I’ve joined several Reiki groups on Facebook and I have come to see that there are many differing understandings about Reiki. This happens in part because there are as many misconceptions as there are variations on the original Usui method.

I want to emphasize that these are my subjective experiences and beliefs, and I am sure there are people who would disagree with me and that is ok.

I’m a traditionalist, I must confess. I have been a Reiki Master Teacher since 1997 and have attuned hundreds of students. I also hosted monthly Reiki Circles from 2001 through 2020, when Covid shut us down in California.

One misconception is that the Reiki symbols were not used by Dr. Usui and original Reiki. This is not true. There is some indication that a form of the symbols existed prior to Usui in Sanskrit, Zen Buddhism and Japanese Kanji. However, he claimed to have received the symbols in a mystical experience on Mt. Kurama. He used them as a method of focus for his students. When a student is attuned to Reiki, the symbols enter through the Master to the student through the Crown Chakra into his or her being. Using them regularly provides a direct connection to the Reiki energy.

The symbols have been published by many sources and on the internet. Like a game of telephone, where people whisper a phrase or message to one another down a line and the last person tells a vastly different phrase or message from the first person, the symbols have been changed by various Masters over the years. Even Mrs. Takata, who brought Reiki to the West taught different versions. However, there is a copy of the symbols in her original handout of which I am in possession.

The symbols originally were intended to be kept secret and passed from a Reiki Master to student through a lineage. Nowadays, there are so many versions from so many people, along with added symbols that some Reiki lines have become diluted. There are also so many diverse types of Reiki, such as Money Reiki, Shamanic Reiki, Angel Reiki and the copyrighted forms of William Rand. I am sure they each have their place, but I wonder if the original form is the only necessary one. I’m a Master in 5 or 6 other Reiki traditions, but for the life of me cannot remember what they are. Meaning, I have done well all these years with the original Usui method.

Are the symbols important? Many practitioners do not believe so. I believe they are because a student is attuned with the symbols from the Master. It’s like tuning a guitar. The G string has a universal sound vibration, and so do the symbols have a universal vibration.

Another misconception is that Reiki opens a channel for negative spirits to come in. This is not true. The Reiki symbols themselves are protective. If negative spirits are coming in, then someone invites or brings them. I have been to only two circles in all 20 or so years of hosting them where there was an actual negative entity. And that entity was brought by the person who joined the Circle, not through Reiki. Reiki is Universal Life Force Energy, and it is only positive. Some consider it divine energy. People bring their own stuff to Reiki, and the practitioner must protect themselves and their students from any negative energy, particularly if they are empathic or psychic. This has nothing to do with Reiki. And Reiki can be used to remove the negative energy.

Another thing I find fault with is the quote, “A healer is someone who holds space for you while you awaken your inner healer, so that you may heal yourself.” I am sure where that came from, but it has been popular on the internet in recent years.

I do not see that as completely true. It is only partially true. And this might upset some people. An energy healer has the ability to transmit life force energy to the client. Without this, there may not be healing. Yes, your body can have the ability to heal itself. Yes, Reiki stimulates that ability. However, the practitioner is channeling vast amounts of life force energy to the client which balances out their energy system and returns inner organs to proper functioning.

For long lasting healing, there must be a change in consciousness. Many, if not most, diseases manifest from improper thought patterns and a disconnection from the grid of life. Reiki is instrumental in clearing the blocks to connection to the grid. A change in consciousness can only be accomplished by the client.

One thing that my personal mentor always stressed is that everyone is responsible for their own healing and entitled to the soul lessons that healing brings. Even death can be a lesson for a soul. Every practitioner should encourage their clients to take a center role on their healing path. They should have no preconditioned outcome to the healing session. Simply administer the Reiki treatment and then let it go. Trust that it will do what it needs to do.

One thing I stress in my classes is that it is not the healer who is doing the healing, it is the Reiki, or life force energy. I do not care if you raise the dead; it is not you; it is the energy. Ego has no place in Reiki.

