What’s the difference between reiki vs chakra healing? Or reiki vs qigong, for that matter?
These three systems can all be described by the phrase “energy healing” — so how exactly are reiki vs chakra healing and qigong different from one another?
Reiki, chakra healing, and qigong each aim to positively influence the human energy field for the purpose of cultivating physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. While these three systems may sound similar on the surface, there are key differences between them in both theory and practice.
Some healers may choose to focus on one system, but for others, these methodologies intersect and overlap.
I received my Level I certification in reiki and often draw on it to help friends and family, while qigong constitutes a personal daily practice that I’ve worked with since childhood. Meanwhile, I draw on the chakra framework when I want to zoom out and see things from a different angle.
It can take a lifetime to master any single one of these systems, and although a detailed comparison of their intricate inner workings is beyond the scope of this article, it is possible to differentiate them by a few key points.
Reiki vs Chakra vs Qigong
In brief, it boils down to purpose, theory, and application. Reiki is primarily performed on others as a form of hands-on healing. Qigong is usually performed by an individual as a self-healing practice. Chakra healing, meanwhile, offers a system for self practice whose principles are often applied to healing others — often by reiki practitioners, for instance!
No wonder this gets confusing.
These three systems emerged from distinctly different times and places. While each one aims to affect and improve the state of the human energy field, they do it in different ways.
To draw a comparison, languages around the world can be very different, all with their own nuances and modalities. Spanish-speakers have described English to me as “overly-technical”, while English-speakers are quick to point out the “emotional” or “passionate” nature of Spanish. Despite this, Spanish and English-speakers are both able to navigate through the world and communicate with those around them — it doesn’t mean one language is more “right” than the other.
Similarly, there’s no “right” answer to the infinitely complex (and admittedly, somewhat mysterious) practice of influencing the human energy field. To give us an idea though, here are a few fast points about each system.
Reiki
- Reiki is primarily practised as a form of direct, hands-on healing
- Reiki originated in Japan, developed by Usui Mikao in the 20th century, although accounts of “reiki-like” healing go back far longer
- Rei means “universal,” and ki means “life force” — reiki is a way of working with universal life force energy. Practitioners don’t see this energy as coming from within their body, but from God, Source, or the universal all
- One unique aspect of the art is “distance healing,” where practitioners provide healing without being in the same physical location as the receiver
- Reiki practitioners undergo three levels of training:
- Level I — teaches you to heal yourself and friends/family
- Level II — teaches you to heal clients and practice distance healing
- Level III — teaches you to instruct in reiki and grant certifications
Qigong
- Qigong is a gentle practice of energy work that coordinates mind, body, and spirit through a combination of meditation, physical movements, and breathing exercises
- Qigong originated in China, emerging out of currents of shamanism and Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Qi means “life force energy” in Chinese, and gong means “work”
- In China, qigong is not seen as an “alternative” practice. Elderly people walk down the street striking their bodies to circulate qi, and hospitals may prescribe qigong exercises as a form of treatment
- Different forms of qigong are practiced for different reasons, for instance:
- Medical Qigong — aims to heal the body and promote longevity, used by everyday people around the world
- Martial Qigong — is used by martial artists like the Shaolin monks to heighten abilities in combat
- Spiritual Qigong — is practiced by monks, priests, and spiritual seekers like the Taoist alchemists in order to access depths of spiritual insight
Chakra Healing
- The study of chakras originated in India, with mentions in ancient Hindu and Buddhist texts
- Chakras are visualized as swirling vortexes of energy within the non-physical human energy field
- This is why chakra means “wheel” — the practitioner aims to balance these spinning wheels of energy, encouraging optimal “flow” for personal and spiritual wellbeing
- Although chakra work is an ancient practice born in yoga and tantra, the modern Western chakra system that we know today didn’t emerge until 1977
- The seven, rainbow-colored chakras weren’t introduced until 1927 by Charles W. Leadbeater in his book The Chakras
- The personality attributes and associations commonly used today weren’t added until later
Ultimately, all of these systems are human frameworks for broaching the infinite.
In older times, an Indian yogi would work with chakras, while a Chinese monk would practice qigong.
But today we have access to wisdom from everywhere. It’s a different world now, and it’s common for healers today to combine systems, or adopt individual aspects that speak to them personally.
To succeed as a species in a world that’s becoming increasingly fragmented and divided, we’ll need something from everyone.
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