One of my Reiki students told me today that she’d been very upset by the recent loss of a dog whom she had cared for. This was not the usual emotional upheaval we all experience at the transition of a beloved animal, although there was certainly plenty of that. She was bothered by the fact that during the crisis of the dog’s last couple of days, she had forgotten about Reiki.
I asked her “Why do you think that bugged you so much?” She replied “Because maybe I could have done more.”
She put her finger right on an issue that many of us face as Reiki practitioners when an animal we’re working with makes their transition. She has been Level 1 Reiki for a couple of years and was attuned to Reiki 2 a few months ago. Her Reiki 2 attunement was a big step for her in that her energy level went up considerably and she had a number of very positive experiences shortly thereafter.
I’m sure many Reiki practitioners have experienced the high that comes with flowing increased amounts of energy and seeing positive results from it. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you had a part in the healing of an animal’s physical condition. The trap, of course, is beginning to think that it’s something we have control of and that every encounter will turn out as we wish it to.
So, it was inevitable that she would have an experience like this where things didn’t turn out quite as she’d have wished them to. I had explained to her during her Reiki 2 training that we can only offer Reiki to the animals. It’s up to them what they do with it.
Animals have their own paths through this life just as we do and we have to honor that. That means trusting Reiki to assist them on whatever level is right for them, whether that results in a physical healing or not.
This particular dog was diabetic and had “crashed” earlier in the week due to a drop in her blood sugar. She was taken to the vet and seemed to recover nicely. I saw her two days later and had a lovely Reiki session with her. Two days later, she went into cardiac arrest at the vet and was not able to be revived. No one saw it coming, so it was all the more surprising.
I explained to my student that even though she was not conscious of it at the time, she is Reiki and the dog took from her what she needed. At this stage, it’s not as though she turns her Reiki on or off so that she’s either flowing it or not. While she can consciously cause Reiki to flow, it’s not necessary as it will flow to any being on her vibrational wavelength who wants it.
We all want our offer of Reiki to result in a positive outcome for the recipient. We wouldn’t be involved with Reiki if we didn’t. What’s important is to trust Reiki to provide healing on whatever level is needed, even if we can’t perceive it with our physical senses. We also need to trust the animals to know their path and to appreciate that we were called to participate in that path for however brief a time.
John
The Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) is intended to bring Reiki to animals in shelters and their volunteers and staff. SARA is the brainchild of Kathleen Prasad, co-author of “Animal Reiki” and founder of Animal Reiki Source.
SARA members work with shelter staff to provide Reiki for the resident animals. In some cases, appropriately trained SARA members train the staff and volunteers to become Reiki practitioners.
Shelters may partner with SARA in logging Reiki sessions and observing effects on the animals involved in those sessions. This information is compiled into a database and used to document the effects of Reiki in the shelter environment.
For more information about SARA please visit their web site at:
http://shelteranimalreikiassociation.org
John
What Is Reiki?
Reiki is an energy balancing technique rediscovered by a Japanese monk, Mikao Usui, in the 1920′s. It is gentle and non-invasive yet very powerful.
The word “Reiki” is formed from two Japanese words: Rei and Ki.
Loosely translated, Reiki means “Universal Life Energy”.
What Does Reiki Do?
Reiki heals on all levels of being: physical, emotional, and spiritual. It is important to understand that “healing” in the Western sense of the word implies a physical cure while the spiritual meaning is much broader.
Healing can take place on any or all levels.
Reiki always heals even if it does not “cure” the physical body.
Why Is Reiki Good For Animals?
The degree to which Reiki works is entirely in the control of the recipient, which is what makes it ideal for use with animals. The Reiki practitioner simply channels the energy for the recipient’s highest good.
Animals love Reiki!
They are free to accept the energy at their own pace and in their own time.
Most accept it readily once they know they can trust the practitioner.
Animals are quite sensitive to the energy and will make it known when they have had enough.
Some animals like their Reiki in small doses while others are “Reiki sponges”, soaking up as much energy as the practitioner is willing to channel!
Another aspect of Reiki that makes it excellent for animals is that Reiki can be channeled from a distance.
It is not necessary to lay hands upon the animal in order for them to receive Reiki. In the case of nervous or aggressive animals, this protects the practitioner, as well.
Reiki can be sent over distances of a few feet or many miles as well as hands-on. Either method is equally effective.
Who Can Practice Reiki?
Reiki can be learned by anyone. It is easy to channel Reiki energy. The most difficult aspect of Reiki practice is “getting out of the way”, so to speak.
Ideally, the Reiki practitioner is an open channel for the energy.
Many people have a hard time grasping the concept that they don’t need to “do something”, but just let the energy flow through them to the recipient.
The recipient will draw as much or as little energy as they desire.
Reiki Can Do No Harm
The Reiki practitioner cannot “zap” someone with energy they don’t wish to receive. It is truly non-invasive in every sense of the term.
It is polite to ask the recipient, especially animals, if they wish to receive Reiki. Reiki is always offered, as opposed to sent to the recipient.
Unlike some other forms of energy healing the Reiki practitioner does not feel drained after a treatment.
On the contrary, the Reiki energy flowing through the practitioner’s channel has the side benefit of healing the practitioner as well as the recipient.
Critter Reiki
