The initiation process in a Reiki Second Degree course, often referred to as the “attunement” or “empowerment,” is a significant and sacred part of the training. This ceremony is designed to deepen the student’s connection to Reiki energy, allowing them to access more advanced healing techniques, including the use of Reiki symbols and distance healing. Here’s what typically happens during a Reiki Second Degree initiation:

Preparation

Before the attunement, the Reiki Master will typically provide detailed instruction on what to expect and how to prepare. This might include:

• Guidance on self-care: Students might be advised to eat lightly, meditate, or avoid alcohol and tobacco for a few days before the ceremony.
• Meditation and Cleansing: There might be a guided meditation or energy cleansing technique taught to help clear the mind and raise the student’s energy frequency.
• Intention Setting: Students are often encouraged to set personal intentions for what they hope to achieve through their attunement and ongoing practice.

The Attunement Process

The actual attunement ceremony is a structured, yet deeply personal experience, guided by the Reiki Master. The process may vary slightly from teacher to teacher, but generally includes the following steps:

• Opening Ceremony: This might involve prayers, calling on spiritual guides, or setting a sacred space to ensure the energy is clear and pure.
• Reiki Symbols: During the attunement, the Reiki Master will use specific Reiki symbols that are integral to the Second Degree training. These symbols are energetically “placed” into the student’s aura and chakras.
• Energy Channeling: The Reiki Master performs a series of hand positions around the head, shoulders, and hands of the student, channeling Reiki energy and using breath or other techniques to seal in the symbols and enhance the student’s ability to channel Reiki.
• Cleansing Breath or Techniques: Breathwork might be used to finalize the attunement, helping to clear out any residual energies and strengthen the student’s energy pathways.

After the Attunement

Post-attunement, students may experience an adjustment period often referred to as a “21-day cleanse,” where the energy continues to integrate and cleanse the body. This period can involve physical, emotional, or spiritual shifts, and practices like daily self-Reiki, meditation, and journaling are encouraged to support this process.

Guidance and Support

After the attunement, the Reiki Master typically offers further instruction on how to use the new symbols and techniques learned, and may provide ongoing support and mentorship. Students often practice drawing the symbols, invoking their energies, and learning to send Reiki energy across distances.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the course and attunement, students receive a certificate recognizing their new status as a Second Degree Reiki practitioner. This certificate allows them to practice these advanced Reiki techniques both personally and professionally, depending on local laws and regulations regarding therapeutic practices.

The Second Degree attunement is a powerful step in a Reiki practitioner’s journey, opening up new avenues for healing and personal growth. It’s considered a deepening of the commitment to the Reiki path, expanding the practitioner’s ability to work with energy and offering more tools to aid in the healing of others and themselves.

Reiki symbols are considered sacred tools that enhance the healing power of Reiki by helping to focus and direct energy. These symbols are typically introduced in the second level of Reiki (Reiki II), and each has a specific purpose and meaning. Here are the most commonly used and powerful symbols in Reiki:

1. Cho Ku Rei (Power Symbol)

• Meaning: “Place the power of the universe here”
• Purpose: This symbol is used to increase or decrease power (depending on the direction in which it is drawn). It’s considered the “switch” that turns Reiki on or off, helps focus energy, and can cleanse negative energy. It’s often used at the beginning of a session to boost energy flow and enhance other Reiki symbols. It can also be used for protection.

2. Sei He Ki (Mental/Emotional Symbol)

• Meaning: “God and man become one” or “I have the key”
• Purpose: This symbol is primarily used for mental and emotional healing, balance, and protection. It’s effective in treating psychological ailments and for calming the mind. It’s used to help with emotional release and clearing, and can aid in meditation, recovery from trauma, and overcoming habits or addictions.

3. Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (Distance Symbol)

• Meaning: “No past, no present, no future” or “The Buddha in me reaches out to the Buddha in you to promote enlightenment and peace”
• Purpose: This symbol transcends time and space, allowing the practitioner to send Reiki energy to a person, situation, or place at a distance. It can also be used to heal past life issues or prepare for future events.

4. Dai Ko Myo (Master Symbol)

• Meaning: “Great shining light” or “Bright shining light”
• Purpose: This symbol is considered the most powerful in Reiki and is used by Reiki Masters. It heals the soul, strengthens the energy channeling ability, empowers other symbols, and can facilitate deeper spiritual healing and personal growth. It is often used during attunements.

Usage in Reiki

Reiki symbols are typically drawn mentally or physically, spelled out, or visualized during sessions. They can be used on their own or in combination to enhance healing, protect, clear spaces, and send energy across distances. Practitioners often use these symbols as a focus point for their intention and energy, believing that these symbols help to connect more deeply with the universal life force.

