Just For Today

Just For Today: The Five Reiki Principles

Just for today I do not Worry

Just for today I do not Anger

Just for today I work honestly

Just for today I am grateful for my many blessings

Just for today I am kind to all living things

Reciting the five principles of Reiki is a helpful grounding technique. Meditating on these principles, taking slow calming breaths while reciting these lines is a quick way to focus and clear your mind of the cobwebs that clutter our thinking. It's also super easy!

These lines seem to have originally been attributed to The Yellow Emperor, and Master Mikao Usui incorporated them into his Reiki teachings. Let's look at Usui Sensei's Reiki principles one line at a time.

Because these lines are translated from Japanese, the exact wording can vary somewhat, but the essence is always the same. usually the lines begin, "Just for today I will not-". Say that out loud. now say, "Just for today I do not-". I very much prefer the current and active "I do not" to the more passive, someday maybe I'll probably get around to it feeling I get from the "I will" version. I think that this active version is more in line with the idea that when there is a problem, when you need to change your thoughts or behavior, you can start right now and don't need to wait around to do it. If you've just found yourself feeling angry, start NOW to not be angry.

JUST FOR TODAY I DO NOT WORRY

This one is pretty obvious. Don't worry, it's a waste of time when you could be choosing to take specific action to resolve the issues at hand.

JUST FOR TODAY I DO NOT ANGER

When we grow angry, we've lost control. We don't make good decisions when we're angry and anger narrows our focus so that we lose sight of what else is going on around us.

JUST FOR TODAY I WORK HONESTLY

This one confuses a lot of people at first. If we say we are going to do something, we should do it. If I say that I am going to wash the dishes now, but I'm fidgeting with things in the fridge, or making notes for a meeting later...if I'm doing all these things I'm not honestly doing the dishes. I'm doing a lot of things and not giving my full focus to anything. Be where you are and do a good job there.

JUST FOR TODAY I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY MANY BLESSINGS

It's easy to be discouraged when things aren't going the way we would like them to. Still, whatever troubles we have going on, we do have some level of privilege over someone somewhere; there's always someone worse off. When we are grateful, we are receptive to the flow of Reiki, to new ideas, and to whatever might come our way next.

JUST FOR TODAY I AM KIND TO ALL LIVING THINGS

Why would you NOT be kind to other living things? Being a jerk isn't useful.

Try writing these five principles on a flashcard or other reference and see how it feels to say these as a good grounding exercise. Soon you'll have them down and they'll be one more great tool in your bag of tricks.