Cho Ku Rei

The Cho Ku Rei (Cho koo- ray) is known as the Power

symbol here in our Western Culture. In Usui-Reiki Level 2 you are taught to use it
when you need more healing energy focused in a certain area. It seems that for
ease and simplicity in our fast paced society that many Reiki instructors offer an In
and Out attunement, where you can have it done in less than a day, the same
applies for the symbolism. We are not taught in detail about each symbol and what
it truly represents.
In Eastern Culture, students study for years before mastering the Art of Reiki and
the symbols. They are taught to feel the energy of the symbols, to become familiar
with each, to know it.
The Cho-ku-rei is the symbol for Universal Energy. It is our intent and will that
determines how powerful this symbol is, and it can be used for many purposes
from healing, to making our desires become reality.
You can use the Cho-ku-rei when someone is experiencing pain during a treatment,
your intent to heal the pain with the symbol will help greatly reduce it, or even
diminish it! If no pain is apparent during your session, simple use it to help with the
flow of energy that is flowing through you. Remember, Reiki will go where ever it is
needed most!
You may also use the Cho-ku-rei to charge you food and water with pure energy,
especially if you are out or travelling. When you understand that everything is
energy, you will understand that food-born illnesses are a result of negative energy
that remains in our food (whether its from the handler, or the animal itself when it
died). The Cho-ku-rei will put positive energy back into your food and water, supercharging the vitamins and minerals for our bodies.
The Cho-ku-rei isnt just limited to healing negative energy, you can also use it to
manifest your desires. One of my favourite methods to do is to write your desire, or
intention on a piece of paper. Fold the paper to fit inside of your hands, draw the
Cho-ku-rei symbol over it, and begin to give it Reiki for 15 minutes or longer! Do this
daily if you wish, putting your intention into it.

Imagine it happening, feel it as if it has already happened! When you begin to

understand that the world around you is a vibration of energy, you will understand
how your vibration effects the world outside of you!
Please remember that the Cho-ku-rei can only be used for the Highest
Good of Ourselves and Others. If you use it to manipulate a situation for
any negative reason, understand that it will have negative consequences.

HOW TO DRAW THE CHO-KU-REI

Sei Hei Ki

The Sei Hei Ki, or Sei He Ki (Say Hey Key) is known as the
mental/emotional symbol in Reiki. When used, it restores balance to both the
mental and emotional parts of our psyche, as they are both effect each other. There
are several interpretations of what this symbol means, but all have a common
factor, and that is harmony.
When used by a Reiki practitioner, it can help unite mind and body and bring our
deep rooted emotional problems to the surface. Often, out of necessity, we repress
our painful memories because some part of us feels that it can not deal with them.
The Sei Hei Ki allows us to face these problems, to feel the appropriate emotions
and then to let go of them, forgiving ourselves and others.
Mental illnesses, such as depression, can begin to eat away at our physical selves.
Even though it is not something physical, we can see clearly that it has an effect on
our entire well-being. We need to understand that our mental, emotion, physical
and spiritual self are all connected, when one is not in balance, it effects all levels of
our beingness.
The Sei hei ki balances the right and left side of the brain and restores balance,
bringing peace and harmony. It can also be very helpful in relationships by going the
source of the problem, allowing us to recognize that the problems we face are
caused by no one else but ourselves.
There are many ways a person can use the Sei hei key, just as I had recommended
in the previous page regarding the Cho-ku-rei. Write down on a piece of paper the
emotional or mental aspect you would like to have healed in your life, and fold it so
it fits in between your hands. Then draw the Sei hei ki over it, following with a Choku-rei, begin to give it Reiki for 15 minutes or longer if you choose. These symbols
are a focal point for intent to travel towards so your intent must be there!
Some more uses for the Sei hei ki:

Anger

Depression

Mental Illness

Drug/Alcohol Abuse

Memory/Attention

Relationships

Finding lost items

There are many ways you can use the Se-hei ki to help you in your life. Please allow
the symbols and Reiki to affect your life positively in all areas!

HOW TO DRAW THE SEI HEI KI:

Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen

The Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (hon-shaw-ze-show-nen) is known as the Distance

symbol in Reiki. Its most commonly used in distant healing sessions, but it is
certainly not limited to this practice. Just as with the other symbols used in Usui
Reiki, many people have their own interpretation of what it means.
I believe that this symbol represents Oneness, and when used in a healing session,
has the power to unite the healer and the recipient at a subconscious level that can
allow a deep healing to take place.
It has been said to symbolize the Sun, and although many of us may view the sun
just as an object in the sky we have to realize that the ancients worshipped it for a
reason. The sun is a living and conscious being, and it flows its life essence through
everything, giving all living creatures life. Without the sun, we would not survive.
This symbol, when used with Reiki transcends space and time. It is not restricted by
our conscious belief about time. Use the Hon-sha-ze-sho-nen to send Reiki to a
person on the other side of the world, or to another place in time! Past, present or
future events can be healed and effected positively by the symbol. Heal an event in
the past that you wish could have been different, and see how it effects your
present moment!
Here are some other ways you can use the Distance Symbol:

Send healing energy to your children who are in a different area of the house

Send healing energy to your spouse while hes at work

Send healing energy to yourself

Send healing energy to a piece of paper with a name or a picture on it

Send healing energy to a proxy of a person, using the Cho-ku-rei and Seihei-ki

Send healing energy to a building, or to a neighbourhood, or to the Earth!

