Cymatic Science Explains the Benefits of Mantra
Physicists know that energy is in eternal motion. According to the Vedas, everything we perceive is the manifestation of oscillating energy. Modern science recognizes electromagnetic frequencies, what the Vedics call “shakti,” as the primal energy source of form. It is vibration and frequency that organizes “this” into “this” and “that” into “that” — including each of us.
While this is an oversimplification of the Vedic view of creation and existence, as well as energy science, quantum physics now agrees, since discovering that atoms, and their components, are in perpetual states of vibration. Both systems assert that it is this endless dynamic energy that becomes sound, light, heat, and ultimately form, when reduced to the most basic state, causing creation to pulse with the rhythms of energy moving in waves.
Bijas and Mantra Benefits
The Sanskrit word “mantra” translates into two words; “man,” meaning “mind,” and “to think,” and “tra,” meaning “tool” or “instrument.” Mantra is an instrument of the mind, or a tool for thought. Frits Staal, founder of the department of South Asian Studies at U.C. Berkeley and a Vedic scholar, believed mantras pre-date language and words.
Mantra “bijas,” or “seeds” are single-syllable words that carry the essence of a principle. OM is a bija that is used alone or combined with other bijas to make mantric phrases, i.e. “Om Mani Padme Hum.” The bija “OM” is rich with meaning — learn more here.
All mantra, whether spoken or silent, oscillates as subtle frequencies within the body. Karmic habits (how we react the same way over and over again) are imprinted on our energetic being — mantra can subtly change energetic karmic patterns and tendencies. Mantra raises or shifts our subtle frequency, and can “upgrade” our karmic address by helping us change old, unconscious patterns.
Along with invoking specific qualities, spoken or silent mantra recitation protects the mind from reactivity, and can “tame” the wild horse of discursive thought. The untamed mind is the source of karma, in that it draws conclusions and judgements that trigger reactivity of all kinds — for better or worse. Discursive mind has a habit of believing itself to be “right;” always correct in its limited perceptions — often conclusions based on ignorance. By training the mind with mantra, we begin to break out of karmic tendencies and ignorance and open to the world as it is.
Forms of mantra can be found in many traditions. Early Christians chanted single verses from scripture in the same way the Vedics chant mantra. An ancient instruction from a Christian mystic to his student was, “whatever work you are doing, or office you are holding, or journey you are making, do not cease to chant your verse. We must ceaselessly and continuously pour forth the prayer of this verse if we seek holiness.”
A cymatic image displaying attributes of the universal flower of life geometry
Cymatics
Derived from the Greek word for “wave,” cymatics is essentially the study of how sound waves and frequencies influence matter. This is illustrated by a substance (salt, sand) suspended in water or on a surface sensitive to vibration. When exposed to sound, substances flow into visible patterns and shapes. Cymatic experiments have documented the ever-changing forms and designs that reflect principles of sacred geometry and biology.
Some researchers theorize that cymatic action on matter created life, using deep-sea hydrothermal vents to illustrate the theory.
“The hydrothermal vents spewed mineral-rich gases from earth’s core into the seawater and made contact with molten lava in the vicinity of the vent, causing bubbles to form that ranged in size from melons to microbes.
“The elements that poured out of the vents emerged into highly turbulent water in an ocean of rich bubbling sounds. The watery membrane surfaces of the microscopic bubbles offered the perfect places for sound structures to be imprinted with cymatic patterns of energy,” according to the cymascope.com website.
Researcher John Stewart Reid has hypothesized that cymatic action is responsible for Saturn’s visible atmospheric hexagon, caused by a constant stream of ELF, or “extremely low frequency” energy.
By observing cymatic action, we realize that sonics and sound waves impact the body, which is 65 to 70 percent water. Since the body directly influences the mind, by changing the body, we change the mind the same way soundwaves change water and sand. Conversely, when the mind changes, so does the body.
