Animals, like people, benefit from Reiki. Whether you have cats, dogs, birds, fish, ferrets, horses, or other larger animals, you can use Reiki to help your pets.
Any animal that receives regular grooming from a human is probably receptive to being touched for Reiki. If you want to give Reiki to an animal who is not usually touched, such as fish or wild animals, use techniques where you give Reiki from afar, such as beaming and distant Reiki.
Knowing when and where to go for Reiki
Reiki works well with animals for the same reasons it works well on children and people of all ages. Have you ever noticed that when you pet an animal, he rolls over to receive more or looks at you with lovey-dovey eyes or sighs?
Animals respond to your loving touch and intention. Reiki is another way to help your animals feel better.
You can give Reiki to animals in the following situations:
- When they are ill: Reiki helps the healing process and works with any type of medical intervention.
- When they are young or old: You can use Reiki on an animal of any age or situation.
- When they have been through a trauma: Animals can use loving energy after they've experienced any type of abuse, loss, or move, or if they seem to exhibit depression or other behavioral disorder. Even if you don't know what the problem is, you can use Reiki to help.
Finding the right pet practitioner
If your pet can travel, you can take him to a Reiki clinic. You may find that a pet trainer, pet groomer, or breeder also offers Reiki services. Here are some suggestions for finding a Reiki practitioner for your animal friend:
- Any Reiki practitioner can give Reiki to your pet, although some practitioners specialize in giving Reiki to animals.
- Animal lovers who work as animal handlers or in veterinarian's offices are taking Reiki training so they can use Reiki in their work. Some Reiki practitioners specialize in treating animals or even a particular type of animal.
- In some cities, you may find Reiki clinics for pets! Obviously, you need to have an animal who can travel and behave among other animals.
- You can learn Reiki yourself so you can help your animals.
Listening to animals
Animals differ in their responsiveness to Reiki depending on their illness, personality, and how well they know you. Here's how you can read an animal to determine how to administer Reiki:
- An animal may screech, fly, growl, hiss, or run away as a way of telling you it doesn't want to be touched. In that case, you can use distant Reiki or beaming techniques.
- An animal may let you perform hands-on Reiki but then shift positions or look at you funny. Move your hands a few inches above the body and continue Reiki, if you feel that it's still needed.
- An animal may tell you it wants Reiki by coming near you when you are giving Reiki to yourself or someone else.
- If you're lucky, an animal will move itself so you can give Reiki exactly where it's needed.
Using different techniques
If you feel comfortable or get an intuitive message to get closer to an animal, you can then try performing Reiki with your hands hovering above the pet. You can eventually move into an actual hands-on session.
Adapt the techniques used for humans to animals. Because animals can't give their express permission for you to perform Reiki, make sure you approach any animal in a slow and respectful manner when starting to give Reiki. Doing so gives the animal the opportunity to understand what you are doing and lets the animal make his feelings known.
You may want to start by beaming Reiki to the animal from across the room or sending distant Reiki. These techniques may be sufficient for treating an animal.
Intention is the single most important factor in the success of a Reiki treatment. Intend or pray for the highest level of healing for the animal and that you be a pure channel of Reiki energy. Healing is not from you, but through you. Be clear about your role as a Reiki healer and why you are treating the animal.
Here are the general techniques to use on animals:
- Distant Reiki: This type of Reiki can be performed from anywhere, so you don't need to be near the animal to do this. You can use this technique to treat any trauma an animal might have suffered in the past or to help the animal with any event in the future.
- Beaming Reiki from across the room: When you are with the animal, start with beaming to connect with the animal from a safe distance. You and Rover then get a chance to connect with each other before moving closer.
- Reiki with hands hovering over the body: Some pets tolerate this type of Reiki for a longer period of time than hands-on Reiki.
- Hands-on Reiki: Adapt the standard hand positions for humans to your pet. Some animals are much smaller, but the basic idea of anatomy is the same.
- Group Reiki: For larger animals, especially horses or large dogs, a few people can perform Reiki simultaneously, sending much love and healing at once.
Giving Reiki to a sick animal helps the human companions of animals as much as it helps the animals themselves.
As is the case for humans, Reiki healing sometimes leads to a curing of an animal's illness, but it may also lead to a peaceful death. Reiki doesn't change the natural order of events, but it enhances the experience by giving a dose of love.
