Reiki Healing Energy System
REIKI is a universal life force energy that is used for hands-on healing. The Usui form which is taught in the United States today originated in Japan with Dr. Usui. He went to Kurama-yama mountains just north of Kyoto, Japan to meditate and came away with the Reiki energy system. He passed this healing energy on to other masters. One master, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, in turn passed the energy system to Mrs. Hawayo Takata who in turn brought the energy to the United States.
There are many stories about the travels of Dr. Usui but not much of the story can be substantiated. There is a poor recording in Mrs. Takata's voice telling her understanding of the history of how Dr. Usui first discovered Reiki. The story is available in many Reiki books.
The energy used in the Usui system has three levels or degrees plus a master level:
- Level 1: Physical healing. Once attuned, the student can use the energy freely.
- Level 2: Emotional, Mental, Spiritual healing and enhanced physical healing. Absentee or long distance healing is also taught at this level
- Level 3: for higher energy levels and advanced healing
- Master level: for teaching Reiki (same healing attunements as level three but with the teaching attunements)
How Reiki Works
Reiki energy is an intelligent healing energy system that, when turned on by the practitioner, flows in through both the crown chakra and the feet chakras. There is a yin and a yang aspect to the energy, part from above and part from the earth. These two aspects combine in the practitioner, filling them with Reiki energy. The energy then begins to flow out of the chakras in the palms of the hands, where most people experience it as warmth. For those who are able to see the energy, it appears as a purple or violet light. The energy is then transmitted to the client, where it flows until it fills the client with energy. Once the client’s energy field is full, the energy shuts off automatically. It is believed that this system involves no exchange of personal energy between the practitioner and the client. Dancing Bear’s experience has been different: the energies can intermix, leaving the practitioner affected by the client’s issues and vice versa.
There are many types of Reiki taught today beyond the traditional Usui approach. Systems Dancing Bear encountered include Tibetan Reiki, Green Goddess Reiki, Unlimited Reiki, and Huna Reiki. Related concepts of vital energy include prana in Indian traditions and Qi or Chi in Chinese traditions. In Dancing Bear’s experience, different energy systems have distinct frequencies and frameworks, with their uses depending on the practitioner, intention, and circumstances.
The Japanese character symbol for reiki is written as: 
Reiki Character
Explore additional energy systems on the Healing With Esoteric Energies overview page.
Note added in 2026: These energy systems and more are all part of the Wu-Shen Integration Transformation™ Program.