Reiki and the Placebo Effect. Triumph over Arthritis

There is often some comment about the placebo effect from skeptics of Reiki.  While my understanding is that there really isn’t a conflict, so I will attempt to write about what I see is the connection.  As well, I want to shine some light on a triumph over arthritis, while using it as an example to discuss these points about the placebo effect.

After having lead a couple Reiki healing circles, one attendee wrote me a message.  A neighbor friend, Kevin, who gave us (me, Ronin and Tash who led the yoga warm-up prior to the meditation and reiki that I led) a ride to the La Luz yoga studio to make our travel time easier for the workshop.  Consequently he stayed to receive the goods as well.  Afterwards, to my delight Kevin wrote me saying-

“I joke around, but really I am serious.  I am basically a pessimist, but my heart is full of hope.   My attitude is usually skeptical, but by nature I am a Buddhist….

I believe most people are born good, but I am afraid Mankind may be doomed.  I think we are capable of miracles, but most of the time we are simple and selfish savages…  I wanted to tell you this in person, face to face and from the heart, but there is always more to say and this is just a start…

I came to your class just to make things easy for everyone. Not expecting much more than what I already knew but with eyes open to any new experience.
What I saw and felt changed my life forever , for the better…
You have a extraordinary Gift…
You really can heal people.
I can heal myself, but you can heal others…there is a big difference.
Since you focused your energy on me I haven’t felt any pain in my arthritic knees. My shoulder feels stronger and my hands can hold tools like I am young again.

I am telling you this in a private message but I will tell everyone if you want…
I believe in you. You have a gift and you should share it with the World.
In the class, I knew something good was happening to me, something was changing. But I wanted you to focus on all the students, not just me. I was happy for my share.
But the thing is, days later, I still feel no pain. It really worked… Some might say it was a Miracle… I say you have a gift. You should share it with the World.
Thanks for sharing it with me…”

Kevin G.

I was really happy and inspired after reading his message.  These kind of results are what I know is possible with Reiki and healing naturally, emphasizing the power of consciousness in general.  The power of consciousness is the power of our awareness our mind (not the brain exactly), our intention, our faith in co-creating our reality, an openness of mind, a willingness or willpower enough to reach new states, new efforts.  Kevin had that openness and so do I.  While I don’t make any claims about what I can do for people, in fact I explain, as I did in the workshop, that it is not what I am doing.  My gift is the openness and the experience I have with meditation, healing, and Reiki.  Any healing occurs because of both my openness and concentration and the participants openness and intentions.  That is simply how energy can flow, like a conduit via the vehicle of mind power.. which leads to energy power.. which is what compromises the body and so when focused on the body/your body.. you can make shifts and cultivate greater awareness for what is going on within you.  After checking with Kevin weeks and weeks later, he said there is still no sign of the arthritis returning.  This is a triumph!  Now months later he just told me that he is “aware” that the arthritis is still there even though he still doesn’t feel the sharp pain when climbing stairs or doing exercise like he used to, he does feel something achy there when exerting himself more.  This is still a Triumph!  Is it arthritis that he is aware of or is it just a feeling and the association to what it once was called?  Everything is perspective and as we shift that, so can the feelings and sensations we experience shift as well.

Now the placebo effect only proves that our mind has the ability to create healing effects without chemicals from the outside.   The placebo effect doesn’t disprove that we can use methods which acknowledge the same, that our mind is the creator of healing (and of suffering).  Granted it is wise to be wary of energy healers that emphasize what they can do for you, that claim they are highly advanced and have the ability to make amazing results happen for you.  Certainly there can be a truth to it, there are levels of advancement as you train and practice being a conduit, however some can abuse this power, a position they put themselves in.  So definitely I would be concerned about those that emphasize this position, or any guarantee.  Acknowledging the power of possibility and how energy works means there can be unexpected results.  That is what I hold the space for in my work, positive alignments, whatever is for the highest good that the recipient is ready for.  Kevin was ready!

I consider myself a channel and appreciate  the higher power being that of our potential based on the nature of consciousness, the principles of creative energy.  We individually can bring in our spiritual values as we wish to heighten our faith in possibility.  People who focus on the placebo effect as a reason why natural/holistic methods or energy healing doesn’t really work, are missing the point.  Science finally proved the point!  Our mind moves energy and creates chemical pathways that can heal imbalances, so what is the point of using chemicals/medication?  Well I recognize that there are times when ones mind is not focused enough, have enough faith to arrange such improved pathways and needs some help, this help can come in various forms, sometimes medication is the answer but I believe that most cases can be a temporary solution.  We all need support and I am working toward living in a world where we support each other in conscious evolution.