How to learn Reiki: a step-by-step guide to Reiki training

Reiki is not learned from a book or a video: first the attunement, then the knowledge, then daily practice. The degrees, how long it takes, learning at a distance and what to look for in good training.

6 min read

This is one of the questions I am asked most. The short answer: Reiki is not a technique you learn by reading or watching. For Reiki to flow through your hands, a Reiki Master has to attune you to the energy. After the attunement, the learning goes on with your own hands, through daily practice.

The three parts of learning Reiki

The attunement: the step that connects you to Reiki energy. Once made, the connection is lasting.
Knowledge: the hand positions, the five Reiki principles, the chakras, how to give a session. These are set out in the handbook.
Practice: a full Reiki treatment on yourself every day for the twenty-one days after the attunement. This is where the real learning happens.

The degrees are taken in order

In Usui Reiki the degrees are taken in order, each built on the one before. At Reiki 1 you learn hands-on Reiki for yourself and the people close to you. At Reiki 2 you begin working with three symbols, at the mental and emotional level and at a distance. In the first part of Reiki 3 you receive the Master symbol, and in the second you learn to attune others and to teach.

There are at least twenty-one days between degrees. That time is not a wait but a settling: there is little point moving on without the daily practice.

In person or at a distance?

Distance attunement has long been part of the Reiki tradition; one of the symbols taught at the second degree exists precisely to bridge distance. In-person training has one advantage: you try the hand positions while the teacher watches. In distance training the handbook, a guided video and twenty-one days of follow-up take its place.

With me, distance training works like this: you choose a time in your own time zone, the handbook arrives the day before, and the attunement takes 20–30 minutes. Over the twenty-one days that follow I write to you on days 1, 5, 10, 15 and 21; you keep your clearing journal and ask me whenever you are stuck.

What to look for in good Reiki training

A published lineage: who your teacher was attuned by, and through which line, should be written down.
A written handbook: something to return to after the attunement.
Support afterwards: someone you can ask once the attunement is over.
A verifiable certificate: issued in your name and checkable by its number.
Measured language: Reiki is a complementary practice; be wary of training that promises to cure illness or to bring you money.

How long does it take?

An attunement takes 20–30 minutes, but a degree is completed through twenty-one days of practice. The path from Reiki 1 to Master Teacher takes a few months even at its quickest; for most people it takes longer, and that is fine. Nothing is gained by rushing Reiki.

If you are not sure where to start, you can choose the free introductory conversation on the booking page; we talk it through on WhatsApp and find the right path for you.

Frequently asked

Can you teach yourself Reiki?

The knowledge can be read in books, but to use Reiki you need an attunement from a Reiki Master. After that, the learning continues through your own daily practice.

Is a Reiki initiation the same as an attunement?

Yes. Both describe the same step that connects you to Reiki energy; some teachers call it an initiation, most call it an attunement.

Is distance Reiki training valid?

Distance attunement has long been practised in the Reiki tradition. Some schools accept only in-person training; that is a matter of preference. The certificate I issue is a certificate of attendance, not a state-approved professional qualification. Some UK Reiki associations ask for in-person attunements for professional membership; if you plan to join one, check their requirements before you start. To use Reiki for yourself, your family and friends, there is no such requirement. If you are thinking about professional insurance, ask the insurer whether they accept distance training.

Do I need any experience before starting Reiki training?

No. Reiki 1 needs no prior knowledge or experience; you only need to be 18 or over and ready to give yourself some time every day during the twenty-one days after the attunement.

Can I learn Reiki at a distance from another country?

Yes. We agree the time in your own time zone, the handbook reaches you by email, and during the twenty-one days you can write to me whenever you need to.

How long does Reiki 1 take?

The attunement takes 20–30 minutes. Then for twenty-one days you give yourself Reiki every day; you can move on to Reiki 2 once that period is complete.