Last Updated on May 22, 2026 by MASSAGE Magazine
The 4 primary Reiki symbols in the Usui system are Cho Ku Rei, Sei Heki, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, and Dai Ko Myo. For massage therapists, these symbols usually enter the work after basic Reiki training and become part of the practitioner’s quiet process during sessions.
Each symbol supports a different part of Reiki practice: Cho Ku Rei helps direct focus, Sei Heki supports mental and emotional steadiness, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is used in distance Reiki, and Dai Ko Myo belongs to master-level training, attunements, and teaching.
That progression reflects the Usui Reiki tradition, commonly connected to Mikao Usui, the founder of Usui Reiki. His system continues to shape how many practitioners move from basic sessions into symbol work, distance Reiki, and master-level training.
Reiki Symbols Meaning at a Glance
| Reiki Symbol | Common Name | Core Meaning | Taught At | Role in Reiki Session |
| Cho Ku Rei | Power symbol | Focus and strength | Level 2 | Brings attention to the start of a session or a specific area |
| Sei Heki | Harmony symbol | Mental and emotional steadiness | Level 2 | Supports a steady pace when a client arrives tense, rushed, or unsettled |
| Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen | Distance healing symbol | Connection across distance | Level 2 | Used for distance Reiki sessions |
| Dai Ko Myo | Reiki master symbol | Master-level practice and teaching | Master Level | Connected to attunements, teaching, and guiding students |
What Are Reiki Symbols?
Reiki symbols are practice tools taught during Reiki training. A practitioner might picture the symbol, draw it in the air, trace it with the hand, or silently repeat the name during a session.
In Reiki, practitioners often describe the practice as a way to focus universal life force energy. The symbols give that practice structure, especially as students move into Level 2 and beyond. Each symbol represents a different kind of focus within the practitioner’s work.
The client usually sees none of this. From the client’s side, the appointment still feels quiet and simple. They may receive light touch, hands-off Reiki, or Reiki blended into a massage session they booked in advance. The symbol work happens inside the practitioner’s process.
For more context before studying symbols, start with this Reiki guide for massage therapists.
When Are Reiki Symbols Taught?
Most Usui Reiki programs follow this progression:
- Level 1 begins with self-practice, hand positions, and basic sessions. Students learn how Reiki feels, how to prepare for a session, and how to practice on themselves and others.
- Level 2 introduces Cho Ku Rei, Sei Heki, and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen. This is the point where symbols begin to shape how the practitioner focuses the session. Level 2 also introduces distance Reiki, which requires clear consent, timing, and communication because the client is not physically present.
- Master Level introduces Dai Ko Myo. This stage moves beyond personal practice and client sessions into teaching, attunements, and guiding students.
In many Reiki training programs, Reiki attunement is the formal step where a teacher introduces the student to a new level of practice and the symbols taught at that level. Massage therapists considering deeper training often start by understanding what a Reiki attunement is before moving toward master-level work.
Training also affects how practitioners explain the service. As massage therapists learn Reiki, the value often shows up in clearer client communication, steadier session pacing, and a stronger sense of how Reiki fits into bodywork. Those practical shifts are part of the broader benefits of learning Reiki for hands-on professionals.
The Four Main Reiki Symbols
Cho Ku Rei: The Power Symbol
Cho Ku Rei is known as the power symbol. It is associated with focus, strength, and directing attention during Reiki practice.
Because it helps the practitioner bring steady attention to the start of a session or a specific area of the body, Cho Ku Rei is often viewed as a powerful symbol. It is also often described as the first Reiki symbol a practitioner learns in Level 2 training.
In practice: A massage therapist resets the room, reviews the intake form, and sees that the client listed neck tension, poor sleep, and stress. Before placing hands on or near the client, the practitioner takes a quiet moment with Cho Ku Rei. That moment creates a clean transition from the last appointment to this client’s session.
The client does not need to know the symbol was used. What they experience is a practitioner who begins the session with focus instead of rushing from one appointment into the next.
Sei Heki: The Harmony Symbol
Sei Heki is the harmony symbol. It is connected with mental and emotional steadiness.
In a Reiki session, Sei Heki is often used when a client arrives tense, rushed, distracted, or still carrying the pace of the day. The symbol gives the practitioner a way to stay steady while the client settles.
In practice: A client gets on the table, but their shoulders stay lifted. Their breathing is shallow. They keep talking through their schedule, their commute, and the stressful meeting they just left.
The practitioner does not turn the appointment into emotional processing. Instead, they slow the start of the session: calm voice, steady hand placement, quieter room. The client has time to shift from the outside world into the work they came to receive.
