Quick Answer
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique that channels universal life force energy through the hands to promote healing and relaxation. Beginners learn the five Reiki principles, receive attunement from a Reiki master, and practice hand positions on themselves and others. Start with daily self-treatment covering head, heart, solar plexus, and abdomen positions for 3-5 minutes each. Reiki supports stress reduction, emotional balance, and overall wellbeing as a complement to conventional care.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Universal Energy: Reiki channels life force energy for healing and balance.
- Attunement Required: Traditional Reiki requires training and initiation from a master.
- Self-Practice: Daily self-Reiki forms the foundation of your healing journey.
- Five Principles: Ethical guidelines for living in harmony with Reiki energy.
- Complementary Practice: Reiki supports but does not replace conventional medical care.
What is Reiki Energy Healing
Reiki is a gentle yet profound healing art that originated in Japan. The word itself combines two Japanese characters: rei meaning universal or spiritual, and ki meaning life force energy. Together they describe a healing practice that channels universal energy through the hands to support wellbeing. This beginner reiki guide introduces you to the foundations of this transformative practice.
At its core, Reiki operates on the understanding that life force energy flows through all living beings. When this energy is strong and flowing freely, we experience health and vitality. When it becomes weak, blocked, or disrupted, we may experience illness, fatigue, or emotional distress. Reiki practitioners learn to act as channels for universal healing energy, directing it to where it is needed.
How Reiki Energy Works
Reiki practitioners believe that intelligent energy knows where to go and what to do. Unlike other healing modalities where the practitioner directs specific outcomes, Reiki practitioners simply open themselves as channels. The energy flows where it is most needed, addressing physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual imbalances. This makes Reiki safe for everyone, as the energy cannot cause harm.
During a session, recipients often feel warmth, gentle tingling, or deep relaxation. Some see colors or experience emotional release. Others simply fall asleep. The experience varies based on individual sensitivity and needs. The common thread is a sense of peace and restoration that continues after the session ends.
Reiki differs from other energy healing practices in its structured approach and attunement process. While anyone can place their hands with healing intention, traditional Reiki includes specific training levels and initiation ceremonies that open the practitioner's energy channels. This formal transmission from teacher to student distinguishes Reiki from other forms of hands-on healing.
History and Origins of Reiki
Reiki as we know it today began with Mikao Usui in Japan during the early 1920s. Usui was a spiritual seeker who embarked on a quest to discover ancient healing methods. After years of study, meditation, and spiritual practice, he experienced a profound awakening during a 21-day retreat on Mount Kurama. This mystical experience gave him the ability to heal and the knowledge to teach others.
Following his awakening, Usui established a clinic in Tokyo where he treated people and taught students. He developed the system of Reiki including the hand positions, symbols, and attunement process. Usui also created the five principles that provide ethical guidance for practitioners. His teachings spread throughout Japan and eventually to the West through his students.
The Lineage of Reiki
- Mikao Usui (1865-1926): Founder of Usui Reiki Ryoho after his spiritual awakening on Mount Kurama.
- Chujiro Hayashi (1880-1940): A retired naval officer who studied with Usui and opened his own clinic. He documented hand positions and expanded the system.
- Hawayo Takata (1900-1980): A Japanese-American woman who brought Reiki to the West after training with Hayashi in Japan. She taught 22 Reiki masters who spread the practice globally.
- Modern Reiki: Today, numerous branches exist including Usui Reiki, Karuna Reiki, and various fusion forms. All trace back to Usui's original teachings.
Hawayo Takata played a crucial role in bringing Reiki to the Western world. Born in Hawaii to Japanese immigrants, she traveled to Japan for surgery and instead found healing through Reiki. She trained extensively with Hayashi and returned to Hawaii as a Reiki master. Over the following decades, she taught 22 Reiki masters who spread the practice throughout North America and beyond.
Today, Reiki has evolved into numerous branches and styles while maintaining core principles. Traditional Japanese Reiki emphasizes spiritual development and meditation. Western Reiki often focuses on hands-on healing techniques. New forms like Karuna Reiki and Holy Fire Reiki have emerged. Despite variations, all forms share the essential practice of channeling universal life force energy for healing.
The Five Reiki Principles
Beyond the healing technique itself, Reiki offers guidance for living. The five Reiki principles, known in Japanese as the Gokai, provide a spiritual framework for practitioners. These principles are not rules but invitations to conscious living. Many practitioners recite them daily as part of their spiritual practice.
