Who Is Reiki Level 2 For?

Okuden is for students who have already completed Reiki Level 1 Shoden and feel ready to go deeper.

This course may be right for you if you have been practising Reiki for yourself and now feel called to understand more. You may want to deepen your self-practice, learn the traditional Reiki symbols and mantras, explore distant Reiki, or begin preparing to offer Reiki to others in a more professional way.

It may also be right for you if you trained in Reiki Level 2 elsewhere but feel you were not given enough depth, context, ethics or support. Many students come back to Okuden because they were taught symbols quickly but never really understood what they were for, how to practise with them, or how to hold the responsibility of Reiki work properly.

You are welcome here if you want your Reiki practice to feel grounded, respectful and rooted, rather than rushed or diluted.

What You Will Learn on Reiki Level 2 Okuden

During Okuden, you will be guided through the second level of Usui Reiki Ryōhō in a way that is clear, practical, professional and rooted in self-cultivation.

You will learn:

• The meaning and purpose of Okuden

• You will explore why Okuden is known as the inner teachings and why this level asks for more depth, honesty and commitment from the student.

• The Reiki symbols and mantras

• You will learn the traditional Reiki symbols and mantras used at this level, including how to practise with them respectfully and why they are more than visual signs on a page.

• How to work with the symbols in practice

• You will be guided in how the symbols and mantras can support focus, connection, harmony, compassion and distant Reiki within the structure of Usui Reiki Ryōhō.

• Distant Reiki

• You will learn how to offer Reiki beyond physical touch, including distant Reiki and online Reiki, with clear boundaries, consent and ethical practice.

• Practitioner preparation

• You will learn how to prepare yourself before offering Reiki to others, including grounding, intention, state, presence and professional responsibility.

• Deeper self-practice

• You will continue to build your own Reiki practice, because Okuden is not about leaving self-practice behind. It is about deepening it.

• Offering Reiki to clients safely

• You will learn how to offer Reiki in a way that is respectful, boundaried and clear, without diagnosing, promising outcomes or stepping outside your role.

• Ethics, consent and confidentiality

• You will explore the professional foundations needed when working with others, including consent, confidentiality, safeguarding awareness and scope of practice.

• What Reiki is, and what Reiki is not

• You will be supported to understand Reiki without fear-based language, inflated claims, spiritual performance, or unnecessary additions.

How to continue after the course

You will be guided on how to keep practising after Okuden, whether Reiki remains personal for you or becomes part of your professional path.

Reiki Symbols and Mantras

At Okuden, students are introduced to the Reiki symbols and mantras traditionally associated with the second level of practice. In my teaching, these are not treated as quick tools or secret tricks. They are taught with care, respect and context. A symbol is not powerful because we copy it from a manual. It becomes meaningful through practice, repetition, understanding and the state of the person using it.

The mantras are also important. They bring the sound, rhythm and meaning of the practice into the body and mind, helping the student work with Reiki in a more focused and embodied way.

This part of Okuden is taught carefully, because the symbols and mantras deserve to be understood rather than simply memorised. They are part of the living practice of Reiki, not something to be rushed through.

Distant Reiki and Online Reiki

Okuden is the level where students are introduced to distant Reiki. Distant Reiki is often misunderstood, and for that reason I teach it in a grounded and careful way. It is not about forcing energy onto someone, invading their space, or trying to fix them from a distance. Consent, boundaries and respect are essential.

You will learn how to offer distant Reiki safely, with clear intention and proper preparation. This may include distant Reiki for people who cannot attend in person, online Reiki sessions, or Reiki offered to support someone with their consent when physical presence is not possible.

Online Reiki can be deeply supportive when it is held properly. The quality of the practitioner still matters. The preparation still matters. The ethics still matter. The space still matters.

This is why Okuden does not only teach distant Reiki as a method. It teaches the responsibility that comes with it.

Reiki as Practitioner Development

One of the most important parts of Okuden is understanding that the practitioner is part of the practice. Your steadiness, boundaries, honesty matters and your ability to be present without taking over matters. When you offer Reiki to another person, you are not there to diagnose them, perform for them, rescue them, or place your own interpretations onto their life. You are there to hold a safe, respectful Reiki space where their system can receive support without pressure.

This is where Reiki becomes a mature practice. Not because it becomes complicated, but because it asks you to become more aware of yourself.

Okuden helps you begin to understand what it means to be a practitioner from the inside out.

In-Person and Online Reiki Training

Reiki Level 2 Okuden is available both in person at Holistic Care Durham and online.

In-person training takes place at my private therapy centre in County Durham, where the course is held in a calm, supportive and professional space. Training is usually taught over two days, allowing time for teaching, practice, questions, Reiju and integration.

Online Reiki training is also taught live, not as a pre-recorded course. This means you are still seen, supported and guided through the training properly. You can ask questions, take part in discussion, practise in real time and feel part of the learning process even if you are not local to Durham.

I understand that not everyone can travel. Online training can make Reiki accessible to students who live further away, have caring responsibilities, health needs, limited transport, or simply feel more comfortable learning from home.

The standard of teaching, care and professional responsibility remains the same whether you train in person or online.

Professional, Ethical Reiki Practitioner Training

Reiki is unregulated in the UK, which means the quality and depth of training can vary widely. For that reason, I believe Reiki training needs to be held with care, honesty and professional responsibility.

