For me, the essence of Reiki is love.
As soon as I put my hands on someone, my heart opens up and I feel connected to the patient on a level far beyond personality.
A pleasant energy, warm and tingling, spreads in my body and goes from my hands into the patient's body. I can feel how tension melts away under my hands.
I always feel better after I have given a treatment because of my connection to the Reiki energy.
Even when I treat people whom I might find difficult on a personal level, I only feel compassion.