The possibilities are limitless when using the Reiki symbols, the only limit is your
beliefs! So why not change them?

HOW TO DRAW THE HON SHA ZE SHO NEN:

Dai Ko Myo

The Dai Ko Myo (Dye-Ko-My-O) is known as the Master symbol in Usui Reiki. It is
considered to have the highest vibration and to be the most powerful of the
symbols. This Master symbol is used in passing attunements and has the ability to
heal our soul.
It can heal the aura, the chakras and any disease that originates from
our subconscious beliefs.
During an attunement it enters into our Crown Chakra and illuminates the truth of
who we really are. It allows us to realize our Divinity and connection to Everything,
taking us back to God, whom we were never truly separated from. It is the Dai Ko
Myo then, that reconnects us to the Divinity that is inherently present within all,
allowing us to heal ourselves and others.
There are many variations of this symbol and it is very close to the Master Symbol
Dumo used in Usui/Tibetan Reiki. Because of the historical inaccuracies provided
by Reiki Master Hawayo Takata, who is accredited to bringing reiki to the West in
1937, had made many changes to Usuis original system of healing.
Traditionally speaking, there was much more dedication involved in Mastering Reiki,
students were taught to get to know the symbols, to feel their energy, essentially
becoming one with them. In our fast paced society we can learn Reiki within a day
and be given these symbols with a quick description of what they represent.
It was through the hard work of a dedicated group of Reiki Masters (William Lee
Rand, Arjuva peter and others) who would start to uncover the truth of Usui and his

Original teachings. From what has been discovered through the Usui Reiki Ryoho
Gakkai, traditional practices in Japan, China and Tibet, this symbol has been
certified to be the original.
When we translate the individual symbols in the Dai Ko Myo, we see that it clearly
represents the energy it carries. Dai means Big or Great, ko is a noun for light, it
also means glossy or smooth, and myo means bright light it also translates to
clear or evident and is a verb for understanding, or knowing. Simply put, the Dai-KoMyo means Bright Shining Light or Great Enlightenment. It signifies
enlightenment, inner knowledge and truth.
It brings us back to the correct path that we often stray from in life, forgetting why it
is that we are here. Some believe that we came here simply to experience
everything, to get purposefully lost while doing it so that we could find our way
back to the truth of who we are and how powerful our Love is!

HOW TO DRAW THE DAI KO MYO: (Please be advised that there are several
variations of the symbol, this is but one of them)

Raku

The Raku (ray-koo) is the final symbol that you will learn when you
become a Master in the Usui Reiki system of healing.
Also know as the Fire Serpent, it is primarily used for grounding the Receiver once
an attunement to Reiki has been passed. It is drawn downwards from the head of
the recipient to the ground, allowing the energy received during this process to
remain inside the 7 chakras.
It is believed to symbolize a strike of lightening from the heavens, and is
representative of the life force energy (also known as chi) that runs down the spine,
through our chakras.
The Raku may also be used during healing sessions to ground the practitioner or the
patient receiving a treatment. There are some practitioners that claim to be able to
direct negative energy out of the body using the Raku symbol. This is not
recommended unless you have properly trained in doing so. Directing energy in this
manner can possibly have negative effects.
It is always best to allow the Intelligence of Reiki to remove any negative energy
that may be sitting in the body, instead of taking the task on yourself. There are
many other symbols that can be used to help remove blockages that may be
encountered during a healing treatment.
It is not known where the Raku originated from, as it is not an original symbol that
was taught by Usui. It is speculated that its origins are Tibetan, and that Reiki
Master Iris Ishikuro (who was a student of Mrs. Takata) incorporated the symbol into
her Reiki Practice, which she named Raku Kei Reiki. It is believed that Raku-Kei is an
Ancient Tibetan Healing Art of Self-Mastery, much like Reiki itself. The symbol and
practice was brought to the West by Arthur Robertson, who was a student of
Ishirkuro.

While all of these changes to the Original Usui Shiki Ryoho can be sometimes
confusing, it is important to remember that the core principle remains unchanged
and that is to heal. The World around us is always in a constant state of change, and
it seems only natural that through the Art of Reiki, of Self-Mastery, that the methods
of how we heal with Reiki change with us so that we can better heal ourselves and
each other.
HOW TO DRAW THE RAKU:

Mikao usui's Traditional Reiki symbols are 4. And they are

rapresented here.

The Dai Ko Myo Master Symbol used by the USUI REIKI RYOHO
GAKKAI (the Original Reiki Organization of which Usui was the first
president) is this, which is absolutely certified as original and correct:

These variant forms, while being less than precise forms of the correct
symbol, are not to be considered totally wrong, since they are quite close
to the original and are merely stylized variations of it.
Teachers which use these symbols may change this form with the original,
being very close to it, and if they dont adopt the original they can still
sleep soundly because the energy channelled by these forms above is still
the right one.
Things are quite different, though, for the MULTITUDE of Reiki
masters which INEXPLICABLY do not use Usuis master symbol to
teach Usuis Reiki!
Many masters use the so-called Tibetan Master Symbol or Tibetan Dai Ko
Mio (with an i instead of the y) or Dumo.

