What is Usui Reiki · Complete Guide
What Is Usui Reiki? An Introduction to Mikao Usui and Reiki Healing
Definition · History · Transmission · Five Reiki Principles · Attunement · Reiki Healing · Scientific Status
On first hearing about Usui Reiki, many people ask whether it is a religion, massage or a mystical art. It is none of these. Usui Reiki is a complementary energy practice founded by Japan's Mikao Usui in the 1920s. Following attunement, practitioners use their hands to help themselves or others relax, with the Five Reiki Principles guiding daily self-cultivation.
This complete introduction covers Reiki's definition, founder Mikao Usui's life, its spread from Japan around the world, major Japanese and Western schools, the original Five Reiki Principles, attunement and hand positions, the Reiki session process, and the current state of scientific research.
In One Sentence: What Is Usui Reiki?
Usui Reiki is a system established by Mikao Usui in 1922 in Tokyo, where he taught the Reiki system through attunement, hand positions, and the Five Reiki Principles as a supplementary method for relaxation and self-care. It is not a religion, and anyone can learn it; it cannot replace medical treatment.
Key Facts About Usui Reiki
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Usui Reiki, Usui Reiki Ryoho, Reiki |
| Founder | Mikao Usui (1865–1926) |
| Established | A society established in Aoyama-Harajuku, Tokyo, in April 1922 |
| Core elements | Attunement, hand positions, Reiki symbols (Intermediate level and above), and the Five Reiki Principles |
| Main historical sources | 1927, Tokyo, Saihoji Temple 'The Monument to the Deeds of Mikao Usui' |
| Western lineage | Mikao Usui → Chujiro Hayashi → Hawayo Takata |
| Religion | Not affiliated with any religion |
| Current scientific understanding | NCCIH: Not clearly proven effective for any health purpose, and no harmful effects found |
In this article
- What Is Usui Reiki? Definition and Core Concepts
- The Life of Founder Mikao Usui
- From Japan to the World: Chujiro Hayashi and Hawayo Takata
- Main Japanese and Western Traditions
- Five Usui Reiki Principles
- Attunement: The Starting Point for Learning Reiki
- Hand Positions, Symbols and Chakras
- What Happens During a Reiki Session?
- A Scientific Perspective: Does Reiki Work?
- Usui Reiki, the I Ching, and Body, Mind and Spirit
- Learning Usui Reiki in Hong Kong
- Frequently asked questions
Definition
1. What is Usui Reiki? Definition and core concepts
The Meaning of “Reiki”
“Reiki” comes from Japanese. “Rei” can be understood as universal or present throughout the universe; “ki” is the life energy flowing through all things, a concept similar to qi in Chinese tradition and prana in Indian yoga.
How Usui Reiki Is Practised
Usui Reiki is a non-invasive method: the practitioner places their hands lightly on or above the recipient's body, while the recipient is dressed and lies still or sits quietly. It does not use drugs, equipment, or massage techniques.
How Reiki Differs from Massage and Tui Na
| Item | Usui Reiki | Massage / tui na |
|---|---|---|
| Type of contact | Hands rest gently on or hover above the body | Pressing and kneading muscles and fascia |
| Is undressing required? | No | Depends on the type |
| How it is learnt | Practice after attunement by a teacher | Learning manual techniques |
| Cultivation of the mind | Five Reiki Principles | Generally absent |
Some Basic Beliefs in the Reiki Tradition
- The practitioner is the 'channel': Traditional Reiki believes that the practitioner is not consuming their own energy, but rather allowing the energy to flow through the hands.
- Energy flows to where it is needed: The practitioner does not need to consciously control the energy.
- Remote Reiki is possible: After mastering Level 2, one can learn Remote Reiki.
Need clarification: The above is a traditional belief about Reiki, and is not scientifically proven. For more details, see Scientific Perspective section.
Founder
2. The Life of Founder Mikao Usui
The most reliable historical source about Mikao Usui is the Memorial to the Virtues and Accomplishments of Usui, Founder of the Spiritual Method, erected by his students at Saihoji Temple in Tokyo in February 1927, the year after his death. Masayuki Okada, Doctor of Literature, composed the text, and Rear Admiral Jusaburo Ushida wrote the calligraphy.
Early Life and Education
Mikao Usui was born on 15 August 1865 in Taniai village, Yamagata district, Gifu Prefecture, and used the name Gyoho. The inscription records his diligent study from childhood, travels in Europe, America and China, and interest in histories, medical books, and Buddhist and Christian scriptures. He also explored psychology, methods of the immortals, and “spells, divination and physiognomy”.
