In several posts I have discussed the origins of the Reiki Master Symbol in passing, I’d like to take a look at it in a bit more detail here.
Originally, the Reiki Master Symbol was not a Reiki symbol at all. Upon completion of shinpiden level studies (the master level) Dr. Usui would present his students with a calligraphy with the symbol now known as the Reiki Master Symbol presented as a reminder of what the goal of Reiki is, so that students would always be reminded of this goal and the calligraphy was kind of a ‘north star’ guiding them home, as it were, and keeping them on the Reiki path.
Exactly when this calligraphy changed to a symbol is not clear, but it is clear that Dr. Usui never used it as such. Actually, only Mrs. Takata’s Reiki lineage seems to be the only one using this symbol as other traditional Japanese Reiki lineages have never done so. Perhaps Dr. Hayashi presented it to her as a calligraphy and she changed it, or perhaps he presented it to her a symbol, either way it is somewhere in that area that the Master Symbol was created.
Over the years, many people have learned the Master Symbol and have used it as such and the result is that it has become very powerful. If many people imbue a symbol with a particular energy, that symbol eventually takes on that energy. The Cross, Swastika, and Dollar Symbol are all examples of this. More people have been introduced to Reiki through Mrs. Takata’s students than any other branch, and the sheer number of followers have given this symbol so much power that even Japanese Reiki masters from other lineages have begun to use it. You can’t argue with success.
The Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai continues to stick to the original system, and stick to the first 3 symbols only… perhaps its the stubborn nature of the Japanese or perhaps they know something that we don’t… in all likelihood, due to the Gakkai’s secretive and IMHO rather selfish nature we may never know.
For further explanation or discussion, your thoughts are most welcome and highly encouraged, please feel free to comment below!!!
