Part 1:
On a gorgeous and sunny Sunday afternoon recently, there was a meeting. A meeting of hearts and minds, seeking to come together and learn from each other, and learn from the animals. I drove up the gravel road to the barn to meet with a small group of members from one of the Animal Reiki class sequences here outside of Chicago. In previous classes over the past two years, we had only worked in person with canine participants during Level 1 of the course, and I had not ventured into taking students to a barn to work directly with horses. However this time, for students in the course interested in learning more about horses, we were being warmly hosted at the barn by Hope, a fellow Reiki Master Teacher, along with several horses at the barn including Dakota, Lady, Frosty, Country Swinger, and Snoopy.

Walking up to the barn, I felt the dirt and rocks of Mother Earth below my feet. My senses and lungs filled with the sweet smell of hay. As I listened to the beautiful chorus of horses serenading our entry, it made adventuring out of the classroom and away from our Reiki notebooks well worth the trip. Not knowing quite what was in store for us aside from my own instructor’s outline for the afternoon, the animals had assured me telepathically on the drive there that they knew what to do, and would guide the students well. They said to simply let go and trust, and the students would each receive what they needed for their next step forward with Reiki. A wonderful dance of harmony, with horses in the lead.

As Hope introduced the students to the horses, we began to quickly notice their differences in personality and characteristics. Each was clearly a unique individual, inviting us to know them, each with his own story. Over the years of doing animal communication consultations, I have learned that so much of the background of horses becomes unknown as they often change hands from person to person. This is also true of many other species of companion animals as well. It is both interesting and helpful to hear the animals’ perspectives on the earlier times of their lives, and what that means to them as part of their journeys. I have found that simply holding a sacred space and allowing the animals to share their thoughts, feelings, and energy can provide profound emotional releases, and assist them in letting go of the past, whatever that might hold for them.

Near the beginning of the gathering, we checked to see which one of the horses was open to working with the group first. Dakota, a very large grey Holsteiner, roughly 18 years old, immediately invited us to work with him. He was described by our host, Hope, as sweet, kind, and gentle, with very giving energy. Unfortunately, he had been abused and beaten prior to becoming a member of Hope’s animal family many years earlier. Due to recent illness, Dakota had been on stall rest, but he encouraged us all to venture in to his stall as a group. As we circled around him and began energetically clearing the space, preparing to work, he encouraged each student to place both of their hands somewhere on his body. He proceeded to explain to the group many aspects of Reiki and working with animals, accompanied by humor and warmth. As students picked up a variation of energetic shifts with his body, Dakota encouraged them to breathe with him through his skin to deepen their spiritual connection with him and this magnificent species. Dakota explained that while the students continued to work with him, he would attune them to horse energy, and help to further open their palm chakras to work with the other horses in the barn, and then ongoing with other animals. It was a very special Reiki attunement for the group from a very special horse, and we felt it was a tremendous gift for him to share. As we completed our connections with him, disconnected energetically, and then exited his stall, he joyfully invited all of us back to work with him further.

After working with Dakota, we were next invited to work with Lady, a 9-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred. It was explained to the group that for a very long time following her adoption at four years old, she could not let anyone ride her. Rather than entering her stall, she was most comfortable having students work with her from the barn aisle. Lady was not sure of everything at first, especially since she was most comfortable having her caretaker, Hope, work with her energetically. She suggested asking for just two students to work with her, and to begin slowly. After a few minutes, she was accepting an increasing amount of Reiki energy, and she loved making the connection with the group. Later on in the afternoon, two participants, Tammy and Tiara, worked with her further, and Lady thoroughly enjoyed her time with them.

In the stall next to Lady was Frosty, a Quarterhorse. As the group shifted to work with him, he must have been peeking in at how we began with Lady. Frosty also specifically requested only two students approach, and then begin the Reiki connection from outside the stall. Near the beginning of the session, everyone in the group could sense him hesitating and pulling back, so the Reiki flow was small, and their approach was soft. However after just a few minutes, Frosty began to relax. Claudette and Sandy, the two students from the group working with him, received guidance on where to direct the Reiki around and through his body. They began to feel energetic blockages releasing from his sides and back end, and chakras centers opening up and balancing, while both they and others could provide a description of what they felt releasing from Frosty. By the time we thought he would be finished, based on his hesitancy at the beginning, he continued to ask for more….and more, and more, and more. Eventually, as we needed to complete his session, the students felt him in total acceptance, and he was actually sending energy back to help them as well!

Feedback from Reiki students Tammy and her daughter Tiara, Illinois, August 2006:
We really enjoyed our Animal Reiki work at the barn. We haven't been around horses much so it was a great experience. We were amazed by their intense energy, and how you can feel the horse breathe through every part of their bodies. My daughter and I picked up on one horse's stomach issues and their nervous habits to soothe it. We had to respect the animals wishes and "turn down" the energy every so often so the horse could take a break and come back when she was ready. We also experienced an incredible gift of one horse giving us energy back. Gratitude is a very important piece of this work. The animals feel it and send it right back. It was a wonderful exchange. We made a lot of great animal connections and we can't wait to do it again! Thanks!

The gift flows both ways between us and the animals. All we need to do is accept their invitation to dance, and share in their world of magic and harmony.
(Part 2 of this article will appear in the next newsletter….)

About the Author:
Carol Schultz is an Animal Communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, Shamanic Healing Practitioner, and Interspecies Life Coach. She began working telepathically with animals in 1999 after being drawn to this spiritual role following her decision to make a lifestyle change from her corporate background and career. Carol initially trained with Penelope Smith, and has studied with many other communicators and healing practitioners throughout her journey. Carol is sponsor of the Animal Spirit Healing and Education Network, which hosts Chicagoland area classes including Animal Communication, Animal Reiki, Pet Loss, Tellington TTouch, and Shamanic Healing. Through Animal Spirit Network, she encourages students being trained in a variety of holistic healing modalities to learn from the animals while assisting with case studies submitted for assistance from area animal shelters and rescue groups. Please visit her website at www.carolschultz.com.