What Is Reiki Healing? Complete Guide to History, Principles & Practice
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique founded by Mikao Usui in 1922 that channels universal life force (ki) through the practitioner's hands. Learn the five Reiki principles, what to expect, and the evidence behind this complementary therapy.
What Is Reiki and Where Did It Originate?
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice in which a trained practitioner channels universal life force energy (ki) through their hands to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. The practice was developed by Mikao Usui in 1922 on Mount Kurama near Kyoto, Japan, after a 21-day meditation and fasting retreat. Usui described experiencing a profound spiritual awakening that gave him the ability to channel healing energy and transmit that ability to others through a process called attunement (reiju in Japanese). He established the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Method Society) in Tokyo that same year and began teaching students. The word Reiki combines two Japanese kanji: rei, meaning universal or spiritually guided, and ki, meaning life force energy. This concept of a universal animating energy appears across cultures as chi in Chinese medicine, prana in Indian traditions, and mana in Polynesian healing. Reiki operates on the principle that when ki flows freely through the body, a person experiences health and vitality, and when it becomes blocked or depleted, illness and emotional imbalance result.
Mikao Usui (1865-1926) was born in the Gifu prefecture of Japan and studied a range of disciplines including kiko (Japanese energy cultivation similar to qigong), Tendai Buddhism, and Shinto practices. The Usui Memorial Stone at Saihoji Temple in Tokyo, erected by his students in 1927, provides the most reliable biographical account and describes his satori (enlightenment) experience on Mount Kurama. Usui trained over 2,000 students before his death in 1926. His student Chujiro Hayashi, a retired naval physician, systematized the hand positions and created a more clinical treatment protocol. Hayashi's student Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to Hawaii in 1937 and then to the mainland United States, where she trained 22 Reiki Masters before her death in 1980. Through Takata's lineage, Reiki spread worldwide. Today there are an estimated four million Reiki practitioners globally, according to the International Association of Reiki Professionals.
What happened during Usui's experience on Mount Kurama?
According to the Usui Memorial Stone and accounts from his students, Mikao Usui undertook a 21-day meditation and fasting retreat on Mount Kurama in March 1922. On the final day, he reported experiencing a powerful spiritual energy entering through the crown of his head, leading to a state of satori (enlightenment). He discovered he could channel this healing energy through his hands and that it could be transmitted to others.
How did Reiki travel from Japan to the West?
Chujiro Hayashi trained Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii, in the late 1930s. After returning to Hawaii, Takata practiced and taught Reiki for decades. In the 1970s, she began training Reiki Masters on the U.S. mainland, eventually certifying 22 Masters before her death in 1980. These 22 Masters are the root of virtually all Western Reiki lineages practiced today.
What is the difference between Japanese and Western Reiki?
Japanese Reiki (Usui Reiki Ryoho) emphasizes spiritual development, intuitive scanning (Byosen), and practices like Hatsurei Ho meditation. Western Reiki, shaped by Takata and her successors, tends to emphasize fixed hand positions, detailed symbol use, and a more therapeutic framework. Japanese Reiki also includes techniques like Reiji Ho (intuitive hand placement guided by the energy itself) that are less common in Western training.
Is Reiki recognized by medical institutions?
Yes, increasingly so. Over 800 hospitals in the United States offer Reiki as a complementary therapy, according to a UCLA survey. Major medical centers including Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and Memorial Sloan Kettering have integrated Reiki into their patient care programs. The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health classifies Reiki as a biofield therapy worthy of continued research.
What Are the Five Reiki Principles and Why Do They Matter?
The five Reiki principles (Gokai in Japanese) are ethical guidelines that Mikao Usui considered the foundation of Reiki practice, even more important than the hands-on healing technique. They are traditionally recited morning and evening with hands in Gassho (prayer position). The five principles are: Just for today, do not anger. Just for today, do not worry. Just for today, be grateful. Just for today, work diligently. Just for today, be kind to every living thing. The phrase "just for today" (kyo dake wa) is crucial because it makes each principle achievable. Rather than vowing to never feel anger again, the practitioner commits only to this present day. Usui believed that emotional and mental patterns directly influence the flow of ki through the body. Chronic anger creates energetic blockages in the solar plexus and liver, while chronic worry depletes kidney and adrenal energy. By working with these principles daily, the practitioner clears the internal obstacles that impede healing energy and creates a receptive state for channeling Reiki.
