The Usui system and its lineage
Usui Reiki Ryoho is traditionally organized into three levels: Shoden (First Degree — self-practice and hands-on healing of others), Okuden (Second Degree — adds symbols and distance/remote healing), and Shinpiden (Reiki Master/Teacher level, which includes training to attune new students). Advancement through each level traditionally requires an "attunement" — a ritual conducted by a Reiki Master, said to open or strengthen the recipient's ability to channel the energy.
Chakras and hand positions
Reiki as practiced in the West is commonly taught alongside the seven-chakra system borrowed from Indian yogic tradition (root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, crown), even though chakras were not part of Usui's original Japanese system. Standard hand-position sequences move from the head down through the torso, loosely tracking these chakra locations, though the exact sequence varies by lineage and teacher.
What an attunement is
An attunement (or "reiju" in the original Japanese tradition) is a short ceremony performed by a Reiki Master on a student, traditionally described as opening or strengthening the student's ability to channel Reiki energy. It's presented within the tradition as a one-time step per level, rather than something repeated for every regular session.
What a session involves
The recipient stays clothed and reclines while the practitioner's hands hover or lightly rest over a series of standard positions — crown, temples, eyes, throat, heart, solar plexus, abdomen, and others — each generally held for 2–5 minutes, across a full session of 45–90 minutes. Distance ("remote") Reiki, taught from Second Degree onward, is practiced without physical presence, using visualization and the associated symbols.
What Reiki is used for, and its limits
Reiki is commonly sought for relaxation, stress reduction, and general well-being support; some hospitals and hospice programs offer it as a complementary therapy alongside conventional medical care. It is not licensed or regulated as a medical treatment, and reputable practitioners are explicit that Reiki is a complementary practice, not a replacement for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified medical professional.