First Degree Reiki
As you embark on your journey into First Degree Reiki (Shoden), it’s essential to have access to resources that support your learning and practice. The foundation of Reiki lies not only in its history and techniques but also in the wisdom passed down through generations. In this section, you will find carefully selected materials to deepen your understanding of Reiki, including recommended books, guided meditations, traditional Japanese techniques, and practical tools for self-healing. These resources will help you build confidence in your practice, cultivate a strong connection to Reiki energy, and integrate it into your daily life. Whether you are just beginning or seeking to expand your knowledge, these materials will serve as valuable companions on your Reiki journey.
Enjoy Reiki Chants (Choku Rei) by Jonathan Goldman
Healing the Healer
The Importance of Self-Healing in First Degree Reiki
In Reiki, healing is not just about offering energy to others—it begins with healing the healer. First Degree Reiki emphasizes self-treatment as the foundation of practice, by first cultivating balance and well-being within themselves. This principle aligns with the idea that we cannot pour from an empty cup; when a practitioner is energetically depleted, their ability to hold space for others is diminished.
By committing to daily self-Reiki, students develop a deeper connection to Reiki energy, allowing it to clear energetic blockages, release stress, and restore harmony within. This process strengthens intuition, builds confidence, and deepens the practitioner's understanding of how Reiki works. Healing the healer also fosters self-awareness and emotional resilience, ensuring that practitioners approach Reiki from a place of wholeness rather than burnout.
The Five Reiki Precepts further guide this self-healing journey, encouraging practitioners to cultivate a mindset of gratitude, non-attachment to worry and anger, and compassionate action. Through self-care, a Reiki practitioner becomes a clearer channel for the energy, enabling them to offer healing to others with greater presence and authenticity. In this way, healing the healer is not just an act of self-care—it is an essential responsibility in Reiki practice.
Gassho
The Practice of Bringing Hands in Prayer Position
Gassho, which means "two hands coming together," is a fundamental practice in Reiki and traditional Japanese spiritual disciplines. It is performed by bringing the palms together at the heart center, with the fingertips pointing upward. This simple yet powerful gesture signifies unity, gratitude, and reverence, helping to quiet the mind and deepen one’s connection to Reiki energy.
How to Practice Gassho
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Find a Comfortable Position
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Sit in a quiet space with your spine naturally aligned. You may sit on a chair with your feet flat on the ground or cross-legged on a cushion.
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Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing your body to relax.
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Bring Your Hands Together
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Place your hands in a prayer position at the center of your chest, lightly touching but not pressing too hard.
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Keep your shoulders relaxed and maintain a comfortable posture.
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Focus on Your Hands and Breath
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Gently direct your attention to the point where your fingertips meet.
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Breathe naturally, allowing your awareness to settle into the present moment.
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If thoughts arise, simply acknowledge them and return your focus to your hands.
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Silent Reflection or Intention
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This is an ideal time to set an intention for your Reiki practice or recite the Five Reiki Precepts silently.
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You may also express gratitude for the healing energy of Reiki.
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Practice Regularly
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Gassho can be practiced before and after a Reiki session to center your energy.
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It is also used in Gassho Meditation, a traditional Reiki practice where you focus on the sensation of your hands and allow the mind to become still.
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Why Practice Gassho
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Helps cultivate mindfulness and inner stillness
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Strengthens your connection to Reiki energy
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Encourages self-awareness and presence
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Serves as a ritual of respect and gratitude in your Reiki practice
By integrating Gassho into your daily routine, you develop a deeper sense of harmony within yourself and enhance your ability to channel Reiki energy effectively.
Hara/Tanden
Understanding the Hara (Tanden) in Reiki
In traditional Japanese Reiki practice, the hara, also known as the tanden, is considered the body's energetic center. It is a vital area to understand and develop, as it serves as the foundation for grounding, stability, and the flow of Reiki energy.
What is the Hara/Tanden?
The word tanden means "field of elixir" in Japanese, referring to the body's energy reservoirs. In Japanese energetic and martial arts traditions, there are three main tanden:
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Upper Tanden – Located in the head, associated with spiritual insight and intuition.
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Middle Tanden – Located in the chest, linked to emotions and the heart center.
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Lower Tanden (Hara) – Located about two inches below the navel, seen as the core of one's life energy (Ki/Chi).
For Reiki practitioners, the lower tanden (hara) is the most important because it is where energy is cultivated, stored, and balanced. This area acts as a "powerhouse" for personal energy, providing strength, resilience, and stability.
