My friend @Katieboocat asked last week if I knew much about Reiki for animals. I asked a friend who said Reiki is practiced pretty much the same for animals as it is for humans. I have some new information to add, and it won’t fit in 140 characters.
First, I’d like to thank Mary Onna Mukhande of Om Gaia Spiritual Center in Sarasota, Florida, for the answer and the connection to her friend Donna Fae who added some more information and resources for humans who are interested in sharing Reiki with us anipals.
Donna wrote on FaceBook,
“Hello Mary & Robin, & yes! Basically it is similar with humans. Try to find a chakra chart on animals online. That will help tremendously, bec the chakras are located in slightly different areas on animals, cats, dogs, compared to humans, but not much, you’ll know & feel it, but a chart does help. & generally you just beam the energy in. Some animals are not as comfortable with letting you hold your hands really close to them, which is fine, just beam it in from across the room. Also, sometimes on 1st session they might get a little nervous only bec they are not used to the sudden shift in energy, but soon they are fine, & when they are done they generally walk away, or will somehow let you know. They like to fall asleep during a session & explain to them in your mind’s eye what you are doing.”
I found one site that has a nice picture of the location of chakras on cats and dogs.
Donna also included references to some books humans who love us anipals could look at for guidance
1) Animal Reiki: Using Energy to Heal the Animals in Your Life by Elizabeth Fulton and Kathleen Prasad
2) Hands-On Healing for Pets: The Animal Lover’s Essential Guide to Using Healing Energy by Margrit Coates
3) Learning Their Language: Intuitive Communication with Animals and Nature by Marta Williams and D.V.M. Cheryl Schwartz
4) Shamanic Reiki: Expanded Ways of Working with Universal Life Force Energy by Llyn Roberts and Robert Levy
5) Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki & Shamanism by Rose De Dan
And Donna also wishes our people well
“And there are a few more out there, but these I have in my own personal library. Yay!!!! for your Cat Friends… Me, too. I’m a Kitty Momma! -hehe-“
Thank you so much, Rose, for the additional information! I hope my anipals and their humans will visit your Web site and blog. I can’t wait until my Upstairs Human shares some Reiki with me!
My thanks to Donna Fae for including “Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism” in her Reiki book recommendations – an author always likes to be appreciated!
I’ve had a healing practice for animals since 1998, and in those years have learned a few additional tips.
First, it is always a good idea to tell the animal about what you are offering them and how you plan to do so. Yes, you can do that out loud, you might be surprised how much animals do understand, and as they have the right of choice in their own care it is respectful to do so.
Many animals will turn their bodies so that your hands fall in the areas they feel need it most, which often are not the chakras, most usually back and hips, especially in older animals.
Animals don’t need as much time for a Reiki session usually 10-20 minutes is optimal.
Finally, I usually focus on just four major chakra areas (unless there is something that needs specific attention), back of head, heart, solar plexus and root.
If you want to read more animal stories you can visit my blog or sign up for my newsletter on my website.
Hope this helps! Blessings to everyone who offers Reiki to animals for they need and love it!
Rose De Dan
Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC
Website: http://www.reikishamanic.com
Blog: http://www.wildreiki.wordpress.com
Thanks, Christine and Katie! We’ll be eager to hear how everything goes and share your experiences with other readers.
Yay! I can’t wait to try it out on my kittehs. Hopefully, it will help them all relax, and give one a much-needed attitude adjustment! I’ll keep you posted on how it all works.
*katiekisses*