At Holistic Care Durham, Reiki Level 2 includes clear teaching around ethics, consent, boundaries, confidentiality, safeguarding awareness, scope of practice and safe support.

You will not be encouraged to diagnose, promise outcomes, frighten people, or step outside your role. You will be taught to understand Reiki as a supportive practice, not a replacement for medical care, mental health support or professional advice.

This matters deeply at Okuden, because many students begin to consider offering Reiki to others after this level. A practitioner needs more than enthusiasm. They need grounding, humility, clarity, compassion and professional boundaries.

My background as an integrative therapist, Reiki Master Teacher and full member of the UK Reiki Federation informs the way I teach. Reiki is spiritual, but it should also be safe, ethical, well-held and professional.

What Is Included

Your Okuden Reiki Level 2 training includes:

• Live Reiki Level 2 Okuden teaching

• In-person or online training option

• Reiju as part of your training

• Reiki Level 2 manual

• Teaching on the Reiki symbols and mantras

• Distant Reiki training

• Online Reiki practice guidance

• Practitioner preparation and development

• Ethics, boundaries and safe practice

• Guided practice and discussion

• Certificate on completion

• Support after the course

• Option to continue practice through The Reiki Dojo

Students are also invited to continue their development through The Reiki Dojo, my Reiki community for ongoing practice, Reiki shares, teachings and support.

After Your Okuden Training

After completing Okuden, you will be encouraged to continue your self-practice and begin integrating what you have learned slowly and respectfully.

You may choose to use Reiki personally, offer Reiki to family and friends, begin distant Reiki practice, or take steps towards offering Reiki professionally if you feel ready and have the right insurance, boundaries and professional foundations in place. There is no need to rush. Okuden is a deep level, and the teachings continue to unfold through practice.

Some students later continue to Shinpiden, Reiki Master Practitioner level, where the practice deepens further into self-cultivation, mastery and a more profound relationship with the system of Reiki.

Is Reiki Level 2 Right for Me?

Reiki Level 2 may be right for you if you have completed Shoden (at least 12 weeks prior) and feel ready to deepen your practice.

You may feel drawn to Okuden because you want to understand Reiki more fully, because you want to work with the symbols and mantras, because you feel called to distant Reiki, or because you are beginning to consider offering Reiki to others.

You may also feel ready because Reiki has become something important in your life, not just something you learned once and left behind.

You do not need to be perfect, fully confident or completely certain. But you do need to be willing to practise, reflect, learn and take the responsibility of this level seriously. Okuden is a deepening. You are allowed to take that step with care.

Reiki Level 2 Okuden Course Details

Level: Reiki Level 2 / Reiki II / Okuden

Style: Usui Reiki Ryōhō

Teacher: Leanne Barker, Reiki Master Teacher

Location: Holistic Care Durham, County Durham, TS28 5DJ

Cost: £250

Online option: Yes, live online training available

Suitable for: Students who have completed Reiki Level 1 Shoden

If you feel ready to deepen your Reiki training, you are welcome to view the upcoming Okuden course dates and choose the option that feels right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Reiki Level 1 before Reiki Level 2?

Yes. Okuden Reiki Level 2 is for students who have already completed Reiki Level 1 Shoden. A strong foundation is important before moving into the deeper teachings.

Can I learn Reiki Level 2 online?

Yes. Reiki Level 2 Okuden is available online as live training. This is not a pre-recorded course. You are taught and supported in real time.

Is online Reiki Level 2 as valid as in-person training?

Online Reiki training can be taught with depth, care and integrity when it is held properly. My online Okuden training includes live teaching, discussion, practice, support and Reiju, so students are properly guided through the process.

What does Okuden mean?

Okuden is often translated as “inner teachings” or “deeper teachings”. It is the second level of Usui Reiki Ryōhō and supports deeper practice, distant Reiki and practitioner development.

What is the difference between Reiki Level 2 and Okuden?

They refer to the same level. Reiki Level 2 is the common English term, while Okuden is the traditional Japanese name for the second level of Reiki training.

Is Reiki Level 2 the same as Reiki II?

Yes. Reiki Level 2 and Reiki II usually refer to the same second level of Reiki training. On this page I use Reiki Level 2 because it is clearer for most people searching online.

Do I learn Reiki symbols at Level 2?

Yes. Reiki Level 2 Okuden introduces the Reiki symbols and mantras traditionally associated with this level. These are taught with respect, context and clear guidance for practice.

Can I practise professionally after Reiki Level 2?

Many people begin preparing to offer Reiki professionally after Reiki Level 2, but this must be done responsibly and after completion of case studies. You will need appropriate insurance, clear boundaries, consent, confidentiality and professional ethics. Reiki Level 2 gives you the practitioner foundation, but your ongoing practice and professional responsibility matter deeply.

Can I train with you if I completed Reiki Level 1 elsewhere?

Yes, students who completed Reiki Level 1 elsewhere are welcome, provided the foundations are suitable. If you feel unsure, you can contact me before booking so we can make sure Okuden is the right next step for you.

Where is the Reiki Level 2 course held?

In-person Reiki Level 2 training is held at Holistic Care Durham in County Durham. Online training is also available for students who are not local.

Who teaches the Reiki Level 2 course?

The course is taught by Leanne Barker, Reiki Master Teacher at Holistic Care Durham and full member of the UK Reiki Federation.