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This community is designed for graduates of Let Animals Lead® training programs. You don’t need to be advanced—but you do need to have a foundation in the practice so you can fully participate in the shared space. What matters most is your willingness to stay present and continue deepening.

There’s no expectation to keep up with everything. This is a space you can return to in a way that fits your life. Some members check in daily, others come when they need support or connection. The rhythm is steady—but flexible. All live gatherings are recorded, so you can join in real time or revisit them whenever it feels right for you. You’re invited to engage in ways that feel nourishing, not overwhelming.

Weekly live gatherings  Community healing circles  Reflection prompts and discussions  Ongoing connection and support  More than anything, you’re stepping into a living practice.

No. This is an ongoing community—one you return to over time.

You can cancel anytime.

Yes—through both guidance and community connection.

No ads. No noise. No pressure. Just presence, compassion, and shared commitment.

If it feels quietly right—that’s worth listening to.

LAL® Animal Reiki Teacher Training gives graduates permission to teach in-person Level 1, 2 and 3 Let Animals Lead® method courses using the latest manuals/workbooks

Virtual meetings take place over 6 weeks, offered on Tuesdays at 10-11 AM or from 4-5 PM, PST. Summer Session 2026: Summer session virtual meetings are on Tuesdays from Aug 4 - Sept 8, 10am or 4pm PST.

Prerequisite: Level 3 Animal Reiki Practitioner LAL® Certification May miss 1 live meeting on Zoom, but must be present for the final meeting.   At our final meeting, all students will give a short presentation, teaching a concept from the Level 1 manual. ​ Students must complete auditing of Levels 1 and 2 courses with final essay to receive your teaching certificate.

Here are some of the results people get when they learn even the basics of the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki: Anxious animals and pets grow calm when their people are around! Animals that can’t “settle” lay down and snooze! Sick animals relax and their discomfort is obviously eased! Injured animals often heal more quickly than expected! Animals who are dying or in hospice clearly feel less pain, anxiety, and discomfort! Shelter and rescue workers create a shift from anxiety to calmness in the facility housing the animals! People who work with animals regularly see a noticeable difference in the energy and dynamics of animal behaviours! Some people feel or “see” what their animals are feeling! (Even though our method doesn’t teach anyone how to do this, it seems to often be a common side effect of learning LAL® Animal Reiki.) Wild animals start coming closer to enjoy the space people create with meditations!

Learn how to “hold space” for animals during this 3 days of learning about the Let Animals Lead® meditation method of Animal Reiki ​ If you’ve ever heard the expression holding space, it will make sense if we say that the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki teaches us how to hold space for the animals around us, even the wild ones. This is a space they are drawn to and want to interact with; a space that can offer comfort to them when they are anxious, sick, or dying; a space that often facilitates healing when an animal is given the choice to participate in it. ​ This will help your pet (or animals you work with regularly) to trust your energy and bond with it. Each day of this 3-Day On-Demand Animal Reiki Challenge course will help you to cultivate a calm, peaceful, open-hearted space within yourself that your animals will WANT to connect with, even if you’ve NEVER meditated or tried to connect with your animals before.

