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Reiki for Self-Love: Finding the way back to Love

Recently, I found myself in the hospital. Lying in that hospital bed, everything felt scary and uncertain. The beeping of machines, the muffled voices of doctors and nurses, the constant opening and closing of curtains—it was overwhelming. I felt vulnerable, anxious, and disconnected from everything familiar. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t relax.

In that moment, I turned to the one thing I knew could bring me back to centre: Reiki.

I placed my hands gently over my heart, closed my eyes, and allowed the energy to flow. As I meditated, something unexpected happened—I saw my heart glow. A green orb surrounded my chest, radiating warmth and light.

As someone who doesn’t usually see chakra colours or auras so vividly, I was completely taken aback. My emotions were in overdrive, and my body needed rest, but my heart? My heart was reminding me that healing begins with love.

That’s the thing about Reiki—it’s a gentle, yet profound reminder that we don’t have to look outside ourselves for the love, healing, and peace we seek. Reiki helps us reconnect to the infinite well of love that already exists within us. This love is not something we have to search for, earn, or create. It’s always been there, deep within the core of who we are, waiting for us to tap into it. It’s like turning on a light in a dark room. Reiki allows us to clear the fog, gently lifting away fear, stress, and doubt.

In those moments when we feel overwhelmed or uncertain, Reiki helps us reconnect to the truth that our body, mind, and spirit are always supporting us. It reminds us that our natural state is one of healing, and that we have everything we need within us to return to balance. The energy flows like a soft, steady current, guiding us back to a place of deep inner peace, comfort, and unconditional self-love.

Self-Love: More Than Just a Buzzword

I think self-love and self-care have almost become buzzwords in the wellness space. Everywhere we turn, we hear: “Practice self-love!” “Take a bubble bath!” “Treat yourself!” While these things can be wonderful, self-love goes so much deeper than spa days and face masks.

True self-love is about how we show up for ourselves time and time again, especially in our hardest moments. It’s not just about external comforts—it’s about deeply honouring who we are, even when we feel our most vulnerable. It’s about embracing ourselves in totality, with all our imperfections, struggles, and triumphs. It isn’t about “fixing” anything to finally be worthy of love. It’s about learning to sit with ourselves, just as we are, with love and compassion. It’s about showing up for ourselves with honesty and without judgment. It’s about looking at our flaws, our wounds, and our imperfections, and saying, “I see you. I accept you. I love you anyway.”

And yes, that can be scary, especially when we’ve spent so much time trying to hide or change the parts of ourselves we don’t love. But it’s also where the deepest healing begins. The more we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to feel the discomfort, and to still choose love, the more we can heal.

Self-love is not just a buzzword or an abstract idea—it is an active, ongoing practice of healing, forgiveness, and acceptance.

Self-love looks like:

❤️ Setting healthy boundaries and saying “no” when we need to, protecting our energy.
❤️ Being gentle with ourselves instead of being self-critical or harsh.
❤️ Holding space for all our emotions, even the difficult ones, and not dismissing them.
❤️ Choosing healing, even when it feels uncomfortable, because we trust it’s what our soul needs.
❤️Allowing yourself sufficient time to rest and relax without guilt so we can slow down, breathe, and recharge before we burnout – because burnout is not a badge of honour.
❤️Choosing to use our personal skills and gifts and show them to the world without playing small.
❤️Being Honest with Ourselves and honouring what we really want, need, and feel—not what others expect of us.

This is where Reiki becomes such a powerful tool. It doesn’t just talk about self-love it helps us experience it on a profound, energetic level. It allows us to connect with our heart’s energy, shift old wounds, and nurture ourselves from the inside out.

For me, that hospital moment wasn’t about “practicing self-love” in a surface-level way. It was about choosing to love myself in a moment of fear and vulnerability. Reiki reminded me that love isn’t something we find outside of ourselves—it’s something we come home to within.

Self-love is not always easy

Self-love is not always peaceful, easy, or predictable. Even with Reiki or any healing modality, learning to love yourself can still be a slow and sometimes uncomfortable process. It can be messy, uncomfortable, and full of setbacks and sidesteps. We all have moments where we struggle. We live in a culture that is constantly striving for perfection, comparison, and external validation, and that can make it hard to truly embrace who we are. But self-love requires us to move beyond these external pressures and learn to love ourselves without conditions—flaws, struggles, and all.

One of the most difficult aspects of self-love is learning to be gentle with ourselves instead of being critical. Our inner dialogue can sometimes be our harshest critic, telling us we’re not doing enough, that we’re failing, or that we aren’t worthy of the love we’re trying to give ourselves. Many of us are trained to push through discomfort or to focus on our shortcomings, instead of nurturing ourselves with compassion and care.

When creating the Hoʻoponopono Reiki training course here at the RHA, we reflected on this a lot. One of the core mantras of Hoʻoponopono is ‘I love you’ and on a deeper level this is about forgiving ourselves for the times we ever doubted we were worthy.

