When I first began receiving Reiki, I received Distance Reiki, or a Reiki session conducted virtually from my home while on a Zoom call with the Reiki Master I was working with. I opted for Distance Reiki for several reasons. First, I met the Reiki Master I wanted to work with through a friend while away from home at a workshop and knew she was the right fit for me. However, she lived in a different state. I didn’t want to let that stop me from working with the person my intuition told me was the right fit. Also, I had two young children and was working full time. Traveling to a location away from home was quite a challenge in those days for me. It turns out that this was the right choice for me. Distance Reiki is just as effective as in-person Reiki and these Reiki sessions ended up being transformative for me. They inspired me to become attuned to Reiki myself which eventually led me to become a Reiki Master Teacher.
There are a couple of common questions I typically get about Reiki, especially Distance Reiki. They include, “Does Distance Reiki really work?” “Is Distance Reiki as effective as in-person Reiki,” and “How does Distance Reiki work?” Before I answer these questions here, let’s cover some basics.
What is Distance Reiki
Distance Reiki was initially called absent or absentee Reiki since the client was absent. I now often refer to it as “virtual Reiki” since it’s a more common term post COVID-19 pandemic. Distance Reiki is also referred to as Distant Reiki. All these terms mean the same thing. Distance Reiki allows the Reiki practitioner to send Reiki to someone who is not physically present with them or to someone whom they are not touching.
What is Involved in a Distance Reiki Session?
A Reiki treatment can be done in two ways: A hands on healing art in person or a Distance Reiki session done virtually. In a Distance Reiki session, the client and practitioner connect virtually, most likely via a video call. Reiki is sent distantly by the practitioner to the client while the client lays down in a place in their space of their choosing. The practitioner uses a picture, name, or object to help them connect with the client’s energy. Both methods are equally as effective. If the client prefers, it is not necessary to connect on a live video call. Instead, the Reiki practitioner and client can just make an agreement that the Reiki energy will be sent at a specific time and the client can choose how and when to receive it.
Research on Distance Reiki
Research is mounting to suggest that Distance Reiki has many benefits. There are more and more scientific studies being conducted on the effectiveness of Distance Reiki and I think that there will be some very interesting data to come in the future. Here is a sample of what the research suggests so far:
- A study by Baldwin et al. (2023) found that frontline healthcare workers who received Distance Reiki reported reductions in stress, anxiety, pain, and improvements in well-being and sleep quality.
- An integrative review of Reiki research that included both hands-on and Distance Reiki noted that many studies report improvements including reduced symptoms of depression, stress, pain, and fatigue (Vitale, 2007).
- A study by Aydin & Aydin (2024) of state test anxiety for nursing students found that Distance Reiki reduced anxiety.
Examples of the Effects of Distance Reiki
For any Reiki practitioner, it’s important to continue to receive Reiki themselves through self-Reiki and through Reiki sessions from others. I continue to receive Distance Reiki from the Reiki Master that taught me. Here’s an example of a particularly powerful session I had with her:
After both my parents had passed, my siblings and I were trying to sell my parents’ house. We desperately needed the money to pay off final expenses and hadn’t had any offers yet. I had a Distance Reiki session with the Reiki Master who trained me. At the end of the session, she asked me to consider if there was anyone else alive or passed whose permission I might need to help let the house go. I told her I wasn’t sure of the answer to that.
The next day I was outside weeding in the garden. I realized my grandfather who was a carpenter before he passed had put an addition onto my parents’ house. I mentally asked for his help in selling the house. I returned inside from gardening a little while later to find I had several texts from my brother. There was a good offer on my parents’ house. We accepted the offer that day. I think this example shows that Reiki can be used for any type of situation and not just for physical healing.
Here’s another example of the benefits of Distance Reiki as told by the pet parent of one of my furry clients, Pickwick: “The virtual Reiki session was for our senior pup, Pickwick. Our pup, Pickwick, had this reiki session in preparation for an upcoming dental surgery. Our pup, Pickwick, was very relaxed after the session. Pickwick is a rescue with significant anxiety issues and usually requires three different anti-anxiety meds to get through a regular vet visit, let alone an invasive surgery. On the day of the surgery Pickwick had to be dropped off 6 hours ahead of when surgery would begin. They said he was so relaxed and chill they didn’t have to give the additional two anti-anxiety meds that morning. The vet’s office said he was “brave” and that “everyone was so in love with him.” The last time Pickwick had a dental treatment we had to pick him up 3.5 hours early as he was so anxious. This was a noticeable difference!”
Now onto the answers to the questions people ask me about Distance Reiki.
Is Distance Reiki as Effective as In-person Reiki and Does it Work?
