When I began learning Reiki, I yearned for friends who understood this new obsession. Even if their version was different than mine, I wanted to share my experiences with someone who “got it” — without that dreaded question “what is Reiki?”
One day, I received an email from a woman who lived in town. She also practiced Reiki and asked if I wanted to grab a cup of coffee. I was nervous and slightly competitive. (A small town with 2 Reiki practitioners??) I swallowed my pride and accepted the invite. When I arrived at the cafe, she was writing on her laptop, and greeted me with a big smile. After that first coffee date, a friendship was born. We had a lot more in common than I expected.
Over the years, I’ve learned so much from our friendship as well as our different relationships to this energy. Here’s a list of why I love having Reiki friends.
- Exchanges! Feeling good is what drew me to Reiki. I was doing my daily self-treatments and offering Reiki to others, but receiving those good vibes is important! Usually once a month, or whenever I need some stress relief, we put aside a couple hours and exchange. Afterwards we spent some time drinking tea and chatting on the couch. Distance Reiki is great when you live farther away.
- Having others who “speak the same language.” The first time I attended a day-long Reiki workshop, I almost cried. Seeing so many young folks immersed in this work made me feel connected. Looking back, I had felt so isolated, constantly educating, but not having people who “spoke the same language.” I felt like I was part of something much bigger than myself.
- Healthy relationships. I find it easier to get to know people when my social anxiety isn’t screaming at me. When I am calm and relaxed, I bring forward the best version of myself. It’s also important that my friends are on their path to self-improvement. Sharing Reiki together is a healthy activity to engage in.
- Staying interested. One thing I know about Reiki is that everyone does it differently– and that’s a good thing! I love hearing about new podcasts or books, and I like sharing what media I’m consuming. This gets my creative juices flowing, confronts limiting belief systems, and keeps me educated on how other practitioners around the world are applying this healing art.
Ultimately, having a community around this passion feels important. Friendships take time to grow. It doesn’t matter if these friendships are in person or virtual; what matters is that you can share yourself and connect over what you both love. If you are looking to grow Reiki friendships, check out established online groups. Share your Reiki experiences. You may meet someone who learned 10 years ago and just doesn’t talk about it much. Show up regularly to monthly Reiki shares– or host your own Reiki circle! Reiki is getting more widely known. Your next Reiki friend might be right around the corner!
Caroline Ruderman is a Reiki teacher and practitioner in Northampton, MA and has office hours Monday-Wednesday, including daytime and evening hours. Like her on Instagram or reach out with questions at CarolineRuderman@gmail.com.
