"The 5 Principles of Reiki" is often one of the first things we learn in Reiki during the first level of attunement and training.

Quite often, its importance is also the least understood.

I have found that many of the students who come to me for higher levels are neither aware of this nor understand the importance and its effect and therefore do not practice this! This makes them somewhat unfit to receive the second level attunement; and the fault lies with the Reiki Masters who give out the various attunements in a mechanical manner. 

If you have been attuned properly, then the significance of the five principles of Reiki becomes relevant and becomes an integral part of healing as you progress on this divine path.

So let us try to decode these 5 principles of Reiki. And the most important step is the FIRST principle; i.e. - “Just for today… I will live with the attitude of gratitude.”

This should ALWAYS be the first principle but I rarely find anyone using so. Again, it is the most important thing that ought to have been taught as it is akin to the foundation of a multistory building!

Unless you start with the attitude of gratitude there is little hope for progressing further not only in Reiki, but also in any other divine path that you follow.  Many Reiki masters teach this not as “attitude of gratitude” but simply as “I will be grateful”.  While technically, it is almost similar; it's meaning it is actually quite different.  Therefore, start with principle of attitude of gratitude by saying “just for today and everyday – I will live my life with the attitude of gratitude”.

This is what makes sure that you set your daily course correctly on the path of Reiki. Rest of the principles are also positive affirmations which can be juggled as far as their sequence is concerned.

By saying the five principles of Reiki in the following in the order and in the manner given below always helps in guiding through the day as it tunes the subconscious mind in the right path.

1. Just for today and everyday – I will live my life with the attitude of gratitude
2. Just for today and everyday – I will be happy
3. Just for today and everyday – I will not worry
4. Just for today and everyday – I will live my life sincerely and honestly and
5. Just for today and everyday – I will love all living and non-living things in this universe

By following this sequence of the Reiki’s 5 principles, you will automatically become conduit for healing and universal love.  The flow of Reiki becomes interrupted and positive things start taking shape around you. 
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In my classes I always insist that even if you do not know anything about Reiki; have not been attuned, or if on certain days are not able to follow the entire procedure of Reiki practice you would be able to kick start your day in the right direction just by saying these 5 principles of Reiki first thing on getting up every morning.

Before we embark upon any type of alternative therapy, it is better to understand what exactly makes the holistic or energy healing work. This is because the basic principle of energy healing is not to treat the physical body but to treat the source of energy that governs this body as we see it in the physical form.
Although there is no shortcut to success as far as energy healing is concerned, the best way to derive results from energy healing are given below-
1.  Have a Clear Goal - before you start anything it is important to know yourself and what you want to achieve. Only once your ideas about what you want to achieve are clear, can you embark upon how to achieve it.  Therefore, think as to what exactly do you want to do with energy healing.
2.   Selflessness - these days when everything around us is changing and the world is becoming more and more commercialized and monetized it is very important to learn the art of selflessness. That is to say, thinking beyond your own self and thereby thinking beyond the worldly gains.
3.   Focus On the Aura- this is very important and it is head there many people make the mistake.   While doing energy healing they start focusing upon the physical body; which is something what the modern medicine does.  You have to think beyond and focus upon the energy of The Spiritual body.
4.   The Art Of Giving - needless to say, when you are focusing upon energy healing you have to think about just one thing and that is - to achieve lasting healing effect.  This does not happen when you expect something in return; hence we have to learn to give without expectations.
5.   Practice Hard and Practice Often - like everything else, results of spiritual healing can be seen only after very hard practice; and one can achieve better and better results by doing it often.  The more you practice the more is the effect as you progress.
6.   Removal Of Blockages -  before doing any spiritual or energy healing on anyone,  it is important to first remove your own blockages; which may be in the form of physical, emotional, mental  or spiritual manifestations.  When you do energy healing you should have only one thing in mind - achieving the healing.
7.    A Simple and Holistic Lifestyle - this is perhaps the most important thing that you should keep in mind if you want to become an energy healer.   What you are yourself makes all the difference in what you want transmit and hence - if you want to transfer positivity and healing then you yourself should be leading such a life.  To do this it is important to follow the Principles of Yamas and Niyamas.