Reiki/Holistic Energy Healing for Animals and the People Who Love Them

Animals suffer in silence far too often since they can’t verbally tell us they’re in pain. It’s only through our efforts that they can experience accelerated pain relief.

If you’re interested in learning more about Reiki/Holistic Energy Healing or to schedule an appointment, please speak to
Patty Erbe – Holistic/Reiki II Practitioner
Beth Erbe – Usui/Karuna Reiki Master

How many sessions does my pet need?
To begin with, three or four sessions over ten to fourteen days are recommended to remove entrenched blocks in your pet's energy system, then once a week or once every two weeks until the issue has resolved. However, every animal is different so the number of sessions may vary. You will begin to notice some improvement after the first session. Long-standing health issues can possibly be cleared up in five or six visits. Dis-ease generally begins in the energy field so if we keep our pets subtle bodies healthy using Reiki, and their physical bodies healthy with good nutrition and exercise, they should be able to remain active and whole.

It is strongly recommended that you do not discontinue any medications prescribed by your veterinarian or other practitioner, unless you first speak with them personally. Reiki energy works in concert with all other forms of therapy. It is a wonderful compliment to other treatments. The Reiki energy goes exactly where it is needed so a Reiki Practitioner never needs to diagnose nor prescribe - nor does ethics or law allow them to.

How Do You Know Pets Are Accepting The Reiki?
The Reiki Practitioner can tell from the flow of energy in her hands. Pets may show signs of acceptance by sniffing/licking one or both of her hands, or they may rub against them as well. They will generally enter into a deep state of relaxation almost immediately. Animals may also start yawning. Most owners are able to detect unusual changes in their pet's behavior during a session which validates for them that the energy is being received. As always, it will be different for each animal. Generally an animal will signal an end to the session by either waking up if they had fallen asleep or by moving to another activity if they were just in a relaxed state.

What is Distance Reiki?
Another option available for animals is a distant session. Since energy knows no bounds of time and space, Reiki can be sent from anywhere. It is also ideal for working with aggressive, traumatized, skittish, feral or wild animals.
Reiki is one of the fastest growing healing alternatives in our country and is gaining wider acceptance in the medical establishment within the discipline of complementary/integrative medicine as a meaningful and cost effective way to improve patient care. According to the National Institutes of Health, Reiki is classified as “Biofield Medicine”, which involves systems that use subtle energy fields in and around the body for medical purposes. Medical Institutions and academic centers that are conducting studies on Reiki, have established Reiki programs, or provide Reiki training for nurses and hospital staff include:
• Yale - New Haven Hospital
• Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York
• Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York
• The Reiki Clinic at the Tucson Medical Center in Arizona
• George Washington University Hospital
• University of Michigan Health System
• Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia
• University of Michigan Integrative Medicine
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, NH
• The California Pacific Medical Center
• The University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor
• Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, CO
• Canine Rehabilitation and Conditioning Group in Denver, CO

Scientists in the field of quantum physics have determined that all matter -- including our bodies and our pets -- is energy: ever-moving, ever-changing, ever-renewing. In the mid-nineteenth century, a Japanese monk rediscovered an ancient Tibetan method to focus this energy for healing and renewal and called it Reiki. Today, more and more people and their animals are discovering the benefits of Reiki.

The Japanese word REIKI (pronounced “Ray-key”) is translated into English as "Universally Guided Life Energy." A Reiki practitioner can direct the energy, but the person or animal being treated is free to accept as much or as little Reiki as they choose. Working as a support mechanism to the body, Reiki re-establishes a normal energy flow of ki (life force energy) throughout the system, which in turn can enhance and accelerate the body's innate healing ability. Through a series of hand positions either directly on or just above the body, the Reiki practitioner allows for the flow of energy through the body. The client's body then draws off the amount of energy that is required. The simplicity of a Reiki session may raise some skepticism, however, after experiencing it, many clients keep coming back for more of those relaxing feelings.

Reiki is used on humans in a variety of health care settings. In animals, healing sessions can be provided at home or in a neutral setting where the animal feels safe. Depending on what an animal is comfortable with, he may be treated with hands directly on his body or from a few feet away. Since animals are very sensitive to energy, some may be a bit wary at first. Others immediately direct a Reiki practitioner’s hands to where they want the energy to flow.

Reiki energy always goes to the source of the problem, whether we know what it is or not, so we can trust that the issues most needing healing will be addressed. You will notice by an animal’s body language that they are receiving Reiki. They may sigh, take a deep breath, lean into the hands of the practitioner, and perhaps fall asleep. Reiki is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment, but can be used along with these treatments. If you have any physical concerns about your animal, please talk to your veterinarian.

In its long history of use, REIKI has aided in healing illnesses and other issues concerning animals, including:
• Hip Dysplasia
• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Broken bones
• Back pain
• Joint pain
• Anxiety
• Behavioral problems

In addition REIKI can:
• Accelerate healing after surgery or illness
• Help ease stiffness from injury or aging
• Help traumatized, abused, neglected and fearful animals – especially rescued pets
• Induce deep relaxation and stress-reduction for high-strung or nervous animals
• Boost the immune system, the body’s defense against disease
• Complement both conventional and alternative medicine, since it can enhance their actions and lessen their side effects
• Help make the transition more peaceful for a dying animal and his entire family
Research at Stanford University has verified the powerful healing that can be achieved with Reiki. Dr .Oz recently on Oprah has suggested the use of Reiki.

What happens during a Reiki session?
The animal lies on the floor, table, or wherever is most comfortable. The practitioner's hands remain in a stationary position, gently on or slightly above the body through several positions from head to paws. There is no manipulation of the skin or tissue. Reiki is not massage. Most pets readily respond to and welcome the Reiki energy since it is very gentle, warm, and relaxing to them. They seem to intuitively recognize or understand its ability to help them heal. Some pets prefer that the practitioner place their hands right on them for the session. Other pets might be more comfortable receiving it either from across the room or from a distance. During a session, which lasts approximately 30-45 minutes, many animals enter a calm, relaxed state. In some, chronic or acute pain can diminish or completely vanish. Sometimes allergies and other infirmities completely disappear. It's different for each animal.

It's important to remember that, whatever is troubling our furry friends, they didn't get this way overnight and they won't recover overnight either. Reiki is not any more magical than any other modality or allopathic medicine. It is similar to acupuncture in that both work with energy in the body, however, no needles are involved with Reiki. Healing takes commitment and it takes time... one moment at a time.