Hibiki in Reiki: follow their guidance... and then let them go

The sensations we feel when offering a Reiki treatment (heat, tingling, pulls, swirls, colors, etc.) are called Hibiki in Japanese. These are meant to guide our hands during a session: to the “right” placement, letting us know when to move, etc.
For many of us, feeling a Hibiki is an indicator that “something is happening” during the sessions, and we become engrossed by these feelings. Sometimes, paying more attention to them than to hold the space for our clients from a place of openness.
It’s important to remember that Hibiki in Japanese literally means “echo.” The reason why these sensations are called Hibiki is that they are not real. In essence, an echo is empty, like a reflection or an illusion.
Like we do with our thoughts during meditation, once a Hibikis has served its purpose of guidance, we need to let it go. Without analyzing it, or trying to understand it.
We need to bring our mind back to our client, holding the space compassionately.
Energy follows the mind. If our mind is thinking of all these beautiful things we are feeling, where is our energy?
Additionally, the way we experience healing sessions as practitioners changes over time as we deepen our understanding of the Reiki system. If we get attached to a specific form of Hibiki, we may unwillingly stop our growth as practitioners. Or become worried if we start experiencing different feelings during a session and think we are doing something wrong or that our energy is out of whack.
Welcome Hibiki, but hold them with an open hand, without grasping, without attachment.

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