I didn’t know what a Reiki Master was back then. But something about her tone told me to listen.
When I asked her what Reiki meant, she explained that it was a form of energy healing, a gentle practice that channels universal life force energy to bring balance to the mind, body, and spirit. She said it might help me understand myself on a deeper level. I didn’t realize it then, but that one conversation would lead me down a path that would change my life forever.
What Is a Reiki Master, Really?
When I first started learning, I thought becoming a Reiki Master was about gaining a skill. But I quickly learned it was about something much greater; it was about remembering who I truly am.
A Reiki Master is someone who has completed all levels of Reiki training, Level I, II, and III, and has dedicated themselves to learning how to use Reiki energy not just for personal healing but to help others heal too. Reiki isn’t tied to any religion or doctrine; it’s simply a universal energy that connects us all.
Through each class, I learned to quiet my mind, listen with my heart, and let healing energy flow freely. Reiki taught me that we all carry energy, some heavy with emotion, some bright with love, and that we have the power to shift it.
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The Calling to Continue: How I Became a Reiki Master
After completing my Level II training, I thought I was finished. My goal had been simple: learn to understand what was happening within me. But my Reiki teacher saw something else. She looked at me and said, “It would be a waste of talent to stop here. You need to go for the mastery.”
Her words settled in my heart like a seed waiting for sunlight.
At first, I hesitated. Could I really step into that kind of role? Becoming a Reiki Master meant more than learning techniques; it meant opening myself fully to energy, intuition, and compassion. But her belief in me gave me the courage to continue.
So I did.
And the deeper I went into my Reiki Master training, the more I began to heal from things I didn’t even realize I was holding onto. Childhood pain, self-doubt, the fear of being “too much” or “not enough.” Reiki didn’t erase those things; it gave me the strength to face them with love instead of resistance.
How Reiki Healing Transformed My Life
Before Reiki, I was always busy: managing a spa, taking care of others, trying to make everything perfect. I didn’t realize how disconnected I’d become from my own needs. Reiki gave me permission to slow down. To breathe. To notice the energy behind my emotions instead of judging them. It helped me create space in my heart for forgiveness, not just toward others, but toward myself.
Energy healing also deepened my faith. I began to see God’s hand in the way energy moves through us, how love heals what logic cannot. Every time I placed my hands on someone’s shoulders or heart, I could feel the same message pulsing through: “You are not alone. You are loved.”
That message changed me. It became the foundation for my book, Rising Above Adversity, where I share not only my story but the spiritual lessons that shaped me along the way.
How to Become a Reiki Master
If you’re wondering how to become a Reiki Master, start by following your curiosity. Most people begin with Reiki Level I, where you learn the basics of energy flow and self-healing. Level II allows you to practice on others, and Level III, the mastery level, is where you deepen your connection and learn to teach and guide.
But the truth is, Reiki isn’t about reaching a title or status. It’s about the journey inward. It’s about learning to trust yourself, to listen deeply, and to live with more love and awareness every day. If you’re drawn to energy healing, pay attention to that pull. It may be your spirit’s way of guiding you back to yourself. Learn More About Reiki
What Reiki Has Taught Me About Healing
Healing doesn’t always look like what we expect. Sometimes it’s a quiet realization, a deep exhale, or the moment your shoulders drop for the first time in weeks. Reiki taught me that healing doesn’t demand perfection; it asks for presence.
Each session, each meditation, each moment of stillness reminded me that love is the purest form of energy we can share. And when we allow ourselves to give and receive that love freely, everything begins to shift.
When I look back at how I became a Reiki Master, I see more than a certification. I see a calling answered, a heart opened, and a woman finally stepping into her purpose. Reiki didn’t just teach me to heal; it taught me how to live.
Your Journey Begins Here
Maybe you’ve been feeling called to heal, or maybe you’re simply curious about energy work. Either way, your path is already unfolding. I believe that when we show up for ourselves—when we choose to learn, to grow, to forgive—we invite light back into our lives.
Let Reiki be one of the ways you come home to yourself. Learn more about my experience with Reiki and how it helped me on the path back to myself in my book, Rising Above Adversity. For monthly updates and insights into my Reiki practice, sign up for my newsletter! Let’s walk this journey together.
With Love and Joy,
Arelis Calkins