Sonic Science and Wisdom
Science has begun mapping the deep, intricate influences of sound and frequency on the human brain and nervous system. Exploration of sound as a healing modality has exploded in recent decades — sonics are being used for pain management, enhanced learning, performance, immune system health, depression, and many more physical and mental health issues. While science has discovered some of the ways the brain and nervous system respond to sound, sonic and acoustic mysteries are still waiting to be cracked — science is still catching up with ancient wisdom.
To a fetus, the mother’s heartbeat is the entire world. The instinctual human affinity for rhythm is hardwired by our first perception of sound as heartbeat — and not just “heard” sound; the mother’s heartbeat pulses through the entire fetus. Studies have determined that infants who could hear recordings of their mothers’ heartbeat were calmer and cried less. The heartbeat is the matrix of life from womb to tomb — when it stops, we stop.
Jung believed that sound and rhythm were means to access the collective unconscious. Perhaps he was aware that shamanic and indigenous traditions recognize the power of drumming as a potent tool for healing. The shaman or medicine man uses drumming to enter a trance state and travel to other realms to learn of a patient’s illness or dis-ease. Tribes of all times and places enact ritual and ceremony with drumming and dancing.
Whether dancing at an EDM party or festival, or waltzing in a ballroom, those who join together in music and movement are “tribe,” even if just for that moment. Imagine a flamenco dancer with staccato heels whirling to a singer’s lament while the clan claps rhythms in ecstatic trance; a marching band with staccato drums and bright brass instruments rousing a crowd to blood-stirring support for its team at a high school football game; or the woeful wail of bagpipes moving funeral mourners to tears.
Spanda: The Sound of Shakti and the Word
According to ancient tantric sutras, we live and die within the vast, primal heartbeat that the Vedics referred to as the “Spanda.” Derived from the Sanskrit root “spadi,” meaning “to move a little,” the word reflects the yogic perception of the subtle, creative pulse of the universe.
These principles are reflected in Judeo-Christian literature when, in Genesis, God speaks formlessness into form with the words “let there be light;” it was the ‘word’ that brought forth light. The famous passage in John 1:1 in the New Testament says, “In the beginning there was the Word; the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
One argument is that since light travels faster than sound, wouldn’t light preceed sound in creation stories? In 2017, a research team at Middle Tennessee State University conducted an experiment that demonstrated that “sound pulses can travel at velocities faster than the speed of light.” Other experiments have had the same result. Sound can be prior to light.
As humans, our perceptual window is microscopic relative to all there is in space and time. We stumble across puzzle pieces and iceberg tips as we struggle to bring the infinite into focus. Our year of 365 days is a fraction of Saturn’s 29 year trip around the sun. If we can imagine cosmic cymatic activity on a vast scale over (what would be for us) oceans of time, we could conceptualize the universe as the cymatic expression of the spanda. As above, so below; perhaps the key to unlocking vast, cosmic mysteries may be observing energy’s influence on matter on our human scale.
The great hexagon on Saturn’s North Pole. Source: NASA
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Reiki Symbols: How Many Are There and What Is Each One For
In Reiki practice, symbols are tools that practitioners use to give shape, structure, and greater effectiveness to the treatment. Each of these symbols has a specific function, and their application depends on the practitioner’s therapeutic purpose. In this article, we explore how many symbols exist, how they are used, and what role they play in the energetic practice of Reiki.
Table of Contents
- What Are Reiki Symbols And What Are They Used For?
- Origin And Evolution Of Reiki Symbols
- How Many Reiki Symbols Exist?
- The 5 Main Reiki Symbols And Their Function
- How Symbols Are Activated And Used In A Reiki Session
- Can Symbols Be Used Without Being Initiated Into Reiki?
- The Energy Behind The Symbols: Why Do They Work?
What Are Reiki Symbols And What Are They Used For?
Reiki symbols are energetic tools used by practitioners to channel and direct vital energy during a session. Each symbol is used with a specific purpose, such as balancing the body, calming the mind, or facilitating emotional healing. They are incorporated into the practice through visualization, hand-drawn gestures, or mental focus, and they assist in the healing process according to the goal the practitioner seeks to achieve.
