Shelter Animal Reiki Association

Healing Animals with Meditation

SARA Teacher Articles

From Feuding Cats to Friendly Four

This heartwarming story shows how Animal Reiki helped four feuding cats overcome food insecurity, fear of strangers, and find peace together through the Let Animals Lead® Method of Animal Reiki!

In the beginning . . .

Once upon a time there were four cats Luna, Bailey, Sammie and Bug living in a nice big house together, each one having some kind of “issue”. They did not get along very well and did not like anyone outside of the cat mom and dad coming into the house. They had all come from a shelter (a very nice one, with lots of TLC, enrichment and beautiful accommodations).

Food Insecurity and Stranger Danger

Luna and Bailey were undernourished and weighed very little when they came to their new home. They have food insecurity and want to eat all the time. Sammi is a Siamese kitty and is very independent. Bug had lost a back leg and was very scared. He spent most of the time in the basement and his pet parents had very carefully gotten him to come out of his crate after several months of patient support.

Bringing Animal Reiki into the Home

I started sitting with them to share Reiki early last year. Because I practice the Let Animal Lead® method of Animal Reiki I did not focus on the “issues” of the cats, but rather on sharing love and light with the beautiful being they are.  We had a couple of meditation sessions, always starting with a chair treatment for the cat mom. Then mom had some medical issues to deal with and we had to stop the in-person visits.

In those initial first 2 visits Luna and Bailey had stayed around me, and Sammie came in and out and rubbed along my legs (similar to the way he rubbed the table leg next to me).  Bug was never up from the basement. I did some distance sessions over the next couple of months but was not in contact with the parents again until May.

Postive Changes Emerge!

I went twice in May and then health issues in the household caused another pause. The 2 visits in May were similar to the initial visits, but the cat mom reported that they had been getting along better and all except Bug, had been more likely to meet visitors. They were also generally friendlier.

From Feuding Cats to a Peaceful Family

I retired at the end of the year from 42 years as a fulltime physical therapist and as a result, finally had time to get back to the cats this January.  The first time I came back I was greeted by all the cats, except Bug, but Bug did come up and sat close by during that session.  The next visit all the cats came and sat around me and did not fight.

My last visit this past week, the cat dad, who had never come downstairs when I was there, came down very excitedly to tell me that they had people over on Valentine’s Day and not only did all the cats, including Bug greet them, but Bug got up on an ottoman and rolled over letting everyone scratch his belly! He also said Luna was getting better about her food insecurity. He could only account for the change to be from the Reiki sessions because it happened so quickly relative to the years they have had issues with fights and stranger danger.

The Future Looks Bright!

Now they all come around and come in and out of the space calmly and are usually all resting as I leave, except Sammie who always wants to say good-bye.  I plan to see them one more time as the parents feel things are really good now.  I will stand by if they need more support for in-person or distance work as they prefer.

By SARA Practitioner Judy Holmes

Visit our classes page to learn more about our offerings and embark on your own journey of transformative animal connection.

If you need extra support or have questions, consider joining Leah D’Ambrosio, Co-Founder of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association free Wednesday support calls where we talk about all things Animal Reiki including presenting, starting a business, and the ins and outs of sharing and offering this inc. To receive alerts about the Wednesday call, upcoming classes and Animal Reiki news, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.

Animal Reiki: How Agency Empowers Animal Healing

I’ll get right to the point. There are many aspects of The Let Animals Lead® (LAL) Method of Animal Reiki, but “agency” is a key factor in this unique method. In this article, I’m going to focus on agency as it relates to the 6 Pillars.

Applying Reiki to humans has been done for over a century. With the help of her dog, Dakota, Kathleen Prasad pioneered Animal Reiki in 1998, which uses a very different approach than the way Reiki is shared with humans. In Kathleen’s own words found on her website, The Let Animals Lead Method® is “a mindful way to help animals. Animal Reiki Source is about using meditative techniques to make the world a better place for you and your animals. We teach you to create an inviting, calm space for animals that is ideal for their healing.”

