When Your Partner Doesn’t Get Reiki (And That’s Okay)

Let’s have a little chat, shall we? About that awkward space where you’re beaming love and light out into the world... but the person you’ve shared your life (and probably your Netflix password) with for over twenty years just doesn’t believe in this whole energy thing. Yep. That space.

I’ve been there. My partner — a solid, practical, salt-of-the-earth type — was right there with me when I changed careers, studied hard, and became a teacher. Emotional support? 10/10. Gold star. But when Reiki sashayed into my life like an unexpected but fabulous guest at a dinner party, well, let’s just say the conversation got a little... strained.

See, my partner doesn’t really know about the existence of energy and matter in the way I do. To him, if you can’t hold it, fix it with a wrench, or Google it with a pint in hand, it might as well be fairy dust. And trying to explain Reiki in scientific terms felt a bit like trying to teach a cat to do taxes.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting: our son knows. He’s felt it. I’ve helped ease his growing pains, soothed those fidgety, anxious moments, and even helped him get that focus back when he’s been a little all over the place (hello, every parent’s daily struggle). He doesn’t question it, he just knows it works.

So, how do we, as Reiki practitioners, sit with this odd little triangle? Where your child is blissfully on board and your partner is looking at you like you’ve started speaking ancient Greek?

Here are my thoughts (and breathe, because we’re not panicking, and we’re definitely not over-lecturing — no one likes an Energy Evangelist at the dinner table):

1. Lead with Results, Not Explanations.
   Let your partner see the positive effects. The relaxed child, the calmer home, the fact that you yourself are less snappy after giving yourself Reiki. Actions speak louder than chakras.

2. Drop the Science Debate.
   Seriously. Don’t get caught up in trying to convert them with quantum physics. You’ll both end up frustrated, and frankly, nobody needs that after twenty years of mostly getting along.

3. Stay Grounded in Your Confidence.
   This is the tricky part, isn’t it? Their doubt can make you wobble. But remember: their lack of belief doesn’t cancel out your experience. You know what you’ve seen and felt. Stand firm in that. Quiet confidence is powerful.

4. Invite Curiosity, Don’t Demand Faith.
   If they ever show a flicker of curiosity (like when they notice their back pain’s gone after you rested your hands on them), that’s your opening. Gently share, but keep it light. No sermons, no pressure. Think of it as offering a snippet, not a five-hundred-page lecture.

5. Keep Love at the Centre.
   Remember why you’ve stayed together all these years — love, respect, shared history. Reiki is part of your journey, and while it would be nice if they came along, they don’t have to in order for your practice to thrive.

So, if you’re in this boat, gently paddling between your own spiritual growth and your partner’s healthy scepticism, you’re not alone. You’re doing just fine. Keep shining your light, keep loving your people (even the ones who think energy healing is one step away from wizardry), and trust that your truth is valid, even if it’s not universally understood.

And if all else fails, remember: Jack Canfield probably has relatives who still don’t understand what he does for a living either.

Stay grounded, stay kind, and keep your hands glowing, my friend.