Each of these symbols serves a specific function within the system. Some are designed to enhance the energy flow, others to release emotional blockages, relieve mental burdens, or even send Reiki to people who are not physically present. This functional diversity allows each session to be adapted to the recipient’s needs, working on different levels as required by the situation.
In addition to being support tools, the symbols give structure and direction to the therapeutic process. They are not used automatically but as part of a practice that requires attention, presence, and intention. Their strategic application allows the practitioner to guide the session more clearly, effectively, and with greater organization, deepening the effects of Reiki and facilitating a more holistic experience.
Origin And Evolution Of Reiki Symbols
The origin of Reiki symbols dates back to the late 19th century, when Mikao Usui developed this healing system in Japan. Usui integrated teachings from various spiritual traditions and meditative practices, from which the first symbols used in Usui Reiki emerged. These were transmitted privately, only to students who received direct initiations with the master.
Over time, the symbols began to spread beyond Japan thanks to Usui’s disciples and, later on, to the work of teachers like Hawayo Takata, who brought Reiki to the West. In this process of diffusion, the symbols were adapted, documented, and shared with a wider audience, which allowed Reiki to become established as a global practice.
Today, Reiki symbols are part of a path that has expanded far beyond its original lineage. Some contemporary schools have introduced additional symbols, either through channelings or personal adaptations, with the intention of broadening the possibilities of the practice.
How Many Reiki Symbols Exist?
The traditional Reiki system, known as Usui Reiki, is composed of four main symbols that are transmitted across different levels of training. Over time, a fifth symbol was added, which eventually became consolidated in many modern schools as part of the essential set.
In current practice, it is considered that the five essential symbols are: Cho Ku Rei, Sei He Ki, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, Dai Ko Myo, and Raku.
Beyond these five, various branches have added their own, derived, or complementary symbols, resulting in a wide range of approaches. Nevertheless, the symbols of Usui Reiki remain the most widely taught and used around the world, as they represent the original structure on which most Reiki systems are built.
The 5 Main Reiki Symbols And Their Function
In Usui Reiki, five symbols are used to represent essential aspects of the practice: power, harmony, distance healing, mastery, and energetic closure. Each one plays a specific role and is integrated at different points in the therapy to enhance energy flow, balance emotions, work with consciousness, and complete the healing process in an orderly way.
Cho Ku Rei is the symbol used to intensify and concentrate vital energy. It is applied to reinforce any treatment—whether physical, mental, or emotional—and is often used at the beginning of a session to increase Reiki’s strength. Its spiral shape acts as a channel that directs energy toward the area where greater intensity is needed, working as a force amplifier.
Beyond its role as an enhancer, it is also used to cleanse and protect spaces, as well as to seal the energy in the receiver at the end of the session. Thanks to its versatility, Cho Ku Rei is considered an indispensable resource that complements the action of the other symbols and provides safety and stability to every practice.
Sei He Ki is related to the balance between mind and emotions and is used when the goal is to release internal blockages that generate tension or discomfort. Its shape represents the union of the brain hemispheres and promotes integration between the rational and the intuitive, making it an effective tool to achieve states of calm and mental clarity.
This symbol is especially helpful in cases of anxiety, stress, or recurring thought patterns. It is also used to enhance memory, improve communication, and harmonize personal relationships. By balancing the inner planes, Sei He Ki allows energy to flow more freely, creating a state of holistic well-being.
Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen allows Reiki to be sent to people or situations regardless of physical distance or time. This makes it a key tool for distance healing, as it connects the practitioner with the recipient without the need for physical presence. Its energy is also used to work on past memories and experiences that still affect the present.
Likewise, this symbol is used to project energy toward future goals or situations, bringing clarity and balance to the path ahead. By transcending the barriers of space and time, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen expands the reach of Reiki and opens the possibility of working in more subtle planes of existence.
