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Reiki attunement experiences vary from healer to healer. Some people experience a warm or gentle feeling that washes over them, while others will have an extreme reaction. Anything in-between peace and intensity could and has happened during their initiation ritual.

Here is a collection of stories shared by Reiki practitioners within the holistic healing community that demonstrates the differences.

Reiki 1 and 2 Attunement - When I was attuned to Reiki 1, I nearly fainted. I had gold colours going through my head, and I have never had so much heat going through my body. I could feel massive energy surging through me. After a while, it died down, and ever since the attunement, my life has changed and for the better. I have become closer to God and the Angels and I have helped cure some of my parent's ailments. When I had my Reiki 2 Attunement, I didn't feel much, and I didn't have the same energy going through me. I feel that Reiki has given me a new lease of life, it has made me more positive and by self healing I feel much better in myself. What I do get now and then, and I have it at the moment is a cool feeling on top of my head. Has anyone else experienced that. I am not ready to do my Reiki Masters yet but hopefully in a couple of year's time I will be ready.

 ~mosmith1

1 and 2 - Worlds apart! - My Reiki 1 was a very gentle peaceful affair which I enjoyed greatly. I felt quite 'spaced out' for a few hours but after that I was fine. The 2nd attunement was a whole different ball game. 15 mins before it began I felt an enormous presence behind me and a lot of activity round my Crown Chakra, I felt this was my Guide preparing me. The attunement itself was delightful. I had done a lot of preparation for it and the energy flowed in smoothly enough. The after effects have been somewhat dramatic. The cleansing process has just about floored me at times! It feels like the dissolution of my ego and the emergence of the spiritual self. It is a roller coaster ride I'm still on. My whole life has changed. I am drawn to study Shamanism with a force that is almost too much. I KNOW my 3rd eye is opening wider than ever. My emotions are all over the place - up one minute down the next - I'm looking forward to getting to the end of this process! It's great though! ~SamMacLaren

Sweating and Tingling in Hands - Had both attunements in the same day. Prior to it my hands started sweating which is unusual for me. Then during the Level 1 I saw purple morphing over a sea of black. During Level 2 attunement I didn't feel too much, which disappointed me however, several hours after I got home I felt a full body warmth and tingling which lasted quite a while. Since attunement I have been drinking lots of water, which is very odd for me as well as cutting my soda intake to a fraction of my regular habit. It's been a month and I constantly still have tingling in my hands as on the verge of them falling asleep. ~RA

Intense Laughter - I just went to a Reiki I class and received my attunement and I had an awesome experience. I was so nervous at first, then I just sat down in the chair and closed my eyes and took a deep breath, then it all began. When she held her hand over my head and did her thing, I felt the power coming into me. I started shaking so bad, I thought I was going into a seizure. In fact, when it was over she asked me if I was epileptic, lol. Well, when I started shaking, I also felt this deep intense laughter trying to escape, but I thought it might be wrong to just burst out laughing in the middle of an attunement, lol. But the longer I tried to hold it in, the more intense it got and finally it just came out!! It felt so wonderful. She said that it was the way I was supposed to receive the energy because I was such a happy kind of person, and laughter is always present in my life (which is true for me), I laugh all the time, even when I am suppose to be serious. She said it was meant to be that way. ~ShannonKW

Giving Attunements - I have been a Reiki teacher for about 15 years. I felt nothing when I had my first attunement, but realized quite recently that when I had my first session prior to my class I received the attunement. It was in waves and explosion of energy that rocked my body and soul. It left me breathless for more. But as I progressed in my study, I did experience physical, emotional and incredible spiritual reactions. As a teacher I can confirm that each attunement, no matter what level, is unique to the student. They experience colors, movement, emotions, visitations and light just to name a few variations. I observe the experience with them and we describe and discuss the attunement so they understand their process. Sometimes after-effects of illness does occur as the body readjusts itself. It is medically called The Herxheimer Reaction. The body cannot resolve and eliminate the toxins produced from a healing session fast enough. Drinking plenty of water assists the process. Namaste! ~reikisue

