A few years ago, a video by Sadhguru, the Indian mystic, was circulating where he spoke very directly about energy healing.

He said that removing symptoms without understanding the deeper cause can lead to those same issues expressing themselves in other ways. For many people in the energy healing world, that message landed uncomfortably. Sadhguru called energy healing “irresponsible” and “juvenile”. I happen to agree with him.

It raised an important question. If energy healing is about fixing problems, how can anyone be sure they truly understand what needs to be fixed?

After more than 25 years of practising and teaching Reiki, that question becomes increasingly relevant. Because what most people call Reiki is actually Reiki healing. And those are not the same thing.

There’s a moment that often stays with people after their first experience of Reiki.

A student once told me that during a session, nothing dramatic seemed to be happening on the surface. There was no sense of something being “fixed” or worked on. Yet afterwards, they felt calmer than they had in years, not because something had been done to them, but because something within them had settled. That moment captures something important.

Because what most people think Reiki is, and what Reiki actually is, are two very different things.

Most people are introduced to Reiki as a form of healing.

Hands are placed on or near the body. The intention is to support balance, relaxation, and wellbeing. That’s the part people see first, and it’s meaningful. It helps people reconnect, slow down, and begin to feel better.

Yet this is only one aspect of the system. At a deeper level, Reiki is a discipline of awareness.

It is a structured practice that trains attention. Through the simplicity of placing the hands and remaining present, the mind begins to quieten. The body softens. Awareness becomes steadier. Over time, something shifts in how experience is perceived.

This is where the real depth of Reiki begins to reveal itself.

This is also where it becomes essential to understand the difference between Reiki and Reiki healing.

Reiki is the practice. Reiki healing is something that can happen within that practice.

When this distinction is not clear, it is easy to assume that the practitioner is “doing” the healing. That assumption brings the mind into a position of control, interpretation, and interference.

Within the deeper practice, something else happens. The practitioner steps back.

Awareness remains present, but without trying to direct, fix, or analyse. This allows a much more intelligent process to unfold, one that is not limited by personal interpretation or the need to understand what is happening.

This is why Reiki is not about becoming a healer. It is about becoming present enough for transformation to occur.

When approached in this way, Reiki begins to resemble meditation with the hands. The body becomes the field of awareness. The hands become the anchor. The mind gradually settles, and a different relationship with experience begins to emerge.

This is where people start to discover something far more valuable than simply feeling better. They begin to discover themselves.

If you want to explore this in more depth, this week’s article goes into this distinction in detail and opens up a much clearer understanding of what Reiki really is.

Read the full article here: What is Reiki?

The Abundant Self programme continues to evolve in a really powerful way.

We’ve now completed Phase 2, and we’re about halfway through the six-month journey. The depth of insight and transformation coming from participants has been incredible to see.

By popular demand, an Abundant Self community will be launching in mid-June, at the end of the programme. This will give you a space to continue building on what you’ve created, stay connected, and keep moving forward with real momentum. If you’ve participated in The Abundant Self previously, and would like to be one of the founders of the new community, let me know.

More details will be shared soon.

If you haven’t already joined, the Abundant Mind Facebook group is the place to stay connected with the work, ask questions, and be part of a growing community focused on real change.

You’ll also find deeper resources, conversations, and support there.

👉 Join the Abundant Mind here: The Abundant Mind

Reiki and Buddho are not just about healing. That’s the easy stuff and I’ll be giving you that in the upcoming following classes, but if you really want to explore just how your mind works, and get mastery over it, then these classes are the perfect starting point. Here’s what’s coming up:

Reiki Level 3A - 10th-11th April

Buddho Level 1 - 17th-18th April

Reiki Level 1 - 24th-25th April

You can sign up for any of those classes on my Courses page.

Reiki offers something far beyond what most people first encounter.

It begins as a practice.
It becomes a pathway.
And over time, it reveals a way of being that brings clarity, calm, and a much deeper connection with yourself.

That’s where the real value lies.

Speak soon,
Steve