Reiki Academy
The Reiki Academy is a guide to learning with Free Reiki Course and the International School of Reiki. Christopher Goodman is your current Reiki teacher. Here you can find your way through the free course, choose resources for your stage of learning, and understand the next steps toward personal practice, sharing Reiki and preparing to teach.
The lessons, videos and course manuals are free to access. Attunements are free on request. Certificates are optional paid purchases: you can study and request an attunement without buying one.
Explore the free Reiki course · Meet Christopher Goodman and the school
Your teacher and the school
The International School of Reiki brings together Reiki masters to make learning accessible. Free Reiki Course has shared Reiki teaching online since 2008. Christopher Goodman is the primary teacher presented on this site; the current course introduces traditional Usui Reiki through Levels 1, 2 and 3 / Master.
Start with the level lessons and their companion manuals. These are the core learning materials. The wider library gives you additional explanations and topics to explore, so you can return to a question without losing your place in the course.
You may have arrived here through older Academy material describing Australian workshops, a Diploma of Teaching, accredited therapists or bridging programmes. Those historical programmes are not the current free online course. This page describes the learning available here today; the former organisation's accreditation, membership and workshop arrangements do not establish qualifications for this course.
Find your place in the course
Level 1: begin with the foundations
Start here if Reiki is new to you, or if you would like to revisit the basics. Level 1 introduces Reiki, its history and principles, preparation for practice and hand positions for self-treatment and working with others. Use the lesson and manual together rather than trying to remember every detail from the video.
A useful first routine is to read a short section, watch the corresponding teaching, then make time to practise. Write down what you understand and what you want to ask. You can return to the material as often as you need.
Study Reiki Level 1 · Read the Level 1 manual (PDF)
Level 2: develop your practice
Level 2 builds on the foundations and introduces the traditional Usui symbols and distance-practice material. Revisit Level 1 whenever preparation or hand positions feel unfamiliar. Follow the course explanations of the symbols alongside the written material, leaving time to study their forms and uses.
Learning to work with others also involves communication: explain what you are offering, ask permission and listen to the person's preferences. Familiarity with a technique is only one part of a considerate practice.
Study Reiki Level 2 · Read the Level 2 manual (PDF)
Level 3 / Master: deepen your study and prepare to guide others
The Master level brings together earlier learning and introduces the Master symbol and teacher material. You can study it for personal practice, or explore how to explain Reiki and guide a student. Review the earlier levels before moving into teaching and attunement guidance.
Take time to consider whether you can explain the foundations clearly, organise a lesson, welcome questions and recognise the limits of your experience. Finishing a video or obtaining a certificate does not replace that preparation.
Study Reiki Level 3 / Master · Read the Level 3 manual (PDF)
A thoughtful approach to learning
Work at your own pace. There is no fixed completion deadline for the free course, and you do not need to move through all three levels at once. A small amount of regular study and practice can be easier to sustain than trying to complete everything in one sitting.
- Choose the level appropriate to your experience and review its lesson.
- Keep the matching manual nearby and note unfamiliar ideas or techniques.
- Make space for practice and reflection before moving on.
- Return to earlier material when a later topic depends on it.
- Bring specific questions to support, including the page or lesson you are studying.
The optional course study plan can help you remember your next step. Its checklist stays in your browser on your device; it is a personal reminder rather than an assessment or proof of qualification.
The Reiki principles offer a further focus for reflection alongside practical study. In working with other people, respect permission, privacy and boundaries. Describe your experience honestly and avoid promising a particular result.
Free attunements: how to request one
Attunements are part of the Reiki learning tradition described in the course. Read the attunement guidance before arranging yours, and identify the level you are studying so your request has a clear starting point.
Use Prepare your free attunement request to compose a message with your name, reply email, Reiki level and timezone. You can review the text, copy it into your email account, or open Gmail or Outlook in your browser. The page prepares your message; you still need to send it. A preferred date or time is a request to discuss by email, rather than a confirmed booking.
For questions about the process, contact support@freereikicourse.com. You can study the course and request a free attunement independently of certificate purchases.
Manuals and a library you can return to
The three course manuals provide a written companion to the level lessons. Save the PDF for your level, use it while watching the video and revisit it when you need a reminder. The free Reiki ebooks page brings the downloads together.
For further reading, explore the Reiki library. Choose material that answers a question arising from your study: principles, hand positions, symbols, attunements or preparation for Master training. Reading more widely can add context, while the level pages keep the course sequence clear.
If you have already studied elsewhere, you can use these materials to review a topic or compare explanations. They do not enrol you in the historical Academy's recognition-of-prior-learning or bridging programmes.
From student to practitioner or teacher
You may want to keep Reiki as a personal practice, share it with people close to you, or eventually teach. There is no need to make that decision at the beginning. Continue studying and practising before choosing what you want to offer others.
For those considering teaching, begin with the Master course and preparation for Master training. The student attunement guidance is further reading for that stage of study. Plan how you will explain the lessons, respond to questions and describe any fees clearly.
The Reiki Store also introduces the optional Teacher School Kit. Read its current offer before deciding whether it fits your plans. Buying a kit or certificate does not itself establish a school, grant a professional licence or guarantee an income.
Optional certificates and help after purchase
If you would like a certificate for your level, visit Certificates for the current Level 1, Level 2, Master and three-level package offers. That page is the place to compare what is included and the current prices.
Certificates are paid options alongside the free learning resources and free attunements. They are not evidence of the former Australian Academy's government-accredited Diploma of Teaching or professional-associate status.
Already purchased? Use Request your diploma for the current certificate-access guidance. If you need help, contact support with your purchase details and the problem you are experiencing.
Student support and the learning community
For course questions, attunement enquiries or purchase help, email support@freereikicourse.com. Include the level and page you are using, and describe the question or difficulty so it is easier to understand.
The historical student guest book preserves dated comments about learning, videos and manuals. It offers a view of earlier visitors' experiences, separate from today's course and certificate instructions. You can also visit the site's Facebook reviews page to explore the community's published feedback.
When you are ready to begin, go to Level 1. If you are returning, the course overview will help you find your next lesson.
Related topic: Student experiences, Reiki Angels, Contacts, Courses, Distant healing.