One of the most essential keys to an effective Animal Reiki session is to have the mindset of being truly open and flexible. Each session and each animal can be so completely different. With people Reiki, it is much more routine — a client shows up, lays down on the Reiki table and receives a session. Yes, there are variations, but that is basically the way it happens. With animals, working with each animal can be so different from the next and even with the same animal, subsequent sessions can widely vary.
So as a Practitioner, when you show up for a session with a particular animal — be open minded. Look around and assess the situation: use both your intuitive and practical senses to decide what is the best way to approach the animal and the best way to use the surrounding space, whether it be a home or a shelter. (And by the way, this assumes you are going to the animal’s place, as opposed to the animal coming to you. Animals are much more comfortable in their own environment and are far less stressed out than if they have to travel anywhere.)
Assess the situation: is there a room that you can be in with the animal and the animal’s person, apart from the rest of the house, such as bedroom. This way the animal has the freedom to roam throughout the room, but it will also be more conducive to checking out and accepting the healing energy that you are offering. If you allow the animal freedom of the entire apartment or house, there is obviously a greater chance of the animal disappearing before you can even offer the energy.
Are there other animals present? Perhaps they can be safely kept elsewhere so your can focus on the animal in need. Of course, if someone wants Reiki for their 4 cats, you can just sit with all of them and invite them all to take as much energy as they like. But otherwise, try to just be with that one animal and really focus.
One of my students recently wrote to me about the cat she is treating with Reiki (one of the client’s two felines.) For several sessions she confined the cat in a room with her and the cat came to really anticipate and be very accepting of Reiki. On a subsequent visit, for a variety of reasons, she decided to allow the cat to have full freedom of the apartment so she ended up following the cat from place to place where the cat would almost relax, but not quite in each place. There was also the distraction of the other cat in the household. So she decided that going forward, it would be better to remain in a separate room with the feline.
For a potentially aggressive or unfriendly dog, be sure to be ultra-respectful of the canine’s space because he/she may react in a territorial way. It is also possible to keep a dog on a long lead if the space is so huge and you would like to keep them a bit closer, assuming that the dog is friendly enough. This way they have the freedom to move back and come forward, at their choice. The leash can even be held by the owner and you can sit nearby. Using the leash may not be ideal, but is part of being flexible and using whatever technique will work for the particular situation.
As the Practitioner, you need to decide what you feel will work and then explain it to the animal’s person. If they have any objections to your suggestions, then of course, ask for their input and perhaps revise what you will do. But do remember, that for you, safety is always a primary concern as you do not want to get scratched, bitten, etc.
Make sure to do some self Reiki and/or distant Reiki when you are on your way to the animal’s home or the shelter, already calling in the flow of energy for the Highest Good of the animal and the situation. You will find that it all may go more smoothly if you energetically prepare ahead of time. And always trust that Reiki will be a healing benefit to any situation.
