Japanese Reiki Techniques

Nentatsu-ho
Purpose:
The traditional method for sending a thought or wish while using Reiki to assist. This is a
technique for getting a silent message across to the recipient’s subconscious with the
Reiki vibration transmitted through your hands. There is a wide range of use for it, such
as breaking bad habits, getting across Usui-sensei’s five Reiki principles to people in
serious disease, etc. (Do not get this mixed up with the concept of healing with mind
power.)

Method:
1) The recipient can be seated or standing. Ask them what habit or difficulty they wish to
work on. Suggest a positive affirmation that you can transmit.
2) Gassho, and call Reiki to yourself. (This may be done by extending your hands and
arms upwards, bringing in the Reiki light).
3) Say silently “I begin Nentatsu-ho now”
4) Place your hands (or just one) on the person’s forehead where the hair starts to grow.
5) Think the thought that they have asked you to help them with. Make sure it is positive
and in their highest interest.
6) Transmit the message with a pure mind and confidence.
7) Remove your hands. If this is part of a normal treatment, then proceed, otherwise.
8) Gassho, and finish. Shake your wrists well.

Comments:
You can apply this technique to others and yourself.

Jakikiri Joka-ho (Jaki = negative energy, kiri = to cut, jokaho = purifying method)
Purpose:
Energy purification or cleansing and energy boosting of an object. A technique for
removing strong negative energy and vibratory disorder within an object (like a crystal)
by purifying it with Reiki energy and putting in positive energy.

Method:
1) Gassho, and call Reiki to yourself. (This may be done by extending your hands and
arms upwards, bringing in the Reiki light).
2) Say silently “I begin Jakikiri Joka-ho now”
3) Pick up the object you wish to clear in your non-dominant hand
4) Using your dominant hand, chop the space about 5 cm above the object with your
hand horizontally and make a sudden stop of your hand movement. . When you do
the chopping action, focus your attention on your “tanden” (3 cm below your navel)
while holding your breath, and chop the length of your hand.
5) Repeat this three times. This means you are doing 3 abrupt chops. This will turn the
vibration into a good one.
6) Give Reiki for purification and boosting the object's energy
7) You can repeat from step 4 again in order to keep the negative vibration away, and
do this as often as you feel necessary.
8) When finished, lay the object down, Gassho, and shake your wrists well.

Comments:
This technique can be applied to crystals, charms, or any object, regardless of size. If it is
a large object, do the actions to selected points or visualize a miniature version of the
object in the palm of your hand, and then treat it as above.

Shudan Reiki (Reiki Group Treatment) and Renzoku Reiki (Reiki Marathon)
Purpose:
Shudan Reiki is concentrated Reiki. It implies a Group Treatment or Reiki Marathon. It is
used to increase the effectiveness of a Reiki healing session.

Method:
1) There are two very effective ways.
a.Group Reiki - many Reiki healers may perform Reiki healing on one person,
b. Reiki Marathon - each healer takes a turn performing Reiki healing, all over a long
period of time.
2) Many cases are reported that diseases that were incurable for modern medical
science were healed by this method. The remarkable point of the Reiki Marathon
(especially the first way as mentioned above) is that the effectiveness is multiplied by
the squared number of the healers. In other words, it is four times as effective when
two healers perform and it is twenty five times as effective when five healers perform.
3) The hands are placed at the basic positions, especially the ones where this is an
unhealthy, bad condition (the ones with self symptoms). These can be located by
using scanning (Byosen Reikan-ho) or allowing Reiki to guide you
4) If there are too many hands for the points, the healers can send Reiki energy,
indirectly placing the hands on the shoulder or the back of the healers who have their
hands on the positions.

Comments:
This is a very useful technique for serious illnesses, or even as a way to share Reiki at a
Reiki gathering. In the case of the latter, 4 or 5 people can work at one healing table at a
time, and each person can take a turn receiving. In this situation, 20 minutes can
produce a very effective treatment. If you do not have a massage or healing table, use a
chair and the senders can place their hands on the receiver, or one of the senders to
increase the energy.

Reiki Undo
Purpose:
Reiki Undo means Reiki exercise. This technique is similar to Hikari no Kokyu-ho but with
the addition of body movement. Doi Sensei explained that while this is not a formal
technique of traditional Reiki Ryoho, it was practised by some members of the Gakkai
whose bodies moved by accident during Hatsurei-ho (see Okuden pages.)

