Inside the Reiki Room: How We Cleanse the Space
This research article explores the energetic hygiene practices of Reiki practitioners. Specifically, it looks at how often practitioners cleanse their treatment rooms and the preferred methods used to maintain a clear environment for their clients.
To investigate this, I conducted an Instagram community poll to determine if practitioners at different levels prioritise space clearing and what specific techniques they rely on.
Methodology and Results
A total of 81 practitioners engaged with the poll and answered at least one question, with 65 practitioners providing a complete set of responses across all categories.
Note on Participation: While Reiki Level 1 practitioners are not yet at a qualified level to take on paid clients, they were included in this poll to capture the habits at the foundational stage of their journey.
Final Numbers: 65 Reiki Practitioners
Master Level: 44
Level 2: 19
Level 1: 2
Result 1: Frequency of Room Cleansing
The first part of the survey asked practitioners if they cleanse the energy in their Reiki room before and after a client. The data shows a near universal commitment to energetic maintenance among professional level practitioners.
Master Level: 93% reported they always cleanse the room, with 7% doing so sometimes. 0% reported never cleansing.
Level 2: 95% reported they always cleanse the room, while 5% do so sometimes.
Level 1: 100% of Level 1 respondents noted that they sometimes cleanse the space.
Result 2: Preferred Cleansing Methods
I asked practitioners to identify their primary method for clearing the room. While traditions vary, smudging remains the most popular technique, though using Reiki to cleanse the energy in the room is a strong secondary choice.
Sage and/or Smudging: This was the dominant method for Level 2 practitioners (69%) and remained the top choice for Masters (52%).
Giving Reiki to the Room: This hands on energetic approach was favoured by 34% of Masters and 26% of Level 2 practitioners. 50% of the Level 1 group utilised this method.
Other (Crystals, Sound, etc.): A smaller portion of the community opts for tools like sound or crystal, accounting for 14% of Masters and 5% of Level 2 practitioners.
No Cleansing: Across all 65 completed responses, 0% of practitioners reported that they do not cleanse the room at all.
Interpretation
The data confirms that energetic hygiene is a key part of Reiki practice.
While smudging (using sage or other herbs) is the most common tool, a significant number of Master level practitioners are using Reiki energy itself to clear the space. This may suggest that as a practitioner's confidence in channeling energy grows, they rely less on physical tools and more on the frequency of the Reiki itself.
Regardless of the method chosen, the results indicate that for the vast majority of practitioners, preparing the energetic space is just as important as the treatment itself.
© 2026 Laura Noonan Reiki. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Attribution is required for all shared insights.
