Reiki carries a good deal of Japanese vocabulary, and a handful of words goes a long way toward feeling at home in the practice. This glossary gathers the terms, symbols, and phrases used across the site, each with a short, plain definition. There is nothing here you need to memorise — treat it as something to return to whenever a word is unfamiliar, and let the language grow familiar in its own time.
A
Attunement
The short ceremony by which a teacher opens a student to the practice; in Japanese, reiju.
B
Byosen
病腺 · The subtle sensations felt in the hands while working, and the skill of reading them.
C
Chakra
An energy centre from Indian tradition; adopted by much of Western Reiki, not part of Usui’s original method.
Cho Ku Rei
The "power" symbol, used to focus or increase the flow of energy.
D
Dai Ko Myo
The master symbol, introduced at the highest level; "great shining light."
G
Gakkai
会 · A society or association; the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai preserves the original teaching in Japan.
Gassho
合掌 · The palms-together posture used to open and close practice.
Gokai
五戒 · The five principles, or precepts, of Reiki.
H
Hatsurei-ho
発霊法 · A daily self-practice routine for cleansing and strengthening one’s energy.
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen
The distance symbol, used to send Reiki across space and time.
K
Ki
気 · Life energy; the same idea as the Chinese qi.
Kenyoku
乾浴 · "Dry bathing" — brushing strokes used to clear the energy field.
O
Okuden
奥伝 · The second degree; "inner teaching."
R
Reiju
霊授 · The Japanese term for attunement; "giving of spirit."
Reiji-ho
霊示法 · Letting intuition guide the hands rather than a fixed sequence.
Reiki
霊気 · "Universal life energy," and the practice of working with it.
S
Sei He Ki
The "harmony" symbol, associated with emotional and mental balance.
Sensei
先生 · Teacher.
Shinpiden
神秘伝 · The master, or third, degree; "mystery teaching."
Shoden
初伝 · The first degree; "first teaching."
U
Usui Reiki Ryoho
臼井靈氣療法 · The original system as taught by Mikao Usui.