Through these interviews she examines family and cultural influences that may have influenced or suppressed an individual's pursuit of spiritually-based practices; their introduction to Reiki and any personal and transformative experiences with this energy; and whether or how having a daily self-Reiki practice aides in stress reduction, improves mental health, and enhances relationships with other people. The participants in this project were interviewed via video, and their transcripts have been de-identified and made available for others to read about here. These stories are meant to add to the collective conversation about the benefits associated with Reiki, and to demonstrate unifying themes across individual stories. For more information, or if you are interested in being interviewed to be added to this project, please contact Lindsey Harper at harper166@marshall.edu.
This project was inspired by the work of Tannis Hargrove's (2008) project "A phenomenological study of Reiki practitioners and their perceptions of Reiki as it relates to their personal health" (https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/28/).
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Participant 008: Reiki Practitioner with 20 years of experience (Mixed Race; Female; England, United Kingdom)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Practitioner holding 20 years of Reiki experience (Mixed Race; Female; England, United Kingdom). She was interviewed on May 7, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations within this interview include the multiple modalities used alongside Reiki as tools for healing; the different "types" of Reiki and how one isn't any better than another; how she uses Reiki to help Black and other marginalized communities; and how she experiences God/energy in everything. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 009: Reiki Practitioner with one year of experience (Latin American; Female; England, United Kingdom)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Practitioner holding ~one year of Reiki experience (Latin American; Female; England, United Kingdom). She was interviewed on May 7, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations within this interview include the more widespread use of Reiki in scientific practices, the participant's experience with a group engaging in multiple healing modalities, Reiki's ability to create more balance and compassion, and her early years with her parents and their religious and spiritual experiences. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 010: Reiki Master with three years of experience (White; Female; Germany)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding three years of experience (White; Female; Germany). She was interviewed on May 14, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about Reiki's use to help with physical health for her personally and with another family member; Reiki's ability to help (re)build relationships with others; and Reiki's ability to help the participant feel more grounded. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 011: Reiki Master with 21 years of experience (Turkish; Female; Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding 21 years of experience (Turkish; Female; Dubai, United Arab Emirates). She was interviewed on May 15, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her use of Reiki and other healing modalities; experiences as a corporate trainer; the many miracles she has experienced with others as a conduit of Reiki (e.g. MS patients and women with fertility issues); and Reiki's ability to help her go with the flow and see overall better mental and physical health. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 012: Reiki Master with three months of experience (Asian American & White; Female; New York, USA)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding three months of experience (Asian American & White; Female; New York, USA). She was interviewed on May 21, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview include the full circle moments of finding aspects of spirituality as a young adult, but revising it when you're older; her first experience with a Reiki session being during her Reiki I attunement; Reiki's place in helping participant find self-love and compassion; and the meditative nature of her self-Reiki practice. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 013: Reiki Master with five years of experience (Black; Female; Peru)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding five years of experience (Black; Female; Peru). She was interviewed on May 27, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her family members' experience with Black Magic; her own experiences staying with her grandmother when she was younger; her daily self-Reiki practice as a meditation and with everyday items like food and travels; the problematic use of the word Master with Reiki; and accounts of her lived experiences as a Black woman existing in predominantly white spaces. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 001: Reiki Master with two years of experience (White; Female; Massachusetts, USA)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding two years of experience (White/Female/Massachusetts, USA). She was interviewed on May 2, 2024. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about Reiki as a tool for opening up psychic abilities and Reiki as a transformative practice. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 002: Reiki Master with five years of experience (White; Female; Indiana, USA)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding five years of experience (White/Female/Indiana, USA). She was interviewed on May 6, 2024. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her early experience with energy before she knew about Reiki, familial experiences, and Reiki as a tool for being a more balanced person. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 003: Reiki Master with 15 years of experience (White; Female; Florida, USA)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding 15 years of experience (White/Female/Florida, USA). She was interviewed on May 6, 2024. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her childhood experiences in a religious environment, Reiki as a tool to help her find calm and balance in her busy day-to-day, and withholding knowledge about her Reiki practice from those who may not be accepting of her practice. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 004: Reiki Master with three years of experience (Java and Indonesian; Female; Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding three years of experience (Java and Indonesian; Female; Dubai, United Arab Emirates). She was interviewed on May 8, 2024. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her early experiences growing up in a Muslim family, her transformative experiences encountering Reiki energy, her daily self-Reiki practice, and how Reiki has helped minimize stress in her life. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 005: Reiki Master with four years of experience (Indian; Female; India)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding four years of experience (Indian; Female; India). She was interviewed on May 14, 2024. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her experiences growing up in a family that practices Hinduism, her transformative experiences when she was introduced to Reiki, and how it's okay to have a career that pays the bills while offering Reiki to others as completely separate parts of herself. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 006: Reiki Master with eight years of experience (White, Asian, and Latina; Female; California, USA)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding eight years of experience (White, Asian, and Latina; Female; California). She was interviewed on May 14, 2024. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her experiences receiving healing as an adolescent, how Reiki and other modalities have improved her relationships with the Self and with others, and the message that one has the ability to continually live in the Reiki field (rather than Reiki being something you turn on and turn off). Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Participant 007: Reiki Master with 1.5 years of experience (Navajo, Spanish, and White; Female; Arizona, USA)
This is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding 1.5 years of experience (Navajo, Spanish, and White; Female; Arizona, USA). She was interviewed on May 16, 2024. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview were about her early experiences with multiple religions; her motivations for pursuing a Reiki practice; how Reiki helps her stay calm, balanced, and intentional throughout her day; and Reiki as a constant state of being. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.
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Informed Verbal Consent Text for Reiki and Well-Being Project
Lindsey M. Harper
This reflects the verbal consent document that was sent to each participant prior to interviewing and that was read to each participant the day of interviewing. As I am someone who believes in open data and full transparency, I am making this document available to those who want to access it or may need it.
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Interview Questions for Reiki and Well-Being Project
Lindsey M. Harper
This is the first set of questions that was asked during the course of these interviews. Questions span conversations about an individual's family and upbringing, direct experiences with Reiki, Reiki's relationship in their daily lives, and demographic questions. To replicate a portion of these materials, please cite this document and its associated URL.
