Rainbow Healing - 4 Paws Reiki

Reiki healing treatments for animals and horses.

4 Paws Reiki.

Zoe my beautiful Great Dane.

A four-legged angel from whom I have learnt so much.

Since childhood I have been privileged to share a special affinity with animals. Animals are great teachers and from them I have learnt so much. They have shown me how to progress on life's pathway with courage, compassion and unconditional love. Animals ask for very little in return and being able to offer them Reiki seems such a fitting way to express my gratitude.

As this section of my business is for animal Reiki treatments it uses the seperate name: 4 Paws Reiki.

In August 2007 I completed an Animal Reiki Workshop with Kathleen Prasad (joint author of 'Animal Reiki - using energy to heal the animals in your life') and I am included in the Practitioner Directory on her website - one of only five listed Animal Reiki Practitioners in Europe. I abide by the Animal Practitioner Code of Ethics devised by Kathleen which ensures that each animal is respected and treated with compassion during each Reiki treatment.

I am specifically insured for Reiki treatments on animals.

What happens during a treatment?

Before I start the treatment I always mentally ask the animals permission to let it know that it has a choice about whether to accept any Reiki or not and to reassure it that nothing will be forced upon it.

Animals are extremely open to Reiki and immediately sense that something special is being offered to them. I commence the treatment a short distance away from the animal allowing it a chance to experience the Reiki energy and evaluate it in its own way and in its own time. Depending on what the animal indicates it is comfortable with, I may treat it with my hands directly on its body or I may treat it from a few feet away, either way the treatment will be equally effective. As it is never necessary for any animal to be restrained or confined to receive a Reiki treatment it remains an active and willing participant in its own healing process.

Animals instinctively know how much Reiki they require and by observing their reactions and the energy flowing through my hands I am able to recognize when the treatment is coming to an end.

Both healthy and ill animals can benefit from regular Reiki treatments. For healthy animals, Reiki helps to maintain good health, aids relaxation, reduces stress and generally improves their well being. When animals are ill or recovering from surgery, Reiki is a wonderful healing tool. It will never do any harm and will work safely as a complement to conventional veterinary medicine.

For those animals that have suffered trauma, abuse and neglect, Reiki is a powerful healing tool that can reach deep into even the most damaged spirits.

Benefits of an animal Reiki session.

Reiki works/heals on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.
It can often deepen the bond between human and animal companion.
Reiki will complement traditional veterinary medicine.
It can help to maintain health on all levels.
It will help and support a dying animal and his humans to ease the transition at the end of life.
It is very beneficial for any animal that has been in a shelter situation.
Reiki induces deep relaxation and reduces stress.
Over a period of time, Reiki can help to reduce nervousness.
Reiki can accelerate the healing process after illness or surgery.
Can help with behavioural issues.

Reiki and Dogs.

A large percentage of the 4 Paws Reiki treatments I do are with dogs, through this work I have acquired the name the 'Dog Healer'.

Our dogs respond to us based on the energy we project and know whether we are happy and relaxed or sad and anxious based on this energy. If you get up in the morning feeling low and depressed the energy you project at this time will be negative and weak. Your dog is aware that this weakness in your energy means he cannot depend on you to be his Pack Leader as you will not be able to perform at your best. This can make him stressed, hyperactive and display behavioural problems. Similarly, waking up in a very happy state means that you project excitable energy and again this energy is not reliable to your dog. This excitable energy will also serve to increase any anxieties your dog may already have. The only energy that all animals respect is energy that is calm and assertive.

If you are ever unsure exactly how you are feeling or what energy you are projecting at any given moment spend some time watching your dog and you will soon be able to work it out. Your dog is your emotional mirror and will often understand you much more deeply that you understand yourself.

Early in 2008 I was invited to help Cesar Millan, star of Sky Three's Dog Whisperer, and his team with an online coaching course for dog owners (for more information see the Cesar Millan page). Working with 'Cesar's Way' made me realise how closely his overall philosophy - one of balance - relates very closely to my own. I firmly believe that in order to achieve balance in our lives we need to live 'in the now'. Yesterday has gone forever and nothing about the future can be guaranteed; all we have is this moment we're living in, right now. Working with 'Cesar's Way' prompted me to put the finishing touches to a new concept in treatments that I had been considering for sometime. A joint treatment, offering both the person and their dog Reiki. This treatment aims to strengthen the bond between human and canine and encourages the human recipient to project energy that is calm and assertive.

Joint Treatment 4 Paws - 2 Feet.

During this treatment the person receives some Reiki first. This is a concentrated treatment in the form of a Reiki Master Intensive and offers the same benefits as a full treatment. This encourages the animal's companion to reach a deeply peaceful and balanced state of mind. As they achieve this the energy they project becomes calm and assertive. Reiki will also offer them healing on all levels if this is required.

