| Animals benefit from Reiki just as people do. It is | | | | your hands at your side, palms facing outward. Situate |
| relaxing and healing to them. In addition to pets and | | | | yourself a short distance form the animal. Do not lift |
| tame animals, Reiki is ideal for shelter animals and feral | | | | and place him/her on a table or couch. Be sure to |
| or wild animals. | | | | allow the animal to have freedom of movement during |
| Offering Reiki to animals is quite different than offering | | | | the session. |
| Reiki to people. I often tell this story to my Animal Reiki | | | | Since Reiki is the flow of energy, and energy knows |
| students about my first experience watching an animal | | | | no bounds, a treatment given from nearby is just as |
| Reiki treatment: It involved a beagle (who had been | | | | effective as one given hands-on. This makes Reiki |
| diagnosed with lymphoma) being lifted onto a Reiki | | | | ideal to use at a shelter, where a treatment can be |
| table and several practitioners working on him at once. | | | | given outside the cage of an animal. |
| The canine was a good sport and I believe he knew | | | | Some animals decide during a treatment that they |
| the practitioners wanted to help him, but I sensed by | | | | want to feel the energy up close and personal, and will |
| the look in his eyes that he was not completely | | | | move toward the practitioner, indicating they want |
| comfortable with this scenario. I knew there had to be | | | | hands-on touch. Savvy creatures that they are, most |
| a better way! | | | | animals are sensitive and understanding about energy |
| Since that time a number of years ago, I have learned | | | | and know exactly what is offered to them. Others |
| a wonderful way of offering Reiki to animals. A | | | | need time to relax and investigate. |
| session begins with a "hands-off" approach and from | | | | If you are a practitioner working with animals, always |
| the perspective that the animal is a partner in the | | | | remain flexible and open-minded and let the animals |
| healing process. It is more likely an animal will accept | | | | lead they way as to how they want the treatment to |
| and relax into a Reiki treatment if he/she feels that he | | | | unfold. |
| has the freedom to choose as much or little energy as | | | | If you have a pet, Reiki is a wonderful holistic therapy |
| he wishes. An easy, simple way to begin a treatment | | | | for healing. It is a very gentle healing system and is |
| with an animal is to sit in a chair with your hands | | | | completely non-invasive. It can address any type of |
| resting in your lap, palms upturned, or standing with | | | | health or emotional issue that your pet may have. |