Reiki Levels Explained: Your Guide to Level 1, 2, and Master Training

The Origins of Reiki: Mikao Usui and Mt. Kurama

Reiki was not invented in the conventional sense. Mikao Usui described it as something he received, an experience of sudden illumination that arrived after years of dedicated seeking.

Usui was born in 1865 in the Yamagata district of Gifu prefecture, Japan. He studied widely across his life, including medicine, Buddhism, and the classical Chinese writings on energy and health. By middle age, he was searching for a method of healing that worked at a fundamental level, something that addressed the energy beneath physical symptoms rather than the symptoms themselves.

In early 1922, Usui spent 21 days on Mt. Kurama, a mountain north of Kyoto that had long been considered a site of spiritual power in Japanese tradition. He fasted, meditated, and practised intense concentration. On the final day, he reported a sudden surge of energy entering through the crown of his head, followed by an experience of light and sacred symbols appearing in his awareness. When he descended the mountain, he found he could channel healing energy through his hands.

Usui opened a clinic in Tokyo and began teaching what he called Usui Reiki Ryoho (the Usui method of natural healing). He attracted thousands of students before his death in 1926. Among his most senior students was Chujiro Hayashi, a retired naval officer, who developed the systematic hand positions that most Western Reiki training now uses.

From Japan to the West: The Takata Lineage

Hawayo Takata is the person most responsible for bringing Reiki to the Western world. Born in Hawaii in 1900 to Japanese immigrant parents, she travelled to Japan in 1935 seeking treatment for a serious illness. She found her way to Hayashi's clinic in Tokyo, received Reiki treatments, and recovered fully over several months.

Takata then trained under Hayashi, receiving all three levels of Reiki instruction. She returned to Hawaii and began practicing in 1937. Over the following decades, she adapted the teaching for Western students, simplifying some of the Japanese concepts and presenting Reiki in terms that resonated with American and European audiences.

Before her death in 1980, Takata initiated 22 Reiki Masters, each of whom went on to teach and initiate their own students. Every Western Reiki practitioner today can theoretically trace their lineage back through Takata to Hayashi and Usui, though records vary in completeness.

In Japan, the original Gakkai (society) continued teaching separately, and some of their methods differ from what Takata transmitted. The two streams, often called the Western lineage and the Japanese lineage, have influenced each other since the 1990s as practitioners began sharing research and revisiting primary sources.

The Five Reiki Principles (Gokai)

Usui taught that healing required more than energy transmission. It required the student to work on themselves ethically and spiritually. He encoded this understanding in five short principles, known in Japanese as the Gokai.

Translated from Usui's original Japanese, they read:

• 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 significant. Usui understood that lasting change is made in small units of time. Asking a student to commit to non-anger for a lifetime is overwhelming. Asking them to hold it for one day is manageable and builds genuine inner discipline.

Practitioners are encouraged to recite the Gokai each morning, ideally with hands pressed together in the Gassho position. This is not a religious ritual but a form of conscious intention-setting that orients the day toward healing rather than reactivity.

How Reiki Energy Works

The concept at the centre of Reiki is that a universal life-force energy underlies and animates all living things. In Japanese, this is called ki. In Chinese, chi or qi. In Sanskrit, prana. Different traditions have named it differently, but the underlying understanding is consistent: life depends on the flow of this energy through and around the body.

When energy flows freely, health is supported. When it stagnates, is blocked, or becomes depleted, physical, emotional, or mental difficulties tend to follow. Reiki is understood as a method of supporting the free flow of ki by channelling additional energy through a trained practitioner's hands.

The practitioner does not use their own personal energy. This is a common misunderstanding. Instead, the attunement process opens the practitioner as a channel for universal energy. They become a conduit rather than a source. This is why experienced Reiki practitioners typically feel energised rather than drained after sessions, in contrast to people who give from their own reserves.

The hands are the primary point of connection. Practitioners place them gently on or just above the body in a series of positions covering the head, torso, and limbs. Heat, tingling, pulsing, or a sense of deep stillness are common sensations reported by both practitioners and recipients during sessions.

Research into Reiki's mechanisms remains limited by methodological challenges. Some studies suggest effects on physiological markers including heart rate variability, cortisol levels, and pain perception. A 2019 systematic review published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found moderate evidence supporting Reiki's effectiveness for pain and anxiety reduction compared to sham treatment.

