Imagine having this super power you could help someone ease their pain, only with your hand. Sounds magical, right ?
But this is what Reiki actually is. And the most surprising part about it is that you don't have to be some kind of healer or spiritually gifted person to learn it. Anybody who is willing can actually learn it.
So let's talk about what exactly is Reiki, how to learn it, what is the right direction to start and how your journey is going to be.
What exactly is Reiki?
The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words, Rei-meaning universal and Ki - meaning life energy. And together, they describe the universal life force that flows through every living thing.
In India, we have always known this energy. We just had a different name for this, we called it Prana. It is the same force that yoga has spoken about for centuries, the same life energy that Ayurveda works with. Reiki is simply a method of channeling that energy for healing, for creating balance, for feeling like ourself again.
A monk named Mikao Usui developed that method in the early 1900s after years of digging through ancient texts. He was searching for a force, he could sense but not name. What he discovered on Mount Kurama became the practice of Reiki. Since then, it has spread across the world, practiced in hospitals, wellness centers, homes, and healing institutes.
The Myth about Reiki
When you think of Reiki, there is a thought that comes with it that Reiki must be for people who are spiritually advanced, naturally sensitive, or somehow just built differently than the rest of us.
That fear makes sense. But it's not at all true.
To learn Reiki, there is no spiritual background that is required, no meditation needed. The only thing which is necessary is the willingness to learn.
The practice is transferred from teacher to student through a process called attunement. It is like an activation. A trained Reiki teacher opens an energy channel within you. This is something similar to Diksha in our tradition- a passing of knowledge from one person to another, soul to soul.
The Three Levels of Learning Reiki
Reiki is taught in three levels, and each one teaches a different learning.
Level 1 - Beginning With Yourself
The first level of learning Reiki starts with you, it is a section where you learn to be present with yourself. In this level you receive your first attunement, learn specific hand positions for different parts of the body, and begin a daily self-practice. A Level 1 workshop usually runs over one to two days, and after that, just twenty minutes of daily practice is enough to feel the shift.
The experiences of every individual varies from each other. Some people feel that they get better sleep. Some notice an unexpected warmth in their hands. Some find themselves crying without knowing exactly why and feeling lighter afterwards. It feels like finding the part of yourself that you were never able to find.
Level 2 - Opening to Others
At Level 2, the practice doesn't just stay with you, now it expands to others also . At this level you are introduced to Reiki symbols -ancient glyphs that help sharpen and direct the energy. Here you don't just stay limited to physical discomfort, you also start understanding emotional and mental patterns. And this is also the level where you learn about the most surprising part of healing - distance healing.
Distance healing is the ability to send Reiki to someone who is not physically present in the same room as you. Energy does not follow the same rules as the physical world, and at this stage, you begin to experience that directly rather than just reading about it.
Level 3 - The Reiki Master
Becoming a Reiki Master is a real commitment. At this level you are no longer just practicing Reiki - you can now actualy teach it, and give attunements to others. It is a gift, but it comes with responsibility too.
This is not a level you rush toward. Many practitioners spend months, sometimes even years at Level 2 before they feel ready to move ahead. But when the time is right, the Master level is one of the most profound things a person can experience on this path.
The steps to learn Reiki
- The first step starts with finding a real teacher, someone who can give you the right learning path, who can guide you through your journey and help you do your healing practice.
- If you're looking for somewhere to start, All India Institute of Occult Science is worth checking out. Here Reiki courses are structured and beginner friendly with all level certification. People who've learned here are now working as professionals.
- The second step is Receive your attunement This is where it all begins. Your teacher opens your crown, heart, and palm chakras, allowing the energy to flow through you. Reiki is learned through practice, not just with theory.
- The third step is to learn the specific placements of hands on the body that help you direct the energy. First start with yourself, then move to others. .
- The fourth step is practice with consistency, twenty minutes a day is enough. That's genuinely all it takes to start building your connection. It takes to feel the energy but it comes to you with practice.
- The fifth step is to Live with these five principles - no anger. No worry. Be grateful. Work honestly. Be kind to every living thing.
Take your first step of your healing journey
Honestly, before you decide anything - just go experience it once. Book a session, show up, and let it speak for itself.
If you're ready to learn properly - I have put the link of the Reiki course below, you can visit and get the information about it. Check out their Reiki courses here.
