Reiki Precepts

 When I took my first Reiki class in the fall of 1989, my teacher Annalise taught us the 5 Reiki Principles or precepts, and invited us to work with them as we 'cleared the pipes' for Reiki to flow, and practices being more present.

Neurographic doodle on 'Presence'

As I began teaching several years later, I was surprised when students from other Masters told me they hadn't realized the Principles were 'really' part of Reiki! (Just something their teacher added) a precept is, 'a general rule which helps you decide how to behave in particular circumstances' - offering a moral compass. 

Reiki Principles - my Reiki journal

More of Reiki's origins became known in the West after the discovery of founder Usui's memorial stone in 1994. Translated, part of the inscription reads, 'Thus, before the teachings, the 'Ikun' (admonition) of the Meiji Emperor should reverently be told and the Five Precepts (gokai) be chanted and kept in mind mornings and evenings.' 

About a decade after my Reiki Mastery initiation, my friend Margot took a workshop from Frank Arava Peters, who studied with traditional masters in Japan, and brought teachings to Western masters.  Margot, in turn, gathered several Reiki Master friends, and shared from what she'd learned - this was to be the first time I chanted the precepts in Japanese! 

Gokai - Reiki Sourcebook

The Reiki Sourcebook (Bronwen and Frank Stein) is one of my favorite resources, offering a detailed overview of the history, the lineages (42-3), branches, and practices from both Japanese and Western Reiki threads. There's a detailed timeline, from the Buddhist precepts (800 CE) and Usui's birth (1865) up through 2003.

As the memorial stone states, chanting the precepts morning and evening (3×, with hands in gasshô - prayer position) was one of Usui's basic recommendations to his students.  

If you wish to work with the precepts in Japanese, I suggest you write them on a card that you can have nearby to refer to as you practice. This is an excellent, line by line practice video with the Gokai written in Japanese and English.

🙏 Gokai 🙏 
Kyo Dake Wa
Ika Runa
Shinpai Suna
Kansha Shite
Gyo Wo Hage Me
Hito Shen Setsu Ni

You may wish to keep a Reiki journal As you deepen - record the suggestions your Master gave for continuing with Reiki, and insights that arise during and after shares, sessions and classes.  List options for practicing Reiki on yourself and others, and other ways you practice self care (Reiki for the self first!)

If you'd like to experience a sweet  meditation from the Japanese tradition, Hatsurei-Ho (p 198-200 in the Sourcebook) is powerful.  Lumie's video of this meditation is easy to follow, and incorporates  elements of the Hadô Meisô Hô (vibration meditation method) on p. 196 of the Reiki Sourcebook . This is a wonderful daily practice! 

You may wish to write out the mantra before you begin. If you are initated in second degree, imagine the mental emotional symbol where she suggests the Mastery symbol. 

I recently began a 21 day round of practicing a morning blessing plus Hatsurei-Ho morning and evening - join me?