To attain reiki mastery, a person must first become a reiki student. From there, he can improve his skills up to the level of a reiki master. A person becomes a reiki student by receiving introductory training from an experienced practitioner who has already attained reiki mastery. This introductory training can take the form of an apprenticeship, a workshop, or formal training at an institution that specializes in massage or holistic health. Training is also available through online reiki classes and correspondence courses, though some question whether reiki can be learned from a distance.
After the period of being a student — and before attaining reiki mastery — one becomes a practitioner. During this time, the practitioner must accomplish attunements. An attunement is a process by which a student is initiated into the use of reiki. It consists of a master passing his energy to the student, which allows the student to access the universal energy that he then will work with. Most commonly, a person will have to go through three levels of attunement to attain reiki mastery.
Attunements can be done in person, across a distance of several miles (kilometers), or through media such as books, the Internet or DVDs. Some reiki masters believe a full and complete attunement can only occur when the student is in the physical presence of the reiki master. A practitioner finally becomes a reiki master once he has been shown a special reiki symbol. The symbols are based on the Japanese Kanji writing system. Symbols are easier to access on one's own than they have been in the past, but without the energy of a master, they do not have the power to facilitate reiki mastery.
There are usually three levels through which one must progress to become a reiki master, but the specifics will depend on the method of training a person chooses. There are many different schools and lineages of reiki practice. It is important for a potential student to ask questions of the reiki master from whom he wants to learn. He should make sure he understands the costs and time that will be involved, as well as the nature of the training and the level of support he will receive during and after training. In addition to physical practice and learning, reiki mastery also requires strong awareness of and connection to one's own energy and intentions.