Practice on Mount Kurama
The text records that he 'ascended Mount Kurama, fasted and practiced asceticism for 21 days, and suddenly experienced a great spiritual awakening in a short time. The practice of Reiki began from this moment.' The legends of a 'light shining from the top of his head' on the morning of the 21st are mainly from later oral traditions, and the text itself does not mention such a description.
Founding the Society and the Great Kanto Earthquake
Usui first tried the method on himself and his family, then established a society in Aoyama-Harajuku, Tokyo, in April 1922 (Taisho 11) to teach Reiki. After the Great Kanto Earthquake in September 1923, he travelled through the city daily offering assistance and healing. The training hall later moved to Nakano, and invitations to teach came from various regions.
Death and Legacy
On 9 March 1926, Mikao Usui died of illness while travelling in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture. The inscription records his age as sixty-two using traditional age reckoning. It also states that he had “more than two thousand” students and that senior students continued the training hall in Tokyo.
The full text of the memorial inscription and its translation, as well as the three major sites of Reiki, please read. Mikao Usui 。
History
III. From Japan to the World: Chujiro Hayashi and Hawayo Takata
Chujiro Hayashi: Developing a Clinic-Based Reiki Practice
Chujiro Hayashi was a student of Mikao Usui and a former naval doctor. He opened a Reiki clinic in Shinanomachi, Tokyo, and founded Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai after Usui's death. His clinic had several treatment beds, often with two practitioners working with one recipient, and his observations were compiled into a manual. Researchers note that Usui's manual emphasised the relationship between hand positions and the spine, while Hayashi's associated hand positions with bodily organs. Hayashi died in May 1940.
Hawayo Takata: Bringing Reiki to the West
Hawayo Takata was a woman of Japanese descent born in Hawaii. In 1935, she travelled to Japan because of health problems, received sessions at Chujiro Hayashi's clinic for several months and decided to learn Reiki. Accounts state that she received Level 1 in spring 1936 and returned to Hawaii the following year. In February 1938, Hayashi awarded her a Reiki teaching qualification in Hawaii. She taught Reiki in the United States for decades and trained 22 Reiki Masters before her death in 1980, helping Reiki spread widely in the West.
Lineage Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1865 | Mikao Usui is born |
| 1922 | Mikao Usui establishes his society in Tokyo |
| 1923 | The Great Kanto Earthquake; Usui travels to offer assistance and healing |
| 1926 | Mikao Usui dies |
| 1927 | Students erected a memorial at Saihoji Temple |
| 1935 | Hawayo Takata arrived in Japan and encountered Chujiro Hayashi's clinic |
| 1938 | Takata becomes a Reiki teacher |
| 1940 | Chujiro Hayashi dies |
| 1980 | Hawayo Takata has passed away, and 22 Reiki Masters have been trained |
Schools
4. Main Japanese and Western Traditions
After Mikao Usui, Reiki developed separately in Japan and the West, giving rise to several schools:
| Tradition | Introduction |
|---|---|
| Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki School) | The Japanese organization, still existing today. The organization claims to have been founded by Mikao Usui, but some researchers believe the formal organization of the school only formed after Usui's death. |
| Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai | Chujiro Hayashi established the clinic and research society, which is the source of Western Reiki |
| Usui Shiki Ryoho (Usui Reiki) | The system transmitted to the West through Hawayo Takata |
| Usui/Tibetan Reiki | Developed in the 1980s in the United States, with additional symbols and attunement techniques |
A detailed comparison between Usui Reiki and Tibetan Reiki, please read Usui Reiki vs Tibetan Reiki: 5 Key Differences 。
Gokai
5. The Five Usui Reiki Principles
The memorial inscription records Usui teaching students to recite the Five Reiki Principles inwardly morning and evening, calling them “a great teaching for self-cultivation”. They begin with “Just for today”, reminding us to focus on today rather than make a lifelong promise.
| Five Reiki Principles | Original wording | Daily practice |
|---|---|---|
| Just for today, do not be angry | Just for today, do not be angry | When you notice anger, pause and take a deep breath |
| Do not worry | Do not worry | Return your attention to what you can do today |
| Be grateful | Be grateful | Write down three things you are grateful for each evening |
| Work diligently | Be diligent | Fulfil your responsibilities honestly and keep practising |
| Be kind to others | Be kind to others | Start with family: offer an extra word of care |
Gratitude and Psychological Research
In a 2003 study by psychologists Emmons and McCullough, participants who regularly recorded grateful events showed improvements in positive emotions, among other indicators. This aligns with the Five Reiki Principles, particularly the 'Heartfulness' or 'Gratitude' aspect.
