What Is Karuna Reiki – Benefits, Symbols And How It Differs From Usui

Karuna Reiki ® is a system that has a higher vibrational approach than what we’re used to in Reiki Usui.

This Reiki system consists of many meditations with the Ascendant Masters, angels, and Archangels.

There are also meditations for learning how to forgive yourself and others.

As a side note, learning how to accept, understand, and forgive is the core of Karuna Reiki ® and I dare to say of Reiki in general.

Karuna is simply more focused on this aspect and allows the practitioner to go deeper than with other systems.

Who Created Karuna Reiki

The Karuna Reiki ® system was developed in 1995 by Master William Lee Rand with the help of some of his students.

He is the president of the International Center for Reiki Training, The Center For Reiki Research, and The Reiki Membership Association. He also writes as editor in chief at Reiki News Magazine.

Among his many achievements, William Lee Rand is constantly working to promote world peace. One of the highlights was placing World Peace Crystal Grids in Jerusalem and at the North and South Pole.

Students all over the world can send Reiki to this grid structure on a monthly basis to promote world peace.

What Does Karuna Mean

The word itself “Karuna” is of Sanskrit origin. It is related to the generic ideas and meanings of unconditional love, compassion, and spiritual evolution.

To make things more clear, Karuna refers to helping yourself as well as others because we are all one. In helping yourself heal you want to help others too because we are interconnected.

This process will extend even further, influencing many people, and in return, you will benefit as well.

Karuna Reiki Levels

Most Reiki teachers recommend attending the first levels of Karuna Reiki after mastering the Usui Reiki system. 

To make things easier and help the practitioner have a more harmonious and discerning development, Karuna Reiki has been split into 3 levels:

• Beginner – here you will get in tune with Karuna and the way it feels like. Unlike Usui Reiki, at this level, you receive some of the sacred symbols that will be very useful for your spiritual journey.
• Intermediate – after getting a better understanding of the first degree of Karuna Reiki, the intermediate level will give you access to even higher vibrational symbols and their energies.
• Advanced – in Karuna Reiki, at the Master Level, you receive access to all meditations as well as the master symbol. 

One of the things I have noticed after being attuned for this level was an increased ability to define situations.

Obviously, I’m not talking about winning the lottery, but rather adapting some situations to your advantage by having a clear, strong intention.

Also, the “karmic debts” that need to be solved, were considerably quicker in manifesting. This is just a possibility, not a certainty, and because each and every one of us is different, we will experience distinct paths.

The Few Systems Derived From Karuna

• Holy Fire® Reiki – developed by Master William Lee Rand;
• Tera Mai Reiki – developed by Master Kathleen Milner;
• Karuna Ki Reiki and Mudra Technique – developed by Vincent P. Amador;

Get more clarity on Holy Fire® Reiki!

Karuna Reiki, together with Usui Reiki Rhoyo and other Reiki systems amplify the practitioner’s power to channel the universal source of life force energy.

It also brings many more Reiki spirit guides that can become extremely useful in your life.

What’s The Difference Between Karuna And Usui Reiki

As a general definition, Karuna Reiki is a higher vibrational system than Usui Reiki Rhoyo.

But this doesn’t mean it’s better or more powerful.

It is what is.

Like we evolve through practicing Reiki and we discover new ways of applying it, William Lee Rand and his students took this approach to a whole new level and found a new system that is simply different.

Karuna Reiki has the same fundamental definition as Usui Reiki does.

It’s just the next level in pursuit of spiritual knowledge.

The Path To Spiritual Evolution

I honestly believe this should be a goal for any Reiki practitioner.

Once you have been practicing Usui Reiki for a while and feel comfortable with each level, you can consider exploring Karuna.

Going back and forth from more advanced levels to previous ones, will enhance your knowledge and help you better understand the practice as a whole.

You will see everything through different lenses.

But, as said before, stay with Usui Reiki until you feel it’s time to move on and don’t jump directly to Karuna.

I believe this is the best way to go.

Usui Reiki Rhoyo

In Usui Reiki Rhoyo you get to know yourself at a physical, energetical and spiritual level. You start slow, using just your hands and no Reiki symbols.

You go through each of the Reiki Usui Levels while gradually cleansing yourself and evolving as a person.

However, this is only the first step before moving to a much higher domain. 

Your journey only begins at the Master level.

Karuna Reiki

In Karuna Reiki you learn by working with higher spiritual entities. You receive knowledge on how to forgive yourself and others.

This is actually the core of any spiritual practice.

By doing so, you release yourself of any negative strings that hold you from walking your sacred journey.

All types of Reiki promote this concept but in Karuna Reiki, you dive even deeper.

Another important difference is that at Karuna Reiki level 1, you do receive some symbols.

Therefore you get into advanced practices right from the start.

This is why it’s important to start with the Usui system. There you learn about symbols at Reiki level 2, once you’ve been through a cleansing and introductory phase.

Learn the ABC first before trying to write novels.

