Seichem also spelt Sekhem, Seichim, SKHM, is a form of energy healing introduced by Patrick Zeigler in 1984. Practitioners believe that Seichim is an ancient and sacred form of hands on healing that originates from Egypt or perhaps earlier. Practitioners claim that it is "The Parent Energy" of all healing systems based around the laying on of hands.

Others believe that Seichem is the energy of the universe manifested through the feminine vibration of the Mother Goddess, which they say is that known by the Buddhists as Kuan Yin and by the Egyptians as Hathor, of whom Sekhmet is the warrior aspect. Some Egyptian myths considered Sekhmet to be the Mother of the Gods, and her name means "The Powerful One".

In Egyptian, however, the term Sekhem means "power" or "might", which are more stereotypically masculine characteristics. This symbolizes, they say, that Seichem incorporates both yin and yang, or "perfect balance" and this balance is the key to progress and enlightenment. Some Seichem practitioners believe that it balances and realigns the yin (or female), physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually and is therefore therapeutic for female health problems such as infertility, hormonal imbalances, PMT and menstrual or menopausal problems. They say that it also re-adjusts imbalances deeper down in the psyche such as lack of self-esteem, the need for/lack of nurturing and especially self-empowerment and love. Some simply use seichem as they would Reiki, without seeing the need for a separate set of beliefs around it.

The difference between Reiki and Seichem

With Reiki, it is the Earth element, providing grounding and support, which is channeled. Seichem connects with the further elements of Fire (transformation), Water (deep emotional healing) and Air (spiritual connection, link with the angelic), in addition to the Earth element of Reiki. Thus is might be said that Seichem is an expanded version of Reiki and allows more energy to be channeled during a healing session.

Different spellings of Seichem

A friend of Zeigler, Christine Gerber, supposedly channeling a being called Marat, told Zeigler that the energy into which he had been initiated was called Setim. Later Zeigler meditated and heard the word SeiCH'em being told to him. He had never heard this word before and originally spelt it Seichim and Seichem. Later after some research he found that there was a connection to the Egyptian spelling SeKHeM. Since Egyptians do not use the vowel sounds SKHM was used by Patrick Zeigler.

Patrick attuned several other people to Seichim at that time, usually people who were already Reiki Masters. Most practitioners who use the spelling Seichim have studied it after studying Reiki. It is passed on via a method similar to that of Reiki. These variations go by names such as Isis Seichim or Seven-facet Seichim. Such practitioners may also practice several similar systems of energy healing. Phoenix Summerfield began to teach Seichim and Sekhem throughout the USA and Australia and made Seichim or Sekhem better known internationally. Kathleen Milner also teaches a form of Seichim spelt Seichem; she claims her connection to the energy became strengthened after she received an epiphany from Buddha. From that experience she created Tera Mai Seichem, which she claims cannot be combined with any of the other forms of Reiki or Seichim. Milner considers these systems to be 'man-made'. Currently there are thousands teaching this system of healing around the world under the various spellings.

Patrick Zeigler now teaches it under the name All-Love SKHM. He teaches it as an initiatory healing usually taught in a group workshop, very different from reiki or the reiki-related variations of Seichim. A practitioner called Helen Belot has claimed copyright of the spelling SEKHEM, although the word is in use by many practitioners and even is the name of a magical power in one role playing game. She also denies that her system of Sekhem is descended from that of Patrick Zeigler, even though her contacts with him do acknowledge him as the founder of Seichim/Sekhem. She was also a student of Phoenix Summerfield, one of Patrick's students.

Seichem classes, 1-2-3 degree

*** Reiki Mastership is a pre-requisite for Seichem Mastership ***

In general, a Seichem 1-2-3 Workshop usually carried out in a two day format and includes all the described initiations, meditations, exercises and certificates. Seichem is for Reiki Masters who wish to extend the healing power that they channel and who wish to become Certified Seichem Masters and Instructors as well as learn how to train others.

