Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means "God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."

Reiki is religiously neutral. While Dr. Usui may have been a Buddhist, he had also studied Christianity and had lived with a Christian family for a time. It is clear he had a very broad background in many religious philosophies

i too have been recently attuned to Usui.. congratulations xx

this is my friends site who done my attunement , i am sure you will find some lovely info on it
http://www.reikicris.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/reiki1.html

However it DOES require a direct attunement (whether in-person or via distance) from a Reiki Master.

You can certainly gather most of the basic material from books, however learning directly through interaction with a Reiki Master is the most expedient and effective way of becoming a proficient Reiki practitioner. There’s lots of little tips and subtle nuances to Reiki practice which can be learned very readily from an instructor, but will take you some time to figure out on your own.

My advice would be to find a local Reiki Master to train in-person with. This is the #1 best option. If you can’t find anyone locally, then try and find a thorough and in-depth online program that involves many hours of practicals and constant interaction and communication with the Reiki Master througout the training. Make sure to research the program and the teacher very well, as there are alot of online "training" things out there that are useless (i.e. you send them your money, they say they send the attunements, and then they just ship you the manuals and the certificates proclaiming you a Reiki Master, when you’ve had no actual training, hands-on practice, or interaction with a teacher).

Don’t let price be your only guide. Certainly search for something affordable, but generally reliable Reiki training will range from $80-$200 for Reiki I or Reiki II, and then Mastership is generally between $200-500 for a good class. Keeping that in mind, and making sure to ask for references, will help you find a good teacher.