The Levels of Reiki Explained: Understanding Reiki Training, Lineage, and Holy Fire Reiki

Why Reiki Is Taught Differently Depending on Lineage

Reiki historically was an oral teaching, passed from Master Teacher to student, who becomes a practitioner and perhaps a Master Teacher, who passes the teachings down to more students and so on. Each time Reiki was passed from Master Teacher to student, the teachings evolved. Even from our modern founders, the way Dr. Chujiro Hayashi both offered Reiki and taught Reiki evolved from the way he was taught by Mikao Usui. Reiki evolved again when it was passed down from Hawayo Takata. These evolutions refined the way Reiki was offered and in some cases, kept the practice of Reiki alive. All things that are alive are always in a state of evolution.

Because the practice of Reiki has a history of evolution, the way Reiki is taught also varies depending on one's lineage. In the family tree of Usui Reiki, almost all modern Reiki practitioners come from the lineage of Mikao Usui, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi and Hawaya Takata, but the branches of our family tree spread out from there and how one teaches Reiki on one side of the family tree will have evolved differently than another branch.

At By the Moon we use the curriculum from the International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT, www.reiki.org). We do this for a couple of reasons. One, this is the curriculum that was passed down to me from my Usui Reiki Master Teacher, Shawn Rashotte. Second, I respect and appreciate how much effort William Lee Rand has invested into researching and verifying the history of Reiki over many years as well as how Reiki has evolved through his work.

Just like the broken telephone game, the history of Reiki has also evolved through the different branches of the family tree in a way that perhaps became problematic. The story of the origins of Reiki was different depending on the lineage and William Lee Rand made it his personal mission to travel wherever necessary to research and confirm the details in our history, eliminating some of the parts of the story that have somehow been added over time but could not be verified. This work was vitally important to the integrity of Reiki and is a big reason why I continue to use William Lee Rand's curriculum.

So what are the Reiki training levels?

At By the Moon we teach the following levels of Reiki in this order: Holy Fire III, Usui Reiki Shoden (Level 1) - Self-healing, history, hand positions, treating self and others. Holy Fire III, Usui Reiki Okuden (Level 2) - Reiki symbols, distance healing, deeper practitioner development. Holy Fire III, Usui Reiki Master Teacher - Advanced healing techniques, mastery of Reiki energy, learning to teach and initiate others. Holy Fire III, Karuna Reiki Master Teacher - Additional symbols, chanting/toning, advanced spiritual development.

We often teach levels 1 and 2 combined, as Dr. Chujiro Hayashi did. It is our practice to only teach Master levels to students who have had a professional Reiki practice for a minimum of 6 months but one year or longer is preferred.

While other lineages may have a third level (Advanced Reiki Training) or they may teach Reiki Master as a separate offering from Reiki Master Teacher, in our lineage, this is how we are currently offering Reiki training.

Holy Fire III Reiki explained

Holy Fire III is not a level of Reiki training. Notice in our progression through Reiki there is no Holy Fire I or II. Holy Fire III describes an evolution of the way Reiki is taught. Anyone who is offering or teaching Holy Fire III Reiki falls under the branch of the Reiki family tree under William Lee Rand.

Holy Fire Reiki was an evolution of Reiki that happened through William Lee Rand. When this new understanding and way of teaching Reiki came to him, it was called Holy Fire Reiki. A short time later it evolved slightly and he named it Holy Fire II to differentiate from the first stage of the evolution and then finally Holy Fire III which is currently the most recent evolution of Holy Fire Reiki. It is not necessary for any student to take Holy Fire I or II. For students who did take Holy Fire or Holy Fire II Reiki, those ways are still completely valid and may be being passed down. The complete explanation of how Holy Fire Reiki evolved in stages is explained within the Holy Fire III, Usui Reiki Master Teacher and Holy Fire III, Karuna Reiki Master Teacher manuals.

The main aspects that differentiate Holy Fire Usui Reiki from the traditional Usui Reiki

Attunements have been replaced with Placements and Ignitions. In traditional Usui Reiki training, the Reiki Master Teacher passes the Reiki to the student through a beautiful ritual that incorporates physical touch, breath, and a series of sacred steps to complete the transmission of Reiki and its symbols into the new practitioner / Master Teacher. In Holy Fire III, Usui Reiki and Holy Fire III, Karuna Reiki the Master Teacher prepares the students to receive the ability to give / teach Reiki but then removes their own energy so the transmission happens directly from Reiki to the student directly through Reiki rather than being mediated through the Master Teacher.. I have both given and received Attunements, Placements and Ignitions and the outcome has been similar for my students and myself regardless of the style of passing on the ability to offer Reiki energy.

Holy Fire III, Usui Reiki Masters and Karuna Reiki Masters can offer guided healing experiences where the recipient receives healing for a specific intention directly from Reiki. The Reiki Master prepares them by supporting them into a receptive state for the healing to begin. This seems to be unique to Holy Fire Reiki but has some similarities to the way distance healing can be offered by all Reiki practitioners, but with a more specific format and beautiful guided meditation scripts to begin the healing.

Lastly, Holy Fire Usui Reiki Masters receive the Holy Fire symbol which is unique to this Reiki healing system.

Holy Fire Reiki is still Usui Reiki. It includes all of the beautiful history and foundations of Usui Reiki with more recent evolutions that I really enjoy offering and receiving.

What is the Holy Fire III, Karuna Reiki Master Teacher training level?

Usui Reiki Masters and any Holy Fire Usui Reiki Master may decide to pursue the next level of training in the lineage of the International Center for Reiki Training. Karuna Reiki introduces additional symbols that are traditionally associated with compassion, emotional healing, spiritual growth, grounding, manifestation, empowerment, wisdom, and peace. Each symbol is considered a tool to help focus intention and deepen the practitioner's connection with Reiki energy.

Karuna Reiki also incorporates toning and chanting the symbols which was not incorporated in earlier levels.

What about Reiki Training Online

Obviously Reiki training would never have been offered at a distance historically, but as human infrastructure has evolved, so too has the way we connect and learn with each other. As is often the case in the evolution of all things, there can be some resistance to movement from the way things were always done to newer adaptations and that is certainly true when people discuss online Reiki classes. Not all classes are created or delivered equally, and that is certainly true of Reiki whether it is in person or online. High quality classes will provide great connection between the Master Teacher and the student, will provide a thorough and detailed manual that can be used as a valuable resource throughout one's career, and will be offered in an appropriate amount of time to fully deliver all aspects of Reiki training and practice, business development etc.

It is up to the individual student to decide whether an in person or online format is the appropriate learning environment for them.

Some people question whether attunements, placements or ignitions can be given at a distance. However it has never been questioned whether Reiki healing can be offered at a distance. Reiki practitioners generally believe Reiki is not limited by time or space because it is energy. The definition of Reiki itself is energy from source, God, creator, the divine etc. It makes sense to me and has been my experience that distance Reiki learning is a natural evolution for our modern times and there is nothing in my mind or experience that limits the ability of one to receive Reiki this way whether it is for healing or receiving the ability to offer Reiki as a practitioner.

Read our other post: Can you learn Reiki Online?

Final thoughts..

Some practitioners or teachers prefer traditional in-person, hands-on attunements which more closely reflect the way Reiki was passed down historically while others embrace the continuing evolution of Reiki. It can be confusing deciphering all of the information and some of the variations that exist depending on where in the family tree the information originates, but I hope this brings some clarity and makes your own pursuit of Reiki a little lighter and easier to navigate. We welcome you into any of our in person or online classes. Learn more about By the Moon in person and online Reiki training.