How to Learn Reiki Level 2:

Reiki has 3 levels: 1, 2 & 3.  Reiki level 2 (the subject of this post), is a more advanced level, where the student learns amongst other things, to harness more Reiki energy and distance healing.

Where to Start?

The only criteria for learning Reiki Level 2 is to have studied Reiki Level 1.   You should not do Reiki Level 2 without having first done level 1.

As mentioned in Reiki Level 1 Training: What to expect and how to prepare, you’ll find plenty of resources offering to teach any level of Reiki. This might be through reading a book, receiving a Level 1,2 or 3 attunement via a YouTube video created by a Reiki master.

Based on my personal experience, this post describes learning USUI Reiki level 2 directly from a Reiki master.   I won’t judge the other methods, but just say that this is the traditional path for learning Reiki.

Where to find a Reiki Master?

If you’ve already found a Reiki master you’re are happy with for Reiki Level 1,  I’d advise you to stick with them for Reiki Level 2 study.  If not, please take a look at the advice given in Reiki Level 1 Training: What to expect and how to prepare.

Some Reiki masters offer Attunements for both Reiki 1 & 2 (even including 3!) over the course of a weekend, or even the same day.  Personally, I think that this a lot to cope with, in such a short space of time.  My USUI Reiki Master recommended at the least doing the 21-day cleansing period before considering Level 2.

During the 21 day cleansing period, you should, at the minimum, perform a full Reiki self-healing session every day.  To be honest, it can be quite hard to find the time. Often I found myself doing the self-healing in bed at the end of the day – not always successfully, too easy to fall asleep.  But don’t let this put you off.  It is an excellent opportunity to get to know the feeling of Reiki energy and heal yourself at the same time.

Reiki Level 2 Lesson and Attunement:

How to Prepare for receiving Reiki Level 2:

Aside from having studied Reiki 1, and done the 21-day cleaning process, there aren’t too many things to prepare before receiving Reiki level 2. Just common sense things to  balance your mind and body:

• Studied at least Reiki level 1

  • It is a fact that some people enjoy the Attunements so much that they choose to repeat them.  There is no danger in this; it is an enjoyable and special experience.  While the effects of opening to Reiki energy remain for life, a repeat Attunement might be especially helpful to someone who’s not done Reiki for a while.

• No alcohol

  • Alcohol dulls the mind.

• Avoid high protein food

  • High protein food requires more digestion and uses energy

• Eat fruit, vegetables and drink water

  • Easy to digest and healthy

• Avoid caffeinated drinks

  • Causes the mind to be over-active

Taught over 1-2 days, in three phases, course content may vary, depending on the style of Reiki. This is what you should expect from a Usui Reiki Level 2 course.

Reiki Level 2 Lesson – Learning about Reiki:

Considering that you’ve already taken level 1, this part will not take very long. The course should include a textbook or print-out containing the course content.  If not, remember to take notes during the lesson.  Most Reiki Masters make themselves available for follow-up questions or consultations after the course.

Reiki Level 2 Lesson: Attunement

Essentially a Reiki Level 2 Attunement is a process that attunes you to a higher frequency of Reiki energy, enabling you to channel Reiki energy and use the Reiki 2 symbols and mantras.

The Attunement is a type of ritual and kept secret by the Reiki master.  The Reiki master will request students to keep eyes closed during the process.  Some query the need for secrecy, but I think it is a way making the process meaningful. Closed eyes make it easier to focus internally and enjoy the experience of the Attunement.

The Reiki master uses a combination of symbols and mantras to connect you to the Reiki universal life force.

Reiki Level 2 Lesson – Practice

Most of the training session in the Reiki level 2 course concerns study and usage of three symbols and mantras.

Reiki Level 2: Symbols

What are the Symbols and Mantras?

The most noticeable difference between Reiki level 1 and Reiki level 2 is the inclusion of 3 special symbols & their respective mantras.  These are used to increase the level of Reiki energy and to enhance healing abilities.  For instance, the third symbol, used for distance healing, sends Reiki healing energy to a person in a remote location.  You can (and should) do Reiki distant healing to yourself.  It is very powerful!

