Reiki Training Levels Explained
This article is primarily for those looking into Reiki and is looking to understand the levels of training, or titles people use within Reiki.
The first level of Reiki training is Shoden, which means beginner level. This level is commonly termed as level 1 in Western approaches to Reiki, which are more common, so you will more likely come across the term Level 1 than Shoden, when looking into Reiki. Although there are huge variations in what is actually taught within this first level of training, you can think of them in terms of a course level as the same thing. These courses tend to be 2 days in duration, which is how we tend to deliver this course in Jikiden Reiki.
As a side point- all formal Reiki courses need to be conducted in person. These courses irrespective of approach, or style of Reiki should be held in person with your Reiki teacher- anything that suggests you can learn Reiki remotely and that parts of the course such as receiving Reiju (commonly termed attunement) can be delivered remotely and is sufficient is misguided- there is a teacher there for a reason. It’s a bit like trying to learn a martial art via an E-book, or pre-recorded online course. You have elements in the training that you need to be there in person.
The next level is Okuden, which means deeper level. This is comparable to what would be commonly termed a level 2 Reiki course. This tends to be conducted as either 1 or 2 days of training. In Jikiden Reiki we tend to deliver this training in one day. Again what is taught varies greatly.
From a traditional Japanese/ Jikiden Reiki view, at that point you have completed the formal Reiki training as taught by Usui Sensei the founder of Reiki, and unless you wish to become a Reiki teacher that’s it. In the West many schools of Reiki suggest or commonly require taking the second level of training after a period of 3 months of experience. This tends to be due to the fact that in Western teaching it is common for the teacher not to see a student that many in-between levels of training and it’s deemed a good idea to have some experience before performing Reiki on the public.
With Jikiden Reiki we tend to deliver both courses back to back. This was partially due to travel in old Japan that was challenging, especially in winter. It was part of the study of Reiki to repeat training and attend workshops to practice, and develop understanding and you would see your Reiki teacher again many times, so it was less of an issue learning both levels together. I find there are techniques we teach in the second course that is useful for the complete beginner, so many times I would recommend both levels to be taken at once for most people.
Level 2 in Western schools of Reiki might be termed as a practitioner level, as it is at that point deemed that some experience has been gained to practice Reiki on the public. In Jikiden Reiki you have all the skills to work with the public from Shoden (level 1) the norm is that insurance companies require Okuden (level 2). Some Reiki courses discuss professional practice within level 2 also, so lean towards the term practitioner level. So up to this point, things tend to be similar, then it gets interesting. The next step is if you wish to become a Reiki teacher. Collectively this can be termed as Shipiden.
Originally in Japan and very much in Japanese culture teacher levels are granted in a gradual, controlled, permission-based way. Commonly controlled by the head of the organization. When Reiki spread in the West variations appeared immediately, Most notably in the West, we see the term Master used to denote a Reiki teacher. Someone called a Reiki Master is just a teacher of it, they are the same thing.
In the West, a common variation after Okuden (level 2) is what is termed Master practitioner, sometimes termed Level 3, or 3A. Suggested additional techniques learned some may learn their attunement process- how to activate Reiki at this level. Other groups may call this an ‘Advanced’ level, or ‘Advanced Reiki Techniques’ course. Having previously been a teacher in western Reiki approaches and modified approaches as well, I have taken such courses myself, these tend to have additional healing techniques that are not Reiki related, that in my opinion kind of ‘pad out’ the content in a superficial way, rather than offer any additional depth.
Commonly we then have a Reiki Master Teacher, 3B or similar. Most require a period of 9 months of experience to take this level. At this point, they tend to learn how to teach ALL levels of study, level 1, level 2, Master Practitioner, and Master Teacher in one go. Then have permission to go into the world and teach all levels the next day (anyone else sees a problem here?). Well From a quality perspective, it has caused many problems, however, it has helped, indeed is largely responsible for the speed of the spread of Reiki in the world.
