Reiki for Animals – Healing our furry friends

By: Jennifer Miller, Usui Reiki Master

With the goat yoga craze hitting Dallas and pet spas and boutiques appearing throughout the city, it is not hard to see that humans have a special connection with animals. Pet owners will go to extensive and expensive lengths to ensure that their furry friends are primped, massaged, and sporting the latest in pet attire. Worries about aging, behavior, and general happiness are often on the forefront of a conscientious pet lovers’ mind and many are now looking to holistic treatments to address those concerns.

Reiki, a Japanese form of energy medicine, promotes a sense of relaxation, stress release, and healing. Reiki has been used for centuries to treat imbalances and blockages in the human energy field. This practice though can be used not only to heal humans, but also to heal our furry friends. A Reiki practitioner channels universal life energy by ‘laying hands’ on a client. The intelligent body uses this energy to heal on a physical, emotional and energetic level.

It is important to bring awareness to the energetic body of an animal. As with humans there is a direction connection between the energetic body and the physical and emotional bodies. Blockages in the energetic body can lead to physical ailments, disease, and mental and behavioral issues.

I was blessed to work on a tabby cat named Saturn after he was diagnosed with cancer and had to have his leg amputated. This experience would be difficult for anyone, especially so for Saturn’s strong and independent spirit. After returning home from surgery, Saturn was not eating or going to the bathroom, and was exhibiting symptoms of depression. Immediately after our first Reiki session the results were evident, Saturn became more alert and active. After our next session the following day he began to eat and go to the bathroom again. Quickly, Saturn began to act like his ‘old self’. While it was difficult for him to adjust, Reiki helped Saturn integrate the physical changes and process the resulting emotional and energetic changes.

Animals are extremely sensitive to energy and thus are very receptive to Reiki. Just as your dog may sense energetic changes in the environment with an impending storm, animals have a heightened awareness. This awareness might be partially attributed to the fact that animals have eight major chakras, or energy centers, while humans have seven. This eighth chakra, called the Brachial chakra, is located in the shoulder area on either side of the animal’s body. It is the main chakra in an animal’s energetic body and links directly to all other chakras. It relates to animal-human interaction and thus is a great place to start an animal Reiki treatment.

In the photo, Jennifer giving Reiki on the Brachial Chakra. This rescue dog previously exhibited extreme signs of anxiety while at the vet; however, upon receiving Reiki was able to relax and receive the necessary medical treatment.

When practicing on an animal, it is important to respect an animal’s unique level of sensitivity. Reiki can be given from a distance, as is common practice with new clients and many rescue animals. Often animals will make it very clear if they are open to receiving Reiki energy and if so, when they have had enough. It is also important that animals are familiar and comfortable with their surroundings, thus Reiki sessions can be offered in home or at a rescue. The picture at the top of the article is Jennifer and other Reiki practitioners working on a rescue horse who is comfortable with receiving hands on Reiki.

Providing Reiki to an animal whether furry, feathered or hooved, provides the animal an opportunity to heal past trauma and process changes. Reiki allows an animal to find a more balanced sense of wellness and peace. It can be used as a preventative measure or coupled with times of high stress such as re-homing, moving or dealing with behavioral or medical challenges. I have been honored to work with a variety of animals in many different situations and have seen tremendous results.

If you are interested in learning more or providing Reiki to your loved creature, you contact Jennifer at [email protected].