Essential oils to support Reiki and self-healing
Modern medicinal ones across the world are turning to self-healing approaches, including reiki and essential oils. Both modalities are powerful in today’s busy society - because they not only slow us down and help us become more present and focused, but they also harness the power of nature and nature’s energy to supercharge our healing. They help us see that we have a powerful role in our own healing, which is important to see in a society where that ancestral knowing has been somewhat lost.
Modern culture tends to value logic over wisdom, head over heart, and rushing around over slowing down. Yet, from these ways of being, we become disconnected from who we are at our core - we ignore the wisdom contained deeply within our bodies, suppress our heart’s desires, and spend much of our time indoors, rather than outside in the wild, where we can breathe. It is especially important, these days, therefore, that we find ways to reconnect to ourselves a little bit deeper, because if we don’t, we can become burned out and exhausted, suffering with issues like fatigue, anxiety, stress, depression, and our bodies begin to suffer with all sorts of symptoms, from period pains, to aching muscles, digestive imbalances - and more.
When this happens, culturally, we aren’t taught ways to heal ourselves - we outsource our healing to others - doctors, etc - because that’s what we’ve been taught. And I’d always recommend working with a doctor to find out more, but complementary therapies are called ‘complementary’ therapies for a reason, because they work really well together. The thing to remember, is that when we experience disconnection from our bodies, and that creates symptoms, these days, it is because we are outsourcing our healing power - we are ignoring the ways our ancestors lived, and the harmony that was created in those ways of being. The deep invitation today is to consider the very important question: “what can I learn from my ancestors to help me soothe and heal myself, alongside modern medicine?” Remembering we can take responsibility and own our power here too is real medicine.
And so, I wanted to explore how many magical practices like reiki and self-healing are powerful tools to initiate our own healing, and especially how these healing modalities can be supercharged with essential oils and aromatherapy - as a combination of the two is so potent for the modern man or woman living in a society that typically suppresses these ways of being.
Reiki and self-healing
Reiki - also known as hands-on healing - was actually one of my first initiations into intentional magic, though I didn’t realise it at the time. An energy medicine, it works deeply with the power of intention to create transformation. Its literal translation from Japanese is Universal (“rei”) Energy (“ki) - meaning life force energy. Energy can stagnate in the body where there has been physical imbalance or emotional or mental pain - or Soul suppression. When we don’t energetically release these imbalances, these blocks can create dis-ease in the body. Energy medicine - and all self-healing - helps the flow of energy to be in balance, creating relaxation, relieving pain, and rebalancing the body, mind, and Soul.
Of course, Reiki is one form of self-healing, with an ancestral lineage that is to be honoured. The most current form of Reiki was channelled by Dr Usui; but has been practised for around 2500 years. Reiki is very specifically and powerfully initiated into because of this - it is a form of energy healing, which I’d fully recommend, having become a Reiki Master (especially if we are powerfully treating and healing others).
And still, that doesn’t mean that if we want to try and energetically heal ourselves that it isn’t something that is accessible to anyone, without that initiation; where we may not be using reiki directly if we haven’t been initiated, it doesn’t mean that self-healing needs a deeper initiation for you to begin practising harnessing energetic healing at home for yourself.
Initiating your energetic healing powers
One of my favourite ways to help people tune into their own energetic power to heal, is to have them create a comfortable environment, which has no distractions, in which they can tune into their own energetic power, and then play with the energy.
Once you’ve created a nurturing space, I’d recommend you diffuse a blend of essential oils to help you begin to tune into this energetic healing capacity:
Initiation diffusion - add 3 drops Myrrh, 2 drops Frankincense and 2 drops Rose or Geranium essential oil into water in an electrical aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner for your initiation into energy healing.
Sit with your body open and relaxed and bring your hands into Gassho mudra - the seal of your two hands coming together, both palms in prayer hands. Close your eyes, and as you do, just begin to really feel into and witness the surge of energy between your hands. Play with that, with your palms together for a moment - consciously setting (in your mind or out loud) the intention to feel the arising energy within you. When you’re ready, after a few minutes, begin to play with moving your palms apart - only slightly and gently and incrementally. Notice the energy and how it is expanding, notice where you feel any energetic resistance, or pull and allow your hands to move. This is you beginning to play with your own energetic field.
