Reiki Attunement · Reiju
What Does Reiki Attunement Feel Like? Students Share Their Experiences
The Meaning, Process and Common Experiences of Usui Reiki Attunement, and the 21 Days Afterwards
“What does Reiki attunement actually feel like?” is one of the first questions people ask when considering a Usui Reiki course. Attunement is a central part of learning Reiki: a transmission ritual conducted by a teacher, traditionally understood as the moment when the student’s Reiki channels are opened.
This article explains the meaning and history of attunement, the arrangements at each Soul Love Center course level, the general process, common subjective experiences, the traditional “21 days” after attunement and students’ accounts of practice. It also draws on the I Ching idea of responding and connecting to consider attunement from a holistic perspective.
A summary: What is the feeling of attunement?
Attunement experiences vary: some people describe warm palms, mild tingling, tears or deep calm, while others notice nothing unusual. These are subjective experiences, and there is currently no objective method for measuring attunement's effects. The intensity of sensations does not indicate how well someone has learnt.
In this article
- What is Reiki attunement?
- How attunement relates to the Japanese practice of Reiju, or spiritual blessing
- Attunement for Soul Love Center's various levels of courses
- The general process of attunement
- Common Sensations During Attunement
- After attunement: 21-day traditional self-healing
- Students Share Their Real Practice Experiences
- An I Ching Perspective: Still and Unmoving, Yet Responsive and Connected
- Preparation before attunement
- Rational and safety notes
- Frequently asked questions
What is an Attunement
1. What is Reiki attunement?
Attunement, also called activation or spiritual bestowal in Chinese, is a transmission ritual conducted by a Reiki teacher for a student. In the Usui Reiki tradition, it is regarded as the key step in becoming a Reiki “channel”. Afterwards, students can begin offering Reiki to themselves and others.
What is the difference between attunement and general meditation?
Meditation and seated practice involve regulating your own physical and mental state. Attunement is a transmission ritual shared by teacher and student, and is a distinctive part of the Usui Reiki learning system. Neither replaces the other: after attunement, students still need to practise self-healing, meditation and the Five Principles. For a comparison of these approaches, see Meditation, Seated Practice and Reiki: A Beginner’s Guide 。
Can the Ability Disappear After Attunement?
Reiki traditions generally hold that the connection established through attunement remains with the student. However, Soul Love Center consistently emphasises ongoing practice. Students also remind readers, “When using Reiki, please make sure you keep practising.”
To understand Usui Reiki from the source, you may read What Is Usui Reiki? A Complete Introduction to Mikao Usui and Reiki and Mikao Usui 。
History
2. The Relationship Between Attunement and Japanese Reiju
In the Japanese tradition, attunement is related to Reiju. “Rei” is the same character as in Reiki, while “ju” means to confer or give. Together, the term can be understood as “spiritual bestowal” or “spiritual blessing”.
| Item | Traditional Japanese Reiju | Attunement Commonly Used in the West |
|---|---|---|
| Form | The teacher and student sit together, meditate, and the form is relatively simple | A more structured ritual, generally including Reiki symbols |
| Number of times | According to researchers, it is repeatedly performed in regular gatherings | Generally, it is conducted in levels |
| Focus | Gradual deepening alongside long-term practice | You can begin practising and offering Reiki after attunement |
Researchers of Reiki history also note that no publicly available document written by Usui himself gives step-by-step instructions for the Reiju ritual, and practices differ between traditions. Approach attunement with openness and humility, focusing on consistent practice afterwards. For differences between Usui and Tibetan Reiki symbols and attunements, see Usui Reiki vs Tibetan Reiki: 5 Key Differences 。
Attunements by Level
III. Soul Love Center's Attunement for Various Levels of Courses
Soul Love Center's Usui Reiki courses have four levels. IARP-registered Reiki Master Cathy Wong personally conducts all attunements:
| Courses | Key Points of Attunement and Learning | Course duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Two one-to-one attunements; activation of the Level 1 Reiki energy channel; full-body hand positions for yourself and others | 11:00–17:00 | HK$900 |
| Level 2 | Level 2 activation, followed by learning the three Reiki symbols for power, emotions and distance | 11:00–17:00 | HK$1,380 |
| Advanced Level | Learning the Master Level symbols and specified symbols | 11:00–17:30 | HK$1,880 |
| Master Level | Learning “Reiju attunement techniques for others” and “Reiki Healing Attunement” | Four days plus one follow-up day | HK$8,888 |
According to the center's course description: the practical learning after the initiation for Level 1 is the main part of the course; Level 2 requires an initiation process before the symbols can function. Master Level is only available to students who have completed the high-level course at Usui Reiki. After completing the course, students will be able to perform attunements for others. The full process of Level 1 is one day, and you can read about it at: A Day at a Reiki Level 1 Workshop: Attunement and Chakra Scanning Comparisons of levels can be viewed at: Our services 。
The Process
IV. General Attunement Process
The details of attunements vary by teacher. The following is a general process, and the actual schedule will be based on the teacher's arrangement:
- Introduction before class: the teacher explains Reiki's history and principles and the meaning of attunement, and answers students' questions.
