Quick Answer: What Are the Reiki Levels?
Reiki has four main stages, and each one does a different job.
- Level 1 — healing yourself. Hands-on, in person, no symbols yet.
- Level 2 — healing others, including distance healing. You receive the first three symbols.
- Level 3, or Master — the Master symbol and deeper personal practice.
- Master Teacher — learning to attune and teach others.
- Grand Master — advanced symbols and practice beyond the traditional system.
Most people should start at Level 1 and 2 together. Almost nobody should start at Grand Master, whatever a course page tells you.
Reiki Levels at a Glance
| Reiki Level | Focus | Symbols | Can Heal Others | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Self Healing | No | No | Beginners |
| Level 2 | Others + Distance Healing | Yes (3 Symbols) | Yes | Practitioners |
| Level 3 | Master Practice | Yes | Yes | Advanced Practitioners |
| Master Teacher | Teaching & Attunements | Yes | Yes | Future Reiki Teachers |
| Grand Master | Advanced Practice | Yes | Yes | Experienced Master Teachers |
What Reiki Actually Is
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice developed by Mikao Usui in the early 1920s. The practitioner places their hands on or just above the body, and the practice describes universal life force energy — ki — moving through them to the person receiving.
Two things worth saying clearly at the start.
It is a wellness and spiritual practice, not a medical treatment. There is no scientific evidence that Reiki cures illness, and no honest teacher will tell you otherwise. Most practitioners describe it as supporting relaxation and emotional balance alongside medical care, never instead of it.
And it is learned in person. Reiki is passed through attunement, which is a direct transmission from teacher to student. That is why a video course cannot fully replace it.
Level 1 — Shoden, Healing Yourself
What you learn: the history of Reiki, the five Reiki principles, hand positions for self-healing, and how to sense energy. You receive your first attunement.
What you can do afterwards: treat yourself. Many people stop here and never go further, and that is a perfectly complete practice.
Who it suits: anyone starting out, and anyone drawn to Reiki for their own wellbeing rather than to practise on others.
Typical duration: one to two days.
Level 2 — Okuden, Healing Others
What you learn: the first three Reiki symbols — for power, for emotional and mental healing, and for distance healing. You learn to work on other people, and to send healing across distance and time.
What you can do afterwards: practise on family, friends, and clients if you choose to.
Who it suits: anyone who wants to work on others, and anyone thinking about practising professionally later.
Why it is usually taught with Level 1: the two build directly on each other, and most teachers run them together. Learning Level 1 alone and returning months later means re-establishing a practice that had not yet settled.
Reiki Level 1 and 2 course details
Level 3 — Shinpiden, the Master Level
What you learn: the Master symbol, advanced techniques, deeper meditation practice, and a considerably more demanding personal discipline.
What it is not: a teaching qualification. This is the most common misunderstanding in Reiki. Master level is about the depth of your own practice. Teaching is a separate step.
Who it suits: people with an established Level 2 practice who want to go deeper for themselves.
Master Teacher — Learning to Teach
What you learn: how to give attunements, how to structure and teach Levels 1, 2 and Master, how to mentor students, and the responsibilities that come with taking on a student.
What you can do afterwards: teach and attune others, and run your own classes.
Who it suits: practitioners who want to teach, not just practise. It is a genuinely different skill — being good at Reiki and being good at teaching Reiki are two things.
Reiki Master Teacher training details
Grand Master — Beyond the Traditional System
Here is where honesty matters more than marketing.
The Grand Master levels are not part of Usui's original system. They are a later extension, adding further symbols and practices beyond the Master Teacher level. Many respected practitioners work with them and find them valuable. Many equally respected practitioners never touch them.
What you learn: additional symbols, advanced energy techniques, and deeper work with distance healing and manifestation.
Who it suits: established Master Teachers who want to extend their practice. Not beginners, and not people who simply want the most impressive-sounding certificate.
The prerequisite that matters: most serious teachers require you to have held Master level for at least six months of actual practice before attuning you to Grand Master. If a course will sell you Grand Master with no prior Reiki experience, that tells you what kind of course it is.
Reiki Grand Master course details
What Is an Attunement?
The attunement is the part that makes Reiki different from a normal course.
It is a ceremony in which the teacher opens the student's energy channels, traditionally described as connecting them to the Reiki energy for life. Each level has its own attunement, and it is what separates a Reiki practitioner from someone who has simply read about Reiki.
Afterwards many people go through what is called a clearing period, often around 21 days, where emotions surface, sleep changes, or old patterns resurface. This is described as normal and it passes.
Online or In Person?
The honest answer is that both exist, and they are not equivalent.
Attunement can be given at a distance, and many established teachers do it. It works within the tradition, and for people in smaller towns it may be the only realistic option.
But in-person training gives you something a screen cannot: correction of your hand positions, practice on real people, the teacher noticing what you are doing wrong before it becomes habit, and a group to practise with.
If you have the choice, learn in person. If you do not, choose a distance teacher who offers live sessions rather than pre-recorded video, and who is available for questions afterwards.
How to Tell a Genuine Reiki Teacher From a Certificate Mill
This is the section nobody selling a course wants to write, so here it is.
There is no government regulation of Reiki in India. No official body certifies teachers. Anyone can print a certificate and call themselves a Grand Master. That is not a reason to avoid Reiki — it is a reason to check who you are learning from.
Six things worth checking:
- Lineage. A genuine teacher can name their teacher, and their teacher's teacher, back toward Usui. Ask. Anyone who cannot answer, or who becomes vague, is telling you something.
