Reiki and the Runes
This article was written by Ash, a member of Tribe of the Sun and our resident Reiki Master. She splits her time between the African and Nordic paths.
All reiki symbols give intention to the universe’s life energy. Cho Ku Rei turns on the energy, Sei He Ki is for mental or emotions healing, Zonar is use for past life and karmic issues, and Raku is for grounding.
Likewise, you can use other symbols that you are comfortable with to flavor the intention of the energy. These symbols can be ones are you are comfortable with, or symbols that would work well with the client. These additional symbols can be found in a variety of religions or in nature. Below are the select elder futhark runes that I have found to be useful in reiki healing sessions. Runes can be used individually or in combinations called bind runes.
Fehu
Fehu can be used by itself or in combination with Jera (see below) to promote fertility in someone who would like to have a child. Draw the symbol over the root or sacral chakras.
Uruz
Uruz, the auroch, packs a big punch when it comes to healing energy. It’s very powerful but needs a little guidance. I don’t use Uruz for this reason as I prefer the gentler healing energy of Berkano. Use Uruz if someone needs aggressive healing, physical strength or the big push in a healthy direction. An example of someone who might need Uruz in their life is a cancer patient after chemotherapy. Draw the symbol over the heart chakra in that example.
Ansuz
Ansuz can be used if an individual has throat chakra blockages to help develop communication. Do not use if the person has an over developed throat charka.
Kenaz
There is a reiki symbol called Shanti which utilizes the rune, Kenaz, with one backwards S placed over the point and another placed in the mouth of Kenaz. Kenaz can be used in healing for guidance when placed over the third eye chakra or it can be used to aggressively open blocked chakras as it represents the fire of transformation.
Shanti
Shanti is not a rune, but the symbol itself has the rune, Kenaz, represented. The additions to Kenaz change the meaning of the rune slightly, so it is important to discuss the differences. The name, Shanti, can be chanted for peace. When used in reiki healing sessions, it can help alleviate fears (like turning on the light), help alleviate insomnia, and gently opens blocked chakras. I would also draw Shanti on the third eye charka.
Isa
Isa translates to ice or icicle. This rune can be used on any injury that would benefit from applying ice. It will help reduce swelling and help alleviate nerve pain such as sciatica.
Jera
Jera is the rune that speaks most about cycles. When combined with Fehu, it can bring about fertility. However, Jera mostly deals with cycles, changing of the seasons, and life cycles. Because of this, I often use Jera in reiki healing to help heal female “squishy insides” and to place the female cycle back to a normal 28-day pattern.
Eihwaz
Eihwaz, the world tree, has many divinations meanings; however, in reiki healing sessions, it is only used to help treat spinal problems. Eihwaz can be used to help heal compressed or slipped disks and other spinal issues by drawing the rune down the spine and visualizing all the disks going back to their original forms in a healthy spinal formation. I often use this as in combination with Berkano. The visualization is important when using this rune because you don’t want the spine to heal in its current damaged form but back into a healthy, pain-free orientation.
Berkano
Berkano represents the “motherly”, more gentle healing energy. This is my most used healing rune because it can treat a variety of problems including mental and emotional healing, female “squishy insides” healing, regenerative energy, and the “mom comforting hug” that just about everyone needs during the healing process. This rune offers a great deal of comfort, love, and healing and can be used on any chakra.
Nauthiz
The second symbol in Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, the distance symbol, looks exactly
like Nauthiz turned on its side. I don’t use Nauthiz exclusively in healing,
but since I always see the rune when I draw Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen, I thought
I would spend a moment to discuss what Nauthiz means. Nauthiz translates
to “need”. It’s usually invoked when there are no other options, and you
are in a dire state of real need. “You are out of money, you have no food,
you don’t have gas in your car to make it to work, and the bus pass is expired.”
When we perform the distance symbol, it’s usually because we have no choice.
We need to send reiki energy to someone we can’t touch or at a time
