Animal Reiki

Animal reiki is essentially the same as reiki for people although you have to apply it a little differently. Way back in 1922 a Japanese monk named Dr Mikao Usui became aware of the healing system through his own enlightenment and began to use it on people all across Japan. It then spread worldwide and is mainly offered for people but there is now a growing demand for the work on animals too.

Reiki is a completely natural healing system based on the transfer and balance of energy from practitioner to patient. If you look at the word reiki, ‘rei’ means spirit and ‘ki’ means life energy, so reiki is roughly translated as spiritual energy. Everything in the world is made up of energy but when an animal has an energy imbalance it can manifest in emotional or physical symptoms. So as a reiki practitioner we direct the universal energy source to an animal which can then help them restore their being in a holistic sense. In essence,we are not a healers, more of a facilitator to help animals heal themselves.

You will need to determine whether an in-person or remote healing session would be best for your dog. Of note is that Reiki can be done remotely only by a level three Reiki Master. Our in house therapist Lynette Ballantyne is a reiki master. To become a Reiki Master you first need to be attuned by an existing Reiki Master, learn all of the activation symbols and practice for many months or years to get comfortable and confident with the process.

However, a level one or level two Reiki practitioner can provide in-person, hands-on healing. Because Reiki consists of the same Universal Life Energy that makes every living thing alive, any living thing can be helped by Reiki energy. Reiki works throughout the body and each chakra to create a positive energy flow and remove any energy blockages that may exist.

By sending reiki energy to an animal we allow them to heal themselves. It’s a bit like when we feel depleted, stressed and fed up. If someone came and gave us a massage or we had a bit of ‘me time’ then we can help ourselves to feel better. Taken out of stressful situations allows us to rebalance and heal. Animals are the same as us in that they also feel stress, anxiety, fear and pain. We are all made of very similar stuff when you get down to it. When we are unwell we have unbalanced or depleted energy fields that can lead to illness and stress.

Reiki can help dogs and all animals in many ways such as pain relief, helping them heal quicker from a physical problem, providing them some stress relief and helping them cope with change. One thing that dogs really benefit from a bit of reiki for is anxiety. Usually it may take a few sessions but it can have a profound effect on dogs with emotional and mental issues.

It can also help with behavioural problems, such as when dogs are aggressive to people or other dogs. This usually stems from fear and reiki is a great way to help them overcome that too. The wonderful thing about reiki is that it will help heal the root cause of the suffering. If your dog is showing a problem it may be because of another root cause.

Chakras exist throughout the body and are sometimes referred to as the main energy centres in the body. Chakra is a Sanskrit word which means "wheel of light". Humans have seven main chakras. Dogs have the same seven chakras plus one additional chakra known as the brachial chakra. The brachial chakra in a dog is the beginning point for clearing chakras in dogs. Each of the chakras regulates a specific area or areas of the body. However, all of the chakras work together to keep the body's energy aligned and flowing smoothly. When there is a physical or emotional problem within the body, the chakras will become blocked and energy will not flow properly. Which chakras are blocked will depend on the area(s) of the body affected. Until the chakra is cleared of its blockage, the issue will remain.

During a Reiki healing session, the dog may become very relaxed and sometimes will fall asleep. Other times, the dog will become invigorated and energized after the session has concluded. Each dog will react in a way that the Reiki energy best suits them. A Reiki energy session can be as short as five or ten minutes in length or as long as an hour or more. The length of the session depends on how much healing the dog feels it needs.

Once the dog has absorbed all of the energy it feels it needs, it will walk away. Often before walking away, the dog will give a sign of affection as a way to say, "Thank you". This has usually taken the form of a 'nose nuzzle', 'love lick' or 'love nibble'.

When Lynette performs an in-person Reiki session, she wants to make sure your dog is comfortable, relaxed and familiar with their surroundings. They don’t need to hold your dog in place or force them to stay on a bed or table. The Reiki energy will flow throughout their dog no matter where they are in the room. Often, they will lie beside Lynette and allow her to gently move or place my hands over various parts of their body.

Reiki energy can be given to your dog in regularly scheduled intervals or as needed. Because it is a gentle and non-invasive energy modality, it can be used safely with any animal no matter the age, size or breed. Providing Reiki on a regular basis for your dog will help your dog stay emotionally, mentally and physically strong and happy.

Using Reiki as a complimentary therapy at a veterinarian’s office is an excellent way to help ease the increased stress level your dog may experience while at the office. Reiki can also help your dog heal emotionally and physically from any treatments that may have to be performed once you return home. If your dog has had surgery, Reiki can help the overall healing process. Our Reiki Master work's with several veterinarians, both remotely and at animal hospitals, to assist dogs during the office visit and after the dog returns home.

Another practical use for Reiki is to assist with separation anxiety that a dog may experience when you’re away from home and when they’re left at Chilled Dawgz Day Care. Many of Lynette’s clients use Reiki services in this fashion, even if their dog is doing well otherwise. As a side benefit, knowing that their dog is calm while they are away, it helps ease the mind of the human companion while they’re traveling. When they arrive home, they find their dog to be well-adjusted and at ease. No longer do they worry about the dog’s routine being changed or any unexpected behaviours transpiring while they’re away.