Imagine having something you can do anywhere to calm yourself when stress builds up: before a big meeting, after a hard conversation, or at night when your mind won’t rest. You’d need no app and no appointment, just your own hands and a few quiet minutes.
That’s what many people are looking for when they learn Reiki. This guide explains how Reiki training works, level by level, and how to know where to start.
What are the levels of Reiki?
Traditional Usui Reiki is usually taught in three or four levels. Reiki Level 1 teaches self-healing and hands-on Reiki for yourself and others. Reiki Level 2 adds the Reiki symbols and distance healing. The Master level deepens your practice, and Master-Teacher training lets you attune and teach students.
Each level includes an attunement, a short ceremony in which your teacher opens your ability to channel Reiki. After that, the practice is yours for life.
Schools name the levels in slightly different ways. Some call them First Degree, Second Degree, and Third Degree, and some combine Master and Master-Teacher into one level. The order is generally the same.
What you learn in Reiki Level 1
Everyone begins with Reiki Level 1. It focuses first on you, and on learning to use Reiki for your own calm, balance, and well-being.
A typical Level 1 class covers the history, principles, and ethics of Reiki and how the practice works, along with an introduction to your energy centers (chakras) and how they relate to your well-being. You learn the Reiki self-healing hand positions, a simple sequence from your head to your feet that you can do lying in bed or sitting at your desk. You also learn how to share Reiki with family and friends, and you receive the attunement that begins your practice.
At Sphaera Lucis, Reiki Level 1 is a one-day class in our Makati studio for ₱11,888. It includes your attunement, a printed manual and certificate, a breathwork and meditation session, lunch and snacks, 21 days of guided self-healing practice, and ongoing support. You don’t need any experience.
What Reiki Level 2 adds
Reiki Level 2 builds on Level 1 and widens what you can do. You receive the Level 2 symbols and learn to use them to focus Reiki for yourself and others. You learn distance healing, so you can send Reiki to loved ones wherever they are. And you learn techniques for emotional resilience and mental clarity that also strengthen your intuition.
Many teachers ask you to practice Level 1 for a while before moving on. At Sphaera Lucis, Reiki Level 2 is open to our Reiki 1 graduates who have practiced for at least a month (excluding the 21-day energy cleanse period). It’s a one-day class, in person or online, for ₱11,888. The Reiki 1 & 2 bundle is ₱20,288.
Reiki Master and Master-Teacher levels
After Level 2, some people continue to the Master levels. A Reiki Master (sometimes called Level 3 or Master Practitioner) receives the Master symbol and deepens their own practice and healing work. A Reiki Master-Teacher learns to give attunements and to teach every level of Reiki.
These levels take more time, practice, and commitment, and most people spend months or years between them. Many practitioners stop at Level 2, which is completely fine. Levels 1 and 2 give you everything you need for a rich personal practice.
Aileen Javier, who teaches our classes, is a Reiki Master-Teacher in Usui Shiki Ryoho and Angelic Reiki and a member in good standing of the Philippine Reiki Council.
Who should start with Level 1?
Reiki Level 1 is for anyone who wants a simple daily practice for stress and emotions, or who wants to build inner calm and resilience. It also suits people who’d like a gentle way to care for family and friends, and those exploring energy work with an eye on becoming a practitioner one day.
You don’t need any experience, special beliefs, or “gifts.” If you’ve ever had a Reiki session and wondered whether you could do this for yourself, Level 1 is where to begin.
Where to take a Reiki class near you
When you look at Reiki healing classes or a Reiki healing course, start with the teacher. They should be a Reiki Master-Teacher who can explain where their training comes from. Smaller classes mean more hands-on guidance. Look for a manual, a certificate, practice time, and support after class, because the weeks after your attunement matter and a good teacher stays available for questions.
Our Reiki classes are held in our studio at The Grid Co-Living, Yakal Street, Makati, and students come from across Metro Manila. We keep classes small. For online Level 1 dates, contact us.
Frequently asked questions
How many levels of Reiki training are there?
Most traditional Usui Reiki systems have three or four levels: Level 1, Level 2, Master, and Master-Teacher. Some schools combine the last two.
Can I learn Reiki online?
Yes. Reiki isn’t limited by distance, so attunements can be given online. Our Reiki Levels 1 and 2 classes run both in person and online, and we can share upcoming online dates for Level 1.
Can I use Reiki on myself after Level 1?
Yes. Self-healing is the main focus of Level 1. You’ll learn a sequence of hand positions you can use every day, with 21 days of guided practice to help you build the habit.
Ready to learn? See Reiki Level 1 class dates, or if you’ve already completed Level 1 with us, reserve your place in Reiki Level 2. You can also read what a first Reiki session feels like.
Reiki complements medical and psychological care; it doesn’t replace it.
About the author
Aileen Javier, CCH, ACP, RMT, MCMA is the founder of Sphaera Lucis. She is a Reiki Master-Teacher in Usui Shiki Ryoho and Angelic Reiki, a Certified Advanced Crystal Practitioner, and a certified meditation and breathwork facilitator, with teachers and mentors in the USA, the UK, and Portugal. She has offered energy healing since 2020 and opened the Sphaera Lucis studio in Makati in 2023. More about Aileen.