Reiki is pronounced Ray Key and when the two elements are brought together it brings about a beautiful energy to help all others.

The kanji above is the closest to how Dr Usui wanted Reiki to be. There are newer versions of this symbol but this one I believe is the correct one. If you come across a slightly different version don't worry, different schools of Reiki may well use a newer version BUT the intent will be the same to help/heal all living things.

Back to the Kanji, a work of art in its self.  Those who do not understand Reiki will be able to appreciate it is a Japanese word or symbol, someone who is studying Reiki will know there is more to it than a strange diagram on a sheet of paper.

Rei: this part alone is made of twenty-four strokes and three parts.  Top signifies rain, middle refers  to things and the bottom Shaman.  Now lets look at the word Rei.  What does it mean?  The easy interpretation is "universal" or "spiritual" but that is quite general.  You need to look at Rei more closely.  This is a starting point for you to enquire more about the symbol and the word.  According to the Japanese dictionary Rei means many things - Spirit, divine, charismatic, mysterious, a shaman, goodness, a mythical being (fairy, elf), purity, unpolluted and clear being just a few of them.

Ki: Quite a few of you who have taken part in martial arts or have studied Ti chi, Shamanism  or other healing techniques should know what this symbol means, for those that don't it defines as "Energy", which flows through all things as both a physical and non-physical life force.  Ki can be harnessed by the body and guided by the mind.  The Japanese dictionary defines Ki as Vital energy, breath, invisible life force, the material and generative forces of heaven and earth constantly reproducing all things.