The 4 Principles of Reiki
The Four General Principles & Concepts of Reiki
• As developed in the Butterfly Reiki System, Michael Fuchs, Founder:
In the traditional understanding of Reiki, the methods we practice are only the surface of a much deeper spiritual art. Beneath every symbol, every hand placement, every breath, and every act of healing lies a framework of universal principles — truths that shape how Reiki works and how we live it.
In The Seven Jewels of Reiki and The Compassionate Touch of Reiki, I describe these as the Four General Principles and Concepts of Reiki.
They are simple.
They are profound.
And they form the spiritual foundation of all true Reiki practice.
1. Everything Is Energy
All things arise from one field of life-force.
At the most fundamental level, everything in existence — our bodies, our thoughts, our emotions, our environments, even the the most subtle spiritual realities — are a manifestation of energy.
Reiki teaches us to work directly with this living field.
When we receive reiki attunement and soften the mind, settle the breath, and allow ourselves to be present, we begin to feel what is already here:
a universe made of flowing life-force, constantly moving, transforming, and seeking harmony.
Recognizing “everything is energy” opens the door to genuine healing, because we learn to work with causes, not symptoms.
2. All Is One, We Are One, One Is All
Separation is illusion. Unity is the truth.
This principle expresses one of the deepest realizations in the Reiki path:
there is no real separation between ourselves and others, between body and spirit, between the individual and the universe.
In Reiki:
• the practitioner and the recipient meet in shared presence
• healing flows through unity, not effort
• compassion becomes natural because we recognize the other as ourselves
• harmony is restored by returning to the original wholeness of life
This is why Reiki feels peaceful, why it stabilizes the emotions, and why it reaches beyond physical technique.
It is a practice rooted in Oneness — the spiritual truth behind all healing traditions.
3. Spirit (Reiki) Commands Energy
The higher directs the lower; consciousness guides the flow.
Reiki, in its truest meaning, refers not to a technique but to the spiritual intelligence of the universe — the higher consciousness that underlies all life.
This principle reminds us:
• energy follows consciousness
• the deeper the practitioner’s presence, the clearer the flow
• Reiki works because Spirit guides it, not our personal will
• healing arises when we align with the Higher, not when we try to control outcomes
This is why the most powerful Reiki sessions are often the quietest.
When we step out of the way, the spiritual intelligence of Reiki does the work.
4. Thy Will Be Done, Not Mine
Humility, surrender, and trust in the Divine flow.
This final principle is the heart of authentic Reiki practice.
Reiki is not directed by the ego, personal intention, or force of will.
It unfolds naturally when the practitioner enters a state of openness, humility, and surrender:
• “Thy Will Be Done” means allowing healing to occur according to spiritual wisdom.
• It means trusting the Higher Power (Rei) to guide the energy (Ki).
• It means stepping out of effort and into faith.
This principle transforms Reiki from a technique into a spiritual path.
It allows the practitioner to become a vessel — calm, sincere, and aligned with the highest good.
Living the Principles
These Four Principles are not just ideas to study.
They are ways of being that shape how we practice Reiki, how we see the world, and how we grow as human beings.
They guide the Butterfly Reiki System in all its forms:
• in meditation
• in healing sessions
• in emotional and spiritual development
• in everyday life
• in our relationship with others
• in our relationship with the Divine
Reiki begins as healing.
It becomes transformation.
Ultimately, it becomes a way of living in harmony with the truth that:
Everything is energy.
All is One.
Spirit commands energy.
Thy Will Be Done.
• In Gassho and respect to the Founder, O-Sensei Mikao Usui.
