As I start to write this on March 29th, my kitty, who was resting under my desk on a soft blanket in his bed, emerges, taking in a long drawn-out breath and giving a restricted cough. He is 14 and has a mass growing in his neck, which is now constricting his breathing. He will pass peacefully, I am confident, with the help of Reiki.

At the beginning of March, Kathleen came to BrightHaven, a healing arts center for animals where I am a volunteer, to teach a group of us the ancient technique of Reiki. We practiced on people one day, on animals the next, and took all the initiations to be certified as Level 1 practitioners. I didn’t know it then, but I would be using Reiki at least 2 times a day to help Ronnie with his health and healing.

Ronnie has been with me for 12 years. He has been the gentle leader of my kitty family of five, over the years raising a couple from kittenhood as their mother and father, accepting two more in off the streets, and generally teaching them all, in his wisdom, how to live more fully and joyfully. A friend visited him yesterday and noticed how they all took his lead in divine greeting with a bow of the head to her hand.

Of course there is always hope of a cure with any healing modality so, four days after my Reiki class ended, I started focusing my practice on Ronnie, almost convincing myself that I was not expecting a cure. Kathleen joined the team shortly thereafter, doing four ½ hour long-distance sessions with him on consecutive days, and continuing with a regular session long distance every three days. I am getting used to the regimen now but it has been nice to get a respite every third night and to hear about Kathleen’s experiences with Ronnie’s sessions that she emails me the next day.

I offered Reiki to my kitties starting March 3rd and switched to Ronnie twice a day on the 6th. Kathleen started her four session treatments on the 8th. Ronnie hit a low period where he became weak, dehydrated, and wouldn’t eat from March 5th through the 10th. He then improved greatly, eating again and with interest. I am wondering if he had a healing crisis because of the Reiki or if the Reiki took him out of the downward spiral. Whichever, it was great to see him enjoying life again.

Kathleen taught us that Reiki will go where it is needed but it is still mysterious to me. Ronnie’s breathing had become labored and erratic before we started Reiki. He looked uncomfortable. Since starting Reiki, the tumor has not shrunk, but his breathing is calm and full. I’m just amazed at how this would work and so happy for him that he can rest more peacefully again. One day, I had to limit both the nighttime and the next morning’s treatments to 15 minutes. I noticed right away that his breathing became a little more labored. So I feel comfortable that the two ½ hour sessions that he receives every day are keeping a good balance and that this can be upped if needed.

On April 10th, my sister came to give him lunch while I was away and she left me a note: “Still so powerful and still inside”. More and more, Ronnie doesn’t notice his illness, though the tumor continues to grow. Now, at the end of April, I have seen him make adjustments, time and again, so that he can find enjoyment in the day. He takes it slower going up and down the stairs. And rather than taking a couple bites and walking off to catch his breath, he now stays at his plate to catch his breath and then continues eating. It’s as if, in allowing Reiki to bring its peace inside, Ronnie can operate more peacefully and willingly in the outside world.

On April 12th, Ronnie came into the bedroom in the middle of the night. He was having a little trouble breathing. I offered him Reiki for ½ hour and his breathing settled and he went back to sleep. That morning there were no signs of labored breathing and I continued the twice a day treatments. I was grateful that he sought me out for help, that he sought out Reiki.

The majority of Ronnie’s treatments have been from a few feet away. He may be walking around the room when I start, but a few minutes into the treatment, he is on his bed, resting with eyes partly closed or sleeping. A very few times, he has come and lay in front of me and I have put my hands near him or on his sides for a very few minutes until he walks away. Luckily, I often do Reiki sitting on the floor so that hands-on or hands-near can be an option.

Toward the end of April, I was encouraged by what Kathleen was feeling from her treatments to start offering Reiki to the family, to prepare us to carry on when Ronnie was gone. In doing so, I saw relationships tighten and kitties who had not played together before start interacting and touching noses. That was an important piece for us and for Ronnie, who would want to make sure the family was going to be okay before he left.

Around the beginning of April, Ronnie started to be less aware, at times, of what was going on around him. Now, at the end of April, he is often crouched and looking contemplative. I feel that Reiki aids him and his spirit in connecting with the place where he will go after death of the physical body.

Ronnie has given me a great gift. He has encouraged me, through his illness, to practice a very effective technique and to see that there is something I can do for him when it feels like there is nothing I can do to help him. With Ronnie’s body slowly winding down, I am accepting his eventual passing, in part, because I have had time with him and been able to aid in his journey. I am grateful for the comfort he has gotten from Reiki and I’m encouraged that I will be seeing him ride the Reiki wave, without looking back, to the other side.

About the author:
Christy Johnston received her Level 1 Reiki training with Kathleen in early March and her Level 2 at the end of April. She has always loved animals and has discovered that Reiki is a great way to connect with them. She is currently living in Santa Rosa, California. After Ronnie makes his transition, she will be joining her husband in Seattle where she hopes to continue her work with animals and Reiki.