Reiki symbols which are generally considered sacred are an essential and interesting part of Reiki practice. They originate from Japanese Kanji and are basically words from the Japanese language which help improve the flow of Life Force energy. Traditionally, and for a long time, these symbols have been kept secret and only revealed to students who have reached the second degree and received the corresponding attunement.
The three important symbols given to a student during Level 2 attunement are Cho Ku Rei or the power symbol, Sei He Ki or the emotional and mental healing symbol, and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen or the distance healing symbol.
The Importance of the Reiki Attunement
The symbols have no real power without attunement (or initiation) – therefore the attunement plays a vital role in giving power to the symbols so that they can accomplish their anticipated purpose. The Reiki Master usually shows them to the student before the attunement and gives the student time to memorize them. During the attunement process, the energies of each symbol enter the mind of the student and connect themselves to the appropriate symbol. The symbols are also placed in the student’s aura. Thus, after attunement when the symbol is invoked, the energies that have been connected previously are activated and the flow of energy is adjusted accordingly.
Using these symbols without attunement will fail to produce any kind of effect on the healing energies, as most Reiki Masters will agree.
How Do the Symbols Help in Reiki Practice
The symbols help a practitioner focus the healing energies. They are transcendental in nature. Apart from affecting the subconscious mind of the practitioner, they automatically connect one to God / Source / Universal consciousness. Whenever a symbol is used, the higher consciousness responds by altering the way the life fore energy flows. These symbols are like keys that open doors to higher levels of awareness or manifestation.
How to Use the Reiki Symbols
They can be activated by drawing them with the hand in the air, by visualizing them in your mind, by pronouncing their names loudly or to oneself, or even just by thinking about them. For some advanced practitioners, they get activated automatically whenever they are needed during a session.
At first they may seem a bit complicated to draw – but you’ll be relieved to know that really there is no wrong way to draw them. Different masters draw symbols differently. What’s important is the intention of the practitioner when invoking them.
The Three Reiki Symbols for Advanced Practitioners
During the Level 2 (Advanced) Attunement, three symbols are given to the student. They are briefly described below.
Cho Ku Rei or Power Symbol
Increases the power of the energy flow. It can be used anytime during a session. Many practitioners use it in the beginning to get a “power boost”, and in the end to seal the healing energies.
Other uses of this symbol:
- Provide protection on all levels (physical, verbal or emotional confrontation, psychic attack, etc).
- Beneficial for spot treatment: using this symbol help direct Reiki energy to a particular spot that requires healing.
- Helps create a positive atmosphere by clearing away all negative energies.
- Provide power to other Reiki symbols when drawn before and/or after them.
- Helps Enhance both personal and business relationships.
Read more about Cho Ku Rei here.
Sei He Ki or the Mental / Emotional Healing Symbol
It is basically a harmony symbol or a peacemaker. It is used to balance both the right and left side of the brain, thereby bringing in peace, internally and externally.
This symbol is usually used to:
- Heal problems (mental / emotional) such as depression, nervousness, anger or sadness.
- Improve memory.
- Aid in healing addictions such as smoking, alcohol or drugs.
- Help find lost objects
- Help heal headaches caused primarily due to emotional or mental stress.
Read more about Sei He Ki here.
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen or the Distance Healing Symbol
It is primarily used to send Reiki to others at a distance. Distance is not a barrier when using this symbol, and a practitioner can send healing energies to people across the room, across town, or even to the other side of the world.
This symbol can be used to:
- Treat future situations: sending Reiki to any future event or activity using this symbol will help bring the best outcome for the situation.
- Heal the past: using this symbol helps in healing traumatic experiences or even problems that stem from past lives.
- Help keep the body, mind and spirit in harmony.
- Channel energy to distant people or situations.
Read more about Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen here.
Dai Ko Myo or the “Master” Symbol
The Dai Ko Myo is the symbol with the highest vibration and is therefore most transformative at the spiritual level. Using this symbol helps enhance the healing of the soul as the energies are sent to the more subtle layers of the aura and upper chakras. When the spiritual soul is healed, the mental and physical get healed automatically. The Dai Ko Myo symbol also helps heal our karma. Known as “all purpose healing” symbol and “empowerment” symbol, this Reiki symbol represents all that is Reiki, including personal empowerment and love.
This symbol can be used to :
- To open channels during Reiki attunement and attune those who want to become Reiki practitioners.
- Helps enhance the connection between the practitioner and universal energies and helps heal the soul.
- Heals the chakras, the aura and any disease that initiates from our subconscious beliefs.
- Helps provide enlightenment and become more psychic and intuitive.
Read more about Dai Ko Myo here.
Midas Star or Abundance and Prosperity Symbol
Midas Star is a prosperity symbol, which is taught in Seichem Reiki or Karuna Ki. Midas Star is commonly known as prosperity symbol, but prosperity just does not mean money, it also means to bring about success in inter personal relations, luck and harmony to us and people around us. It brings around changes in all walks of life wherever there are blocks and helps us achieving our goals.