The principles are traditionally stated as "just for today," emphasizing present-moment awareness. This framing makes the ideals achievable. Rather than committing to permanent transformation, you focus on today. This approach acknowledges that personal growth happens gradually through consistent practice.
| Principle | Meaning | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Just for today, I will not be angry | Anger harms the self more than others | Notice anger rising, breathe, choose response |
| Just for today, I will not worry | Worry drains energy and solves nothing | Stay present, trust, take practical action |
| Just for today, I will be grateful | Gratitude shifts focus to abundance | List blessings, express thanks daily |
| Just for today, I will do my work honestly | Integrity in all endeavors | Be present, do your best, keep commitments |
| Just for today, I will be kind to all living things | Compassion extends to all beings | Practice loving-kindness, extend grace |
The first principle addresses anger. Anger creates energetic blockages and harms the angry person most. This principle invites awareness of anger's arising without suppression or expression. Instead, you notice anger and choose a conscious response. Over time, this practice transforms reactive patterns.
The second principle speaks to worry. Worry drains your energy while solving nothing. This does not mean ignoring real problems. Instead, it distinguishes between constructive planning and destructive rumination. Address what you can control. Release what you cannot. Trust the unfolding of life.
Living the Principles
Rudolf Steiner's teachings on ethical individualism complement the Reiki principles beautifully. Steiner emphasized that true morality emerges from individual spiritual development rather than external rules. The Reiki principles similarly invite internal transformation rather than forced compliance. As you practice Reiki and contemplate these principles, they gradually become lived reality rather than aspirational concepts.
Reiki Training and Attunement
Traditional Reiki training occurs in levels, each building upon the previous. This structured approach ensures practitioners develop skill and understanding progressively. While the number of levels varies by tradition, most follow a three or four-degree system.
Reiki I focuses on self-healing and direct physical contact. Students learn the history and principles of Reiki. They practice hand positions for treating themselves and others. Most importantly, they receive their first attunement, which opens their energy channels to receive and transmit Reiki. After Reiki I, practitioners can offer hands-on healing to themselves and others.
Reiki Training Levels
Reiki Level I (Shoden): Focuses on physical healing and self-practice. Students receive attunement to the Reiki energy and learn standard hand positions. Training typically takes 1-2 days with ongoing practice requirements.
Reiki Level II (Okuden): Introduces three Reiki symbols that focus and direct energy. Students learn distance healing, sending Reiki across space and time. Additional attunement strengthens the energy channel. Training takes 1-2 days.
Reiki Level III (Shinpiden) / Master: Teaches the master symbol and how to attune others. This level represents serious commitment to Reiki as a spiritual path. Training varies widely from intensive workshops to multi-year apprenticeships depending on the tradition.
The attunement process distinguishes Reiki from other healing modalities. During attunement, a Reiki master channels energy to open the student's crown, heart, and palm chakras. This creates a permanent connection to Reiki energy. The process is experiential rather than intellectual. Students often feel warmth, tingling, or emotional release during attunement.
Choosing a Reiki teacher requires care. Look for someone with whom you feel comfortable. Ask about their lineage and training. Inquire about ongoing support after class. A good teacher offers mentorship beyond the training weekend. Trust your intuition when selecting who will initiate you into this healing art.
Reiki Hand Positions
Reiki treatment follows standard hand positions that cover the major energy centers and organs. These positions ensure comprehensive treatment while allowing energy to flow where needed. Practitioners hold each position for 3-5 minutes or until they feel the energy shift.
The head positions address mental and emotional concerns. Practitioners place hands over the eyes, temples, sides of the head, and back of the head. These positions help with stress, headaches, and mental clarity. Many recipients experience deep relaxation here, sometimes falling asleep.
Standard Hand Positions
- Head: Covering the eyes, temples, crown, and back of head
- Throat: Cupping hands gently around the throat chakra
- Heart: Hands over the center of the chest
- Solar Plexus: Hands below the sternum over the stomach area
- Abdomen: Hands over the lower abdomen
- Hips: Hands on the hip bones
- Legs and Feet: Hands on knees, ankles, and feet
- Back: Positions along the spine if recipient is face down
The torso positions address major organs and chakras. The heart position supports emotional healing and circulation. The solar plexus position aids digestion and personal power. The abdominal position supports elimination and creativity. Practitioners may spend extra time in positions where they sense energy blockages.
Intuition guides hand placement alongside standard positions. Reiki practitioners learn to sense where energy is needed. They may be drawn to hold hands over specific areas of pain or tension. This intuitive approach personalizes treatment while the standard positions ensure comprehensive coverage.
Self-Reiki Practice
Self-Reiki forms the foundation of Reiki practice. Before treating others, practitioners establish their own daily self-care routine. This maintains their energy channels clear and their connection to Reiki strong. It also provides firsthand experience of Reiki's effects.
A daily self-Reiki practice typically takes 15-30 minutes. Practitioners work through the standard hand positions on themselves. They may also focus on areas where they feel discomfort or imbalance. Many practitioners begin their day with self-Reiki to establish energetic protection. Others practice before bed to promote restful sleep.
Benefits of Daily Self-Reiki
- Stress Reduction: Regular practice activates your parasympathetic nervous system, reducing cortisol and promoting calm.