Reiki II Attunement -  I had my second Reiki attunement one week ago and I cannot believe what I am experiencing. I feel as though I am living in an altered dimension. I have had severe hot flashes, moments of dizziness, and and overwhelming sensation that I am "shedding" unnecessary emotional baggage. I was beginning to become afraid and wondering if perhaps I should call my Western doctor, but then I began to read! So many others have expressed similar sensations as I have, and I am so grateful that your experiences have been shared. I don't feel like I am dying anymore, instead I now understand that I am in the process of a very powerful healing process. Truly amazing! ~elaina

Alive - Like the others before me the experience was overwhelming. My old life was leaving and my new life lay ahead. Various people from the other side came to see me at my attunement, including my boyfriend who had died many years before. I saw my Reiki guide, a monk, dancing around my chair. Afterwards as is said above, everything was brighter and clearer. I did not need my glasses to drive home. I am a different person from this experience. I used to have dreams which came true - they stopped for many years but have started to return. I hope I will help others for as long as possible. ~pennypole

A Wonderful Journey - I received my first attunement almost a year ago. Although it was one of the most loving experiences, it was not this completely wow moment. My hands were hot and I was able to discern points of concern on my fellow student. I diligently practiced full self treatment for the 21 days following and beyond. I needed it! I developed shingles and a rare skin disorder on top of my fibromyalgia. Talk about cleansing. It was a very difficult time, but I do not know what I would have done without Reiki. I have since received my second attunement and again no real bells and whistles. Here is the thing, though: Reiki has been profound in my everyday life. I use Reiki everyday on myself and someone else. My family who used to make fun are now true believers and healing has taken place in my family on the deepest levels. There is not a family function that I go to that I am not asked for a session. I am grateful to God for Reiki and now experience the bells and whistles everyday!! ~Denise

Peaceful and Relaxing - My Level 1 attunement was relaxing and peaceful but otherwise unremarkable. The Master followed it with a full body session. While her hands were on my head I felt the most incredible sensation I have ever experienced. It was like floating and being massaged at the same time. I never wanted this feeling to end. Afterwards the Master asked what I felt as she treated my head. I explained how wonderful it was and she said she asked because while she was treating my head I began convulsing so violently she almost discontinued the session. I am so glad she didn't. My body released so much without my even being aware of it. It was like being held in the loving arms of the Universal Life Force itself. ~Anita

Blown Away - When I received my attunement for Reiki level I last fall I was blown away! My teacher used a gong and I could feel the vibrations flowing through me all the way down to my very soul. The feeling was very powerful and it made me so happy! I loved it! As soon as she was done I burst into tears and sobbed for several minutes. I wasn't thinking about anything sad in particular, that was just my body's response to a good attunement. I loved my level I training and will go back one day for the other levels. I have been practicing on myself and anyone that is interested. When my dog became sick last fall I even practiced Reiki on him! At first he would move away from it but now I think he is used to it. I can always tell where someone is hurting with my hands now, even if I haven't done any Reiki preparations. I am attuned to the energy. ~tat2gal58

4 Reiki Level I Attunements - I completed level 1 Reiki and had 4 attunements. The experience was wonderful. I saw a few images in the first 2 attunements including a crystal that when the course was complete was given to me by my instructor. I found that very interesting and confirmation that something was going on. I did experience back pain during the last attunement. I also saw an eagle the day after and 2 woodpeckers in my yard. During the last attunement with eyes closed my instructor was now a monk during the whole process and I have not been able to look at her the same way since that. My physical cleansing experience has included many coincidences, headaches, change in food tastes, constipation, dark urine, complete absence of alcohol cravings and change in reaction to alcohol, foot cramps, hand twitching, leg vibrations, sensitivity to electricity, decrease in phlegm, improved sleep, decrease in appetite, cold feet and improved digestion. The most difficult symptom has been headache, otherwise great! ~Suzanne 72

