| Reiki students pass through three stages of | | | | student's body. Reiki symbols and gestures will |
| instruction to eventually become a Reiki Master; | | | | also be involved, the symbols are sacred and |
| during each of these stages the student will | | | | vary according to individual Reiki masters and the |
| receive at least one attunement. | | | | type of Reiki being initiated. |
| Generally known as attunement (the term I will | | | | The attunement can be used on anyone; it is not |
| use in this article) it is also called initiation or | | | | a ritual or allied to any religious philosophy. It is a |
| empowerment. | | | | short process and is carried out with the student |
| Reiki practitioners believe that universal energy | | | | fully clothed, they are however required to |
| surrounds all of us and we can all make use of it, | | | | remove all jewelry and anything metallic they |
| ultimately as a healing force. This energy is said to | | | | may be wearing. The student can sit or stand but |
| flow through channels within an individual. | | | | their feet must be touching the ground and their |
| It is the aim of a Reiki teacher to open these | | | | shoes removed. |
| channels within students ensuring that they will | | | | What the student feels during the attunement will |
| then become a direct channel for Reiki. The Reiki | | | | vary greatly, some acknowledge feeling |
| energy will now be able to flow freely through the | | | | sensations of heat, coolness or tingling, some |
| student's body and pass on to someone else. | | | | have a feeling of total peace and wonder and |
| An attunement is a process that creates a Reiki | | | | many experience the healing energy running |
| healer. While it does not actually give the receiver | | | | through them for the first time. |
| anything new, it opens and aligns what was | | | | After receiving all stages of attunement (ending |
| already within them. | | | | at the third stage of Reiki healing) the students |
| The process of attunement is simple and non | | | | are now deemed Reiki masters and become |
| invasive, it basically involves the Reiki master | | | | capable of carrying out attunements themselves. |
| placing their hands on prescribed areas of the | | | | |