Reiki symbols are an important and very interesting part of Reiki practise. They allow one to focus the energy of Reiki for specific purposes. There are a total of five symbols in the Usui system of Reiki. Three are given in Reiki II and two in Reiki III. There are other symbols that people are using, but they are not a part of the Usui system.

Usui Reiki symbols are not as mysterious as they might seem. They are actually Japanese kanji which means they are simply words from the Japanese language. Their names can be found in a Japanese/English dictionary. The first two symbols vary from this somewhat. While the names of the Power and Mental/Emotional symbols are Japanese, the symbols themselves may be shamanic or a combination of Sanskrit and Japanese kanji. It is a practise of Japanese Buddhists to sometimes combine ancient Sanskrit with Japanese kanji in their sacred writings and symbols, so the way these first two symbols are drawn may have been influenced by this practise. The Distant and Master symbols are completely Japanese kanji,both in their names and in the way they are drawn.

It is interesting to note that the name of the Usui Master symbol can be found in "The Encyclopaedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion", and is translated to mean "treasure house of the great beaming light." It is said to be, "a Zen expression for ones' own true nature or Buddha-nature of which one becomes cognisant in the experience of enlightenment or satori." This is quite a profound definition. Perhaps it is called the Master symbol because it gives us direct connection to the Master within, which is the real source of Reiki. Also, since the Usui Master symbol is a powerful symbol from Zen Buddhism, one wonders how much help Dr Usui received from the Zen Buddhists he was staying with when he re-discovered Reiki.

The above information indicates that the Usui Reiki symbols are not exclusive to Usui Reiki. They existed prior to Dr Usui's use of them. Also, because they are Japanese, it is not likely that he discovered them in a Sanskrit sutra as some have thought. It is much more likely that Dr Usui received the symbols in his mystical experience on Mt. Koriyama, or that he had prior knowledge of them from the Zen Buddhists he was staying with. Since the symbols are Japanese and we know that the Master symbol is from Zen Buddhism, perhaps the sutra in which he discovered the formula for healing was Zen Buddhist rather than a Sanskrit sutra, (even though there is a Sanskrit sutra that contains a formula for healing.) In addition, the Usui Master symbol also appears as part of the symbol on the Goshintai, which is the sacred scroll of the Johrei Fellowship. These are all interesting ideas to contemplate.

The power and effectiveness of the symbols comes from the Reiki attunement that given during a Reiki class. Before the attunement, the student is shown these symbols and given time to memorise them. During the attunement, the energies of each symbol come down and enter the student's mind/body, linking themselves to the appropriate symbol in the student's mind. Afterwards, whenever the student uses the symbol, the same energies that  they were linked to during the attunement are activated and begin flowing. This linking or activation of the Reiki symbols during the attunement process makes use of the stimulus/response mechanism which is a dynamic part of the human mind. The Reiki symbol become the stimulus and the particular energy the symbol represents is the response. However, because the attunement is guided by the Higher Power, and functions at a higher level of awareness, the stimulus/response mechanism doesn't require the repetition normally necessary to establish a relationship between stimulus and response. It happens immediately.

The Reiki symbols have traditionally been kept secret. While secrecy is a way of honouring their sacredness, there are also metaphysical reasons for this. One of the benefits of keeping the symbols secret until just before the attunement is to prevent the student from inadvertently linking the symbol to anything else but the energies they represent. If a student becomes aware of the Reiki symbols before a Reiki class, it is possible that energies of a lower vibration could connect to the symbol and possibly reduce the value of its use. Since the symbols have no real power without the attunement, it is better that they be kept secret until the class. In addition, if a person is shown a Reiki symbol without the benefit of the attunement that empowers it, they may incorrectly believe they have Reiki and not bother to take a class, thus missing the real experience of Reiki and loosing the benefit of its healing power.

Many have noticed differences in the way that the symbols are drawn when compared to the symbols from other Reiki Masters. These differences are there for a number of reasons. First, it is known that Mrs Takata did not always draw the symbols exactly the same for every student she taught. After her transition, there was a meeting of the Reiki Masters she initiated. At the meeting they compared their symbols. The Power symbols of all the Masters present were basically the same. The Mental/Emotional symbols of the Masters had some slight differences. However, the Distant symbols were quite different - especially with the strokes at the bottom. They did not compare their Master symbols. So, even at this early date, there were differences which apparently came from Mrs Takata. Perhaps she deliberately drew them differently to give a little distinction for each student, or perhaps at other times because of age or from having taught for over 30 years, she accidentally drew them with some differences. Also, there are different ways to draw the Japanese kanji figures and in fact, Mrs Takata did have two ways she drew the Master symbol. One way was more of a flowing style, called "running hand" with the main difference at the bottom part of the symbol. The other way she drew the Master symbol was a printed or block style called "normal." Both ways of drawing the Master symbol have exactly the same meaning.

The Reiki symbols are a wonderful, beautiful way to connect to the higher power. Their use does not require that we are able to meditate or have years of spiritual practice. Their power and effectiveness comes to us by grace, which allows us to humbly accept the value we receive as a gift from the Creator. We are grateful for the efforts of Dr Usui and all the others who have lovingly worked to make this system of healing available to us.