The five principles are adapted from the Meiji Emperor's poetry (Gyosei), which Usui admired and incorporated into his spiritual practice. The original Japanese wording has been translated in many ways, and scholars like Frank Arjava Petter (author of Reiki Fire and The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui) have documented how the principles evolved through different lineages. In Japanese Reiki traditions, the Gokai are considered more central to the practice than hand positions or symbols. The Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Japan still begins every meeting with a group recitation of the principles. Psychologically, the principles address the five most common obstacles to wellbeing: anger (which creates cortisol and adrenaline cascades), worry (which activates the sympathetic nervous system chronically), ingratitude (which focuses attention on lack), laziness (which depletes vitality through stagnation), and unkindness (which isolates the individual from supportive relationships).
How do the Reiki principles relate to healing?
Usui taught that hands-on healing without spiritual and ethical development was incomplete. The principles address root causes of energetic imbalance: anger blocks the solar plexus, worry depletes the root chakra, ingratitude closes the heart, laziness weakens the sacral center, and unkindness isolates a person from universal energy. Daily practice of the principles creates the internal conditions for ki to flow freely.
Why does each principle begin with "just for today"?
The phrase "just for today" (kyo dake wa) makes each principle a manageable daily commitment rather than an impossible permanent vow. This mirrors mindfulness practice: rather than trying to eliminate anger forever, you simply choose not to engage it today. This present-moment focus reduces the psychological resistance that arises when people feel they must achieve perfection permanently.
How should beginners practice the five principles?
Beginners should recite the five principles each morning in Gassho position (palms together at the heart) and again before sleep. Spend a moment with each principle, noticing which one provokes the strongest reaction, as that often indicates where the most healing is needed. Some practitioners journal about one principle per week, deepening their understanding over time.
How Does Reiki Energy Actually Flow Through a Practitioner?
In the Reiki model, the practitioner does not use their own personal energy to heal. Instead, through the attunement process, their energy channels (primarily the crown chakra, heart chakra, and palm chakras) are opened to receive and transmit universal life force energy (Reiki). During a treatment, the practitioner places their hands on or above the recipient's body and acts as a conduit. The energy flows from the universal source, through the practitioner's crown, down through the heart, out through the palms, and into the recipient's body. The energy is described as intelligent: it goes where it is most needed rather than being directed by the practitioner's conscious intention. This is a key distinction from other energy healing modalities where the practitioner actively manipulates energy. In Reiki, the practitioner's role is to be present, compassionate, and open, allowing the energy to flow through them without trying to control it. The recipient's body then uses this energy to activate its own natural healing processes.
The mechanism by which Reiki energy flows remains scientifically unverified, though several hypotheses have been proposed. James Oschman, PhD, in his book Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis, suggests that the biomagnetic field emitted by a practitioner's hands (measurable by SQUID magnetometers at frequencies between 0.3 and 30 Hz) may influence tissue repair in the recipient. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine by Ann Baldwin found that Reiki practitioners showed significantly different heart rate variability patterns during treatment compared to rest, suggesting a measurable physiological shift occurs during energy channeling. The Japanese concept of ki flowing through meridians (keiraku) parallels the Chinese meridian system used in acupuncture. Some researchers hypothesize that Reiki may work through the same bioelectrical pathways, though this remains speculative.
What is a Reiki attunement and why is it necessary?
An attunement (reiju in Japanese) is a sacred ceremony performed by a Reiki Master that opens the student's energy channels to receive and transmit Reiki. The Master uses specific symbols and intentions to clear blockages in the student's crown, third eye, heart, and palm chakras. Without attunement, a person may channel some healing energy naturally, but the attunement amplifies and stabilizes this capacity significantly.
Can anyone learn to channel Reiki?
Yes. Usui taught that the ability to channel Reiki is not a special gift but a natural human capacity that the attunement process activates. People of all ages, backgrounds, and health conditions can receive attunement and practice Reiki. The ability does not depend on intellectual understanding, physical fitness, or spiritual advancement. Once attuned, the capacity does not diminish over time, though regular practice strengthens it.
Does channeling Reiki drain the practitioner's energy?
No. Because the practitioner channels universal energy rather than their own personal energy, giving a Reiki treatment should not be depleting. Most practitioners report feeling energized and calm after treating others. If a practitioner consistently feels drained after sessions, it typically indicates they are unconsciously using their own energy rather than allowing universal energy to flow through them. Regular self-Reiki practice helps maintain this boundary.
What Should You Expect During a Typical Reiki Session?
