Within the system of Reiki a number of rituals are practiced. Ritual is in place to teach practitioners the ground rules and give guidance. Once one knows and understands these rituals, it is time to free oneself of them and move to integration or Oneness with the true meaning of the practice. This may take many years or even a whole lifetime. In fact, a Reiki practitioner may never reach the stage where he/she can fully detach from the need for ritual.
All five elements of the system of Reiki can be seen as rituals. They are: the practicing of attunement or reiju, symbols and mantras, precepts, hand positions, and techniques and meditations.