Why Feeling Drained After Reiki Isn’t a Sign You’re Doing It Right (And What’s Really Happening)

Sometimes, people new to Reiki, or even just curious, wonder why they hear stories about practitioners feeling wiped out after a session. They are told that feeling exhausted is normal, or even proof that the energy “worked.”

It’s not.

Feeling wiped out after a session usually points to something deeper than the flow of Reiki itself. Most often, it’s a pattern of giving away your own energy because you’re unconsciously reaching for something.

Validation happens when you want the client to feel better fast, to thank you, or to see you as good at Reiki. Approval shows up when you replay old patterns of needing to prove your worth, fill gaps for someone else, or make someone proud of you. Control is the need to feel responsible for the outcome of the session.

All of these shift your focus away from being a vessel and turn the session into a performance. Your energy leaks because it is being used to prop up your inner story instead of allowing Reiki to flow. That is when exhaustion shows up.

Some people genuinely believe they are supposed to give their energy away during Reiki. That is their experience, and I respect that. Reiki itself does not require it, and it is not something I teach, but beliefs shape energy, too. My teaching is clear. You are the channel, not the source. You do not need to sacrifice yourself to make Reiki work.

In my private classes, I help my students understand that they are not giving away their energy. I teach them to notice when their desire for validation, praise, or control creeps in and how it shows up physically and energetically. Sometimes, when people give their energy instead of Reiki, it is old patterns sneaking in, the need to be seen, to be needed, or to make someone else proud. That is not Reiki. That is your wiring from the past showing up in the session.

Grounding also matters. Leaving your body energetically to work on someone else is a fast track to exhaustion. Reiki does not require you to disappear in order to help. It actually works better when you are fully present, steady, and rooted. I like to imagine what the energy looks like as I hold a Reiki position, how it moves, flows, and fills the space while staying completely anchored in my own body. This helps you trust your intuition.

Here is the key. When you are fully present, grounded, and allowing Reiki to do the work, you will actually leave a session feeling clearer, lighter, or even gently energized. That is the opposite of what many students expect, but it is exactly what Reiki is designed to do.

Sometimes, you might feel a bit tired after a session, even when you are doing everything “right.” That can happen because, as the practitioner, you are also receiving energy and releasing whatever needs to move through you. In a way, your body might be processing your own energetic patterns. Feeling gentle fatigue or relaxation in this case is normal and nothing to worry about.

Reiki works best when your own energy is intact. Your presence, your steadiness, and your willingness to allow are far more powerful than any effort or giving you might attempt.