Blue Dot - I did my Reiki 1 attunement many years ago and recently decided to do level 2. I had been seeing in my home for a long time a blue dot or aura in different places of the house. On the day of my level 2 attunment at my teachers clinic I kept seeing the same blue aura/dot plus a bright white shiny one as well as we were discussing the attunment process etc. I didn't feel much physically during the attunement but I did receive many images of Buddhas and Tibetan deities. Plus a few images of ancient Egypt (it was also a Seichim attunement). I kept receiving other unusual swirly images which unfortunately stopped after a day or so later. I am also a paranormal investigator and always assumed the blue aura/dot was a spirit entity of some kind who may have followed me home. After my level 2 attunement I think I have come to the conclusion the auras or dots may be spirit guides of some kind. All in all Reiki level 2 was an uplifting experience. ~Murray

Developed a Head Cold - After receiving my Reiki attunements, I within an hour started experiencing nasal discharge and by the next morning developed a head cold. It is best to let the body clear toxins naturally and not treat your symptoms, but have to admit after three days of blowing my nose constantly, I gave in and took some medicine so I could work. It has totally changed my outlook and made me become much more spiritual. Looking forward to years of healing. ~Patty

Glowing Chakras - It has been over a week since my attunements. The night after I saw a body outlined with all the colored chakras glowing.Then a box appeared and the top opened. My teacher said it was a gift from my spirit guide. I have been very tired and feeling flu like all week. I also got a yeast infection. I feel better when I do a healing so I have been do one everyday. I see alot of white flashing light and blue and violet colors when I do healings. My hands get real hot and it travels up my arms sometimes. I feel kind of spacey too. Not wanting much food. I got sick when I drank some champagne. I love the way I feel so close to God and feel a part of something so loving. I also have been becoming more psychically intuitive. I will wait 8 months to a year to get my Reiki 3 Master attunment. ~Kristy

Slapped by the Light - During one of my attunements for Reiki, I was slapped on the top of the head. I asked the Master about it afterwards and she told me the light had just come into my head. She saw it happen. I also a vision of my liver during my first attunement. I had a health concern at the time. The best part is that I grinned like a nut for two weeks after the attunements. ~Barbara

Overwhelmed by Calm - My first level Usui Reiki attunement was in the late evening in person. I was completely energized and the tingling in my palms continued for a very long time. I felt elated and overwhelmed by a sudden feeling of calmness after my Reiki Master attunements. Ever since, I have had a number of past life experiences and visions. During my healing sessions, I frequently feel strong vibrations from my clients. During my Reiki I attunements, the vibrations from my client were so strong I almost fell back, it was so powerful. Today, I feel GOD's presence and his energy surrounding me. I have discovered my mission in life on earth. Life is a continuous and miraculous healing journey. GOD BLESS!! ~Sonal

A Loving Embrace - At the end of my Reiki I attunement, I was sitting in my chair. I felt a light touch to my chest, almost like a hug, I had thought briefly. Then I felt an INCREDIBLE force pushing me back into the chair. My head, neck and shoulders felt like someone was pushing me backwards. My chest felt as though there was so much weight on it I was having a hard time taking a breath. I pushed against this so hard, because I KNEW that if I did not, that the chair was going to flip over backwards! Then it went away. My Reiki instructor quietly spoke to me to open my eyes and she stood before me with tears running down her face! She said that my deceased mother had come to me and dropped to her knees and thrown herself into my lap and hugged me, told me how much she loved me and how happy she was that I am on this path! It was an experience that I can NEVER forget. I will feel that for the rest of my human life! ~NursePatty

21 Day Purification - I was schooled by the Reiki teacher who taught my class that we would likely experience some detoxing or cleansing of our bodies for 21 days following the attunement. The cleansing or purging of toxins can present themselves in different ways. The number of days (21) is symbolic, it may only be a few days, or longer than the 21 days. I noticed cravings for fresh fruit, pineapple and strawberries in particular for the first couple of days. Also, my body required more sleep for about four weeks. I found myself taking mid-day naps, yet I was still able to sleep soundly at night. ~Linda