| The Western style of Reiki teachings is focused | | | | the treatment is given. |
| on the use of symbols or shirushi (Japanese) to | | | | SYMBOL 2- SEI HEI KI (Pronunciation: |
| convey the Reiki energy to the person being | | | | say-hay-key) |
| healed. It is said that in Mikao Usui's original | | | | Alias: The Mental/Emotional Symbol |
| teachings he did not employ the use of these | | | | This Symbol is utilized primarily for the treatment |
| symbols. He did, however, bring the symbols into | | | | of mental and emotional issues, calming the mind |
| Reiki when he taught the three naval officers his | | | | and for the treatment of addictions. Also |
| techniques, one of who was Dr. Hayashi, | | | | employed in treating stress, anxiety, fear, |
| supposedly because they were having difficulty | | | | depression and nervousness. It can help to |
| understanding how to transmit energy on a | | | | cleanse and heal past traumas or emotional |
| spiritual level and Usui procured the symbols to | | | | blockages. It removes bad vibrations and negative |
| help them grasp this concept. These symbols | | | | energies, to balance the left and right brain, for |
| were further developed by Hayashi in his spiritual | | | | psychic protection and to deprogram inappropriate |
| teachings after Usui's death. | | | | behavior as well as programming positive habits. |
| In Western Reiki, the symbols are used as 'keys' | | | | Sei Hei Ki restablishes emotional balance and |
| to the Reiki practitioner. The practitioners intuition | | | | harmony. |
| must be developed and, using his or her hands | | | | SYMBOL 3- HON SHA ZE SHO NEN (Pronunciation: |
| guided by energy, either to fixed positions on the | | | | Hanh-shah-zay-show-nen) |
| body or intuitively 'scanning' to the body to be | | | | Alias: The Distance Symbol |
| healed. The Reiki 'Masters' are attuned to the | | | | Meaning: "Correct Thought /(Correct Mindfulness) |
| symbols and use these symbols to invoke | | | | is the essence of being" or "Right consciousness is |
| Universal Life Force Energy, vibration and cosmic | | | | the root for everything |
| or celestial energy that flows through the | | | | This symbol is made of 5 kanji characters making |
| practitioner into the body to be healed. | | | | up HSZSN. |
| SYMBOL 1- CHO KU RAY (Pronunciation | | | | It is used to send Reiki 'at a distance' to people, |
| "choh-koo-ray") | | | | animals, places, situations or events. It is also used |
| Alias: "The Power Symbol" | | | | to send Reiki across the idea of time as we know |
| This Symbol is used to focus Reiki on a specific | | | | it. Using this symbol, the practitioner sends Reiki |
| location, drawing energy from around the | | | | to situations that have passed and/or events that |
| practitioner for a specific intent. It is used an | | | | have not yet happened. This symbol can also be |
| all-purpose symbol and may be used as a seal or | | | | used to assist interaction with spirits of place, |
| amulet for protection. Practitioners use this | | | | ancestry, ancestry energy patterns or deity. |
| symbol to cleanse negative energies, on food, | | | | In some forms of Reiki, this symbol is understood |
| drink or material possessions. This symbol can be | | | | to represent the idea that there is 'oneness' |
| used in conjunction with other Reiki Symbols for | | | | between practitioner and receiver of Reiki, that |
| further empowerment and to seal energies after | | | | energy transcends delineation of forms. |