Journal Prompts Using the Reiki Precepts

The Reiki precepts are such an important part of our practice once we become trained in Reiki. They work alongside daily self-Reiki to undo old patterns and harmful attachments, while helping us to develop new, healthy habits of body, mind, and spirit.

I like to recite and meditate on the Reiki precepts each morning while I do self-Reiki. If this doesn’t work well for you, or if you simply want to explore other methods of working with the Reiki precepts, there are lots of ways to incorporate them into your life! It just takes a little bit of thought and creativity!

As a quick reminder, the Reiki precepts are as follows:

• I will not anger
• I will not worry
• I will be grateful
• I will be kind
• I will be honest

Today, I am going to teach you how to meditate with the Reiki precepts using journal prompts. This is a method that you can use again and again, since what we write will change each time we use it. It is especially useful for times when you are struggling with a particular precept. For example, anger and worry are ones that many people struggle with, at least occasionally! These can be great precepts to use on a tough day where you have really struggled with one or the other – or both! You choose which precept to work with, based on your needs on each day.

Here are a few journal prompts that can get you started. The journal prompts are in italics, followed by a sample of what I might say in my own journal:

1. Today I want to feel grateful. I am not finding it easy. Maybe I will start with something very, very simple. I can pick up this pen and write. That is definitely something to be grateful for!
2. Today I am very irritable and impatient! I will remember to be kind to myself. It is hard to feel this way. While I am feeling this way, I will work very hard not to outwardly express my anger to others, as this causes harm. I will forgive myself. Then, when I am able, I will ask forgiveness from anyone I have hurt or offended.
3. I can feel so much love and kindness toward those I share Reiki with! But when I get into traffic…I don’t feel so kind anymore! I will remember that each of the precepts is a practice that takes a lifetime. It is progression, not perfection that is the purpose of the practice. So, I take a deep breath and return again to the precept of kindness each time. I will try to remember to send Reiki and a blessing to the other drivers and the road around me.
4. It’s difficult not to worry today. I will continue to pray about the things I find myself worrying about. Worry does nothing, so I will offer the situation to God in prayer, and I’ll ask Him to heal my worry, too. I will also pause for some extra self-Reiki this evening. Just a few minutes can make a huge difference, I know.
5. I have to be very clear and honest with myself so that I can make the right decision. I can do this! I can let Reiki and prayer show me all of my blocks and true intentions and help me make the correct decision.

It might feel odd that I chose only difficult or challenging instances with the precepts as journaling prompts. I did that because I find the challenging times to be where true growth can happen. They are certainly not fun! I am not suggesting you seek to have a bad day! But those days that we just seem at odds with ourselves and the world can be fertile ground for growth, as long as we are still trying our best to do the right thing.

These journaling prompts are only ideas to get you started. Please play around with them and come up with your own. Maybe you have some ideas about journaling on a great day with the precepts. That can also be fertile ground for growth and for journaling around what helped you to do so well that day. I would caution that you don’t only look for the “warm-fuzzy” things and become afraid to look at the difficult things. Mix it up a little. Don’t be afraid to see what you’re really all about inside!

I would suggest choosing just one precept to work with each time you journal. You will probably find that one precept stands out for you each time, so it’s best to focus on it and allow it to show you what unfolds. It can be a lot to try and do all of the precepts each day, and focusing one precept allows your mind to process it more fully. That said, if you have a day where you really feel like writing, feel free to jot down a little about each of the precepts while focusing on the one that grabbed your attention that day.

If you tend to shy away from journaling, give it a try sometime! It is surprisingly cathartic and can reveal a lot about your inner world that you can’t necessarily discover through talking. You don’t have to write for pages and pages. Just two to three sentences can feel like the perfect amount to many people. Sometimes a word or two can sum up a day. Don’t feel like you have to write a book or record the day’s events. You are only processing.

I have one final suggestion regarding journaling: use a pen and paper! It has been scientifically shown that the brain processes differently when we write with a pen and paper than when we write using a keyboard. Using pen and paper uses more of the left side of the brain, along with the right side of the brain. Using a keyboard uses almost entirely the right side of the brain. Since you are journaling to process, it seems like a great plan to invite the left side of the brain to join in by using a pen and paper! However, if you can’t use a pen or simply prefer to use a keyboard, you will still benefit from journaling.

I hope you enjoy these journal prompts and that they help you dive deeper into the Reiki precepts and your personal growth with daily self-Reiki!

Article by Angie Webster

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Angie Webster is a Reiki Master, Teacher, and Author. Angie’s primary focus is animal Reiki, which she adores. She teaches online Reiki Level One, Animal Reiki, flower essences, and various personal growth courses.
Angie is the author of “Animal Reiki: How it Heals, Teaches & Reconnects Us with Nature” and “Reiki from A to Z”. You can follow her at: https://angie-webster-school-of-reiki.teachable.com