| Reiki is a palm healing technique developed in the | | | | particular attunement that generally enhances the use |
| early 1920s by Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist. As a | | | | of the specialized symbols, in particular, the capacity |
| form of alternative medicine, the technique involves | | | | of reiki to flow through the practitioner. Passing the |
| transferring ki, or healing energy through the laying of | | | | Second Degree course successfully allows the |
| palms. | | | | student to practice "distant healing". Reiki students in |
| Reiki is broadly divided into two traditions, traditional | | | | Japan attain the Second Degree after a decade or |
| Japanese reikei and Western reikei. There are three | | | | two of constant practice under Usui's mentorship. A |
| types of degrees in both Japanese and Western | | | | majority of Japan-based reiki students sometimes do |
| forms. These are the First, Second, and Master | | | | not advance to the Third Degree. |
| Teacher degrees. Reiki classes and the teaching of | | | | The Shinpiden, or the master training stage prepares |
| the technique outside Japan are commonly organized | | | | the student to become a master at or to teach reiki. |
| according to the degrees enumerated above. | | | | In reiki parlance, the term 'master' does not entail |
| The Shoden or the First Degree reiki classes teach | | | | spiritual enlightenment. Rather a practitioner at the |
| foundational theories and techniques. At this stage, | | | | Master/Teacher degree can adjust other people to |
| the teacher gives the student numerous | | | | reiki as well as teach other practitioners at the Third |
| attunements. Hand placement positions that are most | | | | degree. It is during this stage that the practitioner |
| conducive for body treatment are taught. Completion | | | | learns an advanced specialized symbol and performs |
| of the Shoden enables the reiki practitioner to cure | | | | one or more attunements. The length of the Master |
| himself and others. The Reikei Master/Teacher | | | | Teacher course depends on the tradition and |
| determines the length and duration of the course. | | | | philosophy of the reiki master giving the training. |
| Typical First Degree reiki classes last for four | | | | Reiki education or the teaching and practice of reiki is |
| sessions spread over a number of days, some hold | | | | unregulated thus, there is much variation in training |
| two sessions over two days. | | | | methodology and costs, and length and speed of |
| The Okuden or Second degree reiki classes teach | | | | completion. Classes are often taught in person but |
| practitioners the use of attunements, specialized | | | | reiki classes are also available on line. Reiki |
| symbols that increases the ki's strength and the | | | | traditionalists often argue that attunement must be |
| distance over which it can be applied. The | | | | done personally to be effective. They assert that |
| attunements create a temporal connection between | | | | distance reiki attunements and reiki "crash courses" |
| the practitioner and the recipient, hence, enabling the | | | | are no substitutes for in-person training, experience |
| practitioner to transfer healing energy to the recipient | | | | and patience in mastering reiki. |
| regardless of time and location. At this stage, a | | | | |