- Quiet Preparation: Students sit down, fold their hands together or place them on their knees, close their eyes, relax, and pay attention to their breathing.
- One-to-one attunement: the teacher conducts the attunement ritual for each student individually. The student simply relaxes and receives it, without needing to do anything deliberately.
- Meditation Integration: After attunement, sit in stillness for a while, allowing the body and mind to settle.
- Sharing and practice: discuss your experience with the teacher, then begin learning hand positions and practical techniques.
What Should Be Done During Attunement?
No special actions are required. Keep relaxed, breathe naturally, and let go of expectations of what 'should' feel like, which is the best state.
How It Feels
Five. Common Feelings During Attunement
Descriptions of the attunement experience for students are generally categorized into the following types. It is important to emphasize: these are all subjective experiences, and each person is different; there is no 'standard answer'.
| Common Descriptions | Descriptions of students' experiences |
|---|---|
| Warmth | A feeling of warmth in the palms, the top of the head, or somewhere on the body |
| Tingling or Pulsation | A slight prick or vibration in the fingers and palms |
| Light and color | When closing the eyes, seeing a light point, color, or image |
| Emotional Release | Unintentionally want to cry, or feel a slight relaxation |
| Deep tranquility | Very quiet and relaxed, the sense of time becomes blurred |
| No particular sensation | Only feels normal, or just a slight relaxation |
No sensation at all, is that normal?
Normal. Currently there is no objective method to measure when attunement begins or when it 'takes effect', so the presence or intensity of sensation should not be used to determine if attunement is successful. Rather than seeking a special sensation, continue practicing after attunement and observe subtle changes in your daily life.
Attunement sensation and chakra
The Usui Reiki Level 1 course teaches the body's chakra energy system. Some students associate sensations during attunement with a particular chakra location, such as the top of the head (crown chakra) or chest (heart chakra). Chakras belong to energy traditions and can provide a reference for self-awareness. Further reading: The Five Elements and Seven Chakras: An I Ching Perspective 。
After the Attunement
6. After Attunement: The 21-Day Self-Healing Tradition
Where does the 21-day period come from?
Many Western Usui Reiki lineages recommend daily self-Reiki for 21 consecutive days after attunement, generally understood as honouring the story of Usui's 21 days of practice on Mount Kurama in Kyoto. This is traditional advice rather than a strict rule. Some also advocate fasting or “cleansing” after attunement, but there is no evidence that Usui, Chujiro Hayashi or Hawayo Takata required students to fast. Self-directed dietary restriction is therefore not recommended.
How can the 21-day practice be done?
- At a regular time each day, practise self-Reiki hand positions for 10–20 minutes. For the positions, see 12 Reiki Hand Positions for Self-Healing 。
- Recite the Five Usui Reiki Principles morning and evening: do not be angry, do not worry, be grateful, work diligently and be kind to others.
- Record daily feelings, emotions, and awareness in a notebook.
- Maintain sufficient rest and adequate hydration.
Short-term sensations may occur after attunement.
Some students report feeling more tired, thirsty, dreaming more, sleeping deeper, or experiencing mood swings after attunement. These are usually mild and short-lived subjective experiences. It is important to note that the term 'detox' or 'cleansing reaction' is commonly used, but there is currently no scientific evidence to support the mechanism of Reiki 'detox'.
⚠️ If you experience persistent, worsening, or severe physical discomfort, such as fever, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, do not consider this as a 'attunement reaction' and seek medical attention immediately.
Real Student Stories
Seven. Student's real practice sharing
The following are excerpts from Soul Love Center Student Testimonials The real original text on this page records students' experiences after completing attunement and learning Reiki. The content is personal experience, and varies from person to person.
Share 1: Emotional Stabilizer
“Reiki is like an emotional stabiliser for me. Within a short time — five to ten minutes — it can ease negative emotions such as sadness, worry and anger. Through Reiki, I can turn these feelings into calm and steadiness and rediscover joy. Before giving a presentation, I use Reiki to settle my nerves and strengthen my confidence.”
Share two: images appearing in the subconscious
“I am very grateful to have discovered Reiki as a tool that helps me transform difficult feelings such as unease and anxiety. When I use Reiki, images connected with those emotions arise in my subconscious, allowing me to work on clearing the related experiences.”
Share three: feeling the 'energy' flowing
“Last night, while I was sending distance Reiki to my family… towards the end, my dog came over and sniffed my hands. I felt as though he wanted me to send Reiki to him, so I did. He lay down by himself to receive it, and I could feel the energy flowing.”
Share four: reminders to continue practicing
“Before sharing experiences of using Reiki, please remember: care for your parents… Keep practising Reiki: when using it, please make sure you continue practising… Take responsibility: everyone must be responsible for their thoughts, words and actions.”