Dai Ko Myo is considered the master symbol in Reiki and is associated with deep healing and spiritual connection. It acts on a high level of consciousness, allowing it to release deeply rooted patterns and support personal transformation processes. It is used both in therapeutic practice and in the initiation of new practitioners.
Its energy is primarily directed toward strengthening the spirit and integrating body, mind, and soul. Working with this symbol stimulates energetic regeneration and reinforces connection with one’s life purpose. For this reason, Dai Ko Myo is seen as a tool for inner expansion that fosters personal evolution and openness to a higher state of harmony.
Raku is the symbol used to conclude a Reiki session, as its main function is to seal and stabilize the energy received by the recipient. Its downward shape helps to anchor energy in the physical body, ensuring it remains grounded and does not dissipate after the session ends. In doing so, it brings a sense of completion and balance following the work done.
During initiations, Raku plays an important role in consolidating the energy transmitted from master to student. It also establishes a clear energetic boundary that protects both the practitioner and the recipient after the session. Thanks to this closing function, the Raku symbol ensures the integration of the therapeutic experience in a stable and organized way.
How Symbols Are Activated And Used In A Reiki Session
During a Reiki session, symbols are activated through the practitioner’s conscious intention. This can be done by visualizing the symbol in the mind, drawing it in the air with the hand, or mentally projecting it toward the area to be treated. What matters is not the precision of the drawing, but the connection established with the symbol’s purpose.
Once activated, the symbol integrates into the Reiki energy flow and directs the corresponding vibration to the specific body area, emotion, or situation being worked on. For example, some symbols are applied at the beginning of the session to enhance the energy, while others are used at specific moments to address emotional blocks or promote relaxation.
The use of symbols is not rigid—it depends on the practitioner’s preference and sensitivity. Several symbols can be used in combination during the same session, depending on the recipient’s needs. This gives flexibility to the treatment and allows the practice to be personalized for a deeper and more balanced effect.
Can Symbols Be Used Without Being Initiated Into Reiki?
In Reiki, initiation is a process in which a master transmits to the student the ability to channel and work with vital energy. In most courses and books, it is taught that without this step, symbols do not function as simple drawings that just anyone can use. According to this view, their effectiveness is linked to the initiation, which opens the conscious connection with energy through them. Without this activation, the symbols are considered to be only graphic representations without the same therapeutic strength.
However, some believe that anyone can benefit from meditating with the symbols, even without having received formal initiation. From this perspective, they are seen as forms that contain their own resonance field, capable of influencing the practitioner’s mind and emotions. While their impact may not be as deep as in traditional Reiki, they are still recognized as useful tools for finding calm and personal focus.
In truth, how their use is understood depends on the school, the teacher, and the practitioner’s experience. While some insist initiation is essential, others argue that the symbols are accessible to anyone who approaches them with respect and awareness. Both perspectives agree that they are not mere decorative drawings, but intention-charged expressions that can influence the inner experience of the one using them.
The Energy Behind The Symbols: Why Do They Work?
Reiki symbols work because they act as keys that allow access to specific energetic frequencies. Each one is designed to focus the practitioner’s intention and connect with a particular aspect of vital energy—whether to amplify, harmonize, or direct it remotely. This interaction between form, intention, and energy is what gives them effectiveness in therapeutic practice.
From an energetic perspective, symbols operate as patterns that organize and channel universal vibration. When used, the practitioner does not create the energy, but facilitates its flow toward a specific goal. This explains why combining the symbols with conscious intention can lead to perceptible effects on the body, mind, and emotions.
Their function can also be interpreted through more modern frameworks of understanding. Sciences that study energy and consciousness suggest that symbols work as bridges between the mind and the energetic reality around us. In this sense, they are not only spiritual tools but mechanisms of interaction with subtle fields still under exploration.
This principle can be related to contemporary approaches investigating the nature of energy and consciousness. In the series Quantum Effect, available on Gaia, Randy Veitenheimer explores how we live in a vast energy field and how consciousness influences our reality. His teachings offer a complementary vision that helps explain why tools like Reiki symbols can have an impact on our everyday experience.
