Some Reiki groups profess the secrecy of the symbols, while others openly publish them in a book. Which is correct?
Both are correct. The Reiki symbols are, and should be, considered sacred, not secret. At one time there was a need to keep the symbols secret, to keep Reiki an oral tradition, just as there was a time when religious symbols had to be kept secret. If a Reiki practitioner wants to publish the symbols in a book or on the Net (which they are doing), then so be it. Unless one has been attuned to the symbols, they’re useless. Liken it to publishing the alphabet. You can see all the formations of the letters, but unless you know how what to do with this “tool,” it’s useless knowledge. However, once you do know how to use the alphabet those same letters can become, as they say, “mightier than the sword.” At any rate, all Reiki symbols have been openly published, both in hard copy and electronically, so they are no longer secret. As long as it doesn’t cross the line and become profane.