- Prerequisites. Real teachers turn students away. If a course sells Grand Master to someone with no Reiki background, it is selling certificates, not training.
- Time between levels. Rushing all levels in one weekend is a warning sign. Practice needs time to settle between attunements.
- Live contact. Pre-recorded video with an automated certificate is not an attunement.
- Support afterwards. Questions come up weeks later. Ask whether you can reach the teacher after the course ends.
- Honest claims. Any teacher promising cures, guaranteed income, or specific medical outcomes is not being straight with you.
What Reiki Training Costs in India
Fees vary widely — from a few thousand rupees for a rushed online certificate to considerably more for in-person training with an experienced teacher.
What you should expect included at any level:
- The attunement itself
- Written course notes or a manual you keep
- A certificate on completion
- Some access to the teacher afterwards
If a course does not include notes, or offers no contact after the certificate, the price is not the problem — the course is.
See current Calminds Reiki course fees and dates
Who Should Learn Reiki?
- Anyone wanting a self-care practice they can use daily, at Level 1
- People in caring or emotionally demanding work — nurses, teachers, therapists, counsellors
- Yoga and meditation practitioners extending an existing practice
- Crystal practitioners — Reiki and crystal work are commonly practised together
- Anyone considering practising professionally, from Level 2 upward
There is no age, religion or background requirement. Reiki is not tied to any faith, and practising it does not conflict with any.
Can You Make a Living From Reiki in India?
Some people do. Most do not, and it is worth saying so.
Practitioners who build a sustainable practice usually do it over years, and usually alongside something else — yoga teaching, counselling, a wellness business, or crystal work. A Grand Master certificate does not create clients.
Learn Reiki because you want the practice. If income follows, it follows because of the work you put in afterwards, not because of the level on the certificate.
Reiki Aur Crystals Saath Mein
Reiki and crystal work sit naturally together, which is why many crystal practitioners train in Reiki and many Reiki practitioners keep crystals.
Once attuned, many practitioners charge their own crystals with Reiki rather than relying only on moonlight or a Selenite plate. Every Calminds crystal is Reiki-charged before dispatch for the same reason.
Our guide on Reiki-charged versus normal crystals explains what that actually means and what it does not.
Reiki Course Kaise Chunein? (Quick Answer in Hindi)
Reiki ke char main level hote hain. Level 1 — apna khud ka healing. Level 2 — doosron ka healing aur distance healing, teen symbols milte hain. Level 3 ya Master — apni practice gehri karna. Master Teacher — doosron ko sikhana aur attunement dena. Grand Master — traditional system se aage ke advanced symbols.
Shuruaat hamesha Level 1 aur 2 se karein, dono saath mein. Grand Master se shuru karne ka koi matlab nahi hai, chahe koi course kuch bhi kahe.
Sabse zaroori baat: India mein Reiki ka koi government regulation nahi hai. Koi bhi certificate chhap sakta hai. Isliye teacher chunte waqt ye poochhein — unka lineage kya hai, unke teacher kaun the, kya wo bina experience ke Grand Master bech rahe hain, aur course ke baad support milega ya nahi.
Jo teacher ilaaj ki guarantee de ya kamai ka vaada kare, wo sach nahi bol raha.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many levels are there in Reiki?
Four main stages — Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or Master, and Master Teacher. Grand Master levels exist beyond these as a later extension to the original system.
Which Reiki level should I start with?
Level 1, or Level 1 and 2 together. Level 1 teaches self-healing and Level 2 adds symbols and the ability to work on others. Most teachers run them as one course.
What is a Reiki attunement?
A ceremony in which the teacher opens the student's energy channels, traditionally described as a lifelong connection to Reiki energy. Each level has its own attunement.
How long does it take to complete all Reiki levels?
It varies, but a serious path takes months rather than days. Most teachers ask for real practice time between levels, particularly before Master and Grand Master.
Can Reiki be learned online?
Yes, and distance attunement is accepted within the tradition. In-person training is better where possible, because hand positions and practice on real people cannot be corrected through a screen.
Is a Reiki certificate officially recognised in India?
No. There is no government body regulating Reiki in India, so no certificate carries official status. What matters is the teacher's lineage, experience and the depth of the training.
What is the difference between Reiki Master and Grand Master?
Master level is about the depth of your own practice. Master Teacher adds the ability to teach and attune. Grand Master extends beyond the traditional Usui system with additional symbols, and is intended for established practitioners.
Do I need Reiki to use crystals?
No. Crystals work as a practice on their own. Many people learn Reiki afterwards to deepen how they work with them.
Is Reiki connected to any religion?
No. Reiki has Japanese Buddhist roots but is not a religious practice, and people of every faith and none practise it.
Can Reiki replace medical treatment?
No. Reiki is a wellness and spiritual practice, not a medical treatment, and there is no scientific evidence that it cures illness. It is used alongside medical care, never instead of it.
Read Next
- Reiki-Charged vs Normal Crystals: What Is the Difference?
- How to Cleanse and Recharge Crystals
- How to Manifest With Crystals
Final Thoughts
Start at Level 1. Practise before moving up. Check your teacher's lineage before you pay anyone.
The level on your certificate matters far less than the hours you put into the practice afterwards — and any teacher worth learning from will tell you the same thing.
Explore Calminds Reiki courses
Disclaimer: Reiki is a spiritual and wellness practice based on traditional beliefs. It is not a substitute for medical, financial, or mental health advice or treatment.