A standard Reiki session lasts 60 to 90 minutes and takes place in a quiet, calming environment. You remain fully clothed and lie on a massage table or sit in a comfortable chair. The practitioner begins with a brief consultation to discuss your concerns and intentions. They may then perform Byosen scanning, holding their hands a few inches above your body to sense areas of energetic imbalance. The treatment itself involves the practitioner placing their hands gently on or slightly above a series of positions on your head, torso, and limbs, holding each position for three to five minutes. Common sensations include warmth or heat from the practitioner's hands, tingling, gentle pulsing, a feeling of heaviness or floating, and deep relaxation. Some people see colors, experience emotional release, or fall asleep. After the session, the practitioner allows you to rest for a few minutes and then discusses what they sensed. It is recommended to drink water, rest, and avoid stimulants for the remainder of the day.
The specific hand positions used in a full treatment were systematized by Chujiro Hayashi, who created a clinical protocol with 12 standard positions covering the head, front torso, and back. Hawayo Takata further refined these positions for Western practice. In the original Japanese method, Usui relied more on intuitive hand placement (Reiji Ho) than fixed positions, allowing the energy to guide the practitioner's hands to where they were needed. Today, most Western practitioners use a hybrid approach: starting with the standard positions and then allowing intuition to guide additional placement. Research at Hartford Hospital found that 86% of Reiki recipients reported an overall improvement in wellbeing after a single session, with improvements in pain, nausea, and anxiety levels. A 2019 study in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine found that a single Reiki session significantly reduced anxiety and improved mood in college students.
What sensations are normal during Reiki?
The most commonly reported sensations include warmth or heat from the practitioner's hands, tingling or electrical feelings, gentle pulsing, muscle twitching, stomach gurgling, a sense of floating or heaviness, and deep emotional calm. Some recipients see colors (often purple, blue, or white light) behind their closed eyes. Others feel nothing physical but notice improved mood or energy afterward. All responses are considered normal.
What is a healing crisis after Reiki?
A healing crisis (also called a detox response) occurs when the body releases stored toxins or suppressed emotions after a Reiki session. Symptoms may include temporary fatigue, mild headache, increased urination, vivid dreams, or emotional sensitivity lasting 24 to 48 hours. This is generally interpreted as a positive sign that deep healing is occurring. Drinking plenty of water and resting supports the process.
How often should you receive Reiki?
For general wellness, one session per month is common. For acute issues like chronic pain, anxiety, or recovery from surgery or illness, weekly sessions for four to six weeks are often recommended to build cumulative benefits. Many practitioners suggest three to four initial sessions close together to establish an energetic foundation before spacing them out. Daily self-Reiki practice between sessions amplifies results.
What Does the Scientific Research Say About Reiki?
The scientific evidence for Reiki is growing but remains mixed, reflecting the challenges of studying subtle energy therapies using conventional research methods. The most robust evidence supports Reiki's effectiveness for pain reduction and anxiety relief. A 2017 systematic review by McManus published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine analyzed 13 randomized controlled trials and concluded that Reiki showed significant effects on pain and anxiety in several studies. Hartford Hospital conducted one of the largest clinical studies, examining over 1,100 patients and finding that Reiki reduced pain by 78%, nausea by 80%, and anxiety by 94%. A 2010 randomized controlled trial by Bowden et al. published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that Reiki significantly reduced depression and stress in university students. However, critics note that blinding is difficult in Reiki studies, that sample sizes tend to be small, and that some positive results may reflect placebo effects, therapeutic relationship, or relaxation response rather than specific energy healing.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) classifies Reiki as a biofield therapy and has funded several research studies. A 2015 study by Baldwin et al. found that Reiki reduced heart rate in stressed rats, suggesting effects beyond placebo. However, a 2008 Cochrane review found insufficient evidence to determine whether Reiki is effective for any condition. The challenge lies in methodology: traditional double-blind placebo-controlled trials are difficult to design for Reiki because the practitioner always knows whether they are giving real or sham treatment. Researchers like Shamini Jain at the Consciousness and Healing Initiative have proposed new research frameworks specifically designed for biofield therapies that can capture effects that standard pharmaceutical trial designs miss. The emerging field of biofield science uses instruments like gas discharge visualization and SQUID magnetometers to detect measurable changes in electromagnetic fields during healing sessions.
What did the Hartford Hospital study find?
Hartford Hospital in Connecticut conducted a comprehensive study of Reiki with over 1,100 patients between 2001 and 2007. Results showed Reiki treatments reduced pain by 78%, nausea by 80%, and anxiety by 94%. The study also found improvements in sleep quality, appetite, and overall sense of wellbeing. These results were statistically significant and helped establish Reiki programs in hospital settings nationwide.
What are the limitations of current Reiki research?
