What is the difference between Holy Fire® Reiki and Usui Reiki Ryoho?

Holy Fire® Reiki is a modern system developed by William Lee Rand of the ICRT, emphasizing a refined, high-vibrational energy and guided meditative experiences. Usui Reiki Ryoho is the original system created by Mikao Usui in Japan in 1922, focused on personal spiritual cultivation through breath, meditation, the five precepts, and hands-on healing. Traditional Japanese Reiki teaches that Reiki is not something to channel from outside — it is your own true nature, to be rediscovered through practice.

What is the hara and why does it matter in Reiki?

The hara is an energetic center located approximately two to three inches below the navel. In traditional Japanese practice, it is considered the seat of vitality, groundedness, and spiritual presence. Settling awareness into the hara before and during Reiki practice helps the practitioner move from mental doing into embodied being, which is the foundation of authentic Reiki presence.

What is reiju in traditional Japanese Reiki?

Reiju is the traditional Japanese Reiki blessing, often translated as giving of spiritual energy. Unlike the Western attunement, reiju is not about transferring an ability from teacher to student. It is an energetic invitation, a gentle awakening of the student's own innate connection to spiritual energy. Reiju reflects the understanding that Reiki is not something given, but something remembered.

Can I transition from Holy Fire® Reiki to traditional Japanese Reiki?

Yes. Many practitioners move from modern Reiki systems to traditional Usui Reiki Ryoho as their practice deepens. A transition class offers a gentle, guided bridge, not a rejection of previous training, but an expansion of it. Rev. Mandy Carter at Healing Homes and Hearts offers this transition path for existing students.

Who is Frans Stiene and why does his lineage matter?

Frans Stiene is the co-founder of the International House of Reiki and one of the most respected researchers of traditional Japanese Reiki in the world. He has trained in Japan with masters including Hiroshi Doi and has been a major influence on global research into Usui Reiki Ryoho since the early 2000s. Rev. Mandy Carter trained directly with Frans Stiene, placing her in a verified traditional Japanese lineage traceable to Mikao Usui himself.

From Holy Fire® to Traditional Japanese Reiki | Mandy Carter

Rev. Amanda Carter

Apr 14

1 min read

In 2024, Rev. Mandy Carter made a profound shift from Holy Fire® Reiki to traditional Japanese Usui Reiki Ryoho, trained in the lineage of Frans Stiene at the International House of Reiki. This is her personal story of that awakening.

Rev. Mandy Carter teaching hara awareness in traditional Usui Reiki Ryoho — Healing Homes & Hearts, Springfield Ohio

From Holy Fire® to Traditional Japanese Reiki | Mandy Carter

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