- Energy Balance: Daily treatment keeps your energy system clear and flowing, preventing blockages from accumulating.
- Self-Awareness: Placing hands on your body develops body awareness and sensitivity to subtle energies.
- Spiritual Growth: The practice becomes a meditation, deepening your connection to yourself and universal energy.
- Empowerment: Self-healing reminds you that you hold the power to support your own wellbeing.
Self-Reiki requires some modification of hand positions. You cannot reach all positions used when treating others. Focus on accessible areas: your head, heart, solar plexus, abdomen, and any areas of discomfort. You can also treat your legs, knees, and feet. The energy flows where needed regardless of hand position.
Beyond formal hand positions, Reiki integrates into daily life. You can give yourself Reiki while watching television, lying in bed, or sitting in traffic. Brief moments of placing hands with intention maintain your energetic connection throughout the day. This informal practice extends Reiki's benefits beyond dedicated sessions.
Step-by-Step Self-Reiki Guide
Follow this comprehensive HowTo guide to begin your self-Reiki practice. These steps take you from preparation through a complete self-treatment session.
Step 1: Create Sacred Space
Find a quiet, comfortable space where you will not be disturbed during your practice. Turn off or silence your phone and other devices. Dim the lights or use candles to create soft illumination. Play gentle, instrumental music if it helps you relax. You might burn incense or diffuse essential oils like lavender or frankincense. Have blankets nearby in case you get cold. This environment signals to your body and mind that it is time for healing.
Step 2: Center and Ground
Sit comfortably or lie down on your back. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths. Inhale slowly through your nose, filling your lungs completely. Exhale fully through your mouth. Continue this breathing until you feel your body begin to relax. Visualize roots growing from the base of your spine or your feet, extending deep into the earth. Feel yourself grounded and supported by the earth beneath you.
Step 3: Invoke Reiki Energy
If you have received Reiki attunement and learned symbols, draw them in your mind's eye or with your hands over your body. Set a clear intention for your self-treatment. You might say silently or aloud: "I invite Reiki energy to flow through me for my highest healing and wellbeing." Ask for the energy to support whatever you need most today, whether physical healing, emotional release, mental clarity, or spiritual connection.
Step 4: Treat Head Positions
Place your hands gently over your eyes, with your fingers resting on your forehead and your palms cupping your eye sockets. Do not press; simply let your hands rest lightly. Hold this position for 3-5 minutes, allowing Reiki energy to flow to your eyes, sinuses, and mind. You may feel warmth, tingling, or gentle pulsing. When ready, move your hands to the sides of your head over your temples. Finally, place your hands on the back of your head, cradling your skull.
Step 5: Treat Heart Center
Move your hands to the center of your chest, over your heart chakra. Place one hand directly over your heart and the other on top, or place both hands side by side covering your chest area. This position supports emotional healing, stress release, and cardiovascular health. Hold for 3-5 minutes, breathing deeply into your heart space. Feel your heart opening to receive healing energy. Notice any sensations or emotions that arise without judgment.
Step 6: Treat Solar Plexus
Slide your hands down to your solar plexus, the area just below your sternum and above your navel. This is your power center, connected to digestion, personal will, and self-esteem. Place both hands here, one on top of the other or side by side. Hold for 3-5 minutes, feeling energy flow to this area. Many people hold tension here, so you may notice release as the energy works. Breathe deeply and allow any tension to dissolve.
Step 7: Treat Lower Abdomen
Move your hands to your lower abdomen, below your navel. This area relates to your root chakra, grounding, elimination, and creativity. Place both hands here, cupping your lower belly. Hold for 3-5 minutes, feeling energy flow to your foundation. This position supports grounding and connection to the physical world. It also aids digestive and reproductive health. Continue breathing deeply as the energy flows.
Step 8: Close with Gratitude
When you feel complete, bring your hands together in prayer position at the center of your chest. Take a moment to thank the Reiki energy for flowing through you. Thank yourself for taking this time for healing. Thank any spiritual guides or teachers who support your practice. Take three deep breaths, feeling the energy settling into your body. When you feel ready, gently open your eyes and ground yourself before rising. Drink water to help integrate the energy work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reiki and how does it work?
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique where practitioners channel universal life force energy through their hands to promote healing. The word combines rei meaning universal and ki meaning life energy. Practitioners believe this intelligent energy supports the body's natural healing abilities, reduces stress, and promotes deep relaxation. Reiki works on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels simultaneously. The practitioner acts as a channel rather than the source of healing, allowing energy to flow where it is most needed.
Do I need to be attuned to practice Reiki?
