Cleansing and Fasting

Reiki Initiations activate new energy pathways in your body. You will have a large amount of energy directed into you during the Attunements that make up each Initiation. To reduce physical and emotional side effects, most teachers recommend a time of cleansing. This lets the energies work more efficiently and creates greater benefits with fewer side effects.

The following steps are optional, but suggested for at least three days prior to your Initiation (and for as long as you can keep them healthily for the following 28 days). Follow them if you feel able to do so without endangering your health and well-being.

The Cleansing Plan

1. Drink as much water as you can.
• This means more than the suggested eight glasses a day. The purpose of this is to allow your body to use that water to flush toxins from it-self.
2. Drink as much fruit and vegetable juice as you can.
   • This is to help flush toxins, but also to supply needed nutrients to your body. Drinking a glass of juice does not count toward your intake of water. You will still need a large amount of water.
3. Eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables as you like.
• Feel free to fill up on them. Make sure to take extra care and clean them first. You are trying to avoid unhealthy chemicals.
4. Avoid eating meat, fowl or fish for three days prior to the Initiation.
• These foods often have drugs (in the form of penicillin), female hormones and toxins (in the form of pesticides and heavy metals) that make your body sluggish and throw it out of balance. Nearly every fruit and vegetable contains protein. A single banana or orange contains 1 gram of protein. A cup of cooked peas has 8.5 grams and a cup of broccoli has 5 grams of protein. An ounce (24 nuts) of almonds has 6 grams of protein. If you feel you must eat meat during this time, eat ocean fish, as it is often the least treated with chemicals.
  Eat no meat on the days of the Attunements.
5. Avoid dairy as much as possible during this time as well.
• For many of the same reasons as the meat, both drag the body's energy lower.
6. Reduce your use of coffee and all caffeinated drinks or stop completely during the fasting period.
• They create imbalances in the nervous and endocrine systems. Use no caffeine drinks on the day of the Initiation. This includes black and green teas. If you want tea, have an herbal tea that contains no caffeine.
7. Use no alcohol for at least three days prior to the Initiation.
• This includes wine.
8. Minimize or stop using sweets and junk food.
• Eat no chocolate during the fasting period. Besides caffeine, chocolate also has a chemical in it that binds to particular receptors in the brain that change your energy patterns.
9. If you smoke, cut back, and smoke as little as possible during the fasting period and on the days of the Initiation.
• This might be a good time to start quitting.
10. Take no non-prescription drugs during the cleansing period.
• You are making many dietary changes (especially with the caffeine) for the fasting period. You may experience headaches and/or digestive discomfort. Try drinking a full glass of water and waiting 20-30 minutes. If the problem has not improved, take a pain reliever or digestive aid.
• While clearing your body of toxins is important, so is clearing your body of stress. Being in pain is raises your stress.
11. Meditate or relax in silence an hour a day for a least a week using a style you are familiar with.
• This helps to reduce your level of stress and worry.
12. Reduce time or stop watching TV, listening to the radio, and reading newspapers.
• This helps to reduce your level of stress and worry.
13. Go for quiet walks, spend time with nature, and get moderate exercise.
• This helps to reduce your level of stress and worry.
• This is not the time to start a new exercise regime, simply try to be active.
14. Give more thought to the subtle impressions and sensations within and around you and contemplate their meaning.
• This helps to reduce your level of stress and worry.
• This opens you up to Guidance that may work with you to help prepare you for any needed changes.
15. Release all anger, fear, jealousy, hate, worry, etc. to the light.
    • If you do not know how to do this, you may simply repeat, in your mind, "I release all anger to the Light." Repeat this a few times and then choose another emotion, stress, or fear that you think may keep you "bogged down".
    • Create a Sacred Space within and around you. One way to do this is to imagine a pure white light shining down upon you and the space around you. As you do this, the white light will cleanse and purify yourself and your space.
    • This helps to reduce your level of stress and worry.
    • This opens you up to Guidance that may work with you to help prepare you for any needed changes.
    • It is also a good idea to express Gratitude whenever you feel it during this time.

By receiving an Initiation you will become part of a group of people who are using Reiki to heal themselves, and each other, and who are working together to heal the Earth.