When a Reiki Session Doesn’t Go As Expected: Reflections from Spirit

Earlier this year, I gave a Reiki healing that was different from the sessions I was used to. It prompted me to question certain things, and I pulled out a divination tool to connect with my guides and get some answers. 

But first, some context. The session was with a new client who had never experienced Reiki before. At the beginning of the appointment, they told me—with an almost proud air of defiance—that they didn’t believe in energy healing, but someone they trusted convinced them to give it a shot.

Not the vibe my sessions typically start with, I must admit. But I didn’t take it personally. In fact, I wasn’t particularly concerned. Over time, I’ve come to trust Reiki to speak for itself. I’ve witnessed many people who were unsure or skeptical at first end up leaving their session feeling lighter, calmer, and more connected to something beautiful within themselves. At the very least, they tend to feel deeply relaxed by the end of their session. I assumed that once this person was on the table and receiving the energy, the peacefulness and sense of a loving presence would wash over them and shift their perspective.

But that wasn’t the case—at least not outwardly.

When the session ended and I asked how they were feeling, they said, “Not great”. As you can imagine, this came as a bit of a surprise to me, but I wasn’t rattled–I was curious. They explained that they had spent the session replaying a situation in their mind. All they could think about was how angry they were at their partner. The body had appeared relaxed (all except for a couple fingers that kept twitching throughout the session), but the mind had been looping in frustration. I sensed that I wouldn’t be seeing this person again, but as the day wore on, I found myself thinking about them.

Did the Reiki still do something for them—even if they didn’t feel it right away?

Would their energy field shift in the coming hours or days? Did they notice any emotional release, insight, or even a subtle physical change—maybe a sense of calm, a lightness in their chest, or a moment of peace that felt unfamiliar but welcome?

These are the kinds of questions that don’t always have clear answers, and without an opportunity to follow up, I was left wanting. I turned to my guides for clarity. With my pendulum in hand, began asking questions, hoping for insight into how energy works when someone appears resistant on the surface.

Can someone who willingly agrees to receive Reiki do anything to block the healing energy from reaching them, even unintentionally?

The answer I received was no. The insight I received was this: As long as the person consents to the session and is present of their own free will, the healing energy has access to their subtle body. Consent is the key that opens the door. This was comforting to hear. But even if Reiki is invited in and is flowing through someone’s energetic body, could a hostile energetic environment negate its effect?

I asked a clarifying question.

Will the client still benefit from the session, even though they were consumed with anger and were resistant?

The answer to this was yes. This seemed to confirm the first question. My understanding is that while the anger may have interfered with their ability to feel the energy during the session, it didn’t completely block the healing. Their willingness to “give it a shot,” however reserved, opened the door, and Reiki met them where they were. Even if they didn’t feel better immediately, the energy would continue to work with them—gently, patiently, and without pressure. 

Healing doesn’t always happen in the session itself. Sometimes it begins quietly, in the hours or days that follow, when the heart softens just enough to let a little light in. 

Sometimes it comes during sleep when the subconscious mind replays the day and births fresh insights. 

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I was feeling hopeful for my resistant client. And I was seeing them and their general archetype more clearly. They are the ones whose life experiences had left them perpetually disappointed and as a result they became hardened and guarded. The idea of being vulnerable and admitting that energy healing could work was scary–if they didn’t feel a benefit, they would feel disappointed yet again. Better to reject it from the start and protect themself. 

Various teachings about shadow work come to mind. With this archetype, their shadow, the thing they suppress, is their need or desire to be loved. After repeated experiences that reinforced the belief that those who love them will always hurt them, they learn to live without love. A new belief about love arises to protect themself from pain: “I don’t need it.” “I don’t want it.” Maybe even, “I don’t deserve it.”

With the person I saw, the resistance against the loving, healing energy was strong. They fought it the entire time like one fighting to keep a beach ball submerged deep underwater. It was hard work. All this energetic work needed a reason, a story. They were probably not aware that they were guarding themself against the loving Reiki energy, so they focused on the feeling of anger–similar energy, that of resistance and conflict. Unfortunately, they were just fighting against themself.

Trauma tends to make us our own worst enemy. Our nervous system rewires so that we can better anticipate danger, so that we have a great chance of protecting ourselves physically or emotionally. But when those circuits are always running, they become the new normal, the default. We become hypervigilant. We see danger where there is none. We withdraw to protect ourselves and inadvertently disconnect from people and situations that could nourish us. In this state, vulnerability is a dangerous thing. 

I think Reiki is a beautiful solution for this predicament. As we saw in the questions I asked my guides, Reiki doesn’t require vulnerability, just a simple “yes.” That simple yes has downstream effects that are unimaginable. It can plant a seed for a new way of being. By embracing this practice, you open the door to healing and transformation, allowing the energy to flow through you and create shifts in your life that you may not have thought possible. This initial commitment can lead to profound changes, nurturing your spirit and guiding you toward a more balanced and fulfilling existence. So, as you consider the power of Reiki, remember that saying "yes" is not just a small step; it's a powerful catalyst for growth and renewal.