Why is the Hara Important in Reiki?
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It is the center of gravity in the body, both physically and energetically.
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A well-developed hara helps a Reiki practitioner feel more grounded, present, and balanced.
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Strengthening the hara allows Reiki energy to flow more freely and powerfully.
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Many traditional Japanese meditation and healing practices focus on the hara as the seat of vitality and life force.
Practicing Hara Awareness in Reiki
As a First Degree Reiki student, developing a connection to your hara can enhance your ability to give Reiki. Here are a few ways to cultivate this awareness:
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Gassho Meditation with Hara Focus – When practicing Gassho (hands in prayer position), gently focus your attention on your hara. Breathe deeply and imagine energy flowing into this area.
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Hara Breathing – Sit or stand with good posture. Breathe deeply into your lower abdomen, allowing it to expand and contract naturally. This strengthens your connection to your center.
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Grounding with the Hara – Before starting a Reiki session, place your hands over your lower abdomen and take a few deep breaths to anchor yourself. This helps you feel stable and fully present.
The Seven Chakras in Reiki Healing
In Reiki, we work with the body’s energy system, which includes seven major chakras—energy centers that influence our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. When these chakras are balanced, energy flows smoothly. If they are blocked, we may experience discomfort or imbalance.
The Seven Chakras in Reiki Healing
In Reiki, we work with the body’s energy system, which includes seven major chakras—energy centers that influence our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. When these chakras are balanced, energy flows smoothly. If they are blocked, we may experience discomfort or imbalance.
Each chakra has its own location, color, and function.
1. Root Chakra – "I Am"
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Location: Base of the spine
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Color: Red
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Element: Earth
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Function: Stability, security, grounding
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Reiki Connection: This chakra connects us to the physical world. When balanced, we feel safe and grounded. When blocked, we may feel anxious, insecure, or unbalanced.
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Experience in Reiki: Some may feel warmth or tingling in the legs and feet during a Reiki session. Grounding techniques, like focusing on the breath or placing hands on the lower body, help strengthen this chakra.
2. Sacral Chakra – "I Feel"
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Location: Below the navel, lower abdomen
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Color: Orange
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Element: Water
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Function: Emotions, creativity, relationships
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Reiki Connection: This chakra governs our emotions, pleasure, and relationships. When open, we feel creative and connected. When blocked, we may feel emotionally unstable or uninspired.
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Experience in Reiki: Clients may feel a release of emotions or warmth in the lower belly. Reiki helps restore emotional balance
3. Solar Plexus Chakra – "I Do"
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Location: Upper abdomen, stomach area
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Color: Yellow
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Element: Fire
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Function: Personal power, confidence, self-worth
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Reiki Connection: This is the center of willpower and self-esteem. A balanced solar plexus chakra gives us confidence and determination. When blocked, we may feel powerless or suffer from digestive issues.
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Experience in Reiki: Sensations of heat in the stomach area are common. Reiki can bring a sense of empowerment and strength.
4. Heart Chakra – "I Love"
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Location: Center of the chest
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Color: Green (or pink)
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Element: Air
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Function: Love, compassion, connection
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Reiki Connection: The heart chakra is about giving and receiving love—for ourselves and others. When open, we feel compassion and peace. When blocked, we may feel grief, loneliness, or resentment.
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Experience in Reiki: A feeling of warmth in the chest, emotional release, or deep relaxation may occur.
5. Throat Chakra – "I Speak"
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Location: Throat
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Color: Blue
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Element: Ether (Space)
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Function: Communication, truth, self-expression
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Reiki Connection: This chakra governs how we express ourselves. When open, we communicate with ease and speak our truth. When blocked, we may struggle with self-expression or throat issues.
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Experience in Reiki: Some may feel a lump in the throat, yawn, or sigh as energy clears.
6. Third Eye Chakra – "I See"
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Location: Between the eyebrows
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Color: Indigo
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Element: Light
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Function: Intuition, insight, imagination
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Reiki Connection: This chakra enhances our intuition and inner wisdom. When balanced, we have clarity and insight. When blocked, we may feel disconnected or mentally foggy.
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Experience in Reiki: Some may see colors, light, or feel a deep sense of calm.
7. Crown Chakra – "I Understand"
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Location: Top of the head
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Color: Violet or White
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Element: Spirit
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Function: Spiritual connection, enlightenment
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Reiki Connection: This is our connection to the universe and higher consciousness. When open, we feel a sense of oneness and spiritual peace. When blocked, we may feel isolated or disconnected from our purpose.
