By Patricia Monahan Jordan, DVM, CVA, CTCVM & Herbology
Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association,
July - September 2006

This is a summary of my experiences while taking classes in Animal Reiki I and II. I started using this modality immediately. Actually, I had already been using this mindset for the past six years. The Animal Reiki Course just put some history, symbolism, and explanation behind what I had been doing.

I was fortunate enough to take Animal Reiki I at BrightHaven Animal Sanctuary under Kathleen Prasad's instruction. There could be no better backdrop for our training than an animal sanctuary. BrightHaven, a holistic animal retreat for senior and special needs animals, is a model to which all sanctuaries should aspire.

In Level I Reiki, I learned the history and the power of Reiki. Reiki is vibrational subtle energy and is much alike to a universal prayer based on the universal desire, through love, to channel the highest good for that situation. An important lesson from the start is that the practitioner remains noninvasive. Although there is no harm in forming a specific intention for a Reiki treatment, it is important to realize that it is the nature of Reiki to provide the healing that is most needed for the animal. Detaching oneself from the expectation of result, centering oneself emotionally, and remembering not to coerce the patient, makes Reiki a technique that requires practice.

Level I Reiki was all about the basics of Reiki: the animal's response, the length of treatment, the number of treatments, the concept of hands on versus hands off, customizing treatments, animal communications, ending a treatment, and species differences were all explained. Also covered were understanding Reiki and its use in treating any animal under any circumstances: wild, aggressive, abused, adopted, relinquished, traumatized, or emotionally depleted. Reiki as a tool for treating physical ailments, as well as situations and relationship shifts, were all addressed.

There are no conventional medical therapies to be found that re-establish harmony and treat root emotional issues in our animal species, but Reiki provides this gift. Kathleen was able to explain the differences in Human Reiki practice and Animal Reiki practice, as well as provide the kinship in communication between the two.

In both Level I and Level II Reiki, attunements are given that symbolically transfer the wisdom of the practice of Reiki to the student, signifying the students desire to step out and utilize this system for healing. In Level II Reiki, we are taught the additional practices and use of symbols used to accentuate or magnify not only the intensity of the Reiki treatment, but also to handle the distance at which the treatment can take place.

Finally, Kathleen's unique and personal observations on Animal Reiki and the impact Reiki has had on her personal transformation make the knowledge and practice of Reiki essential for anyone interested in helping to heal the world. Start at home, heal thyself, and then go forth and help heal the world!

Kathleen has a wonderful training program on Animal Reiki, and offers a resource laden website at Animal Reiki Source. Her newly released book with Elizabeth Fulton, Animal Reiki, is the first of its kind. In using Reiki and seeing the amazing responses the animals give us, we realize that this is the modality we have all been missing.

Kathleen can be contacted at 415-420-9783 or info@animalreikisource.com. Please visit her website at www.animalreikisource.com for more information, resources, and a list of upcoming classes. Please also visit BrightHaven's website at www.brighthaven.org for a description of their unique holistic facility.