Reiki symbols hold deep meaning and power. They connect us to divine energy and the wisdom of healers that spans generations. When drawing or visualizing these symbols, we tap into a sacred stream - an invisible force that transcends time and space.
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Reiki is a spiritual healing practice that originated in Japan in the early 1920s. The word “Reiki” translates to “universal life energy.” At its heart, the practice of Reiki involves channeling healing energy through a person’s hands.
Central to Reiki are a series of symbols that were developed by the founder, Mikao Usui, during his spiritual training on Mount Kurama. These symbols, serve as focal points to concentrate Reiki energy during healing sessions and rituals.
In traditional Reiki training, students are typically initiated into each symbol by a Reiki Master. This attunes them to the unique vibrational frequency and purpose of each sigil. Practitioners then use meditation, visualization and hand positions to access the qualities innate to each symbol, which facilitates intuitive healing.
While not as ancient as once thought, the Reiki symbols still carry meaning and mystical origins. As we trace their graceful lines and curves, their energies resonate deeply through our consciousness. Working with them bridges the finite reality of our egoic identities to the infinite wisdom within our spiritual essence. They beckon us inward for self-reflection and self-mastery in order to heal ourselves, so that we may heal others.
History Of Usui Reiki Symbols
The origins of Reiki symbols trace back to the founder of Usui Reiki, Mikao Usui, in the early 1920s. As the story goes, Usui embarked on a 21 day retreat on Mount Kurama to develop a healing system based on energy channeled from the universe. On the final day, symbols came to him in mystical visions that held keys to accessing this energy.
Usui originally developed a total of 5 symbols:
- Cho Ku Rei (Power Symbol)
- Sei He Ki (Harmony Symbol)
- Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (Distance Symbol)
- Dai Ko Myo (Master Symbol)
- Raku (Completion Symbol)
After Usui introduced these Reiki symbols, he passed them down through his lineage of Reiki masters. One of his students, Chujiro Hayashi, went on to refine the Reiki system with a more structured format of hand positions.
An adapted form of Reiki emerged through Hawayo Takata, who brought Reiki from Japan to the west in 1937. As Reiki spread globally over the 20th century, some variations in symbols developed depending on different Reiki masters. For example, in Raku Kei Reiki, an alternate distance symbol ‘Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen’ is sometimes used instead. However, Usui's original symbols are still most prominent across Reiki lineages today.
The symbols serve as focal points for connecting to specific energies depending on the desired healing outcome when performing Reiki. Though their origins remain shrouded in mystery, Reiki healers and patients alike continue to experience their efficacy and enduring impact to this day.
Reiki Attunements
Reiki symbols hold the keys to accessing universal healing energy through specific frequencies encoded within each sacred sign. However, for practitioners to fully unlock, embody and direct the symbol’s potential, they must first receive formal activations and attunements.
Within Reiki training, attunement rituals performed by a Reiki Master serve a pivotal purpose - they awaken a student’s ability to channel the qualities conveyed by each symbol into purposeful practice. Through a process of intention, visualization, mantras and laying of hands, the Reiki Master calibrates a student’s energy field to align with the unique vibrations inherent to each symbol.
Effectively, it establishes an energetic pathway linking the symbols, practitioner’s higher consciousness, and the infinity of healing frequencies available from the quantum field. Much like tuning an instrument, attunements optimize one’s capacity to resonant with - and through - the dimensional portals the symbols provide access to.
Cho Ku Rei (Power Symbol)
Cho Ku Rei is a Japanese term that translates to:
Place the power of the universe here.
It's derived from the Japanese kanji characters:
- "Cho" (長) meaning "direct" or "long"
- "Ku" (久) meaning "eternity" or "universe"
- "Rei" (霊) meaning "spirit" or "soul"
Combined, Cho Ku Rei symbolizes the alignment and connection of universal energy with the practitioner's intention.
The symbol typically consists of a spiral or coil shape with a vertical line running through the center. Sometimes it's accompanied by additional symbols or embellishments. Its design may vary slightly depending on the Reiki lineage or tradition.
Purpose & Usage Of Cho Ku Rei
Cho Ku Rei is primarily used to amplify and intensify the flow of Reiki energy.
The Cho Ku Rei symbol essentially functions like a switch that activates and regulates energy flow during a Reiki healing session.
Just as a light switch allows electricity to flow into a light bulb and illuminate a room, Cho Ku Rei opens the channel for universal life force energy to flow through the Reiki practitioner. The practitioner then essentially serves as a conduit - conducting this Reiki energy into the recipient's energy field and areas of the physical body needing balance and harmony.
Without first "turning on the switch" that Cho Ku Rei provides, the Reiki practitioner would have no means to tap into this infinite energy supply from the universe. When deactivated at the end of a session, it closes the circuit again so energy can properly consolidate within the recipient rather than needlessly escaping outward.
Some practitioners use this reiki symbol to clear energetic blockages within the body's energy centers (chakras) or along the energy pathways (meridians). It's also used to create a protective barrier around oneself or others, shielding them from negative influences or energies.
