My name is Carolina C. Kliass, I’m from São Paulo, Brazil, and I had the pleasure of meeting Kathleen two years ago San Rafael, CA. I’m a veterinarian and Reiki therapist (Reiki level III and Karuna Ki Tera-Mai level II); I’ve worked with Reiki for seven years and for the past four years I’ve been applying Reiki on animals.

My work focuses on different types of animals, mostly dogs, cats, and horses. During these four years, I’ve found that animals, in general, are very receptive to Reiki – especially since they have no intellectual obstructions complicating the flow of energy. I have observed that horses show the strongest reaction to Reiki. Most animals (especially dogs and cats) will fall asleep at the beginning of the application - or lie down and relax. This is not so with horses, which remain standing throughout the application. Some reactions I’ve seen include frequent yawning, flatulence, sighing, drooping eyelids, deep breathing, loosening of the neck muscles, and a chewing with the lips. These last two reactions are a horse’s way of showing complete relaxation and trust. It’s worth mentioning that these reactions can also be observed after the application is finished.

There is one special case I would like to share with you. The people of a jumping horse asked me to apply Reiki to their animal because of behavioral problems. Among other things, the horse was acting mean, it was spooking, and he lacked concentration during training. I approached the animal and began treatment. The first applications were made in an outdoor area where horses are shoed. From the start, the animal’s reactions included yawning, flatulence and defecation, tears, dropped sheath, etc. Interestingly, he was always “playing” with me – biting my t-shirt and my pants. He wanted to keep close to my touch, even when there was commotion, noise, and other horses nearby. He kept his attention focused on me. The next day, before I applied the second application, his person was waiting for me with a big smile. She was happy because her horse had approached her without being called for a long time (as was usually the case). To make a long story short, I continued to treat this horse inside a stall for three weeks and he often rested his head against the wall to sleep for a few minutes. But every time he woke up, he would come “play” with me. By the end of the treatment, his behavior had changed for the better. He was kinder and gentler toward his people, he allowed himself to be petted, and he was more focused during training. Of course, the two of us developed a close relationship. After the Reiki applications, the horse would come to the stall door, curious and without fear. Working with this horse I learned how Reiki affects animals and what reactions we can expect. I learned also about my own relationship with animals. I saw that I was giving them Reiki energy just by petting them and how this benefited their lives.

When working with horses, it is clear who is in charge. After all, the animal decides where and for how long he wants to be touched – and where he needs to receive energy. You put your hands in one position and them, little by little, guide your hands to a special area by moving forward-and-backward or side-to-side. When your hands are in the right area, the animal will relax. Animals also decide how much is enough. There comes a point when they won’t allow you to touch or approach them.

Reiki as a therapy can be applied in conjunction with conventional animal treatments. There are no side effects and you can see the surprising results as early as the first session. Reiki can also be used as a treatment for stress, gastritis, and even before and after surgery.

About the Author:
Carolina Kliass is a Brazilian veterinarian with Reiki level III and Karuna Ki-Teramai level II training. She has presented her work on television, in magazines, and on the internet (www.focinhos.com.br), and helps run an equotherapy (therapeutic horseback riding) program for people with special needs at the São Paulo State Military Police stables. Currently she is completing a post-graduate degree in homeopathy. You can contact Carolina at: carol.kliass@uol.com.br.