The Dai Ko Myo in Usui Reiki is known as the Master symbol. It is one of the most
powerful symbols in Reiki that can be used only by Reiki Masters. The power of the
Reiki Master symbol combines the power of the first three symbols, Cho Ku Rei, Sei
He Ki and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen.
The Dai Ko Myo is the symbol with the highest vibration and is therefore most
transformative at the spiritual level. Using this symbol helps enhance the healing of
the soul as the energies are sent to the more subtle layers of the aura and upper
chakras. When the spiritual soul is healed, the mental and physical get healed
automatically.

The Dai Ko Myo symbol also helps heal our karma. Also known as all purpose
healing symbol and empowerment symbol, this Reiki symbol represents all that
is Reiki, including personal empowerment and love. Reiki practitioners at all levels
receive the master symbol from their Reiki teacher during the attunement.
What does Dai Ko Myo mean?
When the individual symbols of the Reiki mater symbol are translated, it symbolizes
the energy it carries. While Dai means great or big and Ko means smooth or
glossy, the word Myo means bright light. The symbol also translated to evident or
clear and is a verb for knowing or understanding. The Dai Ko Myo basically means
Great Enlightenment or Bright Shining Light. This Reiki symbol represents inner
knowledge, truth and enlightenment.

Dai Ko Myo Master Symbol

What happens during Dai Ko Myo Attunement?
When a Reiki practitioner is attuned with this Reiki symbol by a Reiki master, the
symbol enters into the crown chakra and enlightens the truth about who we really

are. The symbol helps us recognize our divinity and association to everything,
taking us back to God.
The Dai Ko Myo symbol reconnects us to the divinity that is inherit within all and
helps us heal ourselves and others. Once attuned to the symbol, it is highly
recommended that you use the symbol with all your Reiki works. This will allow your
energy receive an extra boost and help you draw strong energy constantly through
your energetic system.

Methods to activating the Dai Ko Myo symbol

The symbol can be activated in many ways, including but not limited to:
1. Drawing it with your palm center
2. By visualizing it
3. Drawing the symbol with your finger
4. Drawing it with your third eye
5. Spelling the name of the symbol three times.
Where to apply Dai Ko Myo symbol during healing?
Using the Reiki master symbol enhances the healing effects of every form of Reiki
healing. The symbol is usually used with every Reiki healing whether individual or
group, hands-on or distant or when aimed at an individual, thing or situation. To
apply the symbol during a Reiki healing session, first draw the Reiki symbol on your
own palms or hands and then visualize or redraw the symbol on the crown chakra
and the palms or hands of the client and the area to be treated.

Image by
h.koppdelaney
Dai Ko Myo Uses

Used by Reiki masters to open channels during Reiki attunement and attune
those who want to become Reiki practitioners.

Helps enhance the connection between the practitioner and universal

energies and helps heal the soul.

Heals the chakras, the aura and any disease that initiates from our
subconscious beliefs.

Deals with our spiritual self, using it helps heal illness and disease from its
original source.

Helps provide enlightenment and become more psychic and intuitive.

Can be used in all Reiki healings to bring in a purer and higher dimension of
light.

Can also be used to draw out negative energy from the body (physical
emotional, mental or spiritual) and then liberate it.

Helps develop and strengthen personal growth, self awareness, spiritual

development and intuition.

Using this symbol with the other Reiki symbols helps increase the
effectiveness. For examples, using Dai Ko Myo with the distant healing
symbol helps the energy to quickly travel from the heart chakra of the healer
to the heart chakra of the receiver.

Can be used to charge, clear crystals or make them self healing.

It is considered to be an immune energizer. Helps improve immune function

and increase energy flow through the body.

Can be used to enhance the healing properties of herb tinctures, medicines or

homeopathic remedies.

Benefits of Meditating on Dai Ko Myo symbol

The Reiki master symbol provides great benefits when meditating with it. It helps
lead you to the Bodhisattva Path or Saint Hood. Accepting Dai Ko Myo through
meditation encourages you to help others by helping yourself and direct your life
specifically towards this purpose. Meditating on the symbol not only allows self
purification and self cleansing at a spiritual level, but also helps create more
harmony and balance in your daily life. It brings light in your life and helps
eliminate blockages at all physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels, present,
past and future.
Dai Ko Myo is one of the most sacred Reiki symbols. The primary purpose of using
this symbol is empowerment, enlightenment, unity and wakening of the soul. It is a
bright shining light which nourishes and fills, shows the way and rests the spirit. It
helps nurture your physical body and soul and also encourages you to do the same
for others. With practice, using Dai Ko Myo can bring profound changes in life and
make you a better person.
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In Second and Master level of Reiki you will have access to the Special Sacred Reiki
Symbols and words. These are handed down from Master to Master and are used for
attuning other initiates into your Reiki Linage. But more importantly they can be
used for healing and protection.
Reiki Symbols are means of focusing your attention in order to connect with
"specific" healing frequencies.
Using different symbols will boost up the Reiki energy.

