The heart of Reiki 💖
At the heart of Reiki, beneath the symbols, the techniques, and the certification, there are five simple principles. They were written by Mikao Usui, the founder of the Usui Reiki method, as a guide for living well. It’s not just for Reiki practitioners, it’s for everyone!
They’re sometimes called the Reiki “Precepts” or simply the Five Reiki Principles. Whatever you call them, they are one of my favourite parts of teaching because they’re so deceptively simple, yet quietly profound 🌟
Let’s explore them together! 🥰
The Five Reiki Principles 🌸
1. Do not be angry
“Just for today, I will not be angry” 🔥
Anger is a natural emotion, it’s not “wrong” to feel it from time to time – so long as we don’t dwell in that space. This principle invites us to notice anger when it arises, and to choose not to be ruled by it. Just for today.
Anger contracts our bodies, thus our energy, which blocks of the natural flow of love and life force. Practising this principle doesn’t mean suppressing emotion, it means learning how to recognize and move beyond what you’re feeling. Let. It. Go.
Over time, this practice can genuinely transform your life 🌟
2. Do not worry
“Just for today, I will not worry” 🌊
Worry lives in the future – it hasn’t happened yet. This principle is an invitation to come back to the present moment, over and over again.
That doesn’t mean being naive or ignoring what’s ahead. It just means trusting that you have, and will have, what you need – right now. So spending your energy in anxious anticipation about things that may never happen doesn’t serve you or anyone around you.
This principle helps us dissolve worry over time to become more connected to the present moment 💚
3. Be grateful
“Just for today, I am grateful” 🙏
Next to love, gratitude is one of the highest vibrational states we can inhabit. This principle asks us to actively cultivate it, not just to feel grateful when things go well, but to find something to appreciate even in ordinary, imperfect moments.
Incorporating this principle daily – taking a few moments each morning or evening to acknowledge what we’re thankful for can shift our inner world. It’s a small practice with massive positive effects 🌟
4. Work with diligence
“Just for today, I will do my work honestly” 🧘
This principle is about integrity and wholehearted engagement with whatever is in front of you. Your “work” doesn’t just mean your job, it also means your relationships, your creative endeavours, your healing practice, your parenting, your friendships, and so on.
Doing your work diligently and honestly means showing up fully, without shortcuts, without pretence. It means being true to who you are and what you value. This allows our life force energy to flow cleanly through us, without the blockages that come from dishonesty, disengagement, or living out of alignment with our values 🌿
5. Be kind to every living thing
“Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing” 💞
This final principle expands the practice outward, from self-healing to the world. Kindness to every living thing means: to other people (including those who are difficult), to animals, to nature, and to yourself…
That last part — kindness to yourself — is one I always want to emphasise. So many of us find it much easier to be kind to others than to ourselves. This principle reminds us that you deserve the same compassion you’d offer anyone else 💖
How to use the Five Reiki Principles in daily life 🌞
As many of my students and followers know, I don’t believe there’s a single “correct” way to work with the principles or Reiki, but here are some of the ways my students incorporate them into their lives:
Recite them each morning 🌄 Begin your day by reading or reciting all Five Reiki Principles, as a kind of intention-setting ritual. You can do this silently, out loud, or as part of a meditation.
Focus on one at a time 🔎 Rather than trying to embody all five at once, choose one principle to “sit” with for a week. Notice where it shows up in your daily life and what it brings up for you.
Use them as a check-in ✅ When you notice yourself feeling reactive, anxious, resentful, or disconnected, come back to the principles. Which one speaks to this moment? Which one is most needed right now?
Write them in a journal 📝 Reflecting on the principles in writing can unlock insights you might not find in everyday awareness. What does “not worrying” look like in your life? What would doing your work more honestly change?
Are the Five Reiki Principles part of the Natural Healer™ course? 📚
Yes! The Five Reiki Principles are covered in the Natural Healer™ Reiki 1, 2 and Master course — as part of the foundational Level 1 content.
If you’d like to understand more about what the full course covers, visit our Learn Reiki Online guide, it has everything in one place 🌀
The Five Reiki Principles aren’t rules to follow perfectly. They’re invitations to try “just for today” and in my experience, that’s exactly where the most profound healing lives: today 💖
If you take nothing else away from this post, can you please pack the following truths under your belt? I ask this of you because I don’t ever want you to forget how incredible you are:
- You belong here.
- You are worthy.
- You are valued.
- You are loved.
💫 Ready to go deeper? View the Reiki 1, 2 and Master Certification Course here and bring these principles into your everyday life.
As ever, big love to you 💖 Melissa
What about Natural Healer's Reiki 1, 2 and Master course? 💖
Does the price include everything?
Yes! The price you see is fully inclusive for all the courses listed above and includes your Distance Reiki Student Attunement Ceremony (for Levels 1, 2 and Master), instant online access (via the Student Platform), ability to download all the course materials (such as the PDF handbooks and workbooks, PDF posters, MP3 audios, and more), your accredited certificates (PDF) once graduated, and much more!
What else is included? View all the extra special inclusions by scrolling down the page! In short, students get lifetime access to course materials, priority support, exclusive discounts for other courses, crystals, and ‘hard copy’ books, plus a variety of extra bonuses! Also, graduates receive FREE Natural Healer Society Membership (valued at $99)!
Can you learn Reiki online?
Can Reiki Attunement Ceremonies be done at a distance?
Yes! Attunements can be done via distance! How? Because Reiki is energy healing – and energy healing has no boundaries or time-restraints – there are no limitations on the ability to attune students from afar. Reiki healing can be done at a distance which means the ceremonies can by done at a distance too!
To further clarify, Melissa connects energetically with students (after they have confirmed their ceremony date and time with her) and performs the ceremony completely remotely. After the ceremony is done, Melissa emails all the information about it (date, time frame and so on) to each student, including any observations she made.
Can I ask questions while I'm learning?
Yes! You can ask questions throughout the course! Melissa makes herself available to help guide her students at any point during their learning journey. Students can directly ask Melissa questions in two different ways: either (1) within the course itself using our “Lecture Discussions” feature. This allows Melissa and the student to converse within the course content itself.
And (2) via the Reiki Student Community, which allows students to chat with Melissa – and with other students if they wish – to ask questions, share experiences, find practice buddies, and more! In either scenario, Melissa will respond and converse directly with students there.
You can also view our FAQ page here, which has answers to our most “Frequently Asked Questions” about learning with Natural Healer, starting a business, and so on.