In level 1 we learn the five Reiki precepts — simple guiding principles that sit at the heart of the practice.

Just for today:

• I will not worry.
• I will not anger.
• I will be honest / work honestly.
• I will be grateful.
• I will be kind to all living things.

Mikao Usui described them as "the secret to happiness and medicine for everything!"

I have taught these words many times as a Reiki Master and try to embody them in my daily life. And yet, the other day I managed to break every single one of them. Not over something profound or life-changing. Over… a lunch delivery. And the irony? It happened during a Reiki Level 1 course.

I had ordered lunch from one of my favourite local restaurants to share with my students. I order from them quite often as the food is always great but the delivery is usually about 15–20 minutes late. Knowing this, I thought I’d be clever and order it for 11.30am, half an hour earlier than we actually needed it.

11.30 came and went… 12.00… still no lunch.

And this is where the first precept quietly slipped away.

Just for today, do not worry.

Because of course… I started worrying. What if it takes ages? What will the students think?

At 12.15 I called the restaurant. They reassured me it was already being delivered and should arrive soon.

By 12.45, the food still hadn’t arrived, so I called again. This time I was told it was just being finished by the kitchen. Clearly, when I had called earlier and been told it was already on its way… that wasn’t exactly true.

By now, the second precept had also gone out the window.

Just for today, do not anger.

I could feel the irritation building. Not full-blown rage perhaps, but definitely that simmering frustration we all know too well.

Then, in the conversation that followed, I broke another one.

Just for today, be honest.

I told the lady on the phone that my students were all standing around waiting for lunch and that the late delivery was ruining my course. Which, if I’m being completely truthful, was not really the case. My students were actually quite happy, chatting and enjoying themselves. They were calm. They were patient. They were modelling the Reiki precepts far better than their teacher.

At 1.15pm, the lunch finally arrived. The students tucked in and enjoyed the delicious meal.

Later, the owner of the restaurant called me to apologise. She was clearly trying to make things right. And this was my moment to practice the next precept:

Just for today, be kind.

Was I kind? Was I understanding? Not at all. The anger — and the self-righteous feeling of having been lied to — was foremost in my mind. I told her, in no uncertain terms, that I would never order from them again.

And to top it all off in the middle of my frustration, I had also forgotten the other important precept:

Just for today, be grateful.

Grateful for the privileged life I live.
Grateful that there was a meal coming at all.
Grateful for the beautiful space we were gathered in.
Grateful for my kind and patient students.

Here I was, teaching the Reiki precepts, and in the space of a couple of hours, I had managed to break every single one of them.

Not exactly the shining example I had hoped to be.

But perhaps that is the real lesson.

The Reiki precepts are not there because we have perfected them. They are there because we haven’t.

They gently remind us that the practice is ongoing. That growth isn’t always a straight line. That even when we think we are evolving and moving forward, old habits can sneak back in when we least expect it.

It was a humbling reminder that the work continues.

For all of us.

Even the teacher.

Or should I say… especially the teacher!

So…  just for today… I will try again. ✨

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Sirpa Gunn is the founder of Soul Tree, a Reiki Master Teacher, Yoga Alliance 500-hour experienced teacher and Yoga Alliance CPD provider based in New Zealand.