30+ Reiki Symbols Explained (& How to Use Them in Practice)

In the Japanese tradition of Reiki, practitioners aim to guide energy through the body to achieve healing through a set of symbols. These symbols are broken down into several systems, some of which are Usui Reiki and Karuna Reiki, split into level 1, level 2, and a master level. If you’d like to learn more about this powerful practice and know what these images stand for, keep reading for 30+ Reiki symbols, what they mean, and how to use them. With the help of an astrologer/intuitive healer, a spiritual director, and a spiritual advisor, you’ll also get a better understanding of what Reiki symbols are and understand the different systems that use these symbols.

Top 5 Reiki Symbols

Cho Ku Rei: The Power symbol
Sei Hei Ki: The Mental/Emotional symbol
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen: The Distance symbol
Dai Ko Myo: The Master symbol
Shika Sei Ki & Shika So: Emotional Healing and Communication symbol

Section 1 of 9:

What are Reiki symbols?

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Reiki symbols are sacred emblems used to direct the flow of energy. Each symbol corresponds to a particular intention; for instance, Cho Ku Rei is called the “power symbol.” Reiki healing practitioners use a set of visual images and symbols to represent, activate, and direct specific energies to better focus their healing abilities.^{[1]
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- The flow of energy in Reiki is referred to as “ki”; it appears as “qi” in Chinese.
- Reiki is a Japanese spiritual practice where a practitioner uses their hands to guide energy through the body and promote healing.
- Reiki was founded in Japan in the early 1920s by Mikao Usui. The Usui system of Reiki is the most common; other Reiki systems include Karuna, Tibetan, Holy Fire, Kundalini, and Shamballa.
- Astrologer & intuitive healer Tracey McKee describes Reiki as “divine energy.” It uses symbols and intention to help “our bodies release what needs to be released.“^{[2]
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  Tracey McKee
  Astrologer & Intuitive Healer
  
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Meet the wikiHow Experts

Tracey McKee is an astrologer & intuitive healer who offers energy healing sessions, past life regression therapy sessions, and soul coaching sessions.

Jennifer McVey, Cht, is a spiritual director with more than 22 years of experience in hypnotherapy, channeling, and spiritually-based life coaching.

Emily Christensen is a spiritual advisor & founder of Rainbow Raaja with over 6 years of experience in light work (Reiki) and shamanic healing.

Section 2 of 9:

Usai Reiki Symbols

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Cho Ku Rei Cho Ku Rei is known as the “power symbol.” It’s used in Reiki to increase the flow of energy (“ki”) and focus its power on a particular intention. Cho Ku Rei is known as an energy booster and a protective healing symbol that can help cleanse the body of negative energy. It’s also used on objects, and is often used to give more power to other Reiki symbols.^{[3]
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- Translation: "Placing all the power of the universe here."
- How to use: Reiki practitioners use it at the beginning of a session to invite energy in, and at the end of a session to close the energy.
- Spiritual advisor & founder of Rainbow Raaja Emily Christensen suggests that "understanding Reiki is about being vulnerable to receive the energetic nourishment to put you in a place where you can start regenerating your body and receive the healing you need."^{[4]
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Sei He Ki Sei He Ki is a symbol of mental and emotional healing in Reiki. It’s associated with harmony, balance, and unity, especially between the conscious and subconscious mind. Sei He Ki is believed to clear emotional blockages, improve mental clarity, break bad habits, and promote inner peace.^{[5]
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- Translation: "Earth and sky meet" or "God and man become one.”
- How to use: Visualize the symbol over a person or affected area. You can also draw the symbol to activate its energy or chant the mantra, "Ei Ei Ki.”
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Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is known as the “distance healing symbol.” Practitioners use it to direct energy through space and time. It’s also possible to use it to send healing to other people or places. Spiritual director Jennifer McVey, Cht, believes that "we don't personally direct the energy where it goes. We let the universal consciousness do it and bring in whatever healing or balance that it needs."^{[6]
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Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director

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- Translation: "No past, no present, no future” or "The Buddha in me bows to the Buddha in you.”
- How to use: Visualize or draw the symbol to confront and heal from past trauma, or send healing intentions into the future.^{[7]
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Dai Ko Myo Usui Dai Ko is a symbol used to connect to a higher form of universal energy for spiritual healing. McVey states that being in tune with a higher form of consciousness helps you “tune into everyone around you and yourself. It’s a reminder that we all come from the same source."^{[8]
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Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director

