There are currently more than 1200 different types of Reiki. This can be confusing to those who are new to this gentle healing art. The different types of Reiki include everything from presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln Reiki, to animals, such as Tiger Reiki. With so many different styles, it can be confusing to know how to choose the right type of Reiki to experience, or become attuned to.
As you can imagine, Usui Reiki Ryoho will appeal to traditionalists, as this type of Reiki is the original style. However, some will say that other types of Reiki improved upon the simple healing form that Mikao Usui founded. In fact, even some of the original students of Mikao Usui made changes toward furthering what the founder had begun so many years ago.
From Usui Reiki Ryoho, and onward, each type of Reiki has its own parameters in regard to the use of symbols, types of attunements, how many attunements are needed, what levels can be reached, and so forth. Herein lies a great deal of confusion in trying to choose the right type of Reiki.
One thing that everyone has been able to agree upon is that all forms of Reiki make use of Life Force Energy, because that is what the word “Reiki” translates to. Some will say that there are greater or lesser types of this energy, but in essence there are no differences in Life Force Energy. Rather, it is a neutral and free flowing energy that is apparent in all life forms.
The easiest way to imagine Life Force Energy, is to think of water. Without water, there would be no life, and without Life Force Energy, there would be no life. Everyone knows that there are different types of water, such as mineral water, spring water, and salt water. The underlying value of each of these different types of water is still H20. Similar to water, there are many types of Reiki, and they all have the underlying property of Life Force Energy.
From the point of realizing all water, is water, and all Reiki is Reiki, we can begin to understand how it may not always appear that way. For instance, let us consider more about water. You might have water in a bowl at room temperature and watch it take different forms such as being frozen, or turning into steam, or condensation. No matter what it appears to be, it is still water.
Furthermore, like Reiki, water is always within and around us, it needs clear channels to flow, and it is eternal. If a drop of water evaporates, it did not just become nothing. Rather, it was absorbed back into the universe to come down as rain, hail, or snow, and in this fashion, water it always water, and it is always transforming into different incarnations.
Finally, Water can be very soft and gentle, such as a gentle summer’s evening rain. Or, it can be one of the most powerful forces on earth, such as in a Tsunami.
The same as water, Reiki, or Life Force Energy, is always evident, eternal, always eternal, and it can be experienced in many different forms. It can also be experienced in a very gentle manner, or as the most powerful force imaginable. Because of these many different ways of experiencing Life Force Energy, in differing levels from gentle to powerful, each type of Reiki is a legitimate way to experience the healing that it provides.
Knowing how to choose the right type of Reiki for you, will fully depend on how you want to experience the energy, and in which form means the most to you. For example, some types of Reiki may be too powerful for you, where your healing efforts require a gentler approach and vice versa.
Ultimately, there is no wrong choice, because there is no type of Reiki that is better than another. Instead, you will find the best type of Reiki, for you, by learning more about the different types available, and then allowing your intuition to be your guide.
Article by Tracy Morrow
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Tracy Morrow
In passionate pursuit of timeless living, Tracy Morrow is an NLP Master Practitioner, Certified Meditation Teacher, Certified Reiki Master Teacher, Trainer and Writer. Tireless in her commitment to service, she is currently invested in helping create better lives by opening minds and resources in order to improve wellness and recovery for families living with behavioral health challenges. You can find more about Tracy at omlifelab.com
Bful so so so true 🙂
Thank you Sunetra!
Awesome explanation
Incredible explanation tracy
Thank you so much Shipra, it was a joy to write this article!
Awesome new perspective of viewing reiki.
Do you have a source for a list of the 1200 forms of Reiki?
I feel a calling to learn Reiki, especially to help a current dear friend. I came across Metatron Reiki which at first seemed perfect (and teaching location is convenient) but next morning, I woke up with doubts about that particular method/practice.
Any tips on how to find a reputable teacher and type of Reiki?
Reiki is Reiki a Reiki! All the new so-called styles are nothing more than fancy clothes glitter and makeup! It’s the work that the practitioner puts into their Reiki is that will make the difference and how weak or powerful their practice is! Has been shown multiple times most of these new so-called styles were put together by people so they could add extra charges for you to learn new symbols that they made up and the new styles that they made up. And as long as people fall for this they will never experience the True Heart and Soul of Reiki! You can always add stuff to your Reiki practice that helps you but just adding stuff does not make it a new style it just means you added some.