"Reiki Without Symbols" seems to be a question has started to pick up in the Reiki community. I see that the symbols may have out lived their usage Is it so?

For me personally, i love using symbols. I form a connection with them and it also helps me to focus! However, many are also saying that INTENT is more important! We can heal with intent. We can attune with intent. We can do lots more with intent!! True! I do use intent often also!! But where does it leave the symbol

For instance, in Traditional Usui, many may find drawing the symbols difficult due to the many strokes that are required. Just drawing Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (HSZSN) requires 24 strokes, but as one who has basic knowledge of kanji, it takes about 5-7sec to draw (HSZSN). Do we move away from drawing because it is difficult or have we moved on to a higher plane!??

I do understand that as more modalities arise, we have more symbols to remember. Violet Flame Reiki alone has approximately 40 symbols...how then can we memorize all these symbols. I believe that, if we chose to be attune to that modality, then we should at least learn to use the symbols properly!

Does that mean that when we get to higher awareness we can do away with symbols and just use our intent?


I wondered are there any amongst you who do not use the Reiki Symbols when channeling Reiki, distantly or other?

Love & Light xian

I will come to your subject later on, meanwhile I must congratulate you for the use of tags in your new topic. Thanks Xian.

My english is not good enough to tell you why I don´t use the symbols any more, but try your self just to be a channel and let the energy go through you as pure it can and you know how it really goes, when you don´t put your mind into it.
So, I think, that if people put the mind into symbols, they expect something to happen to their energies and if not, it happen any way if it is the highest good to you. So I think symbols are needed in the begining when you begin to work with energies and you have to take your mind with you. But after the mind has used to work with higher self´s energy, you don´t need to use symbols any more in your work. But this is only my opinion and what I have gone throuhg in my energiework, with my higher self´s teaching.
I think that now I am better channel to my energies than when I stoped it´s work with the symbols, because my mind was too strong after knowing what they ment to do. Releasing our own hopes is the best way to use Reiki any way. 

Sai Ram. Interesting discussion. I stopped using symbols long ago and did not find any major difference in the flow of energy. I find that whether we use symbols or intent, energy flows through us to the person requesting healing, only when we are destined to be the channels for their healing.

I also stopped trying to get attuned to the other modalities. I feel that the universe will find a way to heal the person through me using Reiki, Homeopathy, Bach Flowers or whatever else is needed.

Blessings

If symbols are not a vital part of Reiki, then why are new symbols still being channel to practitioners/Lightworkers?? I do agree that at certain point that we will work with intent. I see that intent is important, but do you feel that by activating certain symbols, draw different energies?

I have nothing against working with or without symbols, but i guess this is a topic that needs to be discussed, as when i started out there was not enough guides to new Lightworkers on this subject!! Masters keep talking about intent. The new practitioners need to understand when is the point that they do not require to use symbols!

I have a Western Master and an Eastern Master. My Western Master, tells me it is not important to use symbols but intent, you can use them if you want to! However, in the east, my Master was more stick about using and drawing the symbols correctly. These also holds true to some friends who practice traditional Reiki (Usui Reiki Ryoho). Each time i draw the symbols wrongly or bit lazily  my Eastern Master would direct me in to drawing it properly and correct intent! He told me "if you draw it lazily, your energy would flow lazily!"

For me, i have a extremely creative and busy mind!(always thinking of something!! ) (am in advertising  ) so the symbols help me to focus on what i am doing (it is nothing to do with magic, but focus and connection). The moment i connect with Shamballa (modality without symbols), i can feel a strong energy upon me, and when connect and i draw the Usui (modality with symbols) symbols if front of me i feel a ball of energy in front of me. In order to work with intent, we have to be very clear with our intent

Would Reiki change in the next maybe 5 to 10 years, that symbols would be a relic and gearing towards a non symbol system!?

love & light
xian

I agree Karuna and all friends in some parts. "Magic" issue was an example, I said I feel like doing it Because I believe "the highest good"  for a person. When sometimes I talk someone on the phone, Reiki flows, I don't even think to do it. Reiki works and knows where and when to go, because it has God Conciousness. Sorry for my bad English. Everyone is right about focusing with symbols, I know that they are created by Mikao Usui, not sent by God? Not as Reiki. Those symbols helped Mikao to focus and channel the energies, pass on and teach. It's Ok for me. Attunning someone and using symbols, yes If I am not sure about what I am doing, It's ok to use symbols too.

But I feel that, everything I do, saying hello to a neighbour or a person who works in the market or a teacher in the school for me, Reiki works in and out of me, keep flowing, changing, clearing me and I see people feel unless they know what it is. Because I'm a channel of it.

Meditation, breathing and wanting with heart is a good way to make Reiki work, without symbols. You can even make miracles with only imagination because Reiki works. I noticed that if there is love, it begin to flow, you don't even to think. I let it clean myself so I can be love and there won't be need to any symbols.