Expert Interview} Practitioners and recipients also use Usui Dai Ko Myo in meditation, as a psychic protective symbol, or to cleanse a space.^{[9]
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- Translation: "Great enlightenment" or "great shining light”
- How to use: Draw the symbol on your palms (or someone else’s) to activate your hands with the energy, or on your chakras (or another’s), especially the crown and heart chakras.
- Dai Ko Myo is also used in the Karuna system of Reiki to help connect the Usui and Tibetan Reiki systems.
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Shika Sei Ki Shika Sei Ki is used to strengthen the bond between the heart and the soul in Reiki healing practices. It complements the Sei Hei Ki symbol, which is used for mental and emotional healing. It’s associated with a red heart shape and can also be a main focus for emotional healing.^{[10]
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- Translation: “Love traveling from heart to heart.”
- How to use: Focus on the symbol to mend or improve relationships with others or to bring attention to matters of the heart and emotional connection.
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Shika So Shika So is associated with emotional health and communication. It can be used to focus on the heart and soul and strengthen emotional bonds. Shika So is often used along with the Sei He Ki symbol when healing emotional wounds. It’s also a chakra symbol linked to the throat chakra and fostering healthy expression.^{[11]
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- Translation: “Love that travels from heart to heart.”
- How to use: Lay the Shika So symbol on the throat chakra (visualize the color blue as the throat chakra color) to encourage it to open up, which improves communication and expression.

Section 3 of 9:

Karuna Level 1 Reiki Symbols

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Zonar The Zonar symbol’s primary focus is to connect to deep emotional healing and memory on a cellular level. It’s used to release trauma from a past life, along with patterns of karma, by addressing issues that may be buried deep in the body.^{[12]
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- Translation: “Infinity.”
- How to use: Draw or focus on the Zonar symbol at the beginning of a session where the intention is to break free from a bad habit or overcome addiction.
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Halu The Halu symbol relates to getting rid of illusions or self-deception. Using Halu is about calling on divine love and faith to clear out any negative thoughts or patterns. It promotes harmony with others, in addition to reconciliation.^{[13]
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- Translation: “Love, truth, and beauty” or “harmony.”
- How to use: Draw the Halu symbol on a glass of water. Then, focus on the person or idea you want to reconcile with. Drink the water as an act of purification.
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Harth The Harth symbol is used in the Karuna system of Reiki to heal heart issues, both emotionally and physically. It’s associated with unconditional love and is thought to remove emotional blocks and fear, only to replace them with compassion. Harth is also believed to protect against psychic attacks.^{[14]
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- Translation: “Balance.”
- How to use: Activate the symbol by visualizing or drawing it in the air. At the same time, focus the energy of the Harth symbol while placing your hands on or above the recipient's heart chakra to encourage healing and unblock their chakras.
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Rama The Rama symbol connects to Earth energy. In addition to grounding the person using the symbol, it’s also associated with joy and happiness. It’s also linked to ideas like balance and manifestation when used to connect to the Earth in a healing session.^{[15]
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- Translation: “Abiding joy.”
- How to use: Focus on the Rama symbol to ground yourself or another person at the end of a Reiki session. You can also wear the Rama symbol as a grounding amulet.

Section 4 of 9:

Karuna Level 2 Reiki Symbols

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Gnosa Gnosa is a symbol that clears the mind and helps the person using it better connect to their higher consciousness. It links the conscious and the unconscious mind to release any buried trauma and achieve a deeper and clearer understanding of oneself. Gnosa is also associated with knowledge and getting rid of negative thoughts and mental fatigue.^{[16]
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- Translation: “Gnosis.”
- How to use: Place the Gnosa symbol (or a drawing) on top of the crown chakra, located on or slightly above the top of the head.
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Kriya The Kriya symbol is used to manifest any wishes and guide them into the physical world. It’s about making your deepest desires come true, whether in career, relationships, or other life events. Kriya is also linked to the idea of healing yourself before trying to heal others.^{[17]
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- Translation: "Law of Kriya.”
- How to use: Visualize the Kriya symbol by drawing it in the air (or on your hands). It’s also possible to draw it over the person or object you’re performing Reiki on.
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Iava The Iava symbol is about seeing the true nature of the events happening in your life and to clear your mind from any illusions that cloud the way you see things. It is also used to focus on the healing of the Earth’s energies, while encouraging personal and global cleansing from negative forces.^{[18]
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- Translation: No direct translation.
- How to use: To get rid of codependency, draw or visualize the symbol on your palms or on the recipient’s hands, torso, or chakras.
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Shanti is associated with peace, self-confidence, and the ability to release the past. Since it means “peace,” the point of using the Shanti symbol is to let go of past emotional baggage and future worries to find a sense of peace.^{[19]
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- Translation: “Peace.”
- How to use: During the session or while in meditation, chant "Om Shanti Shanti Shanti" to invoke peace and calmly release any past trauma.