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Experience in Reiki: A tingling sensation at the top of the head, a feeling of expansion, or deep peace.
Bringing It All Together in Reiki
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Reiki naturally flows where it is needed, balancing the chakras.
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When scanning or placing hands on different areas, practitioners may sense temperature changes, tingling, or emotions, indicating chakra activity.
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By practicing self-Reiki regularly, students can experience these energy centers and develop a deeper awareness of their own balance.
The Reiki Precepts
The Purpose of the Reiki Precepts
The Reiki Precepts, also known as the Five Reiki Principles, serve as a spiritual foundation for Reiki practice, guiding practitioners toward a life of balance, harmony, and inner peace. These precepts—Just for today, do not anger; do not worry; be grateful; work diligently; be kind to others—were taught by Mikao Usui as a way to cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness in daily life. More than simple affirmations, they act as a form of meditation, helping practitioners align their thoughts, emotions, and actions with the flow of Reiki energy. By embodying these principles, Reiki practitioners cultivate a state of presence and gratitude, releasing emotional burdens and allowing healing energy to flow more freely. The precepts remind us that healing is not just about the hands-on practice of Reiki, but also about living in a way that nurtures peace, compassion, and spiritual growth within ourselves and others.
Reiki Meditation on the Reiki Precepts
This meditation is designed to help you internalize the Reiki Precepts and bring them into your daily life. By meditating on these principles, you can align yourself with their wisdom, allowing Reiki energy to guide you toward a life of balance and harmony.
Preparation:
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Find a quiet, comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed.
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Sit in a relaxed posture, either on the floor or in a chair, with your spine straight.
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Hands in Gassho position (palms together at your heart).
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Take a few deep breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, allowing yourself to settle into the present moment.
Step 1: Centering with the Breath
Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath.
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Inhale deeply, feeling the breath expand your chest.
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Exhale slowly, releasing any tension.
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With each breath, feel yourself becoming more present, more at peace.
Step 2: Connecting to Reiki
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Imagine a gentle flow of Reiki energy coming down from above, entering through your crown chakra and filling your body with light.
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Feel this energy radiating through your entire being, bringing warmth and tranquility.
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Silently set an intention: "I open myself to the wisdom of the Reiki Precepts."
Step 3: Meditating on the Precepts
Now, focus on each Reiki Precept one at a time.
As you recite each one in your mind or aloud, pause and reflect on its meaning.
🌿 Just for today, do not anger.
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Breathe in peace, breathe out any tension.
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Imagine anger dissolving like mist in the morning sun.
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Feel compassion and understanding filling your heart.
🌿 Just for today, do not worry.
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Inhale deeply, bringing in trust and calm.
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Exhale all fears and anxieties, letting them go like leaves floating down a stream.
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Rest in the present moment, knowing all is well.
🌿 Just for today, be grateful.
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Visualize a golden light surrounding you, filling you with gratitude.
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Think of one thing you are grateful for today and let that feeling expand within you.
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Feel appreciation for this moment, for the breath, for life itself.
🌿 Just for today, work diligently.
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Reflect on your personal growth and dedication to your path.
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Feel a sense of purpose awakening within you.
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Know that every step, no matter how small, is part of your journey.
🌿 Just for today, be kind to others.
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Place your hands over your heart and feel its warmth.
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Imagine sending kindness to yourself first, then extending it outward.
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Visualize compassion radiating from you, touching the world around you.
Step 4: Closing the Meditation
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Take a few deep breaths, feeling grounded and centered.
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Bring your hands to Gassho at your heart and express gratitude:
“Thank you for this moment, for this practice, for this life.” -
Slowly open your eyes, carrying the energy of the precepts with you throughout the day.
This simple yet profound meditation helps deepen your connection to Reiki and integrates the precepts into your daily life. Practicing regularly fosters inner peace, clarity, and spiritual growth—allowing Reiki to not only be something you do but something you live. 💜✨
Chanting the Reiki Precepts
Chanting the Reiki Precepts serves as a powerful meditative practice that deepens one's connection to Reiki energy and reinforces the principles of mindful living. The repetition of the precepts helps to internalize their meaning, shifting the practitioner's awareness toward a state of harmony, gratitude, and compassion. By vocalizing the precepts, the vibrational energy of the words resonates within the body, promoting energetic alignment and a sense of inner peace. This practice also acts as a daily reminder to embody the essence of Reiki in thoughts, actions, and interactions, fostering personal growth and spiritual development. Additionally, chanting the precepts is a traditional method rooted in Usui Reiki Ryoho, aligning the practitioner with the teachings of Mikao Usui and the foundational principles of Reiki as a way of life.