REIKI SYMBOLS

CHO KU RAY
Pronunciation "choh-koo-ray"
Alias: "The Power Symbol"

Meaning: "God and Man Coming Together" or "I have the key"
The primary use of this Symbol is to increase Reiki power. It draws Energy from
around you and it focuses it where you want to.
Make the sign over the client (or yourself) and say (silently) the words Cho Ku Rei 3
times.
It is the all-purpose symbol. It can be used for anything, anywhere;
* For on the spot treatments
* To cleans negative energies
* Spiritual protection
* On food, water, medicine, herbs
* In sick rooms and hospitals
* To aid manifestation
* To empower other Reiki Symbols
* To seal energies after the treatment, etc.
If you wish to use the symbol to bring Energy to yourself, reverse it.

SEI HEI KI
Pronunciation: say-hay-key
Alias: The Mental/Emotional Symbol

Meaning: God and Man Coming Together or Key to the Universe

It is used primary for mental/emotional healing and calming the mind. It is very
good for:
* Psychic protection
* Cleansing
* In meditations to activate Kundalini
* To balance the right and left brain
* Aid for removing addictions
* For healing past traumas
* Clears emotional blockages and aligns the upper chakras.
* Remove negative energies and bad vibrations
Sei He Ki restores emotional balance and harmony.

HON SHA ZE SHO NEN

Pronunciation: Hanh-shah-zay-show-nen
Alias: The Distance Symbol

Meaning: The God ( The Buddha, the Christ,..) in Me Greets the God in You to
Promote Enlightenment and Peace
This is the Distant Healing Symbol and it is used to send Reiki over distance and
time (past,present, future), to anyone and anything.
It is also drawn when sending a distant attunement.

TAM-A-RA-SHA
Pronunciation: Tam-ara-sha
Alias: The Balanicg Factor

It is a balancing/unblocking Symbol.
* Grounds and balances energy
* Helps to unblock the energy chakra centres allowing the energy to flow
* If signed over pain helps to reduce it or dissipate it.

THE REIKI MASTER SYMBOL

DAI KO MYO
Pronunciation: dye-ko-me-o
Alias: The Master Symbol

It is the most powerful symbol in the Reiki group. It can be used only by Reiki
Masters.

This symbol is used to heal the soul. Since it deals with the soul and our spiritual
self it heals disease and illness from the original source in the aura/energy fields.
It helps to provide enlightenment and piece. It also allows to become more intuitive
and psychic.
With practice this symbol brings profound life changes.

METHODS FOR SYMBOL ACTIVATION

They can be activated in any of the following ways:
* By drawing them with your palm centre
* BY drawing them with your finger
* By visualizing them
* By drawing them with your third eye
* By spelling the symbol's name three times.
You can use whatever method you wish, but don't forget that it's the intent that
counts.

Where to apply them during a healing?

First place the symbol(s) on your own hands/palms and then redraw or visualise the
same symbols on:
* The clients crown chakra
* The areas to be treated (if known)
* The clients hands/palms

If you can not recall a Reiki symbol, use the "alias", because both have the same
energy.
With practice the symbols will become less relevant and the focus will change to the
"intent" of the specific energies required.
THE SACRED
USUI REIKI SYMBOLS

I received my first reiki attunement in November 2003 and my last in January 2006.
After my first reiki attunement, I dedicated a lot of time to researching and studying
reiki before deciding to move on with my training. One of the major discussions I
came across during that time was the debate about the reiki symbols - in particular
whether they should be kept secret or not. There were some people who felt that
there was no need to keep the symbols a big secret and were willing to publish
them in their books (most notably Diane Stein). I personally felt it was silly to keep
the symbols a secret as it caused more of desire to find out what was the big deal
with the symbols. The first reiki book I saw the symbols in was by Carmen
Fernandez and later I saw the symbols in Diane Stein's notable, Essential Reiki.
Fernandez' book had only the second level reiki symbols depicted while Stein
included the master level symbols. Stein also compared what she was using with
what she called the "Usui Traditional Reiki" symbols (that is, the symbols as used by
the Reiki Alliance, the reiki organization based on Hawayo Takata's teachings). As I
looked at these symbols for the first time, I could not help noticing that two of the
"Usui Traditional Reiki" symbols looked funny enough like a child's distorted
scribbling of Chinese characters! Reiki is Japanese, but the Japanese use the
Chinese writing system (referred to as "kanji" in Japan) along with their own and
knowing this, I set out to prove my suspicions that at least two of these symbols
held in such secret reservation are simply Chinese/Japanese words used in everyday
language and weren't necessarily a big secret (though as I will explain below, the
phrases the two symbols represent are used in a sacred manner). As it turned out, I
was correct in my suspicions.
All of this research happened before I took my second level reiki course in April
2005 - I wanted to know a bit more about what I was getting into if I was going to
continue with studying reiki. Unfortunately, by the time I took my second level reiki
course, I knew a bit more than my teacher at that time about the origins or reiki,
and especially about the origins of the reiki symbols. I didn't want to hijack her class
so I pretty much held my breath then about the reiki symbols (although, when we
were practising drawing the symbols, I did draw the one symbol based on the
Japanese kanji according to the Chinese/Japanese system of writing). I was pretty
much there to get my attunement and to see what Western new age practices were
tossed in with reiki. Don't get me wrong though! There isn't anything particularly
wrong with the new age practices that are tossed in, but what was tossed in is,
frankly, based on magical theory (though, of course, the people teaching it didn't
know it, and didn't know that Mikao Usui, the first teacher of reiki, never practiced
that as the new age practices were tossed in at some point predominantly by
people who are now grouped under the Usui/Tibetan reiki tradition). In any case, the
teacher for my second level was pretty good despite her naivety about magical
practices and I did take her third/master level training (which as it turned out was
Usui/Tibetan and the attunements she gave me were from the Usui/Tibetan
tradition).

