Cho Ku Rei, Sei He Ki and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen are names you may encounter in Reiki training. They are associated with different intentions within Reiki traditions. This guide explains the terminology without treating spiritual teachings as established medical effects.
Three commonly taught symbols
Teachers may use different spellings, drawings and explanations. Follow the materials for the lineage you study, and ask your teacher to explain differences rather than assuming one online diagram is a universal standard.
Cho Ku Rei
Often called the power symbol, Cho Ku Rei is associated with focusing or emphasizing an intention in Reiki practice. Describing it as powerful expresses a traditional meaning; it does not measure a physical force or prove that a symptom will improve.
Sei He Ki
Often called the mental/emotional or harmony symbol, Sei He Ki is used in practices concerned with thoughts, feelings and balance. These associations do not establish treatment for anxiety, depression or another mental-health condition.
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen
Often called the distance symbol, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is associated with distance Reiki. Claims about energy crossing distance or time belong to the tradition, rather than an established biological mechanism.
The International Center for Reiki Training’s discussion of symbols illustrates how a Reiki teacher interprets their use. It is a source about spiritual practice, not clinical evidence.
What attunement means in training
Reiki teaching often connects symbols with an initiation or attunement. Ask which symbols and ceremonies are included in your specific course. Learning a sequence, having an unusual sensation or receiving a certificate does not demonstrate a new medical ability.
Our guide to Reiki attunement explains what to ask about the ceremony and your choices. No particular warmth, vision or emotional response is required to describe your experience honestly.
Practice with attention and consent
- Use the forms and instructions your teacher provided, and ask for help if something is unclear.
- Choose a short, comfortable practice rather than a fixed performance target.
- If practicing with another person, explain the activity and ask about touch and participation.
- Invite open feedback, such as “How was that for you?” Avoid suggesting what the other person should have felt.
- Do not interpret impressions as diagnoses, recovered memories or instructions to change healthcare.
See our self-practice guide and examples of Reiki intentions for practical ways to reflect without promising an outcome.
What the research does not establish
NCCIH’s Reiki overview reports no scientific evidence for the proposed energy field. Symbol meanings and personal experiences should not be presented as proof of healing, protection from danger or guaranteed results.
Learning at Self Empowered Minds
Saba teaches Reiki in the Usui/Holy Fire lineage. Review Reiki I and II training for the current course, and ask which symbols, practice opportunities and materials are included. For further study, see Reiki Master training.
Existing students can check practice workshops and confirm eligibility, schedule and fees. If you want an individual appointment instead of certification, explore Reiki sessions in NYC and online.
Reviewed and updated October 23, 2026. Symbol descriptions are presented as tradition; unsupported frequency, medical-effect and guaranteed-training-outcome claims have been removed.