The Truth About Reiki Symbols and What They’re Really For
CKR Reiki symbol
When you first learn Reiki (especially in the West), you’re taught that the symbols are sacred, powerful tools that help you channel Reiki for others. You're told to draw them in the air, memorize their shapes, and treat them with deep reverence — and I agree, there's something special about them.
But over time, and with experience, something shifts.
You start to realize… the symbols aren’t actually for your clients.
They’re for you.
Western vs. Japanese Reiki: What’s the Difference?
Most Reiki practitioners in the U.S. and Europe are taught the Western version of Reiki — the one passed down by Hawayo Takata and her students. This style emphasizes structure: specific hand positions, drawing the symbols precisely, and using them as part of the treatment for someone else.
But in the Japanese version (closer to what Mikao Usui originally practiced), the symbols weren’t even introduced until a student had done quite a bit of inner work. They weren’t tools to “fix” people. They were meant to help you, the practitioner, raise your own vibration — to embody the energy that the symbol represents.
And honestly, that makes a lot more sense to me.
So… What Do the Symbols Actually Do?
Each symbol in Reiki has a unique frequency. Here's a quick way to think of it:
The Power Symbol (CKR): Grounds you. Amplifies energy. Strengthens intention.
The Mental/Emotional Symbol (SHK): Helps you tune into emotional energy, intuition, and inner clarity.
The Distance Symbol (HSZSN): Moves you beyond linear time and space — but also deepens your own connection to spiritual truth.
The Master Symbol (DKM): Connects you to your highest self. It’s not a badge of mastery. It’s a reminder that the real work is within.
Over time, you don’t need to draw the symbols anymore. You’ve already integrated their frequency into your own field. You’re not “activating” them — you’re becoming them.
In my own practice, I use the symbols intuitively. I don’t always draw them or even consciously think about them in session — I tune into the energy of what’s needed and let it move through me. That’s what works for me. But I also tell my students this: you get to develop your own relationship with the symbols. You don’t have to do it the way I do. You don’t have to do it the way anyone else does, either.
How I Teach the Symbols
One thing I do that most traditional Reiki classes don’t?
I lead my students through a meditation journey with the symbols — so they don’t just learn what the symbols mean, they actually feel their energy.
Because when you experience the vibration of a symbol for yourself, something clicks. It becomes more than a tool — it becomes a living frequency you can access anytime, not just when you're treating someone else.
These practices, like using the Power Symbol to clear a room, are taught as tools to help you get in the zone. And yes — they can absolutely shift the energy. But it’s not the drawing itself that clears the room — it’s your intention, your energy, and your presence. The symbol just helps you remember and embody that state.
My students often tell me this is one of the most powerful parts of our training together. And I’ve seen how much more confident they are in their own practice when they’ve felt it in their bones, not just memorized it from a manual.
What If Someone Has a Heart Chakra Block?
Here’s a question I get a lot:
“If someone has a heart chakra block, should I draw the SHK over their chest like I was taught?”
Here’s the truth:
You can — but you don’t have to.
That’s how many of us were trained in the Western model. SHK for emotional healing, drawn right over the heart. It’s not wrong — it’s just not the only way.
The deeper you go in your practice, the more you realize it’s not about “using the right symbol in the right spot.” It’s about resonance.
If someone’s heart is holding grief or pain, ask yourself:
Am I grounded in the energy of compassion and softness?
Do I need SHK right now to shift my field so I can hold space for this person?
Sometimes, I do draw SHK. Sometimes I breathe it in and let it fill my field. Sometimes I don’t use any symbol at all — just my hands and deep listening.
The symbol isn’t a magic fix. It’s an invitation into a frequency. And the deeper you embody that frequency, the less you need to “do” anything at all.
What This Means for My Clients
When I do a session, whether I’m using Reiki, Akashic Records, or a blend of both, I’m not waving a wand around with symbols hoping it magically fixes something.
Instead, I’m tuning myself to the energy that helps you access your own healing.
The symbols are part of how I got here. They helped me develop the energetic capacity to hold deep space. And sometimes, I still use them — but not because I have to because they remind me of what I already know.
For Reiki Practitioners
If you're in a phase where you don’t feel called to use the symbols in the same way you were taught, that’s not wrong. That’s evolution.
Your connection with Reiki deepens when you stop performing it and start being it. That doesn’t mean tossing out what you learned; it means going deeper than the surface.
And if you're just beginning your Reiki path or are looking to reconnect with it in a more personal way, you're not alone. The way I teach is intimate, intuitive, and designed to help you feel your way through it, not just check off steps.
Because Reiki isn’t just a technique.
It’s a way of being.
In this post, I’m diving into the deeper truth behind the Reiki symbols, what they actually are, how they differ in Western and Japanese Reiki, and why I believe they’re more for you, the practitioner, than your clients. I share how I teach them intuitively, guide students to feel their energy through meditation, and why intention and presence matter more than perfect technique. Whether you're new to Reiki or evolving your practice, this post will help you connect with the symbols in a more embodied and empowered way.