Reiki Guides

Types of Reiki: Different Reiki Systems & Traditions Explained

Reiki has developed into many different traditions, lineages and modern systems. Explore the better-known forms of Reiki alongside some of the more unusual styles you may encounter when looking for Reiki treatments, practitioners or training in Wales.

Are there different types of Reiki?

Yes. Although the word Reiki is often used as though it describes one single practice, many different Reiki systems are now taught and practised around the world.

Some have a clearly documented relationship with the Japanese Reiki tradition associated with Mikao Usui. Others developed later as teachers introduced different methods, symbols, meditation practices, spiritual ideas or complementary approaches.

This means that two practitioners who both describe what they do as Reiki may have trained in different traditions and may approach a session or course in slightly different ways.

An important distinction: the styles below do not all have the same history or lineage. Some are established Reiki traditions with well-documented teaching organisations, while others are much newer, smaller or less standardised systems. Reiki in Wales will make that distinction clear within each individual guide.
Foundation & Japanese traditions

Usui and Japanese Reiki traditions

These are some of the most important styles to understand when exploring the origins, development and continuing Japanese traditions of Reiki.

Usui Reiki

Usui Reiki is the foundation from which much modern Reiki practice developed. It is associated with Mikao Usui and the system known as Usui Reiki Ryoho, which emerged in Japan during the early twentieth century.

Full guide next

Jikiden Reiki

Jikiden Reiki is a Japanese Reiki tradition based on teachings passed through Chujiro Hayashi to Chiyoko Yamaguchi and subsequently taught by the Jikiden Reiki Institute.

Gendai Reiki Ho

Gendai Reiki Ho was developed by Hiroshi Doi in Japan and combines an appreciation of traditional Japanese Reiki teachings with approaches intended for modern Reiki practice.

Satya Japanese Reiki

Satya Japanese Reiki is one of several later Reiki systems that places emphasis on Japanese spiritual concepts and approaches to personal development.

Tibetan Reiki

The term Tibetan Reiki is used within several Western Reiki lineages and systems. It is generally associated with additional symbols, practices or ideas incorporated alongside Usui-derived Reiki teaching.

Modern Reiki systems

Modern branches and developments of Reiki

As Reiki spread internationally, teachers developed new systems and additional approaches. Several have since established their own recognised teaching lineages.

Holy Fire Reiki

Holy Fire Reiki is a modern Reiki system introduced through the International Center for Reiki Training. It is now taught by practitioners and Reiki Masters in a number of countries.

Karuna Reiki

Karuna Reiki is a later Reiki system developed through the work of William Lee Rand. The word Karuna is commonly translated in this context as compassionate action.

Rainbow Reiki

Rainbow Reiki is a modern approach particularly associated with German Reiki teacher Walter Lübeck and incorporates additional energetic and spiritual practices.

Reiki Plus

Reiki Plus is a system associated with David Jarrell that developed from a Usui Reiki lineage while incorporating additional metaphysical teaching and practices.

Blue Star Reiki

Blue Star Reiki is one of the later forms of Reiki that emerged as Reiki diversified internationally. Teaching can vary between practitioners and lineages.

Golden Age Reiki

Golden Age Reiki appears within lists of later Reiki systems and is distinct from the similarly named Gold Reiki. It remains considerably less widespread than Usui Reiki.

Gold Reiki

Gold Reiki is a modern energy system commonly associated with the teaching tradition surrounding Ole Gabrielsen and Kundalini Reiki.

Fusion Reiki

Fusion Reiki is a relatively niche modern system. Different teaching material exists under the name, so lineage and course content are worth checking with an individual teacher.

Imara Reiki

Imara Reiki is a later Reiki system often encountered as an advanced form of energy-work training rather than as a common introductory Reiki practice.

Spiritual & energy-focused systems

Reiki traditions with additional spiritual approaches

Some Reiki systems combine Reiki-style practice with particular spiritual frameworks, meditations, symbols or concepts of subtle energy.

Angelic Reiki

Angelic Reiki is a modern spiritual Reiki system developed through Kevin and Christine Core. Its teachings use an explicitly angelic spiritual framework.

Kundalini Reiki

Kundalini Reiki is a modern system associated particularly with Ole Gabrielsen and combines Reiki-style energy work with concepts relating to Kundalini energy.

Lightarian Reiki

Lightarian Reiki is a modern spiritual system generally taught to people who already have experience of Reiki and is associated with the Lightarian Institute.

Reiki Tummo

Reiki Tummo is associated with Irmansyah Effendi and combines Reiki practice with a particular approach to spiritual development and Kundalini-related teaching.

Seichem Reiki

Seichem is closely connected with several later Reiki developments. Different Seichem and Reiki-Seichem lineages exist, so the exact teaching may vary between schools.

