| Free Reiki symbols are easy to find, now. At one time | | | | easily found, but the symbols themselves have no real |
| the distance Reiki symbol, the Reiki power or Reiki | | | | power. One must learn how to use and believe in the |
| energy symbol and all of the others were kept secret. | | | | power that resides within, in order for the Reiki energy |
| High fees were charged to those who wished to learn | | | | symbol or the distance Reiki symbol or any of the |
| Reiki healing. During the last ten years (from 1970-1980) | | | | other symbols to work effectively. |
| of her life, Hawayo Takata, who first brought the | | | | If we put aside the legends and traditions for a |
| practice to the United States, charged $10,000 for | | | | moment, looking solely at the facts, we know that Dr. |
| training. Reiki mastery was sometimes referred to as | | | | Usui owned and operated a clinic in Tokyo during the |
| an elite club for the wealthy. | | | | 1920s. The popularity of the clinic led to the formation |
| She was not breaking with tradition by charging high | | | | of the Usui Healing Method Society (Usui Reiki Ryoho |
| fees. Shou Matsui, a Japanese journalist and | | | | Gakkei), which exists to this day. It is likely that Dr. Usui |
| playwright, wrote in 1928 that he paid a "large sum of | | | | always charged a fee for his services, both to treat |
| money" for training. Legend has it that Master Usui, | | | | and to teach others his method. Eventually he opened |
| regarded as the founder of the Reiki healing system, | | | | a larger clinic. His students also opened clinics and |
| originally charged nothing for his services, but found | | | | taught the art to others, and of course charged fees. |
| that the benefits of the healing process were | | | | Throughout history, it has not been unusual for a |
| sometimes short-lived. It is said that he eventually | | | | practitioner to keep his or her methods secret. In this |
| stated that Reiki power should not be given away for | | | | way, he or she was able to ensure a steady flow of |
| free. | | | | patients. Regretfully, sometimes this meant that |
| Takata described the fees she charged as an | | | | effective methods were lost when the practitioner |
| appropriate "exchange of energy". Many masters | | | | died. Ultimately, though, there is no reason to keep the |
| believe that those who have not paid for their healing | | | | distance reiki symbol, the reiki energy symbol or any of |
| have no incentive to stay well. In short, charging a fee | | | | the other symbols secret. They have no power, unless |
| is part of Reiki tradition. Free Reiki symbols may be | | | | a person has been trained or "attuned" to use them. |