The Reiki Reading Club
Sometimes students ask how they can further deepen their understanding of Reiki. There are hundreds of excellent books out there about Reiki. However I've noticed that the internal struggle to deepen our practice can be really helped by non-Reiki books as well.
In 2025 I started an informal reading book club in Healing Heart Reiki to encourage self study and personal development. While we've read all kinds of books so far, the following books (below) are still the foundational books I recommend to all Healing Heart Reiki students.
More than half of students who come to Reiki have arrived because they are diving deep into their personal healing. The required readings will change your life, if you allow them to.
Happy Reading!
Dailey Little, RMT
HHR Reading Lists: What should you read?
❤️ Reiki 1 Students: Start with You Can Heal Your Life on the Recommended Readings list, and go from there. It's most important at level 1 to say inspired!
❤️ Reiki 2 Students: Read Codependent No More, and then reach out to me for personalized suggestions, or follow the recommended readings.
❤️ Reiki Master Students: Read all three Required Readings beginning with The Educated Heart. And then read the four "Reiki books" from the recommended list for a total of 7 books. You DO NOT have to read these all before retreat, just the required readings. You can also do an audio format.
Reiki Master Training 2025
(required reading)
1 / Codependent No More: How To Stop Caring For Others And Start Caring For Yourself
by Melodie Beattie
(any edition)
This book is helpful in beginning to consider the threads of learned behaviors that cause us to act unconsciously in our communities. This book has some great exercises, as well as a separate workbook for the deeper dive. It is also available as an audio on youtube.
2 / The Educated Heart: Professional Boundaries for Massage Therapists, Body Workers, and Movement Teachers by Nina McIntosh
2nd Edition. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins 2005.
Please get the least expensive edition. This is a slender book and the original has lovely comics, affirmations, case studies, and explanations for how to hold healthy boundaries in your work. Do not skip this book. Please read it first.
3 / Opening To Channel by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer. HJ Kramer 1993.
This dense book is a beautiful channel of mindset and energy for the work of modern healing. Years later it still packs a punch. Many students find it challenging to get through. Please note, only Chapters 9 & 10 are required reading.
Recommended Readings
(not required)
1 / The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (Tarcher 2002)
A long standing classic book for creative types, I've found many of the exercises and philosophies helpful for students who are still finding their voice, identity, and creative energy after being pounded down by mainstream society.
2 / You Can Heal Your life by Louise Hay
Hay House Inc, 1999
This seminal text introduced several American generations to the concept of holistic health, and still offers solid insights on the mindset that facilitates healing.
3 / Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith
Llewellyn Publications, 1999.
Judith's book popularized personal work with the chakra system in western culture. This is a good a reference book for your library, with somatic and energetic exercises for chakra work.
4 / Magick of Reiki by Christopher Penczak
Llewellyn Publications, 2005.
Penczak discusses Reiki from the perspective of the modern pagan witch, and this book makes connections between energy work and magical ritual.
5 / Shamanic Reiki by Llyn Roberts & Levy Robert
O Books, 2008.
For any student seriously interested in developing their shamanic awareness of Reiki and energy healing, this book offers beautiful insights into the framework of Shamanic Reiki for practitioners.
6 / Essential Reiki AND Essential Reiki Teaching Manual, (both) by Diane Stein
Crossing Press, 1995 & 2007
A firebrand in Reiki history, Diane Stein broke the code on secrecy in writing Essential Reiki, and in doing so stirs a beautiful controversial conversation about the nature of energy work, lineage, and human healing.
7 / The Complete Reiki Tutor: A Structured Course To Achieve Professional Expertise
by Tanmaya Honnervogt
Gaia Publishing, 2008
I love all of Honnervogt's Reiki books for their gentle non-religious approach to Reiki. She focuses solely on the somatic experience of healing, and keeps cleaning to the basics. Reiki for Emotional Healing is also a good book.
8 / You Are A Badass At Making Money
by Jen Sincero
Penguin Books, 2018
In 15+ years of teaching Reiki I've found that students often struggle with placing true value on energy work due to western culture's emphasis on medical intervention as the only legitimate solution for healing. This struggle is often reflected in challenges around money and worth. I recommend strongly that all practitioners read at least 3 books about money mindset at the start of their journey.
2025
The Reiki Reading Club (so far)