Application in Reiki Practice
The Cho Ku Rei symbol is drawn before starting a Reiki session to activate the flow of energy. Cho Ku Rei can also be combined with other Reiki symbols to enhance their effectiveness.
Cho Ku Rei can be drawn over specific areas of the body that require healing, or the reiki practitioner can trace the symbol in the air to infuse the energy with its properties.
You can also draw the symbol directly on your palms or fingertips before placing your hands on the recipient's body during a Reiki session. Drawing the Cho Ku Rei symbol on the hands is personal ritual that focuses and amplifies the energy channeling process.
Sei He Ki
Sei He Ki is a Japanese term that translates to:
God and humanity become one or "Remember that all are one."
Like other Reiki symbols, Sei He Ki is made from Japanese kanji characters:
- "Sei" (精) meaning "spirit" or "soul"
- "He" (平) meaning "harmony" or "balance"
- "Ki" (気) meaning "energy" or "life force"
Together, Sei He Ki represents the integration of spiritual and physical energies for healing and balance.
Sei He Ki is a combination of vertical and horizontal lines intersecting to form various shapes resembling a key or an elaborate knot. Its design may vary slightly depending on the Reiki lineage or tradition, but the essence remains consistent.
Reiki practitioners receive an initiation into working with Sei He Ki during their Reiki training, usually as part of the second degree (Okuden) or higher levels of Reiki. Mastery of Sei He Ki, like other Reiki symbols, requires practice, intention, and a deepening understanding of its significance and application.
Purpose & Usage Of The Sei He Ki Reiki Symbol
Sei He Ki is the Reiki symbol that's used for emotional and mental healing. This symbol helps to address issues related to stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction and emotional blockages. It helps the harmonize the mind, body, and spirit, bringing clarity, balance and inner peace.
Sei He Ki is a powerful symbol not only for releasing negative thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that hinder personal growth and well-being but also for fostering healing and improving relationships. It does so by instilling a sense of understanding, compassion, and empathy between individuals.
Application in Reiki Practice
Before commencing a Reiki session, draw or visualize the Sei He Ki symbol to activate its healing properties. As is the case with all Reiki symbols, you can combine this symbol with other Reiki symbols to address specific healing needs or amplify the overall healing process.
During a session, use Sei He Ki to focus Reiki energy on specific emotional or mental issues. To do this, either draw the symbol over the recipient's body or visualize it in your mind.
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (Distance Symbol)
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is a Japanese term that translates roughly to:
The Buddha in me reaches out to the Buddha in you to bring enlightenment and peace.
When broken down, each Kanji visual encapsulates a piece of this meaning:
- 本 (Hon) - This kanji means "origin" or "source." It represents the fundamental essence or core of something, denoting the beginning or foundation.
- 沙 (Sha) - This kanji means "sand" or "small." In the context of Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, it symbolizes the vastness and multitude of possibilities, suggesting the interconnectedness of all beings and events.
- 是 (Ze) - This kanji means "correct" or "right." It signifies alignment with truth, harmony, and authenticity, emphasizing the importance of being in alignment with one's true self and the universal flow.
- 念 (Nen) - This kanji means "thought" or "mindfulness." It represents the power of intention, focus, and mindfulness in directing energy and manifesting desired outcomes.
Purpose and Usage
The primary purpose of Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is to enable Reiki practitioners to send healing energy across distances. Essentially, it facilitates a connection between the practitioner and the reiki recipient, allowing the flow of healing energy to transcend physical barriers.
You can also use Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen to send healing energy to past events or future situations, bringing healing to complex issues across timelines.
Application in Reiki Practice
Invoke the symbol at the start by writing, visualizing or intoning its mantra. This shifts your consciousness into an awakened state from which to share empowering healing across transpersonal distances.
Dai Ko Myo (Master Symbol)
"Dai Ko Myo" is another significant symbol in Reiki practice, often referred to as the Master Symbol. It translates to:
Great Shining Light or "Luminous Enlightenment."
Let's break down "Dai Ko Myo" into its constituent kanji characters:
- 大 (Dai) - This kanji means "great" or "large." It signifies magnitude, abundance, and profoundness, suggesting the vastness of spiritual energy and wisdom.
- 光 (Ko) - This kanji means "light." It represents illumination, enlightenment, and the radiant energy of the divine.
- 明 (Myo) - This kanji means "bright" or "clear." It symbolizes clarity, insight, and awakening, signifying the unveiling of truth and wisdom.
When combined, these kanji characters form "Dai Ko Myo," representing the essence of the Master Symbol in Reiki practice. This symbol embodies the concept of profound spiritual light, enlightenment, and clarity. It's a potent tool for deep healing, spiritual growth, and connection to the highest aspects of consciousness.
The Dai Ko Myo symbol is the most sacred Reiki symbol that carries the high vibration of all the Reiki symbols. Working with this symbol daily in self-treatment meditations is very powerful.
Purpose & Usage Of The Master Reiki Symbol
In traditional Usui Reiki, instructors introduce this symbol only at the Master level after students demonstrate proficiency with the prior Power, Mental/Emotional, and Distance symbols.