More student stories can be read Reiki and Abundance: Real-Life Experiences and Real Stories: How Usui Reiki Students Experienced Abundance and Change . Methods of using Reiki for pets and family can be referred to Reiki for Babies, Pets and Plants 。
I Ching
Eight. I Ching perspective: stillness, and communication through sensing
The first part of the I Ching's Great Commentary says, “The Changes have no thought and no deliberate action; still and unmoving, they respond and thereby penetrate the workings of all under heaven.” In other words, within stillness free from deliberate thought and action, responsiveness can bring understanding of how things work.
Attunement and Responsiveness
This describes the ideal state during attunement: students need neither strain nor pursue sensations, but simply relax quietly—still and unmoving—and allow the transmission to happen naturally through responsiveness. Deliberately searching for sensations can make relaxation more difficult.
The Xian Hexagram: The Way of Mutual Influence
The Commentary on the Judgment for Xian, Hexagram 31 of the I Ching, says, “Xian means mutual influence.” The hexagram concerns the responsiveness of yin and yang to one another. Attunement is an encounter and exchange between teacher and student, and can also be understood through this idea of responsiveness.
Soul Love Center uses the I Ching as an awareness framework for body, mind and spirit practice rather than for divination. Further reading: I Ching and Reiki: Applying Yin–Yang Balance to Energy Practice 、 I Ching, Family Constellations and Reiki: Three Approaches to Deeper Healing 。
Preparation
9. Preparation before attunement
- Sleep well the night before: try to go to bed early to be in a peaceful state for the session.
- Wear comfortable clothing: Attunement requires sitting and relaxing, so it is best to wear loose and comfortable clothing.
- Prepare drinking water: During the session, replenish water as needed.
- Inform your instructor of your health status: If you are pregnant, have a chronic illness, or are undergoing treatment, please inform your instructor in advance and continue to follow the doctor's instructions.
- Let go of expectations: Do not seek special sensations, and simply open your heart and mind to receive what comes naturally.
No fasting, no religious background, no special talent required. If you have any questions before registration, please refer to Frequently asked questions or Where to Learn Reiki in Hong Kong: Seven Factors to Consider 。
Safety
10. Rational and Safety Information
- The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that research has not found Reiki to be harmful, but has not clearly proven its effectiveness for any health purpose.
- The main risk of Reiki is indirect: using Reiki instead of required medical care. Attunement and Reiki healing cannot replace a registered doctor's diagnosis and treatment.
- For people with health conditions or who are pregnant, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional before engaging in any complementary therapies.
Further reading: Does Reiki Work? What Research Says About Stress and Sleep 、 Can Reiki help with insomnia, anxiety, and emotions? If you only want to experience Reiki and do not wish to learn, you can first book a Reiki treatment, see more at Reiki Session Fees and What Happens During a Session 。
FAQ
Common questions about attunement
Is attunement felt by everyone?
It is not necessarily felt by everyone. Some describe a warm sensation, prickling, or the desire to cry, while others feel only calm, or even no special sensation. These are all subjective experiences, and there is no objective method to measure the effectiveness of attunement. The strength of the sensation does not indicate how well one learns Reiki.
How Many Attunements Are Included in Soul Love Center's Level 1 Course?
Usui Reiki Level 1 Certificate Workshop Two attunements are performed, conducted one-on-one by the instructor and students. The practical operation exercises are the main part of the course. The fee is HK$900, and the class time is 11:00–17:00.
What is the 21-day period after attunement? Is it necessary to follow it?
Many Western Usui Reiki lineages recommend daily self-Reiki for 21 consecutive days after attunement, commonly linked to the account of Usui's 21 days of practice on Mount Kurama. This is traditional advice rather than a strict rule; there is also no evidence that Usui required students to fast.
After attunement, feeling tired or having emotional fluctuations is normal?
After an attunement, some students may feel tired, thirsty, emotional fluctuations, or dreams. These are usually short and mild subjective experiences, and it is recommended to rest and drink water. If there is persistent or severe discomfort, it should not be considered as an attunement reaction, and one should seek medical help immediately.
Is Attunement the Same as Japanese Reiju?
They are related but not identical. Reiju means “spiritual bestowal or blessing” and, according to researchers, was offered repeatedly to students in Usui's time. The attunement ritual common in the West is generally understood to have developed from Reiju, incorporating Reiki symbols and being conducted by level.
Is attunement safe?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) in the United States states that there is no evidence of harmful effects from Reiki. The main risk is using Reiki instead of medical treatment, so Reiki cannot replace the diagnosis and treatment by registered doctors.
To learn about the instructor's background, you can read Cathy Wong: The Healing Journey of an IARP-Registered Reiki Master Teacher and Our Teacher To watch the instructor's explanations, you can browse Videos 。
Important disclaimer: The experiences of attunement and the sharing of students are personal subjective experiences, and vary from person to person. Reiki is an auxiliary method for holistic wellbeing and is not a medical advice, nor can it replace the diagnosis and treatment of a registered physician.
Experience your Usui Reiki attunement personally
Words can describe only part of attunement; the most direct answer comes from your own experience. Begin with Usui Reiki Level 1 and receive two one-to-one attunements from Cathy.