Reiki symbols are considered sacred, and traditionally, they were kept confidential and only revealed to those who were initiated into Reiki Level II and beyond. Today, while they are more widely known, they still carry a deep spiritual significance and are respected tools within the practice of Reiki healing.

Chakras are central to many practices involving energy medicine, including Reiki, yoga, and various forms of meditation. Derived from the Sanskrit word for “wheel” or “disk,” chakras are conceptualized as centers of energy that exist within the human body. These centers are thought to manage the flow of life force energy, also known as prana or qi, and they are connected to physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Here is a basic overview of the seven main chakras, which are aligned along the spine from the base to the crown of the head:

1. Root Chakra (Muladhara)

• Location: Base of the spine
• Color: Red
• Function: It governs basic survival instincts, security, and grounding. A well-balanced root chakra helps individuals feel stable and secure.

2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhishthana)

• Location: Just below the navel
• Color: Orange
• Function: This chakra is related to creativity, sexuality, and emotional expression. A balanced sacral chakra enhances personal creativity and a healthy emotional outlook.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

• Location: Stomach area
• Color: Yellow
• Function: It deals with issues of personal power, self-esteem, and confidence. When balanced, it contributes to feelings of control and effectiveness.

4. Heart Chakra (Anahata)

• Location: Center of the chest
• Color: Green
• Function: This chakra is associated with love, compassion, and kindness. When open, it allows individuals to form emotional connections with others and experience empathy.

5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

• Location: Throat
• Color: Blue
• Function: Governs communication, self-expression, and truth. A balanced throat chakra enables clear communication and honest expression.

6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)

• Location: Forehead, between the eyes
• Color: Indigo
• Function: Associated with intuition, insight, and mental clarity. When balanced, it allows for a deep connection to one’s inner wisdom and visualisation.

7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

• Location: Top of the head
• Color: Violet or White
• Function: It is linked to spiritual connection and transformation. It lifts and inspires individuals and helps them to understand their place in the universe.

Balancing the Chakras

Chakra imbalance can manifest as physical, emotional, or spiritual disturbances, so various healing practices focus on balancing these energy centers. Techniques may include:

• Yoga: Specific poses help open and align the chakras.
• Meditation and Visualization: Techniques often involve visualizing the color associated with the chakra or using mantras.
• Reiki and Energy Healing: Practitioners often focus on the chakras to channel energy and restore balance.
• Crystals and Stones: Different stones are believed to correspond to the chakras and are used for healing.
• Sound Healing: Each chakra is associated with specific frequencies and sounds.

Understanding and working with chakras can offer insights into how to maintain health and balance in life, providing a holistic approach to both physical and mental well-being.

In Reiki, the practice of self-charging, also referred to as self-healing or self-treatment, is central to maintaining your own energy balance and wellness. For those trained in the second degree of Reiki, also known as Okuden or the Practitioner Level, self-charging often involves more advanced techniques compared to the first degree, incorporating the use of symbols and distant healing methods. Here are some guidelines and techniques to help you practice daily self-charging as a Reiki Second Degree practitioner:

1. Preparation

• Set a calm environment: Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. You may choose to light candles, play soft music, or use aromatherapy to create a relaxing atmosphere.
• Clear your space: Use techniques such as smudging with sage or using Reiki symbols like Sei He Ki to cleanse the area energetically.
• Set an intention: Before you begin, clearly set your intention for the session. This could be general well-being, healing a specific part of the body, emotional release, or simply to recharge your energy.

2. Invocation

• Begin by invoking Reiki energy. You might use a specific invocation or simply state your intention to connect with Reiki energy.
• Draw the symbols you are attuned to into your hands, especially the Power Symbol (Cho Ku Rei), the Harmony Symbol (Sei He Ki), and the Distance Symbol (Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen) if you wish to work on issues from the past or send healing to upcoming events.

3. Self-treatment Techniques

• Gassho meditation: Start by sitting in the Gassho position (placing palms together at the heart). Meditate in this posture for a few minutes to center yourself and connect with the energy.
• Cho Ku Rei for empowerment: Draw or visualize the Cho Ku Rei symbol to increase the power of the Reiki energy. Use it to focus the energy where you feel it is most needed.
• Sei He Ki for emotional balance: Use the Sei He Ki symbol to help heal emotional issues and bring harmony. Draw or visualize the symbol in your aura or over specific chakras.
• Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen for healing the past: Apply this symbol to send healing energy to past traumas or life events that may be affecting your present state.

4. Standard Hand Positions

• Progress through the traditional Reiki hand positions, covering the head, front of the body, back, and any specific areas where you feel drawn. Spend several minutes on each position, allowing the Reiki to flow as needed.
• Focus on each chakra, especially employing the symbols to enhance the healing energy in these areas.

