So what is this Reiki thing? I'm one of those very touchy feely (I know it's not spelled right but it's who I am) type of people. So putting into words what Reiki is poses a challenge. For me, Reiki is what I can feel and what I can see happening that validates Reiki is indeed real. It's not just some woowoo trendy thing that all the "new agers" are talking about and experimenting with. Reiki was started in Japan by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century and was used for spiritual development as well as for helping people heal themselves. Today Reiki is finally being recognized as a true alternative modality for healing that is being offered in more and more hospitals around the US. It is wonderful for helping individuals going through cancer treatments. It is definitely relaxing, calming and in some cases fosters healing results. Currently there are Veterinarians and shelters that also provide Reiki services.
Animals are very intuitive and can sense the energy of Reiki usually faster than humans do. They have an innate understanding of the energy and once it is recognized, the animals will often open and accept the energy. Reiki is offered in a way that allows each animal to dictate how a session will go. A session is not like a traditional Reiki session for either you or I. We enjoy laying on a table and relaxing and possibly having a hands on session. Hands on is really just gently placing the hands on different areas of the body. In the case of people, the client would be fully clothed and the hands on would be on the body or a few inches off the body. It is always offered with respect and permission of the client. For animals, I ask, either out loud or silently, if they want Reiki and then they can choose if they want to be close or across the room or area for in-person sessions. It is best if they can move around whatever space they are in. Very often they will relax into the energy and enjoy a "Reiki Nap". There are times when they do not want Reiki and that is perfectly acceptable. It is really their choice, probably one of the few things that they do have a choice with. This time together can be 15-45 minutes depending on what the individual animal wants.
Reiki is also available via a distant session. There is no time or space for energy. I'm sure you've walked into a room and all of a sudden felt that something was off. Maybe the room felt heavy or dense. Perhaps when you visit a favorite cafe, store, library, or someplace similar, the space is lovely and makes you feel good just being there. That's the energy! It's the collective energy of who has been there and what has transpired in that space. Energy just flows and all is connected. So when the animal senses the Reiki energy flowing to them, then they can choose to receive or not. As always, it's up to them. A distance session is usually 15-30 minutes.
Let's say your dog is recovering from surgery or you've had to go out of town and leave him or her in a kennel. When you bring the animal home, it is often a little apprehensive or under the weather. In this scenario, I would recommend a series of 4 sessions to start with, then re-assess the animal’s needs.
If your cat was adopted from a shelter and is having trouble adjusting to his new life in your home then we would start with a series of 4 sessions and then continue with one additional treatment a week for a while and then see how this new family member is doing. A once a week session can be wonderful even for a healthy pet to keep them tuned up, so to speak. It would be similar for us to go for a message once a week.
There was an Irish Wolfhound that I worked with for several months. She had developed some spinal issues which were better after visiting a veterinarian and after receiving a few acupuncture treatments. But the treatments were expensive; so I started working with her. The dog was a bit unsure at first. The breed is usually a little stand offish to people they don't know well, so I wasn't surprised. She would lay down away from me; but overtime she would come closer. Sometimes she would come very close; other times she would stay at a distance. Most of the time she ended up taking a Reiki nap. There was one particular session where I was a few feet away from where she was laying down. She then looked over her shoulder at me as if to say, “Ok what are you doing over there? Please come over here and give me hands on.” I went to her and she loved the hands on session. She was able to go up and down stairs without too much trouble and could jump up on her owner when she saw him. That was something they cherished together and you could see that they loved each other very much.
I worked with Bellagio, an elderly horse for close to a year. He was a white horse and had cancer that was spreading throughout his body. He had several tumors that were growing in size. He was such a sweet boy and really loved his person, a young girl that was in high school. When she would arrive at the barn he would stand a little taller and be more alert. I really think he was hanging on for her. He became a hospice patient for me and I did sessions with him 3-4 times a week. He would really relax and sometimes lay down and then take a nap. There was only one time when he didn't want any Reiki and that was ok. The Reiki sessions allowed him to tolerate pain better and helped him wait until the owner was ready to let him go and have him euthanized. I was with him at that time for the owner and offered Reiki during Bellagio’s transition. He was very calm and went peacefully.
Roxie was another favorite ‘big’ dog that I worked with for a long period of time. She had a TPLO surgery for a torn ligament a while before I started doing Reiki with her. She was a Reiki sponge. She loved our sessions and would position herself part-way in my lap so I could get my hands on her. She would nap and then shift her position and then go back to sleep. Her mobility did improve and she was able to jump into her owner's truck. She would smile and wag her whole body when she would see me and put her back side right in my hands. She is such a lovely dog.
So with all this being said would you be interested in an Animal Reiki session for your beloved friend with fur, feathers, fins, or scales? Pleae see Scheduling An Animal Reiki Session for more information and to schedule a session with me.
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