Animal Reiki Bees

I offered Reiki to an injured black Wasp

November 30, 2022

“I offered Reiki to an injured black Wasp…”

He was here in the auto shop, in the cold and I brought him back to my place. We worked together for a few days and it seemed he was getting his strength back. His wings started working again….. but then he was just too weak from being in the shop in the cold from the weekend before.

Once I had him in my warm house, he perked back up and his wings started to flutter. He was crawling around on me and he would come to me when he saw me, exploring the kitchen and plants. My cats were so gentle with him and just sat with him, didn’t touch him.

He drank water, ate some honey. I made a video – it was just amazing to connect with him like that. He would communicate with me through visuals; I would see him when I closed my eyes.

I kept telling him how proud I am of him and I said, let me see your wings and he would flutter them. I said, yes we’re going to get this! I encouraged him and it was great. I could see and feel his enthusiasm.

But unfortunately, although the Reiki really helped him (he sat on the top of my hand with his wings folded, just relaxing) and he became a little stronger, he struggled and it just wasn’t enough.

Sunday afternoon, I sat next to him with my hand on the floor. He slowly walked over to my hand. I told him that we really worked together and it was such an honor to be able to do that with him, and that I’m sorry that we could not get him back to be able to fly. They depend on their wings SO much to survive.

Then he rested one little antenna on my finger, saying it’s alright.

I didn’t want to see him suffer, so I asked for his permission to help him end his physical life – so he would not be in pain and be free to fly again with new wings. He rested his whole head against my finger. I took that as a yes. (See photo.)

I cried so much. He had become a little companion. He slept in the same spot every night and greeted me when he first saw me in the morning. Again, so amazing to be able to connect like that.

I buried his little body in the soil of one of my favorite plants and wished him a good journey. And before I went to bed I got one more visual of his body glowing and him soaring around, flying free. He got his wings back.

By SARA Teacher Mel Gazdik

Creating a Reiki Space By: Jackie Eichelberger

May 26, 2014

Recently one of our SARA members, Gay Fowler, was the subject of an article by Jackie Eichelberger, a local columnist who lives close to Gay in Texas. Jackie had visited Gay’s ranch and found the harmony between the domestic and wild animals was so unique it was worth sharing with her readers. Although the article below does not mention Reiki, when we spoke to Gail she said she uses the Hatsurei Ho meditation every morning to create the Reiki space. The story below is a beautiful testament to the power of her personal practice.

I spent the weekend down in the country at a friend’s ranch recently. My friend is one of those people that animals are drawn to. Besides having dozens of donkeys, scores of goats, fifteen horses, two dogs and one cat, there’s a mother raccoon with four babies and four possums that visit her twice a day on her upstairs balcony. Add to that the scores of hummingbirds who visit her feeders and local birds who assemble on her balcony rail for snacks during the day. She says she feels as if she’s running a restaurant whose menu consists of hay, alfalfa, cat food, dog food, sugar water and birdseed.

I was fascinated by the gentleness of this assorted menagerie. All of the donkeys, goats and horses wander up to you for a pat on the head or a scratch on the snout. I like the donkeys best because of their soulful eyes and gentle insistence on being as close to you as possible for an ear rub or a hug.

Goats, as my friend says, are Nature’s party animals. The young ones love climbing onto anything with a relatively flat surface no matter how precarious it may be. They bounce around stiff legged with playful abandon or jump from a perch with a fancy body twist in mid air…such fun to watch. They love to climb into wheelbarrows or empty feed pans for a quick nap. (Here is a cute video of the goats and donkey IMG_1371.)

The possums and raccoons come for a meal twice a day and have a dining order. Mom raccoon, Rosalita, comes first and daintily dips each morsel of cat food into the water dish as she eats. Cat food is her preferred dish. When she’s full, she rests in the corner while all four babes known as “the Rowdies” dig in with gusto, cat food pellets flying everywhere. Do you know why raccoons “wash” their food by dipping it in water? It’s because they have no salivary glands. Moisture aids their ability to eat and digest food.

If my friend is late in putting out the morning meal, Rosalita is often seen standing on two feet against the sliding glass door peering in searching for my friend as if to say“where’s our breakfast…you’re late.” When all her family is fed, Rosalita sometimes puts a paw against the glass door where my friend’s hand rests on the other side. That’s raccoon for “thank you” I think.

Next in the food line come the four possums…Baldy, Not-Baldy, Patches and Crash. They come one at a time and finish off the cat food in no time at all. My friend thinks that the critters are spreading the word to their friends and she will soon be overrun.

Her hummingbird feeders have turned into a regular rest haven for hummers as they make their journey from their winter grounds in Mexico and on their return trip in the fall. As many as twenty or more can be counted flying in and around the feeders several times a day jockeying for their turn to take a drink. A lot of territorial posturing goes on and skirmishes often break out among the swirling crowd of birds.