Reiki Level 1 (Shoden): The Foundation

The Japanese word Shoden means "first teachings" or "initial transmission." Level 1 is where every Reiki path begins. Its focus is almost entirely on the practitioner themselves and on the people physically present with them.

The Level 1 Attunement

A Level 1 class typically runs over one or two days. The central event is the attunement ceremony, sometimes called an initiation. The teacher moves around each seated student in a specific pattern, using breath, intention, and (in many lineages) the drawing of symbols in the student's energy field to open and align the energy channels.

Most students notice something during the attunement: warmth in the hands or crown, a sense of colour or light behind closed eyes, emotional release, or simply a profound sense of peace. Some notice nothing in the moment but find their hands feel different when they practice afterward. Both responses are normal.

What Level 1 Covers

Beyond the attunement, a thorough Level 1 course includes the history of Reiki (Usui, Hayashi, Takata), an introduction to the Gokai, basic energy anatomy (the seven primary chakras and the concept of ki), the full sequence of self-treatment hand positions, and an introduction to treating others in person.

The standard self-treatment sequence covers 12 positions:

• Head positions (4): Over the eyes, temples, back of the head, and throat/jaw
• Front torso positions (4): Heart, solar plexus, navel, and lower abdomen
• Back positions (4): Shoulder blades, mid-back, lower back, and sacrum

Practitioners hold each position for 3-5 minutes, allowing energy to flow where it is drawn. The full self-treatment takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

The 21-Day Clearing Period

After receiving an attunement, the body goes through a period of adjustment that many teachers describe as a "clearing." This typically runs for 21 days (reflecting Usui's own 21-day practice on the mountain). During this time, students may notice heightened emotions, vivid dreams, physical releases such as fatigue or temporary achiness, or simply a new sensitivity to energy in their environment.

Daily self-treatment during this period supports the clearing process. Many teachers recommend keeping a journal to track changes in sensation, mood, and awareness.

Developing Energy Sensitivity

One of the most valuable outcomes of Level 1 practice is the gradual development of sensitivity to subtle energy. Over weeks and months, practitioners learn to feel differences in temperature or density in their hands as they move them above different body areas. This sensitivity becomes an important tool for locating areas of energetic imbalance in later practice.

Reiki Level 2 (Okuden): Symbols and Distance Healing

Okuden means "inner teachings" or "hidden teachings." This name reflects the fact that Level 2 material was historically reserved for students who had demonstrated consistent Level 1 practice and personal readiness. The content here is more complex and more energetically potent than Level 1.

The Three Level 2 Symbols

The defining feature of Level 2 is the introduction of three sacred symbols, each with a name, a visual form, and specific applications.

Cho Ku Rei (the power symbol): This spiral symbol is used to concentrate and amplify Reiki energy. It is drawn (in the air, on paper, or visualised internally) to activate energy at the start of a session, to protect a space, or to intensify the effect of the other symbols. Its name is often translated as "place the power of the universe here."

Sei He Ki (the mental and emotional symbol): This symbol addresses the mental and emotional layers of a person's energy field. It is used for clearing old emotional patterns, supporting mental clarity, working with habits and addictions, and amplifying affirmations. Many practitioners find it particularly effective for anxiety, grief, and deeply held beliefs that resist ordinary change.

Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (the distance symbol): This is perhaps the most striking of the three. It is understood to transcend the usual limitations of space and time, allowing a practitioner to send Reiki to a person, situation, or event regardless of physical location. The name is sometimes translated as "no past, no present, no future" or "the Buddha in me reaches the Buddha in you."

Distance Healing in Practice

Distance healing is one of the aspects of Reiki that people find most surprising. To conduct a distance session, the practitioner typically creates a proxy (a photograph, a pillow, or simply a strong intention held in mind) to represent the recipient. They activate Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, set clear intention, and then proceed through the hand positions as if the person were physically present.

Distance sessions are scheduled in advance so the recipient can relax and receive at the agreed time. Many clients report sensations during distance sessions that match the practitioner's notes about which areas were treated.

Working with Clients Professionally

Level 2 is widely regarded as the point at which practitioners are prepared to work with paying clients. The symbols add depth and precision to sessions. The capacity for distance work expands the practical reach of the practice. Many practitioners at this level begin setting up treatment spaces, developing intake forms, and establishing professional boundaries.

