways I’d never considered. I’ve become aware that I’m very in tune with moon cycles. Without even consciously planning it, I’ve organised some really important work events on significant days, such as Leo full moon. I’ve also realised I have a sensitivity that puts me about two days ahead of schedule on these lunar influences – consistently.
That same summer (2023), after a holiday in Wales with friends, I bought the lovelifemore.uk domain. I was pondering on the way home when this idea came to me, along with the name. So, I searched for the domain and it was available. I no longer believe in coincidences. Being the not perfect student I am, and being new to following my intuition. Well when it made no logical and practical sense anyway. I didn’t actually start this website until early 2025 because I had so much on with my manufacturing and business consulting work.
It doesn’t stop there
In late 2024, I got an intuition that I had to stop and get out of my manufacturing business. I told my husband that I needed out before Christmas, and by the end of November, I was out. It happened incredibly quickly – within six weeks. I remember times during that transition where I felt as though I was being dragged by an unseen force into difficult conversations. I just knew I had no choice but to carry on. It was a strange feeling, as if my legs were walking by themselves.
I’ve had some major identity challenges throughout 2025 as I was so tied up with that business. To the point I didn’t even use my surname I was Tanya from that company when I called people etc. It was so ingrained. I had my maiden name when I started, and then got married and divorced and remarried in the time I had it. So I suppose it is hardly surprising as it had been around longer than any of my kids or husbands at that time. But more on that identity crisis another day. Just to say Reiki really helped.
Living the Reiki Way – benefits of reiki
The benefits of Reiki aren’t just about what it does for you in the moment you practice it. It’s about how it changes the way you live your life. I like my life the Reiki way in most aspects, though I’m still working on some principles.
Living in the present moment – that’s the hardest Reiki principle for me, if I’m honest. And letting go of worry. But I’m so much better than I was. It really is a journey, much like life itself. I do worry far less than I used to but I am not very good at not having a ‘plan’ and not knowing where I’m going or where I belong so its been a journey recently. Also I do have lots of kids so not being angry is 2nd on my list of struggles form time to time.
The Reiki Principles (For Context)
For those unfamiliar, the Reiki principles offer guidance for daily living:
- Just for today, I will not worry
- Just for today, I will not be angry
- Just for today, I will do my work honestly
- Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings
- Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing
These aren’t rules to follow perfectly – they’re intentions to work towards, one day at a time. Giving thanks for my many blessings also helped so much in 2024/2025 when my life was transitioning so much behind the scenes. If you want help with it you’ll find this How to Create a Gratitude List That Actually Changes Your Outlook blog useful.
What’s Next on My Reiki Journey
I’m taking Reiki Level 2 in the next few weeks with the wonderful Cheryl Finch again. And I’m genuinely excited to see where it will take me. I’ve decided I’m going to start offering treatments soon. I’m even thinking of using my office for this, which means a total change for that room – but also for me.
It’s like I’m confirming to myself where my future lies, and it isn’t in business consulting anymore. I feel immensely proud and excited to follow this path I’m being pulled towards.
The benefits of Reiki I’ve experienced have been so far above and beyond anything I could have predicted, imagined, or understood at the time I signed up for that first course. My life changed from the moment I decided to take that training, for no other reason than wanting to learn more.
When Reiki Finds You
They say Reiki finds you at the right time, and I have absolutely no doubt that’s true. I wasn’t looking for a spiritual practice or a complete life transformation. I was just curious about energy healing and wanted to understand what it was all about.
But that curiosity opened a door to benefits I never knew I needed: better sleep, reduced stress, heightened intuition, deeper spiritual awareness, and a completely different relationship with my own energy and the energy around me. It’s helped my family and even my plants. It’s guided major life decisions and opened paths I never knew existed. My friend even took level 1 after being my case study. Because I told her it would really help her with her chronic health conditions. As she would be able to self-treat whenever it was needed. And living the Reiki way would help her work related stress levels too. She’s joining me for the level 2 which is so exciting.
Want to know more about the benefits of Reiki?
If you’re curious about Reiki, I’d encourage you to follow that curiosity. You might find, as I did, that the benefits of Reiki extend far beyond what you initially expect. You might discover abilities you’d forgotten you had. And you might find yourself living more in tune with natural rhythms and trusting your intuition more deeply.
Or you might simply find a lovely relaxation practice that helps you sleep better on Sunday nights. And honestly, that alone would be worth it.
Have you experienced the benefits of Reiki in your own life? Or are you curious but not sure where to start? I’d love to hear about your experiences or questions in the comments below.
If you’re interested in following my Reiki journey as I progress to Level 2 and begin offering treatments, subscribe to our newsletter. I share honest reflections on this path and other ways to love life more authentically.
“Reiki is love, love is wholeness, wholeness is balance, balance is well-being, well-being is freedom from disease.”
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