Reiki: slowing down, listening to the subtle, letting energy flow

Before it is a “session to book”, Reiki is a way of being present: a state of mind, a reconnection, gentle work with what we sometimes call the subtle self.

Rei and Ki: two breaths in one word

The word Reiki comes from Japanese. We often break it down like this — not as a magic formula, but as a doorway into what it actually is:

Rei (霊) — That which belongs to spirit, the sacred, subtle intelligence — sometimes translated as “spiritual”, “universal”, or “a wider awareness than the mind of the day”. Rei points to what is greater than us without crushing us: a quality of inner listening.

Ki (気) — Vital energy, the breath, the movement of life in the body and around it (close to Chinese Qi or prana in other traditions). When Ki flows freely, we often feel more aligned, more “inhabited”. When it stagnates or scatters, body and mind let us know — fatigue, tension, fog.

Together, Rei-Ki points to a practice of serving a flow: not “making” energy, but allowing it to find a truer path again. Many practitioners put it this way: we do not force; we accompany, we channel, we hold a frame. That is also how I learned to approach it — and how I offer it today.

A state of mind more than a technique to perform

We can describe hand positions, protocols, initiations — and that is useful. But the heart of Reiki, as it is lived, feels closer to a state of mind:

• Slowing down — leaving urgency mode, even for an hour.
• Reconnecting — to the body, the breath, a forgotten sense of wholeness.
• Working with the subtle — what is not always visible, yet often felt: the inner atmosphere, stored emotions, the quality of presence.
• Allowing movement — energy is not static; it circulates, reorganises, sometimes in waves, sometimes in silence.

In this light, Reiki is not a promise of instant results, nor a substitute for medical care when that is needed. It is a space where the nervous system can finally stand down, and where something finer — the “subtle self” — can breathe again.

What you might feel (no two experiences the same)

Every session is unique, because every person arrives with their story, their day, their rhythm. Among the sensations people most often share with me — and that I also notice in my own body when I give or receive:

• Deep relaxation — muscles softening, a fuller breath, sometimes the wish to sleep.
• Warmth — under the hands or in certain areas of the body, like circulation waking up.
• Tingling, pins and needles — a soft “electric” current, subtle movement under the skin.
• Emotional waves — a release, a tear without drama, an unexpected smile.
• Images, memories, light visions — some people “see” colours, inner landscapes, or revisit a memory with more gentleness. Others see nothing at all and simply feel calmer: both are valid.
• Clarity after the session — the sense that the mind has tidied itself a little, without effort.

None of this is “required”. A lack of spectacular sensation does not mean “nothing happened”. The subtle also works in silence.

What I have taken from it — and what I try to offer

Beyond schools and styles (Usui and other lineages), a common thread often returns among practitioners: we do not heal in the person’s place. We hold a space. The intelligence of life does the rest — in its own way, in its own time.

For me, that has become a compass. I move with intention (to serve what is right for you), humility (not claiming what settles), and presence (being here, embodied, rather than constantly “doing”). Reiki, as I live it, is relational: between you, me, and a wider flow than both of us.

If you come to receive, my invitation is simple: allow yourself to prove nothing. No need to “feel it right”. Sometimes you only need to lie down and let time stretch.

Slowing down: the first gesture that changes everything

Our age rewards speed. Reiki rehabilitates slowness. Slowing down is not stopping life: it is allowing the system to shift from alert mode into repair, listening, assimilation.

On the level of the subtle self, that slowing acts as permission: chronic tensions can show themselves without being chased away; the breath becomes an ally again; the body stops being a tool and becomes a place to inhabit.

If you would like to experience it near Lausanne

Understanding Reiki is one thing. Receiving it in a settled space is another. With OpeningWorld, I would like to offer that sanctuary: grounded presence, without performance, with enough time for the subtle to have room (often 1.5 to 2 hours for a full session — also possible outdoors when the setting allows).

I welcome you in Bossière (Route de Bossière 100, 1095 Lutry) — about 10 minutes by train from Lausanne. For a simple journey, search for the station “Bossière” (S41 line), rather than “Lutry Bossière”, which sometimes suggests buses and detours.

Sessions rest on conscious contribution: you give according to what feels fair — in a spirit of trust and exchange.

If these words resonate and you feel like experiencing it, you can explore the offerings or write to me via the Contact page. No obligation: even reading this article can already be a first slowing down.

What some people have shared after a session

These words are not promises. They simply say what was lived — in the trust of a real exchange.

“I had the pleasure of receiving both a Reiki session and a tarot reading from Alex, and the combination was incredibly powerful. […] Alex created a calm, safe space where I could fully relax — I felt real changes in my body.”

Astrid

“After my session with Alex, I felt a deep grounding, as if I were gently coming home to myself.”

Katarina R.

“I was lucky enough to receive a Reiki session from Alex and was pleasantly surprised by the sensations and the positive effects it had on me. […] I will come back to you very soon.”

Véronique

“I wanted to thank you for everything you brought me, as well as for a Reiki session that did me a lot of good.”

Julie Houbard

They remind me why OpeningWorld exists: a sanctuary to explore the inner world, through Reiki, tarot, and Bach flowers — meeting you where you are, toward a little more clarity and calm.