The Five Principles of Reiki: Spiritual Guidelines for a Balanced Life

The Five Principles of Reiki are spiritual guidelines followed by reiki practitioners. These principles embody the core ideals of reiki and offer a framework for living a life aligned with spiritual and personal growth. Although the principles were originally translated from Japanese and some translations may vary slightly, their essence remains consistent.

Here is the contemporary translation of the Five Principles of Reiki:

Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not be angry. 
Just for today, I will do my work honestly. 
Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings. 
Just for today, I will be kind to my neighbor and all living things.

Each principle begins with “Just for today” to remind us that, when life becomes overwhelming, we can focus on managing our responses one day at a time. These principles are not meant to be used as tools for self-judgment but as aspirational guidelines. It is perfectly okay if you cannot adhere to them every day; you can always start again tomorrow.

Exploring the Five Principles of Reiki

1. Just for Today, I Will Not Worry
   Worry is a low-vibrating emotion rooted in fear and “what if” scenarios. It keeps us preoccupied with negative outcomes and causes unnecessary anxiety. By affirming “Just for today, I will not worry,” you allow yourself to release the stress and preoccupation of future uncertainties. This practice brings you back to the present moment and fosters trust that whatever happens is for your highest good. Though letting go of worry can be challenging, with continued practice, you will find that your life and health benefit greatly.
2. Just for Today, I Will Not Be Angry
   Anger is a deep-seated emotion that can be disruptive and harmful. It often arises from fear or limiting beliefs and can lead to unnecessary conflict and hurt. Rather than trying to suppress anger, the aim is to recognize it when it appears, understand its triggers, and choose not to react impulsively. By practicing “Just for today, I will not be angry,” you consciously decide not to let anger dominate your day. Allowing anger to pass without attachment diminishes its power over you.
3. Just for Today, I Will Do My Work Honestly
   This principle emphasizes the importance of intention in our work, whether it relates to our job or our spiritual growth. If you are engaged in work that does not resonate with you, you are not being true to yourself. This principle encourages you to view your work in a new light, recognizing its value and contribution to your spiritual path. To work honestly means dedicating yourself to purposeful living and spiritual development, both professionally and personally.
4. Just for Today, I Will Be Grateful for My Many Blessings
   Cultivating gratitude enhances our overall well-being, fosters happiness, and helps us manage our emotions more effectively. By focusing on the positive aspects of our lives, we can see that we have more to be thankful for than we might realize. Practicing “Just for today, I will be grateful for my many blessings” teaches us to appreciate what we have, leading to a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.
5. Just for Today, I Will Be Kind to My Neighbor and All Living Things
   This principle teaches us to honor and respect all forms of life, including people, animals, plants, and the Earth. By practicing kindness and compassion toward others, regardless of differences in viewpoint or status, we contribute to our collective well-being and evolution. Additionally, kindness towards ourselves is crucial, as many of us are our harshest critics. By extending kindness, we invite more kindness into our own lives.

These principles form the foundation of a reiki lifestyle, supporting practitioners in living more consciously and harmoniously. Consider printing out the Five Principles of Reiki and placing them in a visible location, such as your bathroom door or mirror, to serve as a daily reminder.

If you’re interested in learning more about reiki and how these principles can be integrated into your life, explore my upcoming Reiki Level 1 Training.

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Welcome to this distance reiki healing session. My name is Aiyana and I am a reiki master teacher, kundalini instructor and meditation facilitator.

In this audio track, I will guide you through a distance reiki session. You will experience deep relaxation and stress relief. Through distance reiki, I will channel Universal Life Force Energy to remove physical, mental, emotional and spiritual toxins from your body and aura.

Before we start, say aloud or to yourself that you are open to receiving reiki in this session and of letting go of what no longer serves your highest good.

You can include a personal prayer, blessing or intention at this time for your healing session. I recommend that you find a quiet place to lay down. Play this audio track on your headphones if possible or on a speaker with clear sound. It is important that you are free from distraction during this session, as I will be channeling energy for you through time and space.

The intention of this session is to balance your energy and remove negativity from your chakras and auric field. I will begin the session by working on your chakra centers beginning with the crown chakra and working my way to your root chakra. I will say I AM affirmations at each chakra center to empower your subconscious mind to align with your higher self.

Thank you for joining me and I hope you enjoy this distance reiki session.

Interested in learning reiki for self healing? Read about reiki training here.

Listen and Receive a Distance Reiki Healing Session

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Gassho meditation prepares us spiritually, mentally and emotionally for reiki practice. It does this by creating a harmonious state within us that supports both our personal healing journey and our ability to facilitate healing in others. The term “gassho,” pronounced gash-sho, refers to the gesture of bringing the hands together in a prayer-like position. This practice symbolizes reverence and respect, and it is deeply rooted in Buddhist traditions.