Here’s what the 3 days of Animal Reiki basics will look like: Day 1: We focus on building better bonds by improving awareness of physical connections with our animals Today’s focus is all about learning to live in the moment more fully, as our animals do! As we build mindfulness, we’ll be able to experience life with more joy and fullness with the animals we love! You’ll learn a very special mindfulness meditation to practice in the presence of your animal friends that can quickly strengthen your relationship with them. You’ll also receive a recording of a nature meditation to support your physical connections with animals and 1 lucky student (must be present, live!) will receive a free book, “Your Guide to Forest Bathing.”  Day 2: We focus on Building Better Bonds through Improving Mind Connections with our Animals Today’s focus is all about learning to expand our view from what is “wrong” to be able to hone in on the positive, even in difficult moments. When we do this, our vibration lightens and animals are drawn to us when they need us most.  You’ll learn a very special affirmation meditation to help you strengthen your mind connections with the animals you love! You’ll also receive a recording of a meditation with the lion, courage and wisdom to support positive mind connections with animals—and one lucky student (must be present live!) will receive a free book, Happiness by Thich Nhat Hanh. Day 3: We focus on Building Better Bonds through Deepening Spiritual Connections with our animals   Todays’ focus is all about remembering our inherent connections and unity with ALL life and contemplating our place in this beautiful world. When we can see that we are the light, and our animals are the light—we can find a deep and lasting happiness, no matter what’s going on around us or within us.  ​ You’ll learn a very special compassion meditation to help you build heart-to-heart connections with the animals you love.  If you want to build better bonds with your beloved animal friends, but aren’t quite sure how and don’t have time to commit to a bigger, bulkier course on this topic, this Animal Reiki Challenge on-demand course will be perfect! It will give you some basics and some tools that will help you build trust with your animal and find a new space of healing calm within yourself. ​ Kathleen Prasad (founder of the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki) designed this quick and easy-to-follow Animal Reiki challenge to introduce people to Animal Reiki meditation techniques and the Let Animals Lead® method. Animals are all about energy and, since they can’t just tell us what’s going on with them, it’s really helpful if we can learn to reach them on an energetic level and anyone can do this, with a little practice! We can also learn to create a loving, safe space for our animals that will help them feel comfortable and safe in many situations.

This Level 3 Animal Reiki LAL® Practitioner Class includes:​ FREE membership in our online Let Animals Lead Community. Discussion and practice in the traditional Japanese techniques for Level III Animal Reiki, including the 4th symbol and mantra, and how to share them with animals using the Let Animals Lead® method The Reiki Master Initiation/Reiju Instruction and Practice in how to perform Reiju How to share Animal Reiki ethically and for the best success with animals Totem animals for healing and transformation Philosophy of energy and light in the system of Animal Reiki and how to hold this space with animals All 3 LAL® Animal Reiki digital manuals (level 1, 2 and 3) plus a Professional Certificate of Completion An official Seal of Certification showing your status as a Let Animals Lead Practitioner (for use on professional materials and in online spaces).

Prerequisite: Level 1 and 2 LAL® certification or Master Level training in another Reiki lineage Must attend 5 of 6 live meetings; submit homework via email for any missed session  Share highlights of homework live in class each week Suggested: 20 minutes min. meditation practice per day

Level 3 Animal Reiki Practitioner Course runs on 6 consecutive Tuesdays and offers a morning session from 10-11:30 AM or evening session from 4-5:30 PM.   Summer Session 2026: Summer session begins June 22nd. There are 6 mandatory live sessions on Tuesdays from June 23 - July 28. ​ Fall Session 2026: Fall session begins Monday, September 21st. There are 6 mandatory live sessions on Tuesdays from Sep 22 - Nov 10.

What you’ll learn in Level 2 of Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki:   The Hatsurei Ho with Animals Meditations for working with the Reiki Precepts with animals Best ethics for approaching animals with Reiki sessions The Japanese teachings on the first 3 Reiki symbols and mantras How to work ethically with animals and the symbols and mantras Distant healing techniques How to chant the mantras for self-healing and for supporting animals Techniques for grounding, expansion and connection to help you become an animal magnet to even the most sensitive animals!

What you’ll receive in Level 2 of Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki: Eight 75-minute live sessions with Kathleen via Zoom, recorded in both audio and video formats. Each meeting includes live teachings, a virtual Reiju and a guided meditation, plus time to share and ask questions. These live meetings are your opportunity to receive personal feedback and coaching from Kathleen! FREE membership in our online Let Animals Lead® Community on Mighty Networks A 285-page digital manual/workbook filled with inspiring, interactive teachings! Daily practice assignments and weekly homework to guide your journey A beautiful certificate to show your accomplishment and official certification. This certificate may serve as a prerequisite to Kathleen’s Level 3 courses.  An official Seal of Certification showing your status as a Let Animals Lead Practitioner (for use on professional materials and in online spaces) An invitation to join SARA (Shelter Animal Reiki Association) as a Practitioner member.

