Reiki Meditation: A Simple Daily Practice

Reiki is, at heart, a meditative medicine. As I write in The Reiki Handbook, Reiki connects us to a force larger than ourselves and encourages us to connect with our bodies, opening up the pathway for mindfulness. A Reiki meditation is simply the practice of placing your hands on your own body, softening, and letting the energy move while you do nothing but be present. As I often say: with Reiki, one does nothing, yet everything unfolds.

What a Reiki meditation actually is

We experience Reiki through relaxation, tuning in, softening, connecting to our inner world, connecting to our breath, and simply being. That sentence is the meditation. You're not concentrating hard or chasing a particular state. You're letting your attention settle into your body and your breath, with your hands resting on yourself, and allowing the life force to do what it does. That's why Reiki meditation is so accessible. It asks for presence, not performance.

Gassho: the traditional Reiki meditation

The classic Reiki meditation is Gassho — hands brought together in front of the heart, palms touching, as in prayer. You sit comfortably, bring your hands to Gassho, and rest your attention there: on the point where the hands meet, on the breath, on the quiet. It's the same hand position used to focus and gather the energy in Reiki practice, and a few minutes of Gassho is a complete practice.

A simple daily Reiki meditation

1. Sit comfortably and let your breath slow. Connect to it — nothing forced, just noticing.

2. Bring your hands to Gassho at your heart for a few breaths, or rest them gently on your body.

3. Soften and tune in. Let your attention drop out of your head and into your body.

4. Do nothing. Let the Reiki flow. You don't direct it; you allow it. Stay as long as feels right.

5. Close with a moment of gratitude before you return to your day.

Even a few minutes is enough. The point isn't duration — it's the returning, again and again, to presence.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Reiki meditation? It's the practice of resting your hands on your body, softening, and being present while the Reiki flows. Reiki is a meditative medicine — it connects you to your body and breath and opens a pathway to mindfulness.

Do I need to be attuned to do a Reiki meditation? Bringing caring, present attention to your own body is something anyone can do. Once you're attuned, the practice deepens — you're consciously channeling Reiki as you sit.

What is the Gassho meditation? Gassho is the traditional Reiki meditation: hands together in front of the heart, with your attention resting on the point where the palms meet and on the breath. A few minutes of it is a complete meditation.

How long should a Reiki meditation be? As long as feels right — even a few minutes counts. Consistency and presence matter far more than duration.

Want to learn the full Reiki practice? Begin in the online Reiki class at bronwynayla.com/reiki.

Bronwyn Ayla, L.Ac.