Reiki Principles

The 5 Reiki Principles are set forth for anyone to learn from. The very backbone of reiki fundamentals but also a simple way to happiness.

The 5 Reiki Principles

It is important to understand the basics of reiki before jumping into the reiki principles. Take a moment to read An Introduction to Reiki before continuing if you are new to Reiki!

The interesting thing about the reiki principles is that they have nothing to do with what one might think has anything to do with energy healing. But they have EVERYTHING to do with energy healing and healing self.

The principles are for everyone. EVERYONE.

When our energy flow gets mucked up by stress and then disease, the environment (our bodies) becomee sick. This “muck” needs to get cleaned and cleared and that is, in part, what Reiki does. But, the point is to keep the muck from building up. To keep that muck out of your energy centers and body in general.

Let’s dive into the 5 Reiki principles and talk about each one.

Just For Today….

I will not worry

I will not be angry

I will do my work honestly

I will give thanks for my many blessings

I will be kind to my neighbors and every living thing

Just think about how it starts out: Just For Today. There is something refreshing about that. Just For Today. This doesn’t say: for the rest of your life. This doesn’t say: make an everlasting change today. Instead, it says, focus on today. Focus on now. Make a choice just for today. That is a doable goal. Just for today.

Reiki Principle #1 – I Will Not Worry

Another way to say this one is “I Will Trust”. Trust yourself. Trust the universe. With trust, there is no worry.

When you are worrying, it is generally not about the NOW. It is usually about what is going to happen in the future. I am a firm believer that what we put out to the universe is what we get back. Like attract likes. If you are worried about something happening, that is the level that you are vibrating on and that is the vibration the universe will match you on.

Worry is negative emotion as well. And negative emotion leads to stress and the mucking up of your energy flow.

Reiki Principle #2 – I Will Not Be Angry

Another way to say this is “I will be happy”. When you are happy, you are not angry. As with any emotion, anger is a choice. How we choose to respond to an event or a person is always a choice. Our choice. Anger leads to stress and negative emotion which leads to (can you guess??) havoc in our bodies and energy centers.

Choose happiness over anger. It is just for today. Remember that if you feel overwhelmed. Just for today.

Reiki Principle #3 – I Will Do My Work Honestly

What is your work? What is your purpose? Are you working in your purpose? It’s ok if you are not. Many of us have a round about way of getting to our life’s purpose. I spent the first 20 years of my adult life as a well respected engineer. Then when I couldn’t ignore that pull to change, I jumped into Holistic Nutrition (which I am still there, by the way). Yet that pull remained and that is when I stopped resisting and allowed myself to lean into my gifts as an energy healer.

Do your work honestly. Wherever you are on your path. Do your best and for the highest good.

Reiki Principle #4 – I Will Give Thanks For My Many Blessings

We all have so many things to be grateful for. When we are clouded with anger and worry, however, we tend to not recognize our many blessings. We see the world through a filter that we’ve created.

Gratitude is a powerful, powerful thing. If you begin the day with gratitude (before you look at your phone, before you get out of bed, before you do anything) then you will see amazing changes in your day. And I’m not just talking about flippant gratitude, but real, geneuine gratitude.

Give thanks for all the gifts that have been given to you. See things for their true value instead of how you choose to perceive them.

Reiki Principle #5 – I Will Be Kind To My Neighbors And Every Living Thing

Kindness should be an abundant force in our lives. Kindness to ourselves. Kindness to our family. Kindness to our neighbors. Kindness to all things.

To me, this one is the realization that we are all One. We are all connected. Kindness to another is also kindness to self.

How to Use the Reiki Principles

The Reiki principles are a path to happiness and peace. It is one thing to know them but another thing to live them. Here are a few ways to really start living them.

Meditation

Meditation means many things to many different people. And if can even mean many different things to the same person. For me, I like to meditate in two different ways. The first is simply being still and present in the void. The second is to meditate ON something. You can meditate on one or all of the principles to help them be at the forefront of your mind and to really allow yourself to become one with them.

Contemplation

Contemplation does not mean constant focus. I think it is important to reflect on our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. That doesn’t mean obsess. If we treated our spouse poorly, for example, we can acknowledge it, make it right if we can, and do better next time. We can even consider what might have been a better course of action. But we don’t need to beat ourselves up over it.

Grace

Lastly, give yourself grace. We falter, we fall, we stumble, and we let ego get in the way. We are beautiful human beings. If you fall, get back up and keep moving forward. Don’t stay on the ground. Don’t look back for extended periods of time. Simply stand, reflect, dust off and move forward.