Welcome back Pink Reiki Goddess Alice Langholt. This was a post she wrote earlier this summer. Enjoy, Pinkies!

This summer, I had the opportunity to work at a holistic day camp. This was the coolest thing – a day camp for the week for kids to learn ways to balance themselves. They learned yoga, nutrition, meditation, drumming, art, Tae Kwon Do, cooperative challenge activities, dance, and Reiki, and they spent time outside playing too. I was offered the chance to teach the kids Reiki, and attune them to Reiki. There were ten kids, ages 7-9, participating in the day camp.

Why was this so awesome? I tell ya – I wish that I had known Reiki when I was a kid. I REALLY wish I knew about it when I was a teen – I mean what teen couldn’t benefit from some techniques to balance him or herself when hormones are raging, drama is building, and stress is overwhelming? I can’t think of any. As a kid, I know it would have been helpful because I watch my own kids use Reiki for calming down, feeling better, and getting to sleep.

This was the first time I’ve taught Reiki for Kids, aside from teaching my own kids. I admit I was a little nervous. Would they like me? Would they think what I was teaching them was real? But I know I believe in what I’m doing, and knew I could show them, so I dove in. I started by telling the kids that I have a kind of magic power. I told them that it helps me help myself feel calm when I’m upset, get to sleep when I am having trouble sleeping, stop pain when something hurts, and get better fast when I’m sick. I told them I can also use my power on others, like my own kids and pets too, to help them feel better. I asked them if they would like me to give them the power too, and teach them how to use it. They all said yes. I told them that it’s called Reiki and what the name means (Guided Life Force Energy). I told them that I would let them feel what Reiki feels like first, so they know how nice it feels, and then teach them how to have it for themselves and use it.

Then I went around to each of them, and put my hands on their heads. I ran Reiki energy for a couple minutes, and each kid sat calmly tuned in, and said how they felt. “Warm!” “Tingly!” “I feel it on my foot!” “I feel it in my stomach!” They exclaimed. While I went around, I told them about many ways they could use the Reiki energy for themselves, like before a test, or when they felt upset, hurt, sick, are feeling distracted or worried, or when they are tired out and need a little energy boost. We talked about giving Reiki to their pets, siblings, and parents. I told them how to call in the energy and good places to put their hands when running Reiki. After that, they needed a snack. Waiting their turn took patience, and it was time for a break.

While they had their snack, I went around to give their attunements. Attunements are an adjustment in one’s energy that makes one capable of calling the Reiki for self healing or for use on another. Each child sat very still while I did the attunement procedure. There is a bit of ritual involved in this sort of attunement, but the main and most important part of it is my own intention. I began behind each child, asking that his or her guides, angels, and Higher Self accept and attune them to Usui Reiki level 1. I drew Reiki symbols with my finger in the air over each child’s back and head, running some energy through them, and drawing a symbol in the palms of each child’s hands, closing their hands and placing them in prayer position. At the end of the ritual for each, I intended that the attunement be complete and thanked the child’s spiritual helpers. One child who has an issue with anxiety rested against me while I gave his attunement. He was relaxed for the few moments the energy was running through him. Afterward, the kids all thanked me and told me what a great Reiki teacher I am. (I officially love those cutie pies!)

Two days later, I went back and asked them about how their first days with Reiki went, and I taught them the Reiki Precepts – not laws, but inspired ideals to live by. I seriously think they are all a person needs to be happy and balanced. They are:

Just for Today:

I will not be angry.
I will not worry.
I will do my work honestly.
I will be grateful for my many blessings.
I will be kind to everyone.

I also attuned them to level 2, which is stronger than level 1. Now they have a lifetime to practice, and tools to improve their lives, balance, and care for themselves and others.

This was really special for me, and I realized afterward the magnitude of what I was given the opportunity to do for these kids. They now have the means to help themselves balance, calm, and heal, and understand that the power is within them to do so.

I had the opportunity to meet with their parents to explain what I was teaching their kids. Just as I did with the kids, I offered the parents a “sample” of Reiki so they could feel it for themselves. The meeting ended with several of the parents asking me to teach them Reiki. I now have a Reiki for Parents class scheduled for October. (I also teach Reiki for Parents remotely, so if you are interested, check my website. I know that Reiki is extremely useful for parents, because I use Reiki on my own kids and know the ways I can help my kids that I never knew how to before.

Most of all, the idea that I’ve passed on something that these kids can use throughout their life has left me with a wonderful sense of having made a difference.

I am so grateful.

Alice