Method:
1) Stand or sit. Make yourself comfortable.
2) Do Gassho.
3) Raise your hands up as high as possible, and feel the vibrations of the Reiki showering
into the whole of the body.
4) Slowly move your hands downwards to your lap, palms facing up and keeping the
hands relaxed.
5) Consciously say to you, "Reiki Undo begins."
6) Focus on your breath, allow it to be deep and exhale with the intention to release as
much as you can while exhaling.
7) After several breaths you may find your body movement to be guided by the flow of
energy. Allow this movement to happen. Sometimes this will be slow and rhythmic, or
it may become more vigorous. Allow Reiki to guide the body; do not put your mental
effort into making your body move.
8) Gassho again, then finish. Shake the wrists well.

Comments:
This can be done with a partner or in a group as well, simply by placing your hands
gently on the person in front of you. Very nice in a group circle. It is recommended to do
this exercise daily for at least three months. Some find a "natural" detoxification of the
physical body starts after practicing for three months.

Note: while this was not presented by Mr. Doi at the Japanese Reiki workshop, Arjava
Petter was told it was a technique the late Ms. Kimiko Koyama-sensei would teach to her
students. She was past chairperson of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Japan.

Byosen Reikan-ho
(Byo = disease, sen = precede, Rei = energy, spirit, kan = emotion, feeling, ho =
method)
Purpose:
Healing by way of feeling a resonance or hand sensation. When a person has a disease,
you can feel ‘something’ transmitted from the source of the disease. This is called
"Byosen". What you feel as Byosen varies depending on the type, severity and status of
the disease, and from person to person. But some samples are: sensations of something
moving, pulsating, or piercing or of a bug crawling, biting or of pain, numbness, heat,
coldness, tickling, tingling, etc.

The sensation you have in your hands is called “Hibiki” or “Resonance” and by it you can
learn to judge the cause of the disease, the status of it and the time it will take to heal.

As long as a person has a disease (even if the person is not aware of it), there never fails
to be a byosen. So if you are careful enough to detect the byosen, it is possible to treat
the disease a couple of days before it actually show up. Also there could be a byosen in
people who are said to have recovered completely from his/her disease. If you get rid of
the byosen in these cases, you can prevent the disease from developing again.

A byosen could show up in the obvious problem area but also could be sensed in areas
different from the problem area. For example, the byosen for stomach disease often
shows up in one’s forehead; for roundworm it can show up under one’s nose; for liver
problems it can show up in the eyes, etc.

Method:
1) The recipient can be seated or lying on a massage table, or on a mat on the floor.
2) Gassho, and call Reiki to yourself. (This may be done by extending your hands and
arms upwards, bringing in the Reiki light).
3) It is recommended that you perform Aura Cleansing before a Reiki treatment.
4) You place your hands on the basic Western Reiki hand positions until you develop
your sensory power of your hands. You may also simply perform the 5 original Usui
head positions.
5) Once you develop byosen (the ability to feel a special sensation from the problem
area of the body), practice your healing using the following procedure.
6) First put your hands (one hand or two) on or above the body and move them around
scanning the whole body. Hold your hands where you feel the strongest hibiki or
sensation of pain, heat, coolness, vibration or numbness.
7) The part is often different from where the symptom is. It takes experience to judge
the sensation.
8) The hibiki gradually increases until it reaches its peak then starts to subside. That
makes “one pass” or “one cycle”. You should at least hold your hands for one cycle.
As it repeats its cycle, the peak of hibiki will decrease.
9) Move your hands to the next byosen and repeat.
10) You are finished when there are no more points of hibiki. When treating oneself,
this is usually when your hands simply flow down to your lap.
11) It is recommended that you perform Aura Cleansing after a Reiki treatment.
12) Gassho and finish. Shake your wrists well. Revive the recipient.

Comments:
At first, the ability to sense Byosen differs depending on individuals but as you practice
healing others anyone can develop the ability gradually.

In the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, this technique is taught once a person has begun their
Reiki training. Usually the average person at this point has an energy rating of 6 (on a
scale of 6 to 1, 1 being the highest). Once this technique is taught, your energy rating is
at 5.

Usui-sensei rated himself as 2 in the hopes that one of his students would surpass his
abilities. To this day, out of respect for Sensei, no one is ever rated higher than 3.

Once this technique is mastered, you are taught Reiji-ho and your rating increases to a
4. Upon mastering Reij--ho, you are rated a 3 and are allowed to have Okuden training.

Reiji-ho
Purpose:
Allowing Reiki to guide you to the place of greatest need of healing. This technique is
taught once you have developed a very good ability for Byosen Reikan-ho.

