One of the most fundamental aspects of being an Animal Reiki practitioner is to be truly flexible with each session. After all, there are so many varied animals with which one can work and each session is so very unique. Even different sessions with the same animal can be totally varied.
The most significant point I convey to my students is that it is wise to always begin with a hands-off approach. When I teach a class, there can be Level I students as well as Reiki Masters taking the course. I find that sometimes it is easier to work with newcomers to Reiki, who aren’t as set in their ways about having to place ones hands on the body for the healing to be effective. Most practitioners and Masters are very used to placing their hands directly on the areas needing healing in terms of human Reiki sessions. It is very contrary to their usual practice to have them get into the mind set of beginning with your hands off the animal, just sitting quietly nearby and letting the Reiki flow for the Highest Good.
In a number of my classes, Masters and Teachers who have been mostly working with people might share stories of the few times they have worked with animals. Times they did not consider successful. Times when they were sure the animals were not really interested or receptive to the energy. And of course, each time they were forcing the animal to accept a hands-on treatment which was similar to a hands-on human treatment. So I am not in the least surprised that the animals were not particularly open to those treatments.
Animals need to have the freedom to take as much or little (or none) of the energy as they like. They don’t like to be confined to being stuck between our hands. They like to have the flexibility of moving around. That doesn’t mean they are not open to receive Reiki. That just means they prefer to enjoy Reiki in a more flexible and free-spirited manner.
That is why as Practitioners, we need to really just be very flexible with the way we offer a session. Maybe you will be seated on a chair near the animal. Maybe you will be seated on the floor. Maybe the animal will remain at the other end of the room. Or maybe they will come forward and maneuver themselves under your hands to show you exactly how they would like the treatment.
The bottom line is that you have to be open-minded about the way the treatment will unfold and let go of those preconceived notions about having to place your hands on the animal in such and such way.
The second part of this is that if there is another person (the animal’s owner) involved, you may have to very tactfully and professionally explain that you don’t have to touch the animal for the treatment to be effective. Energy knows no bounds and will travel between you and the animal. Sometimes I find that people are very limited in their understanding and it is challenging to explain that I always begin with a calm, hands-off approach, just sitting almost as if in a meditation. This “meditational state” involves and connects profoundly with their animal. I always invite my clients to sit nearby, be open to receive some of the Reiki that fills up the room, and to peacefully observe their animal’s behavior during the session. I speak to them before and after the session, but request that they remain quiet during the actual treatment.
Working with animals is always an adventure and quite fulfilling as I love sharing Reiki with our animal companions. Tapping in to the radiant energy for the sake of a needy animal — and truly connecting with their pure and lively spirit is a beautiful experience.
