| Reiki can offer benefits to animals as well as | | | | improve the quality of life in an animal's final days, |
| humans. It is a gentle technique that promotes | | | | as well as bringing a measure of peacefulness and |
| relaxation and healing. It is non-invasive, and can | | | | acceptance to the animal's human family. I even |
| never cause harm, and is a wonderful | | | | participated in bereavement sessions for a dog |
| complement to traditional veterinary medicine (not | | | | who had lost her canine sibling and was showing |
| a replacement for), as well as other holistic healing | | | | signs of grief. The sessions helped her visibly relax |
| methods. This technique is used in the hospital | | | | and heal from her loss. |
| setting (for humans) across the country, including | | | | I always consider any animal as a partner in |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering. It helps support cancer | | | | healing in the sense that I make it clear the animal |
| patients as they recover from surgery, | | | | has the choice of accepting Reiki, and how much |
| chemotherapy and radiation. Minimally, a recipient | | | | energy he/she wishes to take, as well as |
| of Reiki feels a flow of relaxation and | | | | choosing from a distance or close-up with |
| peacefulness during the session. More significant | | | | "hands-on" touch. Most animals have an intuitive |
| benefits include pain reduction and an acceleration | | | | sensitivity to energy and are quite receptive. I |
| of recovery time. | | | | have always felt a special connection to our furry |
| For animals, Reiki is an ideal method, since it is | | | | friends and so have included a special focus on |
| energy-based and does not have to be given | | | | animals in my Reiki practice. As a Reiki teacher, I |
| "hands on". It is effective at a distance, so it is | | | | offer classes to students who want to practice |
| helpful for feral or aggressive animals and can be | | | | on people, but additionally have incorporated a |
| offered near their cages, or in an outdoor setting. | | | | specific curriculum targeted toward those who |
| It is incredibly beneficial for shelter animals, who | | | | wish offer Reiki to animals, whether for their own |
| most often have kennel anxiety and may have | | | | pets or possibly at shelters on a voluntary basis. |
| suffered through abusive pasts. | | | | In the near future, I hope to see complementary |
| I have had the experience of offering Reiki | | | | and alternative methods, such as Reiki, |
| sessions to a multitude of different animals over | | | | Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, and |
| time, including those in shelters, clients' animals, as | | | | herbal medicine become more available and |
| well as to my own pets. This method is useful for | | | | accepted in the veterinary world. I firmly believe |
| a range of ailments and is not limited to helping | | | | that combining holistic methods with traditional |
| any specific condition. Reiki can also ease the | | | | medicine to achieve a blend of both "Eastern and |
| situation in the home of a sick or old animal who | | | | Western" systems will result in better overall care, |
| is ready to pass. In this case, it often serves to | | | | healing, and longevity for the animals in our lives. |