Method:
1) The recipient can be seated or lying on a massage table, or on a mat on the floor.
2) Gassho, and call Reiki to yourself. (This may be done by extending your hands and
arms upwards, bringing in the Reiki light).
3) It is recommended that you perform Aura Cleansing before a Reiki treatment.
4) With your hands back in Gassho, tell yourself you will begin Reiji-ho now.
5) Ask Reiki to guide you to the place of greatest need in the receiver's body (or your
own body if this is a personal treatment). You can say something like "Reiki, please
guide me to where this person most needs Reiki".
6) Allow your hands to intuitively move to a location above or in front of the person's
body. You can lay hands on or just above the body. Or you may be guided to apply
Reiki in the aura.
7) You will feel the hibiki or sensation of pain, heat, coolness, vibration or numbness in
your hands.
8) The hibiki gradually increases till it reaches its peak then starts to subside that makes
“one pass” or “one cycle”. You should at least hold your hands for one cycle. As it
repeats its cycle, the peak of hibiki will decrease.
9) Move your hands back to Gassho and repeat from step 5 until you are no longer
guided to a point. When treating oneself, this is usually when your hands simply flow
down to your lap.
10) When finished, it is recommended that you perform Aura Cleansing after a Reiki
treatment. Gassho and finish. Shake your wrists well. Revive the recipient.

Comments:
In the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, this technique is taught to students once they have
mastered the technique called Byosen Reikan-ho. After learning Reiji-ho the student's
energy level is rated at 4. Upon mastering Reij-ho, the student's energy is rated as 3 and
they are allowed to have Okuden training Usui-sensei rated himself as 2 in the hopes
that one of his students would surpass his abilities. To this day, out of respect for Sensei,
no one is ever rated higher than 3.

Gassho Kokyu-ho
Purpose:
Gassho Kokyu-ho means a breathing technique using Gassho. This is a technique for
clearing your mind and keeping your consciousness high and stable.

Method:
1) Stand or sit. Make yourself comfortable. (For this explanation I will explain the
standing method).
2) Close or half close the eyes. Breathe slowly, and naturally.
3) Gassho and calm your mind.
4) Raise your hands up high above your head, feel the vibrations of the Reiki Light
coming into the whole body.
5) Feel the Reiki Light vibrations and slowly move your hands downwards. Stop at the
chest just above the heart, and do Gassho.
6) Bring your mind down to the Tanden (3 - 5 cm below the navel) and try to keep your
mind still.
7) While breathing in, visualize the Reiki energy running down to your Tanden from your
palms, and feel the energy in your Tanden.
8) While breathing out visualize that the energy coming out from your Tanden and
moving up into the palms, then release the energy out in a burst.
9) Continue these exercises for a while.
10) Gassho and finish. Shake your wrists well.

Comments:
This method is similar to the Sei Shin Toitsu technique used in Doi-sensei's version of the
Hatsurei-ho.

Kenyoku-ho
Purpose:
Kenyoku means dry bathing or brushing off. This is a technique for cleansing one’s
energy inside with Reiki vibration and is part of healing for self-purification and growth.

Method:
1) This can be done while seated or standing
2) Gassho and call Reiki to yourself. (This may be done by extending your hands and
arms upwards, bringing in the Reiki light).
3) Say silently “I begin Kenyoku-ho now."
4) Place your right hand on the left shoulder and slide the hand down diagonally (across
the sternum) towards the right hip, while doing the Hado breathing and the ‘Haa’
sound. (This exercise is to cleanse the aura, so you may also place your hands a little
away from the body.)
5) Place your left hand on the right shoulder and do the same as above but towards the
left hip.
6) Repeat No.4 again with the right hand.
7) Hold your left arm up in a horizontal position as shown. Place the right hand in the
middle of the left forearm. Or you can turn your palm upwards, placing the fingers of
the right hand just back of the wrist, with the thumb on the other side, as they do in
the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.
8) Slide the hand down the left forearm to the finger tips while you do the Hado
breathing.
9) Hold your right arm up in a horizontal position. Place the left hand in the middle of the
right forearm, and do the same as No. 7.
10) Do No. 7 once more with the right hand.
11) Bring both hands to your lap.
12) Gassho and finish. Shake your wrists well.

Comments:
Sensei Hiroshi Doi uses a modified version of this. In steps 7 through 9, place your hand
on the outside tip of the opposite shoulder and then brush all the way down the arm.
It is useful to have the intention of cleansing your aura as you perform the technique.

