What Is Reiki — and What Makes Seichem Different?
If you’ve been curious about Reiki — maybe a friend swears by it, or you’ve seen it offered at a local wellness center and wondered what actually happens in a session — this post is for you.
And if you’ve already heard of Reiki but have no idea what Seichem is, stick around. Because that distinction is one of the things that makes the work I do a little different, and a lot more powerful.
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique developed in the early 20th century by Mikao Usui. The word itself translates roughly as “universal life energy” — rei meaning universal or spiritual, and ki meaning life force energy (similar to chi in Chinese medicine or prana in yogic traditions).
The foundational idea behind Reiki is that a practitioner can channel this universal life force energy through their hands and into a client’s energy field, supporting the body’s natural ability to heal. When your life force energy is low or blocked — often because of stress, unprocessed emotions, or physical illness — you’re more susceptible to feeling depleted, anxious, or stuck. When energy flows freely, you feel more vibrant, clear, and well.
Reiki is gentle, non-invasive, and deeply restorative. In a session, you typically lie fully clothed on a massage table while the practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above the body, working through a series of hand positions. Many people experience warmth, tingling, or a sense of deep relaxation — sometimes even falling into a meditative state.
What is Seichem, and how is it different?
Seichem (pronounced say-keem) is an ancient Egyptian healing system — one that predates many of the healing traditions we recognize today. Where Reiki primarily works with Earth energy, Seichem works with four elemental energies: Earth, Fire, Water, and Air.
Seichem was rediscovered in the 1980s by Patrick Zeigler after a profound spiritual experience inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, and it has since been recognized as both a complement to and an expansion of Reiki. When the two modalities are combined — as I do in my sessions — the result is a fuller, more multidimensional healing experience.
Here’s a simple way to think about it: if Reiki is a warm, grounding, nurturing presence (Earth energy), Seichem adds the high-frequency, transformative qualities of Fire (activation and transmutation), Water (emotional healing and flow), and Spirit (connection to divine guidance and soul memory).
Together, they support healing on every level — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
What does a Reiki + Seichem session feel like?
People experience sessions differently, and there’s no single “right” response. Commonly, clients report:
Deep warmth or pleasant tingling in different parts of the body
Emotional release — sometimes tears, sometimes a sense of lightness
Vivid imagery, colors, or a sense of “traveling” during the session
A profound feeling of peace or connection
A shift in how they feel — lighter, clearer, more themselves — in the days following
One client described it this way after her first session: “I came in feeling off, kind of fuzzy and trapped inside my own head. An hour later I feel like my head is cleared, my intuition is awake, and I just feel better inside.”
That’s the magic of this work.
Who might benefit from Reiki and Seichem?
Reiki and Seichem are wonderful for:
Anyone feeling anxious, burned out, emotionally heavy, or energetically depleted
Women moving through a major life transition — a breakup, a career change, a loss
Those who feel disconnected from their intuition or sense of purpose
Anyone who has tried other approaches and wants to address the energetic root of what’s going on
People who are simply curious and open — you don’t need any prior experience
Working with me in Overland Park or online
I offer Reiki and Seichem energy healing sessions both in person in Overland Park, KS (at The Energy Within and Very Well KC) and virtually, worldwide. Distance energy healing is just as effective as in-person work — energy isn’t limited by geography.
If you’re local to the Kansas City area and have been searching for a Reiki healer nearby, I’d love to connect. And if you’re across the country, you’re just as welcome here.