In Buddhism, gassho is not just a physical posture but a mudra that embodies heart work. It represents the cultivation of a compassionate heart, emphasizing the importance of developing kindness and empathy. By practicing Gassho meditation, we engage in a ritual that aligns our intentions with these values, fostering a deeper connection to our inner selves and our capacity to offer healing to others. It develops an understanding to the greater source of love and creation. This meditative practice helps to center our focus, calm the mind, and enhance our ability to channel reiki energy effectively.

Mikao Usui, the buddhist monk, honorary doctor and founder of reiki, shared gassho meditation with his students during reiki training as the first pillar of reiki. There are a total of three pillars in the Usui Reiki healing system. He taught students to use gassho meditation at the beginning and end of a reiki session. Gassho meditation is also practiced as part of a reiki practitioner’s lifestyle and done for 15-30 minutes daily preferably in the morning or evening.

In this mudra, the left hand represents human beings in the physical world and the right hand represents our most enlightened self. The hand gesture of bringing the hands together symbolizes that we too can embody the qualities of enlightenment. The path to enlightenment, characterized by inner stillness, wisdom, and compassion, is one that gassho brings us closer to with practice. Gassho meditation is simple and effective in calming the mind and expanding our energy.

If you have never practiced meditation before or are a beginner, give yourself time to experience it fully. Meditation can help calm a restless mind, but initially, it may make you feel anxious or irritable. If this happens to you, take long deep breaths and focus on the movement of your abdomen and chest as you breath. Start with just a few minutes of meditation and gradually increase the time as you become more comfortable. The purpose of meditation is to bring a sense of peace and clarity to the mind. With regular practice, you will find that your mind becomes less restless, and you will experience a deeper sense of tranquility and well-being.

How To Practice Gassho Meditation

1. Find a Quiet Place: Sit in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed or distracted. You may wish to sit in a chair, on a meditation cushion, or on the floor in an easy sitting pose.
2. Posture: Sit with your spine straight, close your eyes, and bring your hands together in a prayer position in front of your heart.
3. Focal Point: To keep the mind calm, choose a focal point. You can focus on your breathing, the sensation of your hands touching each other, or the point where your middle fingers meet.
4. Timing: You may set a timer for your meditation or allow yourself to be guided intuitively.
5. Ending the Meditation: To end the meditation, bring your attention to your body, specifically to your hands and feet. Take a few deep breaths and gently open your eyes.
6. Optional Enhancements: Some practitioners find it helpful to play relaxing music, while others prefer silence. Do what feels right for you. You might also set an intention before you begin or recite the five principles of reiki. Remember, this should not feel like an additional chore but rather a gift you are giving yourself to bring more peace, joy, and love into your life.

The Essence of Gassho Meditation

Gassho meditation is a fundamental practice in reiki. The goal is not to achieve anything specific but to simply experience the stillness within and become present in your body. With repeated practice, you will develop awareness of your body, thoughts, and emotions. This awareness paves the way for proactive living, where you respond thoughtfully to your thoughts, feelings, and environment, rather than reacting impulsively. This practice helps you hold yourself more accountable. If thoughts arise while meditating, allow them to float away without attachment or judgment. Gassho meditation increases awareness and provides the stillness needed to connect with your higher self, the intuitive side that guides your hands in a reiki healing session and in life.

By practicing Gassho meditation, you cultivate inner peace and enhance your ability to connect deeply with yourself and others.

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During each level of reiki, we undergo a 21 day spiritual cleanse that helps us increase our awareness, release mental blocks and patterns and heal ourselves on an emotional level. I created this 21 day journaling prompt exercise to support you through your 21 day spiritual cleanse that follows each reiki attunement.

You can use this exercise for self healing and discovery even if you have not received a reiki attunement. You will find it is deeply healing.

These journal prompts are designed to get your pen moving. Journal about the topic listed for that day. Write without thinking and self-editing. Allow a stream of consciousness to flow through your pen. Write until you can’t write any more then take a break and return later to read what came through. I encourage you to listen to your inner guidance and if there is a prompt you get stumped on skip it or come back to it later.

At the end of the 21 days, take note of how you feel and go back and read your journal. You may discover patterns that have been broken or how much you’ve grown in your own awareness during this time.