It appears that many Reiki teachers are teaching students Reiki techniques but not teaching them anything about personal protection, centering and grounding. The protection is not from the Reiki energy, but for the practitioner’s own empathic ability to absorb energy from clients. When going public with Reiki, you never know what issues will come your way. And if you are even the slightest bit empathic or psychic, you may pick up unwanted energy. It is important to be grounded, centered and protected when working with energy healing. And you need to cleanse yourself and your healing room after your sessions. If your teacher has not told you this, you need to be aware and educate yourself. All Reiki teachers should teach protection, centering and grounding to their students.

It is important too for a practitioner to have a balanced chakra and energy system. I have seen so many practitioners spend all their time doing Reiki, meditating and participating in various metaphysical practices. This is all fine and good, but the energy system, or chakras must be balanced. This is where grounding and centering comes in.

I do not personally believe that a practitioner can cut cords for their client. A client must do this himself. If there is the smallest connection between the two people who have corded one another, the cord will return. You can help only when the client has total resolve to cut the cord and participates in the cord cutting.

Can Reiki do harm? That is a good question. I have never personally seen it do harm. What I have seen are some difficult healing crises after Reiki. Attunements and treatments can trigger a healing crisis and depending on the severity of what is going on with the student, these can be difficult. The healing crisis is an integral part of alternative healing. I have personally gone through healing crises after giving a lot of attunements in one sitting. I have also seen clients go through difficult healing crises after attunements.

For example, I gave my youngest son Reiki 1 and 2 attunements when he was 10 or 12. When I gave him his 2nd level attunement, I sent him out afterwards to pick White Sage, which grew freely in San Diego County many years ago. The next day he awoke with the worst case of poison oak I have ever seen. I had to take him to the doctor. It was a healing crisis because it was gone the next day and he never got it again. So yes, the healing crises can be intense, but the healing is lifelong. With proper aftercare, such as eating properly, drinking lots of water and administering self-treatment, the healing crisis can be less intense.

Another issue is the client who thinks they should be instantly healed after one treatment. This is not generally possible, especially in recurring or serious conditions. Yes, you may have a backache or headache that goes away after treatment, but if you have a long-term condition, it will not just simply disappear without further treatments. A minimum of three treatments is recommended. I also often recommend that clients take a Reiki 1 class so that they can work on themselves.

Even with multiple sessions, some conditions cannot be healed with Reiki. It’s not a miracle drug.

One that note, it is improper, or even downright illegal, to say that Reiki can heal you. But I have personally found that it can and it does. Usually this takes ongoing treatments. I did not have health insurance for a long time and Reiki definitely helped me heal from many conditions I suffered during that time period. I have many wonderful healing stories from my own personal experience and the experience of friends, family and clients. I would never, however, tell someone not to see their doctor or discontinue their medication. Reiki works best in conjunction with traditional medicine. I also would never make any promises regarding healing, only that Reiki can bring some pain and stress relief. Check your local laws and see what regulations your Reiki practice is subject to and always work within those regulations. You should not make diagnoses, promises or offer any type of medical procedures. A release form should be required of all clients, outlining what you can and cannot do according to the laws and regulations of the state where you practice.

When you choose your Reiki Master, ask questions and understand what you will be taught. Check out lineages. Get referrals. I do not personally think that a teacher who took all three levels at once via a handout or video and received their Master Certificate is a good choice. You cannot master anything in a single day.

A Reiki Master is born through experience. A Reiki Master should be there to guide you through all the experiences you have because he/she has had those experiences. A Reiki Master should be available to you throughout your learning experience, and even years afterwards. Many of my original Reiki students still keep in touch with me.

I also do not think that you need to spend massive amounts of money and spend days taking classes studying Reiki 1 and 2. Reiki is a simple method of energy healing. The energy will go on its own where it is needed. That is not to say that good training is not required. It is. But there is a limit. Adding angels and chakras and crystals to Reiki classes isn’t necessary. And please note, I teach these modalities. I teach them al la carte however, because I believe that everyone should have basic Reiki and it should be affordable.

I also believe that experience is essential to any Reiki practitioner. That is where real learning comes in. In my practice I have always offered free or low-cost Reiki Circles/Shares where my students could practice and people who could not afford treatments could come.

These are just a few of the beliefs I have adopted over the years. I hope it has been helpful.

Georgia Vlahos, RMT