AnimalReikiSource.com - Frequently Asked Questions about Animal Reiki

Does Reiki only benefit animals who are sick?
How long does it take to heal?
What is an attunement?
What does Reiki feel like (both for the practitioner and the patient)?
I've heard you can send Reiki over distances. Is this true?
What are the different levels of Reiki and what are they used for?
Can I get Reiki I and II at the same time?
What makes Reiki different from other alternative healing methods?
Why should I take a class? Why can't I just get Reiki over the Internet?
How will having Reiki make my life different?
Why do I need to treat myself? I only want to work on animals.
What do I do if I have questions after I've gotten Reiki?
If you can’t treat my animal in person, is there any way you can help him?

1. Does Reiki only benefit animals who are sick?

You don't have to be sick to receive the benefits of Reiki. Regular Reiki treatments can maintain health and well-being, prevent illness, and encourage inner growth.

2. How long does it take to heal?

One treatment is not always enough to accomplish complete healing. The time it takes to heal is related to the seriousness of the illness, injury, or mental trauma. In general, the sooner one receives a treatment after the initial injury or onset of illness, the quicker the healing benefits. Also, the longer the problem has existed the more Reiki will be required to produce benefits. It is good to remember that "healing" does not always mean "cure". For example, Reiki can help ease the transition between life and death, but cannot necessarily prevent death. That being said, for those who are gravely ill, Reiki often prolongs life and enhances the quality of life.

3. What is an attunement?

A Reiki attunement, or initiation as it is traditionally called, is the hands-on, Master to student transference of the ability to channel Reiki energy for healing. It involves a series of steps passed down from Reiki Master to Reiki Master. Because of its sacred nature, the initiations are given with the student's eyes closed. Often the student will feel energetic sensations such as heat or an ache on the crown of the head, or pressure or heat in the palms of the hands. Traditionally, attunements are spaced out over several hours or days so that the student is able to absorb the energy more comfortably.

4. What does Reiki feel like (both for the practitioner and the patient)?

This is a difficult question, as the answer is unique for each person or animal. Some people don't feel anything during a Reiki treatment, but may notice some health improvements afterwards. Some people feel the energetic ebb and flow of the healing energy during a Reiki treatment. Reiki is often experienced as heat, vibrations, pulsing, temporary aches, or a heightened sense of peace and relaxation, by either the practitioner or the client or both. Some people are affected more emotionally than physically. This is because Reiki always finds the issues that need the most healing. These are not necessarily the issues we think need healing, and often physical problems can have emotional root causes.

During a treatment, Reiki is usually associated with feelings such as peace and relaxation. Most animals relax deeply during a treatment, often yawning, sighing deeply, and sometimes even falling asleep. Some animals continue to move around during a treatment, coming back and forth to the practitioner’s hands to experience the treatment on their own terms. Most animals love the feeling of a Reiki treatment, and recognize and welcome the practitioner on subsequent treatment visits.

For both people and animals, the results of Reiki treatments may be felt during the treatment, directly after, or over the following several days. It may become clear to the client that a significant issue has shifted or an old pattern released, or an unexpected physical improvement has occurred. Regular treatments can facilitate continued healing on all levels: physical, emotional and spiritual.

5. I've heard you can send Reiki over distances. Is this true?

Yes, this is true. Reiki, because it is pure energy, is not subject to the limitations of space, or for that matter of time. Many people need to become comfortable with Level 1 Reiki before they become open to this possibility. Because this is a more advanced Reiki concept, it is learned in Level 2 Reiki.

Distant Reiki can be extremely helpful in self-treatments by sending healing to past situations. For example, you could send Reiki to yourself as a child during a particularly difficult time in your life. Sending Reiki to past issues is also an invaluable part of treating others, both human and animals. For instance, in animals, distant healing of past trauma can help heal current behavioral issues.

Using Reiki 2 with your animal deepens your bond with each other and your intuition about each other's emotional states. You can also send Reiki to situations you know are going to be difficult, such as impending surgery, to help them resolve more easily. People with aging or dying animals can use Reiki 2 to help their animal have an easy, gentle transition.

6. What are the different levels of Reiki and what are they used for?

There are three levels of Reiki. Reiki 1 is beginning Reiki; with Level 1 you can heal by placing your hands lightly on the body or with mental intention from a short distance. In this first level of practice, the practitioner becomes familar with the language and sensations of Reiki energy, the kinds of healing it can produce, and the best ways to give a treatment.

