Maybe you’ve booked your first Reiki session and you’re wondering what to expect. Or maybe you’ve had sessions before and want to get more out of them. Either way, one of the simplest things you can do is set an intention before you begin.
It doesn’t need to be long or complicated. It just needs to come from your heart.
What Is Intentional Healing?
Intentional healing is the practice of bringing conscious, directed awareness to your healing process, rather than simply lying down and hoping for the best.
The word “intention” comes from the Latin intentio, meaning “to stretch toward.” An intention is not a wish, and it’s not a demand. It’s a clear, present moment focus on where you want to direct your energy and attention.
In healing work, intention acts like a compass. It gently tells your body, your energy and the Reiki energy itself: this is what I’m moving toward.
Why Intention Matters in Energy Healing
In Reiki, we understand the energy as intelligent. It goes where it’s needed, and it responds to the invitation of a clear intention.
As a Reiki Master, I always begin each session with a conversation about what the client is seeking. Not because I need to direct the energy to a specific place, but because your own clarity helps you take part in the session.
Even without an intention, Reiki still flows where it’s most needed. But when you arrive with a heartfelt intention, you become an active participant in your own healing. The energy doesn’t just work on you; it works with you.
Think of a river with no banks: the water spreads thinly in many directions. Give it clear banks, and it runs deep in one direction. Intention creates the banks.
The Difference Between an Intention and a Wish
This is a small but important distinction.
A wish is often about a future outcome: I wish I didn’t have this anxiety. I wish I felt better. I wish things were different.
An intention is rooted in the present and in what you are choosing: I intend to release the tension I’ve been holding in my chest. I intend to open with more ease. I intend to be gentle with myself today.
A wish often comes from what feels missing. An intention comes from what you choose.
How to Set an Intention Before Your Reiki Session
You don’t need to prepare a speech. A few minutes of honest inner listening is enough. Here’s a simple process:
Step 1: Find stillness. Before your session, take five minutes to sit quietly and breathe. Let the noise of your day settle.
Step 2: Ask the question. Gently ask yourself: What do I most need right now? What am I ready to release? What do I want to invite in?
Step 3: Listen for what’s true. The first thing that comes up is often the most honest. It might be a word (“peace,” “clarity,” “relief”), a feeling, or a simple phrase (“I want to let go of what’s not mine to carry”).
Step 4: State it simply. Say your intention in the present tense and in a positive way. Not “I don’t want to feel anxious” but “I am open to receiving calm.” Not “I want to stop being so hard on myself” but “I intend to meet myself with kindness today.”
Step 5: Release it. Once your intention is set, let it go. You don’t need to hold onto it or make it happen. Trust that it’s been received.
Types of Intentions People Bring to Reiki
Intentions are as individual as the people who set them. Here are some examples of what clients bring to their sessions:
For physical wellbeing: I intend to support my body’s natural capacity to heal. I am open to releasing the tension held in my lower back.
For emotional release: I am ready to let go of the grief I’ve been holding. I intend to create more space inside myself.
For clarity: I am open to receiving insight about the decision I’ve been avoiding. I intend to connect with my own inner knowing.
For spiritual support: I intend to deepen my connection with my higher self. I am open to whatever healing is most needed.
For rest: I simply intend to receive. I give myself permission to rest completely.
There is no wrong intention. Whatever feels most alive in you right now is the right place to begin.
Making Intention a Daily Practice
You don’t have to wait for a Reiki session to set an intention. Something as simple as “today I intend to be present” can shape how you move through your day. The more you practise it, the more natural it becomes.
Experience It in a Session
If you’d like to try this with me, we’ll take a few minutes at the start of your session to set your intention together, so you can settle in and fully receive.
Book a One-Hour Reiki Session in Guelph
Prefer to stay home? Try a Reiki Online session over Zoom
Learn to Work with Intention Yourself
Intention is also a big part of what I teach in Reiki Level 1. You’ll learn how to use it in your own self Reiki practice and when sharing Reiki with family and friends. Classes are small, with no more than four students.