The Let Animals Lead Method® of Animal Reiki is built on the foundation of 6 Pillars. In this article, I will list these pillars and show how they relate to animal agency. Kathleen explains what agency means, “With the LAL® method, we create the healing space within ourselves and all around us and the animals choose to use that healing space to help themselves find peace, calm, and whatever kind of healing they need.” So, agency is all about giving animals choice.

Pillar 1 (This method is based on traditional Reiki meditation techniques and philosophy)

LAL® focuses on meditation and our own practice, which enables us to let go and BE Reiki. When we create the space and invite the animals in, this gives them agency to make this choice. We then hold the space and allow the animal to guide the session.

Pillar 2 (Touch is only used when animals seek it out, and then only as a compassionate support)

Animals are very sensitive to energy, so touch is not needed to facilitate healing. Agency is allowing the animals to choose and initiate if, when and where they want touch.

Pillar 3 (Mental focus techniques develop an “All is Well” state of mind for the practitioner, who sees the animal’s perfection in the present moment, rather than focusing on what’s wrong)

We don’t want to bring pity or other emotions into a session, so by focusing on the animal’s bright Light rather than on their issues we are supporting them and giving them agency to shine their inner Light.

Pillar 4 (Meditation is taught as a state of mind with flexible physical forms)

Through our regular practice of meditation, we develop a compassionate way of life. This affects how we view and interrelate with other sentient beings, including the animals we share Reiki with, and any other animals we encounter, such as in nature. This allows us to give the animals agency during our interactions with them. As an example, I ask permission before I take photos of any beings in nature (animals, birds, plants, trees, insects, etc.) and then I thank them.

Pillar 5 (Animal Reiki is mindfulness meditation practiced “with” our animals rather than an energy therapy done “to” them)

To me, this Pillar most directly speaks to an animal’s agency. I equate mindfulness with presence. The best way to give animals agency is to create the Reiki space and hold the space by remaining present in each moment. This allows us to let go of expectations and the need that we have to do something, etc. By focusing on the present moment, we are letting go and giving animals agency to guide the session in the way that meets their needs.

Pillar 6 (Let Animals Lead® Method practitioners acknowledge and honor each animal as a spiritual teacher and healer in their own right. Practitioners learn to listen and become receptive to their spiritual wisdom and healing gifts)

By opening up to animals as healers and teachers, we gain the perspective that they already embody the precepts. We also realize that they can teach us and heal us on many levels with their presence.

I hope this article has made the definition of “agency” clear as it applies to the Let Animals Lead® method. If you would like further information about this method of animal Reiki, visit Animal Reiki Source and the Shelter Animal Reiki Association*.

*SARA stands for Shelter Animal Reiki Association, founded by Kathleen Prasad and Leah D’Ambrosio. “The Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) is a worldwide grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of shelter animals and their caregivers through the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki meditation techniques.” You can find information about SARA in this website.

By SARA Teacher Deanna Iris Sava

Visit our classes page to learn more about our offerings and embark on your own journey of transformative animal connection.

If you need extra support or have questions, consider joining Leah D’Ambrosio, Co-Founder of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association free Wednesday support calls where we talk about all things Animal Reiki including presenting, starting a business, and the ins and outs of sharing and offering this inc. To receive alerts about the Wednesday call, upcoming classes and Animal Reiki news, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.

Miraculous Rescue: How Animal Reiki Freed a Trapped Coyote

Imagine a frantic mother coyote watching her cub desperately struggle in a soccer net. This harrowing scene unfolded for Moira Archer, a student trained in the unique Let Animals Lead® Method of Animal Reiki. Witness Moira’s incredible story, showcasing the transformative power of compassion and the gentle approach of this method of Animal Reiki.

From Fear to Freedom: A Breathtaking Encounter

Labor Day morning took a remarkable turn for Moira and her friend Jerry. While walking, they spotted a young coyote entangled in a net, its mother watching anxiously nearby. Time was of the essence, and Moira sprang into action, guided by her Animal Reiki training.

Instead of traditional “beaming Reiki” and focusing on what was wrong, Moira embraced the Let Animals Lead® principle, which is all about creating a safe and calm space. She envisioned “breathing love and light,” reassuring the frightened animal of its imminent rescue. Miraculously, the mother coyote remained remarkably still, trusting the unfolding events.