My training now complete, I reviewed what I learned in my second and third level
reiki courses with what I learned about the Japanese tradition of reiki (as by this
time, I had started reading books by Frank Arjava Petter, who had gone to teach
reiki in Japan and was surprised to meet real Japanese reiki practitioners who
retained some knowledge of what Usui taught). Then, I started working on writing
my own reiki manuals comprising an assimilation of what I learned from Western
reiki and what I learned about Japanese reiki. That was in 2006. Now, just three
years later, things in the reiki world have changed - including the overall attitude
about the reiki symbols (that being said, there are still a lot of issues that need to be
worked out in the greater reiki community). Generally, I do not believe that the
symbols need to be kept secret. I believe this more so now than before as there are
more people exposed (and attuned!) to reiki. It may well be that almost everyone
will be attuned to reiki. I do not believe the high level of secrecy does reiki and its
practitioners any benefit, nor was this ever the intention of Usui. Usui wanted to
promote reiki to everyone and felt that it was a gift that needed to be shared. As
already mentioned, two of the reiki symbols used are simply kanji. Granted, the
meaning of the phrases those kanji make up are used in a sacred manner, but in
general each kanji comprising the two symbols are simply common words. Because
the kanji are simply common words, I do not believe we need to keep these two
symbols secret. The other two symbols are thought to come from Sanskrit (although
one may actually have Shinto origins instead). All these symbols may be sacred, but
they are not secret. In my humble opinion, I think that a misunderstanding of the
sacredness of the symbols is what drives some to keep the symbols secret. They
fear that upon revealing the symbols to the "non-initiate", the symbols will lose their
sacredness as if the symbols themselves have some hidden power. I do not believe
this about symbols in general, and in my reiki level two course, I discuss the
purpose of the symbols as simple communication devices and tools for focusing.
The tool may help you accomplish something, but that does not mean that the tool
has power - it is you who are using the tool and therefore, it is you who has the
power.
Following is an excerpt from my reiki level two manual about the reiki symbols:
"In addition, two of the symbols used in reiki are comprised of common kanji
(Japanese words). These two symbols communicate a very specific idea or meaning
that may not be easily understood by the common Japanese person even if they
read the kanji. They may know what each kanji means, but they may not
understand fully the philosophical concept behind the whole symbol.
I have mentioned that the symbols are tools for focusing and do not hold any power.
Reiki symbols are no different from any other symbol. In fact, two of them are
thought to come from Sanskrit. The symbols in reiki are not the "be all and end all"
of reiki, despite the fact that some people place extremely high importance on
them. The symbols do not give reiki and do not contain reiki energy - you do. This is
why the attunements are required to give reiki. You become a channel for reiki and

then you can use the symbols as aids. It is not the reverse. The symbols are not
reiki energy and you do not help the symbols give reiki. Recall that symbols are a
means of communication. The reiki symbols are a way to communicate and connect
with reiki. The symbols are used to aid you in focusing the energy on what is
needed. The symbols are not more important than the act of giving reiki. When reiki
is first taught, some of you may find that you have trouble focusing when giving a
reiki treatment. This is when using the symbols is helpful. Even if you are not having
much difficulty focusing during a reiki treatment, the symbols will be helpful for
specific types of treatment, such as mental and emotional healing and distant
healing. The symbols are also used in meditation to connect with reiki on a regular
basis. The "names" of the symbols are really the mantras that are associated with
the symbols."
Having now discussed why I do not consider the symbols secret, I will now discuss
each symbol.
THE FIRST SYMBOL

The name and mantra for this symbol is "choku rei" (pronounced "cho koo ray"). The
simplest meaning for this symbol is "power" and it is referred to by many as the
"power symbol". The name and mantra for this symbol can be written in kanji,
though it is not known which kanji should be used. This symbol is used to increase
the flow of reiki energy or the power to heal. This symbol is considered to be the
activator and can be thought of as the "light switch" symbol, as in "turn the power
on" (the power being reiki). This symbol is often used whenever one or both of the
other two symbols are used, as it is said it will help activate the energy of the other
symbols. I believe it is erroneous to state that this symbol activates the others. Each
symbol can be used by itself since it is not the symbol that carries reiki, but the
practitioner. This symbol can be used with the other symbols to give an added
"boost" of energy if the person wishes, but it is not required for use of the other
symbols. I have seen variations of this symbol. Fernandez turns this symbol upsidedown and Stein uses the mirror image of this symbol. Stein feels that the counterclockwise direction does not increase the reiki energy while the clockwise one does.
This has not been my experience or the experience of others who use the counterclockwise version. In fact, it is likely that the symbol works either way! Remember
that the symbol does not contain reiki energy - you do. Stein's idea comes from her
practices in Wicca where a counter-clockwise direction is generally considered to

connect with negative or decreasing or banishing energies. However, it is the earth

that rotates counter-clockwise on its axis making it appear as if the sun moves
clockwise. Thus, a clockwise direction properly connects with solar energy rather
than the earth. I personally prefer the symbol as it is shown above, not because it is
supposedly the "traditional Usui" version, but because of the alignment with earth
energy. This provides a sense of balance when using reiki as reiki enters through the
head. Using a symbol connected to earth energy is helpful in keeping reiki energy
grounded and stable.
THE SECOND SYMBOL