The real magic of Hoʻoponopono lies in its power to release past wounds and allow self-forgiveness to take place. It’s not just about forgiving others—it’s about freeing ourselves from the emotional burdens of past hurt, shame, guilt, or regret. When we hold onto these emotions, they create energetic blockages that keep us from fully stepping into our power and experiencing self-love.

Reiki and Hoʻoponopono work beautifully together because Reiki helps us reconnect with love, while Hoʻoponopono helps us clear the emotional clutter that keeps us from feeling it. Together, they remind us that love is not something we have to earn—it’s something we already are.

We all carry layers of emotional baggage, some of it dating back to childhood. Unkind words, painful experiences, and limiting beliefs take root in us from a young age. The inner child within us—the most vulnerable, impressionable part of ourselves—holds onto these wounds, often in an effort to protect us.

But part of self-love is learning to heal that inner child. To sit with the pain we once experienced and tell ourselves:

“I see you. I hear you. I love you. You are safe now.”

Reiki is Love and Love is highest vibration of all

At its core, Reiki is about love and energy. And love is infinite. It doesn’t have limits—it doesn’t run out. This is something that many of us forget when we’re caught up in life’s demands. We get so focused on external validation, external love, or seeking love from others, that we forget to reconnect with the unlimited love inside ourselves.

Just like a well that never runs dry, the love within us is always there—ready to nourish and heal us when we remember to tap into it. Reiki reawakens that awareness and gently guides us to rediscover our own inner strength and capacity for love.

This love is unconditional, ever-present, and constant.It does not judge, it does not demand, and it does not falter. It is steady and unwavering, offering us support even in our darkest moments. The more we align ourselves with Reiki, the more we learn to trust this love. And as we deepen our connection to it, we begin to move through life with a newfound sense of calm, groundedness, and faith in ourselves.

When we embrace Reiki, we embrace love. And when we embrace love, we step into our highest vibration—the place where true healing, joy, and wholeness reside.

Healing the Heart Chakra: Reconnecting to Love

That green glow I saw around my heart was more than just an image—it was a reminder that my Heart Chakra (Anahata) was calling for attention.

The Heart Chakra is the energy centre of love, compassion, and connection. It governs how we give and receive love—not just to others, but also to ourselves. When this chakra is open and balanced, we feel:

💚 A deep sense of inner peace and connection.
💚 The ability to give and receive love freely.
💚 Emotional resilience and forgiveness.

However, when our Heart Chakra is blocked or unbalanced, we may experience:
💔 Emotional numbness or a sense of disconnection.
💔 Holding onto past hurts and struggling to forgive.
💔 Difficulty trusting others or opening up to love.
💔 Feeling unworthy of love, even from ourselves.

Many of us go through life with a guarded heart, protecting ourselves from pain. But in doing so, we sometimes block ourselves from love and healing, too. Reiki helps us gently soften those walls and return to a place of trust, compassion, and openness.

If you feel called to nurture your Heart Chakra, here are a few simple but powerful Reiki practices to help restore balance and open yourself to love:

1. Reiki Self-Healing for the Heart Chakra

This is a practice I return to again and again—especially when I feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or in need of self-love.

💚 How to Practice:
✨ Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down.
✨ Place your hands over your heart center (middle of the chest).
✨ Close your eyes and take deep, slow breaths.
✨ Set an intention: “I allow love to flow freely through me.”
✨ Imagine a soft green or pink light radiating from your heart, expanding with each breath.
✨ Allow Reiki to flow, filling your chest with warmth, love, and peace.

Stay here as long as you need, feeling your heart center soften, open, and receive.

2. Reiki-Infused Affirmations for the Heart Chakra

Affirmations help rewire the subconscious mind and reinforce self-love, trust, and emotional healing. When paired with Reiki, their energy deepens.

💫 Try These Heart-Opening Affirmations:
🌿 I am open to giving and receiving love.
🌿 I release past pain and welcome love into my life.
🌿 I am worthy of deep, unconditional love.
🌿 My heart is open, and love flows through me effortlessly.

✨ How to Use Them:

Place your hands over your heart.
Take a deep breath and say an affirmation out loud or in your mind.
Feel the words as if they are already true.
Send Reiki to your heart as you repeat them.

Even just a few minutes of this practice can shift your energy and invite more love into your life.

3. Reiki and Heart-Opening Crystals

Crystals can amplify Reiki energy and help unblock the Heart Chakra. Some of the best crystals for heart healing include:

💚 Rose Quartz – The stone of unconditional love. Enhances self-love, emotional healing, and compassion.
💚 Green Aventurine – Helps release old emotional wounds and attract love.
💚 Rhodonite – Encourages forgiveness and emotional balance.
💚 Emerald – Strengthens the heart and deepens connections.

✨ How to Use Them with Reiki:

Sleep with a heart chakra crystal under your pillow for deeper healing.
Hold a crystal over your heart during Reiki self-healing.
Meditate with a crystal in your hand, visualizing its energy merging with yours.