That is where Sei Heki fits. It supports the practitioner’s pacing when the client needs a softer entry point into the session.
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen: The Distance Healing Symbol
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is the distance healing symbol, also called the distance symbol. It is used when the client is not physically present.
This symbol supports distance Reiki sessions by giving the practitioner a clear structure for timing, consent, and follow-up. The practitioner schedules the session and uses the symbol as part of the process for sending Reiki energy from another location.
In practice: A practitioner schedules a distance Reiki session for 2 p.m. The client gives permission ahead of time and receives a simple explanation of what to expect. At the agreed time, the client rests quietly at home while the practitioner completes the session from another location. Afterward, the practitioner follows up.
The client is not in the room, but the appointment still has structure. It has consent, a start time, an end point, and documentation.
Dai Ko Myo: The Reiki Master Symbol
Dai Ko Myo is the primary Reiki master symbol. Taught at the Master level, it is connected to advanced practice, attunements, teaching, and spiritual development. The phrase is often translated as Great Shining Light or Great Bright Light.
This symbol marks the point where Reiki training moves beyond personal practice and client sessions. A practitioner at this level is learning how to guide students, offer attunements, explain symbols clearly, and answer client questions about how Reiki differs from massage.
In practice: A massage therapist considering master-level training may ask whether they want to teach Reiki classes, offer attunements, or mentor newer practitioners. Dai Ko Myo belongs to that stage of responsibility. It is tied to teaching and leadership, not only hands-on or hands-off sessions.
For practitioners considering that next step, being a Reiki Master is less about learning one more symbol and more about preparing to teach, guide students, and explain the practice clearly.
Using Symbols in Massage and Reiki Sessions
Reiki symbols usually stay inside the practitioner’s process. The client does not need a full explanation of each symbol before the session, but they do need to understand what kind of service they booked and what will happen.
As Reiki gains acceptance as a complementary therapy, more clients may arrive with questions about how it fits into a session. Clear service descriptions, accurate intake forms, and consistent session notes help them understand where Reiki belongs, especially when it is blended with massage, offered as a stand-alone session, or scheduled as distance Reiki.
FAQ About Reiki Symbols
What are the 4 primary Usui Reiki symbols?
The 4 primary Usui Reiki symbols are:
- Cho Ku Rei: power symbol for focus and strength
- Sei Heki: harmony symbol for emotional steadiness
- Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen: distance healing symbol for remote sessions
- Dai Ko Myo: Reiki master symbol for teaching and attunement
When are Reiki symbols taught?
Cho Ku Rei, Sei Heki, and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen are commonly taught in Reiki Level 2. Dai Ko Myo is taught at the Master level.
Can I use Reiki symbols without attunement?
Traditional Usui Reiki training teaches symbols as part of a Reiki attunement process. Most practitioners learn symbols through formal training rather than studying them independently. Training gives context, practice, and guidance that studying symbols alone does not provide.
Do clients see Reiki symbols during a session?
Usually, no. Reiki symbols are most often part of the practitioner’s internal process. A practitioner may picture the symbol, trace it with the hand, or silently repeat its name, while the client experiences the session as quiet light-touch or hands-off work.
Are Reiki symbols used differently in distance Reiki?
Yes. In distance Reiki, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is used when the practitioner and client are in different locations. The session should still have clear consent, a scheduled time, and follow-up so the client understands how the work is being handled.
What do Reiki symbols mean for massage therapists?
For massage therapists, Reiki symbols are less about explaining every detail to the client and more about shaping the practitioner’s focus. The client still needs clear service descriptions, consent, and documentation, especially when Reiki is blended with massage.
How do Reiki symbols relate to healing energy?
In Reiki practice, symbols are often used as a way to focus healing energy during a session. Some practitioners describe this work as supporting balance when a client feels tense, unsettled, or affected by energy blockages. The symbol itself is not usually something the client sees.
Are there Reiki symbols beyond the main four?
Yes. Some Reiki systems include additional symbols, such as the completion symbol, fire serpent, grounding symbol, Karuna Reiki symbols, and others. These other Reiki symbols vary by system and training style. Many massage therapists start with the main Usui Reiki symbols before exploring advanced Reiki training.
Protect Your Practice
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About the Author
Andrea Kennedy is a full-time Reiki Master Teacher and owner of Mainstream Reiki. Her focus is to bring Reiki further into the mainstream and help others confidently practice this modality for better living. She teaches all levels of Usui/Holy Fire® III Reiki and ICRT Animal Reiki, offers mentoring sessions, and shares her knowledge through her Mainstream Reiki YouTube Channel, her podcast, ’Beyond the Reiki Gateway’ and in her new Mainstream Reiki Community opening in July 2023.