It is said in USUI Reiki, that once you have mastered the use of the three symbols and mantras, you already have sufficient confidence and experience to heal without their use.  Western Reiki teaches that the symbols should always be used during healing.  I think that both approaches are valid, use whichever approach feels most natural.

How to use the Symbols and Mantras

The following is a brief description of how to use the three Reiki symbols and mantras.  For a more detailed description, please read Reiki Symbols: How they enhance Reiki healing. The symbols may be drawn in the air, onto your palms or imagined.  It is worth learning to imagine the symbols as it avoids revealing them to others, or inviting awkward questions.

Once you understand the nature of each of the symbols, it is easy to apply them to any circumstance.  Their use is as flexible as your imagination.

Power symbol:

The power symbol works on the physical level and is used for boosting Reiki energy.  Think of it as focusing Reiki energy, like a laser beam.  The symbol’s use before healing reduces the amount of time required for a healing session.  If you’ve studied Reiki 1, the amount of energy available might require 5 minutes per hand position.  With the use of this symbol, the amount of time may be reduced by at least 50%!  Or, use the same amount of time, and deliver more healing energy.  It is certainly handy for self-healing, as the overall session time is much less. Read Reiki Symbols: How to use the Reiki Power Symbol to learn more about the Reiki power symbol and its uses.

Some ways that the power symbol may be used:

As the power symbol works primarily in the physical world, it’s application may be similar to Reiki level 1, but more potent:

• Self-healing & Healing others

  • Check out this for more info on Reiki Healing: Use Reiki to heal yourself and others and other related posts.

• Cleanse your living environment

  • Similar concept to Feng Shui, where practitioners use various techniques to balance Qi.  Apply Reiki energy to your living environment.  Connect to Reiki and using your hands, apply Reiki to the walls, corners, ceiling and floor of the room that you are in. Two minutes for each surface is ok

• Remove bad energy from an object

• Food and drinks

• Animals

• Anything else you can think of!

  • You can apply Reiki to anything you can think of – for instance, apply to money in your wallet.

 

Harmony Symbol:

The harmony symbol is related to balance and the emotions.  While not having the power of the first symbol, it works at a deeper healing level.  The symbol can help to heal more complex emotional problems, bring harmony to things and situations. Read Reiki Symbols: How to use the Reiki Harmony symbol to learn more about thru Reiki Harmony symbol and its uses.

Some ways that the harmony symbol may be used:

• Bring peace and harmony to an object, person or situation

• Balance negative thinking

• Achieving a dream or fulfilling a wish

Distance healing symbol:

This is probably the symbol that attracts most people to learn Reiki level 2.

Unlike the power and harmony symbols, the distance healing symbol is not, strictly speaking, a symbol, but 5 Kanji characters (Japanese writing characters).  Due to the number of individual strokes contained within the symbol, it is the hardest of the three to memorize and draw.  I will continue to refer it as a symbol, as the 5 Kanji characters are viewed as a whole.

Use the symbol to send distant healing to anyone in any place.  Some knowledge of the person to be healed is required, such as name, sex, age and current location.  Read Reiki Symbols: How to use the Reiki distance healing symbol to learn more about the Reiki distance healing symbol and its uses.

Some ways that the harmony symbol may be used:

• Distance healing using a written note

• Distance healing using small image

• Distance healing using life-size image

Where to find the symbols?

Searching the Internet for images of Reiki symbols, you’ll find plenty showing the above and some variations.  The illustrated symbols are typical of those used in Western Reiki.

During the USUI Reiki Level 2 course that I attended,  the symbols were presented to us directly and not included in the course notes.  We were required to copy the symbols by hand into our text books.  In fact, the specific symbols that I learned, don’t appear in any Internet search.  Often Reiki schools have their version of the symbols and mantras.  In other words, your Reiki teacher, depending on their school, may teach you subtly different symbols and mantras – however, the actual use of the three symbols is common.  Your Reiki master will probably ask you not to share the symbols outside of the class.