The Five Principles of Reiki are five tenants that are meant to guide our daily lives as Reiki Practitioners. These were adopted by Dr. Mikao Usui as part of the Reiki path, but were originally offered as guidelines for living a fulfilled life by the Meiji Emperor of Japan. It is reported that Dr. Usui included these as part of Reiki after receiving honors for his good works from the Emperor.

I offer below an explanation of each of the Five Principles. These are my interpretations and are certainly not the final word on what the principles mean in our daily lives. Indeed, my own interpretation grows daily. As with everything else Reiki, I believe each practitioner needs to contemplate their meaning and come to his/her own conclusions. You may read through them in their entirety, or click on one of the principles to read that section.

People familiar with Reiki may notice that the first principle listed in each description differs from the more common translations. These phrases happen to resonate better with me. That does not mean that they should replace the standard. I teach both the common translation and - in more advanced classes - the ones below, opening up the subject to discussion. I encourage you to do the same if you are a teacher.

All of the principles have an important phrase in them: "Just for today..." This is a reminder that our awareness and thought should be focused upon the moment, upon the NOW. Our thoughts create our reality. We literally materialize what we think about. The phrase "I am..." is like a genie. When we use it, we are declaring our intention to the universe, and the universe responds. This process works, whether we are aware of it or not. When we have trained ourselves to think in negative patterns, the result is logically negative. If we constantly think "I am sure to get sick." "I am ever tired." or "I have no money...," then that is exactly what we will experience!

The two more common translations of this principle focus upon two opposites: Worry and Trust. To worry is to fear a future outcome. When we worry, we are focused upon a future event rather than living in the here and now. If you focus upon what you can do at the present moment rather than the feared outcome, you are trusting in yourself - and the universe - to provide an answer. In the first case, you are powerless, afraid of change. In the second, you are enabled, powerful and able to adapt with our ever-changing universe to achieve the best result at the present moment.

I know it this may seem impossible to implement when you are experiencing negativity. But simply try watching your thoughts, making subtle changes and let the result speak for itself. Please note that this does not mean that you should lie to yourself. Saying - or behaving - like you have all the money in the world when you do not is not beneficial in any way. However, it is possible to look at it in a positive light. Rather than saying "I am rich" when you're clearly not (after all, you know you're lying to yourself - the universe will know that too!), try "I am drawing opportunities to improve my income", or simply "I am worthy of a better job." Once you trust in this process enough to truly accept it, you will be amazed at the results.

Now imagine applying this concept to all aspects of your life. That is what it means to be consciously aware - to make a conscious choice about the life you are creating for yourself and those around you.

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Just as worry is the fear of things to come, anger is a reaction based upon past experiences. Once again, we are compelled by the principle to live in the now, to constantly create our experience anew as a conscious choice. We all have issues in the past which inspire "reactions" in us. But to react is to do exactly that - to re-act; to repeat our actions. This principle compels us to look to what truly serves Who We Want to Be, and then choose only those actions. To be this selective is one of the best habits to establish.

This is not to say that we will never have anger. We are human, and re-actions often arise literally before we know it. Emotions are a natural part of being human and should be honored as such. Do not compound the anger by being frustrated at the emotion arising. Remember - what you resist, persists. Instead, acknowledge it, observe it, and if you can, understand where it stems from and release it. This process of observation will allow for introspection and more conscious living.

Once we understand how to be at peace in this way, we are brought to the next step in this principle - To live our own truth. Once we know how to put aside anger and worry as no longer serving us, we are then left with a more complex question: Who Do We Want to Be? For this, I believe we must look to our own inner truth. If you're not sure how to find yours, then start to listen. Meditate, take walks, sing, dance, bake, write... do whatever it is that inspires happiness and makes you feel most connected to All That Is. This is what it means to live your own truth: to listen to your inner voice and follow it. And most importantly - do not expect your truth to remain the same. As you evolve, so will your ideas about who you are and where you need to be. Honor that process.

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The two more common translations refer directly to work - Earn your living honestly. If you take money for a service or product, it should be worth the price, and you should always put forth your best effort. Do not make a profit by causing anyone else to "lose". This refers to a universal law - that what we give out, we get in return. Many "pagan" paths believe in the threefold law: what you give off energetically comes back to you magnified three times. I happen to believe this is true. You may succeed materialistically by compromising your integrity, but the end result always folds in on itself.