The name and mantra for this symbol is "sei hei ki" (pronounced "say hay key"). The
simplest meaning of this symbol is "harmony". It can be called the "harmony
symbol", the "freedom symbol", or the "release symbol". It is most often referred to
as the "mental symbol" or "mental healing symbol". Some call it the "emotion
symbol" or the "mental emotional symbol". This symbol is used specifically for
mental and emotional healing. Like the first symbol, the name and mantra for this
one can be written in kanji. Based on the kanji that would be used, a translation is
"peace and serenity from the spirit". This symbol will help harmonize the body with
the mind and prepare the body for healing. It helps purify and clear out negativity
and unwanted thoughts and feelings. It is a symbol of release. Using this symbol is
good for healing as it helps get to the root cause of an illness or "dis-ease"
("disease" as used here refers to anything that causes unease). This symbol is used
to heal addictions, as addictions are a mental and emotional condition as well as a
physical one. Some addictions are not even physical but are instead mental and
emotional conditions, although the person may not be aware of it. Many have linked
the above symbol with the hrih, a symbol from Sanskrit adopted into Buddhism. In
fact, many think that the harmony symbol is simply a variation of the hrih symbol.
The hrih is associated with the Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara who is known as the
goddess Kannon in Japan, the goddess Kuan Yin 1 in China, and the goddess Tara in
Tibet. This deity is associated with love, compassion, and healing and is a symbol
for release from suffering. Given that this goddess dedicated herself to releasing
others from suffering, it is no surprise that the hrih symbol (only one of her symbols
- another of her symbols is the lotus) was adopted into reiki. Don't be surprised if
you begin to sense a presence from this goddess when you are using this symbol. If
you are unfamiliar with deity energy, the feeling may come as a surprise. Do not be
frightened of it though (actually, you should enjoy the feel of this goddess' energy);

it is likely Kuan Yin (or Kannon) is just lending a healing hand to your work. Some
think this symbol relates to the emotional while the third one relates to the mental. I
do not think that the meanings of the symbols are so simple as to be able to make
that distinction. Both this symbol and the third symbol relate to the emotional and
the mental. One difference between these two symbols is that this one is for
releasing emotions and thoughts while the next is for changing emotions and
thoughts or changing consciousness. Another difference is that the next symbol
carries more meaning relating to time and distance and can therefore be used for
distant healing. I was taught to use the harmony symbol only if I felt it was needed;
however, it probably could be used more often in healing work. The only caution
that should be stated is that the energy represented by this symbol can be quite
powerful and someone may respond strongly in a healing session. Be aware of this
and make sure you are prepared to deal with the person's fragile mental and
emotional state.
THE THIRD SYMBOL

This symbol is commonly called the "distant symbol". This symbol is not really a
symbol, but a composition of five kanji. The kanji are written in a stylized format
where some kanji overlap another. The kanji compose the mantra "hon sha ze sho
nen" (pronounced "hawn shah zay sho nen"). The simplest meaning for this is
"connection" as in connection with the original source or connecting beyond time
and distance; thus, it may simply be called the "connection symbol". It also carries
the idea of connection with "right thought". It has been used primarily for distant
healing in Western Reiki, but can be used for mental healing as well because the
symbol injects "right thought" or "right thinking". These kanji have been translated
in a variety of ways. A translation that falls closer to the meaning of the kanji is "the
righteous person may correct all thoughts" (although this neglects the meaning of
the top kanji). "Right consciousness is the root of everything" is the most accurate
translation to date. This is the translation native Japanese and Chinese speakers
have given the kanji. (Note that the characters carry the same meaning in Chinese

and Japanese. Japan adopted the Chinese writing system, but the pronunciations of
the characters are often different.) To understand why this translation is the most
accurate, it helps to look at each kanji separately along with their definitions. The
following definitions are from an online Chinese dictionary. 2

The first kanji ("hon") is a noun that means "stem, root, basis, origin, or book". 3 The
Japanese definition is "source" or "origin".4

The second kanji ("sha") is a pronoun that means "person or thing". 5 The Japanese
definition is "person".

The third kanji ("ze") is an adjective that means "correct or right". 6 The Japanese
definition is "right" or "just".

The fourth kanji ("sho") is an adjective that means "proper, right, just, or fair", and a
verb that means to "rectify or correct".7 The Japanese definition is "correct" or
"right".

The fifth kanji ("nen") is a verb that means "think of, miss, remember, or study". 8
The Japanese definition is "thought", "idea", or "wish".
From this, you can see that the translation "right consciousness is the root of
everything" carries more connotations and meaning than it at first seems. You can
also see why this symbol deals with both the emotional and the mental. The last
kanji implies active thinking of something holding it close to you emotionally.
There are probably more variations of this symbol than the previous two. There are
many different variations of this symbol because it is comprised of kanji. Writing
kanji is a skill that needs to be practiced, even by native Chinese and Japanese.

