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Audio of the article “What do I do with the Colours I see with Reiki?” by Bronwen Stiene
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Many people when they experience a Reiki treatment or enjoy a Reiki course have the experience of seeing colours.
It is a common phenomenon though not one experienced by everyone. Some of us are more prone to visual experiences than others. So for those of you who may have experienced this here is a brief understanding of what it might mean for you.
It is commonly asserted that human beings have five senses – sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. We use these senses to learn about, and navigate in, the world. These senses are our antennae and as we grow up we begin to intellectually understand what it is to use these senses and what each of their benefits are.
To cross a road we use our ears to listen out for traffic, our sight to see the oncoming cars and the path we are about to walk, our touch to move easily from the footpath onto the road, perhaps our smell to check that everything is ‘safe’, and our taste on this occasion takes a backseat (unless you happen to be licking a lollipop at the time).
We are born with a natural ability to use one or more of our senses more than another and at the same time we also hone separate senses depending on our life choices.
Some of your senses will be more sensitive than others depending on how you use them. If you are a cook then perhaps your sense of smell and taste will be very sharp. If you are a sculptor your sense of touch, and perhaps sight, might earn you your living. A data analyst would use his or her sense of sight to read (or ears to hear an audio tape), sense of touch to use a computer and taste to slurp endless cups of coffee (oops, I’ve already used that joke).
When you begin to consciously work with energy you may not know what energy feels like or how you will ‘read’ it. No matter what age you are the experience may surprise you.
Say that you are enjoying a wonderfully relaxing Reiki treatment, you’re almost dozing off in a beautiful twilight space of awareness crossed with ‘who cares’ when BANG – the sky lights up and you are enjoying the most amazing fireworks. First blue explodes followed by emerald green and a red that melts into a golden haze. What on earth was that? Aaaah well, you’re still very relaxed and unconcerned, your eyes have remained closed throughout and only if you’re lucky do you remember afterwards what happened during the treatment.
Does it mean something? Does it matter?
Yes, it can mean a number of things. Some metaphysicians will state that a certain colour indicates a specific state of mind, activity in an energy centre, or even use the colours to decide upon a client’s spiritual development. Some of these statements may well be interesting and in some cases true and yet no-one can guarantee that they are correct. Red may well indicate passion, but it could also symbolise anger. Cultural consequences can also affect the interpretation with red representing Good Luck in some Asian countries. Who decides which of these is the correct energetic translation?
Judgements made about the results of sense stimulation are in fact attachments to the senses. Both the client and practitioner can become attached to the idea that the colours are the important part of a treatment and once this occurs they become side-tracked and taken away from the profound experience that a Reiki treatment can be.
Attachment leads the practitioner to want to have the same outcome in the next treatment, boosting the ego with a sense of personal validation. And as a client you may want to repeat the same experience because it really was ‘amazing’. Both of these viewpoints will only obstruct the free flow of energy.
So, does it matter what these colours might represent? No. By attaching to specific interpretations we limit our true understanding of the practice of Reiki. We should see the colours as they are – and what they are in essence is simply energy.
But don’t be mislead into thinking that colours are unimportant.
When you are lying on the massage table and those colours begin to move and snake their way around your inner world, the universe is definitely speaking directly to you. It is saying, “Things are beginning to change in your life. Let go, and open up further to experience this treatment, to let the energy flow freely. As a human you have been given the gift of the senses; these senses are indicating by their flow and ebb that your life too is changing and flowing. Be thankful and enjoy.”
This understanding in itself might be the healing that you require.
Bronwen and Frans Stiene are the co-founders of the International House of Reiki and co-authors of The Reiki Sourcebook, The Japanese Art of Reiki, Your Reiki Treatment, The A-Z of Reiki Pocketbook and the Reiki Techniques Card Deck. Bronwen and Frans teach in the USA, Europe and Australia. Visit the Courses page to find a course near you.
Comments 11
I recently gave a client a Reiki treatment. She was wheelchair bound and very ill. This was going to be her first experience of Reiki. I was able to treat her front and back at the same time. As soon as I place my hands her she began to see colours. At each hand position she experienced a different colour that corresponded to the Chakra system. The colours grew brighter and stronger as my hands stayed in each position. She saw images of beautiful faces in the colours.
