Reiki I

Reiki I is the first degree, called Shoden in Japan. The work here is to bring Reiki into your own life first. The attunement connects you to Reiki energy; once made, that connection stays with you whether you use it or not. But the real learning begins after the attunement, when you place your hands on yourself every day.

How the distance course works

The courses on this site are taught at a distance. You choose a time on the calendar and pay; the confirmation and a calendar invitation arrive by email. The day before the session you receive the handbook; I recommend reading it before the attunement. At the agreed time you lie down or sit somewhere quiet; no video call or app is needed. The attunement takes 20–30 minutes. Afterwards your certificate is issued in your name, with your lineage, and its link is emailed to you.

What you learn at this level

• What Reiki is, what it is not, and the history of Usui Reiki
• The five Reiki principles, each with small practices you can carry into daily life
• The seven main chakras, so you know where you place your hands and why
• The fourteen self-treatment hand positions, and keeping your hands on the body as you move between them
• Treating others: front and back positions, preparing for a session, clearing the aura, scanning the body and grounding
• The En symbol for protection: Reiki I has no symbols as such, but I give you this one so you can use it from the first day

Twenty-one days

For the twenty-one days after the attunement you give yourself a full Reiki treatment every day. For this I have made a guided video that takes you through the fourteen positions in order, with a bell for each change, so you can follow the sound with your eyes closed. During this time I write to you on days 1, 5, 10, 15 and 21; you keep your clearing journal and ask me whenever you are stuck. I suggest you begin treating others only after these twenty-one days, starting with the people closest to you.

Who is it for?

For anyone new to Reiki and wondering where to begin. There is no prerequisite. Reiki I is a beginning; do not expect this level to resolve everything. Reiki II opens onto the mental and emotional level and distance work, and Reiki III onto deeper spiritual work. I describe what each level teaches in the article on the Reiki levels.

Reiki is a complementary energy practice; it does not replace a doctor, a psychologist or medication.