The Origins of the Five Principles
The inscription mentions Usui beginning his teaching by reading Emperor Meiji's teachings. Researchers still differ over the precise origins of the Five Reiki Principles. They share a Chinese name with Buddhism's Five Precepts but differ in content. For a comparison, see Latest news . For applying the Five Principles to an abundance mindset, read How can Reiki be used to attract abundance and wealth? 。
Attunement
6. Attunement: The Starting Point for Learning Reiki
Attunement is a transmission ritual performed by a teacher for a student, regarded in the Usui Reiki tradition as the starting point for becoming a Reiki channel. The related Japanese practice is called Reiju, meaning “spiritual bestowal”.
- Soul Love Center's Usui Reiki Level 1 course includes two one-to-one attunements.
- The feeling experienced during attunement varies from person to person: some feel warmth, prickling, or calmness, while others do not experience any particular sensation. These are considered subjective experiences.
- Many Western transmissions recommend that after attunement, participants practice self-Reiki for 21 days, generally to honor the story of the 21-day practice associated with Mount Kurama.
For details, see What Does Reiki Attunement Feel Like? Students Share Their Experiences and A Day at a Reiki Level 1 Certificate Workshop 。
Hand Positions · Symbols · Chakras
7. Hand Positions, Symbols and Chakras
Hand positions
The hand position is the location where the hands are placed during the practice of Reiki, such as the head, chest, abdomen, or back. Researchers note that Chujiro Hayashi's manual corresponds the hand positions with the body organs, while the West is gradually developing a fixed sequence of hand positions for the entire body. The hand position for self-healing daily can be referenced 12 Reiki Hand Positions for Self-Healing 。
Reiki Symbols
Usui Reiki traditionally has four symbols: Cho Ku Rei (power), Sei He Ki (emotional), Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (distant) and Dai Ko Myo (Master). Soul Love Center teaches the first three at Level 2 and the Master and designated symbols at advanced level. Cathy discusses these in Videos explains Dai Ko Myo and Sei Hei Ki.
chakra
Chakras originate in Indian tantric traditions and refer to energy centres along the body's central axis. The memorial inscription does not mention them, but they are widely used in contemporary Usui Reiki teaching. Soul Love Center's Level 1 course also includes “the body's chakra energy system”.
| chakra | Location | Common themes in modern teaching |
|---|---|---|
| root chakra | Base of the spine | Security and grounding |
| sacral chakra | Lower abdomen | Emotions and creativity |
| Solar plexus chakra | Upper abdomen | Confidence and will |
| heart chakra | Chest | Love and compassion |
| throat chakra | Throat | Expression and communication |
| third-eye chakra | Between the eyebrows | Intuition and insight |
| crown chakra | Crown of the head | Spiritual connection |
For a comparison of the chakras and the I Ching's Five Elements, read The Five Elements and Seven Chakras: An I Ching Perspective 。
Reiki Healing
8. What Happens During a Reiki Session?
You can experience Reiki without learning it: a Reiki healing session is an individual session in which a practitioner works with you.
- Book a session and briefly explain your current circumstances.
- Talk before the session to discuss your needs and explain the process.
- Remain fully clothed and lie or sit quietly throughout.
- The practitioner places their hands lightly or suspended above the head, chest, or abdomen.
- Share your experience after the session.
Recipients often describe warmth, mild tingling or deep relaxation; some fall asleep during the session. Experiences vary. For the process and booking details, see Reiki Healing in Hong Kong: Fees, Sessions and Booking ; for common applications, see Can Reiki help with insomnia, anxiety, and emotions? ; for use with babies, pets and plants, see Reiki for Babies, Pets and Plants 。
Science
9. A Scientific Perspective: Does Reiki Work?
We encourage a thoughtful, informed approach to Reiki. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the US National Institutes of Health, states:
- Reiki has been studied for conditions such as pain, anxiety, and depression, but most studies have low quality and inconsistent results, so it has not been clearly proven to be effective for any health purpose.
- There is currently no scientific evidence to support the existence of an energy field referred to as Reiki.
- Research has not identified harmful effects from Reiki.
