REIKI MEDIC CARE

It is true that Reiki is present in some hospitals or medical settings in the UK and around the world, in a few places in a formal way, and some places, less so. What I think we would all like to see is for Reiki to take root more widely and flourish as a wholly integrative practice in line with the vision of the founders of Reiki and the many of us who have found Reiki enhancing our physical and mental wellbeing.

Whilst it seems that more medical professionals, especially nurses and midwives, are learning and using Reiki at work to whatever degree is possible in their situation, the fact remains that in today’s, rightly, evidence-based healthcare settings, Reiki has to prove its case.

This was one of the reasons of course that Connecting Reiki with Medicine was set up at St George’s University Hospital, London, as a way to bring in-hospital clinically trained Reiki practitioners onto wards, not as tolerated visitors, but as welcome team members, building up data for research at the same time and creating a transferable model for Reiki in medical settings everywhere.

From the start, we knew that we all wanted to build something that was evergreen and long-lasting, that could even serve as a model in other parts of the world. This meant creating something that could bring together large numbers of Reiki practitioners quite easily in a sustainable and manageable way.

We have designed a system which is largely automated – quite a challenge to say the least – it will also gather data for research purposes as a secondary aim. We are very lucky in the experience, knowledge and contacts of the team behind the project – you can find them on our Reiki Medic-Care Facebook page.
In the following few months, we have set up a non-profit, created a bespoke IT system, two websites and recruited over 200 Reiki practitioners. It being 2020, of course things have, as everywhere, taken way longer than expected.

The effects of COVID-19 slowed all the normal processes of company registration with Companies House, setting up a bank account, and insurance down to a snail’s pace and its effects go on. This year, the world has slowed down, big time. All of these obstacles have or are being overcome with persistence and determination and a ‘just for today’ attitude.

The easiest part of the journey, however, has been the amazing response from Reiki practitioners in the UK. To all those who are part of UKRF and have already joined us, we are so grateful for your commitment and patience. We had a feeling that many would feel a pull to join us and they did. We also had a feeling that it would suit practitioners who wanted to do something practical to help, for example: practitioners who were no longer running public practices but loved sending Reiki to highly deserving cases; practitioners who simply prefer to work distantly; and practitioners who see their future in clinical settings.

Our Reiki practitioners are currently divided into teams of 8 which is intended to concentrate Reiki treatments in the 20 minute each medical professional receives for four days consecutively, which can be repeated.

Every month we have been running team meetings and Reiki shares and energy at the shares has been absolutely incredible. It is important to us to see that our teams come together, meeting each other and sharing Reiki.

Early on we linked up with Dr Ann Baldwin, a professor at the University of Arizona who is leading our research and NHS Wellness Boxes who have our specially printed leaflets to distribute directly to medical professionals and who have also become one of our seed funders. None of this is possible without significant investment. We are immensely grateful to all our seed funders and also wish to say a special word of thanks to the UKRF for becoming one of them – which is why you will find the Fed’s logo permanently at the bottom of our website.
To join us go to: www.reikimedic-care.org/ and look for Practitioner Registration.