Protection Rituals: rethinking energy protection in reiki practice.

Let's talk about something that comes up a lot in energy work circles: the idea that we need to protect ourselves from "negative energy." If you've spent any time in reiki communities or read books about energy healing, you've probably encountered elaborate protection rituals, shielding techniques, and warnings about picking up other people's "stuff." But what if I told you that the whole concept of needing energetic protection might be based on a misunderstanding of what reiki actually is?

Here's the thing: Reiki is the underlying life force energy of everything. It's not just something we channel during a healing session, it's the fundamental energy that flows through all living things, connects us to each other, and makes up the fabric of existence itself. So if Reiki is everywhere and in everything, what exactly are we protecting ourselves from?

When we really sit with the concept of Reiki as universal life force energy, the idea of protection starts to feel a bit weird. It's like standing in the ocean and trying to protect yourself from water. You're already immersed in it. You're made of it. The energy you're supposedly protecting yourself from is the same energy you're using to do the protecting.

This doesn't mean there aren't different vibrational frequencies or that all experiences feel the same. Of course they don't. But the underlying source is still the same universal energy expressing itself in infinite ways. When we create elaborate protection rituals, we might actually be reinforcing a sense of separation which is the very opposite of what our reiki practice is meant to cultivate.

I feel the need to be really clear about something important: I'm talking about energetic or spiritual protection here, not common-sense safety in the physical world. You absolutely should lock your doors, look both ways before crossing the street, and take practical steps to keep yourself safe. That's not what we’re discussing.

What I'm suggesting is that when we live dharmically, when we try to do the right thing, act with integrity, and move through the world with good intentions, we naturally align ourselves with higher vibrational frequencies. It's not about being perfect (because none of us are), but about making genuine efforts to be kind, honest, and helpful. When we show up this way, we tend to attract similar energy back to us.

Think of it like tuning a radio. When you're tuned to a certain frequency, that's what you receive. Living with good intentions is like tuning yourself to a frequency that resonates with positive experiences and connections.

Here's where we need to pause and acknowledge something difficult: sometimes terrible things happen to genuinely good people. People who live with integrity, who are kind and loving, who do everything "right", they can still face tragedy, illness, loss, and pain. This is part of being human in a complex world.

This reality doesn't contradict what I'm saying about energy and intention. Life includes randomness, free will (including other people's choices that affect us), and circumstances beyond our control. The physical world operates within its own laws, and sometimes we find ourselves in situations we didn't create or attract through our vibration.

What I'm suggesting is that the energetic or subtle realm operates differently from the physical one. And even in difficult circumstances, approaching life with an open heart and trust in universal energy can help us navigate challenges with more grace and resilience.

So I’d like to suggest rethinking fear-based practice. Many protection practices in spiritual communities come from a place of fear, fear of being contaminated, drained, or harmed by outside energies. But our reiki practice is fundamentally about love, connection, and trust. When we approach our practice from fear, we're working against the very essence of what we're trying to cultivate.

Instead of asking "How do I protect myself?" we might ask "How do I stay grounded and centred?" or "How do I maintain my own clarity?" These questions come from empowerment rather than fear. They acknowledge that while we're part of the universal flow, we're also individuals with our own energy field that we can tend to with care and awareness.

Below are some practical alternatives to protection

So what does this look like in practice? Instead of elaborate shielding rituals, consider:

- Grounding:  Connect with the earth and your own body before and after reiki sessions

- Self-care:  Keep your own energy field clear through rest, good food, time in nature, and activities that fill you up

- Intention:  Set clear intentions for your highest good and the highest good of all involved

- Trust:  Cultivate trust in the intelligence of universal energy to flow where it's needed

These practices honour the interconnected nature of all energy while still maintaining healthy boundaries and self-awareness.

So for me the bottom line is we don't need to protect ourselves from reiki because we can't separate ourselves from it. It's the energy of life itself. When we release fear-based protection practices and instead focus on living with integrity and staying grounded in our practice, we open ourselves to a much freer, more authentic experience of energy work.

This doesn't mean we'll never feel uncomfortable or challenged. It means we trust that we're part of something bigger, and that trust itself is the most powerful "protection" we could ask for.