What's the Deal with Reiki?

Yesterday, I went in for a reiki appointment--and, honestly, they always leave me unsure if I'm getting taken for a ride or actually receiving a benefit. I'm not trying to tear anyone down, and I have lots of friends who practice reiki. The hospital where I did my internship even offers it as an alternative therapy, and many people say it helps them. But I remain skeptical.

Of course, I made the choice to have reiki. I'm open to the idea of how it works, of moving energy around and "releasing" what you don't need, etc. I made the appointment because I was feeling just that--that now with seminary done and a new chapter in my life beginning, I wanted to honor this transition energetically. There's been lots going on my life, very busy, and I thought reiki would give me a chance to fully breathe, inhale and exhale, spiritually, emotionally and so on.

Does it work? I don't know. I never really feel anything special when I'm having reiki done. I don't get visions or "see" anything like other people claim. I do find reiki relaxing--and I almost fell asleep yesterday on the table! If nothing else, I think that's sufficient to say it helps. I did feel very relaxed afterward, and if the "ritual" of reiki helps me on some mental or emotional level, then there isn't anything wrong with that. I think what bothers me most is the reiki practitioners often ask me questions about my experience that I simply can't relate to, things like "Did you sense ....?" "Did you see ....?" When I politely answer, "No, not really," they look cut to the core. And then I feel like I have to boost their ego. I mean, I do enjoy the experience of reiki, but I just haven't experienced what many others claim. But now, speaking of alternative therapies--I have had a quite different experience with sound therapy, but that's a blog for another time!