5. Closing the Session

• Once you have completed the hand positions, allow yourself to sit quietly for a few minutes, absorbing the Reiki energy.
• Draw the symbols again into your aura to seal the healing.
• Give thanks to the Reiki energy and any spiritual guides or helpers you work with.

6. Regular Practice

• Make self-charging a daily routine, ideally at the same time each day to establish a rhythmic pattern. This regular practice helps in maintaining your energetic health and deepening your connection to Reiki energy.

7. Reflect and Journal

• After your session, spend a few moments reflecting on what you experienced. You may choose to keep a journal to note any sensations, emotions, or insights that arise during your self-treatments.

Practicing Reiki daily not only enhances your personal energy and wellbeing but also deepens your understanding and proficiency with Reiki energy, making you a more effective healer for others.

Charging water with Reiki is a beneficial technique taught in the second degree of Reiki (Okuden). At this level, practitioners have been attuned to use specific symbols that enhance and direct the flow of energy, making the practice of charging water particularly effective. This process can be used to infuse water with healing energy, which can then be used for drinking, bathing, or as a spray for cleansing spaces.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to charge water with Reiki energy, especially suited for those at the second degree level:

Materials Needed

• A clean glass of water (a glass bottle or container is preferable as some practitioners avoid using plastic due to its chemical components and environmental impact)
• A quiet space where you can perform Reiki undisturbed

Steps to Charge Water with Reiki

1. Prepare Your Space

• Ensure your space is quiet and clean. You might want to clear the energy of the space with Reiki symbols, particularly using the Sei He Ki for emotional and energy clearing.

2. Cleansing and Energizing

• Hold the glass or bottle of water in your hands. If it’s too large to hold, simply place your hands around or over it.
• Start by drawing the Power Symbol (Cho Ku Rei) either physically in the air or visualize it mentally over the water. This symbol increases the energy flow and is excellent for purification and empowerment.
• You might also want to use the Sei He Ki symbol to infuse the water with harmony and emotional balance, or the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen for connecting the healing energy of the water with specific intentions beyond time and space (like healing past emotional wounds or setting intentions for the future).

3. Channel Reiki

• Activate the flow of Reiki by stating your intention (either silently or aloud). For example, you could say, “I intend to charge this water with Reiki energy for health and balance.”
• Hold your hands over the water and allow the Reiki energy to flow into it. You might feel warmth, tingling, or other sensations as the energy transfers.
• Continue to channel Reiki energy for about 5-15 minutes, depending on how strongly you feel the energy or how intuitively you feel it’s needed.

4. Sealing the Energy

• Once you feel that the charging is complete, you can seal the energy with another Cho Ku Rei symbol to amplify and maintain the energy in the water.
• You may also use a closing gesture or symbol, such as bringing your hands together in a prayer position and thanking the Reiki energy for its assistance.

5. Usage

• You can now drink the water, use it to water plants, add it to a bath, or use it as a spray for cleansing spaces.
• If you’re drinking it, set an intention each time you take a sip, such as affirming health, peace, or clarity.

6. Storing Charged Water

• If you’re not using the water immediately, store it in a cool, dark place. Some practitioners like to cover the bottle with sacred symbols or phrases to maintain the vibration.

Tips

• Regular Practice: Regularly charging water is a great way to incorporate Reiki into your daily routine.
• Creative Uses: Consider using charged water for cooking to infuse meals with healing energy.
• Experiment with Intentions: Try charging water with specific intentions like calm, energy, or clarity to see how different energies affect your physical and emotional states.

Charging water with Reiki can be a simple yet powerful tool for enhancing well-being and supporting healing processes. It allows the practitioner to use Reiki in versatile ways, benefiting not just themselves but also those around them.

Crystals are often incorporated into Reiki practice to enhance the healing energy and support the treatment process. While not a traditional part of Reiki as it was originally taught by Mikao Usui, the use of crystals has become popular among many modern Reiki practitioners, especially at the second degree level where practitioners are more deeply exploring energy dynamics.

Understanding Crystals in Reiki

1. Properties of Crystals: Crystals are believed to have specific vibrational properties that can interact with the human energy field. Different crystals are thought to have different benefits, such as promoting relaxation, enhancing focus, or boosting energy levels. For example:

• Amethyst is often used for its purported properties of purification and protection. It is believed to enhance intuition and mental clarity.
• Clear Quartz is known as a “master healer” and is commonly used for its versatility in amplifying energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals.
• Rose Quartz is associated with love and emotional healing. It is said to help open the heart chakra to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love, and romantic love.