Frans Stiene chanting the Reiki Precepts
Kenyoku Ho
(Dry-Bathing)
Kenyoku-ho, or "dry bathing," is a Japanese Reiki technique used to cleanse and purify one's energy field, helping to release stagnant or unwanted energy before or after a Reiki session. This method involves sweeping movements across the body, typically using the opposite hand to brush from the shoulder down to the opposite hip in a fluid motion, repeated three times on each side. This is followed by clearing energy from the arms with a similar sweeping motion. Kenyoku-ho is often practiced to center and ground oneself, making it a valuable technique for Reiki practitioners to maintain energetic balance. It is also beneficial for those who may have absorbed excess energy from their environment or from working with others, allowing them to reset and return to a state of clarity and neutrality.
The Reiki Shower
The Reiki Shower is a visualization technique where you imagine the Reiki energy flowing over you like a cleansing shower, purifying your body and energy field. This practice is effective in removing any negative energy that may have accumulated, especially after working with clients or in intense emotional environments.
Purpose of the Reiki Shower
This technique is designed to provide a deep energetic cleanse, allowing the practitioner to release any lingering energy and refresh their energy field. It is a form of energetic self-care, similar to how we physically shower to cleanse the body.
How to Practice the Reiki Shower:
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Close your eyes and take several deep breaths to center yourself.
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Visualize a stream of bright, healing Reiki energy pouring over you, as if you were standing under a shower.
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Imagine the Reiki energy flowing through the crown of your head, cascading down over your body, washing away any negative or stagnant energy.
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As the energy flows, feel the vibrations of the Reiki energy cleanse and purify your mind, body, and spirit.
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Stay in this visualization for a few minutes, allowing the energy to flow until you feel energetically cleansed and refreshed.
Choku Rei
The Power Symbol
Choku Rei, (cho-koo-ray) often referred to as the power symbol in Reiki, is a potent tool for enhancing and directing energy. This symbol is integral to Reiki practice, serving multiple purposes that range from amplifying healing power to providing protection and purification. Its significance lies in its ability to act as a catalyst, intensifying the flow of Reiki energy to wherever it is directed.
The Choku Rei symbol is characterized by a vertical line intersected by a leftward-spiraling coil, usually with three turns, although variations exist. This design is more than a mere pattern; it encapsulates the essence of empowerment and energy concentration. When visualized or drawn, the symbol acts as a conduit, drawing in universal life force energy and focusing it with increased intensity.
In the context of healing, Choku Rei is invaluable. Practitioners often begin a session by drawing the symbol on their palms to boost the energy they channel. When applied to specific areas of the body, it can accelerate the healing process by concentrating energy where it is most needed. This focused energy helps to break through blockages, alleviate pain, and promote overall wellness.
Beyond individual healing, Choku Rei is also used for protection. By drawing the symbol around oneself or others, practitioners create a protective shield that guards against negative energies. This practice is particularly beneficial before and after Reiki sessions, ensuring that both the healer and the recipient are enveloped in a safe, positive energy field.
Additionally, Choku Rei is effective in space clearing. Whether it’s a room, an entire home, or any environment that feels heavy with negative or stagnant energy, the symbol can be used to cleanse and purify. Drawing Choku Rei in the air or on the walls of a space helps to clear away unwanted energies, creating a more harmonious and balanced atmosphere.
The power of Choku Rei extends to sealing and preserving energy as well. After a Reiki session, drawing the symbol over the recipient helps to seal in the healing energy, ensuring its benefits are sustained over time. This practice helps maintain the energetic work done during the session, allowing for prolonged healing effects.
CKR Meditation
Cho Ku Rei, often referred to as the "Power Symbol" in Reiki, is utilized to amplify and focus healing energy. Incorporating this symbol into meditation practices can enhance energy flow, promote healing, and provide protection.
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Preparation: Find a quiet space and sit comfortably. Close your eyes and take deep breaths to center yourself.
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Visualization: Mentally visualize the Cho Ku Rei symbol. If you're unfamiliar with its form, you might keep an image nearby for reference.
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Drawing the Symbol:
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Start at the top left, draw a horizontal line to the right.
