Although I do use the sacred Reiki symbols, but I also believe we would still be able to heal - recipient willing - to heal someone with or without the symbols.

As I have been taught and attuned with the symbols, I will never abandon them. I dont need to know or ask why; I just do.

I am not sure about Reiki being religious or a religion. Why do we immediately classify anything with the word 'divine' as being religious. Would the word 'Universal' make any less divine?

I always pray to the Divine Spirit before I start Reiki treatment.

Reiki is in no way, shape, or form, a religion or even related to one. It has NOTHING to do with religion. It is a technique for applying Universal Life Force Energy. Qigong is another technique that makes use of this energy. Universal Life Force Energy = ki/qi/chi = prana = "Divine Energy" etc. "Divine" also means "supremely good" and "god-LIKE." Some people feel ki comes from a god or some higher power, and that's their prerogative, but in the end, we're all talking about the same thing.

Reiki translates as "Life Force Energy" and Qi Gong as "Energy Manipulation". Reiki mainly serves healing and Chakra balancing as well as relaxation,while Qi Gong is used for traditional Chinese medicinal purposes almost as much as Western medicine in China, in Martial Arts and displays of inner life force strength. Qi Gong masters are able to efficiently heal, propel people and items away from themselves and start fires by energy manipulation. Reiki simply channels energy from the universe through the practitioner into the recipient to heal, it's not used to manipulate or move things. Reiki was re-discovered in the 1800s by Dr. Mikao Usui, but has been in existence for thousands of years just like Qi Gong. It seems as if Qi Gong is an extension of what can be achieved with Reiki. Check out some of the Qi Gong demonstrations on Youtube. You will see what I mean!

Also, Reiki works even if you don't "believe" in it. So it has nothing to do with being religious. Yes I do pray because I am Christian and I pray for the ability to channel healing energy before I start a session. I also work with the Reiki symbols. I think of Reiki on a quantum physics level too, though. Your cells are made from atoms: electrons, neutrons, protons - energy! You got it! They constantly move and produce an electric current. That's why Reiki can help the energy flow correctly again, kind of like you can use a magnet (composed of polarized iron atoms) to magnetize a regular piece of iron (i.e. straighten or polarize the atoms within the piece of iron)...

Besides, the only thing, that I think is questionable about Reiki, is the process of attunement. Most traditional Reiki masters claim that you are only ready to practice Reiki after a physical attunement in person, while others claim that long-distance and self-attunement is possible. As for myself, I believe Dr. Mikao Usui had nobody to attune him into level 1,2 and 3 and make him a master. No, he meditated and received the gift.
I have practiced regular level one (one-on-one) Reiki and level two Reiki (long-distance) with much success - without ever having been physically or long-distance attuned. I did have 2 Reiki sessions with a local master who helped to open my chakras for optimal energy flow, which really enhanced my ability to channel Reiki, but that was all. It is a gift in my opinion, you CAN self-attune with some guidance, and I know it because it works!

That's my 2 cents =)