Quick Answer
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice developed by Mikao Usui in the 1920s. Practitioners channel universal life energy (ki) through light touch to support relaxation and wellbeing. It is used as a complementary therapy worldwide, though clinical evidence remains limited and ongoing.
Key Takeaways
- Reiki was developed by Mikao Usui in Japan following a spiritual experience on Mount Kurama in 1922.
- The practice is based on the concept of ki, a universal life force energy recognized across multiple healing traditions under different names.
- A standard Reiki session involves light hand placement on or above the body, lasting 60 to 90 minutes.
- Scientific research on Reiki is emerging but limited; most findings point to relaxation and stress reduction benefits.
- Reiki is organized into three training levels, culminating in a master level that qualifies practitioners to teach and attune others.
The Origins of Reiki
Reiki was developed by Mikao Usui (1865–1926), a Japanese Buddhist laymen and spiritual practitioner. The system as he taught it emerged following what he described as a profound mystical experience during a 21-day meditation retreat on Mount Kurama, near Kyoto, in March 1922. After that retreat, Usui founded his first clinic in Tokyo and began teaching what he called Usui Reiki Ryoho: the Usui System of Reiki Healing.
The Usui Legacy
Usui did not claim to have invented a new practice. He described Reiki as a rediscovery of a natural healing capacity present in human beings. He was deeply influenced by Tendai Buddhist practices, Shinto, and the older Japanese energy tradition of kiko (the Japanese equivalent of qigong). His system was notably non-dogmatic: students were not required to adopt any particular religious belief.
Usui trained approximately 2,000 students before his death in 1926. One of his senior students, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, developed a more structured hand-placement protocol. Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman, brought Reiki to the West after receiving training from Hayashi in the 1930s. She is largely responsible for Reiki's global spread, having trained 22 Reiki masters before her death in 1980.
It is worth noting that some biographical details circulated in early Western Reiki literature have been revised by later historical research. Contemporary scholars, including Frank Arjava Petter, have worked directly with the Usui Memorial in Japan to recover more accurate accounts of Usui's life and methods.
Today, Reiki is practiced in hospitals, hospices, private clinics, and personal settings across more than 80 countries. The World Health Organization has classified it as a traditional and complementary medicine modality.
How Reiki Works: The Theory of Ki
The word "Reiki" is formed from two Japanese characters: rei (universal or spiritually guided) and ki (life force energy). The underlying premise is that a subtle vital energy permeates all living things, and that disruptions or depletion of this energy contribute to physical, emotional, and mental imbalance.
A Reiki healer acts as a conduit. The practitioner does not draw on their own personal energy; instead, they are trained to channel what Usui described as universal energy, directing it where the recipient's system needs it most.
Ki Across Traditions
The concept underlying Reiki is not unique to Japan. Nearly every major healing and spiritual tradition has articulated a similar idea under different names. In Chinese medicine and martial arts, this energy is called qi or chi. In the Sanskrit-rooted traditions of India, it is prana, the animating breath described at length in Vedic texts and central to both Ayurveda and yogic practice. Ancient Greek medicine spoke of pneuma, a vital spirit threading through the body. In the Western esoteric tradition, Franz Anton Mesmer proposed "animal magnetism" in the 18th century, a concept that, while ultimately discredited in its original form, anticipated modern biofield theories.
These traditions differ significantly in their cosmologies, methods, and therapeutic frameworks. But their shared recognition of a subtle animating force suggests that practitioners across cultures were attempting to describe something they consistently observed, even if the language and explanatory models diverge. Understanding this cross-cultural pattern enriches the study of Reiki without requiring a literal equivalence between systems. For a broader view of how energy concepts map to the body's energy centers, see our guide to chakra symbols.
Within the Reiki framework, this life force flows through pathways in the body and concentrates at energy centers that correspond broadly to the chakra system. Blockages or imbalances in this flow are believed to manifest as dis-ease. Reiki treatment is intended to restore balance and support the body's innate capacity for healing.
What Happens in a Reiki Session
A Reiki session is a calm, non-invasive experience. The recipient remains fully clothed and lies on a massage table. Sessions typically last between 60 and 90 minutes, though shorter sessions of 30 minutes are common in clinical settings.
The practitioner moves through a series of hand positions, placing their palms lightly on or just above the body. Common positions include the head, neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, hips, knees, and feet. The sequence follows the locations associated with the major chakras and organ systems. There is no manipulation, pressure, or massage involved.
