Animal Reiki and Death
Creating calm & peace within you and assisting your pet that is about to make the transition
My first experience with a pet's death was when I was about 7yrs old, Carlo was a purebred German Shepard who my dad trained, showed in dog shows and bred for more "champions". Carlo had to be PTS (put to sleep) as he contracted Distemper and soon succumbed to its confusion of who is who, and could only retain memory of his immediate family. Everyone else, everything else was foreign and caused fight or flight decisions. Saying goodbye was heart wrenching at 7yrs old - and we all know that doesn't change when we become adults.
I learned that animals and pets are very much in charge of their passing and we should respect that.
Moving forward - I had the honor and gratefulness to experience the recent (like it was yesterday from late last year) transition of my "big bear bear" Willow; and yes, Willow Reiki is in honor of him. He was was my first fur family member who allowed me to use Reiki on during his last year of life and I can tell you I was very much at peace with his upcoming "date"! Why, because I was able to be part of what he was going through, offering Reiki gave him the ability to cope through his illness and adapting to his body changes. You see, he was still very much a young pup, right up to 13! He was extra large in size and yet, no arthritis, no pain and no memory loss - only his back legs started to become weak. His appetite was good, but if given the wrong food, he'd expel it within minutes of eating and continue to be uncomfortable for days. While Willow was not my first fur baby that I offered Reiki to, he was the first one who wanted and accepted it. I had a 19yr old cat named KC who, when offered, would just walk away. Until I told her I would not give her any, she'd come back and allow me to pet here and scratch behind her ears and under her chin. Funny how they are, right?!
What did I learn from Willow and KC? I learned that animals and pets are very much in charge of their passing and we should respect that. I learned that Reiki isn't always wanted or received by them, that they have a right to decide and not have us impose on them. Reiki gives us the ability to deeply connect with our fur babies, so we can better interpret what they are trying to tell us. Just as I tried to offer Reiki to KC, she made her choice loud and clear, I still offered it to her, she still kept on walking away. Willow, up until a month before his passing, would remain with me up to 15-20 minutes, then walk away. Other times, when his tummy caused him discomfort - up to 45 min with my hands remaining just on his stomach area. Reiki was my way to help Willow when he wasn't feeling well and I know it is what helped his degenerative disease progress slower and with less issues than the averages projected.
Second: upon accepting Reiki, comfort, peace and calmness envelopes over your animal, they then begin to deeply relax and if in pain, they begin to feel it diminish.
So how can Reiki help your loved animal family member? Well first: it gives you the opportunity to see how they react to the first few minutes of the session. If they accept it, this gives a great indicator they wish to be helped, if rejected, perhaps they are comfortable with their upcoming transition? Or maybe, there is something else they want and know Reiki will not help with what they need.
Second, upon accepting Reiki, comfort, peace and calmness envelopes over your animal, they then begin to deeply relax and if in pain, they begin to feel it diminish. Any stress relating to illness, discomfort and insecurity due to age is released and re-balancing is imitated.
Lastly: there is a level of openness and expansion during and after a Reiki session, it is not easily explained but can be said they are sensations felt by anyone who is present at the session. It is here, in that openness & expansion of space, understanding, acceptance and deep love is experienced - assisting with coping and accepting with the upcoming transition with grace, gratitude and unconditional love.
If your pet is following senior program put on by your Vet, Reiki will work in complementary and help create additional relaxation and relief. Also, offering Reiki to your senior pet is a great gift give to them and to give to yourself. Reiki is a 'heal to and heal back' healing modality and it supports completing the universal circle of connection of love and gratitude.