Approaching new ideas with an ounce or two of healthy skepticism is always a good thing. Common sense provokes us to first scrutinize any new undertaking or belief system. We certainly don't feel good about our judgment when we fall victim to fantastic or miraculous claims that don't hold true in the end. It is simply good rational thinking to be cautious of anything being promoted as a “magic pill” or “cure-all remedy,” and it makes perfect sense to be wary of outlandish claims that tout amazing results from using various health products and healing techniques.

However, some people don't question new ideas. They simply reject them out of hand. These people enjoy pointing out flawed notions and poking fun at idealist thinkers. Skeptics consider supporters and devotees of Reiki to be nothing more than a bunch of gullible individuals. Sadly, these people may never have the opportunity to appreciate how Reiki works because of their refusals to give it a try.

Reiki Responds Uniquely to Each Individual

Reiki does not discriminate when it comes to selecting who is deserving of treatment based on what he or she believes. Reiki treats imbalance. Because each person has his or her own specific imbalances, using Reiki will bring about a unique response in each person. This is why explaining how Reiki works to someone who has not experienced it can be so frustrating or difficult. One recipient will report that Reiki is a miraculous healing technique that cured her addiction to nicotine. Another recipient might say that, although his experience with Reiki was relaxing, it didn't offer a cure. A third recipient's account of Reiki, again based on her personal experiences, might be something entirely different.

There are many benefits derived from Reiki, but the results of treatments can vary as the result of several different factors:

• Did the recipient receive only one treatment, or did he or she have cumulative Reiki treatments?

• How advanced was the recipient's illness before Reiki treatments were applied?

• Is a particular imbalance or dis-ease offering a spiritual lesson to the recipient, a lesson that needs to be experienced rather than cured?

• Were the recipient's expectations too high, ultimately setting him or her up for failure?

• How receptive is the recipient to allowing Reiki into his or her body?

Belief and Receptivity

Believing in Reiki and being receptive to Reiki energies are two very different things. Reiki will work whether or not a person believes in it. However, if a person is not receptive to Reiki, consciously or unconsciously, its energies will have a tough time penetrating that barrier. This is why some people who truly believe that Reiki will work are disappointed when it appears to have no beneficial effect on them. On the other hand, the skeptics who do not believe Reiki will work may very well experience positive results with Reiki because their bodies are naturally receptive to Reiki's healing vibrations.