Once attained, Dai Ko Myo unlocks intuitive abilities to channel high-frequency energy during healings. It activates what some describe as “crystal clear” clarity, compassion and connection with the quantum field of infinite possibilities.
When applied in practice, Dai Ko Myo is often drawn first before other symbols to open a sacred healing space. It aligns both practitioner and recipient to higher unity consciousness, from which complete transformation can occur holistically across body, mind and spirit.
Application in Reiki Practice
Reiki students receive instruction and initiation in working with Dai Ko Myo during their training, typically as part of the Master level (Shinpiden) or higher levels of Reiki. Mastery of Dai Ko Myo requires practice, intention, and deepening of the connection to its spiritual essence.
Always use Dai Ko Myo with integrity, humility, and compassion, respecting the free will and well-being of all recipients. For more information on the guiding principles of Reiki, see this article: 5 Reiki Principles For Conscious Living
Raku
Raku is primarily associated with Western Reiki lineages, which have evolved from the original teachings of Mikao Usui and have incorporated additional practices and symbols over time. Raku is not a traditional Japanese Reiki symbol like Cho Ku Rei or Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, but rather a symbolic concept that represents the completion and sealing of the energy flow during a Reiki session.
Raku is often called the "Fire Serpent" due to that fact that it has a serpentine shape. The term "Raku" has roots in Japanese Buddhism roughly translates to "joy" or "delight." In Reiki, it signifies the joyous completion and integration of the healing process.
Purpose & Usage
The Raku symbol represents the final step of the Reiki healing process. Its purpose is to help ground and stabilize the energy field after a session.
Some of the main uses and effects of the Raku symbol include:
- Closing and sealing the flow of Reiki energy at the end of a treatment. This ensures the recipient keeps the benefits integrated rather than having energies dissipate.
- Harmonizing and balancing the body's energy centers (chakras). Raku brings equilibrium by allowing any excess energy to properly diffuse into the recipient's system.
- Easing the transition back from the deep state of relaxation and healing. Raku gently ushers both the practitioner’s and recipient’s consciousness back into the present moment.
- Protecting against healing crisis or side effects. By solidifying integration, Raku minimizes excess energies that could overwhelm or destabilize the recipient post-treatment.
In practice, most Reiki practitioners use a combination of visualization, drawing the Raku symbol over specific areas of the body, and intoning the verbal mantra at the close of a session. Using Raku ensures clarity, stability and groundedness for all involved in the healing process.
Learning & Working With Reiki Symbols
In traditional Usui Reiki, the Reiki symbols are taught to practitioners during attunements or initiations led by a Reiki Master. These rituals open access to the symbols' energies and meanings. Initiations empower students to tap into the universal life force channeled through specific glyphs and mantras.
When first learning symbols, take time to meditate on their attributes and experiment with directing their energies towards specific goals. Stay open to any insights or sensations that arise. Keep in mind that personal development and healing typically unfold gradually. Patience and practice are key.
When using symbols in self-treatments or healing sessions:
- Set a clear intention for the symbols' effect
- Visualize the flow of energy with focus and loving presence
- Allow the symbols to work on their own time and trust their wisdom
The confidentiality of many Reiki symbols reflects their potential power. Always use symbols ethically, positively, and for purposes of healing or spiritual alignment. Avoid manipulating their energies for harmful ends. Ultimately, the effect of any technique depends greatly on the practitioner's own consciousness and connection to the universal life force.
Final Thoughts
In the Usui Reiki tradition, symbols harness universal healing energies in a focused way. Though the symbols themselves hold power, their effectiveness stems from a Reiki practitioner’s conscious intention and connection to higher wisdom. With an open, compassionate presence, symbols can facilitate deep personal transformation and restore wholeness on mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.
Working with Reiki symbols requires patience, self-awareness, and a commitment to ethical practice. Over time, trusted initiation into their use allows practitioners to support others’ healing journeys with integrity.
Those called to explore Reiki symbols further should seek qualified Reiki Masters who can provide proper attunements and guidance in this unique component of Usui practice. As part of the larger system of Reiki, these ancient tools retain relevance in holistic therapies across the modern world.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Dai Ko Myo symbol carries the highest vibration and is the most sacred of all Reiki symbols. It symbolizes spiritual enlightenment, deep healing, and connection to the highest aspects of consciousness. Many practitioners consider it to be the pinnacle symbol of Reiki practice, representing the essence of the Master level and embodying profound spiritual wisdom and light.
The universal symbol in Reiki is the Cho Ku Rei symbol. Cho Ku Rei is widely used across different Reiki lineages and traditions and serves various purposes, including amplifying energy, focusing intention, and providing protection. Its versatility and widespread application make it a symbol that is universally recognized and utilized by Reiki practitioners worldwide.
here are approximate pronunciations for some common Reiki symbols:
Cho Ku Rei: Pronounced as "choh-koo-ray"
Sei He Ki: Pronounced as "say-hay-key"
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen: Pronounced as "hohn-shah-zay-show-nen"
Dai Ko Myo: Pronounced as "dahy-koh-myoh"
The 5 Principles Of Reiki
You might enjoy this post on the guiding principles of practicing Reiki.
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