Creative Blocks and How Reiki Can Help Overcome Them

Have you ever stared at your computer screen or a blank page for an embarrassing amount of time because you just didn’t know what to do next? Or maybe you got your paintbrushes out with the intention of creating your next masterpiece, but as soon as you sat down, it felt like every idea left your head. These frustrating moments can show up during a creative block, which happens when we feel disconnected from the energy that allows us to innovate, make new things, and bring our ideas to life.

There are lots of things that can lead to creative blocks, but at their core are energetic principles. Creativity is the natural result of life-force energy flowing through us freely. If that flow becomes blocked, our ability to create is also blocked. This is why Reiki is an incredible tool for creativity – as an energy-based practice, it gets to the root of the issue by dissolving energetic blocks and allowing energy flow to be restored.

Do you want to learn how to unblock your creativity with Reiki? Then read on, friends! After reading this article, you’ll understand:

1. The signs of a creative block;
2. What causes creative blocks;
3. How you can work with Reiki to restore your energetic flow and begin to create with ease.

Signs of a Creative Block

Before we go any further, you might want to know what a creative block looks like. Here are some signs that your creative juices are a little stopped up:

• It is incredibly difficult to come up with new ideas, concepts, or solutions;
• You feel bored, dry, and uninspired;
• You feel like you’re stuck in a rut – like you’re not making progress and just repeating the same things day in and day out;
• You are afraid to try new things or break out of the routine;
• You find yourself getting lost in overthinking and analysis paralysis.

… Now that we know what a creativity block looks and feels like, let’s explore examples of the things that cause that energy to become blocked in the first place.

Four of the Biggest Creativity Blockers

1. Stress: When we are stressed, our creativity gets put on the back burner as our bodies go into survival mode. Our fight-flight-freeze responses are triggered, and our bodies release hormones like epinephrine and cortisol that keep us in an alert, non-relaxed state. Stress also disrupts the connection between the parts of the brain that are involved in the creative process. All of this is great for surviving a threat… but not so great for your creativity. 
2. Self-doubt: One aspect of creativity is being willing to go outside the box and take risks (hello, uncertainty!). If we doubt our ability to navigate this new territory, we might stop ourselves from ever leaving our comfort zone and expanding our creative horizons.
3. Fear of judgment: We might hold back from expressing our creativity because we’re worried about what other people will think. Worrying too much about how others will judge us or our creations can cause us to hide our creativity or stop creating altogether.
4. Overthinking: Sometimes, we get stuck in our heads, analyzing and critiquing ideas rather than letting them flow through us. When we get caught up in analysis paralysis, it can prevent us from moving forward with our creative projects.
5. Resistance to the block: What happens when we find ourselves in a block but have a deadline approaching? We might find ourselves obsessing over the block and trying to force the creativity to emerge, only to feel more and more stuck.

How Reiki Helps Us Overcome Creative Blocks

1. Stress Reduction: Studies have shown that Reiki is effective at reducing stress levels and improving relaxation.The deep relaxation and calm experienced during and after Reiki session creates the space for creative thinking and expression.
2. Self-Confidence Boost: Reiki can boost self-confidence by addressing any energetic blocks around self-worth and self-acceptance. As we feel more confident, we are more likely to embrace our creative ideas and take risks without letting self-doubt get in the way.
3. Letting go of fear of judgment: When we’re worried about what others may think, we are in a place of fear. During a Reiki session, we surrender our fears, worries, and anxieties, and invite in the loving energy that reminds us we have nothing to fear by expressing our true and creative selves. 
4. Quieting the mental chatter: Reiki sessions often lead to a deep sense of inner peace and surrender. We learn that it’s possible to trust Reiki and Source energy to guide us instead of constantly overthinking and analyzing our way through our lives. When we can let go of analysis paralysis, we can move forward with our creative endeavours. 
5. Peace and Acceptance: Reiki can help us to embrace the moment rather than resist what’s going on. Sometimes, this might mean that we simply accept the fact that we’re feeling creatively blocked, instead of trying to fight our way out of it. Sometimes simply accepting the block and letting go of the obsessive thoughts is what actually gets the flow moving again!

Incorporating Reiki into Your Routine

1. Find a Reiki Practitioner: The best way to experience the healing benefits of Reiki is to connect with a certified practitioner. Check out Dragonfly – Reiki Marketplace for a list of qualified Reiki practitioners for in-person or virtual Reiki sessions! 
2. Self-Reiki sessions: If you’re a practitioner yourself, self-Reiki is an incredible tool for creativity because you can give yourself a session almost anywhere, whenever you need a little unblocking. 
3. Meditating on the Reiki Precepts: These statements can help bring a deep sense of peace and calm, helping your energy to start moving again if things are feeling stagnant.

Just for today, I will not worry.

Just for today, I will not be angry.

Just for today, I will be grateful.

Just for today, I will do my work honestly.

Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.

4. Creativity affirmations with Reiki: Take a moment to ground yourself by taking a few deep breaths, and then connect to Reiki energy using whatever method works best for you. Ask Reiki to help you dissolve any blocks you might have, and choose some creativity affirmations to focus on:

I let go of the result and enjoy the process.

My creativity is an expression of the Divine.

I give myself permission to make mistakes.

It’s okay if my creation isn’t good by someone else’s standards. 

I release all pressure for my creation to be liked or understood.

Our creativity is a channel that allows Source energy itself to be expressed through our words, songs, dance, ideas, crafts, meals, art… there are endless ways that the Divine can move through us. When this energy becomes blocked through stress, self-doubt, fear of judgment, and overthinking, we are not the only ones who miss out; the whole world misses out on what we can uniquely share. When we allow Reiki to clear the blocks that are preventing us from connecting to our creativity, we will experience more peace and ease (even if the block doesn’t immediately disappear). We will be free to show up in the world exactly as we are, and from that space, our best creations can emerge.