The answer to this is yes, absolutely. Reiki energy is not limited by distance as it is a form of universal, non-physical energy. The reason Distance Reiki sessions are equally as effective as in-person ones is that the Reiki practitioner connects with the client’s energy field, regardless of where they are in the world. Like me, many clients prefer the convenience and comfort of receiving Distance Reiki in their own home or location of choice. As you can see from the examples and research I provided, Distance Reiki does work and it works wonders!
How Does Distance Reiki Work?
The simplest answer to this is that we don’t fully know. What I can provide are some theories, ideas, and philosophies:
The universe can be thought of as a web of interconnected energy. Based on the idea that everything is energy and we are all part of the universe, we are all connected at an energetic level regardless of the amount of space between us. Distance Reiki then harnesses that connection to send Reiki energy from the Reiki practitioner to the client.
While there is currently no definitive scientific explanation for how Distance Reiki works, there are some intriguing concepts in science and specifically quantum physics that could provide a theory for how Distance Reiki works:
Quantum Entanglement: This occurs when two particles become linked and continue to affect each other instantaneously, regardless of how far apart they are.
Non-locality: This theory suggests that some interactions do not require physical proximity and can happen across any distance.
The Biofield: This is the electromagnetic field that surrounds the human body. Reiki is classified as a biofield therapy by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
With these ideas in mind, we can theorize that the Reiki practitioner can access the biofield of a person in a way that does not require physical proximity due to non-locality and can connect to the person’s biofield and positively affect it by sending the Reiki energy distantly.
While Reiki is not religious, I think it is also helpful to look at different perspectives on the idea. Tibetan Buddhists explain it in this way: The mind is what creates time, space, limitations and delusion. When your mind is aware, you can release these and are free from time, space, limitations, and delusions. The Reiki practitioner then is thought to be able to access a state of mind where space does not exist and send energy across that space.
Ultimately, whether viewed through the lens of quantum entanglement, the interconnectedness of the universal biofield, or a meditative transcendence of time and space, Distance Reiki operates on the principle that healing is not bound by physical proximity. While the “how” remains a subject of exploration, the core takeaway is that intention and energy can bridge any gap. By tapping into these invisible connections, a practitioner can offer support and balance to a recipient just as effectively from across the world as they could from across the room.
Final Thoughts
Distance Reiki is a gentle, low risk complementary practice that has shown many benefits. While it’s not a replacement for medical care, it is a wonderful addition to it. It is just as effective as in-person Reiki sessions and offers many conveniences that many prefer. While we are still learning about how Distance Reiki works, at the end of the day, the best way to learn about Distance Reiki is to experience it. You do not have to believe in Reiki for it to work, so believing that Distance Reiki works isn’t necessary. If it is something that calls to you, I would highly recommend you give it a try. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. If you would like to book a Distance Reiki session with me, you can do so here.
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Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This post as well services listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information in this post is intended purely as personal recommendations and is not to be interpreted as an attempt to prescribe or practice medicine. Reiki is a complementary therapy that is not intended to be a substitute for medical care.
References
Aydin, R., & Aydin, M. A. (2024). The effect of distance Reiki on state test anxiety and test performance. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(5), 257–264. https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/01484834-20240305-04
Baldwin, A. L., Vitale, A., Brownell, A., & Scicinski, J. (2023). Evaluation of a distance Reiki program for frontline healthcare workers’ health-related symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 12, 1–13. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536130231187368
Caltech. (n.d.). What is entanglement and why is it important? Retrieved February 14, 2026 from https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/quantum-science-explained/entanglement
Jain, S., Hammerschlag, R., Mills, P., Cohen, L., Krieger, R., Vieten, C., & Lutgendorf, S. (2015). Clinical studies of biofield therapies: Summary, methodological challenges, and recommendations. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 4(Suppl), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2015.034.suppl
Rowland, A.Z. (2010). The complete book of traditional Reiki: Practical methods for personal and planetary healing. Healing Arts Press.
Stein, D. (1995). Essential Reiki: A complete guide to an ancient healing art. Crossing Press.
Rubik, B., Muehsam, D., Hammerschlag, R., & Jain, S. (2015). Biofield science and healing: History, terminology, and concepts. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 4(suppl):8-14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4654789
Sing, S. (2015). Use of Reiki as a biofield therapy: An adjunct to conventional medical care. Clinical Case Reports and Reviews, 1(3): 54-60. https://www.oatext.com/Use-of-Reiki-as-a-biofield-therapy-An-adjunct-to-conventional-medical-care.php#Article.
The Physics of the Universe: Difficult Topics Made Easy. (n.d.). Quantum theory and the uncertainty principle: nonlocality and entanglement. Retrieved February 14, 2026 from https://www.physicsoftheuniverse.com/topics_quantum_nonlocality.html.
Vitale, A. T. (2007). An integrative review of Reiki touch therapy research. Holistic Nursing Practice, 21(4), 167–179. https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/documents/Integrative_Review_of_Reiki_Research.pdf
