Plan an accessible session with clear choices and a workable duration.
Practice workshop
Usable Template: In-Person Session Preparation & Agreement
Copy and adapt these fields for your practice notebook or intake sheet:
- [SESSION PREPARATION & INTAKE AGREEMENT]
- 1. Logistical Details:
- Date & Time: ________________________
- Agreed Duration: ___ minutes (e.g., 15–20 min)
- Setting: Seated in armchair / Reclined on couch (fully clothed)
- 2. Physical Contact & Boundaries:
- Contact preference: [ ] Light resting touch on non-intimate areas (shoulders, feet)
- [ ] Hands hovering only (5–10 cm distance, no touch)
- Areas to avoid: ________________________ (e.g., head, face, throat, abdomen)
- 3. Environmental & Comfort Needs:
- Lighting: [ ] Natural soft light [ ] Dimmed
- Sound: [ ] Complete silence [ ] Gentle ambient background
- Support: [ ] Head cushion [ ] Armrest pillows [ ] Blanket
- 4. Safety, Agency & Boundaries:
- Pause/Stop Cue: The recipient may say "Pause" or raise a hand at any time to immediately adjust, take a break, or end the session.
- Healthcare Scope: Both parties acknowledge that Reiki is a gentle, complementary relaxation practice, does not diagnose or cure medical conditions, and does not replace professional medical or psychiatric care.
In-Person Session Preparation Checklist
A session begins before the first hand position
A comfortable shared session begins with a conversation. Explain the approximate duration, whether you offer hands lightly resting or hovering, and that the person remains clothed. Ask what would make the arrangement comfortable and whether there are places they do not want included. Give them a simple way to pause or stop. You do not need an elaborate speech; clear choices are more useful than ceremonial language the person cannot understand.
For a first Level 2 practice, twenty minutes may be easier to organize than a long session. You can reserve a few minutes for agreement, ten for practice and several for ending and feedback. Adjust the plan to the actual person. Someone who finds lying flat uncomfortable may prefer a chair, and someone who wants their eyes open can keep them open.
Prepare the space for the people using it
Check temperature, seating, access and a route to leave the room comfortably. Keep the floor clear and position supplies so you do not repeatedly reach across the recipient. Offer a blanket or cushion rather than assuming they want one. Ask before using music, fragrance, dim lighting or spiritual objects. An ordinary quiet room can be sufficient.
Your own comfort matters too. Place the chair so your shoulders can relax, support your arms when possible, and choose positions you can maintain without leaning awkwardly. You can practise seated beside another seated person. There is no requirement to reproduce a treatment-table photograph when the available furniture does not support it.
Tell them how symbols fit
A recipient does not need to study the symbols to understand the session agreement. You might say: “As part of my practice I quietly recall some Reiki symbols. You do not need to visualize them or do anything in response.” If they would rather avoid symbol practice, discuss whether a simpler session suits both of you. Do not introduce additional methods halfway through because you think they would benefit.
Imagine a friend arrives expecting quiet rest, while you planned an affirmation exercise. Explain the option before starting: “Would you like a phrase to reflect on, or would you prefer silence?” If they choose silence, that becomes the plan. Offering choice is part of competent preparation, not an interruption to it.
Before starting, summarize in one sentence: “We have agreed to ten minutes seated, with hands hovering near your shoulders, and you can ask me to stop at any point.” Invite a correction. This catches misunderstandings while they are easy to resolve. It also gives the recipient a final opportunity to ask a practical question before the quiet part begins. If you cannot comfortably explain the planned session in ordinary words, simplify the plan before adding further ritual or symbols.
Sources and further reading
- Free Reiki Course Level 2 manual, page 63 — Preparation for sharing a Reiki session; unsupported promises are not adopted.
- ICRT Standards of Practice — A teaching organization's standards include a comfortable setting and session documentation; its membership rules are not this school's requirements.