Volunteering Reiki For Animals

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Looking for a New Year's Resolution? How About Showing Gratitude: Volunteering Reiki for Animals

By Kathleen Prasad

The Reiki Times,

As

I move forward on my path with Reiki, new lessons and challenges appear

almost daily. As a Reiki practitioner whose practice centers on

treating animals and teaching people to work with animals, I learn most

of these lessons from the animals with whom I work: the animals whom

Reiki brings into my life.

I remember several years ago, as a

new student to Reiki, writing a wish in my Reiki journal: a wish that I

could somehow combine the two loves of my life, Reiki and animals.

Little did I know at that time, that as the years progressed in my

Reiki practice, the animals would show me the way. The animals who have

taught me the most and given me so many memorable moments of love, joy,

forgiveness and healing are the animals from who you would perhaps

least expect it: the animals in the shelters and sanctuaries where I

have volunteered my services over the years.

These

animals have come from backgrounds of abuse, neglect, or have become

separated from their beloved family in one way or another. They are

lost, alone, stressed, and in tremendous need of healing. And

regardless of the nature of their problems, I have watched Reiki go to

the very source of their deepest issues and heal them gently,

powerfully, and with compassion and love. In making connections to

these animals through Reiki, I have also gained a new humility and

respect for the depth and wisdom of these animals, and what they have

yet to teach me about life and the healing process.

I

remember one dog that I worked with who was so stressed that he was

barking and jumping around his kennel over and over, hour after hour.

His voice was hoarse from the endless barking, and his paws were raw

from the endless pacing and agitated movements he made. I sat just

outside his kennel, put in my earplugs, closed my eyes and began

offering him Reiki. I imagined I was in a quiet, gentle place where we

were surrounded by peace and harmony. After several minutes, the

barking became less frequent and he would periodically sit down between

jumps. After thirty minutes, he lay down completely flat, head and all,

took a deep sigh, closed his eyes and fell fast asleep. I continued to

treat him for another half hour as he slept deeply. As I left, he

continued to doze, his feet moving sporadically as if running in a

dream. As I walked through the kennel on my way out, I noticed that all

the other dogs had come to the front of their runs and were also in

various states of sleep and relaxation. The office up front had also

become quiet and peaceful, the people there looking much less stressed

than when I had arrived.

To be able to watch that kind of

peaceful change, to see the healing Reiki brings, is truly a gift which

I treasure. Reiki never ceases to amaze me!

If

you’ve ever thought about working with animals, shelters and

sanctuaries are a great place to start. The people who work in these

places are generous and kind by nature (as is evident by their choice

in career) and for the most part open to anything that can help their

charges. When they learn about the benefits of Reiki, and how it is

competely gentle, noninvasive, and can even be done without physical

contact, they are usually happy to try it!

Many people have

come to me over the years and asked how to begin working with animals.

They have treated people and are unsure of how to begin, since animals

are so different. I encourage all my students and fellow practitioners

to find a shelter or sanctuary in their area and go out to meet the

animals.

The animals will recognize the energy that you offer

them. If you are open to it, they will show you “howâ€; they will show

you the way. They will appreciate your gift of Reiki and repay you many

times over in the lessons they will teach you about healing. To be able

to bring the peace and harmony of Reiki into the stressful environment

of a shelter heals not only the animals there, but also the people

there, including you the practitioner, and even the very situations

that the animals face. Reiki will spread out to where it is needed.

What

a wonderful way to heal the planet and show gratitude! And so as we

enter the New Year of 2005, I encourage you to make a Reiki Resolution:

to volunteer your services to help the animals who need it most. And I

wish you all the best and blessings on your journey!