With patience and respect, Moira carefully cut the net, prioritizing the animal’s well-being. Throughout the 25-minute ordeal, the young coyote exhibited astonishing calmness, a stark contrast to potential stress from forceful methods. Finally free, the cub reunited with its mother, a heartwarming testament to the effectiveness of this unique approach.

Beyond Human Reiki: The Let Animals Lead® Difference

Moira’s experience highlights the distinction between traditional Reiki and the Let Animals Lead® Method. This innovative approach prioritizes animal autonomy, focusing on building trust and respecting their boundaries rather than imposing energy. Animals actively participate in their healing journey, leading to remarkable results even with sensitive creatures like wild coyotes.

Unleashing Compassion: Start Your Journey

Moira’s story serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the profound impact of compassionate, animal-centered practices. If you’re drawn to connect with animals on a deeper level and facilitate their well-being through gentle, respectful methods, explore the Let Animals Lead® Method.

Visit our classes page to learn more about our offerings and embark on your own journey of transformative animal connection.

If you need extra support or have questions, consider joining my free Wednesday support calls where we talk about all things Animal Reiki including presenting, starting a business, and the ins and outs of sharing and offering this inc. To receive alerts about the Wednesday call, upcoming classes and Animal Reiki news, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.

By Leah D’Ambrosio, Co-Founder of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association

Explaining Animal Reiki with Confidence

When I was a child, we would leave our city home to drive several hours to visit family in the country on a monthly basis.  My aunt and uncle lived a fairly simple lifestyle and seemed to always be building their house.  My uncle was a very skilled person; he built the house they lived in; he had mechanical skills, he grew his own food and he designed a manmade lake in his backyard and stocked it with trout.

One time as my uncle was preparing for a barbecue, he realized he needed a few ingredients.  There was no corner store to go buy groceries, so he said to my brother; “want to come for a ride down to Jim’s place to borrow some of the ingredients I need for dinner?”  Off they went to Jim’s in my uncle’s junkyard car.  Jim lived a couple of miles down a very twisted and winding road.

After a few minutes of driving down the winding country road, my uncle turns to my brother and says “put on your seatbelt son and brace yourself for a hard stop.”  My brother says, “is there something wrong?” My uncle answers, “no there is nothing wrong, it’s just that the brakes on this car don’t work and I’m going to have to hit a tree to stop the car.”  Sure enough, they get to Jim’s house, and my uncle hits a tree to stop the car.

The two of them visited Jim for a bit, borrowed the ingredients my uncle needed and then they headed back to the car to drive home.  My brother mentioned to my uncle that he didn’t think it was a very good idea to drive home in that car as the brakes were not working.  My uncle looks at my brother with a rather perplexed expression on his face and says, “it will be fine son, there are plenty of trees for me to hit.”

The moral of the story is not everyone sees things in the same light.  The ending of this story reminds me of how I feel when I try to explain Reiki to people, especially Animal Reiki.  I often get that perplexed expression when I explain that I meditate with animals.  “You meditate with animals,” they say.  You can just hear the disbelief in the tone of their voice.  “Yes, to become one with the animals,” I say.   “To become one with the animals you say.”  Again, the tone, the look and the body language tell me they are not buying it.

Unfortunately, not everyone is going to have your perspective and not everyone feels the same way about animals that an Animal Reiki practitioner does. I have found explaining Animal Reiki to be my biggest obstacle.  I often feel awkward and seem to not have the right words to properly explain Animal Reiki.  I’ve come to realize that I have allowed others’ opinions on this subject to hinder me from doing my best work.  Through much meditation and self-talk, I’ve come to the conclusion that all I have to do is live my life authentically, continue to work with animals using Kathleen Prasad’s “Let Animals Lead®” Method and be the best person I can be.  If we live our purpose, then the right people and the right circumstances will fall into place.

