The Usui System of Natural Healing, commonly known as Reiki, incorporates symbols in it’s teachings and techniques. These symbols are used mainly in two ways, drawn in the air or on the body, or with their names chanted as a mantra
. Hawayo Takata, who introduced Reiki to the west, taught all her students that the symbols must be treated with respect and kept secret. Teachers today have different opinions about the subject, especially since they were published in Essential Reiki by Diane Stein, which includes both the names, and several different versions of the symbols.
This is the second book I ever read on Reiki, and I read it before my first Reiki class. For myself, even though I had read about them, I never used the symbols until I was taught them in my Reiki II class. My understanding was, that the symbols themselves do not work unless one is empowered by a Reiki Master through the attunement, which is the blessing received during training.
While I personally do not believe that the symbols are weakened in any way from publishing or distributing them, I made the decision to honor the tradition that I’ve been trained in to keep them confidential. It is my way of honoring them as sacred, and it was a personal choice. As I continue to work with Reiki, and the Reiki Symbols, I will learn about how they work with the energy. Right now, I view them as individual notes in the vibrational song that makes up Reiki. They are useful tools for meditation as well, helping me to focus on the different aspects of Reiki Healing.
I so agree with you about the power of the symbols. I think there’s no way that publishing them can diminish the power of Reiki. The symbols are constructs for human minds anyway…Reiki has no true form/construct except life. *smiles*
I do share the symbols with my students from the first class, but I don’t publish or write about them otherwise as I think that they ought to be something that is specifically sought, not just dumped in someone’s lap because they happened to stop by my blog or picked up a paper with an article in it that I wrote. I believe in the power of calling. Some are called to be healers, and so the symbols are for them. I see no reason to hide the symbols though, once they have sought the class.
I do believe that the symbols have some small power to heal and help even if one is not attuned to them, but like Reiki, they can do no harm if they are used before one is attuned to them properly.
I think we each reach our own conclusions and that what’s important is to follow our hearts.
I think there are some very good material in Diane’s book and that its a good read for those new to Reiki. I love just as well a number of other books besides Diane’s, but I’ve not got the titles handy to share them. Another time perhaps I’ll write a post on them. Blessings!!
Hi Greenwoman,
Thank you for sharing your insight into the reiki symbols, and how you approach using and teaching them. It’s something fresh in my mind, since I was just attuned to the Usui Master Symbol in my Advanced Reiki Training class last Saturday.
There are so many books out there on healing and Reiki, with more being published all the time. I love to learn, and each book is a chance for me to share in someone else’s experience.
It’s funny how I can love much of what an author says, but I still use my own mind and heart to discern what is right for me.
I have always been interested in Reiki and I have a couple of books in my library on it. I was interested one time in taking this course but the outrageous amount of money for just a 1 hr lesson wasn’t possible. But just the same I’m glad I found your blog.
Hi Emerald Wynds, thanks for stopping by. I’ve never heard of Reiki training taking only one hour, each class I’ve taken has been at least four hours, and most take 6-8 hours. If you truly are interested, I suggest you shop around. Most Reiki Master Teachers who have websites clearly post their rates online.
Reiki sessions are usually priced similar to massage therapy, and it is a healing session not a class.
Reiki training is something that I have to save up for, but I’ve found it well worth it.