What Seichim and Egyptian Attunements Are and How They Relate to Reiki

Maybe you have practiced Reiki for a while and keep hearing the word Seichim at workshops or in online groups. Or perhaps ancient Egypt has always pulled at you, and you wonder whether any energy practice grows from that interest.

This guide explains what Seichim is, where its story comes from, and what people mean by Egyptian attunements. You will also find simple ways to tell whether this path suits where you are in your life right now.

What Seichim Is

Seichim is a hands-on energy practice, pronounced say-keem, that many people learn alongside Reiki. Patrick Zeigler began sharing it after a 1980 experience inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. Egyptian attunements are energy initiations built around Egyptian figures and symbols, such as Isis, Sekhmet, and the ankh.

Seichim, usually pronounced say-keem, is a system of hands-on energy work that many practitioners describe as a companion to Reiki. Students often say its energy feels warm, soft, and centered in the heart, though every person notices it in a different way.

The word is often linked to the ancient Egyptian term sekhem, which people translate as power or living energy. You may also see related spellings, such as SKHM, Sekhem, and Isis Seichim, which reflect different teachers and branches.

Where the Story Begins

Most accounts trace modern Seichim to Patrick Zeigler, an American who spent a night inside the Great Pyramid of Giza in 1980. He described a powerful experience of light and energy there, and he later began sharing what he felt with others.

Over the following years, teachers such as Phoenix Summerfield and Tom Seaman added symbols and blended the practice with Reiki training. That is why Seichim today comes in several forms, and why two teachers may present it a little differently.

It helps to hold this history with an open mind. Seichim is a modern system with Egyptian inspiration, not a practice recorded in ancient temple writings, and good teachers say so plainly.

How Seichim Relates to Reiki

Seichim and Reiki share the same basic shape. A teacher passes on an attunement, the student learns to place their hands with intention, and daily practice deepens the connection over time.

The differences live mostly in the symbols and the feel of the energy. Usui Reiki rests on a clear Japanese lineage and a set of five principles, while Seichim draws on Egyptian imagery and often places more focus on the heart and on compassion.

Many students take Seichim after Usui Reiki Level 1 or Level 2, because the hand positions and self-practice already feel familiar. Some teachers welcome complete beginners, so it is worth reading each attunement description before you choose.

What Egyptian Attunements Are

Egyptian attunements are energy initiations built around figures, symbols, and themes from ancient Egyptian spirituality. Some focus on a goddess such as Isis or Sekhmet, while others draw on symbols like the ankh, the scarab, or the Eye of Horus.

These attunements work much like any other attunement you would receive from a teacher. You set an intention, rest quietly while the energy is sent, and then spend the following days noticing what shifts in your awareness and your practice.

People are often drawn to them for personal reasons. Some feel a lifelong pull toward Egypt, some want a ritual with feminine strength at its center, and some simply enjoy expanding their energy work into a new tradition.

How Distance Attunements Work

Many Seichim and Egyptian attunements are offered at a distance. The idea is the same one behind distance Reiki, where practitioners understand energy as moving with intention rather than through physical touch.

You agree on a time with your teacher, sit or lie somewhere quiet, and open yourself to receive. Some people feel warmth, tingling, or waves of emotion, while others feel very little in the moment and notice changes later.

Signs This Path May Suit You

• You already practice Reiki and want to explore a second, heart-centered system.
• Egyptian history, art, or mythology has always stirred something deep inside you.
• You want a practice that blends ritual, symbols, and quiet self-reflection in one routine.
• You enjoy learning the story behind a tradition, including the parts people still debate.

None of these signs are requirements. They are simply common threads in the stories students share when they explain why Seichim or an Egyptian attunement caught their attention.

How to Prepare and Practice Afterward

Preparation is simple and gentle. Drink plenty of water, eat lightly that day, and set aside a quiet space where phones and other noise will not interrupt you.

Before the attunement begins, write one clear intention in a journal. You might ask for a deeper connection to your heart, for more courage, or for a stronger sense of your own inner power.

Afterward, give yourself a few days of steady self-practice. Place your hands over your heart for ten minutes each morning, note any dreams or feelings, and rest whenever your body asks for it.

Seichim and Egyptian attunements support spiritual growth and self-awareness, and they do not replace care from a doctor or mental health professional. If you face a health concern, please reach out to the right person alongside your spiritual practice.

Exploring Seichim at Prismatic Reiki Academy

Reverend Michael Allison offers a selection of Seichim and Egyptian attunements alongside our Usui Reiki training. You can read the full description of each one on our attunements page and choose the one that feels right for you.

If you are unsure where to begin, send a question before you book. A short conversation often makes the choice feel much clearer and calmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Reiki training before Seichim?

Not always. Many teachers suggest Usui Reiki Level 1 first so the hand positions feel familiar, but some Seichim attunements welcome beginners, so check each description before you choose.

Is Seichim really from ancient Egypt?

Seichim is a modern system that Patrick Zeigler began sharing after his 1980 experience in the Great Pyramid. It takes inspiration from Egyptian symbols and ideas, but ancient writings do not record it.

How is Seichim different from Reiki?

Both systems use attunements and hands-on practice. Seichim uses Egyptian imagery and different symbols, and many students describe its energy as softer and more centered in the heart.

Can I receive an Egyptian attunement at a distance?

Yes, many Egyptian attunements are sent at a distance. You choose a quiet time, set an intention, and rest while the energy is sent, much like a distance Reiki attunement.