Shamanic Reiki or Reiki Shamanism blends the healing power, spiritual principles, and techniques of Reiki and Shamanism. The two modalities integrate well because both work fundamentally with subtle universal life-force energy.
The Origin of Reiki and Shamanism
The dozen or so different styles of Reiki practiced today originated with Dr. Mikao Usui in the late 19th century. However, earlier Tibetan Buddhists were long aware of the energy.
Shamanism, on the other hand, dates back thousands of years. Perhaps the oldest example is the transhumant San People (Bushman) of Southern Africa whose cave paintings illustrate how they planned their movements and hunting according to Shamanic divination as far back as 100,000 years.
Reiki Shamanism – An Approach That Defies Standardization
For thousands of years, nearly every culture and country spawned at least one version of Shamanism contributing to its great diversity.
By extension, approaches to Reiki Shamanism vary greatly depending on the belief system, lineage, skill set, experience, and perspective of the Shaman/Reiki practitioner.
Most healers trained in both methods do not combine them in one healing session, ritual, or ceremony. They tend to offer these services separately. Therefore, the number of Shamanic Reiki Masters is more limited. Furthermore, the number of Shamanic Reiki instructors is even fewer.
My Version of Shamanic Reiki Sessions
This blog post illustrates how I, as a Shamanic Reiki Master, integrate these two 
healing modalities into one session, spiritual practice, or ritual (e.g., house or lunar energy clearing ceremony). I add Shamanism to Reiki treatments and Reiki to Shamanic treatments.
Presented here are several examples of how I attain integration. I hope to give the reader a flavor of what is possible for enhanced mind, body, and spiritual healing.
I assume the reader is familiar with both Shamanism and Reiki. For more information or background see my pages and posts on Reiki energy and Shamanism as energy healing.
From my perspective, all my spiritual and energy-based healing, divination, guidance, and personal and spiritual growth practices are complementary. When used together, they expand and deepen the desired regenerative, growth, and transformational outcomes.
A Personal Approach to Shamanism
Unlike many indigenous Shamans, my practice is not organically or deliberately steeped in culture, religion, or tradition. However, I draw upon various sources and traditions when I employ certain Shamanic techniques.
My Approach to Reiki
I’m attuned to ten styles of Reiki. Different styles have ties to Japanese, Egyptian, Tibetan, and Buddhist traditions. But, from my perspective, Reiki techniques and practice are less enveloped in culture and tradition than Shamanism is.
Taking a Client-Centric Approach
The approach I take to healing depends on the issue and client. For example, my Reiki Shamanism does not follow a particular format. The appropriate approach and healing treatment presents itself through my conversation with my client, intuitively, or during a Shamanic Journey.
In-Person Verses Remote Sessions
Both Shamanism and Reiki are effective when offered remotely or at a distance. In this case, my client and I are not in the same space.
In addition, I infrequently arrange to connect with a client over the phone or the Internet. This is because I prefer not to use digital or electronic devices. They’re distracting, add another less desirable energy to the session, and malfunction sometimes. However, I can accommodate my client in some instances.
Five Ways of Integrating the Modalities
1. Setting a Safe and Protected Space
Clearing Energy
Most energy-based modalities begin rituals, ceremonies, and healing treatments with an energy clearing.
This can be healing in itself. Moreover, cleansing energetically improves the flow of energy. It declutters and opens the subject (person or space) to unfettered and enhanced energy flow, enhancing the efficacy of the treatment or practice.
Shamans typically use smoldering herb bundles called smudge sticks to clear energy. Both smudging and several Reiki symbols clear negative energy from a space, a person, and the person’s energy field (the auric field).
I often use both approaches before a session. However, I prefer to use a non-smokey (smokeless) method of smudging using the same aromatic plant species in the form of essential oils or hydrosols (liquid smudge).
Drawing in Favorable Energies
Certain smudging herbs such as juniper berry (Juniperus communis) bring in protective energy.
Shamanic rattling and drumming call in helping guides and spirits.
Intentions
Energy, including Reiki, follows intention. Therefore, if the Shamanic Reiki practitioner sets a clear, specific, and positive intention, it will draw in positive, supportive, and protective energy.
Of course, if a client remains cognizant of the session’s intention and fully embraces their desired (intended) outcome, the likelihood of fulfillment is reinforced.
2. Increasing the Power and Support
Co-creating or working in partnership with other higher or spiritual forces is fundamental to my Shamanic practice. I can also avail myself of the healing vibrational qualities of rocks, crystals, plants, and other natural elements.
Including the energy and attributes of guides, spirits, and elementals enhance a Reiki healing session. Moreover, a Lightarian Reiki Master, by definition co-creates with Ascended Master and Angelic frequencies. These energetic forces add spiritual wisdom and expand the scope, power, and potential of a healing treatment or a spiritual ritual.
Reiki symbols allow the Shamanic Reiki Master to orient the energy flow and deepen the healing. These symbols and other shamanic healing practices can also extract resistant and persistent blockages.
3. Wholeness – Integration and Reintegration
Many energy healing modalities, Reiki included, address physical issues. But, they also heal and orient emotional, mental, and spiritual concerns. Many Reiki practitioners work off the body and within the various layers of the aura.
The Reiki distance system is an excellent tool. It facilitates connection, communication, and integration in the physical body and all other energy bodies. It can bridge time and space as well. Karuna Reiki and Traditional Reiki have additional symbols and healing techniques that promote connection, introspection, and integration.
Shamanic Soul Retrieval is a powerful integration practice. In essence, it calls back aspects of the self (parts, or soul pieces) that have shut down or compartmentalized or were separated and lost due to intense stress or trauma. Reiki symbols can be incorporated into a Soul Retrieval to help heal those parts and facilitate their reintegration.
4. Spiritual and Personal Growth – Guidance and Interpretation
Introspective Practices
Reiki healing and Shamanic divination (journeying, rock reading, dreamwork) can offer clients a way to connect their subconscious experience and wisdom with their conscious thinking and behavior.
For example, during my sessions and with my client’s consent, my clients and I share what is sensed and intuited. I encourage clients to reflect upon what happens during and following a session. Often the behavior of their energy reveals meaningful stories for their spiritual and personal growth journey.
Traditional (Eastern) Usui Reiki offers many intuitive practices for practitioners and clients. Sekhem-Seichim Reiki (SSR) symbols encourage, in particular, subtle life-force energy to focus on the client’s higher purpose, soul mission, and what has greater meaning. Much of the action takes place within the energy field and the subconscious, but ultimately shows up in the client’s choices and behaviors.
A Reiki Master can also perform past-life regressions and life progressions. Not all Masters do this, but they have the tools. These practices offer clients insights into the self and their stories. They can stimulate curiosity and dreaming, and help define their life purpose.
5. Conscious Living and Being Present
Shamanism offers principles, spiritual guidance, and an array of spiritual practices in addition to basic healing. These elements allow clients to shift focus from immediate healing to praxis in their everyday lives. In this way, they become more engaged and in control of their healing journey, personal growth, and fulfillment of greater meaning and higher purpose.
Meditation, spending time in and communing with nature, and cultivating presence dovetail with many Shamanic traditions. Here slowing down, cultivating a broadened and more inclusive perspective, ceremonies, and rituals all play important roles.
Reiki and Shamanism embrace the importance of grounding and offer various grounding techniques. In addition, meditation and certain breathing techniques centering and presence.
The holistic frameworks of many Shamanic traditions teach the importance of balance, self-awareness, self-reflection, an open focus, and regularly taking a pause. These practices are critical to being present and authentic, living consciously, and creating a meaningful life.