I then offer Reiki to their dog, leaving the person sitting/lying down down as they will continue to receive Reiki while their dog is tended. Dogs usually reach a calm and relaxed state very quickly as they have already recognized the positive change in the energy projected by their human companion. Reiki will also release the dog from any anxieties it may have and provide it with healing on all levels if this is required.

Generally, I advise people to allow about 1 hour and 30 minutes for a joint treatment.

How many treatments will my animal need?

The number of treatments needed will depend on the age of your animal, the condition being treated and the animal's response to Reiki. In my experience, emotionally based problems such as those experienced by animals from rescue kennels, generally require three or four treatments though this can vary quite considerably. Chronic, long-lasting conditions need more treatments than acute ones and generally respond well after four or five treatments.

After the initial course of treatments I recommend that the animal receives some treatments on a monthly basis then, depending on how the animal progresses, receiving a treatment every 3/6 months will ensure that the animal's health is maintained.

For therapeutic healing when the animal is healthy I have found that after the initial treatment a treatment every three to six months is all that is required.

Reiki when it's time to let go.

What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.

It is the breath of the buffalo in the winter time.

It is the shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset

Crowfoot, Chief of the Blackfoot Nation.

Animals can be our most beloved and closest confidantes, and losing one of them is as painful as losing a human family member. Animals often sense their human companions anxiety about losing them and hold on to life much longer than they would like in order to spare their human companions the pain of loss and to allow them time to adjust to their passing.

Reiki can provide for many of your animal's needs at this difficult time including physical comfort and emotional and spiritual support. Giving an animal Reiki at this difficult time is a powerful yet gentle way to offer your animal peace, comfort, relief from pain and freedom from their struggle. Reiki will also help to heal any fears and worries that you may have and allow you to feel more at peace with your animals passing.

Although the end of life inevitably brings great sadness, many beautiful things can happen during this period. People who have let their animals receive Reiki at this time often say they grew closer as the transition drew nearer. The bond between you and your beloved pet will always be respected during this difficult time.

The CD's I use during the Animal Reiki Treatments are now available to purchase in my online shop.

PLEASE NOTE: At the risk of offending or upsetting the owner, if at any point during a consultation or treatment on an animal I feel that Reiki is not an appropriate treatment, or that the animal does not wish to receive Reiki OR that either veterinary treatment or training/handling work for the animal and/or the owner is required I reserve the right to stop the treatment. In this instance I will only charge for petrol. I make every effort to anticipate this type of situation before my visit but as the animal is always my main concern I am duty bound to refuse to treat and refer to a more appropriate person if necessary.

As an Animal Reiki Practitioner I may not treat any specific condition nor can I prescribe or diagnose. Reiki is a holistic treatment which is given to an animal to help support and encourage it's individual natural healing ability and to help it achieve a balanced state.

Reiki is not a substitute for veterinary advice and treatment. Your pet must be under the care of a veterinary surgeon whose advice you need to follow at all times. Reiki will compliment traditional veterinary care but is not intended to act as a replacement. Please note that I will require the consent of your vet if your pet appears unwell or is receiving any veterinary treatment and/or medication prior to any Reiki being given. Your vet will be provided with information on Reiki as requested and if he or she does not wish the animal to receive a Reiki treatment these wishes will be respected.

IMPORTANT LEGISLATION :

The Veterinary Surgery Act of 1966 prohibits anyone other than a qualified veterinary surgeon from treating animals, including diagnosis of ailments and giving of advice on such diagnosis. However the healing of animals by contact healing, by the laying on of hands or distant healing is legal. However the Protection of Animals Act 1911 requires that if an animal clearly needs treatment from a veterinary surgeon the owner must obtain this. To give emergency First Aid to animals for the purpose of saving life or relieving pain is permissible under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 Schedule 3 (taken from the UK Reiki Federation Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice - March 2002).

I feel so privileged to be able to offer healing to animals and very honoured to receive such warmth and unconditional love in return. I feel that the following words express this:

An Animal's Love.

I came into your life

because I love you.

My love asks no questions of your past

or where you come from.

I see only your soul and wish to heal you

for your future in eternity.

Choose to heal me too

with your loving touch.

We have only the present

to do this together,

so reach out and know my soul.

Reproduced with kind permission from 'Hands-on Healing for Pets by Rider Press.'

This page is dedicated to all the animals whose paw prints I will always carry in my heart: Flopsy, Sooty, Daisy, Snowy, Squeak, Monty, Molly, Simba, Nala, Chip, Dale.........and those whose company I currently share Poppy, Honey, Dusty and Zoe.