From Usui Reiki, the end goal is not to be giving or doing Reiki, it’s to simply BE Reiki. As Reiki is the infinite source of life/love found within every living being, there is no reason to think you need to start giving Reiki, because you ARE Reiki. If you weren’t Reiki you’d be dead.
So, with that, and going to your question on distance Reiki. There is no need to ask permission, or to work with the symbols, use oils, feel any sensations, or to see the chakras on who you are working with. Remember, that Reiki is intelligent so there is no need to direct it…it just simply goes where needed. All of those actions are the I in your practice. I will use this oil, or this crystal, or this symbol, I will balance this or that…the I is your Ego, and that will always limit your connection to Reiki.
So what I would suggest is that, for a distance session, you simply get comfortable and begin to meditation and draw energy into your Hara (Sacral chakra, Kundalini, whatever you’d like to call it). Feel your own inner Reiki begin to grow and expand, and as you are existing within your own pure energy then you can just simply think of whomever it may be that you want to send healing to. You don’t have to do symbols or anything along those lines as, again, then you are implying that you know (or don’t know) what is best for the individual. In regards to your doubt, this is a manifestation of your ego. So doing the symbols on each chakra, following steps and so on is, in the end, just your doubt creeping up, just the I thinking it knows best.
Indeed, the symbols that are taught in Level 2 and Level 3 Usui Reiki, from a western perspective anyway, are often represented as something that we are using to activate chakras, or open and balance something or to amplify the energy. In reality, these symbols are there to really just dive into yourself and further open and purify your own Reiki energy. They are really an action to help one follow the precepts, and when doing so, then you will just BE Reiki always.
You already have everything in you that you need to be an amazing healer, an amazing wife, an amazing person and amazing at whatever it is that you are doing or like to do…if you just exist in this space, the space where you are comfortable, and feel your own Reiki flow, then you will for sure be helping those around you in the best possible manner.
The difference in the way things are being taught is found in the different perspectives of Reiki thought. From the Western perspective, it is more focused on an outward expression of Reiki, but the traditional line of teachings as first described by Master Usui expresses Reiki in terms of an inward meditation and practice.
Here’s something that I use to help explain this… all of nature, and all of the natural world will find balance if not acted on by outside forces. Because of this, if you think about the sun, it doesn’t ask permission to shine, or the moon doesn’t ask permission to make the tides, or the wind permission to blow, it all just does and life receives these benefits as needed. Much the same for Reiki…as you go into your own inner light, your own Reiki, and you work to open this and let your own light shine, then you will naturally give off more of that healing light to others. Just as the sun doesn’t ask permission from the plants to shine, the plants then receive as much as they need and then find balance. We to, with our own Reiki, we just need to work on ourselves to open as much as possible, and then as you pass people on the street, or send your intention to a particular person, or give a hands on healing session, whatever it may be, these people will be impacted by your own light and will then be moved towards their own balance.
So anything that you are seeking to do, be it giving a symbol to someone, or placing your hands where you think they need it, or doing some prayers or whatever…all of that is governed by you, by your ego.
Give all of those things to yourself…do CKR, SHK, HSZSN, and DKM on yourself, go inward and let these symbols free you during meditation, and then this light will naturally shine to others so that when you are giving hands on healing, or distance healing, all you need to do is feel your own energy and stay in that meditation, give your focus to someone and then just BE REIKI.
Article by Bruce Taylor
Free eBook download: We’ve created an eBook with our best articles on this topic, and offer it for free to all our newsletter subscribers.
Bruce Taylor is a Reiki Master Practitioner and Teacher based in France. He has practiced Reiki since 2006 and his practice focuses on Usui Reiki Ryoho, having been trained in Kyoto, Japan.
He works and trains others globally both in person and via his online offerings found at www.rootsoflife.org
Further to that, he manages the Usui Reiki Ryoho Support and Community Group on Facebook which all are welcome to join (www.facebook.com/groups/129366524359731)
Bruce also manages his youtube channel where he focuses on Reiki and Holistic Wellness content (www.youtube.com/c/RootsofLife)
And as this is the 100th anniversary of Usui Reiki Ryoho, he is leading a pilgrimage to the birthplace of Reiki – Kyoto, Japan, as soon as Japanese borders are open again to tourism. For more information on this truly once in a lifetime celebration, please visit: https://rootsoflife.org/reiki-pilgrimage-kyoto/
Very nice and informative article. thank you!
Thank you Sreekanth
In light and Gassho
Your post just uplifted my spirits and confidence. Thank you for sharing
Thank you Urvashi!
In light and Gassho
I have always thought should be possible. How do you conduct a session on the table on a client?
Thanks Sandi,
So in a session I go into the hara first, find the stillness and then just surrender to the flow of energy. I try not to guide my hand placements or connect to the session from a logical perspective, but rather just try to be in the flow as much as possible. Some days it’s easier than others, but to be as fully present for the flow as possible is where I try to reside in each session with my clients.
Hope this helps!
In light and Gassho
Thank you Bruce for your beautiful article.
Being Reiki must be our goal. However, in the moments in which I’ve been there or the closest to this state you talk about, I’ve received symbols.
Symbols, Stones, crystals, and aromas are not intended to overwhelm us in our Reiki practice, but to inspire us in creativity and having fun working with them. We grow in our perception and in our state of being Reiki through this too.
Thank you Magali, and I completely agree here. Beautiful that you receive this guidance and isn’t that just you Being Reiki? You are fully in that flow and it sounds like where you should be.
In gassho and be well
I’ve always believed that you don’t need symbols to send Distant Healing, the intention is enough. The point you make about ‘knowing’ which symbols to send comes from ego puts into words for me the inner knowing as to why we don’t need them – if that makes sense!
Thank you Bruce,
Light & Blessings to all,