Reiki for Dexter

Dexter is a rescued cat. He comes from my alley-way. I know his story and for four years I saw him struggle in my backstreet before I was able to take him in. Dexter is a real thug. Missing patches of fur, missing teeth, missing bits and pieces of ears, scars all over – a real though one he is. A heart breaking story, but for the past 6 years he has been living his best life with me in the comfort of our home we built together. Dexter is about to be 11 years old, he is FIV+ and has a heart condition due to his years spent as a street cat, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t deserve all the best treatments, care and love in the world. So this is exactly what I’m doing. Trying my best to make his remaining years the loveliest and healthiest possible.

For the past few months though, he has been feeling a bit under the weather. It all started in December as some over-grooming and in less than four months, turned into full on obsessive compulsive scratching. He scratches himself to the point that he rips off his fur and makes himself bleed. He is now covered with patches of blood all over his little body. Vets believe it to be just allergies, so we started him on some meds and remedies. We changed his food and bought a water filter. I reached out to holistic practitioners and put him on approved CBD oil and structured silver from Lesley Rubinoff. And when the weather started to warm up, we went with him on the balcony so he could sink in some sun. 

Sadly, to this day, nothing seemed to be really working. Due to my desperation and helplessness, I decided it was time to give Dexter regular Reiki sessions. The first one, in the middle of a very bad scratching rampage, was heart melting. 

What a beautiful magical meaningful moment it was. I hadn’t planned or expected anything and just wanted Dexter to tell me what he needed. And so he did. 

I set up my space, the same way I would set it up for any of my clients. Music, soft lights, one candle, massage table, blankets, pillows, but no oils nor incense. I brought him on my table and started the Reiki session. In only seconds, he calmed down. And within minutes, he was telling me what he wanted and needed. 

He literally took his left paw and placed my right hand, then took his right paw and placed my left hand, exactly where he needed them to be. 

And what I thought was going to be only a few minute session, turned into more than half an hour session. We could have stayed there the whole night. I could tell how this is what he needed the most. As always, I let Reiki do its thing – me, only being a channel, a vessel for Reiki’s unconditional love and healing. The following days, I saw how much good it did to Dexter. He was calmer, more at peace, less scratching. For the first time in the last four months, I finally felt like I could do something to help him and ease a little bit his pain and discomfort. 

I will forever remember this particular session with him. The connection we had. The bond it created. The magic we saw. The energy we felt. The love we shared. 

May all animals be able to experience such a connection and healing energy. 

What is Animal Reiki?

During a Reiki session, animals often experience a deep state of peace as the Reiki clears imbalances, allowing for new and harmonious patterns of health and wellness to emerge. Physical contact is not a requirement for Reiki and the practitioner can offer Reiki to the animal hands off. This way, the animal controls the treatment, either accepting Reiki from a distance or settling themselves against the practitioners hands. Many people have unique experiences in connecting with and learning from the animals themselves.

Why try Reiki on your Animal 

As mentioned in an article written by the American Kennel Club;

Reiki is steadily gaining popularity in the animal world as a complementary health therapy. In fact the NCBI has even found through studies that, “Reiki is a safe and gentle “complementary” therapy that activates the parasympathetic nervous system to heal body and mind. It has potential for broader use in management of chronic health conditions, and possibly in postoperative recovery.” Specifically, Reiki is being used as a treatment and connection method in a number of ways for pets including:

Anxious or Stressed Pets

“The number one primary benefit and response to Reiki with animals is stress relief and deep relaxation,” says Prasad”. The calm space created by a Reiki practitioner’s meditation invites the animal to join that relaxed environment. This can make Reiki an effective stress reliever for pets in high anxiety environments, be that a shelter setting or even at home with a new baby in the house.

Coping With Illness and Surgery Recovery

When we are deeply relaxed, all of our systems relax and can function optimally and our immune system can operate more optimally. “Our bodies can heal themselves when we can allow ourselves to relax,” explains Prasad. Reiki works by inducing that state or creating that relaxation that we need to heal ourselves. “I have seen animals who are sick for a long time and they get better more quickly or heal after surgery quickly with the help of Reiki.”

Reiki can also be helpful throughout the medical process. If you have a pet who is anxious at the vet, but requires many visits because of their sickness or needs surgery, Reiki can help prepare them. Clune shares how Reiki can help put a pet more at ease prior to walking into those situations.

End of Life Care

Reiki is offered in many hospitals and hospices for both family members and patients. When Reiki is used to help an animal pass, we find similar benefits. “Animals handle death better than we do,” says Clune. “They know they are dying, they need time to process this and to know they are leaving.” Reiki can help provide that time so that a pet is not in severe pain as they cope with this impending change. It can also bring pet owners some peace as well, especially knowing that their pet is at peace — maybe eating more and being more playful in their final days — and ready to say goodbye.

“Reiki can create this beautiful peacefulness in the dying process, sometimes it’s not about getting better, but it’s about finding peace,” says Prasad. It can be an incredible gift to have in a difficult moment.

Bonding and Quality Time

Reiki can provide a way to strengthen the human-pet connection. “Animals teach us, they share with us even more than we share with them. They are intuitive beings,” says Clune. Reiki can offer another way to connect with your pet and can be especially helpful if you have rescued a new pet with past trauma or notice significant changes in your pet’s demeanor, but there are no physical signs of illness.

The benefits of Animal Reiki

There are countless benefits to offering Reiki sessions to your animals:

• ALL animals can benefit from a Reiki session
• Animal Reiki calms scared, fearful animals
• Helps reduce stress, induces relaxation to promote better healing
• Great for feral animals, wildlife, rescues, “Hard to Reach & Handle” animals
• Unblocks the “energy flow blockages” that can slow down pet’s internal healing systems & functions
• Animal’s energy fields includes spiritual, emotional, mental & physical well being
• Animal Reiki is a natural, safe healing tool
• Reducing stress, calming destructive behaviors, easing pain
• Easing pain – Relieving aches, pains, strains, and allergies
• Improving or regulating appetite
• Addressing traumas from the past
• Helping to heal after surgery, injury, or trauma and speeding up the healing process.
• Addressing issues with the coat, skin, or feathers
• Getting pets through depression or bereavement

Just to name a few!