7 Powerful Emotions You May Experience After Receiving a Reiki Session

How this gentle healing work moves through the heart and nervous system

Reiki is a quiet, loving practice. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t force. But somehow, it reaches the places inside us that are often untouched — even by words.

Over the years, I’ve seen again and again how Reiki helps people soften, release, and come back to themselves. If you’ve ever walked out of a session feeling different — maybe lighter, maybe more tender — you’re not alone.

Here are 7 emotional shifts that can happen after a session:

1. A Deep Sense of Peace

It’s one of the most common feelings after a session. Like your body let go of something it had been gripping for a long time. The thoughts quiet. The breath deepens. There’s space inside again.

You may feel like you’ve exhaled in a way you didn’t know you needed.

2. Unexpected Joy

Sometimes people leave a session smiling for no clear reason. Lighter. More playful. Reiki helps release stuck or heavy energy — which often lets your natural joy rise to the surface again.

This isn’t forced positivity. It’s more like remembering that joy still lives in you, even if it’s been buried for a while.

3. Emotional Release

Tears. Laughter. A big sigh. Or just a quiet moment of feeling something old and true.

Reiki creates space for your emotions to surface — gently. You don’t need to talk through it or figure it out. Just letting them move is often the healing.

4. Deep Rest and Relaxation

Most people drop into a deep, restful state during the session. You might feel like you’ve had the best nap — even if you didn’t sleep.

This kind of rest is rare in our busy world. It helps your nervous system reset and your body return to balance.

5. Self-Compassion and Love

Sometimes after Reiki, people feel a softness toward themselves. Less judgment. More tenderness.

This work reconnects you with your own heart — not as an idea, but as a felt experience. You may find it easier to be kind to yourself, or more open to receiving love.

6. Releasing Heavier Emotions

Fear, grief, sadness, anger — Reiki doesn’t push these away, but it helps them move.

Many of us carry old emotional weight without realizing it. Reiki helps bring it to the surface in a way that feels safe and manageable. And the release can feel like a quiet relief.

7. Clarity and Inner Knowing

After a session, you might feel more clear. More steady. More sure of yourself.

When your energy is more balanced, your intuition is easier to hear. You may notice that you trust yourself more — or that a decision you were stuck on suddenly feels clear.

What This All Means

Reiki doesn’t give you something you don’t already have. It helps you remember what’s already there — your peace, your strength, your softness.

These emotional shifts aren’t goals or guarantees. They’re possibilities. And each session is its own unique unfolding.

If you’re feeling called to explore this kind of healing, I’d be honored to support you.

You can learn more or schedule a session at:
www.amylynnlohr.com

With warmth,
Amy Lohr
Sensory Reiki™ | Maui + Virtual Sessions