Reiki Mawashi
Purpose:
A Japanese method of sharing Reiki in a circle, used to circulate Reiki.
"Mawashi" means ‘circle' or 'circulation'

Method:
1) Everyone in the group forms a circle.
2) Raise your hands up high above the head, calling in the Reiki energy, and feel the
vibrations of Reiki into the whole of the body.
3) Every person holds the hands of the person beside them to make a circle.
4) Alternatively, each person places their right hand facing down over the next person's
left hand; while their own left hand is facing up underneath the next person's right
hand. This way hands do not need to touch.
5) Allow Reiki to flow counter-clockwise. By doing so, you receive Reiki energy from your
left hand and send it out to the person beside you from your right hand at the same
time. Reiki energy goes around from hands to hands at the speed of light. Some
people feel the energy with the hands apart more than holding hands. You may also
notice the tendency for the circle to begin moving in the direction of the energy.
6) Optionally, everyone can switch the positions of the hands so that the energy will now
flow clockwise.
7) Many people who have not received a Reiki attunement feel Reiki energy when they
join the circle. Even if they do not feel it, Reiki goes more smoothly when in the circle.
Two persons can make the circle facing each other.
8) One other way is to hold the middle finger of the person on your left, touching the tip
of the finger with your thumb cushion to make the circle, and circulate Reiki energy.
9) Gassho and finish. Shake your wrists well.
Comments:
To do this by yourself, hold your left hand facing down on your right hand facing up in
front of your body.
Then empty your mind and feel the energy. As you become skilled, you will be able to
meditate deeply using this technique.
Another way to do the circle is to have everyone place their hands on the shoulders of
the person in front of them. After a time, you can turn around and place hands on the
person behind you.

Aura Cleansing
Purpose:
Aura cleansing must be performed before and after Reiki healing.
Pre-healing:
Aura cleansing drains the excess energy and adjusts the aura to balance the energy. As
the feel of your hands improve, you will become able to feel the places of energy with a
bad condition.

Method:
1) The receiver may either lie down on a table or a mat, or sit on the floor or on a chair
to be comfortable.
2) Gassho, and call Reiki to yourself. (This may be done by extending your hands and
arms upwards, bringing in the Reiki light).
3) Stroke the air above the whole body of the receiver with both hands, and a single
hand, about 10 centimeters away from the body. It is done from head to toe or from
left to right of the body, and in one continuous movement.
4) If you are using one hand, do one side of the body and then go around to the other
side and do that side.

Comments:
The aura gets adjusted with the Reiki energy that flows out from the palms of the hands,
and the stagnant, excess energy will flow off.
Post-healing:
Post healing aura cleansing is critical. As the energy of the whole body is purified after
healing, the flow is accelerated and it is in a sensitive condition so that it easily accepts
any wave. Therefore it must be adjusted not to get any low or rough wave.

Method:
1) Perform just as with pre-healing aura cleansing, trying to lead and adjust the flow of
Ki with gentle strokes.
2) Let the receiver rest in peace for a while (more than five minutes) afterwards.
3) If the receiver is lying down for healing, perform aura cleansing on one side and then
do the other side.

Comments:
Aura cleansing may be performed to a sender by him/herself. However it is unnecessary
when Reiki shower or self cleansing is performed.

Hikari no Kokyu-ho
Purpose:
Hikari no Kokyu-ho means the Breathing of the Light Technique. This is a method for
reducing your stress and purifying your mind and body.
Method:
1) Stand or sit. Make yourself comfortable. (For this explanation I will explain the sitting
position on a chair)
2) Close or half close the eyes. Breathe slowly, but without causing any tension. As a
rule, breathe in from the nose and breathe out from the nose, but it is acceptable to
breathe out from the mouth if you find this method more comfortable. It is important
to breathe naturally.
3) Do Gassho, and calm the mind.
4) Hold your hands up as high as possible, and feel the vibrations of Reiki showering into
the whole of the body.
5) Slowly move your hands downwards to your lap, palms facing up and keeping the
hands relaxed as if you were holding eggs.
6) Bring your mind to the Tanden and listen to your breathing
7) While you are breathing in, Visualize that Reiki white energy is filling your head, and
down the center (Hara) line through the body to the Tanden ( 3 -5 cm. below the
navel). From there the energy is spreading to all of your organs, and to every cell.
Feel that the healing process is happening.
8) As you breathe out, visualize that the light which filled the whole of the body is
emanating from all of your skin, and becomes part of your aura and then spreading
into infinity. At the same time gradually release any tension.
9) Continue these exercises for a while.
10) Gassho again, then finish. Shake the wrists well.