Section 5 of 9:

Karuna Master Level Reiki Symbols

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Aum (Om) Aum (or Om) is a powerful master-level symbol that calls upon universal energy. It can be used to purify an aura, stabilize energy, and promote inner healing and peace. Aum/Om can also enhance other Reiki symbols used in a healing session and increase the strength and power of whatever energy the practitioner is focused on.^{[20]
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- Translation: The “sacred sound” of the universe.
- How to use: Sitting cross-legged, mentally visualize the Aum symbol in gold. Speak it aloud or to yourself; if spoken aloud, focus the “a” sound from your stomach, the “u” sound in your chest, and the “m” sound in your throat.

Section 6 of 9:

Tibetan Reiki Symbols

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Mae Loong Mae Loong is primarily used to connect to the central chakras in Reiki. It’s a good symbol for opening the chakras, balancing them, and allowing kundalini energy (located at the base of the spine) to flow.^{[21]
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- Translation: “The Tibetan fire serpent.”
- How to use: Use Mae Loong during a meditation where you want to open and control your chakras and balance your energy. You can also speak it aloud by saying “Ah uu mm.”
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Nin Giz Zida Nin Giz Zida is another “fire serpent” symbol that master-level practitioners can use to align the chakras and encourage rebirth. It symbolizes the process of shedding old ways and embracing new ones.^{[22]
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- Translation: "Serpent of fire"
- How to use: Use at the beginning of an attunement or intensive healing sessions to prepare the recipient’s energy field to help them experience a profound transformation.

Section 7 of 9:

Shamballa Reiki Symbols

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Mer Ka Fa Ka Lish Ma The main purpose of the Mer Ka Fa ka Lish Ma symbol in Reiki is to activate DNA and help ground and connect to universal energy. It’s also said to realign the chakras to know which chakra is blocked, and help achieve balance and equilibrium.^{[23]
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- Translation: "The power of the divine mother.”
- How to use: For DNA and chakra work, place the symbol over the crown chakra; for grounding, place it at the base of the spine.
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Palm Master Using the Palm Master symbol helps the practitioner connect with higher-level energies. When focusing on the symbol, it’s believed to become a part of a person's aura and can also be used to open up energy channels.^{[24]
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- Translation: No direct translation.
- How to use: Draw the Palm Master symbol on your palms to focus power before performing a Reiki session, or place it over the recipient’s crown chakra to protect their energy.
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Amsui Practitioners use the Amsui symbol to help others who are in the process of spiritual growth. It represents completion and is said to encourage others to accept and ease into a new vibration or state of being. The different segments in the Amsui symbol each correspond to a specific level of consciousness.^{[25]
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- Translation: No direct translation.
- How to use: Focus on the Amsui symbol before and after a session to balance the chakras.
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Ho Ka O Ili Ili The Ho Ka O Ili Ilii symbol is used to connect to feelings of respect, honor, and self-confidence. It can inspire the recipient towards respect through attracting respect from others. Ho Ka O Ili Ili also acts as a reminder for self-respect and self-love to develop spiritually and find the freedom needed to manifest desires in the world.^{[26]
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- Translation: No direct translation.
- How to use: Activate the symbol in front of the recipient to surround them with the energy of respect, or draw Cho Ku Rei and Sei He Ki on the front of the body, and Ho Ka O Ili Ili on the back to protect against disrespectful, negative people.

Section 8 of 9:

