Karuna Reiki is a modern system developed in the 1990s by William Lee Rand and the International Center for Reiki Training, building on the Usui tradition.
What Karuna Reiki is
The name comes from a Sanskrit word often translated as "compassion" or "any action taken to relieve the suffering of others." Karuna Reiki was designed as an advanced practice, usually taken after reaching the Usui master level, with a particular emphasis on compassionate action and working closely with others.
Its symbols and practice
Karuna Reiki introduces its own set of symbols beyond the traditional Usui ones, along with practices that make more use of sound — chanting and toning — during a session. In other respects it is recognisably Reiki: hands rested gently, the receiver at rest, the same unhurried care.
Where it sits
As a newer, trademarked system, Karuna Reiki sits within the broader family of Reiki styles that have grown up in the West. It is not part of the original Japanese lineage, but it draws directly from it, and many practitioners value the emphasis it places on compassion.
Karuna Reiki is a registered system with its own training path. As with any style, what matters most is a clear lineage and a teacher you trust.