A thorough Level 2 course also covers professional ethics, contraindications, working with vulnerable populations, and documentation. These elements are as important as the energetic content.

Reiki Master Level (Shinpiden): Teaching the Path

Shinpiden means "mystery teachings." The Master level is the third and final stage of Reiki training. It confers the master symbol, deepens the practitioner's own energetic capacity, and (in the Teacher track) qualifies them to initiate others through the attunement process.

The Master Symbol (Dai Ko Myo)

The master symbol is understood to carry the highest vibrational frequency of the four Reiki symbols. It is associated with enlightenment, the light of the great bright glory, and the direct transmission of Reiki consciousness. In practice, it is used to deepen sessions, strengthen the practitioner's own field, and activate all other symbols simultaneously.

There are two commonly used versions of Dai Ko Myo: the Usui version (used in most Western lineages) and a Tibetan version introduced into some lineages in the 1980s. Both are considered valid by their respective teachers.

The Attunement Process: Passing the Transmission

The most significant skill taught at the Master Teacher level is the ability to perform attunements. This is a precise ritual procedure, differing for each of the three levels. The teacher learns the specific hand movements, symbol placements, breath patterns, and intentions involved in opening another person's energy channels.

This is not something that can be learned from a book. It requires direct transmission from a qualified teacher, repeated practice on willing students, and ongoing refinement. Many master teachers continue developing their attunement work for years after completing their own training.

Responsibility and Ethics at the Master Level

Taking the Master level carries real responsibility. A Reiki Master Teacher holds a lineage: a chain of transmission stretching back (in verified lineages) through Takata, Hayashi, and Usui himself. Every student they attune becomes a link in that chain.

This weight is not meant to intimidate but to orientate. The ethical stance of a Reiki teacher affects every student they train. A teacher who rushes students through levels for financial gain, who conflates Reiki with medical diagnosis, or who lacks personal integrity can cause real harm, not through the energy itself but through the distortion of students' understanding and expectations.

The International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP) and the UK Reiki Federation both publish ethical codes that address these concerns. Serious teachers will be aware of and aligned with these standards.

Master Practitioner vs. Master Teacher: Understanding the Distinction

Many Reiki lineages now offer two distinct pathways at the Master level. Understanding the difference matters both for students choosing their training and for clients assessing practitioners.

Reiki Master Practitioner: This person has received the master symbol and works at the highest level of hands-on and distance healing. Their sessions carry the full depth of Master-level energy. They do not, however, teach formal Reiki courses or perform attunements on others. This path suits someone who wants to deepen their healing practice without taking on the teaching role.

Reiki Master Teacher: This person completes the full Master training, including the attunement ceremony procedure, lesson planning, ethics, and teaching skills. They are qualified to offer Level 1, Level 2, and Master-level courses and to initiate new practitioners. This is a significantly greater commitment of training time and ongoing professional development.

Not every Reiki practitioner needs to become a teacher. Some highly skilled and deeply experienced healers work their entire career at the Level 2 or Master Practitioner level with complete integrity. The decision to teach should come from genuine calling rather than a sense that it is the expected next step.

How to Choose a Reiki Teacher

The quality of a Reiki teacher shapes the quality of the attunement and the foundation the student builds. Choosing carefully at the start saves considerable confusion later.

Lineage and Verification

Ask any prospective teacher who taught them, and who taught their teacher. A genuine Reiki lineage is traceable. Your teacher should be able to provide their lineage in writing. If they cannot name their own teacher, be cautious.

Length of lineage is not necessarily an indicator of quality (a teacher three generations from Usui may be excellent, while one closer to the source may be careless), but traceability indicates accountability. It shows the teacher was trained by someone real who can be verified.

In-Person vs. Online Attunements

The debate about online attunements is genuine and ongoing within the Reiki community. Those who support them argue that Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (the distance symbol) supports energy transmission across space, so a distance attunement is energetically equivalent to an in-person one. Those who oppose them argue that the physical presence of teacher and student matters to the quality of transmission, and that online training makes it easier for unqualified teachers to take money without accountability.

The honest position is that this depends heavily on the specific teacher and student. A highly experienced teacher offering a thoughtfully structured online course may provide a better experience than an unprepared teacher delivering a chaotic in-person weekend. However, for students who have access to a qualified in-person teacher, in-person training generally offers more opportunity for hands-on guidance, feedback, and energetic exchange.