The main limitations include small sample sizes, difficulty creating convincing sham Reiki for blinding purposes, inability to double-blind the practitioner, lack of standardized treatment protocols across studies, and potential confounding from the therapeutic relationship and relaxation environment. Many studies also lack long-term follow-up data. These methodological challenges do not prove Reiki is ineffective but mean that its mechanisms and efficacy are not yet fully established by scientific standards.
How does the NIH classify Reiki?
The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) classifies Reiki as a complementary health approach within the category of biofield therapies. The NCCIH acknowledges that some studies show positive effects but states that the evidence is not sufficient to conclusively establish effectiveness for any specific condition. They recommend that people use Reiki alongside, not instead of, proven medical treatments.
How Does Reiki Compare to Other Energy Healing Modalities?
Reiki is one of many energy healing systems practiced worldwide, each with distinct origins, techniques, and theoretical frameworks. Compared to Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture, qigong), Reiki is simpler to learn and does not require knowledge of meridians or acupuncture points. Unlike pranic healing, which involves active manipulation and removal of congested energy from the aura, Reiki takes a more passive approach where the practitioner allows energy to flow without directing it. Therapeutic touch, developed by Dolores Krieger for nursing contexts, shares similarities with Reiki but does not require formal attunement. Healing touch, another nursing-based modality, uses a broader range of techniques than Reiki. Compared to Ayurvedic energy healing (marma therapy), Reiki requires less anatomical knowledge and shorter training. What makes Reiki distinctive is its attunement system, which practitioners believe opens specific energy channels permanently, and its emphasis on the practitioner as a passive conduit rather than an active healer directing energy with their will.
The anthropologist and medical researcher David Hufford has documented how biofield healing practices appear in virtually every culture throughout history: laying on of hands in Christian tradition, johrei in Japanese new religions, external qi emission in Chinese medicine, and therapeutic touch in modern nursing. A 2015 article in Global Advances in Health and Medicine by Shamini Jain and colleagues proposed that all these practices may work through similar biofield mechanisms, differing primarily in their cultural framing and specific techniques. Research comparing Reiki to other modalities is limited. A 2014 study by Thrane and Cohen in the Journal of Holistic Nursing suggested that Reiki, therapeutic touch, and healing touch all produced similar outcomes for pain and anxiety, raising the question of whether a common mechanism underlies all biofield therapies. The distinction may matter less than the presence of a trained, compassionate practitioner holding healing intention.
How is Reiki different from qigong healing?
Qigong healing comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine and involves the practitioner cultivating their own qi through years of martial arts or meditation practice before emitting it to heal others. Reiki practitioners channel universal energy without needing to build personal reserves. Qigong healers may become depleted; Reiki practitioners should not. Qigong training takes years; basic Reiki training takes a weekend workshop plus attunement.
Is Reiki the same as laying on of hands?
Laying on of hands is a broad term found in many spiritual and religious traditions, from Christian faith healing to indigenous shamanic practice. Reiki is a specific, systematized form of hands-on healing with defined training levels, attunement ceremonies, symbols, and hand positions. While Reiki shares the general principle of channeling healing energy through touch, it has a distinct Japanese lineage and methodology.
Can you combine Reiki with other healing practices?
Yes. Reiki integrates well with massage therapy, acupuncture, psychotherapy, yoga, meditation, and conventional medicine. Many licensed massage therapists add Reiki to their sessions. Acupuncturists sometimes use Reiki on points instead of needles for sensitive patients. Psychotherapists report that Reiki can help clients access and process emotions more easily. The key is transparency with all care providers.
How Can You Start Practicing Reiki in Daily Life?
Beginning a Reiki practice starts with finding a qualified teacher and receiving your Level 1 attunement, which typically involves a one or two-day workshop. After attunement, the most important step is establishing a daily self-Reiki routine. Spend 20 to 30 minutes each morning or evening treating yourself using the 12 standard hand positions, holding each for three to five minutes. Recite the five Reiki principles in Gassho (prayer position) before each self-treatment session. Start a Reiki journal to track your experiences, sensations, and any changes in your physical or emotional state. Practice on willing friends and family members to build confidence before treating others professionally. Join a local Reiki share group where practitioners trade sessions and discuss experiences. Most importantly, understand that Reiki develops through consistent practice rather than intellectual study. The attunement opens the channel, but daily practice strengthens and refines it. Many experienced practitioners say their Reiki felt very different after a year of daily practice compared to immediately after their attunement.
