Recently, at one of our monthly member meetings, SARA had the immense honor of hosting Thea Strom – Psychic Medium, Animal Communicator and Animal Reiki Teacher. Thea spoke on a topic that many of us struggle with: Boundaries. All of us in SARA are givers. Whether we are an organizational member, a supporter, a practitioner or a teacher member, we all are here to give back to others. But if we are constantly giving and never receiving, that creates imbalance and depletion.
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Rat Reiki and RattieRatz
I began my study of Animal Reiki with Kathleen in 2015. Inspired and very enthusiastic about sharing Animal Reiki with the world, in 2016 I became a SARA member, started volunteering at a local animal shelter, and joined an animal rescue organization called RattieRatz.
Talking about Reiki and Making Connections
A friend who is starting her Animal Reiki business asked how I explain Reiki in a way to pique someone’s interest and share what we do, while staying away from the “woo-woo”. After I shared my thoughts, she suggested I write an article to help others starting out.
The Gifts of Reiki as a Meditative Practice
Reflecting upon the gifts of reiki through ‘The Gifts of Reiki as a Meditative Practice’ graphic, I can see a place for each of these elements throughout my growing personal practice in animal reiki. First and foremost is the GROUNDING aspect of reiki. With the dry brushing technique (Kenyoku Ho), I feel like I can literally brush off any high energy, worries, feelings and thoughts that aren’t serving me at the moment through that action alone. And then when I add in the hara breathing (Joshin Kokyu Ho), I can start to feel that connection to my physical body and to get centered and grounded in it. Without becoming fully present in my body, I truly do not feel as strongly the connection to the universal love energy that is reiki.
3 Days at Remus, UK
I had the great pleasure this year of attending a Reiki III and Animal Reiki Teacher Training course set within Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary in Essex. Remus isn’t just for horses, the residents are also rescued Shetland Ponies, Donkeys, Sheep and Goats. And not forgetting the cats whom roam the land and kept us company during our 3 days at Remus, together with Ollie the dog.
Reptilian Wisdom
Every February SARA president Kathleen Prasad teaches Reiki III and Animal Reiki Training at the CARE Foundation in Apopka, FL. I enjoy seeing all the pictures from the classes and especially reading about the experiences the students share with the animals.
Scotty’s Story
Scotty was a 7 year old long haired tabby. When he was five, his owner surrendered him to the SPCA. The reason given was her roommate had adopted a dog. His surrender papers explicitly stated that he was afraid of children.
Finding Perfection in Imperfection: My Zen Garden Meditation
Today I gardened in my Zen garden, and pondered on how my gardening was actually a meditation practice in itself. As I gardened, I thought, the symbolism in my garden provides for an amazing reflection on life in general; but still, how does this relate to Animal Reiki?
A Drive with a Dragonfly – Finding Perspective
Leaving a farm this morning, a dragonfly started flying around in the car. I tried unsuccessfully to guide it out. As I began driving, the dragonfly bounced frantically off the dash and windshield.
A Reiki Loving Turkey
During a recent Reiki class at Cotton Branch Animal Sanctuary, I took a few minutes to share Reiki with the turkeys while students were practicing. I knew from previous visits the turkeys were very receptive to Reiki.
Earning Respect Using the SARA Way
SARA’s mission is important because it gives credibility to what we are accomplishing, not just in our communities, but around the globe. We are making a difference in our shelters and sanctuaries, giving a voice where there is none. The code of ethics, the teachings, the spiritual practice, and support we receive as a group and as individuals from Kathleen and Leah is something that is one of a kind, and I’m honored to be a part of.
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It’s All of Us That Are Changing the Community
I’m so grateful to be a member of SARA, to have found Kathleen, Leah, and SARA. I started with Reiki 18 – 20 years ago. I learned whatever was taught, usually Western style, but something just didn’t ring true with me. I would try, and I wouldn’t get it. Each time I would try to walk away, Reiki would tap me on the shoulder again to let me know something was going to happen.
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The Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) Celebrates 10 Years!
WOW! It has been 10 years since Leah and Kathleen sat in the kitchen at Brighthaven and talked about starting SARA. It was May of 2008 and Leah was taking a Level 2 class from Kathleen. At lunch they started talking about Kathleen’s dreams for the future. She shared how she would love to have a community that was bringing Animal Reiki to shelters and rescues all around the world. At the time Leah was a legal assistant and said, “I can help you with that!” So they pulled together some of Kathleen’s students to help create the foundation for this amazing organization! Some of the very first SARA members, Bill Stevens, Kelly McDermott-Burns and Sheryl Schlameuss are still with us today helping to grow SARA.
Class Always Tells
Class always tells. Class is the impression I had when I first heard about SARA and Kathleen Prasad. I knew right away that I wanted to work with her, and affiliate myself with an organization that has such high values and ethics.
