Explaining the remote attunement process  

Learning reiki is unlike the process for any other energetic system (yoga, acupuncture, tai chi etc.). You cannot learn to channel reiki by reading books or websites - you have to undergo an initiation process called an attunement.  

Some people are wary of the remote attunement process. This is only natural but if you don't actually believe remote attunements work then you can't believe reiki works at all on any levels: it's the same energy and the same transferal process. 

The attunement is carried out by someone already connected to the reiki source and who has been empowered to provide this service. This person tends to be called a 'Reiki Master/Teacher'. The attunement can be carried out in person or over distance - reiki is nonphysical energy and so does not obey the physical world laws. Reiki's recent explosive growth all around the world can be attributed to the remote attunement process, which makes it easy for people to become reiki healers/practitioners no matter where they are physically located (and is often considerably cheaper than taking a weekend course). 

The process itself involves the reiki master connecting with the recipient on an energetic level, who is then 'plugged in' to the reiki source. This involves opening up the person's energy channels, with specific attention upon the crown, brow and heart chakras. When a practitioner is attuned to master level, the exact attunement instructions are passed down to them and the cycle continues.