Journal Prompts For 21 Day Reiki Cleanse

1. What I fear most is…
2. What I love most about life is…
3. Five things (or more) I love about myself are…
4. I notice my intuition when…
5. Today, I feel…
6. I am grateful for…
7. I need to forgive myself for…
8. I’m ready to forgive the following people ________  for…
9. My mantra is…
10. I am most happy when…
11. (Recall stressful experience from the past.) This experience taught me ________ about myself.
12. I am really good at…
13. Qualities I admire in others are… (examine if you have these qualities and if not what you can do to cultivate them)
14. If failure was not an option, I would do…
15. My greatest strengths are ________ and they have helped me…
16. When I am at my worst, my best friend would cheer up by…
17. Ten things that bring me joy when I am down are….
18. I nurture my spirit by…
19. The best advice I’ve received is… (if you don’t have one ask people what their best advice on life is and write it in your journal.)
20. I laugh when…
21. I am most optimistic about…

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Practicing reiki self healing helped me overcome many of the physical and emotional changes I experienced as a first time expectant mother. It also assisted me in forming a deeper bond with my baby in the womb during the early weeks of pregnancy when the physical changes were barely noticeable.

Pregnancy is such a life changing event that it can unleash past fears, trauma and emotions that have been tucked away for years. On a physical level, the body is working harder to nourish this new being, to grow organs and body systems. Hormones are being released to support this process and it can make women experience mood swings, feel vulnerable and fatigued.

This is a great time for reiki to support the mother as she unburdens herself from these emotions and finds relief from the physical discomfort. Reiki can provide an expectant mother with the support she needs to get through each stage of pregnancy with confidence and ease. With reiki guiding the healing, she can re-emerge strong and fearless.

How To Perform Reiki Self Healing During Pregnancy

During my first and second trimester, I experienced morning sickness, fatigue and back pain. I am currently entering in my third trimester and have only experienced occasional back pain. The reiki self healing treatment I am sharing with you is what I have used in my pregnancy up to this point. After each self-healing session, I felt energized and empowered. I was able to do the things I loved without dragging my feet, feeling fatigued or having lack of motivation.

I performed this self reiki treatment and focused on the solar plexus, sacral and root chakras. I placed my hands on each chakra center, but spent more time on these three areas because they were more related to the imbalances I experienced in my pregnancy. You can customize your self-treatment by performing the techniques on the areas you need most.

The instructions below are for reiki practitioners of level 1 or higher. If you have not been attuned for reiki, register for the next reiki level 1 training here. 

Steps to Reiki Self Treatment For Pregnancy

1. Sit in a comfortable chair with the feet flat on the floor. Shoes and socks should be off and your back should be straight.
2. Begin by placing the hands together for gassho meditation and mentally reciting the five principles of reiki.
3. Set your intentions. My intention was: “With the love and light of Reiki, my body and baby are healthy, and my spirit is strong. I am provided all I need to nourish this life and embrace motherhood by the grace of God.”
4. Place the hands at the crown of the head, then move them over the eyes and forehead covering the third eye. Move them over the throat and finally over the heart. Take as much time as you are guided for each of these hand positions.
5. Place the hands under the ribs over the solar plexus chakra. Channel reiki energy to empower and balance this center. I used the reiki sandwich here (Cho Ku Rei + Sei Hei Ki + Cho Ku Rei) with the intention that my willpower and confidence remain strong and reiki heal any imbalances causing a disruption to my digestive and nervous system.
6. Place the hands under the navel center. Channel reiki healing to the sacral chakra. This is the area you want to focus on connecting with the child. I used the reiki sandwich using the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen symbol with the intention that it clear any past karma and trauma from myself and my baby (Cho Ku Rei + Sei Hei Ki + Cho Ku Rei + Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen + Cho Ku Rei).
7. Place the hands on the pelvis for the root chakra. Since having a child can cause financial stress, I focused on financial stability, prosperity and abundance on this energy center. My intention was that all my child’s needs be met with abundance and that opportunities for financial growth for our family flow freely to us. I used the Cho Ku Rei symbol and the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen to send healing to the future for our family.
8. Complete the reiki self healing session with a closing meditation offering thanks and gratitude for reiki.

I encourage pregnant women to use reiki throughout their pregnancy for the reasons I mentioned in my story and for many other benefits. This reiki self treatment assisted me in healing and embracing this beautiful stage of my life and I hope it does the same for you.

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What is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique designed to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century, reiki involves channeling universal life force energy through the hands of a practitioner to the recipient. The practitioner places their hands lightly on or near the receiver’s body. This energy is self guided by an innate intelligence and as it moves through the body it clears blockages and enhances the flow of healing vibrations.

The word “Reiki” is derived from two Japanese words: “Rei,” meaning universal spirit or creator, and “Ki,” meaning life force or energy. Combined, Reiki translates to “universal life force energy” or “creator inspired life energy”. This energy is thought to be the essence of all living things and the source of wisdom we possess. Reiki helps to improve the immune system, reduce stress, and bring balance to our mental and emotional states.