Traditional Usui Reiki requires attunement from a Reiki master to open your energy channels and connect you to Reiki energy. This ceremony, called reiju in Japanese, is typically performed during Reiki training. Once attuned, you can channel Reiki for life. However, you can practice hands-on healing and energy work without formal attunement. Many people naturally channel healing energy through their hands with intention. Formal Reiki training and attunement deepen and strengthen this ability, but the capacity to heal exists within everyone.
Can I practice Reiki on myself?
Yes, self-Reiki is a fundamental and essential practice. Once attuned, you can place your hands on or near your own body to channel healing energy. Daily self-Reiki helps maintain energy balance, reduces stress, supports physical healing, and promotes emotional wellbeing. Most practitioners begin and end each day with self-treatment. Standard self-treatment covers head positions, heart center, solar plexus, and abdomen. You can also treat any areas of discomfort or concern. Self-Reiki requires no special equipment and can be practiced anywhere.
What are the five Reiki principles?
The five Reiki principles, known as the Gokai in Japanese, provide ethical and spiritual guidance for practitioners. They are: Just for today, I will not be angry. Just for today, I will not worry. 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. The phrase "just for today" makes these principles manageable. They are not commandments but invitations to conscious living. Many practitioners recite them daily as part of their spiritual practice.
How long does it take to learn Reiki?
Reiki training occurs in progressive levels. Reiki I, which enables self-treatment and hands-on healing of others, typically requires one or two days of training plus personal practice time. Reiki II, which introduces symbols and distance healing, usually takes another 1-2 days. Reiki Master training varies widely, from intensive workshops to multi-year apprenticeships depending on the tradition and teacher. However, you can begin practicing and experiencing Reiki's benefits immediately after Reiki I attunement. Mastery develops over years of consistent practice.
Is Reiki a religion or spiritual practice?
Reiki is not a religion and requires no specific beliefs. People of all faiths and those with no religious affiliation practice and benefit from Reiki. However, Reiki does have spiritual elements including the five principles and the concept of universal energy. Many practitioners experience spiritual growth through Reiki, reporting deeper connection to themselves and something greater. This spiritual dimension is personal rather than doctrinal. Reiki complements rather than replaces religious practices. It can be integrated into any belief system or practiced purely as a wellness technique.
What can I expect during a Reiki session?
During a typical Reiki session, you lie fully clothed on a comfortable treatment table. The practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above your body in various positions. You may feel warmth, coolness, gentle tingling, or subtle pulsing sensations. Many people deeply relax or fall asleep. Some experience emotional release or see colors. Others feel nothing specific but notice improved wellbeing afterward. Sessions usually last 45-90 minutes. Afterward, you may feel calm, energized, emotional, or deeply peaceful. Effects vary based on individual needs and sensitivity to energy.
Can Reiki help with physical ailments?
Reiki supports overall wellbeing and complements conventional medical treatment, but it does not cure diseases or replace medical care. Research shows Reiki reduces stress, anxiety, and pain while promoting relaxation. Many hospitals now offer Reiki to support patient comfort and recovery. Reiki may help manage symptoms of various conditions including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and side effects of medical treatments. It supports the body's natural healing processes. Always consult healthcare providers for medical conditions and use Reiki as a complementary practice alongside, not instead of, conventional treatment.
Sources & References
- Thrane, S., & Cohen, S. M. (2014). Effect of Reiki therapy on pain and anxiety in adults: An in-depth literature review of randomized trials with effect size calculations. Pain Management Nursing, 15(4).
- Baldwin, A. L., et al. (2017). Reiki improves heart rate homeostasis in laboratory rats. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(10).
- Miles, P., & True, G. (2003). Reiki: Review of a biofield therapy history, theory, practice, and research. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 9(2).
- Usui, M. (2000). The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui. Lotus Press.
- Haber, P. (2004). Reiki: Hawayo Takata's Story. Blue Mountain Publications.
- Stein, D. (1995). Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art. Crossing Press.
- Rand, W. L. (1998). Reiki: The Healing Touch. Vision Publications.
- Barnett, L., & Chambers, M. (1996). Reiki Energy Medicine. Healing Arts Press.
- Furlong, D. (2000). The Healer Within: Initiations into the Reiki Healing Tradition. Piatkus.
- Nielsen, A., et al. (2012). The effect of Reiki on pain and anxiety in women with abdominal hysterectomies. Holistic Nursing Practice, 26(3).
Related Articles
Begin Your Reiki Journey
Explore our collection of sacred tools to support your energy healing practice. From cleansing crystals to meditation essentials, find everything you need for your path.
Shop Energy Healing ToolsYour Healing Hands
Reiki reminds us that healing energy is always available. It flows through you, around you, and within you. Your hands become instruments of peace. Your presence becomes a balm for suffering.
This practice asks nothing more than your willingness to show up and open to the energy. The healing happens through you, not from you. You are the channel, not the source.
May Reiki flow through your hands and heart, bringing healing to yourself and all beings you touch.