Requirements to take this Animal Reiki certification course: Prerequisite: Level 1 Certification in the LAL® method Participation in 7 of 8 lives, and submit homework highlights via email for any missed live sessions.

For LAL® Level 1 grads, Level 2 offers a morning session from 10-11:15 AM or evening session from 6-7:15 PM, all Pacific Time​​   Summer Session 2026: Summer session begins June 22nd. There are 8 mandatory live sessions on Thursdays from June 25th - Aug 13th.   Fall Session 2026: Fall session begins Monday, September 21st. There are 8 mandatory live sessions on Thursdays from Sep 24th - Nov 12th.

Here’s how Level 1 Animal Reiki Let Animals Lead® training will benefit you: Create a more mindful relationship with your animals! Embrace dark, challenging moments with compassion. Ease the suffering of animals you love, while staying respectful of their agency (choices) and independence. Practice mindfulness of the gifts your animals give you each and every day!

What you’ll learn in Level 1 of Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki: How and why the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki is different than traditional human Reiki and other Animal Reiki methods, how and why it evolved, and why these differences make it the best and most ethical practice Animal Reiki method in existence. Traditional Shoden (Level 1) Japanese Reiki practices and how to modify them so that animals are given the choice whether they want to step into the healing space and lead the meditation sessions. When and how to ethically use physical contact during an Animal Reiki session, as well as hands-on protocol for humans.  The importance of seeing the animal’s perfection (and not what’s “wrong” with it or what has happened to it in the past) during Animal Reiki sessions, and why this shift in view is pivotal in developing trusting connections between you and animals. The 3 energy centers and how to develop them to ensure gentle, animal-led meditations. An overview of the Animal Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics and why these ethics are a crucial foundation to your practice.  The difference between holding space for an animal and “doing” an energy treatment “to” an animal, and why this distinction matters.

What you’ll receive in Level 1 of Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki: Eight weekly video teachings, guided meditations and written supplemental materials to support each week’s lesson. Free membership to Kathleen’s highly engaging Let Animals Lead® Community on Mighty Networks (a place to meet other students of the LAL® Method and to learn from practitioners and teachers from all over the world). The online membership currently has over 300 Let Animals Lead® graduates from all over the world! Seven hour-long live sessions via webinar (live session) or recorded (self-paced version). Each meeting includes a virtual Reiju and Q&A from students. For Live Sessions Only: The live meetings are your opportunity to submit questions and receive personal feedback and coaching from Kathleen.  A gorgeous and practical 250-page digital manual/workbook filled with inspiring, interactive teachings Daily practice assignments and weekly homework to guide your journey. A free copy of Kathleen’s e-book, Healing Virtues: Transforming Your Practice Through the Animal Reiki Code of Ethics A beautiful certificate to show your accomplishment and official certification. This certificate serves as a prerequisite to Kathleen’s Level 2 Animal Reiki courses.  An official Seal of Certification showing your status as a Let Animals Lead Practitioner (for use on professional materials and in online spaces). An invitation to join SARA (Shelter Animal Reiki Association) as a Practitioner member.

Requirements to take the Level 1 Animal Reiki certification course: Live Session Only: Students will need to be able to participate live at scheduled times. Attendance is required at 6 of 7 sessions to receive certification. You must be able to connect via video (preferably) or audio on the webinar platform Zoom. Students must turn in (via email to Kathleen) weekly homework assignments as well as questions for the live calls (if applicable). Students will need to be able to download and open video and pdf documents in order to watch and read the weekly lessons and assignments.  Students must have animals to practice with daily.  A variety of animals is preferable (ask neighbors and friends to support you!), but 1 or 2 of your own, at the very minimum, is needed. Students must commit to 10–20 minutes/day minimum of daily meditation practice during the course. The main purpose of this requirement is to help you experience the teachings in a personal way, thus giving you the foundation you need to build a lifelong Animal Reiki practice. With dedication and commitment, Animal Reiki can heal and transform your life, as well as the lives of the animals you love!