With Level 2 Reiki you learn the ability to intensify the flow of energy, send Reiki over long distances and to the past and future, and to focus on mental/emotional healing. This level of practice will deepen your own internal healing path as well as strengthen the amount of Reiki you are able to channel.

Reiki 3 is the Master Level for those who wish to make a life commitment to the practice of Reiki. At Level 3 you learn to pass the ability to practice Reiki on to others. This level of practice brings with it wonderful and deep healing and change for the life of the practitioner.

Some people only learn Reiki 1, and others stop after Level 2. Some people who learn Level 3 never teach the practice, but only use it for their own personal healing journey. Regardless of the level of practice you choose, Reiki will heal each being you treat in the ways needed most, and for the highest good.

7. Can I get Reiki I and II at the same time?

My own personal experience is that it is better to wait between the levels. You can get more out of Level 2 if you have sufficiently familiarized yourself with Level 1 first. Also, because each level of practice can bring with it significant healing challenges in your own life, it can be easier to give yourself plenty of time to learn these lessons. Although many students are enthusiastic about getting both levels close together, I encourage a focus on the process and the practice, rather than the destination. I usually recommend waiting between three and six months between Level 1 and Level 2.

8. What makes Reiki different from other alternative healing methods?

Reiki is so simple; you don't have to struggle with complicated philosophies and histories to understand it. After you have received the attunements, it is just part of you and you just have to use it and live it. You can continue to learn from it all your life, but it seems complete at each level you experience it. It is as accessible to the novice as to the expert. Additionally, it heals at all levels of being: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. Although it is simple, gentle, and noninvasive, it produces powerful results.

9. Why should I take a class? Why can't I just get Reiki over the Internet?

Traditionally, Reiki is an oral tradition handed down from Master to student. The attunements given to the student are traditionally given in person. For me as a teacher, this personal element in teaching Reiki 1 and 2 is very important. Once a student has learned Reiki, however, there are many classes I offer through telephone and email contact.

10. How will having Reiki make my life different?

Reiki affects everyone differently. It is most widely known for its healing properties. The Reiki attunements combined with self-treatment and the use of Reiki in healing other beings accelerates personal growth and development and the deepening of intuition as well as healing on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Receiving regular Reiki treatments from someone else, either professionally or by exchanging treatments with a friend, will further enhance growth and healing. Reiki brings out who each individual is at their innermost and enhances the development of individual talents and potential. So, it is a powerful tool for personal development as well as healing. Reiki will have similar effects any animal that you treat, healing each animal in the ways he needs it most and enhancing his personal growth and development for his highest good.

11. Why do I need to treat myself? I only want to work on animals.

Treating yourself is central to developing your ability to treat animals.

First, it will give you personal experience with the sensations of receiving Reiki and the effects of Reiki healing. This will help you to understand what the animal is feeling and what kinds of healing and reactions to expect. It will help you to adjust your treatments to make them more comfortable, acceptable, and effective for animals since you will have first-hand knowledge of the range of sensations and reactions Reiki can involve.

Second, the degree of healing that you will be able to develop is tied to your own personal growth. The more you use Reiki to heal your own issues, the more open you will be to channel Reiki energy to the beings you choose to treat. Receiving treatments from a Reiki practitioner or exchanging treatments with a friend will further accelerate your own healing process. In deepening your own healing journey, you will be more able to communicate and deal effectively with the beings you encounter, both human and animal; you will develop increasingly deep and accurate intuition about the beings you treat; the amount of Reiki you channel will be increased as you heal personal issues that drain your energy, attention and ability to tap into your own potential.

12. What do I do if I have questions after I've gotten Reiki?

You will almost certainly have questions, and you can e-mail or call me and I will be happy to help you with any questions you may have. Reiki is best learned experientially, through practicing it, noticing what you feel and what happens, and asking about anything that doesn't seem clear to you. I love to hear my students’ stories about what they have experienced. I learn from you too! So even if you don't have a question, please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing with Reiki.

Additionally, I offer internships to provide support and guidance in creating a firm foundation for your practice.

And you can always make arrangements to meet with me individually or to customize a group to your own interests if you wish.

13. If you can’t treat my animal in person, is there any way you can help him?

Distant Reiki treatments are very effective. I offer half-hour distant treatments to address your animal's problems: physical, mental/emotional, or spiritual. I can also send healing to your animal's past, which can be helpful in healing behavioral problems since behavioral problems are sometimes based on a past trauma. Distant treatments can be used to support an animal through his or her transition from this life. They can be helpful to the human guardians during this process as well.