When Reiki Is Just Reiki, You Are Just You

Over the years, I’ve often reflected on something the Zen monk, Shunryu Suzuki once said: “When you sit and think you are doing something special, you are doing nothing at all. When you can just sit to sit, then you are doing something special” It’s a deceptively simple idea, and yet, deeply transformative. It’s an idea that can throw you, if you are committed to your spiritual practice and feel that your meditation is important.

There’s a Zen koan that echoes the same insight: When a frog is a frog, Zen is Zen. The frog isn’t trying to be a frog. It just is a frog. No effort, no grasping, just the natural expression of its true being. But we humans routinely overcomplicate things. Even in something as seemingly still and simple as meditation, the moment we feel we’re doing something ‘special’ or ‘spiritual’, we’ve already taken a step away from our true self. We’re already going in totally the wrong direction.

And the same is true in the practice of Reiki. When we approach it thinking we’re doing something profound or mystical, or spiritual, when the ego quietly steps in to claim ownership of something inherently egoless, we move further from the essence of the practice. Reiki becomes most powerful when we allow it to flow through us naturally, without embellishment or spiritual posturing. Just like sitting, we practise to practise, we serve to serve. We do it simply to express our own true nature.

Every time we step outside that naturalness, trying to ‘do’ something, ‘be’ someone, or ‘achieve’ something, we subtly disconnect from the very presence we’re seeking. The real invitation is to rest into who you already are. To let Reiki be an expression of that resting. To let your practice be a return, not an effort.

So this week, I invite you to sit, not to do something spiritual, but simply to sit. Practise, not to be special, but to be sincere. How would it feel to let Reiki be the way you come home to yourself?

The Competition Has Closed!
The recent competition around Reiki, Buddho, and Abundant Self is now complete. The winners have been contacted. A huge thank you to everyone who took part!

The Abundant Self Begins Tonight!
Tonight marks the start of The Abundant Self, an exciting new journey for those enrolled. If you're in, get ready. This is where the shift begins. If you’re not in yet, there is still time to sign up! Contact me asap: WhatsApp: +44 78100 16959

Upcoming Events

Here’s what’s coming up in January:

• Buddho Level 1 – 16th & 17th January

• Reiki Level 1 – 23rd & 24th January

• Buddho Level 2 – 31st January & 1st February

If you’ve been thinking about deepening your practice or returning to the path, now is a beautiful moment to re-align. You can send me a message or go to my Courses page to sign up for any of the classes.

Testimonial:

Thank you to Dalia Juchem for this recent testimonial on The Abundant Self:

Participating in Steve Gooch’s The Abundant Self was a profoundly meaningful and impactful experience. The program is thoughtfully structured, with each stage building naturally on the last to create a strong sense of safety, continuity, and deepening self-connection. Rather than feeling rushed or overly conceptual, the process supports genuine insight and authentic integration. Steve brings a rare combination of presence, clarity, and care to his work. He creates an environment where you feel seen, supported, and genuinely encouraged to reconnect with who you truly are. The Abundant Self is not just something you learn; it is something you live, and its impact continues well beyond the conclusion of the program. I am deeply grateful for the clarity and grounded sense of self it helped me reclaim.

All the best,

Steve