Comments:
This technique is similar to the technique called Joshin Kokyu-ho that Doi-sensei uses in
his version of Hatsurei-ho).

Reiki Shower no Giho

Purpose:
A simple way to bathe yourself in Reiki, cleansing your body and activating your energy.
Method:
1) Stand or sit. Make yourself comfortable. (For this explanation I will explain the
standing method)
2) Close your eyes fully or half closed. Breath slowly and naturally without any conscious
attention.
3) Gassho. Move your hands as high as possible above your head, keeping them apart.
Visualize that you are receiving a shower of Reiki vibrations from the source of the
universe
4) At the same time, if you have attained the 3rd Level use the 4th symbol’s name (or
focus on its energy).
5) People who have attained Level 2 use the 1st symbol’s name (or its energy) and
Visualize that it vibrates throughout your body.
6) Feel the vibration of the Reiki energy. At the same time, move the hands down to the
front of the body, palms facing the body. Reiki is emanating from the hands. Together
with the Reiki shower you are cleansing all of the unnecessary energy downwards. In
this way negative or minus energy is coming out of the feet.
7) Practice these exercises a few times.
8) Gassho again, and finish. Shake your wrists well.

Comments:
As you do this exercise, Reiki will reach all of your cells and will fill every part of your
body. You will particularly notice that Reiki is emanating out from your eyes, hands and
from your mouth.

Chakra Kassei Kokyu ho

Purpose:
Chakra Kassei Kokyu ho means the breathing technique for chakra activating. It allows
you to penetrate Reiki through your whole body and activate your chakras.

Method:
Part A
1) Stand, sit or lie down. Make yourself comfortable. (For this explanation I will explain
the sitting position on a chair.)
2) Close or half close the eyes. Breath slowly, and naturally.
3) Gassho.
4) Raise your hands high above the head. Feel the vibrations of the Reiki Light flushing
into the whole of the body. Move the hands slowly down onto your lap, keep the eyes
closed.
5) Do abdomen breathing. (That is breathing in and out at the abdomen.) Breathe in as
your abdomen expands and breathe out as the abdomen shrinks. Do this exercise
until you feel calm and relaxed.
6) While breathing in, Visualize or imagine that Reiki is coming in through the top of the
head and reaching to every cell of the body. Feel the whole body is filled with light.
7) While breathing out, visualize that all the tension and negative thoughts are released
out of the body.
8) Continue these breathing exercises for a while and then Visualize the 7th Chakra
position. Then practice the Chakra activating exercise as follows:
9) At the beginning practice the basic breathing, (Chakras 1-root, 4-heart, 7- crown)
a. Breathe in the energy from 1 (Root). Move the energy to 4 (Heart). Feel the energy
there, then breathe out from 4 (Flush the energy out from the centre of the Heart
chakra in all directions.)
b. Breathe in the energy from all directions into the centre of 4 (Heart), move the
energy to 7 (Crown) and breathe out from there.
c. Breathe in from 7 (Crown), feel in 4 (Heart), then breathe out from 4 (Heart).
d.Breathe in from 4 (Heart), breathe out from 1 (Root).
10) Carry-out Part A once, then repeat two more times before you move on to the next
exercise. These exercises activate the root, heart and crown chakras at the same
time, and this method is a basic breathing exercise.
Part B
12) Next is the breathing technique for activating each chakra. The basic method is the
same as the previous root, heart, crown breathing.
a. Breathe in from 1 (Root), breathe out from the chakra you are aiming for, then
breathe in from there, and breathe out from 7 (Crown).
b. Breathe in from 7 (Crown), breathe out from the chakra you are aiming for, then
breathe in from there, breathe out from 1 (Root).
c. Move onto the next chakras. The chakras you are aiming for are 4,2,3,5 and 6 in
this sequence. (Heart, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Throat, Ajna)
d. To summaries, after carrying out the breathing exercise 1,4,7, next 1,2,7, following
1,3,7, then 1,5,7, finally 1,6,7.

Part C
13) The final exercise is the same as Number 10, the basic breathing exercise, 1, 4 and
7. Then Gassho and finish. Shake your wrists well.

Comments:
Should you wish to sleep afterwards there is no problem. However, when you want to
wake fully, move both wrists up and down and in all directions. This helps to clear the
mind. It is alright to carry out only the basic breathing exercise when your time is
limited, but it is still effective.