The Reiki Rush
You can learn Reiki in a day.
You can become a Reiki Practitioner within a month.
Recently, I’ve had several enquiries about learning Reiki that have prompted me to write this blog. Messages such as:
“I’d like to be qualified in six weeks.”
“I trained with another teacher and would like to do my next level with you.”
Often, these requests arrive with very little information about the enquirer’s previous training, their experience, or why they want to learn Reiki.
For me, Reiki is not simply a qualification or a skill we add to a list. Reiki is a way of life. Its origins are deeply rooted in self-development, self-awareness, and inner work. These are not things that can be rushed.
Reiki Was Never Meant to Be Fast
In the early days of Reiki, Mikao Usui’s students meditated on the different Reiki energies for months before progressing to the next level. Time, reflection, and personal experience were essential parts of the journey.
Today, Reiki has often morphed into something that we do to other people. And yes, Reiki is a powerful healing energy. Practitioners channel this energy through themselves and into the recipient, creating the environment for the body to heal.
But like any skill, this takes practice. Some people find it comes more naturally, others need more time, and both are perfectly valid.
Learning Reiki vs. Embodying Reiki
Yes, Reiki Level 1 can technically be taught in a day.
However, in my training courses, students are required to practise for weeks before attending.
Learning the theory and receiving attunements is only the beginning. Implementing what we’ve learned, understanding the sensations of energy, and trusting what we feel takes time and repetition. Every Reiki session is different, and it’s through dedicated practice that confidence and clarity develop.
At Level 1, the emphasis is firmly on self-Reiki. Students are encouraged to establish a daily self-practice and to explore creative ways of working with Reiki, such as:
Infusing food and drink with Reiki
Placing a protective Reiki bubble around themselves, their home (especially useful during storm season!), or their transport
Working with Reiki intuitively in everyday life
The only real limit to Reiki is our imagination.
The Importance of the 21-Day Practice
After completing Reiki Level 1, students carry out a 21-day self-practice. This period is about inner work, self-reflection, and ensuring that we are a clear channel for the energy to flow.
This is the main reason I insist that students wait at least one month before progressing to Reiki Level 2.
Every student is different. Some are discovering Reiki as their first holistic modality, while others come with years of experience in complementary therapies. This naturally influences how quickly someone progresses.
Reiki Level 2: The Practitioner Path
Reiki Level 2 is where we begin to focus more on working with others. While Reiki can be shared at Level 1 (usually with friends and family), Level 2 is the practitioner level. It enables students to work professionally and charge for sessions if they choose to do so.
This also means understanding the practicalities: insurance, professional standards, and business requirements.
That said, many people complete Reiki Level 2 with no intention of starting a business. And that’s absolutely fine. I never dreamed that I'd run a Reiki business! The heart of Reiki has always been self-practice and self-awareness. This becomes a lifelong journey,one where there is always more to learn.
Even as Reiki Master Teachers, we continue learning.
My Responsibility as a Reiki Master Teacher
As a Reiki Master Teacher, I hold a responsibility. I could allow everyone who enquires to sign up. I could hand out certificates and take the money.
But when I put my name on someone’s certificate, I do so knowing that they have completed the required study and demonstrated aptitude during their training.
When someone approaches me having trained with another Reiki Master, I ask to see their certificate. Sometimes I know the previous teacher; sometimes I don’t. I carry out my due diligence to ensure that their training aligns with my teachings. Often, this means sending study materials for them to review before we decide,together,whether we’re a good fit.
There are many forms of Reiki available today. I teach Usui Reiki, as close to the original system as possible. These are my Reiki ethics.
Falling Away From Practice (And Finding Your Way Back)
I’ve also had many conversations with students who trained elsewhere and later fell away from their Reiki practice. This happens. It doesn’t mean the teacher did anything wrong, and it doesn’t mean the student wasn’t capable. Life sometimes gets in the way.
My advice in these situations is simple:
Revisit your manuals
Re-establish your daily self-practice
Attend a Reiki share
Reconnect with the energy
Sometimes people feel drawn to retrain, and that can be a beautiful choice, but it’s not always necessary.
Training with different teachers can offer new perspectives. We all explain things differently, and one explanation may resonate more deeply than another. This is also why I encourage attending different Reiki shares and connecting with the wider Reiki community.
So… Can Reiki Be Rushed?
Yes, you can learn Reiki in a day.
But becoming a good Reiki practitioner takes time, dedication, and ongoing practice—both with yourself and with others.
Reiki practitioners are no different from plumbers or electricians. Some continually practise, refine their skills, and deepen their understanding. Others do the bare minimum to gain a qualification.
The question is:
Which would you rather receive a treatment from?
And which would you rather be trained by?
Reiki is not a race. It’s a journey, one that unfolds exactly as it’s meant to.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, let me know what you think in the comments below.
If you'd like to know more about my Reiki training courses, pop over to the Reiki section of this website.