Below I have written five practices that I personally follow to beat the awkwardness of explaining Animal Reiki:

  1. The Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) has great resources for practitioners and teachers – go to the SARA website and print off the various documents that will aid you when speaking to someone or an organization about the “Let Animals Lead® Method of Animal Reiki”.
  2. Remember, not everyone will buy what you have to say and that is ok.  Reiki can be a hard sell and Animal Reiki can be an even harder sell. Be authentic and all will fall into place.
  3. The right people will come along.  Just like Kevin Costner’s Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.”  My personal motto for Animal Reiki is, “if you live it, they will come.”
  4. Don’t take things personally, we are not responsible for everyone’s issues or misgivings, we are responsible to be our most authentic self, honest in our work and at peace with the animals.
  5. Practice what you preach.  Meditate daily, meditate with the precepts daily, practice self-Reiki and above all always preserve your wellbeing. Get your rest, proper nutrition and if you need to take a break from it all, walk in nature.  Nature has a way of bringing you home.

Simply put, Reiki brings people and community together.  Change starts with one person and that change starts with us.  Recently I was struck by a comment while listening to a podcast with Dr. Zach Bush; “Have you ever considered the profound connection between being human and how we interact with the natural world around us?  What if our true purpose is not just to exist as individuals but to embrace our role as part of the greater ecosystem.”  I feel as animal practitioners we have an important role in the partnership with the ecosystem and my belief is that the world is starting to open to the connection between animals, environment and our existence.  Perspectives are starting to shift along with our priorities and many of us are realizing where our heart belongs.

By SARA Teacher Johanne Fraser

 

Animal Reiki on a Fireworks Night

(transcribed with permission)

Hello, Beautiful humans! My name is Lancelot. I live near the Himalayas with my human, Idee, and her other cat, Frodo Bond (aka Bond). Idee says I am her handsome orange tabby. Me? I am more modest, though I don’t mind the attention. I’m a big fan of Animal Reiki. Idee has been trying to write about my experience with Reiki, and I decided to help her. This is our story about how Animal Reiki helped us all on a Diwali night.

The background

Have you heard of Diwali? It is an appalling time of the year, and I am certain that human logic takes a vacation then. Why else would humans gather together to make that horrific loud racket (they call it firecrackers)? It shakes me to my bones, and I feel the sky is about to fall.

It was October 2022, and we had just shifted to a new house. I knew that Idee was tense, and she was doing her internet thing, trying to figure out how to survive the night. She thinks I don’t know. But I do. And I saw the checklist she had. I know because I have sat on it.

How the night started

Just after I watched Grandfather Sun go down over the horizon, I heard this dreadful large sound. What on earth was that? I have never heard anything like that before. I flattened my ears, and my eyes widened. What on earth? Run! I ran inside my room. And then what do I see? Idee is pacing around, looking anxious.

That did not help. If Idee is worried, then there must be something off. I added her unease on top of mine. And little Bond was just about two months then. His eyes were the biggest I had ever seen. And just then, there was another burst of clamor. Bond whimpered.

Now, if Idee is worried and Bond is whimpering, what was I supposed to do? Soon there was more pandemonium outside. I was convinced by then that the world was coming to an end. I tried hiding inside my cave but still worried about Idee. What would Idee do if the world was ending?

Animal Reiki to our rescue

And then, just like that, I saw Idee smiling. She settled in between Bond and me. I could feel her relaxing. Now this was a very familiar feeling. We do this every evening. Idee calls it Animal Reiki. I call it that-yummy-thing. Idee gets so relaxed that I can sense that relaxation even if she were light-years away. Everything around Idee feels so silent and so still. And Bond and I, we join with her in that stillness. We hit a pause button, and the world stops spinning. I, too, hit a pause on my catnip toys, chasing Bond and wondering when the treat-time will come. That Diwali night, we hit the pause button on worrying. After having practiced with Idee, the pause came naturally that night. My oh-so-familiar that-yummy-thing. Why did Idee not think of this earlier?

The noise was disgusting and grew worse as the evening turned into night. But Idee was relaxed. That made me feel calm. Though I wish someone would do something about that din, and make it stop. I asked her, “Why don’t you do something, Idee? Make that racket go away.” She smiled and said, “How about we include all the street dogs and cats, too?” This, too, we have done before, and it feels like being a gigantic bubble. I reminded her, “The birds, too.” She said, “Of course, all animals in the neighborhood are welcome.”

