I Tried Angelic Reiki – Here Are My Honest Thoughts

I’m lying in a candlelit, subterranean room, tucked away beneath a fluffy faux-sheepskin blanket, legs propped up on a bolster, when I meet the angels. Michael, Gabriel, Metatron, they’re all there, hovering above me in a realm of celestial light, channelling their energy through my chakras.

Nope, I’m not writing from beyond the grave, nor am I in the throes of a mushroom-induced trip. Instead, I’m at a recently opened wellness studio in London’s Parsons Green, Sacred Tones, where I’m trying out angelic reiki: a holistic practice which uses the energy of angels to balance the mind, body and spirit. 

Now, I’m no stranger to alternative wellness: I love a sound bath and even dabble in the world of astrology from time to time. But I’d say angelic reiki is a step above this on the woo-woo scale. It takes the traditional practice of reiki  – a type of hands-on energy healing therapy originating from Japan believed to help with stress reduction – and adds a new spiritual dimension.

The therapy was developed by Kevin Core and his wife Christine in the early 2000s, who say they were enlightened by Archangel Metatron. They taught angelic reiki all over the world, with alleged benefits including reducing anxiety, improving sleep, trauma healing and releasing emotional blocks. It’s worth pointing out there’s no scientific evidence surrounding the effects of angelic reiki, although there are some small studies about reiki alone, such as this one suggesting the therapy may offer wellbeing benefits aside from the placebo effect.

Sacred Tones describes it as ‘a harmonious blend of traditional reiki healing and celestial guidance,’ which ‘transcends the physical, as our practitioners become conduits for the pure, healing energy of angelic beings.’ The website adds: ‘Through gentle, focused techniques, they channel this divine energy to you, targeting your energy centres for profound balancing and harmonisation.’ So what does a class actually look like? 

What Happens At Angelic Reiki?

I attended the class with a group of colleagues, and our reiki evening began with a cup of herbal tea to get us into zen mode post-work, before descending downstairs to a serene room decked out with extra-thick, plush yoga mats, pillows, weighted eye masks and crystals. Our practitioner gave us an introduction to the session, advising us that the practice may bring up new emotions, and possibly cause coughing as the throat chakras are awakened. She also gave us the chance to pick a card from the pile strewn out across the front (to be returned to later).

Next, we were instructed to lie down and get comfortable as the session began. What followed was a guided meditation, which took us on a journey into the ‘Angelic Kingdom of Light’. Initially I felt a little anxious, but quickly I found myself zoning into that hazy phase just before you fall asleep – though I remained awake throughout. Clearly, there’s a religious element to angelic reiki, although it’s not linked to any religion in particular. There was lots of talk of pillars of light and releasing energy, interspersed with whooshing sounds and mantras from an unrecognisable language. 

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Meanwhile, our practitioner was circulating the room, performing reiki on each of us. This type of therapy involves a reiki master placing their hands on different parts of the body with the aim of changing and balancing energy fields. At the beginning the practitioner notified us we might feel heat in specific parts of the body, which was something I experienced as she pressed lightly on my left hip. I was initially a little sceptical about how a group reiki session would work, but amid the calm atmosphere I found it surprisingly comforting and reassuring. However, the hands-on element doesn’t last long (there were over a dozen people to get round), so if you’re keen to experience reiki to the fullest a one-on-one session would probably be best. 

After a floaty hour, we were brought back into the room. I felt relaxed and sleepy, but a little strange too – similar to the feeling of being awoken from a middle-of-the-day nap. We were invited to come up to the front and learn what our card from the beginning symbolised, before heading back upstairs to reality. 

Upon discussing the session with colleagues the next day, there were mixed reviews. Some found it very powerful and emotive, others simply found it unsettling. Some slept like a baby, others had bizarre dreams and a disrupted night. 

I was in the middle camp: I enjoyed the meditative, healing side, and loved the beautifully designed studio space, but struggled to fully connect with the angelic element (although perhaps that comes with time). Interestingly, though, my throat did feel sore afterwards, so something must have been going on with my chakras. And ultimately, I’m always up for anything that encourages us to slow down, reflect and reconnect with ourselves amid the chaos of everyday life.

Keen to give it a go? You can try the class at sacredtones.co.uk