Reiki for Grief: Navigating Different Stages of Loss with Energy Healing

Hey, Radiant Soul!

Grief is something we all experience in different forms. It doesn’t only come with the loss of a loved one—it can also be the end of a relationship, a job, a phase of life, or even the version of ourselves we once believed in. Some of us live with grief for the life we thought we would have, the love we thought was ours, or the dreams that never came to be.

This kind of living grief is just as real as any other loss and just as worthy of healing.

I’ve walked this path, too—navigating the painful realization that life wasn’t unfolding the way I had envisioned. Some days, I felt numb; other days, I was overwhelmed by emotions I didn’t know how to process. But Reiki became my anchor, light, and way through the darkness.

If you’re grieving—whether it’s fresh or something you’ve carried for years—I want to share the tools that helped me heal. Reiki, an ancient energy healing practice, gently and compassionately supports us through the ever-changing emotions of grief.

In this guide, we’ll explore how Reiki aligns with different stages of grief and how energy healing, affirmations, crystals, journaling prompts, and somatic movement can support your healing journey.

Feeling Your Feelings: The Key to Healing

Before we dive into Reiki for grief, I want to remind you of something vitally important:

Grief is not something to "get over." It is something to move through.

Many of us were raised to believe that pain should be hidden, numbed, or pushed away. We may have been told to “be strong,” “move on,” or “let it go.” But suppressing grief only causes it to live within us longer and deeper.

Healing happens when we allow ourselves to feel.

You are allowed to cry, rage, sit in silence, laugh at memories, feel lost, feel hopeful, or experience any combination of emotions. There is no “wrong” way to grieve. The only mistake is thinking you shouldn’t feel what you feel.

Reiki is not here to erase your emotions. It’s here to support you through them. Let’s explore how Reiki can guide us through different stages of loss and healing.

Denial: When the Heart Struggles to Accept the Truth

Denial is when we feel numb, shocked, or emotionally detached. It’s our mind’s way of protecting us from the full weight of loss until we’re ready to process it. Some people describe this stage as feeling like they are watching their life unfold from the outside, unable to engage fully.

Energetically, denial often creates a blocked Heart Chakra (Anahata). The heart shuts down to avoid pain, making it difficult to feel love, connection, or emotional presence.

Reiki Healing for Denial

• Hand Position: Place both hands over your heart center.

• Visualization: Imagine a soft green light flowing into your chest, gently opening your heart to allow emotions to surface.

• Affirmation: “I allow myself to gently accept what is. Healing begins with acknowledgment.”

Crystals for Denial

• Rose Quartz – Opens the heart to self-love and emotional healing.

• Green Aventurine – Helps release emotional resistance and promotes heart chakra balance.

Somatic Movement

• Heart-Opening Stretch: Stand tall, interlace your hands behind your back, and lift your chest upward. This helps release tension in the heart space.

Journaling Prompt

• What truth am I struggling to accept? What emotions arise when I think about it?

Anger: When Pain Turns Into Fire

Anger in grief isn’t just about frustration—it’s often about feeling powerless, betrayed, or overwhelmed by loss. Many people feel anger at the universe, themselves, others, or even the person or situation they lost.

Energetically, anger is stored in the Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)—the center of personal power, emotions, and stored frustration. If this energy remains stuck, it can lead to resentment, anxiety, or physical tension.

Reiki Healing for Anger

• Hand Position: One hand on the upper abdomen, the other on the heart.

• Visualization: Picture golden light dissolving anger and replacing it with clarity and calm.

• Affirmation: “I allow myself to feel my emotions without judgment. I release what no longer serves me.”

Crystals for Anger

• Citrine – Helps release stored frustration and brings clarity.

• Black Obsidian – Absorbs negative energy and supports emotional processing.

Somatic Movement

• Shaking Practice: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, close your eyes, and shake your arms, legs, and torso for 1-2 minutes. This helps move stuck anger through the body.

Journaling Prompt

• What am I truly angry about? What emotions are beneath my anger?

Bargaining: When We Try to Change What Is

Bargaining is the “what if” stage, where we mentally try to rewrite the past. We want to find a different outcome, searching for ways to undo what has happened.

This stage often blocks the Throat Chakra (Vishuddha), the center of truth and communication. Suppressed emotions and self-blame can make it difficult to express one's true feelings.

Reiki Healing for Bargaining

• Hand Position: Place both hands over your throat.

• Visualization: See a soft blue light clearing guilt and regret.

• Affirmation: “I release the need to change the past. I honor my journey as it is.”

Crystals for Bargaining

• Blue Lace Agate – Encourages emotional clarity and self-expression.

• Lapis Lazuli – Supports deep self-reflection and acceptance.

Somatic Movement

• Neck Rolls: Slowly roll your head in gentle circles to release tension and open the throat chakra.

Journaling Prompt

• What am I holding onto that I cannot change? If I were to accept this situation as it is fully, how would that shift my perspective?

Closing: Healing Through Reiki Is a Journey

Grief is not a straight path. It’s a winding road, sometimes leading us backward before we move forward again. Reiki offers a way to move through grief with compassion rather than resistance.

Remember:

• Your grief is valid.

• Your healing doesn’t have a timeline.

• You are allowed to feel everything you feel.

If you’re ready to explore Reiki as a healing tool, I invite you to book a session with me or download my free Alignment & Joy Journal to bring peace back into your heart.

You are not alone. Healing is happening, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Keep shining, remember, you got this.