That night, I understood that silence and stillness are much more powerful than all that spiky disturbing chaos and clamor. We sat in that bubble for a long time. Then I heard Bond snoring. That reminded me – why should Bond have all the fun? I am signing off too. I am pretty sure Idee joined us as well.

All was well that Diwali night. All was well.

indrani das picture By SARA Teacher Indrani Das

Major Takes Charge

Meet Major. He is one of the beautiful therapy equines in a herd of six that I have the honor to offer Reiki to each week. I have been offering Reiki to animals for two decades now and each and every time I am in awe when they are able to help themselves. When they are able to ask for help, to trust, to be still and quiet to connect with the Reiki energy and me, and to let go of whatever they need to.

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The 3 Reiki Rookie Mistakes

Aren’t there all those things we learn not to do in an Animal Reiki class? Been there, done all those things I was told not to do! And weirdly in some ways, these are memorable and often entertaining lessons that I will not be forgetting any time soon.

The cats have been my toughest disciplinarians when it came to practicing Animal Reiki. I could have sworn that they have a secret book – “How to teach Reiki to Humans”. And if I dare stray again, they are there to remind me what Animal Reiki truly is about.

And of all the wayward stuff I have done, these three remain on the top of my list:

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The Let Animals Lead® Method: The Shining Essence of Animal Reiki

The Let Animals Lead® method is a transformative way to offer Reiki to non-human animals while fully manifesting interspecies respect. Because this method refrains from using touch unless the non-human animal initiates, it assists in eliminating challenging aspects of the human ego—pressures, expectations, agendas—and recognizes the perfection of the empowered animal.

We are all animals, and non-human animals do not need human “help” in the realm of energy. They elevate our energy and we learn from them. This method always supports the animal to move freely about so their physicality is never restricted. They can communicate their preferences in any way, and these preferences are always honored. They can engage with the energy or reject it completely. We listen to the animal and ask for nothing in return—the Reiki is an offering, not a requirement. The animal is in charge. As such, the Let Animals Lead® method not only epitomizes Animal Reiki in and of itself, but also inherently advances human to non-human animal relationships.

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5 Distinct Traits of Animal Reiki

Have you wondered what the distinct traits of Animal Reiki are and what exactly is the need for specialization? Is Animal Reiki different from traditional Reiki? The elementary answer is that Animal Reiki is also Reiki. The universal energy is the same – there is simply one universal energy. And at the same time, Animal Reiki is about the animals and is practiced honouring the unique sensitivities of the animal kingdom.

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Our Dogs Show Us the Way When the Worst News Comes

Just before Christmas we received some bad news about Chili.

The diagnosis is bone cancer, with only one option of curative treatment which is amputation. We decided we did not want to put her through that, so palliative care and pain relief became real. But oddly I already sort of knew. I saw it in the vet when she referred us for the scan. And certain things were adding up. I knew.

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The Offer of a Paw – The Ultimate Show of Trust

It was our final Reiki meditation of the day and a storm was brewing. Gretchen and I settled in, offering Reiki to both her dogs. Bindi wandered around a bit, stopped, and offered Gretchen her front paw. It was beautiful to see Bindi stand there with her paw in Gretchen’s hand…so beautiful I could not interrupt the moment to snap a picture though I wanted to. The love between them radiated. Bindi sat back and put both paws in Gretchen’s hands. Gretchen sat teary eyed, holding her best friend’s paws.

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The Year End Gift of the Bison

As 2020 comes to an end, I have been reflecting on the good that came to me during the difficult past months. What we focus on grows stronger so I have been choosing to turn my attention to my blessings instead of what I always felt that I lacked.

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From Growls to Belly Rubs – Reiki to the Rescue

Bruno is loving walks and belly rubs these days. And he took his freedom ride to his foster home this past weekend! For months, Bruno cowered in the back of his kennel at the shelter, growling at staff. He had been there almost six months, surrendered for killing a chicken and a goat. Terrified, he would not let anyone touch him and it was difficult to clean his run. Leah, a shelter worker, knew they couldn’t keep him much longer if he couldn’t be handled, cleaned up and vetted. In a last-ditch effort, she reached out to me to share Reiki with him. I also asked Animal Reiki Source’s Animal Reiki Healing Circle to share Reiki with Bruno.

