Sekhem vs Reiki, What's the Real Difference?

Sekhem and Reiki are both channeled, hands-on energy healing traditions, but they come from different lineages and work differently once you're in the room. Reiki traces to Mikao Usui in early 20th century Japan. Sekhem, sometimes called Egyptian Reiki, traces to the healing traditions of ancient Egypt. Jason Donaldson practices and is certified in Sekhem, not Reiki. Here's the honest comparison before you book.

The short version

Both use an attunement or certification system passed teacher to student. Both aim to clear stuck energy, support relaxation, and help the body's own capacity to settle. Where they diverge is in depth, language, and the specific energetic points each tradition works with.

Lineage

Reiki's documented history starts with Usui in Japan in the 1920s, later spreading through students like Hawayo Takata to the West. Sekhem's lineage, as Jason was trained in it, runs through Juliet Carillo, whose teacher is Gamal, a fifth-generation alchemist in Egypt known for his Egyptian oils, which Jason uses in sessions. Different root traditions, different certifying lines, and Sekhem is frequently described by its practitioners as older, connected to the healing and priest work of ancient Egypt rather than early 20th century Japan. Some Sekhem lineages and names, like Seichim and SKHM, have disputed or overlapping origin stories. For that history, see Seichim vs SKHM vs Sekhem.

How the energy is worked

Reiki generally works with the body's main chakra system in the present moment. Sekhem, as Jason practices it, works through two additional points: the soul chakra, about twelve inches above the head, which he compares to the Akashic records, holding the felt memory of every lifetime, and the earth chakra, about twelve inches below the feet, grounding the work in the earth itself. Sekhem sessions are described as more multidimensional, touching past, future, and what Jason calls parallel lives at a soul or monadic level, rather than working only with the present-life body.

Sekhem also draws explicitly on the Neteru, the Egyptian gods and goddesses, treated as cosmic archetypal energies and star family active in the session. Horus the falcon. Sekhmet the lion. Thoth the ibis. Anubis, the way-shower of the inner world. Reiki does not typically invoke a specific pantheon this way.

What a session actually looks like

A Sekhem session with Jason runs 90 minutes, $222, online, or in person by request on Hawai'i Island. The work often starts before the appointment itself, showing up in dreams or small meaningful moments leading up to it. In session: grounding into relaxation, channeled energy with hands over the body, often sound, vibration, sage, cedar, and Egyptian oils, a return to full awareness, time to journal, and a debrief where Jason shares what came through, with a couple of cards pulled for confirmation. The work often continues for days or up to a week afterward. For a fuller walkthrough, see a Sekhem session, step by step, or for the general shape of this kind of energy work, what to expect in a Reiki-style session.

What people notice afterward

Experiences with Sekhem vary from person to person. Clients have described feelings of deep relaxation, warmth, emotional release, greater clarity, peacefulness, and a stronger sense of connection with themselves. Some people also describe physical sensations or shifts during or following a session. These experiences are personal and are not presented as expected or guaranteed outcomes. None of this is a medical claim, and energy work of either kind is complementary, never a fix and never a substitute for medical or mental health treatment.

Cost and availability

Jason's Sekhem sessions run $222 for 90 minutes, online worldwide, or in person by request on Hawai'i Island. Reiki pricing and availability vary enormously by practitioner and region, so there's no single figure to quote for what you'd pay elsewhere. What's worth knowing is that Reiki is more widely available in most places simply because there are more certified Reiki practitioners globally than Sekhem practitioners. Sekhem through Jason is available online from anywhere, and in person by request on Hawai'i Island.

A note on the word "Egyptian Reiki"

You'll sometimes see Sekhem described online as "Egyptian Reiki," a shorthand that captures the family resemblance but can blur the actual distinction. The two traditions share structure, channeled hands-on work, an attunement and certification system, a lineage passed teacher to student, but they come from different roots and different training lines. Treating "Egyptian Reiki" as a literal synonym for Reiki risks missing what actually makes Sekhem distinct: the soul and earth chakra focus, the explicit work with the Neteru, and the emphasis on past, future, and parallel lives.

Which one should you book

If you're set on Reiki as a specific modality and certification, look for a Reiki-trained practitioner. If what you actually want is hands-on energy work, a calm guided reset, and someone with two decades of practice and training that includes psychology, breathwork, and tarot alongside Sekhem, Jason's sessions are worth booking directly. Many people who start out searching for Reiki end up choosing Sekhem once they understand the difference. Is one "better" than the other? See an honest answer to that question.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sekhem a form of Reiki?

Related but distinct. Sekhem is often called Egyptian Reiki, and both are channeled hands-on energy work, but they come from different lineages with different training and certification.

Why doesn't Jason Donaldson practice Reiki?

He trained and was certified in Sekhem specifically, under Juliet Carillo and her teacher Gamal in Egypt. He's never claimed Reiki certification and doesn't teach it.

Which is older, Sekhem or Reiki?

Sekhem's practitioners trace its roots to ancient Egyptian healing traditions, older than Reiki's documented 20th century Japanese origin. Some of the specific lineage claims around Sekhem, Seichim, and SKHM are disputed among practitioners, covered on the Seichim vs SKHM vs Sekhem page.

Does Sekhem cost more or less than a typical Reiki session?

Jason's Sekhem sessions are $222 for 90 minutes. Reiki pricing varies widely by practitioner and isn't something this site can speak to for other providers.

Can Sekhem replace therapy or medical treatment?

No. It's complementary energy work. It doesn't replace medical or mental health care, and anyone in crisis should call 988 in the US.