Kanji writing or Chinese calligraphy is an art form and is not as easy to write as
English letters. Thus, when reiki was first taught in North America, many were
unfamiliar with writing kanji or with Chinese calligraphy. Each line (called a stroke)
must be written in a specified order. Since reiki students are not taught the rules
behind the stroke order (they were expected to simply memorize the stroke order)
or are unfamiliar with kanji, they may easily make mistakes in writing the kanji and
may end up with something that looks completely different than what they were
shown. Here is one variation. It is a variation that is closest to the one shown
above.9 To learn how to write the kanji for "hon sha ze sho nen" (and also for "dai ko
myo" below), see How to Write Chinese Characters".
I was taught to use this symbol only for distant healing; however, it can be used for
in-person treatments as it helps change the emotional and the mental state of the
person. As with the second symbol, be aware that when using this symbol you need
to be ready to help the person through any strong emotions or any major changes.
This symbol can be used combined with the second one for a quite powerful
healing. Because the second symbol is about releasing and this one is about
changing emotions and thoughts, using both combined seems to provide a natural
cycle for healing. First the release and then the change.
THE FOURTH SYMBOL

This symbol is commonly called the "master symbol" or "personal mastery symbol".
As with the third symbol, this symbol is not really a symbol, but a composition of
three kanji. Unlike the third symbol though, the kanji in this symbol do not overlap.
The kanji compose the mantra "dai ko myo". Simply translated, it means "great
bright light" or "great shining light". It may be interpreted as "great enlightenment".
It represents the divine and the source for reiki. This symbol may simply be called
the "satori symbol". This symbol is used in Buddhism and is found written in
Buddhist temples; therefore, although it is sacred, it is not secret. Japanese people
who are not devoted Buddhists recognize these three kanji together. Modern
Japanese would pronounce it as "dai ko mei" instead. This symbol was chosen
because Usui knew its inner meaning. Some say this symbol means "Great Being of
the Universe, shine on me" or "Treasure House of the Great Beaming Light", but
these are simply embellished translations of "great bright light". Like the third

symbol, we can look at the meaning of each kanji separately. The definitions are
again taken from an online Chinese dictionary. 10

The first kanji ("dai") is an adjective meaning "big, large" or "great, grand". It is an
adverb meaning "greatly".11

The second kanji ("ko") is a noun meaning "light". It is also an adjective meaning
"smooth, glossy". It is also an adverb meaning "merely, purely" or "completely". 12

The third kanji ("myo") is an adjective meaning "bright, light" or "clear, evident". It
is also a verb meaning to "understand, know". 13
From this you can clearly see that "dai ko myo" means "great bright light". The
Japanese definitions of the kanji are the same as above. To draw this symbol, you
should follow the rules from "How to Write Chinese Characters" as directed above
for the third symbol. Most variations of this symbol are badly written versions of the
kanji, which are properly shown above. This is the same issue as with the third
symbol. In Essential Reiki, Stein has a variation in which the third kanji of this
symbol is just a double of the kanji on the right in "myo". Essentially it looks like the
kanji for "moon moon", which is unfortunate because it leaves out the kanji for sun
in the whole symbol. The sun kanji is significant to the symbol as it relates to the
idea of enlightenment. Stein does not actually use this symbol as she mistakenly
thinks of another symbol as a replacement for dai ko myo, when in fact, her
replacement has a different function than dai ko myo. The symbol she uses as "dai
ko myo" is from the Usui/Tibetan tradition, and when she was given the symbol she
was not taught its meaning nor given its correct name, dumo. The Usui/Tibetan
tradition uses dumo to reflect the idea of mastery along with dai ko myo (although,
their version of dai ko myo has been distorted from the actual kanji above). To
confuse the issues further, Stein has drawn her "dai ko myo" (dumo) differently than
the Usui/Tibetan tradition, turning the symbol clockwise 90 degrees and
emphasizing the spiral portion of the symbol, as she associates the Usui/Tibetan
symbol with the idea of the eternal goddess in paganism and goddess-centered
spirituality. There is another symbol also called "dai ko myo" used in Barbara Weber
Ray's organization, The Radiance Technique. This symbol is quite similar to dumo.
Aside from Stein and Ray, there does not seem to be too many replacements for