Questions to Ask Before Committing

• What is your lineage? Can you provide this in writing?
• How long was your own training at each level?
• Do you offer ongoing support after attunement?
• What does your course include beyond the attunement itself?
• Are you a member of a professional body?
• How do you approach ethics and professional boundaries?

A teacher who welcomes these questions and answers them thoughtfully is far more trustworthy than one who becomes defensive or dismissive.

Red Flags

Be alert to teachers who promise healing of specific medical conditions, who pressure students to complete all levels quickly, who charge unusually high fees without clear justification, or who position themselves as uniquely gifted healers whose transmission is superior to others. Good Reiki teachers tend toward humility about the practice and clear boundaries about what Reiki does and does not do.

Building a Career as a Reiki Practitioner

Reiki has grown steadily as a complementary health practice. The UK's National Health Service lists Reiki as one of the complementary therapies offered at some hospitals and hospices. In North America, Reiki is offered at a growing number of integrative medicine centres, cancer care facilities, and palliative care programmes.

Setting Up a Practice

Most practitioners begin seeing clients from a home treatment room or by renting space in a wellness centre. The practical necessities include a professional treatment table, clean linens, liability insurance through a recognised professional body, a basic intake form and consent process, and a clear written scope of practice that does not make medical claims.

Reiki is not a regulated profession in most jurisdictions, which means almost anyone can call themselves a Reiki practitioner. Joining a professional organisation and adhering to its standards is the practitioner's own responsibility. The IARP, the UK Reiki Federation, and Reiki Canada all offer membership, insurance, and professional development resources.

Building a Client Base

Word of mouth remains the most reliable source of clients for Reiki practitioners. Offering free or reduced-rate sessions to friends and family in the early months builds experience and generates referrals. Partnering with yoga studios, massage therapists, acupuncturists, and naturopaths creates natural referral networks.

Online presence matters increasingly. A clear website that explains what Reiki is, what sessions involve, and what clients can reasonably expect helps potential clients self-select appropriately and arrives with realistic expectations.

Continuing Development

Good practitioners do not stop learning after their Master certification. Many explore Japanese Reiki techniques (returning to primary sources through teachers trained in Japan), study energy anatomy in greater depth through traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda, or develop specialist skills in working with particular populations such as children, the elderly, or people with cancer.

Combining Reiki with Crystal Healing

The combination of Reiki and crystal healing is natural and well-established among practitioners. Both work with subtle energy. Crystals are understood in energy healing traditions as having stable vibrational frequencies that can interact with and influence the human energy field. Reiki provides the animating intention and channel; crystals contribute their specific frequencies and amplifying qualities.

How Crystals Are Used in Reiki Sessions

The most common approach is chakra placement. The practitioner lays appropriate crystals on the client's body at each of the seven major chakra points before beginning the hand positions. The crystals are left in place throughout the session, creating a stable energetic grid. Common choices include:

• Clear quartz: Placed at the crown chakra or used universally as an amplifier of intention and energy
• Amethyst: Third eye and crown, supporting spiritual awareness and deep calm
• Rose quartz: Heart chakra, for emotional healing and self-acceptance
• Citrine: Solar plexus, supporting personal power and emotional clarity
• Black tourmaline: Root chakra or held in the hands, for grounding and protection

Practitioners may also hold a crystal in their non-dominant hand while treating with the dominant hand, or sweep crystals through the client's aura at the start or end of a session.

Clear Quartz as a Reiki Tool

Among all crystals, clear quartz is the most versatile for Reiki work. It is sometimes called the master healer because it does not carry a fixed energetic agenda but amplifies whatever intention and energy is directed through it. A pointed clear quartz crystal can be used to draw Reiki symbols in the energy field before placing the hands, to focus energy on a specific point, or to scan the aura for areas of density or depletion.

Explore the full range of healing crystals and dedicated Reiki tools to support your practice at home or in your treatment room.

Cleansing and Programming Crystals for Reiki Work

Crystals used in healing work absorb energetic residue and require regular cleansing. Common methods include: placing them in moonlight overnight, smudging with sage or palo santo, placing them on a selenite charging plate, or briefly immersing water-safe stones in running water. After cleansing, many practitioners hold the crystal in both hands, activate Cho Ku Rei, and set a clear intention for the stone's role in healing work. This "programming" aligns the crystal's energy with the specific healing purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions