I found Zoey at my local shelter. She was a black cat with only half a tail, but a sweet disposition and friendly heart. Like most cats there, she had been surrendered. When I saw her for the first time, I noticed that she had bald spots in her head and neck. The shelter staff told me the vet had done some tests and couldn’t figure out what she had. Even though there was no evidence of fungal or bacterial disease, they were giving her medication, which was making her condition worse. They thought stress could be the source of Zoey’s bald spots.
I decided to offer her Reiki, a Japanese energy technique that induces relaxation and promotes healing on all, physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Many hospitals across the country now offer it to patients as a supplement to conventional treatment. As more people discover and embrace Reiki’s healing effect, they are seeking to extend its benefits to their animals.
During our first session, I took her out of her kennel and placed her on the counter. I sat by her side. I said a prayer, placed my intention on healing Zoey and allowed Reiki to flow through my hands. Reiki practitioners are merely a conduit of Reiki’s life force energy. Many animals, especially cats, are very receptive to it. They like the feel of the energy flowing. Zoey was no exception. She approached my hands and rubbed her face against them. She also rubbed her body against mine continuously, |
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purring loudly. After a while, she settled on my lap andwelcomed hands-on treatment on her side, torso and bald areas. She relaxed almost to the point of falling asleep. When the treatment was over, she stood up, climbed up my chest and gave me a sweet nibble in my ear. It was her way of saying: thank you!
I went back to treat her the following weeks. During her next 2 treatments she was not as passive as the first time and decided to explore the whole room. Healing reactions such as severe scratching can be common, and Zoey scratched away! Despite the different reactions, each time I went back, I saw a slight improvement in her skin. After my third visit, I sent her a series of distant healing treatments from home. It was then that I saw the most dramatic change. Hair was starting to grow! During her fourth in- person session, she sat down beside me and practically handed herself over to the treatment. Animals are incredibly sensitive and recognize what is good for them. Zoey was getting better. Reiki came to the rescue and the rescued embraced Reiki!
Italia Millan is a Reiki Master educated through The International Center for Reiki Training and Animal Reiki Source. She organizes the Healing Force Michigan Reiki Meetup Group and volunteers at the Michigan Animal Rescue League and other local animal organizations. Contact: healingforcereiki@gmail.com |