Shamballa Reiki

Shamballa Reiki is a modern energy-healing tradition incorporating Reiki alongside a broader spiritual framework. Several variations of the name and system can be found.

Tera Mai Reiki

Tera Mai Reiki was developed by Kathleen Milner and combines a Usui Reiki background with additional elements associated with Seichem. It is sometimes incorrectly written as “Terra Mai Reiki”.

Guardian Angel Reiki

Guardian Angel Reiki is a name used for modern Reiki-style teachings based around angelic or guardian-angel spirituality. Course content can differ between teachers.

Christ Heart Reiki

Christ Heart Reiki is a modern spiritual system with a particular Christian or Christ-centred energetic framework. It is much less widespread than Usui Reiki.

Specialist approaches

Reiki combined with other practices

Reiki is also used alongside approaches involving animals, crystals, sound, drumming and other complementary or spiritual practices.

Animal Reiki

Animal Reiki describes Reiki practice adapted for animals. Sessions commonly place particular emphasis on allowing the animal freedom to choose its distance and level of interaction.

Crystal Reiki

Crystal Reiki combines Reiki practice with the use of crystals. Practitioners may incorporate selected stones into the environment or place them around a client during a session.

Reiki Drumming

Reiki Drumming combines Reiki practice with rhythmic drumming or sound. Several teachers and training organisations have developed approaches using this combination.

Five Element Reiki

Five Element Reiki incorporates concepts associated with the five elements into a Reiki or energy-work framework. The exact interpretation depends upon the school or practitioner.

Osho Neo Reiki

Osho Neo Reiki combines Reiki with meditation and spiritual ideas associated with Osho. It is a distinct modern approach rather than a traditional Japanese Reiki lineage.

Flower of Life Reiki

Flower of Life Reiki is used as a name for modern energy practices incorporating Reiki with symbolism associated with the Flower of Life. Teaching is not universally standardised.

Less common systems

Other Reiki names you may encounter

These names have all appeared in Reiki or energy-healing communities, although documentation, lineage and teaching consistency can be much more limited. We will investigate each carefully before creating a dedicated guide.

Atlantean Reiki

Also written as Atlantian Reiki, this name is used by some modern practitioners for energy work linked with spiritual ideas surrounding Atlantis. It is not a single universally standardised lineage.

Dragon Reiki

Dragon Reiki is used within some modern spiritual energy systems that combine Reiki terminology with dragon symbolism or meditation. Different versions of the system exist.

Moon Reiki

Moon Reiki is a broad term used by some practitioners for Reiki-style practices associated with lunar cycles or moon-focused spiritual work, rather than one single universally recognised system.

Prema Reiki

Prema Reiki appears within niche Reiki teaching material but is much less extensively documented than major systems such as Usui, Jikiden or Gendai Reiki.

Quantum Reiki

Quantum Reiki is a term used by a variety of modern practitioners. Because the name can describe different approaches, it is important to examine an individual teacher's lineage and course content.

Rising Star Reiki

Rising Star Reiki is a niche modern system available through some contemporary energy-healing teachers and training programmes.

Samurai Reiki

Samurai Reiki appears in some modern teaching and practitioner material, although it does not have the same broadly documented historical lineage as established Japanese Reiki traditions.

Tantra Reiki

Tantra Reiki is a term used in some contemporary spiritual and energy-work settings. Different material uses the name in different ways, so claims about its origins should be approached carefully.

Tiger Reiki

Tiger Reiki is an uncommon modern name found in some Reiki and energy-work material. There is comparatively little standardised historical information about the system.

Zodiac Reiki

Zodiac Reiki combines Reiki-style energy work with concepts associated with astrology and the zodiac. It is a niche modern development rather than a traditional Japanese Reiki system.

Which type of Reiki should I choose?

You do not necessarily need to know which Reiki style is right for you before contacting a practitioner. If you are considering either a Reiki session or Reiki training, however, it can be useful to ask what tradition the practitioner follows and how they were trained.

When comparing Reiki practitioners or teachers in Wales, you may wish to ask about:

  • The Reiki style or tradition they practise
  • Their Reiki lineage and training
  • The level of training they have completed
  • How long they have practised Reiki
  • What normally happens during a session
  • Whether they hold appropriate professional insurance
  • What is included in Reiki training
  • Whether their approach is spiritual, secular or a combination

Different types of Reiki in Wales

Reiki practitioners and teachers throughout Wales may work with very different Reiki traditions. Some concentrate primarily on Usui Reiki, while others offer systems such as Angelic Reiki, Holy Fire Reiki, Karuna Reiki, Jikiden Reiki, Crystal Reiki or other approaches.

Reiki in Wales is developing this section as an independent reference guide so that people can understand what these different names mean before choosing a treatment, practitioner or training course.

Each individual Reiki guide will explore the system's history, known lineage, how it differs from other forms of Reiki, what practitioners may include in a session and what to consider when looking for appropriate training.