Recipients often report sensations of warmth, gentle tingling, or a floating sense of deep relaxation during the session. Some fall asleep. Others experience emotional releases, visual impressions, or a simple, profound sense of stillness. Responses vary widely, and practitioners are trained not to promise specific outcomes.
A Simple Self-Reiki Practice
Self-Reiki is one of the foundational practices taught at First Degree level. You do not need formal training to begin experimenting with intentional hand placement as a relaxation practice.
- Settle. Sit or lie in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and take three slow, deep breaths to arrive in your body.
- Heart center. Place both palms gently over your sternum. Feel the natural warmth of your hands. Hold for 3 to 5 minutes, breathing slowly.
- Solar plexus. Move your hands to just below the ribcage. This is the seat of the Manipura chakra, associated with personal power and digestion. Hold for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Crown. Cup your hands lightly over the top of your head without pressing. Hold for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Close. Bring your hands to your lap, palms up. Breathe naturally for one minute before opening your eyes.
This practice is best done daily, ideally in the morning or before sleep. Set a clear intention before you begin: not to fix anything, but simply to be present with yourself.
After a session, practitioners typically recommend drinking water, resting if possible, and allowing 24 to 48 hours for the body to integrate the experience. Some people report feeling energized; others feel tired and need rest. Both are considered normal responses.
The Five Reiki Principles
Mikao Usui placed ethical and mental practice at the center of Reiki, not merely hand placement. He taught five precepts, known in Japanese as the Gokai, which students were expected to recite morning and evening as a form of meditative affirmation.
The precepts are often translated as:
- 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" is deliberate. It reflects a Buddhist-influenced understanding that transformation happens through present-moment attention, not distant aspiration. Each precept is also a specific antidote: to anger, anxiety, ingratitude, dishonesty, and cruelty.
These principles distinguish Reiki from purely mechanical healing modalities. Usui was insistent that without inner work, the technique alone was insufficient. The Gokai remain central to traditional Reiki teaching and are a useful daily practice even outside a formal Reiki context.
Scientific Research on Reiki
The scientific investigation of Reiki is still in its early stages, and honest reporting requires acknowledging both what the research suggests and its current limitations.
Biofield Research and the Scientific Perspective
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States has used the term "biofield therapies" to describe practices like Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and Healing Touch. A biofield, as described in NIH literature, is a field of energy and information that surrounds and permeates living systems. This framing acknowledges the phenomenon under study without committing to any particular causal mechanism.
A 2014 systematic review published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine analyzed 13 randomized controlled trials of Reiki and found a significant effect on pain, anxiety, and depression compared to sham treatments in some studies, but noted that many trials had methodological weaknesses including small sample sizes and lack of blinding. A 2019 meta-analysis in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine reached similar conclusions: Reiki appears to outperform placebo in reducing anxiety and pain, but the evidence base is not yet strong enough to support clinical recommendations without qualification.
Research from the HeartMath Institute and work by biophysicist Fritz-Albert Popp on biophoton emission suggest that living organisms do generate measurable electromagnetic fields. Whether the specific mechanisms proposed in Reiki practice correspond to these measurable fields remains unestablished. The honest position is that the biological plausibility of biofield therapies is being actively investigated, not confirmed or dismissed.
Several hospital systems, including the Cleveland Clinic and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, offer Reiki as part of integrative oncology programs, citing patient-reported benefits for stress, nausea, and pain during treatment. These programs operate on a pragmatic basis: if patients find it helpful and there is no harm, the evidence threshold for complementary use is lower than for primary medical intervention.
Critics rightly point out that many positive Reiki studies do not adequately control for the therapeutic benefits of sustained, attentive, caring touch. Being held and attended to by another person has well-documented relaxation and psychological benefits independent of any energy transfer. Separating those effects from any proposed energetic mechanism remains a central methodological challenge.
The field is not stagnant. Researchers are developing better sham protocols and measurement tools. For now, Reiki is most accurately described as a practice with plausible mechanisms under investigation and measurable benefits for relaxation and subjective wellbeing, used responsibly as a complement to, not a replacement for, conventional medical care.
How to Learn Reiki: Levels and Attunement
Reiki is transmitted through a process called attunement (or reiju in the Japanese tradition). An attunement is a ritual performed by a Reiki master that is said to open and align the student's energy channels, enabling them to channel Reiki consciously. This transmission-based model means Reiki cannot be learned solely from books; a qualified teacher is required.
