Traditional Reiki Symbols

[Anthony]

I am very interested in getting various people's opinions on this topic. Are the Reiki Symbols (CKR, SHK, HSZSN, DKM) sacred and should be kept secret? Why or why not? and In what levels do you teach the symbols (I have particular interest in CKR )?

The reasoning for this question is, the attunement processes do give the student the CKR symbol.

The reason I am asking is I am trying to write a comprehensive Reiki 1 and 2 manual (which I may one day get published) and I am doing a chapter on the Symbols, with a section on "Show vs. Sacred".

[Michael]

Hi Anthony

I don't think the power of the symbols are relying on keeping them a secret or not. To me that idea is, most of the time, elitistic and a pure construction for the purpose of making money With that I mean that the symbols are indeed sacred, but there is no need to keep them a secret. Love is also sacred, but if you keep love a secret, it surely won't grow

I actually believe that the more people who use the symbols, the more powerful they become. The power of the collective, sort of

CKR is generally given in Reiki 1, just as you say. Some RMTs don't give CKR until Reiki 2 though. It varies from what "school" of Reiki you come from.

love
Michael

[Anthony]

Not to disagree, b/c I do agree that the power of the symbols are sacred, but the symbols themselves are ink on paper or pixels on a computer screen. How is that sacred? It is my belief that the symbols are, shall we say, "buttons" of sorts that connect us with what is scared...the power that the specific symbol represents.

Usui-sensei added the symbols later and only for those who could not easily access the energy. Why is it that Mrs. Takata changed the beliefs behind the symbols. It was she who added the "sacred and secret" part to the symbols. I'm not hoping or wanting to offend anyone, but it does seem that she changed things about Reiki to have it become elitist. She changed the beliefs about charging for sessions and training.

[reikihealth]

Well put Anthony.....hey and I don't want to offend anyone either.

To me Reiki is a personal thing and we all develop in our own way.........and that is good just as long as we remember the basics.

Yes the symbols were added later so they are really an addon to Reiki. I believe they were added to help newcomers to Reiki to concentrate, and I do not think they have any special powers on their own.

If as we are told you cannot use the symbols until you have reached the required level as they won't work then why on earth should they be kept secret.

Incidentally I don't believe the symbols are really necessary as surely it is the intent that is more important.

Good luck with your manuals Anthony

Blessings

[stef]

Hi Anthony

I don't think that the symbols are either for show, or sacred. But they are special in their own way to each individual. They don't hold any power, but they are very useful to help focus when you are in the early stages of learning Reiki. Personally, I no longer feel the need to use the symbols, but I still like to use them at times

The whole idea of them being sacred came after Usui's death, along with the idea that westerners would only value Reiki if it was paid for. So now that the symbols are being shown in books and on websites, and now that Reiki treatments and attunements are being given for free, we can hopefully get back to the true tradition of Reiki, instead of it being elitist.

Reiki is the Universal Life energy, it is everywhere, whether we are attuned to it or not. It is available for all to use, if their intent is strong. I believe that you can use any symbol, from any of the different 'flavours' of Reiki, and all will work with your intent

love
stef

[Mickuk]

Hi Anthony,

i agree with Stef ;D just a couple of points Ms Takata invented the four single attunements for the reiki level 1 attunement, the attunement that my teachers gave me is very simple no complicated attunements ;D

There are many variations of the usui reiki attunements but they all work, you can make reiki complicated or simple i use the simple, a new age usui reiki peep ;D

On the subject of symbols and attunements, some people draw the symbols in one hand, others on both hands again not important but some people will say that their way is the only and right way of doing attunements ;D

Reiki level 1 and distant healing, you will find in books and on the net that reiki 1 pratitioners can't send distant healing ? wrong they can with or without symbols your Intent is the key to everything you do with reiki the symbols and reiki level one ? you were attuned to all the reiki symbols in your level 1 attunement, how the symbols were placed in your body is not important

love,
mick

[thaanto]

isisreiki said:

I am very interested in getting various people's opinions on this topic. Are the Reiki Symbols (CKR, SHK, HSZSN, DKM) sacred and should be kept secret? Why or why not? and In what levels do you teach the symbols (I have particular interest in CKR )?

The reasoning for this question is, the attunement processes do give the student the CKR symbol.

The reason I am asking is I am trying to write a comprehensive Reiki 1 and 2 manual (which I may one day get published) and I am doing a chapter on the Symbols, with a section on "Show vs. Sacred".

The master who taught me level I uses symbols heavily. He says that level I practitioners don't need symbols, but that you learn them in level II (Usui reiki) and use them in healing. It is only in level III that you learn how to attune students with the symbols. This seems like a fairly good idea, because your beginning students learn to "play" with the energy, middle stage students get to "play" with the symbols, and level III students get to master the study. It is a natural progression, and makes sense to me.

[shiro]

intent is the key.

i think the symbols are used as either a mnemonic or focus function for the practitioner. from what i've read, Usui-sensei didn't really need the symbols but found it necessary for transmitting the skills to others.

so, as long as your intent is good, then you can "graduate" from using them at a certai point.

;D