Reiki; What is it and where can I learn it for Free

Developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui,mind or mental healing (also known as distant healing)
Reiki is a spiritual practice that started life as afor people far away,.
technique called palm healing. Using various symbols 
Reiki practitioners can transfer healing energy in theA typical Reiki treatment will begin with the Reiki
form of ki through their palms. It is now an acceptedpractitioner instructing the recipient to lie down and
form of complementary and alternative medicine.relax usually on a massage table. To calm themselves
 in preparation for the treatment the practitioner will
There are three main levels or degrees of Reiki. Theusually meditate.
First Degree is used to heal the self and others. The 
Second Degree is used for distant healing. The ThirdThe treatment proceeds with the practitioner placing
Degree or Master/Teacher is used to teach andtheir hands on various parts of the recipient's body
attune others to Reiki.using the various symbols to channel healing energy.
 Practitioners can also use a non-touching method of
The traditional way of learning Reiki involves thehealing where the hands are held a few inches away
student being given the First symbol, usually Cho Kufrom the body.
Rei. The student will then spend weeks (at the veryReiki can also be used for distant healing using
least) practising drawing, chanting and channelling thissymbols like Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen. With permission
symbol. When the master is happy that the studentfrom the recipient the practitioner will calm
is strong enough in the Cho Ku Rei energy he willthemselves as if the recipient were in the room with
then give the Second symbol, probably Sei Hei Ki.them and then, while holding the intention of healing
Once again the student will have to spend weeksthe recipient, channel the distant healing energy.
practising drawing, chanting and channelling this 
symbol. This same process would also be used forAs long as you have a computer with an internet
the Third symbol, usually Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen. Onceconnection and the time to study Reiki techniques
the student has mastered these basic symbols theycan easily be practised and learned at home. Reiki
would then move on to practising healing others.master Robert Bourne has written three books about
 learning Reiki and has now made the accompanying
The student would experience Cho Ku Rei beingaudio CD's and video DVD's available for free. Please
most effective for physical healing, Sei Hei Ki best forsee the links below for more information.
emotional healing, and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen best for