this symbol nor as many variations as there is with the third symbol. The fourth
symbol is predominantly used during each attunement to connect you to reiki and
may be used for treatments as well along with the other symbols. In fact, it may be
used instead of any of the other symbols as this symbol represents the source for
reiki. Use your intuition to guide you in using this symbol. Meditation on it may
illuminate and help you to understand reiki.
Note that you can use all four symbols in healing or not. That is to say that you do
not need the symbols to give reiki healing - after all, you can give reiki healing after
the Reiki One attunement. Remember that the symbols are taught as a tool to aid in
focusing your energy. Yes, it can often help healing, but really it's only because it
helps direct you to the healing that is needed. Get to know the symbols well and
use them often enough to help you focus your energy, but do not become
dependent on the symbols that they become a crutch.
This has just been a brief discussion about the reiki symbols and some of the issues
that surround them. As I said, I do not consider the symbols to be secret. They are
sacred though and you should try to understand the meaning of the symbols you
are using. Along those lines I think it is important that you also understand the
origins of the symbols themselves. This is what led me to look at how the symbols
are being drawn. The origins of the first symbol are still a little unclear to me. As of
now, I have heard that the first symbol comes from Shinto and not Sanskrit as I
originally thought when I wrote my Reiki Two manual (since then I have picked up a
language book on Sanskrit and I have to say I don't think the first symbol comes
from Sanskrit as it doesn't fit with the overall writing system). The second symbol is
definitely from Sanskrit, though it is quite a distorted version of the Sanskrit, hrih.
Like Chinese and Japanese, you can learn how to write Sanskrit and eventually write
the second symbol as it is meant to be written (I might well be working on this at
some point and change the second symbol that I use to the original Sanskrit form).
The third and fourth symbols are definitely Chinese/Japanese in origin. Knowing the
origins of these two symbols, I have opted to write them as a Chinese or Japanese
scholar would. This is, of course, a big issue for some Western reiki practitioners and
teachers as they were taught not to modify the symbols, but that may have only
been because Takata thought she knew the correct versions without realizing that
she distorted the symbols or that her students would distort the symbols
unknowingly (since they are not adept in writing Chinese/Japanese or Sanskrit).
While I do not place an over-emphasis on using symbols in my reiki practice, I do
feel that when using them I should be writing the symbols the way they should be
written. While I also do agree that when giving reiki for healing or for attunement
purposes, it is the intent that matters (this is why I teach that you can give reiki or
do attunements without symbols!), I do feel that part of your intent should be to
write the symbols as close to their original form as possible if you are using them.
There is an aesthetic and a beauty about the symbols that is felt when they are
drawn in their original form. If intent is what matters then it is also important that

we intend to write the "symbols" as they should be written if we are using them,
especially now since there is enough evidence to prove to us what the original form
of the "symbols" should be; to do otherwise is simply willful ignorance (which is
different than not knowing at all). The fact that dai ko myo was not passed on in its
original form may be why some people did not like using it - they may have felt that
something was "missing" and that it wasn't "natural" - and then opted to use the
Usui/Tibetan symbol, dumo, instead (though there is nothing wrong with using other
symbols from other systems if you wish to and if you understand their purpose, but
again, I would advise against becoming too dependant on symbols and using them
as a crutch). Basically, I do not understand why people do not write the symbols as
they are supposed to be written if we know how they are supposed to be written. It
seems silly to keep to "tradition" just because we are told to, every tradition should
still have good reasons for doing things a certain way. Reiki as Usui used it was
simple and easy. There were few rules. It was straightforward and uncomplicated.
This is how it should be. Yes, it should be adaptable when needed, but it shouldn't
adapt to the point of unnecessary complication. "Keep it simple, silly." 14
For your own use and study, you may download a pdf file with the Usui reiki symbols
I currently use (as I mentioned, I may be revising the second symbol at some future
date to reflect the correct Sanskrit writing).
GM Symbol Level 5-6
1. Dai Cho Wa Means the Great Harmony Brings great harmony into life
2. Dai Ro Se Means Wisdom Brings great wisdom
3. Dai Fa Shu Means Great Separation Separates that no more serves you
There are three chakra symbols introduced for Heart chakra, Solar Plexus chakra
and Sacral chakra.
Shi Ka Sei Ki 4th chakra symbol
Chi Ka So 5th chakra symbol
Cho Kaku 6th chakra symbol
GM Symbol Level 7
1. Dai Ji Yu Means Great freedom Makes you independent, connecting with
Universal Life Energy
2. Dai Kiro The Wisdom Symbol Holds wisdom
3. Kom Empowerment and Spiritual growth This symbol is not taught by all
masters. It depends on master to master.

Image by
werner22brigitte
GM Symbol Level 8
1. Dai Hey Wa Means Great Peace Brings inner peace
2. Antahakarna Connecting the physical body with higher self No
attunement needed for this symbol
GM Symbol Level 9
1. Dai Fu Ku Means Great blessings/Happiness Brings true happiness and
blessings
GM Symbol Level 10
1. Dai Ki Bo Means Great Hope Brings hope and inspiration
GM Symbol Level 11
1. Dai Chi Kara Means Great Force/Strength Brings courage and strength to
enhance spiritual path
GM Symbol Level 12
1. Dai Ai Means The Great Love Finds true love
GM Symbol Level 13

1. Dai Hana Means Great Teacher Connects to your internal teacher to

guide you
GM Symbol Level 14
1. Dai Moku Means Great Eye Brings awareness. Discovers and accepts
true-self
GM Symbol Level 15
1. Dai Mi Chi Means Great Way Unfolds your destined path
GM Symbol Level 16
1. Dai Kei Means Great Revelation Helps you to know what will happen in
your life
GM Symbol Level 17
1. Dai Ji Means Great Temple Temple of great consciousness
GM Symbol Level 18
1. Dai Tatsu Means Great Wisdom Spiritual wisdom and inner based
maturity
Great Grand Master
Grand Master
Master
Sub-Master