My inner voice says not to use symbols because God knows the highest good and really Reiki works in need. Awareness and synchroniscm increase, if you keep doing right things. Maybe only I live these kind of events among you, I don't know, so that it's hard to explain.

I also respect who use symbols and looking forward to read and people's experiences. If there is someone make attunements without symbols, I wonder.

Love

Gaye

  Before learning about Reiki and studying with a Reiki Master here in the US, I joined a class in progress that I just happened across. Had come to talk with a friend, who is a Chaplain and healer. She was in a session with someone, so the receptionist asked if I just wanted to sit in a class while waiting. Was very well aquainted with prayer and caretaking little ones from my nurse mother, who strongly believed in prayer, and who had that 'special touch'.
   The class was teaching a Cherokee system of healing. And as I was there, one of the statements of the teacher unlocked all the doors of my mind into Universal Flow. Hard to explain.... I went down, and bought the book by the Elder, which pretty much stated this as 'a beginning point'. As you work with Healing, your own Guidance and connection with God/ Universal Flow/ Creator, whatever name you know this by, will teach you everything you need to know as you listen in prayer. Intuitive Healing and many other aspects opened up from here. There were no symbols. Just listening and visually/ feeling/ sensing what was wrong, or what was there. And the emphasis that you are the channel, receiving information to help, or know the situation. That all healing comes from Source...you are simply the channel for the flow and prayer. It opened up my life and self!
   Since then, have wanted to learn. From each system that has come to a person, or group, including the symbols and information that gets written and taught, more understanding comes that adds to the wealth of growing knowledge in this age of being able to communicate on-line. And each system is a very valuable piece in the ability to work with the Energy effectively, as the channel for allowing the flow to Humanity and everything within our world. The symbols that belong with a specific way are very focused. Over time as more and more people work with those symbols, the focus becomes deeper, and begins to take on more and more attributes discovered.
   But the symbols are not the Source, only a way for the Source to express to make it easier for humanity/ individual people to understand. Many systems have long, long training and history that deliver more precise results as you learn their use.The symbols provide tools to make the transmission/ initiation easier to step into a specific knowledge and use...., especially when coming from outside that system, or from a beginning point of understanding. With time the need to use them every time is less, or not needed... perhaps, because the way of that system is within you......the Masters and Gurus of traditional teachings perhaps; but, they still teach one step and symbol to unlock at a time, as their students progress and are ready. And the symbols are the signature tone for a whole level of teaching.
  Besides the traditional ways and established systems, there is the wide open field of Intuitive...connection and prayer. Have learned so much thru simply being open to learn and understand that it would be hard to explain.
  Underneath all of it, remember, God, The Source, whatever name your belief.....is the Healing. We are simply a channel. Every individual has his/her own destiny and path. It is not ours to interfere. When someone asks for Healing Energy, we are simply the channel. The Universe works with the individual for Highest Good.
        okay, perhaps writing too much. Will stop! Adrianna

Dear Gaye,

I didn't want to offend you  and I don't judge ... everyone is his own master.
So please accept my apologies if my words hurt you in any way 

Please, don't stop sharing your thoughts, because that's why we are here for ... sharing.

My point of view is just my point of view.

Especially the Usui-Reiki and some older energy systems as well, do have a tradition, and it's the responsibility of the Master and Teacher, to transport it. And that's what I teach my students, not only because of the tradition, but because of the responsibility.

But this also, is only my point of view

So please, carry on sharing your thoughts with us - they are valuable!!

Light and Love
Petra

It has been interesting reading the comments and thoughts. I do understand English may not be a main language for many, and misunderstanding may arise, but really appreciate the act of forgiveness, where we strive to understand one another! 

As i read Gaye's post on Takata charging $10,000...i remembered a Master saying why he needs or wants to charge at a higher fee...he was stating that if the practitioner or student does not pay he/she will neglect the practice! To point i agree!! When somethings are given free we may take it for granted.

Whilst meditating, i thought came to mind. When we buy cars, we have manual transmission, auto transmission and now Tiptronic (Auto with manual capabilities). I think we as practitioners should be be able to drive the 3 categories. Manual = working with symbols, auto = working with intent, tiptronic = working with both symbols and intent.

I remember one summer a friend of mine wanted to move to a new apartment, he managed to borrow a friend pickup truck, but he had a problem!! He could only drive auto transmission, so i helped! I guess being in Reiki has about some similarities. With Reiki it does flow to where it is required, but sometimes i feel we must have a direction for the energy to flow.

It has been noted many times if a person has an open wound, you don't apply Reiki directly on the wound as i would heal from the surface. So we need to direct the energy as not to heal from the outside. It is also noted that Reiki should not be sent to a person who is under anesthetic going into operation, as Reiki may negate it. I guess sometimes i use symbols to localize the energy flow!! Whereas, when i use intent, it will flow to where it is most needed!!

So, for me personally...IMO we should drive a Tiptronic transmission car 

love & light
xian