By Janet Dobbs
Reiki Master Teacher
Animal Communicator

Have you ever been deeply affected by an animal? Merry the office cat reeled me in, hook, line and sinker the first moment that our eyes locked.

I arrived late one fall afternoon to meet the office manager and the animals of my local humane society. There she was, the most beautiful white and black kitty, lying on the couch in the conference room. I was led to the door and we were introduced. I was told to keep my distance because Merry the office cat would bite me! I was left alone with her.

Merry looked up and checked me out. I introduced myself and asked if it was alright to join her on her couch. She sized me up and said, "feel free". I asked her if she would like some Reiki today. "I don't know. Just sit with me for a while. I will let you know", she said.

I gently sat on the very old couch, trying not to disturb her too much. It was a late fall day and the sun was low in the sky casting a soft light in the room. I sat there with her in the stillness and just took some deep breaths. The office manager was on the phone as the sound of cars passing by came through the walls. Merry was checking me out, wondering what my agenda was. With my hands gently in my lap I began the flow of Reiki. Merry looked up at me and sighed. She was snuggled in a light colored fleece cat bed that was just barely big enough for her to curl up in. She would use the walls of the bed to 'walk' on, to change her position. It was quite a funny and sweet sight.

As we sat in the silence, I asked Merry how she was feeling since her surgery that removed her cancerous breasts. "I am a survivor!", she announced to me. "Don't I look great to you? I am so much more than the cancer. I wish that they would all stop introducing me as the cat with cancer. I don't have cancer. I feel so much better. They need to learn to focus on the positive things in life and not dwell on my past." I told her that I understood what she was saying. I knew that I was in the presence of a very wise soul.

She gave me permission to place my hands on her body. I placed one hand on her hip and another on the shoulders. She just soaked in the Reiki. She began to purr and bliss out as her eyes rolled back and closed and the biggest smile filled her face. She moved several times in her bed as she sat to the left of me and then she rolled onto her back and I heard her say, "It is time for you to place your hands here." I gently placed one hand on her heart and the other hand close by. This was the area that had been filled with cancer. She requested Reiki to make the cells happy, healthy and to sing for joy. My heart filled with so much love and compassion.

The Reiki energy became even more intense than it had been on the rest of her body. The heat under my hands was like a little heating pad. I was sitting there in this peaceful meditative state, enjoying the energy flow when out of the blue I felt a very sharp pain. She bit the heck out of me! She was done. The session was over. Merry got up and walked away, but not before she turned and said, "thank you". "Thank you for listening to me. Not many people have actually taken the time to listen to what I want or have to offer. Thank you for respecting my wishes and for understanding that I am cancer-free. I have work to do here. I am the greeter of this shelter. I am here when people are sad as well as happy. Tell the staff that they need not fear my demise. I will be around for a long time to come."

I thanked Merry for allowing me to be with her and to share in the Reiki energy with her. She connected with me heart-to-heart on a deep level. I will not soon forget her. I talked to the office manager and shared some of what Merry had told me. More than two years later she is still the office kitty, greeting people and listening to all that they have to say.

There was something very special about Merry the office cat. This wise teacher taught me so much in the short time we were together.

About the Author:  Janet Dobbs lives in Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. She teaches and does consultations in both animal communication and Reiki. Her journey with animal communication and Reiki began in 1994 when her beloved kitty Cleo crossed Rainbow Bridge. Since that moment Cleo, and now Sammy, have her on a mission to teach everyone that they too can ‘hear’ what their animal companions are saying as well as to teach everyone that they have the ability to work with the wonderful healing and loving Reiki energy. She can be reached at: janet@animalparadisecommunication.com or visit her website: www.animalparadisecommunication.com.

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