Reiki’s Hatsurei-ho: A Simple Way to Come Back to Yourself
There are times when you don't need another thing to do. You don't need to fix anything, work anything out or spend the next hour trying to become a calmer, more balanced version of yourself.
Sometimes you simply need to stop. Take a breath. Put your hands together and come back to yourself.
That is one of the things I love about Hatsurei-ho.
I created this 15-minute Hatsu Rei Ho Reiki meditation as a gentle practice you can return to whenever you want to reconnect with Reiki, settle your mind and create a little space between you and everything else that is going on.
The practice is accompanied by calming Reiki music, soft ocean waves and subtle evening sounds from a peaceful Mediterranean cottage overlooking the sea.
Because, frankly, if I'm going to sit down and meditate, I want somewhere lovely to imagine myself sitting.
What is Hatsurei-ho?
Hatsurei-ho is a Japanese Reiki meditation and breathing practice traditionally used as a way of deepening your connection with Reiki and creating a regular Reiki practice.
The name is often translated in relation to developing or radiating Reiki. It combines several elements of Reiki practice, including cleansing movements, breathing, meditation, Gassho, and reflection on the Reiki Precepts.
And you don't have to make it complicated.
For me, the beauty of this practice is that it gives you something easy to follow while also leaving plenty of room to simply be. You aren't trying to achieve some perfect meditative state. You're just creating a few quiet minutes in which you can breathe, receive and reconnect.
Begin by arriving
Before anything else, get comfortable. Sit somewhere where you won't be disturbed for the next 15 minutes. You can sit on the floor, on a meditation cushion or simply on a chair. You don't need to sit in a particular position or make yourself uncomfortable in the name of spirituality.
Close your eyes if that feels comfortable. Take a slow breath. And silently acknowledge:
I am beginning now.
I really like this simple beginning because it creates a little boundary around the practice. For these few minutes, you don't have to answer anyone, solve anything or be anywhere else.
You're here.
Koku Ho: clearing and opening
The practice then moves into Koku Ho(Kenyoku Ho).
Using slow, sweeping movements, you gently move your hands across the body before raising your arms upwards and opening yourself to Reiki.
If you work with the Reiki Master Symbol, you can visualise yourself surrounded by it during this part of the practice.
Then slowly bring your hands back down and allow them to rest. There is something wonderfully physical about these movements. Rather than sitting down and immediately expecting your mind to become quiet, you're giving yourself a gentle transition. A signal that you're moving from the outside world into your Reiki practice.
Reiki cleansing breath
Next comes the Reiki cleansing breath. Joshin Kokyu Ho.
Begin breathing slowly through your nose, bringing your awareness towards your tanden. As you breathe out through your mouth, imagine releasing anything you no longer need. You might visualise tension leaving the body, imagine your thoughts becoming quieter, or perhaps you don't visualise anything at all.
That's completely fine.
Then, as you breathe in, imagine Reiki entering through your crown and flowing throughout your body. As you breathe out, allow yourself to soften. You don't need to force the experience.
Just breathe. Receive. Allow.
Gassho: bringing your attention home
One of the most recognisable parts of Reiki practice is Gassho.
Bring your palms together in front of your heart. For me, this is one of those beautifully simple gestures that can completely change the feeling of a practice. Your hands are together, breathing slows, and your attention begins to settle.
As you inhale, imagine Reiki entering through your crown.
As you exhale, allow that energy to flow through your hands.
You can imagine your whole body gradually filling with soft, radiant Reiki light.
And if your mind wanders? Let it. This isn't a test. You don't need to sit there with a completely empty mind for 15 minutes. Notice that you've wandered, and gently return to your breath and your hands.
That's the practice.
The Five Reiki Precepts
During the meditation, we also take a moment to reflect on the Five Reiki Precepts:
Just for today, I will not anger.
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will be grateful.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.
I think the words just for today are particularly important, as they make the Precepts feel much more achievable. We're not promising that we'll never become angry again or that we'll never worry. We're simply bringing our attention back to how we want to move through today.
And tomorrow, we can begin again.
You don't have to do this perfectly
If you're new to Reiki meditation, don't worry about getting every part exactly right.
Your practice might look slightly different from someone else's.
You might find your mind wandering constantly or feel peaceful. You might feel emotional, or simply feel absolutely nothing.
All of those experiences are okay.
Reiki practice isn't about performing meditation correctly. It's about creating the space to connect with yourself and with the Reiki practice you've chosen to follow.
Some days you may feel deeply connected. Other days you may simply sit there thinking about what you're having for dinner.
That is being human.
Come back to the breath. Come back to Gassho.
Begin again.
A 15-minute practice you can actually return to
One of the reasons I wanted to make this meditation just 15 minutes long is because I think shorter practices are easier to make part of everyday life.
You don't to find an hour, a perfectly silent house, or a special meditation room.
Fifteen minutes is enough to create a pause.
You could practise first thing in the morning before the day starts, use it when you need to mentally leave the day behind, or you could make it part of your evening routine before bed.
And if 15 minutes feels like too much on a particular day, even sitting quietly with your hands in Gassho for a few minutes can be a lovely way to reconnect.
The important thing isn't how long you practise. It's that you return.
Practise Hatsurei-ho with me
I've created the video below as a guided 15-minute practice, so you don't have to remember the sequence or keep checking the clock.
Just find somewhere comfortable, press play and allow yourself to be guided.
The video moves through:
Begin → Koku Ho → Cleansing Breath → Gassho → Receive Reiki → Five Reiki Precepts → Closing
I've deliberately kept the instructions on screen simple. The practice is guided gently through the stages, with Reiki music, ocean waves and the sounds of the Mediterranean evening creating a peaceful space around you.
When you're ready to finish, take one final slow breath. Thank Reiki and gently lower your hands.
But, before you immediately rush back into everything else, give yourself a moment.
Notice how you feel. You may feel calmer, grounded or perhaps you simply feel that you've finally stopped for a few minutes.
Whatever you experience, let that be enough.
Just for today.
🌿 Practise with me: 15-Minute Hatsu Rei Ho Reiki Meditation | Guided Practice with Gassho
If you enjoy the practice, you can return to it whenever you need a quiet moment to reconnect with Reiki and yourself.
And if you'd like more Reiki meditations, calming music and peaceful soundscapes for your practice, you can find more from Natura | Soundscapes Meditation & Reiki Music on YouTube.
Take a breath.
Bring your hands together.
And begin again.
Want to explore Reiki further?
If you're enjoying Hatsurei-ho and would like to explore Reiki beyond the meditation itself, this is a lovely book to add to your reading list.
It offers a deeper look at Reiki practice and makes a useful companion for anyone wanting to develop a more regular, mindful Reiki practice.
This is an affiliate link, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase through it, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Natura Reiki.
