Rev. Lilian Hewlett, a Reiki Master Teacher, shares her insights on harnessing the power of Reiki for spiritual and physical healing, guiding you toward balance and well-being
For centuries, people have turned to various healing techniques to restore balance and find peace in their lives. One such practice is Reiki, a gentle method that works by balancing the body’s energy to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Rev. Lilian Hewlett, a seasoned Reiki Master Teacher, has dedicated her life to helping others find harmony through this transformative practice. With years of experience, she has guided countless individuals on their healing journeys, fostering a deeper connection to themselves and their inner peace.

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Reiki is an energy healing technique that involves the gentle laying on of hands to balance energy centers in the body, known as chakras. This practice encourages relaxation, reduces stress, and supports the body’s natural ability to heal. Rooted in the idea of universal energy, Reiki is not tied to any specific belief system, making it accessible to people from all walks of life. Whether it’s used to address physical discomfort, emotional struggles, or simply to enhance overall well-being, Reiki is a versatile and powerful tool for healing.
From Prayer to Practice: The Journey to Reiki
Rev. Lilian Hewlett’s journey into Reiki began long before she even knew what it was. “I’ve been into healing since I was 12,” she recalls, “I would just lay my hands and pray to God.” At the time, she didn’t have a name for what she was doing, but she knew it had a deeper purpose. Her answer came unexpectedly in 2000 when she encountered someone practicing Reiki. “I thought, wow, whatever he’s doing, it’s exactly like what I was doing,” Rev. Lilian shares.

This led her to prayer again, asking God to send her a teacher if Reiki was the name she was meant to follow. In 2004, she met a Reiki master who taught her the practice. “It’s funny because I initially just wanted a name,” she laughs. “But when I started studying Reiki, it gave me so much more. It wasn’t just about understanding energy centers or learning how to avoid depleting myself during healing, which I had struggled with before, it was a calling and a gift.”
Reiki 101: Healing Beyond the Physical
“Reiki is an energy healing modality,” the Reiki Teacher explains. “It doesn’t work directly on the physical body but on what we call the energetic body.” In Reiki, the human body is seen as having two anatomies: the physical and the energetic. “This means there’s an energy anatomy alongside our physical anatomy,” she adds. Originating in Japan, Reiki has since traveled across the globe, evolving into a widely practiced method of holistic healing.

The process itself is simple yet profound. “A Reiki practitioner works with their hands, either on or just above the body, and focuses on areas where healing is needed,” she explains. The practitioner, who must first undergo attunement to channel Reiki energy, often finds that their hands intuitively gravitate to the parts of the body requiring care. She elaborates, “For instance, the heart energy center is connected to relationships. If someone has unresolved issues in their relationships, it can manifest physically as problems with the heart, lungs, or even the shoulders.” By focusing on the heart energy center, Reiki helps release blocked energy tied to these emotions or spiritual states. “It’s like acupuncture, but instead of working with needles, we focus on the energy body as a whole,” Rev. Lilian notes. The result? A deeper sense of healing that goes beyond the surface, addressing not just physical symptoms but emotional and spiritual well-being too.
Mapping Energy: The Seven Centers of Healing
When it comes to understanding Reiki, the seven energy centers, or chakras, are at the heart of the practice. “Each energy center is connected to specific emotions, thoughts, and physical areas of the body,” explains Rev. Lilian Hewlett. The first energy center, the base, is located at the end of the spine and governs feelings of security and strength. “When someone needs an immune system boost or has issues with their legs, focusing on the base center can help,” she shares. Next is the sacral center, located just below the navel, which relates to joy, abundance, and reproductive health. “If you’re carrying guilt or blame, it can show up as pain or problems in the pelvis,” she adds.

The solar plexus, situated above the navel, is tied to determination and willpower. “Fear and worry can affect this area, and it often manifests in stomach or liver issues,” Rev. Lilian says. The heart center, as its name suggests, focuses on relationships, forgiveness, and emotional healing. “If someone struggles to give or receive love, it can impact the lungs, heart, or even the upper back.” The throat center governs expression and creativity. “When we’re unable to speak our truth or pursue our passions, it might show up as throat or neck problems,” she explains. Moving higher, the forehead center, often referred to as the third eye, is connected to vision, understanding, and wisdom. “If there’s something we can’t accept, it can block this area, leading to issues with the eyes, ears, or mind.” Finally, the crown center, located at the top of the head, connects us to the divine. “A lack of faith or trust can lead to depression or a sense of disconnection,” Rev. Lilian concludes. Together, these seven centers create a holistic roadmap for healing, helping to address the root of both emotional and physical concerns.
Christian Reiki: Merging Spiritual Healing with Faith
Christian Reiki combines the ancient practice of Reiki with the rich traditions of Christianity, creating a unique and powerful healing experience. “Reiki itself is not a religion, but it is a spiritual practice,” Rev. Lilian explains. “You can’t be a Reiki practitioner if you’re not also engaging in spiritual practices like meditation and living according to Reiki’s principles.” The inspiration to blend Reiki with Christian faith came in 2018 when she was asked to teach a Reiki class at a parish. “I had already been teaching Reiki to nuns and priests, but this was different,” she recalls. “I asked the priest if he would like me to contextualize it into the Christian faith.”

This was the turning point where Rev. Lilian found the powerful parallels between Reiki and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. “The gifts of the Holy Spirit—healing, wisdom, tongues—are very similar to the gifts Reiki practitioners receive,” she explains. For Rev. Lilian, Reiki and the Holy Spirit are connected through divine creation, much like the biblical concept of Ruach, the divine spirit in Genesis. “Reiki has been said to be the foundation of creation, just like the Holy Spirit was described in the Bible,” she shares. In her Christian Reiki practice, practitioners say “Come, Holy Spirit, come.” They also incorporate prayers like the Glory Be during healing sessions, honoring the Holy Trinity. “In every chakra we heal, we pray the Glory Be, acknowledging the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” she says. For Rev. Lilian, Christian Reiki has provided a way to deepen one’s faith while uniting spiritual practices. It has even helped people heal from religious trauma, offering them a more holistic, harmonious relationship with both their spirituality and their faith. “It removes division,” she adds, “and allows people to experience a deeper understanding of both Reiki and their Christian beliefs.”

For those curious and hesitant about exploring Christian Reiki as a tool for both spiritual and physical healing, Rev. Lilian offers powerful advice: “To practice Christian Reiki is to deepen your understanding of our faith and the work of Christ, not just as a figure within a specific religion, but as the universal Christ.” She emphasizes that Reiki’s healing power transcends religious boundaries, reflecting the very essence of Catholicism’s meaning—‘Katholikos’ means universal. Rev. Lilian encourages people to approach Reiki with an open heart, seeing it as a way to connect more deeply with Christ’s work in the world, regardless of their religious background. “Christian Reiki offers a way to experience healing while honoring the spiritual truths that are at the core of our faith,” she explains.
Photos and Featured Image: MEGA ARCHIVES, REIKI HEALING ASSOCIATION (via Website)