Reiki and Aromatherapy: A Blissful Synergy

As I write this post, I am obsessively smelling the top of my hand where I dabbed a few different oils and they have created their own synergy. I love it when unintentional blending leads to something magical. I wish you could smell this! So I started blending these oils as inspiration for this post on two of my favorite things – reiki and aromatherapy. As someone who’s deeply passionate about holistic healing, these two modalities have become like old friends to me, at different points in my life they have actively participated in my healing, self-love and somatic awareness. 

Reiki has this incredible way of helping me tap into a reservoir of inner peace and reconnect with the rhythm of life. We all have off days and we all have days where our soul needs a hug. Reiki is that hug for me. The love I feel flowing through my body reminds me to let go of that emotion – lately it’s been frustration – that is keeping me stressed. And when I do I instantly feel like I am sinking into myself again. The way I am without all the crud from the outside world, and finding my peaceful Self again.

And when I pair this experience with aromatherapy? Well, magic happens. Essential oils have a direct pathway to the brain where they can evoke memories, soothe emotions, and promote a sense of peace and balance. I’m going to nerd out for a moment because this is super interesting and blows my mind. Aromatherapy has this effect on us because of the olfactory system, which is the sensory system responsible for our sense of smell. It involves the detection and processing of odor molecules by specialized sensory cells in the nasal cavity called olfactory receptors. These receptors transmit signals to the brain, specifically to the olfactory bulb, where the brain interprets the information and identifies different scents. As a child, I remember waking up to the smell of toast and fresh brewed Cuban coffee, reminding me of my mom and grandma and our family traditions. To this day, the smell of toast makes me think of them. This is how the olfactory system works. A scent triggers an emotional response that influences our behavior and memory. This symbiotic relationship supports emotional awareness and healing. 

Essential oils have this amazing ability to speak to our senses in a way that words can’t quite capture. Whether it’s the calming aroma of lavender or the invigorating scent of peppermint, each oil carries its own unique energy that can help us shift our mood and mindset in an instant. I’ve found that blending these oils with my reiki practice amplifies the balancing effects, creating an opportunity for transformation and growth.

One of my favorite moments was when I first experimented with combining essential oils and reiki during a self-care session. I remember feeling the weight of the world melt away as I applied a calming blend to my wrists and settled into a reiki meditation. It was like all the stress and worries of the day just evaporated, leaving behind a sense of peace and clarity that I hadn’t felt in a while.

Since then, I’ve been on a mission to share reiki and aromatherapy with others. In my practice, I’ve seen firsthand how this synergistic combination can help people find balance, release tension, and reconnect with their inner wisdom. If you’re struggling with stress, anxiety, or just feeling a bit out of sorts, give it a try. You don’t need to follow any formula. Just smell some essential oils and take a drop or two of the ones you like into a tablespoon of carrier oil. Apply on your wrist, inner elbow and back of the neck. There’s something truly transformative about experiencing these modalities together.