This was interrupted with severe bouts of coughing which forced her to open her eyes and the colours would go. This went on for thirty-five minutes which at that point we had to stop the treatment because it was too much to bare. This dear lady was in ecstasy and asked me what I had done. I told her I did nothing. I was not experiencing the colours, in fact, at the time I was feeling quite ill and at one point I excused myself to go and puck in the ladies. She asked me the significance of the experience and all that came to mind was that ‘it was her angel guides’ coming to show her that she was not alone and that she was being cared for and that there is nothing to be afraid off. I do not know why I said that other than that is what it meant at the time. I did not have the feeling his lady had long left on this planet and the fits of coughing made her very fearful.
The only other example I have of colours is that recently I had the good fortune to facilitate a Reiki 1 level class. After a lot of soul searching for months prior to this class preparing for it, the day itself was a beautiful flow of energy presenting itself on how the day needed to proceed. At the end of the class there was a lot of peace and light. At the end of the day I met the manager of the premises we held the class and he was telling me how since a child he was able to see people’s auras. Half in jest I asked him if he saw the colour of my aura. He said he could and my whole aura was surrounded by a deep blue light. I asked what the significance of this was and he said it was ‘calmness’. For me it was a sign I was on the right path and teaching Reiki was the way forward despite what I felt about myself.
There is a science of ‘colour’ and there are practitioners who are able to hone in to their significance.
Hi Miriam,
Yes many people see colors in peoples energy. However we have to be careful not to get distracted by them, else we miss the point.
The essence of the system of Reiki is that we start to embody the precepts, less angry etc. If Usui-san thought that colors would be important he would have placed that within the precepts.
Many people also see colors when they receive a treatment or a Reiju but that is just a sign that something is shifting within them. If we get attached to seeing these colors during a treatment or a Reiju we will have an attachment and we will find it harder to be completely open.
What I personally find interesting is that all serious spiritual scriptures they warn against not getting distracted by these phenomena.
Yes, I agree with you. In the Vedic tradition there are a number of sheaths that you have to overcome. The last one is being attached to a blissful state!
Hi Miriam,
I like the Vedic teachings, very interesting.
Hi Frans,
I have experienced this from my first initiation as Reiki student in 1995. Any time I am being given a healing session, those lovely colours start swirling and I drift off. My eyes are closed . What I also noticed is when the Reiki hands are over my eyes, the colour turns green 🥰. The funny thing is, I also see these colours swirling around me as I lie in bed at night, jusr before falling asleep. My eyes are open and I look at the ceiling, and the colours begin. So soothing and relaxing. I think that what we are ‘seeing’ could possibly be our own aura. Like you say, I don’t focus on this, it just happens and I see it as a sign that I am relaxing and opening myself to the wonderful healing energy ❤.
Hugs,
Marie-Ann
Hi Frans,
What about people “travelling” ans seeing things?! First, it’s when I put my hands on their eyes, they effectively see colors. But after the session most of them tell me the trip they got, can be religious, angelic, or totally weird!!! Do you know about celular memories? My master teached me a combination of Reiki and sphro / nlp, I drive the person to the point to work and often I hear some very very strange uncommon stories!! Cheers!
Hi Eric, The system of Reiki, or any serious spiritual practice is all about staying in the present moment, so better not to get distracted.
Love
Frans
My first reiki treatment i was amazed and very pleased with the colors swrling in my mind I paint so color is a love of mine when i returned home i painted what i had visualized it was unlike anything i had ever painted before, yet there was a rightness to it and a sense of completion when i finished it.
I just had a treatment and had the most vivid amazing colours also. I said I wished I could paint them but to me they were just too beautiful and I didn’t think I could capture them.
Are you able to show your pictures at all.
Thank you for this explanation as I thought when I gave reiki and some would see colors I began to believe that it was that particular chakra healing at that moment and so I began to possibly believe that only then when someone saw a color would it mean that that chakra was the point of their healing. I really appreciate the better understanding that it is truly the energy of the spiritual healing and not the fact that some see colors and others don’t.
i just came from a treatment where i saw 2 distinct colors during most of it, not unusual but it’s been a while since i’ve had a session, so i enjoyed it. at one point, a new color emerged – but was unsure if it wanted to be green or orange. it was coming from the gold. it was so interesting, watching it try to become a color.