Mikao Usui originally taught a practice called Hatsurei Ho as the core daily Reiki exercise. This involves sitting in seiza (kneeling) or a comfortable seated position, performing dry bathing (Kenyoku Ho) to clear the aura, entering Gassho meditation to quiet the mind, and then performing Joshin Kokyu Ho (a breathing technique that draws Reiki into the hara or lower abdomen). Frank Arjava Petter, who trained with the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Japan, brought these original Japanese techniques to Western awareness in his books. Many Western Reiki practitioners were unaware of these foundational practices because Takata simplified the teaching for American audiences. Incorporating these Japanese techniques alongside Western hand positions creates a more complete daily practice that addresses both the spiritual development and hands-on healing aspects of Usui's original system.
How do you find a qualified Reiki teacher?
Look for a teacher who can trace their lineage back to Mikao Usui, who provides in-person attunements rather than exclusively remote ones, who includes practical hands-on training and not just lecture, and who requires a reasonable time commitment between levels. Ask about their own daily practice, how many students they have trained, and whether they offer post-training support. The International Association of Reiki Professionals maintains a directory of credentialed practitioners.
What does a daily self-Reiki practice look like?
A complete daily practice takes 30 to 45 minutes and includes: reciting the five principles in Gassho, performing Kenyoku Ho (dry bathing) to clear your energy, Joshin Kokyu Ho breathing to center yourself, then moving through the 12 hand positions on your head, throat, chest, stomach, and back. Finish with Gassho and a moment of gratitude. Even 10 to 15 minutes of abbreviated practice is better than skipping entirely.
How long after attunement can you start practicing on others?
Most teachers recommend practicing self-Reiki daily for at least 21 days after your Level 1 attunement before treating others. This 21-day integration period allows your energy channels to stabilize and any detox responses to settle. After this period, you can begin offering Reiki to friends and family. Professional practice typically requires Level 2 training and additional hands-on experience under supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reiki a religion?
Reiki is not a religion. Mikao Usui developed the practice from a synthesis of Shinto, Buddhist, and martial arts traditions, but it requires no specific religious belief. The five Reiki principles are ethical guidelines for daily living, not religious tenets. Practitioners come from all faith backgrounds and none. The International Center for Reiki Training emphasizes that Reiki functions as a complementary healing technique that works alongside any belief system.
Does Reiki actually work or is it placebo?
Research shows mixed results. A 2017 systematic review in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Reiki produced statistically significant reductions in pain and anxiety compared to sham treatments in some studies. Hartford Hospital's 2007 study of over 1,100 patients found Reiki reduced pain by 78% and nausea by 80%. Critics note that many studies lack rigorous blinding. The NIH classifies Reiki as a complementary health approach worth studying further.
Can Reiki cause any harm or side effects?
Reiki is considered extremely safe because it involves only light touch or no touch at all. Some recipients experience a temporary healing response called a healing crisis, which may include fatigue, mild headaches, or emotional release in the 24 to 48 hours following a session. These symptoms are generally mild and pass quickly. The primary risk is substituting Reiki for necessary medical treatment, which is why reputable practitioners always recommend Reiki as a complement to conventional care.
How is Reiki different from therapeutic touch?
Reiki and therapeutic touch both involve energy healing, but they differ in origin and technique. Reiki originates from Mikao Usui's Japanese tradition and requires attunement from a Reiki Master to open the practitioner's energy channels. Therapeutic touch was developed by Dolores Krieger and Dora Kunz in the 1970s within a nursing framework and does not require attunement. Reiki uses specific hand positions and symbols, while therapeutic touch focuses on sensing and smoothing the biofield.
How long does it take to learn Reiki?
Level 1 Reiki training typically takes one to two days in a workshop format. You learn the history, principles, hand positions, and receive your first attunement. Level 2 usually requires another weekend workshop after several months of practice. Master level training varies widely, from an intensive weekend to a multi-year apprenticeship, depending on the lineage and teacher. Most practitioners recommend at least six months of daily self-practice between each level.
What does ki mean in Reiki?
Ki is the Japanese word for universal life force energy, equivalent to chi or qi in Chinese traditions and prana in Indian Ayurvedic and yogic traditions. The word Reiki combines rei (universal or spiritual) with ki (life energy), literally meaning spiritually guided life force energy. In the Usui system, ki flows through all living things and can be channeled through intention and the specific attunement process to promote healing and balance.
Can you do Reiki on yourself?
Yes. Self-Reiki was the foundation of Mikao Usui's original practice. He taught self-healing before treating others. After receiving your Level 1 attunement, you can practice a daily self-treatment using the standard 12 hand positions, spending three to five minutes at each position. Many practitioners consider daily self-Reiki more important than treating others, as it maintains your own energetic balance and deepens your connection to the Reiki energy.
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