What is Energy Healing? All You Need to Know
It’s coming to the end of 2026 and we’re at a unique point in time – energy healing is reaching the mainstream. It’s a first in perhaps thousands of years, where people know energy healing (perhaps more specifically “Reiki”) even if they don’t necessarily know what it is, and that is a giant leap.
As someone who has been in this world for some years now, I never thought I would see the day. Even my Mum has heard of it.
With all this excitement, you’ve found yourself here, no doubt.
I want to dive into the question of “what is energy healing” as deeply as possible, what energy healers do, and what you can expect if you choose to receive energy healing.
To please the skeptic in you, we’ll cover the scientific answer, in the simplest way possible as I’m not a scientist, as well as the spiritual answer.
The latter? It’s a world I know well, so I’ll hold nothing back on what the spiritual exploration of energy healing can do for you, so you’ll (hopefully) reach the end of this article with a solid foundation.
From there, it’s really up to you whether or not you want to build on it. But I encourage you to, even if only for a day.
As an energy healing practitioner, I know this topic inside and out... but the experience of it! To be quite honest, I’ve never tried to write like this before. So let’s see how it goes.
What is Energy Healing?
There is a vibration held in everything. It’s what makes you feel a person is good without hearing them speak. It’s what makes you choose an apartment, or even what food you like to eat.
This is energy.
The process of energy healing is to “attune”, or train yourself to recognise this in its most subtle form. Through this, it becomes possible to identify negative, heavy energy and positive, light energy.
According to science
As the most common form of Energy Healing, Reiki has been recognised as an effective means of relaxation. It’s widely used across hospitals and medical centres across the States and Europe as an effective treatment for stress and anxiety.
But I want to go back a step further.
One of the most referenced scientists in the spiritual world is Nikola Tesla, who famously stated
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”
Energy, frequency and vibration are intimately connected.
To see this for yourself, you can do a little experiment at home.
Introducing the Rice experiment
Put a handful of cooked rice into two bottles identical in size.
Speak to one positively and one negatively for 1 week.
Come back to me if you actually try this.
You’ll see that the positive rice stays the same, and the negative rice goes moldy fast.
This shows us two things: the words we use are important, and positive and negative energy are real.
Energy healing is the transmutation of positive energy through positive intention. The healer intends to help you, and so, as the rice experiment shows, that is what matters.
Ok, maybe this was some “woo” science!
According to spirituality
In all spiritual practices across the world, there is a common thread of interconnectedness.
A lot of religious practices preach humans as separate from all other existences, and what is considered Divine, so we have to look outside of ourselves. But true spirituality recognises that there is no separation, and to be on this earth, is a journey to discover that interconnectedness once more.
To answer “what is Energy Healing?” in this respect is quite simple. It helps us to feel and experience the interconnectedness within.
Negative energy is heavy, and so it disconnects us, makes us moldy, as the Rice Experiment suggests.
Positive energy is light, it makes us connected, and so gives us life. Many spiritual practices – Tai Chi, Reiki, Ayurveda, Yoga… and so on – call this life-force energy, translated from Qi, Ki, or Prana. Energy healing does not stop at one body, as a life force energy, this reaches far, to your town, your country, and to the collective. It is not physical.
So what is energy healing? It's when a practitioner works to become a vessel for this. You can picture it like a tube between you and an infinite source of light or Divine - the practitioner is the tube. And through that pure energy healing is transmuted.
Through this connection, we are able to use the positive energy to break up the negative, so that you can leave lighter, and brighter than before.
What do Energy Healers do?
It is a common misconception that Energy Healers heal you. As these practices are growing, there is a strong focus on the image of a healer, with words like Reiki Master. As we have learned above, words hold strong energy, and can be used wrongly.
An energy healer is a vessel. Their job is to channel the energy to you and hold space as your body releases emotionally and spiritually.
They act as the bridge between worlds to help you access the healing you need. Anyone can develop this connection, these people are not special.
Energy healers do this primarily through the hands. It is my understanding that our hands are an “opening” energetically. They represent connectivity, we use our hands to connect and understand everything, and so by using the hands, you can understand and channel a stream of energy.
What is more traditionally taught is that it’s our innate response to use the hands to heal. If you are hurting, your immediate response is to cover the hurt area with your hands.
Who can be an Energy Healer?
To continue on, from above, anyone can be an energy healer (even YOU). But they have to have the right intentions, and that requires observing the ego.
I will share some unpopular opinions here.
In 2026, Reiki has exploded. As the holistic side of the wellness industry is growing, people are learning Reiki for the wrong reasons. You can now become a “Master” in the space for 2 weeks if you really want. By definition, the word Master does not reflect this timeframe.
Energy Healing is a path. Reiki is a path. It requires dedication, commitment, and a huge responsibility as you start to hold space for others.
Right intention is everything, for everyone’s safety on their healing journey.
This is maybe not where you thought I was going with this. right? I will call it as I see it.
I truly wish everyone to commit to a spiritual path, even if only for 1 month to see the benefits. Once you see the benefits, you’ll know just what this work can do and take it seriously.
This is what healing is about. Committing to ourselves, to our path, and to the greater good.
What happens during Energy Healing?
The list of things that happen during energy healing is a bit like looking at the possible side effects of pharmaceuticals. There is no end!
For many, their first energy healing session makes them want to take a nap after. For others, it doesn’t even go that far, they carry on their day as if nothing happened. I strongly suggest you don’t do that and, at the very least, time some time to journal and reflect afterwards.
Some other common things that can happen during an energy healing are:
Flashes of colour
Warm or cool feelings
Sensations of movement
You fall asleep for the whole thing
Images flashing
Memories surfacing
All are normal. But only some are important, and this is why at Solas Healing, we talk about what came up in the session and how you can start to process and work with it.
Without this, there is still work being done, but when you start to make changes and integrate that, big shifts can happen in your life!
What to Expect After Energy Healing?
I recommend you give your session three days to fully process all that can happen. Go inward. Be gentle on yourself, and treat it as an open wound. Drink water, take care of your body, and eat well.
I recommend you listen to this advice. I once had a client have a full spiritual experience in a club on day 3... don't go to a club after a session. Give it the full time!
Directly after the session, there are some core things I recommend as an energy healing pracititioner who does this work on myself a lot:
Drink more water than usual
Nap if you need to
Journal, take time to reflect
Allow emotions to arise, listen
Once again, there’s a whole list of possible side effects. If you do a session with me, I’ll be available for anything that comes up.
WIth energy healing, I hope that it teaches you to be kind to yourself, allow emotions to surface, and listen for what those emotions are teaching you.
This is the beauty of the practice
Energy Healing at Solas
Here I offer earth-based energy healing. It’s a grounding and incredibly insightful practice. Sessions are held here in my studio in Hoi An, Vietnam, or online through distance healing (I’ll make a blog post about that soon!).
If you’re curious to try energy healing and would like more information, book a connection call, and I’ll answer all your questions.
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