The Reiki Principles
Kyo dake wa | Just for today
Ikaru na | Do not be angry
Shin pai suna | Do not be worried
Kan sha shi te | Be grateful
Gyo-o hage me | Do you duties fully
Hito ni shin setsu ni | Be kind to others
The principles of Reiki are part of the foundation for Reiki as a discipline. They offer guidance and advice to be more present within every day so that we may have a positive relationship with living. They serve as a reminder to focus on the here and now, to do your best, no matter what that may look like for any given moment. These five simple Reiki principles are what I turn to to be my light at the end of the tunnel and provide me with a sense of peace, hope, or self-forgiveness throughout life’s ups and downs.
So let’s break it down!
Kyo dake wa
Kyo dake wa (just for today) is the main emphasis within these principles. Just for today- only focus on today. Don’t think of the past, regrets, or the memories that haunt us. Don’t think of the future, burdens, or what we “should” be doing.
My zodiac sign is Cancer, and with aaaall the emotions pumping through me at any given moment, I fall into overthinking very easily. Breaking life down into 24hr segments and reminding myself to focus on today has been a huge game-changer for me. It’s helped me be more mindful of my time and energy. Instead of spending hours daydreaming about a possible argument I may have in the future or reminiscing about the past, I can ground myself in the present moment and prioritize my plans for the day.
Kyo dake wa (just for today) helps me shed the burdens of regret and anxieties of the future. I can’t change the past, nor can I face the future until it gets here. All I can do is decide who I want to be or what I want to do for today. And when tomorrow becomes today, then I can make those decisions. But, for now, those are not a “today” decision.
Ikaru na & Shin pai suna
The same rings true with Ikaru na (do not be angry) and Shin pai suna (do not be worried). For today, don’t be angry or worried. This is not to say we will never feel those emotions, nor be justified in feeling those emotions, but to say that in letting anger or worry get the better of us or consume us, we lose out on experiencing peace and joy. We lose out on the essence of who we are or who we want to be.
Trying not to be angry or worried requires trust! Trust in ourselves that we can handle any situation thrown at us and maintain our boundaries. And trust in the universe that everything will work out in the end. Just for today, find your inner peace. I don’t know about you, but this is so much easier said than done!
Having Reiki as a discipline, for me, involves a lot of forgiveness for when I do let anger or worry cloud my mind. When I catch myself in those moments, I redirect my brain to something more productive. Even if I’m just redirecting to go to sleep!
That’s what I believe these two principles are really trying to convey. By speaking them, you’re reminded of your confidence and peace. And by redirecting in the moments we notice anger or worry overwhelming us, we can return to the energy of equilibrium. The small act of noticing and pivoting can allow the stronger emotions to dissipate and flow from the body.
Kan sha shi te
Another way we can find that inner peace is through Kan sha shi te (be grateful). I actually journal most days, and at the top of each entry I write down three things I’m grateful for. When I’m not in the mood to journal, but I do so anyways, spending time finding things I’m grateful for always ends up bringing a smile to my face. It forces me to think of things I love and cherish!
Try it for yourself! What are three things you’re grateful for? Even if it’s as simple as having enjoyed your morning coffee. There’s just something about reminding ourselves of the joys of life that brings serenity, even on gloomy days.
I also want to point out you can be grateful for things and still uphold your boundaries!
This could look like being appreciative for a gift or apology but still being upset and needing time to rebuild trust. The ideal of being grateful throughout our lives, in my opinion, is a reminder to appreciate the small things. To find joy in various aspects of each day. Not a declaration of passivity.
Gyo-o hage me
Gyo-o hage me (do your duties fully) is another one besides Kyo dake wa (just for today) that I heavily focus on. Initially, doing your duties fully may ruffle your procrastination feathers like it did for me. Like “Come on… I get it. I know I can be lazy at times. I don’t need to be called out for it.”
But after some time of sitting with this Reiki principle, I’ve really grown to love it. This principle isn’t some unattainable ideal, although it may appear so at first glance.
As someone who’s struggled with severe mental illness, doing something to the best of my ability looked different for any given day. Hell! Sometimes it looked different in the morning vs at night! My “being lazy” at times really had nothing to do with laziness or procrastination. Those moments reflected on my energy levels. Those moments were my body trying to signal I needed rest, that I overdid it, burnt myself out, gave too much of myself without recharging my battery.
Doing your duties fully, just for today, means trying your best. If you only have enough energy to get one thing done, then wonderful! After that one thing, your duty is to rest. Your duties not only include your to-do list, they include your obligations to yourself.
Becoming acquainted with this principle has really been about becoming acquainted with myself.
Now-a-days, I can recognize the resistance that sparks in me and when I’m needing to shift from active to rest. I no longer call it laziness. I call it for what it is… self-care. I will recharge and then tackle whatever I need to tackle. This is gyo-o hage me.
Hito ni shin sets ni
And lastly, Hito ni shin setsu ni (be kind to others). This is something we’ve all heard since we were kids! I don’t feel the need to hound on the concept that one act of kindness creates a ripple affect of kindness in the world. We’ve all heard the pleas for compassion growing up.
Instead I want to challenge us all to remember that relationships are a core part of humanity. Building and maintaining relationships is what drives a community. We can’t go through life without those we love, those who support us, and the strangers we interact with on a daily basis.
Relationships with others and ourselves is what truly unites us all as humans. All of us living an individual and collective experience on this Earth. All of us have our internal and external worlds. Separately, we are a single person, but together we are all One.
Being kind is being united.
Kyo dake wa
— Alyssa