4. Using the Sei Heiki Symbol (清癖)

Sei Heiki is used for emotional healing and releasing negative thought patterns. This sacred symbol helps clear deep-seated wounds, emotional blockages, and subconscious programming that prevent us from fully embracing self-love.

When we work with Sei Heiki, we allow Reiki to gently dissolve old emotional pain, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs. It acts like a wave washing over the subconscious mind, clearing away patterns of self-criticism, shame, and fear.

🔹 How to Use Sei Heiki for Self-Love 🔹

Place your hands over your heart chakra.
Mentally or physically trace the Sei Heiki symbol in the air, over your heart, or on your palms and intone its name. As you do, visualize its energy surrounding you like a warm, protective light.
Repeat the affirmation: “I release all patterns that no longer serve me. I welcome love, healing, and self-acceptance.” You may also create your own affirmation that resonates with your journey.
Let Reiki flow: Allow Sei Heiki to work on a deep emotional level. Imagine the symbol’s energy dissolving any old emotional wounds, self-doubt, or inner resistance to love. Let yourself fully receive the healing energy.
Journal or Reflect – After your Reiki session, take a few moments to write down any thoughts, emotions, or insights that arose. This can help deepen your awareness and integration of the healing process.

Each time we use Sei Heiki in our self-love practice, we are reprogramming our subconscious mind with love, acceptance, and healing energy. Over time, the layers of fear, doubt, and old emotional wounds begin to dissolve, making space for deeper compassion and self-worth.

Falling in love with your life

Self-love isn’t just about healing—it’s also about falling in love with life itself. I saw a quote the other day that really reminded me of this:

“The secret to true happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” – William Morris

It reminded me that Love is found in the simple, everyday moments. The more we notice them, the more we allow love to flow freely.

There was a trend recently on social media around the idea of romanticizing your life—a movement that encourages people to find beauty in the ordinary, to slow down and appreciate the small moments that make up our days. It’s about seeing your life through a more loving, intentional lens, as if you were the main character in a beautiful story.

For some, that might look like lighting a candle while reading a book, enjoying a morning coffee, or taking an evening stroll while listening to podcast. For others, it’s about infusing daily life with mindfulness and appreciation, whether that’s arranging fresh flowers on the table, writing in a journal, or savouring a home-cooked meal.

At its core, this trend speaks to something deeper: the idea that joy, beauty, and love aren’t just found in big, life-changing moments, but in the tiny, seemingly insignificant details of everyday life. It’s a reminder that self-love isn’t just about grand gestures—it’s in how we treat ourselves daily.

And this is where Reiki comes in.

Reiki is a way to romanticize your own energy, your own presence, your own being every day. It invites you to slow down, give thanks for what we have and nurture yourself with the same tenderness and care you would offer a loved one. When we approach life with this kind of love and presence, everything shifts.

7 Ways to Romanticize Your Life with Reiki ✨💖

Romanticizing life is about seeing beauty in the small moments, embracing gratitude, and treating yourself with love and reverence. Reiki, as a practice of healing and self-connection, can deepen this experience, helping you cultivate a life that feels sacred, intentional, and full of love.

Here are some ways you can use Reiki to romanticize your everyday life:

1. Start Your Day with Reiki & Gratitude

Before getting out of bed, place your hands over your heart chakra and let Reiki flow. Take a few deep breaths and silently express gratitude for the new day.

2. Infuse Your Morning Rituals with Intention

While making your morning tea or coffee, draw the Reiki symbols over your cup (if attuned) or simply set the intention: “May this drink nourish me with love and positive energy.”

As you get ready for the day, bring Reiki into your self-care routines—whether applying skincare, brushing your hair, or stretching. Place your hands over your body and visualize warm, loving light flowing through you.

3. Romanticize the Ordinary with Presence

Reiki teaches us to slow down and be fully present. Whether you’re walking, cooking, journaling, or simply sipping your tea, engage all your senses. Feel the textures, notice the scents, and savor the moment without rushing. Life becomes more magical when we give it our full attention.

4. Surround Yourself with Beauty

Your environment reflects your energy. Use Reiki to cleanse your space regularly. Keep items around you that bring joy and elevate your spirit.

5. Write Yourself a Love Letter 💌

Channel Reiki into your hands and write yourself a heartfelt letter, expressing gratitude and appreciation for who you are. Read it whenever you need a reminder of your worth.

6. Reiki-Infused Nighttime Rituals

Before bed, place your hands over your heart and third eye. Send Reiki into your body, allowing yourself to release the day’s stress and embrace deep relaxation. Imagine soft, healing light surrounding you as you drift into sleep.

7. See Your Life as a Love Story

Reiki reminds us that we are inherently worthy of love—without needing to earn it. Treat yourself as the main character of a beautiful, unfolding love story. 💕

By weaving Reiki into your daily moments, you can transform the ordinary into something magical, filling your life with intention, love, and joy. 🌿✨

Reiki teaches us that love is never lost. Sometimes, we just need to return to it.💖✨

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