Voice for Animals Newsletter 2014
Shelter animals have always held a place in my heart. A situation and environment that they did not choose! Yet here they are confused by the fact they are going to a new home. Through my 12 years of offering alternative healing to animals, I knew that Reiki would be a benefit to these animals who are confused, grieving, upset, lost, and those who have behavioral issues. Reiki is a pure and loving Universal energy source that is channeled through the practitioner to the Receiver. Reiki recharges the cells in the body to allow healing and releasing of emotions to take place. The healing is on all levels; physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Animals are very connected to this energy and in the sessions they will guide the practitioner to the areas of the body that require attention. The animals know when they are complete and when they would like more. I often have found animals who receive regular sessions to become Reiki Junkies – often lying right down in front of me eager to get started with the session.
In 2011 I began volunteering weekly at an Animal Shelter to offer Reiki and communication to the animals there. And this year I expanded this into a second shelter. I learned how some animals were confused about their location and why they were there, and others were delighted that they were out of a bad situation and were ready to move on. Some have lost self esteem and confidence or had feeling of abandonment. They felt they were not good enough or not ready for a new home. Others were so confident they would jump up and down offering pictures of their preferred new environment and/or people. It has been fascinating. The staff has found it useful giving them a better understanding of a dog’s emotional situation. I work closely with the trainers who then adapt training based on the information gathered. A win-win for the dogs.
Doja had been at the shelter for many months, with no interest from the public to adopt her. When I was introduced to her she was in an outdoor run situated out of sight from passing potential interest. Doja and I spent some time together and I offered her a Reiki session. It was very apparent that she had a ‘veil’ around her. She had shrouded herself because she had lost her self confidence and didn’t feel worthy of a new home. We worked together to clear the veil and increase her confidence and self esteem. It was a heart felt experience as she opened up her emotions again. When I returned to the shelter the following week I was told she had been adopted the day after her session!
Caesar was a 9 year old mixed breed who had been at the shelter for a while. I was asked by one of the volunteers to have a ‘chat’ with him to see why he hadn’t been adopted. It was so interesting to find that he thought the shelter was his new home – I petted him and smiled, I explained that this was a place to keep him safe until he found his forever home. I learned the following week that he had been adopted within a couple of days.
Katie was not attracting her new home. I initially found that Katie was full of pent up anger and frustration. We worked to clear these emotions through Reiki. On my next visit, Katie was being moved to another shelter in the hope of attracting new attention. There was a lot of upset because of concern this move would set her back emotionally. I decided to tell Katie know that she would be going on a ride to a new shelter to find her a permanent family. I suggested to her that if she did not want to go to the new shelter, she needed to find her new people that day. I gave her Reiki and wished her well. That afternoon I received a call from 3 staff members relaying Katie’s story. She had arrived at the new shelter, a car pulled in behind them with a couple who had seen Katie on line and were interested in adopting her. They all met in the parking lot and the couple fell in love with Katie. The adoption papers were completed and Katie had a new home. She didn’t even step foot in the new shelter!
I will often find myself in a situation where I feel an animal would benefit from Reiki. At an Animal Expo in 2013, I had noticed that the cats, available for adoption that day, appeared to be very stressed in this new and noisy situation. I asked if I could offer Reiki to them. I placed some gem stones in the cage and offered Reiki to the cats. Over a short period of time, these cats seemed to calm down and relax. I gifted the gem stones to the cats and returned to my booth. One of the volunteers approached me later in the day to share that the cats remained calm the rest of the day.
At another expo last year I saw a young man with his dog held in his arms. The dog was a recent adoption and was very nervous in this new environment. She had no interest in the other dogs and was totally overwhelmed. I asked if I could offer her Reiki. She lay down almost immediately on the blanket and I channeled Reiki to her. I also used an essential oil to offer courage and strength. She eventually stood up and was ready to move on. The owner came back later in the day to say that his dog had been interacting with the other dogs and appeared to be so much calmer and more secure.
I recently worked with a long time resident shelter dog. This dog was convinced that leaving the shelter was not safe. He felt safe at the shelter. We had worked with him several times offering Reiki and he enjoyed his sessions, however he remained at the shelter, showing no interest in people who stopped at his kennel. On my next visit I explained to him that there may be a family out there who would offer him all the security he has at the shelter, and a couch!! A few days later I received an email that he had been adopted, I saw photos of him on a couch, out walking and generally looking very proud of himself.
Over the last 4 years the healings and changes in these animals has been incredible. The emotions that are felt and cleared continue to keep me humble as each animal is willing to give life another chance.
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