An incredible connection between the human species and the animal world goes on daily at this ranch and it’s a rare experience to be a part of it. My friend has favorites among the hoofed residents and has names for all the horses, a large number of the donkeys and many, many goats. It’s so relaxing to sit and watch all these critters going about doing the things critters do. It’s a lesson on how to coexist with Nature’s fauna and be rewarded with their gentle, trusting company.

Humility, Reiki, and Animals’ Perspectives by Nancy Schluntz

April 9, 2014

Just for today, I will be humble. The third Reiki precept. Humility is perhaps best defined by what it is not, rather than what it is.

My dictionary defines Humility as the state or quality of being humble, conscious of one’s defects or shortcomings; not proud or self-assertive; modest, unpretentious. Humble comes from Latin humilis—low, small, slight, akin to humus, soil, earth. Humus, from the Latin for earth, ground, or soil, is the brown or black organic substance resulting from partial decay of plant or animal matter. Humus provides fertilizer for new growth. In my dictionary, humble is listed just above humble-bee, another term for bumblebee. Humility comes right above hummer, the affectionate term for hummingbirds. It’s interesting that the quality of being humble, grounded to the earth, is so closely placed to creatures that fly.

I asked to speak with Bee, to gain greater insight into humility. I heard buzzing, and thought to ask if it mattered which kind of bee I spoke with?

The answer came:

No, we are all connected. Bee continued. Are we humble? We do our jobs, we move through the world showing how to live cooperatively. We are what we are—no more, no less. Our lives may appear simple to you, yet they are intricate, like our dances. We have disagreements, as does your kind. That happens when some lose sight of what is best for the hive. We do not ask for recognition for our work. Nor do we diminish its value. Our place in the scheme of things is greater than our size.

Humility is like that. Value the service you do, as part of the greater hive, but do not lose perspective. You have asked me to speak about something that is both very great and very small. Each is an important part of the whole. The whole is diminished when a part is missing, or when a part inflates its own importance. It is delicate, the balance between valuing one’s self and seeking accolades for one’s growth. When you seek that, it shows that you have not advanced as far as you think you have. This does not only apply to humans, but to all life forms. Balance, and being, secure in one’s self. It is enough.

“Thank you bee. It is complex, isn’t it?”

Bee: Yes, and no.

The song of sparrows, who had returned with warmer weather, called my attention outside. Black-crowned and gold-crowned sparrows visit our backyard, with their songs that sound lonely and joyous at the same time. I asked to speak with Sparrow.

A soft voice answered, I am here. It is almost time for nesting. The energies are rising.

“Thank you for your presence,” I said. “Would you share your thoughts about humility?”

Sometimes, Sparrow said, to be small is to be great, being large and small at the same time. Each being has its place in the scheme of things. Each is important. No more, no less. Some, like the hawks, are larger and have a greater visible impact. Others, like us, weave the pieces together. Small as we are, we sparrows are an essential part of the web of life. We feed, and help spread the seeds that bring new life. We are prey and help sustain life for those who are larger. We sing, and our song brings joy.

Humility is being who you are. Do not measure yourself against others, to make yourself greater or smaller. We do not measure ourselves against the hawks, for theirs is a different journey. Even our flight, undulating up and down, serves to teach that there are higher and lower times. Honor your gifts and use them well. Honor what you receive and be grateful. Each being has its role. To deny it, or to claim more, damages the whole. We are. That is enough.

Myself, I’m glad to be a sparrow. I love the joy of flight and another season of healthy nesting, the search for food. Think of that joy when you hear our song.

With that, sparrow flew off to a low branch, and serenaded all who could hear with his beautiful three-note descending call.

I thanked Bee and Sparrow, mindful of their gifts. Bees are significant to our health and wellbeing: 80 percent of flowering plants rely on bees (which aerodynamically are not supposed to be able to fly), and other pollinators, to reproduce. Sparrow reminds us to see nobility in the most common things, and that through humility we can express unconditional love. Both spoke of being great and small at the same time.

Their message of humility in service is guidance for all of us as we grow to trust our inner selves, and open to the flow of healing energy that is Reiki. We are in service. That is enough. Just for today, I will be humble.

Note: This is the third of five articles about animal perspectives on the Reiki precepts.

Rev. Nancy Schluntz is a SARA practitioner member and offers for Reiki for animals (and their people) who are approaching the end of life. Nancy also offers Reiki to animals at the wildlife rehabilitation center where she volunteers.

Photo Credit: Photos of sparrows courtesy of Heidi Piccerelli. Heidi’s work can be viewed and purchased at http://heidi-piccerelli.artistwebsites.com and www.hfphotos.com.

Animal Reiki Bees

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