Other Reiki Symbols

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Raku Raku is known as a grounding symbol used at the end of healing sessions. It represents a clear connection with the Earth’s energy and is often used at the master level. Raku is also used to separate any energy that has joined during the session between the practitioner and recipient.^{[27]
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- Translation: "Great bright light” or “fire dragon.”
- How to use: Draw the symbol or use it in meditation at the end of a session to ground the recipient’s energy from their crown chakra to their root chakra.
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Motor Zanon The Motor Zanon symbol is sometimes called the “anti-viral” symbol, because it’s believed to break up bacteria or viruses. Motor Zanon is often used with other symbols, including Halu, to increase the level of healing.^{[28]
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- Translation: No direct translation.
- How to use: Visualize and draw the symbol over the recipient to focus it on the part of the body that presents an issue.
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Antahkarana Antahkarana is said to connect the higher and lower parts of the mind and is used in healing, meditation, and spiritual purification. Its energy focuses on getting rid of negative energy and promoting emotional healing.^{[29]
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- Translation: “Inner instrument or cause.”
- How to use: Place the symbol under furniture to promote sleep, beneath crystals to cleanse them, or on top of food and water that needs to be purified.
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Vasudha The Vasudha symbol is focused on attracting wealth, abundance, and prosperity. In addition to being used during a Reiki healing session, it’s often used in visualization in meditation and through affirmations.
- Translation: “Mother Earth.”
- How to use: Visualize the symbol to connect with the Earth's energy. You can also charge objects (or water) when focusing on abundance.
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Johrei The Johrei symbolizes white light that itself represents the protective energy of the universe. It encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual protection, along with strengthening one’s aura to protect against negative energy.^{[30]
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- Translation: “Purification of the spirit.”
- How to use: In addition to channeling white light energy through the chakras of the recipient, Johei can be achieved through “sonen” (heartfelt prayer) and an appreciation of nature. You can use it for distance healing or for reaching animals and plants.
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Hosanna The main focus of the Hosanna symbol is to cleanse negative energy. Its goal is twofold—it sends out clearing energy and also focuses on a specific healing issue. The symbol is also sometimes linked to the idea of gratitude.^{[31]
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- Translation: “Save us.”
- How to use: Set an intention and draw the Hosanna symbol, along with other symbols like Cho Ku Rei and Sei Hei Ki, to cleanse a person or area.
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Midas Star The Midas Star is a modern symbol used by many Reiki practitioners to invite abundance, prosperity, and transformation. It’s linked to manifest goals, clear blocks, and even attracting wealth and overall well-being. It can be specifically added, along with other symbols, to promote both financial and spiritual abundance.^{[32]
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- Translation: No direct translation.
- How to use: For financial abundance, visualize the symbol in purple and red. Draw it on cash, paychecks, or on a piece of paper to keep in a cash box or safe.
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Len So My A lesser-known Reiki symbol, Len So My is often used to heal loneliness or heartbreak. Practitioners can also focus on the symbol to better connect to self-love. Focusing on Len So My is said to gather the life force energy needed to embrace unconditional love.^{[33]
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- Translation: “Power of pure love.”
- How to use: Focus the visualization of the symbol and the hands on the heart or solar plexus.
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Sati The Sati symbol combines the male and female elements and is used to open and balance the heart chakra. The focus when using Sati is mostly on marital union and joyful relationships. It’s also believed to help mend broken relationships, especially in marriage.^{[34]
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- Translation: No direct translation.
- How to use: Create a Sati Grid by placing 2 rose quartz pyramids on the hearts of people (who you want to unite) in a photo, as well as 4 crystals on the corners facing inward. Repeat the following: I and my soul mate/twin flame are happily united together forever.”
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Koriki The Koriko symbol is used to promote feelings of contentment and emotional well-being, while releasing any negativity. It’s also thought to help the recipient find inner joy and gratitude in their life.^{[35]
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- Translation: “The power of happiness.”
- How to use: Whether drawing the symbol or visualizing it, imagine the Koriki glowing with golden light to signify the energy that comes with happiness. It can also be hung on a wall to bring peace and serenity into a space.

Section 9 of 9:

Different Systems of Reiki

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Usui Reiki Usui Reiki is based on the concept of "ki,” the life force energy that flows through all living things. Within the practice of Usui Reiki, the practitioner acts as a channel for “ki” by laying hands on the recipient, through meditation, and the use of sacred symbols, along with an intention to channel the energy.^{[36]
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- Usui Reiki was founded by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist.
- It uses 5 Ideals as a set of spiritual guidelines or principles:
  - Just for today, I will not worry.
  - Just for today, I will not be angry.
  - Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
  - Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings.
  - Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.
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Karuna Reiki The Karuna Reiki system evolved from Usui Reiki, and is known for using additional symbols, chanting, and toning (vocalizing the symbol names) to achieve deep emotional and spiritual healing. There is often a focus on healing the "shadow self," where negativity is often hidden, and promoting peace and balance.^{[37]
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- Karuna Reiki was developed by William Lee Rand in 1995.
- "Karuna" is a Sanskrit word meaning "compassion" or "compassionate action.”
- The 3 levels in Karuna are as follows:
  - Level 1: Beginning practitioners learn to use the first 4 Karuna symbols (Zonar, Halu, Harth, and Rama).
  - Level 2: Advanced practitioners use the second set of 4 symbols (Gnosa, Kriya, Iava, and Shanti) to gain a better understanding of the practice.
  - Master Level: Practitioners receive the Karuna Master attunement (initiation) and learn the master symbol Aum (Om), so they can teach others.
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Tibetan Reiki Tibetan Reiki is a blend of Usui Reiki with Tibetan spiritual teachings, symbols, and energy work; it uses Tibetan symbols like the Fire Serpent and Raku, as well as techniques that include the Violet Breath and additional healing practices.^{[38]
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Shamballa Reiki Shamballa Reiki is an energetic healing system that builds upon traditional Reiki by using 352 symbols to connect to higher vibrational energies, including ones associated with the mythical city of Shamballa. Its goals are spiritual development, empowerment, and healing.