There is a perception in our society that we need not love or enjoy our work. In fact, it is almost expected that we will hate our jobs. Sometimes we need to take a job that would not be our first choice to make ends meet. Having a family to support does not (at first glance) lend to "playing" at the jobs we might love. If being the person who suffers through a job he does not enjoy for the sake of his family is Who You Choose To Be, then love that you have made that choice. If you want to do what you love - then move toward that by making choices and taking action. But whatever occupation you choose, remember that our bodies react to our emotions. Above all, I believe that our work should be something that we respect and can feel satisfaction performing. Otherwise, the negative emotional and mental effects will likely manifest in our physical health.

I would also like to add here that I have heard one interpretation of this principle as "Work hard today". This is not to say that we need to work 14 hour days, but - I believe - instead refers to working on the Self. In today's western society, we are focused so strongly upon the physical and mental aspects of our lives that often the spiritual and emotional aspects are neglected. Reiki lends readily to practices such as meditation. I highly recommend daily meditation to anyone who wants a catalyst for their personal growth. I also believe that we as Reiki Practitioners should always be working on ourselves. Reiki is not the end result of a spiritual path, but simply another wonderful tool we can use to aid in our growth.

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One of the core tenants taught by most schools of Reiki is to honor your parents, teachers, elders, and everyone who comes to you for healing. As with the others, I think that truly embodying this principle is a sign of advanced spiritual growth. As we become centered in All That Is, we realize our connection to every living thing and that each aspect of our lives is truly a blessing. In this, we honor every other person as an aspect of our larger Self.

Occasionally, in "New Age" circles, concepts such as this are distorted to mean that we should accept whatever anyone else chooses to do - whether to us or in our presence. I do not interpret this as such. Remember, to love and honor every living includes loving yourself. If we are honoring ourselves, we choose what is right for us and will not permit others to harm us for the sake of "honoring" them. Although it is a cliché, it is true that to love any other, we must first love ourselves. When we come from a place of understanding and accepting ourselves, we no longer need validation or energy from others around us. We are able to truly give of ourselves, and the doors are open for our own spiritual growth.

One of the dangers of any spiritual advancement is to become haughty, to think ourselves better than others. When we truly move toward understanding that we are all One, this becomes nearly laughable. However - especially with something as wonderfully empowering as Reiki - it is easy for pride to become involved. I think that it is important to note that to honor another person is to respect their right to choose their own path. This is the reason we only heal those who have asked for Reiki, and - should we not be able to ask - send with a provision that if they should not accept it, it go back to the Earth. If someone is not ready to release a past issue, that is perfectly acceptable. It is not our place to judge others, but only to work on ourselves and honor that each person is where (s)he needs to be at the moment.

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All things come to you when you are grateful. This may seem backwards to some. We are taught to be grateful when we are given something, not beforehand. But keep in mind that we are creative beings. Gratitude acts as a magnet, attracting good things to us. This creates a positive cycle. Occasionally it may seem difficult to be grateful for the present moment. It may not seem that what we are currently experiencing is "good". Remember that "good" and "bad" are merely labels we apply given our perspective. We may be upset that our car breaks down, but unable to see that we would have been involved in an accident had everything gone smoothly. Very often, what seems like a negative experience is truly a gift. This also touches upon the idea of "maya" or illusion - many eastern spiritual paths warn against getting caught up in the ups and downs of everyday life, encouraging us to look at the larger picture instead and detach ourselves from outcomes. When we are able to do this, expectation turns to gratitude as we live in the present moment.

Think about gratitude: What does it mean to be grateful? It means that you already know that you are experiencing something wonderful. This once again calls the magic of the "I am" principle. If you are grateful for your life and all of its aspects, you have accepted them. You have power over those things which you accept. Those things you resist or reject have power over you. Furthermore, if you are grateful, you trust that you are where you are meant to be, experiencing what you are meant to experience in the here and now. This sets the groundwork for living consciously, truthfully, with integrity and acceptance of all living things. Truly, this principle ties in all the others. The other principles flow naturally when we follow this one, and by applying the other principles to our lives, gratitude is the natural result. It has been my experience that Reiki assists our spiritual evolution, and I believe that this state of mind comes about as we feel more connected to All That Is.

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