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Draw a vertical line downward from the end of the horizontal line.
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From the top of the vertical line, draw a spiral moving clockwise, intersecting the vertical line at seven points, symbolizing the seven chakras.
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Chanting: As you visualize or draw the symbol, chant "Cho Ku Rei" either aloud or in your mind. Repeating the mantra helps to focus and intensify the energy.
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Meditation: Focus on the symbol and the energy it represents. You may visualize it in a specific color that resonates with you, such as gold or blue. Allow yourself to feel the amplified energy flowing through you.
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Closing: After spending a few minutes in this meditative state, take deep breaths, slowly bring your awareness back to the present, and open your eyes.
Feel free to journal anything you may have noticed while performing the CKR meditation and see if you notice the same the next time you sit in this practice, or is something different?
Connecting to Reiki
One of the most essential aspects of practicing Reiki is learning to connect to the energy. While Reiki is always available, the key is to open yourself to it and it to flow freely. As practitioners, we often find ourselves trying to control the process – whether it’s healing others or in our own self-care. But one of the most important lessons in Reiki is to get out of the way and let go. When we release control and simply allow the energy to flow, the healing process becomes more natural, profound, and effective.
This connect of “letting go” is rooted in trust. Trust that the Reiki energy knows exactly where to go and how to work. Your role is not to force the energy but to channel it by opening yourself to the flow. Reiki flows through you, not from you. By clearing your mind and focusing on being a clear channel, you allow the energy to flow freely, without obstruction.
As with any new skill, practice makes perfect. The more you practice reiki, the easier it becomes to connect to the energy and to go of any resistance. Your intuition and your ability to feel and direct Reiki will grow with time, deepening your connection and understanding of the energy.
Energy Ball Exercises
Energy exercises can help you develop sensitivity to the flow of reiki and strengthens your ability to direct the energy. Theses exercise are simple but powerful tools to help you establish a strong connection to Reiki and sharpen your intuitive abilities.
Exercise 1: Expanding the Energy
The purpose of this exercise is to expand your energy field and become more aware of the energy around you. It helps you open up to the flow of Reiki and become more receptive to it.
Steps:
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Sit comfortably in a quiet space and take a few deep breaths to center yourself.
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Visualize your energy field expanding, like an aura of light around you. Imagine it growing larger with each breath you take.
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As you inhale, feel your energy field stretching outward. As you exhale, allow the energy to expand even further.
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Practice this for a few minutes, focusing on the sensation of your energy field getting bigger and more expansive.
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With each breath, you may start to feel warmth or tingling in your hands or body. This is the energy activating and expanding.
This exercise helps you become more aware of your own energy and sets the foundation for working with Reiki.
Exercise 2: Directing the Flow of Reiki Energy
Once you are familiar with the sensation of energy, the next step is to practice directing the flow of Reiki. This exercise helps you focus your attention and intention on sending Reiki to specific areas of the body or energy field.
Steps:
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Sit in a quiet space, with your hands in a comfortable position (either on your body or in a gesture of receiving, such as palms up).
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Focus on your breath and the sensation of energy in your body. Visualize the energy moving from your hands into the area you wish to direct it.
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Begin to "send" the energy with the intention of healing. You may visualize a healing light or simply trust that the energy is going where it is needed.
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Practice moving your hands across your body, focusing on different areas (e.g., the heart, head, or abdomen). As you do, continue to feel the Reiki energy flowing through your hands to these areas.
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If you are working with another person, you can direct the flow to areas where they may need healing or where they are experiencing discomfort.
Exercise 3: The Energy Ball
The Energy Ball is a fun and interactive exercise that helps you strengthen your ability to feel and manipulate energy. It is also a great way to practice sensing the energy in your hands and learning how to focus your intent.
Steps:
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Sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths to center yourself.
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Rub your hands together for a few moments to activate the energy in your palms.
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Slowly bring your hands about 6–8 inches apart and begin to move them together and apart, as if you were molding a ball of energy.
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As you move your hands, pay attention to any sensations in your palms. You may feel warmth, tingling, or a subtle magnetic pull between your hands.
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With practice, you’ll begin to feel the "ball" of energy becoming more defined. You can also imagine it growing larger or smaller as you move your hands.
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Once you feel the ball of energy, try passing it from one hand to the other, or imagine giving it to someone else for healing.
Reading Suggestions
First Degree Reiki Manual & Journal
Stay tuned for an updated Reiki First Degree Manual