Reiki Sacred or Secret?

Symbols, Initiations, Attunements

There are many ways that people are introduced to and relate with Usui Reiki energy. There are a multitude of different teaching methods and initiation attunement styles. It is in the spirit of Reiki for practitioners and teachers to honor all manners of teaching and attunement. However, it is equally important to use discernment and make wise choices regarding how we personally wish to learn and experience Reiki.

Regardless of how one is introduced to the various levels of Reiki energy, the experience can be greatly enhanced when the sacred nature of Reiki is honored and preserved.Over the past 19 years during which I have worked with and enjoyed Reiki, I have encountered many people and a myriad of opinions regarding the symbols and attunements. Some people have the concern that by holding the symbols and initiation process as sacred, it is about secrets, control, and withholding information.

I find it interesting that a result of embracing Reiki into our daily life, is often an examination of our personal issues related to power and control. When Reiki is incorporated into all aspects of our life, we soon learn that among the greatest lessons Reiki teaches us is the importance of relinquishing our desire, or perceived need to be in control.

When we do release our attempts to control, we can truly allow our life to be guided, and mastered by Divine Love. It is intriguing to me that the tools and ceremonial process that assist us in activating Reiki, the very essence of Divine Love, can also be catalysts to confront our fears of trusting that God is the guiding force driving our life. Personal power issues can create filters that prevent us from recognizing that ‘the only TRUE power is Love”.

Secret Symbols, or Sacred Tools?

It is often exclaimed that Reiki symbols and initiation attunement processes are “secret”. However, I would ask you to consider that perhaps a more accurate description is that the symbols are sacred healing tools, and the attunement a sacred ceremonial practice.

Perhaps what some perceive as keeping secrets is actually a way to honor Reiki, and show respect for its true nature. In Webster’s dictionary the word secret is defined as “concealed, kept from general knowledge”. The word sacred is defined as “regarded with reverence”.

Symbols have been used for centuries to represent different aspects of spirituality. The symbols used in Reiki are connected directly to Divine consciousness. Each symbol is a representation of a unique vibration and serves as a key to activate certain frequencies of energy. When I was first attuned to the energy connected with Reiki symbols, I was told that I must not show them to anyone who has not been attuned to them. I agreed to this, and I uphold this agreement today. I personally consider this a sacred vow.The symbols serve as sacred healing tools in my Reiki practice. I feel that the profound results they often produce for my clients, and myself are due in part to holding a very deep respect and reverence for the symbols.

Initiation Attunements-Sacred Ceremony

Attunement can be defined as the act of “matching vibration” with a specific spiritual energy or frequency of light. Attunements adjust the vibration of an individual. They can take place through transmission from one person to another, through spiritual or energetic practice, or occasionally through spontaneous occurrence.

The purpose of a Reiki attunement is to bring us into a harmonious relationship with the Reiki energy, and to help lift the veils and filters we may be holding between our personality/ego self and our God self. A Reiki initiation is activated by a Reiki master-teacher, who has been trained in the attunement technique, and who shares the process with a person who has the spiritual desire and intention to receive an initiation attunement.

One of the things that takes place in a Reiki attunement is that our subtle energy system, clears and releases denser energies. Also our chakras and etheric field are strengthened so that we are capable of receiving and transmitting high frequency healing light, at will and for extended periods of time. With the rapid acceptance of Reiki energy by healers around the world, we find that the strength of the energy is increasing exponentially as more people are attuned, or receiving Reiki treatments. As the strength of Reiki increases, the power of the attunement to clear and fortify our subtle bodies is intensified as well.

Long Distance Attunements?

Although I honor all ways Reiki is taught, I do find it disconcerting when students receive their first initiations into Reiki by long distance transmissions, or over the internet. My hesitancy with this is not because I doubt that the initiations work, but because of the inability for the student to be physically observed and assisted by their Reiki teacher. I also feel a bit sad for the student who misses the opportunity to experience their initiation attunement in a physical sacred space. Space that has been aesthetically, and energetically created or chosen by a Reiki Master.

A Reiki teacher who has experience with sacred ceremonial space, created for the express purpose of sharing the Reiki attunement process, can greatly enhance the student’s experience. Even though we are dealing with spiritual energies, we do live in a third dimensional world. The purpose of using Reiki is to bring high frequency spiritual energy into the physical realm.
Receiving and accepting an attunement as both a spiritual and a physical experience is a true blessing.