Read more about Midas Star Symbol here.
Rama Symbol
Rama symbol is one of the symbols of Karuna Reiki. It means God or Lord Rama. This symbol has two right ticks on tight side and left side. There is a spiral in the middle. The two right ticks are considered to be male and female energy. The spiral in between these two right ticks represents the bonding between male and female energy.
Read more about Rama Symbol here.
Motor Zanon
Motor Zanon originally a part of Seichem Reiki, it is also taught in a Karuna Ki and is similar to Usui Master Symbol. Motor Zanon is made up of 2 words Motor which goes inside our body and Zanon which comes out. The symbol separates the virus from our body and brings it out.
Read more about Motor Zanon Symbol here.
Connection
Reiki symbols play a significant role during a Reiki session. Using them not only helps channelling and focusing the energy, but also invoke feelings of peace, love, tranquillity, or even courage.
Using these symbols is a beautiful and wonderful way to create a connection or link with the higher consciousness. Their power and effectiveness is given to us by Grace, and most practitioners agree that we should receive them humbly and gratefully, as a gift from the Creator.
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During an initiation I had the experience of a huge king cobra in front of my face, for a split second I had fear, then felt oh, its you. The cobra then entered my root chakra and exited my crown. I was then in velvet blackness and felt warm and comfortable and knew that this was the begining of creative process.
Can anyone give me any indication of what the cobra means?
Thank you,
Namaste,
Christine
Kundalini
Hi,
My name is Natasha and I live in Tampa, Fl.
I have a son ho is 9 yrs old and he has autism. I got the first Reiki in year 2005 when I was studying in Perth, Australia. After that I have been using it. But now I really want to use it on my son. Can we do Reiki on kids? Will Reiki help him to slow down and heal his sensory issues?
Dear Natasha,
Please find here some articles we’ve published that I hope will be of help:
https://reikirays.com/?s=autism
https://reikirays.com/?s=children
Many Blessings,
Maria
Yes it will be beneficial for him
I’m thankful to you all about this
I had an experience of a red light entering my mouth and spun around my spine like a braid. Can someone explain what this was and how I can work more with this energy?
This is your blessed kundalini that you witnessed and you are very lucky. Let me know how your life has changed after this, my blessed friend.
I was doing Reiki on my friend who is also a Reiki Master and when I went to her crown and let the energy do its work in its infinite wisdom, I very rarely but sometimes get spirit who comes through to give messages to the recipient. This is probably because I ask for their team to please come through if they wish which does include ancestors and guides and such. All of a sudden, I began speaking a language that she said sounded Asian (maybe Chinese) but I didn’t remember it. It was almost like speaking in tounges but not as intense I guess. I honestly didn’t know what to think. I was actually filming it so I could show the hand positions I normally use and I was going to do a voice over for the video. I watched the video and sure enough I was speaking Chinese. I don’t speak other languages which was even more interesting. I only know I was speaking Mandarin because my Dad’s wife is from China and is obviously fluent. She was in shock that it was so fast and clear. I don’t know how I did it or why? The message was short but it was about the importance of honoring our ancestors and understanding others. I remember happiness, health and prosperity which is now my slogan lol. I understand there is no such thing as normal, I think what I am asking is has anyone had this experience? Why and how did it happen? Maybe the purpose was to teach me to look into light language which I am in love with. I am not sure but it was the best experience I’ve ever felt.
What an amazing experience you had! And to have been fortunate enough to have filmed it 🙏🏻 so that you could get confirmation from someone who speaks Mandarin is a true blessing. It sounds to me like you connected to an ancestor of either yours or your client’s. Maybe even a past/concurrent life!! I speak Light Language and the first time it happened to me, my body started “dancing” in a slow strange way – involuntarily – and then the words came out. And then I bawled my head off in amazement and overwhelming feelings of LOVE! This is a strange and beautiful life, indeed!! Keep open to your gifts and congratulations!! You are bringing through important and healing frequencies/vibrations when you allow the flow. 💜
Sarah, Maybe you were channeling a Reiki guide or even Master Usui. Wonderful!!!
I had always been told that the symbols were secret and not to share them with anyone. I am curious as to why I see the symbols all over the place – jewelry, on stones, carvings etc. I feel like this isn’t right. What are your thoughts?
I am Shyamal Chaudhury from Malda town,west bengal, India. Suffering sciatica burning sensation from back waist to both feet since two years.
My age is 77+ and unable to sit for 10 min because sciatica nerve compress in piriformic musscle and starting burning sensation just like a flaming.
I am very much oblised if you send me few video and attunement on which I may do self healing.
My daughter and I received initiation for the first 3 symbols but not the rest. Do we need to be initiated into the other symbols beyond the first 3 before we can use them?
Thank you