In traditional Japanese Reiki, the energy system we work with is much simpler than the chakra system or the complex energetic maps found in other traditions. Instead of focusing on seven or more chakras or intricate meridian pathways, Reiki invites us into a deeper relationship with our own inner life through what’s known as the Three Diamonds.
These energy centers are not just theoretical – they are alive within you. Earth Ki, Heart Ki, and Heaven Ki are the energetic foundations of your being, and through your Reiki practice, they awaken. They help you feel grounded, connected, centered, and aligned with the flow of life. Rather than memorizing a system, the Three Diamonds invite you into a relationship with your body, your heart, and your spirit – bringing your awareness gently into the present moment, where healing can unfold.
What Are the Three Diamonds?
The term “Three Diamonds” (Mitsudomoe) refers to the three major energy centers located in the body. These centers are:
Earth Ki (Hara/Lower Tanden)
Heart Ki (Middle Tanden/ Heart Center)
Heaven Ki (Upper Tanden/Head/Spiritual Center)
Each of these energy centers connects to a different aspect of our human and spiritual experience. As we cultivate Reiki, we begin to feel how these diamonds support and balance each other, guiding us toward harmony within. Let’s explore them more deeply.
1. Earth Ki: The Hara (Lower Tanden)
Located about two inches below the navel and deep inside the abdomen, the Hara is the foundation of your energetic system. It is your center of gravity – your root, your stability, your presence.
In martial arts, the Hara is seen as the seat of power and balance. In Reiki, it’s where we ground ourselves, where our life force (Ki) is nourished by the Earth. This is the energy we return to when we feel scattered, anxious, or ungrounded.
Many traditional Reiki meditations and breathing practices focus on this center to help practitioners stay present and embodied. When you place your hands here and breathe deeply, you begin to feel yourself settle. The mind quiets. Your awareness drops from your head into your body.
This is the first diamond because it supports everything else. Without grounding in the Hara, it’s difficult to move through life with balance and strength. The Earth Ki reminds us: you are here in this body, in this moment. Trust it.
Heart Ki: The Middle Tanden (Heart Center)
The Heart Ki, located in the center of the chest is the bridge between Earth and Heaven. It’s where our human experience and emotions are held with tenderness and where compassion flows freely.
In Reiki, this center allows us to cultivate presence that is both grounded and open. When the heart is balanced, we can meet ourselves and others with great tenderness. We don’t bypass the pain – we sit with it. We don’t deny our joy – we honor it.
The heart is the center of relational energy. It’s where empathy lives. But in trauma or stress, we often close this center down as a means of self-protection. Reiki helps reawaken the Heart Ki not by force, but through trust. When we feel safe, our heart begins to open again.
In practice, placing your hands on your heart during Reiki can help soften emotional resistance and bring you into a space of deep compassion. The Heart Ki reminds us: you are lovable as you are, and healing begins with tenderness.
Heaven Ki: The Upper Tanden (Head/Spiritual Center)
The Heaven Ki resides in the upper [art of the body – most often associated with the forehead, crown, or third eye area. This center connects us to spirit, to intuition, to clarity, and to a sense of being guided by something greater.
Heaven Ki isn’t about reaching some far-off spiritual realm – it’s about realizing that the divine lives within you and around you. When this center is open and balanced, we begin to feel that we are a part of a vast and interconnected web of life. For those navigating spiritual awakening or seeking a deeper connection to the Divine, this energy center becomes especially meaningful. It supports inner vision, guidance, and trust in the unseen.
But like the other centers, this one can become overwhelming if it’s overactive or disconnected from the other diamonds. Many people spend a lot of time “in their head,” disconnected from their bodies. Reiki helps restore balance by connecting Heaven Ki to both Heart and Earth.
Heaven Ki reminds us: you are never alone – you are connected to the divine wisdom and love that moves through all things.
The Flow Between the Diamonds
When all three diamonds are activated and in harmony, there is a beautiful flow of energy that moves through your system. You feel grounded and secure (Earth Ki), emotionally connected and open (Heart Ki), and spiritually aligned and guided (Heaven Ki).
Reiki naturally supports this flow. During a session, your hands may be drawn intuitively to one of these centers. You might find yourself resting your palms on your lower belly, your heart, or your forehead. You might sense warmth, tingling, stillness, or emotional release. These are signs your system is rebalancing itself – not through force, but through presence.
What’s beautiful about the Three Diamonds is that they don’t require years of study or complex visualizations. You don’t have to memorize colors, or symbols, or traits. You simply return to your body, your breath, your awareness. You let yourself feel.
Why This Simplicity Matters
In a world filled with information overload, the simplicity of the Three Diamonds is a gift. Many energy systems – like chakras, meridians, or koshas – offer beautiful insights, but they can become overwhelming when approached only through the mind.
For beginners, especially those navigating healing or trauma recovery, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overthinking energy work. You may find yourself trying to fix something about your energy or measure your progress based on what someone else says you should feel.
The Three Diamonds invite you back into your own experience. they remind you that energy healing isn’t about reaching an ideal state – it’s about listening, feeling, and returning to yourself. You don’t need to “get it right,” you just need to be with yourself.
How to Work With the Three Diamonds in Reiki Practice
Here are a few gentle ways to begin exploring the Three Diamonds:
1. Hara Breathing Meditation
Sit comfortably and place your hands on your lower abdomen. As you breathe in, imagine your breath gently reaching the Hara. As you exhale allow yourself to soften. with each breath, feel yourself grounding deeper into your body and the Earth.
2. Self-Reiki Heart Practice
Place your hands on your heart-center and simply rest. Don’t try to change anything. Just let your hands be there. Feel the warmth. Notice if any emotions arise, and let them move. This is a space of self-compassion.
3. Crown Connection
Gently place your hands near your forehead or the top of your head. Invite a sense of spaciousness. Imagine yourself connecting to the light above you, to divine wisdom and peace. Let yourself receive.
4. Full Body Alignment
Move your hands between the Hara, Heart, and Head during a session, noticing how the energy shifts in each area. You might stay in one area longer depending on where you feel called. There’s no wrong way of doing this – just follow your intuition.
Trust Your Experience
Reiki isn’t about doing something “right” – it’s about coming home to your own energy, your own awareness, and your own path.
The Three Diamonds are not abstract concepts. they are living, breathing parts of you. When you nurture them, you create space for presence, clarity, and healing to emerge naturally. Let yourself explore Reiki not as a system to master, but as a relationship to tend. A relationship with your body, your heart, your spirit, and the divine energy that moves through all of it.
The Three Diamonds are always within you. Reiki helps you remember.
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