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Deaf and Food Aggressive – Romanian Rescue Dog Finds Peace and Safety

This beautiful deaf boxer girl had come over to the UK from Romania at approximately 6 months old, her history not clear, and was first fostered by a couple with a handful of other dogs. It quickly became very obvious and worrying that she was a very anxious girl around dinner times, guarding her food and showing aggression towards the other dogs and the humans in her foster home. It became so severe that the couple had to take the heart breaking decision of handing her back to the rehoming organisation and, due to her aggressive behaviour, sadly she had to be looked after at a rescue boarding kennel while the organisation began the responsible and stressful task of finding the next right home for her. Prospects were unclear… who would take on a deaf dog who literally might bite the hand that feeds her?

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Kitten & Fawn; Love & Compassion

Hermione is a premature fawn left by her mother. Mulan was a sickly, newborn kitten dumped at the animal shelter. Both are being loved and rehabbed at Forevermore Farm, a peaceful, quaint little farm where I teach Reiki & Kathleen Prasad’s Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki.

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A Rescued Cat Overcomes His Fear of People

SARA Practitioner Deanna Sava shares a little background on the video:

“I don’t remember Stuart’s whole story, but he came into The Buddy Foundation with socialization issues. He was feral or semi-feral. Volunteers have been spending a lot of time trying to socialize him and they discovered that he loves to be brushed. He was okay when other cats came up to his cage–even when his cage door was open so he could roam around the large cat area if he wanted to. However, he only tentatively came out after most of the volunteers left and it became really quiet. He recently started to come out of his cage when the volunteers were around, but as soon as anyone walked toward or past his cage, he would run back into it.

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Reiki Meditation While Horse Riding

Sharing Reiki with an animal doesn’t have to mean sitting in mediation with them. Experience the wonder of moving meditation with your animals. Here I am in the Lolo Forest in Montana with peaceful horses and dogs. A true Zen moment!

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How to Support a Shelter Dog

The Let Animals Lead® Method of Animal Reiki created by Kathleen Prasad is ideal for working with recent rescues-I work mostly with recently rescued canines.

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Buffalo Energy

I meditate with animals. That’s right. Every opportunity I get. Whenever I know I will be in the presence of animals, wild or domestic, I commit myself to being open to whatever experience arises and I set an intention that Reiki flows for the good of all.

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Letting Go of Control to Find Peace

When we are peaceful, we can let go of the need to control.

As my county in Pennsylvania began to relax the Shelter In Place orders from COVID-19, we moved into the yellow phase. However, pet groomers are still not allowed to open. It has been several months since I was able to get my two cats groomed. One is part Persian and one is part Angora. I do the best that I can with brushing but they are both timid and anxious rescues. I am not embarrassed to say that my skills are lacking and I appreciate my groomers even more. My attempts to care for my cats have left me with cuts from their claws and teeth as they let me know when they have had enough of my tugging on them with a brush. As expected, my one cat Lulu developed a large mat on her back. This added to my stress over caring for them knowing that it would still be many weeks or months before I can have a grooming appointment. I decided to try reiki.

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My Year of Discovery after Becoming a SARA Teacher

September 2019 is here and I’m ready to put down my thoughts, feelings and examples of personal growth I experienced attending Kathleen’s Reiki Level III and Animal Reiki Teachers Certification course in Sacramento, CA, in October 2018 and want to share my insights with you. It was a profound experience, and like a homecoming has been hard to articulate up to now. My reiki awareness has continued to evolve over time but now after many months it feels like it is bursting out of me!

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That Chicken Is Choking!

Distraction can make us miss beautiful moments. We find peace and feel grounded when we take time to listen to animals and the sounds of nature. If we don’t devote quiet time with ourselves and animals, we won’t hear their lessons of loyalty, acceptance, or love. By being too busy, we may also miss their pleas for help.

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