The most common feeling before a first Reiki session isn't scepticism — it's the fear of doing it wrong. So let's remove that first: there is nothing to do. Reiki asks only that you show up and be comfortable.
Your session begins with a short conversation. Your healer will ask what brings you, how you've been sleeping, where you hold tension. Say as much or as little as you like; this isn't an interview, it's orientation.
Then, stillness. On a video or audio session you'll be guided to sit or lie down, close your eyes, and follow a few slow breaths. Your healer then works quietly — often in near-silence — for twenty to thirty minutes. People describe warmth, heaviness in the limbs, images drifting past, or simply the deepest rest they've had in months. All of these are normal. So is feeling nothing dramatic at all.
Sessions end gently: a few minutes to return, a short reflection, and usually one small practice to take with you. Drink water afterwards, and give yourself an unhurried evening if you can.
One honest note, always: Reiki complements medical and mental-health care — it never replaces it. Come for rest, for support, for stillness. Keep your doctor for your doctoring.