Traditional Usui Reiki is organized into three levels:
First Degree: Shoden
The foundational level covers the history and principles of Reiki, self-treatment, and treating others in person. Students receive four attunements and learn the standard hand positions for full-body treatment. A First Degree course is typically delivered over a weekend of approximately 8 to 12 hours of instruction.
Second Degree: Okuden
At this level, students are introduced to three sacred symbols used in Reiki practice. These symbols are used to focus intention, increase the depth of treatment, and enable distance healing, the ability to direct Reiki to a recipient who is not physically present. Second Degree training typically requires prior experience at First Degree and is a prerequisite for teaching.
Third Degree: Shinpiden (Reiki Master)
The master level equips practitioners to teach Reiki and perform attunements for others. It involves a master symbol, advanced practices, and in many lineages, a period of mentorship. The designation "Reiki master" indicates teaching qualification, not spiritual mastery in a broader sense. Quality of training varies significantly across lineages and teachers; students are encouraged to research their prospective teacher's training background and lineage.
The question of lineage matters in Reiki. Because the practice passes through direct transmission, a clear, traceable lineage from teacher back to Usui (or, in some branches, to Hayashi or Takata) is considered a mark of authenticity. Reputable teachers will share their lineage on request.
Understanding the energetic anatomy underlying Reiki practice is deepened by familiarity with the chakra system. The Ajna chakra (the third eye) and its role in intuitive perception is particularly relevant for practitioners working at Second and Third Degree levels. The nature of the aura and its relationship to the biofield is also worth studying. For a foundational understanding of what an aura is and how it is understood across traditions, see our guide to what is an aura.
Bringing It Together
Reiki is both simpler and more nuanced than its popular reputation suggests. At its simplest, it is a system of intentional, compassionate touch paired with ethical self-cultivation, developed by a thoughtful Japanese practitioner in the early 20th century and refined by successive generations of teachers.
At its deeper level, Reiki points toward questions that remain genuinely open: the nature of vital energy, the relationship between consciousness and healing, and the degree to which the quality of a healer's presence itself constitutes a therapeutic variable. These are not questions that current science has closed.
Whether approached as a spiritual practice, a relaxation technique, or a subject of serious inquiry, Reiki rewards engagement on its own terms. The most reliable entry point is direct experience: find a well-trained practitioner, receive a session, and assess for yourself what the practice offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reiki in simple terms?
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. Practitioners channel what they believe to be universal life energy through their hands to promote relaxation, stress reduction, and the body's natural healing processes.
What happens during a Reiki session?
During a Reiki session, the client lies fully clothed on a treatment table while the practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above specific areas of the body. Sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Many recipients report feeling warmth, tingling, or deep relaxation.
Is Reiki scientifically proven?
Current scientific evidence for Reiki is limited and methodologically mixed. Some studies suggest benefits for stress and pain reduction comparable to relaxation techniques, but rigorous clinical trials are few. Mainstream medicine generally considers Reiki a complementary practice rather than a standalone treatment.
How many levels of Reiki are there?
Traditional Usui Reiki has three levels: First Degree (Shoden), which covers in-person self-healing and treating others; Second Degree (Okuden), which introduces distance healing and sacred symbols; and Third Degree (Shinpiden), the master level, which includes the ability to teach and attune others.
Can anyone learn Reiki?
Yes. Reiki is taught as a learnable skill passed through attunement from a qualified Reiki master. No prior healing experience or spiritual background is required. First Degree training is typically a weekend workshop, after which students can practice on themselves and others.
Sources
- Petter, Frank Arjava. Reiki Fire. Lotus Light Publications, 1997.
- Usui, Mikao, and Frank Arjava Petter. The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui. Lotus Light Publications, 1999.
- Rand, William Lee. Reiki: The Healing Touch. Vision Publications, 2005.
- Thrane, S., and S. M. Cohen. "Effect of Reiki Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Adults." Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014. doi:10.1177/2156587214537745
- Demir Doğan, M. "The Effect of Reiki on Pain: A Meta-analysis." Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2018. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.01.002
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). "Reiki: What You Need to Know." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, updated 2021. nccih.nih.gov
- Rubik, B., et al. "Biofield Science and Healing: History, Terminology, and Concepts." Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 2015. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2015.038.suppl
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "Integrative Medicine: Reiki." mskcc.org, accessed 2026.