Reiki Level 1 teaches hands-on practice — self-treatment and treating others in person, with a set sequence of hand positions. Level 2 adds the three symbols, which bring focus, emotional work and, critically, distance practice. Level 3, or Master, is the teaching degree — the ability to attune others. If you're choosing a practitioner, Level 2 is the point at which they can give you a full session anywhere, and the point at which the practice has structure beyond the hands.

I hold Level 2, trained within a documented lineage back to Usui. Here's what that means, what it doesn't, and what to ask anyone you're considering.

Level 1 — the hands

First degree is about the body. The student is attuned — a short ceremony that, in the tradition, opens the practitioner to the practice — and learns the hand positions: head, throat, chest, abdomen, hips, legs, feet, in sequence. They learn to treat themselves daily and to treat others in person.

Many people take Level 1 for themselves and never practise on anyone else. It's a complete thing on its own. A Level 1 practitioner can give you a good session in the room with you.

Level 2 — the symbols

Second degree adds the three symbols and the practice that goes with them. Cho Ku Rei for focus, Sei He Ki for the emotional and mental layer, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen for distance. There's a piece on what each is for if you want the detail.

What this changes for a client:

  • Distance sessions become possible. A Level 1 practitioner can't give you a session when you're in London. A Level 2 practitioner can.
  • The work has more structure. The symbols give the practitioner tools for what isn't physical — grief, anxiety, patterns — without anyone having to talk about it.
  • It's a commitment. Level 2 usually comes after months of Level 1 practice. It's the point where someone has decided this is a discipline, not a course they did once.

Level 3 — the teacher

Master level is about attuning others. It's the teaching degree. A Reiki Master can run Level 1 and 2 courses. It doesn't, in itself, make someone a better practitioner — some of the best hands-on practitioners I know stopped at Level 2, and some Masters teach far more than they treat.

What to ask a practitioner

  • What level? Level 2 is what you want for full sessions and distance.
  • Who trained you, in what lineage? A named teacher and a line back to Usui. I show mine; I'd be wary of anyone who won't.
  • How long have you practised? Level matters less than years of hands on bodies.
  • Will you tell me to see a doctor? The right answer is "yes, when you should." Reiki is complementary — alongside medical care, not instead — and a practitioner who won't say so hasn't understood the practice.

My training

Level 1 in December 2025 and Level 2 in February 2026, both in Usui Reiki Ryoho within a documented lineage — Usui, Hayashi, Takata, and forward to my teacher. Both diplomas are on the homepage. I mention this not because certificates are the point but because you should be able to check.

What each level feels like to receive

Honestly, in the room, a good Level 1 session and a good Level 2 session feel much the same — hands, warmth, the drop. The difference shows in what the practitioner can do when the thing you're carrying isn't physical, and in whether they can give you a session when you're in another country. If you're only ever going to be on the table in front of them, Level 1 is enough. If your life moves, Level 2 is the one that moves with it.

FAQ

What's the difference between Reiki Level 1 and Level 2? Level 1 is hands-on practice in person. Level 2 adds the three symbols — focus, emotional work, and distance — and is the degree at which full sessions can be given anywhere.

Do I need a Level 2 practitioner? For in-person sessions, a good Level 1 practitioner is fine. For distance sessions, Level 2 is required — it's what makes them possible.

Is a Reiki Master better than Level 2? Not necessarily. Master is the teaching degree. Years of hands-on practice matter more than the title.

If you'd like to see the training before you book

Both diplomas are on the homepage, with the lineage. Message me on WhatsApp with any question about them — I'd rather you asked than wondered.