Reiki Level 1 or Level 2: how to tell which one you need
By Vanessa Chugani · Updated October 2026
Start with Level 1 if you're new to Reiki: it teaches the Reiki symbols and hands-on practice for yourself and others. Move to Level 2 once you've finished Level 1 and want to add distance work, usually because you're already practising regularly or thinking about offering sessions to others.
Reiki Level 1 and Level 2 are two steps on the same path, not two separate things. Level 1 is where everyone starts: you learn the Reiki symbols from day one, and you leave able to treat yourself and the people around you, hands-on. Level 2 picks up from there, building on those same symbols and adding distance work, so you can send Reiki to someone who isn't in the room. What matters more than which level is better is whether you're starting out or already practising and ready to extend what you do. Most people already have a sense of which side of that line they're on.
| Reiki Level 1 training | Reiki Level 2 training | |
|---|---|---|
| What you learn | Hands-on practice for yourself and others, with the Reiki symbols introduced from the start. | Builds on those same symbols and adds distance work: sending Reiki to someone who isn't in the room. |
| Who it's for | Anyone starting out, with no previous Reiki training needed. | People who have already completed Level 1 and want to take their practice further. |
| What you can do afterwards | Treat yourself and the people in front of you, hands-on. | Send Reiki to someone who isn't physically there, on top of everything from Level 1. |
| A good fit if | You want a steady personal practice: calming your own nervous system, helping family and friends in person. | You already use Reiki regularly and want to reach people who live far away, or move toward practitioner work. |
| Not the right fit if | You're set on learning distance work straight away. Level 1 is still the only way in. | You haven't trained in Level 1 yet. Level 2 builds directly on what's taught there. |
| Format | Canggu or live online, small groups of up to six, often one to one. | The same format: Canggu or live online, small groups, taught live, never recorded. |
Which one suits you
Level 1 suits someone who wants a practice they can use on themselves and the people close to them: a tool for a jaw that won't unclench or a mind that won't settle at night, and for the parent or partner they want to help directly. For most people that's a complete, standalone skill, and plenty stop there happily. Level 2 is the right call once you're already using Reiki and the limits of being in the same room start to matter: a parent overseas you'd like to send Reiki to, or a first step toward offering sessions to others as a practitioner, which fits women retraining into this as a second act. If you haven't trained at all yet, Level 1 comes first regardless, since it's what Level 2 builds on.
Related questions
Do I need Level 1 before I can do Level 2?
Yes. Level 2 builds directly on the Reiki symbols taught at Level 1, so Vanessa always teaches them in that order. There's no way to skip ahead: Level 1 comes first for everyone, whatever your previous experience with energy work or meditation.
What does Level 2 add that Level 1 doesn't cover?
Level 2 adds distance work: sending Reiki to someone who isn't physically with you. It builds on the symbols you already learned at Level 1, rather than introducing a separate system. Everything from Level 1 still applies.
Can I stop at Level 1 and never take Level 2?
Yes. Many people do, and it's a complete, standalone practice for yourself and the people close to you. There's no expectation to continue: Level 2 is for when and if you want to extend that practice to distance work.