Personal practice Monday: Personal Practice within the System of Reiki

By Bronwen and Frans Stiene

Within Shoden level I the most important elements to practice on a daily basis are Joshin Kokyu Ho, meditations on the precepts, and performing hands on healing on yourself. To get the most out of your personal practice these elements need to be worked at on a daily basis. The more we practice, the more we find out who we truly are.

Within Okuden level II you begin to take your daily meditation practice a step deeper with the Japanese Reiki meditation of Hatsurei Ho as well as meditating on the symbols and reciting the mantras. Beginning new practices doesn't mean stopping with the initial Shoden practices however, as these are the foundation for a healthy Okuden practice. At this level, with your heightened energetic experience, you may begin to perform hands-on healing on others, moving towards becoming a professional practitioner if you so desire. Your improved abilities, in relation to hands-on healing, come about due to your personal practice which has given you greater insight into your self and energy in general as well developing your energetic connection.

Within Shinpiden level III you move yet again a step deeper into your technical and energetic understanding of the system of Reiki. At this point your practice becomes more serious, it becomes more than a hobby or something you have a go at once in a while.

At the Shinpiden level, ideally you create a dedicated daily practice that includes all five elements of the system of Reiki; the precepts, meditations (Hatsurei Ho/Joshin Kokyu Ho etc...), meditating on the symbols and mantras (for your own self development), practicing and performing the reiju/attunement (performing these will also help you to go deeper into your own spiritual practice), and performing hands on healing on yourself. Besides your daily personal practice at this level you might feel drawn to share your knowledge by teaching others, although many people just practice Shinpiden as a spiritual journey and not necessarily as a means to become a teacher.

These practices may also be adjusted depending on the individual student's needs - which is why it is essential to keep in contact with your teacher.


We see the system of Reiki as a spiritual practice, a personal spiritual practice.

Authors and Reiki Master/Teachers Bronwen and Frans Stiene are co-founders of The International House of Reiki.