Karuna Reiki Attunement Process

Any Reiki system has an attunement process that helps the practitioner get to the appropriate frequency level.

In Karuna Reiki, things are slightly different.

As said before, you are introduced to symbols right from the start.

These are mostly related to deep healing, breaking old negative patterns and restoring balance at a higher level.

The Karuna Reiki attunement could take the initiated through experiences with their spiritual guides and higher selves.

It’s a more intense process that brings deeper healing and eventually grounding with the help of other enlightened beings.

What Are The Karuna Reiki Symbols And Their Meaning

The Karuna Reiki symbols are quite different from Usui Reiki Rhoyo.

While we do have the traditional Dai Ko Myo, the Tibetan Dai Ko Myo and the Serpent of Fire, that’s where the similarities stop.

They connect to different manifestations of the source of life force energy and are extremely efficient for certain deep spiritual cleansing situations.

Here’s a brief description of each Karuna Reiki symbol:

Zonar

It represents infinity, infinite love, and evolution.

Zonar is in tune with the energy of Archangel Gabriel, who is considered to be the bringer of Divine messages. It helps you with a deep level of healing, reaching cellular and DNA layers.

This Karuna symbol has the ability to dissolve any negative patterns, replacing them with positive, pure energy.

Halu

The Karuna symbol that represents “global protection” and is able to create a protection field under the form of a pyramid of energy.

It connects to Archangel Raphael, the protector of all doctors and healers. 

Halu can heal the energetic structures of your body and helps you raise your consciousness making it in tune with your spirit.

Harth

This Karuna Reiki symbol connects to the highest and purest forms of energy.

It teaches us the concept of true unconditional love and can free yourself from emotional blockages.

Harth also enhances your love for yourself and others.

Rama

Represents grounding and balance.

It is in tune with the energy of Archangel Michael. This symbol helps eliminate energetic blockages and has a deep effect when activated for protection in a room.

Exceptionally good at keeping away dark energies or entities.

Gnosa

The “knowing way” or the symbol that helps you free your energy path to intuition and learning.

Gnosa is in tune with the energy of the angels of wisdom. It helps enable your connection to your higher-self and to higher awareness. 

Kriya

A Karuna symbol which supports a harmonious way of material manifestation though the angels of creativity.

This is applicable for both healing, therapies, goals and material wishes.

It helps you free yourself from negative and old mental patterns, releasing a clear path for the energy of creativity and determination. 

By being in tune with the Divine will, almost anything can be achieved.

Iava

Removes the shroud of illusions through the angels of harmony.

It can dissolve the deceitful conditionings implemented by society or through manipulation and opens the path to clear reality.

That is why Iava offers strong protection against negative energetic influences and forced techniques of control.

Shanti

Peace in a true word. It is in strong tune with the angels of peace and harmony.

By activating it on ourselves, it can help bring spiritual harmony and relaxation within an environment.

Shanti brings positive energy and harmony to the superior chakras if activated on their projections as well.

AUM (OM) – The Karuna Reiki Master Symbol

It represents the vibration of Divine essence and purity.

AUM contains the substance of unity, compassion, and spiritual ascendance.

It is used in attunements and it opens the main energy channel to receive the purest energy and light from the universal source of life force energy.

The Karuna master symbol can surface our deep and unknown potential of our inner and higher-self.

AUM symbol belongs to a very high-frequency mantra called Om Mani Padme Hum through which deep cleansing can occur.

How To Practice Karuna Reiki And What Are The Benefits

The “technical” part of the self-practice of Karuna Reiki is very different from Usui Reiki. That’s because you activate your palms and the 7th, 6th, 5th, and 4th chakra while using Zonar and Halu for the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st chakras.

The reason you do not place higher vibrational symbols on the first 3 chakras, is because there is no need to do so.

The symbols such as Shanti, Aum, Gnosa, Harth are efficient for the superior chakras.

Again, this doesn’t mean that lower vibration is “bad”.

It simply indicates there is a different frequency and therefore a different role for each chakra and symbol.

Like in Usui Reiki, you place your hands using the traditional Reiki hand positions. Also, you can go through the 21 days of self-healing, as a best practice, to fully comprehend Karuna’s power and different energy level.

And here is where things start to change. You will have noticeable and particular results using Karuna Reiki.

It is considerably more powerful in vibration. The emotional and spiritual healing will be much deeper.

Words can only describe so much. You have to practice in order to feel and fully understand Karuna Reiki.

In time, your conscious together with the power of determination will substantially increase, leaving room for a whole new spectrum of healing.

What Is Karuna Reiki Master

At the Usui Reiki Master level, your performance is related to a comprehensive knowledge of the physical and energetical parts.

With Karuna Reiki, the master is linked to the concept of being in tune with true spiritual awareness and the pure energies brought down to Earth by Archangels.

That is why symbols such as Harth and AUM have a very strong vibration.

By combining the meditations and levels of Karuna with Usui Reiki, you will reach a new level of understanding.

You’ll be able to learn more about this world as well as other spiritual realms.