Reiki and the Big Herd
Duchess Sanctuary is located on 1120 acres in Oakland, OR and provides a forever home to 191 horses and 5 donkeys; all formerly abused, abandoned, neglected or homeless. The majority of the horses are mares and their offspring who were rescued from the Premarin industry (to learn more about this appalling practice please visit www.fundforanimals.org/duchess). Other residents include orphaned mustangs, as well as horses rescued from auctions and feedlots. Duchess is operated by the Fund for Animals, in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States.
Clarity of Practice with SARA
One thing that I think about a lot since I really got into Reiki years ago is that there are so many schools of Reiki out there, and there’s no regulation. I belong to another association where there are many practitioners from many lineages and nobody is practicing the same way, which makes things very unclear.
Reiki & the Red Mare: Reiki Finds Us When We Need It Most
Some years ago, my young, chestnut, off the track Thoroughbred mare (you horse people get it), was just home from colic surgery. It was day one of 30 days stall rest, with five-minute grazing sessions throughout the day. She had many complications and was not out of the woods. I was an emotional wreck.
Growing as Ethical Animal Reiki Practitioners and Teachers
After my beloved cat, Chloe, transitioned in 2014, I became a self-taught animal energy worker by reading books and watching videos. Then, a friend told me about human Reiki shares, so after going to those shares for a little while I started my own Reiki training. I don’t remember how or when I discovered Animal Reiki and SARA, but it was a life changer.
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The Power of Reiki Chanting with a Herd
Duchess Sanctuary is located on 1120 acres in Oakland, OR and provides a forever home to 191 horses and 5 donkeys; all formerly abused, abandoned, neglected or homeless. The majority of the horses are mares and their offspring who were rescued from the Premarin industry (to learn more about this appalling practice please visit www.fundforanimals.org/duchess). Other residents include orphaned mustangs, as well as horses rescued from auctions and feedlots. Duchess is operated by the Fund for Animals, in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States.
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SARA Changed the Way I Approached and Taught Reiki
I was a Reiki practitioner for over 15 years before I heard about Kathleen and her work with animals. It was in Virgina for a level three training that I heard about Kathleen. I followed up by contacting Kathleen and doing two conference call courses with her, and then completed a level three training in Brighthaven, which was a great experience. Kathleen really transformed my life, and the way I approached and taught Reiki. It was a really beautiful gift for me and re-energized my whole practice of Reiki.
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Getting the Resources to Start Teaching
I first started with human Reiki a while back, and after reading Kathleen’s first book, I immediately fell in love. I finally found a path that I could take to pursue deeper connections with animals, and that was because of Kathleen’s book. One thing led to another, and when I discovered the SARA book, I found a way to connect with a rescue that was close by. I was just amazed at how well written everything was. My first experience with Kathleen and Leah was the written word.
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Reflection on the Animal Reiki Code of Ethics
The Animal Reiki Code of Ethics was written in 2008 by Animal Reiki Source founder and Shelter Animal Reiki Association president Kathleen Prasad. I was introduced to the Code of Ethics in Shinpiden class with Kathleen after studying Animal Reiki with another teacher. I did my best to follow the Code of Ethics as far as my understanding allowed. Years later and after taking deeper look at the Code of Ethics through a teleclass offered by Kathleen in May 2017, I have a lot of hindsight to reflect on the tremendous value of the Code as guidance for Animal Reiki practitioners as well as instructions for living a spiritual and compassionate life. I have chosen to reflect on five points from the Code of Ethics that really stand out to me at this point of my journey along the Reiki path.
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We Can Be the Beams of Hope that Shelters Need
It’s really coming from a place of privilege and honor that I’m a part of the SARA organization. I remember back in 2013 when I became a SARA teacher after going to many retreats, meeting Kathleen in 2009, and then Leah. We as SARA practitioners and members and teachers are shining stars of love and compassion, courage and boldness. It is our privilege to be able to do what we do in our communities; to serve, do good, to be examples, and to have the amazing resources, high ethics and professionalism that can demonstrate to others the value of our organization.
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With SARA, Everybody Wins
I am so incredibly grateful to be a member of SARA and to have met Kathleen and Leah. I would probably not be doing Reiki at all if I had not met Kathleen in ’07. I first learned the Western approach to Reiki and to be honest, I didn’t really get it. I had absolutely zero confidence, and I just didn’t do anything, because it just wasn’t resonating with me. But my teacher kept telling me, “You should work with animals, you should work with animals.”
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Fulfilling My Own Soul Path
From day one, I loved the Code of Ethics. I happened to teach basic animal Reiki class, not a SARA class, and some of my students were just demanding and demanding to work with the animals. I always discussed SARA and what a light that has been for me personally, not to mention all the animals that I have worked with over the years. I would say now probably for the better part of the last 10 years, I have been volunteering on variety of different rescues.