Reiki vs. Shamanic Healing: What's the Difference?
One of the questions I'm asked most often is whether someone should book a Reiki session or a shamanic healing session.
It's a fair question, especially because both practices are often grouped together under the broad category of energy healing. From the outside, they can appear very similar. A practitioner works with energy, the client relaxes on a treatment table, and many people leave feeling calmer or more balanced than when they arrived.
But once you begin looking beyond the surface, the differences become much more apparent.
Although I am trained in both Reiki and shamanic healing, I don't think of them as competing practices. Instead, I see them as two different approaches to supporting healing, each with its own philosophy, techniques, and strengths.
Understanding those differences can help you choose the approach that feels right for you. More often than not, in my sessions they are combined to provide the most effective work the person needs in that very moment.
What is Reiki?
Reiki originated in Japan in the early 1900s through the teachings of Mikao Usui. The word itself is often translated as "universal life energy."
During a Reiki session, the practitioner acts as a conduit for that energy, allowing it to flow where it is believed to be needed most. Clients remain fully clothed while the practitioner places their hands just above the body in a series of positions.
Many people describe Reiki as deeply calming. Some notice warmth, tingling sensations, or a profound sense of relaxation. Others simply enjoy having dedicated time to slow down and rest.
One of the qualities I appreciate most about Reiki is its gentleness. It doesn't ask you to relive painful memories or analyze your past. Instead, it creates space for the body and mind to settle into a quieter state.
For many people, that alone can be incredibly restorative.
What is Shamanic Healing
Shamanic healing comes from much older traditions that developed independently in cultures around the world over thousands of years. While every lineage is unique, many share the understanding that healing involves more than the physical body alone.
Rather than working only with energy, shamanic healing often explores relationship.
Our relationship with ourselves.
Our relationship with other people.
Our relationship with nature.
Our relationship with Spirit.
In my own practice, no two sessions are exactly alike. Rather than following a fixed sequence of techniques, we begin in conversation to understand what is on your heart, what has been showing up in your life, and I begin to listen for what is asking for attention.
That may involve energetic clearing, illumination, repairing the luminous energy field, soul retrieval, ceremony, or other practices depending on the needs of the individual.
It's a much more intuitive process.
Different Questions, Different Approaches
One way I often explain the difference is by thinking about the kinds of questions each modality naturally invites.
Someone seeking Reiki may simply want an opportunity to relax, reduce stress, or support their overall sense of balance.
Someone seeking shamanic healing is often asking different questions.
"Why do I keep repeating this pattern?"
"Why do I feel disconnected from myself?"
"Why can't I seem to move forward?"
"What feels out of balance in my life?"
Of course, there is overlap, and every person's experience is unique. These examples aren't rules. They're simply patterns I've observed over time.
Neither Is Better
People sometimes ask which modality is more powerful.
I don't think that's the right question.
It's a little like asking whether a paintbrush is better than a pencil.
Each was created for a different purpose.
I've seen people have beautiful experiences with Reiki. I've also witnessed profound transformation through shamanic healing.
Neither experience diminishes the other. The goal isn't or shouldn’t be to choose the "best" healing method.
The goal is to choose the one that supports where you are today.
Can They Be Combined?
Absolutely.
In fact, as I mentioned above, I think they often complement one another beautifully. Some people begin with Reiki because they're looking for a gentle introduction to energy work. Later, they become curious about exploring deeper shamanic practices.
Others begin with shamanic healing and continue receiving Reiki as part of their ongoing self-care.
Others allow me to go where the intuitive call is and combine both into one session as I see necessary.
Healing isn't a straight line, and it rarely follows one prescribed path. There's room for many different approaches.
Choosing the Right Session
If you're trying to decide where to begin, I would encourage you to think less about the technique and more about what you're hoping to receive.
If what you need most is rest, relaxation, and an opportunity to slow down, Reiki may be exactly what you're looking for.
If you're feeling stuck, navigating a significant life transition, or sensing that something deeper is asking for attention, a shamanic healing session may feel like a more natural fit.
And if you're still unsure, that's okay too. You don't have to know exactly what you need before reaching out.
Sometimes the best place to begin is simply with a conversation.
One of the greatest lessons I've learned from studying different healing traditions is that there is rarely just one path.
Different practices speak to different people, and sometimes they speak to us during different seasons of our lives.
Whether someone chooses Reiki, shamanic healing, or another modality entirely, my hope is always the same.
That they find a path that helps them reconnect with themselves, move toward greater balance, and continue growing in whatever way feels most meaningful.
Healing isn't about finding the perfect modality.
It's about finding the one that helps you take the next step.