At the Reiki Brigade, we have offered more than 7,500, 10-minute Reiki sessions to high-stress communities in Chicago, including homeless veterans, first responders, incarcerated youth, at-risk communities, etc.

People are often surprised that the sessions are so short and wonder what benefit, if any, recipients can experience in such a short time. The answer might surprise you.

Impressive Results

We began compiling Before and After data using the Wong-Baker Scale (1-10) in Sept. of 2022, and are in the process of submitting a paper for publication using the results of the surveys from 1,724 sessions.

• The average reduction in reported stress after 10 minutes of Reiki was 72.62%
• The average reduction in reported pain was 63.34%

Personal Transformations

In addition to these dramatic shifts in wellbeing, people had revelations about their fundamental nature, immense gratitude, and bliss. Here are a few of hundreds of quotes from recipients immediately following their sessions:

“It’s really awesome what you do. My knee pain is gone now. Thank you!”
“I felt like I was communing with God.”
“This can’t possibly be real—but it is!”
“I don’t know if I’m tripping or what, but it felt like you pulled something out of me.”
“It was a total reset—stress level zero!”
“Do people feel like this, or am I crazy?”
“I felt like I was talking to and touching God.”
“Transcendental.”
“I feel like a different person.”

Ripple Effects

The benefits of these sessions for so many of these individuals have been profound. I would add, that they are then moving through their lives on a Reiki high and in the high vibration of gratitude, which elevates their interactions with others.

The ripple effects of these sessions is incalculable.

Mutual Healing

It’s also worth mentioning that we, as practitioners, benefit tremendously as well. In these challenging times, it is so therapeutic to be a helper, to be able to DO something.

I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Article by Heather McCutcheon

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Heather McCutcheon

Heather McCutcheon is a Reiki Practitioner and Teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Author.
She is the founder and executive director of the Reiki Brigade, a group of practitioners who promote peace within individuals, communities, and society as a whole via Reiki energy healing. They support non-violence efforts by collaborating with other service organizations, and groups of individuals who experience high levels of stress throughout Chicagoland. Since 2011, they have offered more than 7,500 ten-minute Reiki sessions to Chicago police officers and firefighters, homeless veterans, medical students and faculty, incarcerated individuals, violence interrupters, at-risk youth, etc.
Heather is approved to offer continuing education to massage therapists and Illinois-licensed LCSWs and LCPCs for her classes and workshops, which are available in person and remotely via Zoom. She has written a book about her path from Reiki skeptic to Reiki activist, and had articles featured in numerous trade publications.
Websites: www.heather-mccutcheon.com | www.reikibrigade.org
Reiki Brigade Blog – www.reikibrigade.org/blog
Instagram – www.instagram.com/reikibrigade
Facebook – www.facebook.com/ReikiBrigade
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/company/reiki-brigade