Anybody can be attuned to Reiki and Seichem and be able to use this healing energy on themselves and others. There are three levels (or degrees) of training, which are taught in short workshops. Each degree provides you with an opening up to deeper levels of your own being and is in fact an initiation, a new beginning. The real learning and integration is how you use and develop this energy in your own unique way. To briefly sum up the different degrees of Tera Mai™, these are:

TERA-MAI™ SEICHEM first degree: attunements to open up the energy centres so that you can channel Reiki or Seichem healing energy. Instruction and practice on using this energy on yourself and others.

• Tera-Mai Reiki 1 plus
• One third of the first degree Sakara
• One third of the first degree Sophi-El
• One third of the first levels of Angelic light

TERA-MAI™ SEICHEM second degree: further attunements to enable you to bring through a greater amount of healing energy, the uses of symbols in healing, distant/absent healing and further techniques.

• Tera-Mai Reiki 2 plus
• Two thirds of the first degree Sakara
• Two thirds of the first degree Sophi-El
• Two thirds of the first levels of Angelic light

TERA-MAI™ SEICHEM MASTERY Degree: Reiki - Seichem Mastership

• Tera-Mai Reiki Mastery plus
• The complete first degree of Sakara
• The complete first degree of Sophi-El
• The complete first level of Angelic light

The history of Seichem - SKHM timeline

1980 - Patrick Zeigler has his spontaneous initiation in the Great Pyramid in Egypt and studies with the Sufis (Sheik Mohammed Osman Brahani) in the Sudan.

1982-1983 – Patrick is in Nepal.

1983 - Patrick returns to the US and becomes a massage therapist and gets initiated into reiki 1 and reiki 2.

1984 - Patrick takes reiki initiations (Reiki IIIa) and starts teaching. Patrick meets Christine Gerber who channels a 2,500 year old entity called MARAT. This Marat calls the energy Patrick works with Seichim and Patrick begins with giving initiations in Seichem. Patrick initiates T'om Seaman into Seichem and Reiki III and gives him the Cho-Ku-Ret. He meets David Quigley and assists him for a few months while learning regression techniques from Quigley.

1986-1990 - Patrick stays at the background while public interest for Seichim is growing.

1989 - Phoenix Summerfield takes Seichim initiations from Suvana, writes to Patrick Zeigler and works more on the system with T'om Seaman

1990-1991 - Phoenix gives a Seichim course at three Expos in Los Angeles. Patrick reopens his healing practice.

1991 - Kathleen Milner teaches Reiki at LA Expo. Takes lessons from August Starr and creates Tera Mai Seichem (Trademarked in 1994 or 1995)

1991-1992 - Phoenix teaches in Australia. Helen Belot creates Sekhem after these meetings.

1994 - Patrick studies with Robert Jaffe and Brian Grattan. These studies give Patrick additional training in working with groups.

1996 - Tom, Phoenix and Patrick come together, and Patrick meets Helen Belot for the first time. Patrick designes the SKHM Shenu.

1998 - Patrick begins his first SKHM teacher training groups and teaches his current form SKHM. Others catch up with the term, and use it for every form of Seichim, be it meditation based on Patricks work or the "older" initiation systems. Patrick discovers the meaning of the last bit of information that was given him by Marat on the breathing and the Ankh symbol.

1999 - First list of approved SKHM initiators. The SKHM Shenu is redesigned

2000 - Patrick in the Netherlands - Holland.

2002 - The SKHM Shenu meditation available for download.

2004 - The first issue of SKHM Magazine is published and the Shenu is updated.

2005 - March-April - Patrick teaches SKHM for the first time in Australia, holding classes in Blue Mountains, Melbourne & Brisbane.

2005 September-October - Patrick teaches SKHM on his second trip to Australia, holding classes at North Sydney, Melbourne & Perth.

2005 December - Patrick holds SKHM Courses in Brazil.

2009 - Seichem is taught and practised worldwide and large number of reiki masters being initiated into the system.