Therefore, Soul Love Center positions Reiki as an auxiliary method for relaxation, awareness, and self-care, rather than medical treatment. If you have any health concerns, please consult a registered doctor. For further reading: Does Reiki Work? What Research Says About Stress and Sleep 。
Eastern Wisdom
10. Usui Reiki, the I Ching, and Body, Mind and Spirit
Mikao Usui and I Ching Studies
The memorial inscription records Usui studying “incantations, divination and physiognomy”. Divination is a traditional use of the I Ching. The inscription does not say he incorporated the I Ching into Reiki teaching, but indicates familiarity with traditional East Asian learning. Soul Love Center's Advanced course includes “Reiki Family Constellations: The I Ching Philosophy” and “The Twelve Meridians and Meridian Time-Cycle Theory”. See The connection between I Ching Philosophy and Reiki Healing and I Ching, Family Constellations and Reiki: Three Approaches to Deeper Healing 。
Progressive Learning Through Body, Mind and Spirit
The Usui Reiki courses offered by Soul Love Center are designed in three levels: Level 1 focuses on the body, Level 2 on the mind, and Advanced Level on the spirit. The complete concept is explained in the following text. What is the integration of body, mind, and spirit? ; for the differences between meditation, quiet sitting and Reiki, see Comparison of the Three Methods 。
Learn in Hong Kong
11. Learning Usui Reiki in Hong Kong
| Courses | Theme | Course duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usui Reiki Level 1 | Body: History of Reiki, Two Attunements, Chakras, and the Whole Body Positions | 11:00–17:00 | HK$900 |
| Usui Reiki Level 2 | Mind: three symbols and distant Reiki | 11:00–17:00 | HK$1,380 |
| Advanced Usui Reiki | Spirit: Master symbol and I Ching philosophy | 11:00–17:30 | HK$1,880 |
| Usui/Tibetan Reiki Master Level | Teacher training: attuning others | 4 days + 1 follow-up day | HK$8,888 |
Cathy Wong is the IARP-registered Reiki Master Teacher (IARP no. 62694574), detailed in the following text. Our Teacher and Cathy Wong's Healing Journey . For help choosing a course, see Comparison of fees and content for 4 levels and Seven Key Considerations When Choosing a Reiki Centre ; for Reiki as a career, see Career Guide for Holistic Wellbeing Practitioners . For student experiences, see Student Testimonials . For all courses, see Our services 。
FAQ
Usui Reiki: Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Usui Reiki?
Usui Reiki is a complementary energy practice founded by Mikao Usui in Japan. After attunement by a teacher, practitioners rest their hands gently on or above a recipient's body to support relaxation. Usui established a teaching society in Aoyama-Harajuku, Tokyo, in April 1922. His method is the origin of most Reiki traditions practised around the world today.
Is Reiki the same as Usui Reiki?
Reiki is the romanised Japanese term for this practice in general; Usui Reiki specifically refers to the system originating with Mikao Usui. Most Reiki schools today derive from Usui Reiki.
Do I Need Religious Beliefs or a Special Gift to Learn Usui Reiki?
No. Reiki does not belong to any religion or require a special gift. Students can begin practising after attunement by a teacher.
Is There Scientific Evidence for Reiki?
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) in the United States states that Reiki has been studied for conditions such as pain, anxiety, and depression, but most studies have low quality and inconsistent results, and it has not been clearly proven effective for any health purpose. There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of the energy field referred to in Reiki. Research did not find any harmful effects of Reiki.
What are the Five Reiki Principles?
According to the Saihoji memorial, the Five Reiki Principles mean: “Just for today, do not be angry, do not worry, be grateful, work diligently and be kind to others.” Usui taught students to recite them with palms together each morning and evening.
Where Can I Learn Usui Reiki in Hong Kong?
Soul Love Center offers Usui Reiki Beginner (HK$900), Intermediate (HK$1,380), Advanced (HK$1,880) and Usui/Tibetan Reiki Master (HK$8,888) courses, taught personally by IARP-registered Reiki Master Cathy Wong. Enquire via WhatsApp 9121 4927.
Can Reiki Sessions Replace Medical Care?
No. Reiki is an auxiliary method of relaxation and self-care, and cannot replace the diagnosis and treatment provided by registered doctors.
For more questions, see Frequently asked questions ; for all articles, see Article library ; to learn about the centre, see About Us ; for enquiries, see Contact us 。
Important Disclaimer: This content is part of holistic wellbeing education and is not medical advice. Reiki cannot replace the diagnosis and treatment provided by registered doctors.
Begin Your Usui Reiki Journey
After exploring the history and principles, the next step is to experience the practice. Begin with Usui Reiki Level 1 and receive two one-to-one attunements from Cathy.