With Jikiden Reiki, as in the traditional way of Reiki, we have a stepped permission-based approach with the level Shihan Kaku (assistant teacher) as the first teacher level, which means you have permission to teach the Shoden (level 1) training course. This training tends to be a couple of days and is completed after a period of time, a minimum of 6 mths, but commonly a year, gaining experience and various prerequisites, such as repeating all training levels at least once again. This training and assessment process can only be conducted by a select number of senior teachers (Dia Shihans).
The second teacher level is called Shihan (full teacher) this permits the teacher to teach the complete Reiki system, so both Shoden (level 1) and Okuden (level 2). This tends to be a couple of days of training after more prerequisites, further repeating of all formal Reiki course levels and assistant teacher level again, with additional tracking of skill level, teacher proficiency, etc. Key to note Jikiden Shihan-Kaku or Shihan teachers doesn’t make other teachers. This level is granted by the Representative (president) or vice Representative of the organization only.
In Japanese Reiki, there are no further course levels you can take, further levels tend to be awarded to a few individual teachers after many years of dedication to the organization and are not something ever to be asked for. The next level is Dia Shian (senior teacher). This group is permitted to teach Shoden, Okuden, and Shihan-Kaku course levels. In Jikiden we then have a Vice Representative and a Representative- the President or head of the organization, who teach all levels. These titles are more organizational titles.
In a few approaches to Reiki in the West, there is another less common variation to this which started in the 1980s at an organizational level when a Western Reiki association created a new title level to try and reinforce the head of their organization after Western teachers started to split and were off doing their own thing, which is a term ‘Grand Master’. This term was created in the USA and was intended for one person, so in a similar way that Usui Sensei was the President of the original Reiki organization, and My Teacher Tadao Yamaguchi is the head or ‘Representative’ of the Jikiden Reiki organization. This term, however, has found its way into a level of study with a few Reiki teachers/organizations, where it’s a course level you can take. I do not wish to spend much effort on this point, I just mention it as I am aware of this in the area I operate from, so if you are in my area, you might come across the term. I know a teacher locally to me who creates grandmaster teachers, who by the way is a gifted healer, however in terms of levels of Reiki, this level does not exist in Usui Reiki. There are sub-parts to Reiki training. Shoden has 3 parts, Okuden 2 parts, then there are teacher levels. In early Japanese times, there were pre-formal training parts, like public workshops, that were dropped when stronger legal restrictions to healing in public in Japan came into force. If this term for a course level was created from a marketing or ego view, I do not know, but it feels to me to be going in the opposite direction to Reiki and is nothing to do with authentic traditional Japanese Usui Reiki. So to summarise
Western Reiki Approach (most common you come across, just by volume)
Level 1
Level 2
Master Practitioner (or some kind of Advanced level)
Master Teacher
Japanese Jikiden Reiki Approach
Shoden (beginner level)
Okuden (deeper level)
Shihan Kaku (assistant teacher)
Shihan (teacher)
Dia Shihan (senior teacher)
Organisationally- The founder Usui Sensei was the President of the organization originally, with Jikiden Reiki we have a vice representative & Representative heading the organization internationally.
So that is enough understanding to get you through navigating the differing terms and understanding levels of Reiki courses and titles used. For more discussion on the differences between Jikiden Reiki and Western Reiki see my Article: Jikiden Reiki and Western Reiki, Whats the Differences? If you would like to find out more about authentic traditional Reiki, click on the link to find out more: Jikiden Reiki Courses
I am mainly known nowadays for my work with Reiki, as a specialist in authentic Japanese Reiki. I am an experienced, Reiki teacher and practitioner with a proven track record of results. I offer Jikiden Reiki training courses, promoting authentic Japanese Reiki teachings. I am based in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in the UK. I have a background in coaching and training in the areas of exercise coaching, holistic lifestyle, fitness, and performance coaching. I also have a BSc.(Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science, for more information visit: www.shaunmckeown.com
The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. Shaun Mckeown, disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.