Every living being is imbued with this omnipresent energy. Ancient monks and sages understood and harnessed this life force through practices like qigong and meditation. When we are healthy, our “ki” or life force is flowing strongly. When we are weak or have blocked energy, it can lead to illness. Reiki healing works by removing blockages and stagnant energy, enhancing the flow of ki to restore balance and health to the mind, body, and spirit. In other cultures, this life force is known as prana or chi/ qi/ ki.

Where Does Reiki Come From?

Reiki was rediscovered by Mikao Usui in the early 1920s. He named his system of healing “Usui Shiki Ryoho.” After teaching others and initiating new practitioners, one of his students, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, continued teaching and trained 16 additional reiki masters in his lineage. The practice eventually spread to the West, where it continues to flourish and benefit countless people.

Can Reiki Do Harm?

Reiki is inherently safe and cannot cause harm. The energy is channeled from a higher source for the greatest good of the recipient. Reiki energy operates on a higher plane of existence than the physical world and is directed to where healing is most needed. Therefore, reiki is suitable for everyone, including pregnant women, infants, pets, and the elderly.

What is a Reiki Attunement?

A reiki attunement is a special initiation ceremony conducted by a Reiki Master Teacher. During this ceremony, your energy field is opened to receive reiki energy, creating a shift that varies in intensity from person to person. Each level of reiki training includes an attunement process, during which sacred symbols for healing are imparted. Attunements enhance your ability to channel energy from a higher source and once received, they remain with you for life. There is no need for re-attunement later. Many people find attunements to be a profound and uplifting experience, raising their vibrational frequency.

Can Anyone Learn Reiki?

Absolutely, reiki can be learned by anyone interested in practicing it. There are no prerequisites or specific skills required to begin reiki training.

My reiki training is divided into three levels. Reiki Level 1 is open to all, with no prior experience needed. To progress to Reiki Level 2, you must have completed Level 1 training, and to advance to Level 3, you must have completed both Level 1 and Level 2 trainings.

Additionally, my reiki trainings are approved for continuing education for licensed massage therapists in Florida. However, you don’t need to be a massage therapist to benefit from reiki. I have taught students from various backgrounds who have experienced profound and life-changing benefits from their reiki practice. At the core of reiki, it is a practice to develop our awareness, deepen our connection to the Creator and to be of service to others in a compassionate way.

For more information on learning reiki and to find course dates, please check my reiki training schedule here.

The post Healing Benefits of Reiki: Answers to Your Most Common Questions appeared first on Hand to Soul.

Reiki has this incredible way of helping me tap into a reservoir of inner peace and reconnect with the rhythm of life. We all have off days and we all have days where our soul needs a hug. Reiki is that hug for me. The love I feel flowing through my body reminds me to let go of that emotion – lately it’s been frustration – that is keeping me stressed. And when I do I instantly feel like I am sinking into myself again. The way I am without all the crud from the outside world, and finding my peaceful Self again.

And when I pair this experience with aromatherapy? Well, magic happens. Essential oils have a direct pathway to the brain where they can evoke memories, soothe emotions, and promote a sense of peace and balance. I’m going to nerd out for a moment because this is super interesting and blows my mind. Aromatherapy has this effect on us because of the olfactory system, which is the sensory system responsible for our sense of smell. It involves the detection and processing of odor molecules by specialized sensory cells in the nasal cavity called olfactory receptors. These receptors transmit signals to the brain, specifically to the olfactory bulb, where the brain interprets the information and identifies different scents. As a child, I remember waking up to the smell of toast and fresh brewed Cuban coffee, reminding me of my mom and grandma and our family traditions. To this day, the smell of toast makes me think of them. This is how the olfactory system works. A scent triggers an emotional response that influences our behavior and memory. This symbiotic relationship supports emotional awareness and healing. 

Essential oils have this amazing ability to speak to our senses in a way that words can’t quite capture. Whether it’s the calming aroma of lavender or the invigorating scent of peppermint, each oil carries its own unique energy that can help us shift our mood and mindset in an instant. I’ve found that blending these oils with my reiki practice amplifies the balancing effects, creating an opportunity for transformation and growth.

One of my favorite moments was when I first experimented with combining essential oils and reiki during a self-care session. I remember feeling the weight of the world melt away as I applied a calming blend to my wrists and settled into a reiki meditation. It was like all the stress and worries of the day just evaporated, leaving behind a sense of peace and clarity that I hadn’t felt in a while.

Since then, I’ve been on a mission to share reiki and aromatherapy with others. In my practice, I’ve seen firsthand how this synergistic combination can help people find balance, release tension, and reconnect with their inner wisdom. If you’re struggling with stress, anxiety, or just feeling a bit out of sorts, give it a try. You don’t need to follow any formula. Just smell some essential oils and take a drop or two of the ones you like into a tablespoon of carrier oil. Apply on your wrist, inner elbow and back of the neck. There’s something truly transformative about experiencing these modalities together.

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