Returning to Self with Usui Reiki Ryōhō

In Usui Reiki Ryōhō, self-healing is not optional, it is the foundation of the practice. The truth that we cannot heal others until we have begun to heal ourselves lies at the heart of Reiki. While many people come to Reiki with the intention of helping loved ones, animals, or clients, the true essence of Reiki begins within.

This is why the 21 days of self-healing following the first attunement are so vital. During this period, Reiki gently clears, balances, and brings awareness to what is ready to shift. Profound transformations often occur, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. I have witnessed weight loss, the release of addictive habits such as smoking, the softening of long-held trauma, and many other powerful examples of self-healing. These changes arise naturally when we commit to ourselves and allow Reiki to flow consistently. The layers starts to peel off like an onion.....a diamond long hidden emerges....

As confidence grows, some practitioners often feel called to share Reiki with friends and, eventually,  professionally with clients. This is a natural progression. However, it is also the point at which the focus can quietly turn outward. Personal Reiki practice may become shorter, irregular, or neglected altogether. Initially, everything may still seem successful as energy is directed toward others, sessions flow well, and learning continues. We may even pursue additional courses, symbols, attunements, or techniques in order to “do more” for our clients.

Yet without balance, this outward focus is not sustainable.

Eventually, some practitioners encounter a kind of inner resistance or exhaustion a brick wall. As the saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup. The signs of self-neglect appear in many forms: fatigue, diminished vitality, emotional imbalance, lack of motivation or declining physical health. These symptoms are not failures, they are gentle reminders from Reiki itself, calling us back to self-care and inner practice.

The peace, stillness, and clarity experienced during the 21 days of self-healing or the first moments when Reiki brought deep tranquillity are not meant to be temporary. They can be revived, nurtured, and deepened over time, without the risk of burnout. This requires a conscious return to placing personal practice first, living the Reiki Principles, and allowing Reiki to guide us inward again and again.

It’s less about the number of clients you serve or the number students in your class, and more about how much time you are willing to devote to yourself each day. This is not about remaining in a constant state of healing crisis. Reiki supports complete, integrated healing, followed by ongoing maintenance, balance, and prevention. The intention is to restore harmony to the whole being (body, mind, and spirit) so that healing becomes a stable state, not an emergency response.

By honouring our own needs, we naturally restore balance within ourselves. From this place of inner wholeness, Reiki flows effortlessly, supporting not just our own healing, but also our ability to truly hold space for others as they journey toward their own healing.

This delicate equilibrium must be maintained and you have the power to nurture or disrupt it. It’s yours to cultivate and protect, with intention and care.

If you have taken our 21 day pledge, allow this time to rekindle your personal Reiki practice. Even if it means stepping back for a while from teaching or working with clients, trust that this return to self is part of your path. Reiki continues to work through stillness as much as through action.

Aim for at least 20 minutes a day for starters!

You deserve this moment, just for today.

In Gassho 合掌 🤍