Setting your energy healing intention
Now, before we deepen into using this power for healing, depending on your intention as to your healing, will also depend as to which oils you choose to support you next in this journey. The first thing to think about, though, is exactly that: what is your healing intention?
You may choose to use self-healing for anything - from energising yourself, to relaxation, to soothing and healing your body, to calming your mind, to feeling joyful, to tuning deeper into your heart and receiving guidance for your Soul. The more specific your intention, the more magic will be created, so get creative in your vision. These examples are some that I will provide aromatherapy blends for, so you can turbo charge your self-healing, but you might like to also get creative with your own essential oil blends. Ultimately, the deep invitation is to select oils that have a synergy and alignment with your intention. So, what is your intention? Here are some aromatherapy blends, which use oils to complement each energetic healing intention I suggested above.
“I energise myself” - add 20 drops Lemon, 5 drops Rosemary and 5 drops Spearmint into 100ml water in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use and spritz your pillow, your room and your hands before performing your healing - as well as charging the bottle with energetic healing for use throughout the day.
“I relax” – mix 3 drops Bergamot, 2 drops Geranium and 1 drop Ylang Ylang into 15ml Bath Oil or Bath & Shower Gel and add it to your bath water. You can do your energetic healing in the bath if this feels aligned - it is one of my favourite places. Or, have a bath to prepare and settle down to perform your healing ritual after.
“I heal my body” - add 3 drops Lavender, 2 drops Frankincense and 1 drop Chamomile into 15ml Grapeseed oil and smother it over your body, massaging in the direction towards the heart, before starting your healing ritual.
“I calm my mind” - add 4 drops Patchouli, 2 drops Vetivert and 1 drop Clary Sage into water in an electrical aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner to be diffused during your healing ritual to cultivate calm and boost your intention.
“I feel joy” - mix 3 drops Yuzu, 3 drops Neroli and 1 drop Petitgrain into water in an electrical aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner to be diffused during your healing ritual to cultivate joy and boost your intention.
“I allow my heart to lead” - add 3 drops Rose Geranium, 2 drops Melissa and 1 drop Jasmine into 15ml Grapeseed oil and smother it over your body, massaging in the direction towards the heart, before starting your healing ritual.
How to practice a self-healing ritual
Once you have your blend - and remember, you can get creative, so long as you choose the oils with intention - spend some time either massaging, spritzing, bathing, or diffusing your oils whist speaking out your intention (you can also do this in your mind).
Go back to your Gassho mudra with your palms together and refocus your attention on connecting to yourself energetically. Breathe in deeply, allowing yourself to inhale the aromas from your blend, separate your hands out so that your palms are facing your body - and hold your hands about 10 cm from your heart. Again, witness the energy flow - how does it feel?
We will go into a body scan from here - again, breathing deeply as you move. Firstly, hover your hands above your head, palms facing your head, and just tune into how balanced it feels, tune into the energy sensations - is there resistance, openness, are they fast, does there feel anything to be stuck? Just notice any subtle nuances in the energy field - in your aura. Recite your intention in your mind, to infuse your energy with it. Do the same for your third eye (the space between your eyes), your throat, your chest, just below your chest, your belly, and your legs - right down to your feet. Noticing, all the time, where feels different - where feels tight, tense, lacking joy, in pain - whatever it might be. Again, declare that you are energetically healing with the intention of creating whatever it is you desire to create.
From there, you can begin to tune into the specific areas in your body you are called to heal more deeply. Let yourself be guided, intuitively, to move your hands. This isn’t a logical thing, but an instinct thing, so just allow yourself to be moved to wherever needs some focus, breathing deeply and reciting your intention as you go. Spend as long as you need doing this and when you feel complete, come to a natural close - you are finished. I would recommend around 10-15 minutes to begin with, but longer is fine too.
When you are first starting out, it is good to devote to this practice daily for 30 days to cleanse whatever needs to be cleansed, and I’d recommend you begin to record what you notice in each session. This deep relaxation will be hugely healing for you - so enjoy.
Nicole Barton
Consultant Aromatherapist
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