The hands on healing art of Reiki has become an attractive addition to personal health programs. People who seek it out vary, from stressed, overworked parents with full time jobs, cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy seeking a boost of energy, frustrated job hunters trying to find a new direction, and sports enthusiasts with slow healing injuries. The Vermont Reiki Association was formed with a vision for providing Reiki healing services throughout Vermont and providing networking support for all Reiki Practitioners. A year ago we were a loose knit group of volunteers. Today we are a formalized organization with membership dues, a code of ethics, a community outreach committee, a web site, (www.vermontreikiassociation.org), a practitioner directory, vision and mission statements, a 5 year plan, and a mandate to support Reiki research.

Last winter 65 University of Vermont students who were on the brink of exam week and ten Reiki practitioners attended our first Reiki clinic of the year. We began by answering questions from the students. Everyone raised their hands. Most of the students had not experienced Reiki before and eagerly lined up to try it out. Some students sat in chairs while others took turns lying on the Reiki table in the center of the room. The Reiki practitioners placed their hands on the students and let the energy flow. Within a few minutes the students’ bodies relaxed as the stress from studying for exams dissolved. At the end of the evening the entire room felt like a Sunday morning sauna; warm, relaxed, no worries. One practitioner commented that "the students displayed none of the skepticism that is often encountered in older adults. They were genuinely interested in Reiki and the Reiki practitioners."

Our next big educational outreach event is at St Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont where we will speak to a group of up to 200 and provide Reiki sessions.

In November we began providing Reiki sessions at Respite House, a supervised residence in Williston for people who are terminally ill. One of our VRA members has given voluntary Reiki sessions to staff and residents for more than a year. When she was no longer available she asked the VRA to provide this service. The gentle "hands on" nature of Reiki is of significant benefit for people going through the dying process, their loved ones and their care givers. Reiki not only relieves stress but energizes the body.

Membership in the VRA is open to any person who has taken at least a Reiki Level One course. Our membership dues include several options. A $10 one year basic membership allows you to participate in all of our outreach events and monthly meetings and be part of the planning and decision making. For $30 you can also be listed in the practitioner directory, which is divided up by county, making practitioners easier to find. Our Founders membership level of $100 is for those practitioners who want to give a little more toward our organization’s work. All members are volunteers and the money that we receive goes toward providing Reiki healing energy to those who need it.

Because the VRA is a professional organization, we support serious Reiki research. For instance we are providing volunteers for a Doctoral study that will look at experiences of subjects immediately before and after a Reiki session.

For more information on the VRA go to www.vermontreikiassociation.org or contact me at channa@gmavt.net.

(Chris Hanna is President of the Vermont Reiki Association and has a Reiki practice at Rising Sun Healing Center in Burlington.)