Choose self-paced or live sessions ​ Every live intake has a choice between a morning session (10-11 AM) and an evening session (6-7 PM) Pacific Time.​​​​​​ ​ If you're interested in taking Level 1 at your own convenience, check out the self-paced version HERE. Next Level 1 Live Session: Fall 2026: Fall session begins Monday, Sept 21st. There are 7 mandatory live sessions on Wednesdays from September 30 - November 11.

There are many comfortable options within a short driving distance of Charlie’s Acres. Below are a few commonly recommended hotels in Sonoma (10-15 minutes from the farm)   – Inn at Sonoma, a Four Sisters Inn  – El Pueblo Inn, Sonoma – Sonoma Valley Inn – El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen – Sonoma Hotel You may also explore Airbnbs in these areas for additional flexibility. We recommend booking early, as June is a popular travel season in Sonoma County.

No experience is necessary. This immersion is open to all levels—whether this is your first introduction to Animal Reiki or a deepening of an existing practice. The focus is on presence, connection, and allowing the healing experience to unfold naturally, led by animals.

We recommend wearing comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing that you don’t mind getting a little dusty or muddy. Closed-toe shoes are required for safety around the animals. Layers are helpful, as mornings can be cool and afternoons warm. A hat, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle are also good to bring.

Yes, there will be opportunities to spend time near—and at times within—the animals’ spaces. All interactions are guided with a strong emphasis on safety, respect, and animal choice. Animals are always free to approach or move away, and we follow the sanctuary’s guidelines to ensure a peaceful and supportive environment for everyone.

The main entrance is at 3281 Napa Road, Sonoma, CA 95476. It is safest and easiest to make a right turn onto the property as Napa Road is a busy and fast road. When you pull onto the property, follow the signs for visitor parking. Come into the Education Center, the large grey building, where we will meet.

Each day of the immersion runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This schedule allows for a spacious, relaxed experience while giving you time in the mornings and evenings to rest, reflect, and enjoy the surrounding area.

The daily lunches are plant-based and thoughtfully prepared. If you have specific dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance so we can ask our caterer for accommodations. If you have accessibility needs or questions about navigating the sanctuary space, feel free to reach out before registering so we can support you.

Not at all. Many students come into this training feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. That’s completely natural. This course is designed to support you in growing into your role as a teacher with confidence, clarity, and presence. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to feel the call to share this work.

Yes. You’ll be guided step-by-step through how to plan and teach Levels 1, 2, and 3 within the Let Animals Lead® method. You’ll explore class flow, key teachings, meditations, and how to create meaningful experiences for your students. One of the most reassuring parts is realizing that you don’t have to reinvent anything. The structure, materials, and guidance are already there for you to work with and make your own.

You can absolutely still teach. This training includes creative and practical ways to offer classes in many different settings, whether that’s your home, a rented space, or through guided experiences with students’ own animals. You’ll learn how to create meaningful, animal-led experiences even without direct access to a sanctuary, while always honoring animal agency and choice.

This training is rooted in the Let Animals Lead® philosophy, where teaching is not about performing or directing, but about presence. You’ll learn how to: Hold space rather than control it Empower students rather than “fix” them Allow animals to be active participants and teachers Teaching becomes an extension of your Reiki practice, not a separate skill set.

Yes, deeply. This is a mentoring-based experience, not just information delivery. You’ll participate in discussions, reflections, and practice exercises, and you’ll be supported as you develop your own teaching voice. You’ll also have opportunities to ask questions, share ideas, and receive guidance throughout the process.

Confidence grows through experience, and this course is designed to support that step-by-step. You’ll: Practice planning your own classes Explore real teaching scenarios Reflect on your strengths and growth edges Learn how to respond to student questions and dynamics Teach a mini-lesson to our group By the end, you’ll feel not only prepared, but truly ready to begin.

After the training, you’ll deepen your learning by observing (auditing) Level 1 and Level 2 classes from a teacher’s perspective. This is a powerful bridge between learning and teaching, where you’ll see how classes unfold in real time, how students respond, and how to hold space as a teacher. You’ll also complete reflection assignments based on your auditing experiences before receiving your Teaching Certification.

Not at all. You’ll be given a strong foundation, structure, and guidance, but your teaching will naturally become your own. This training helps you discover your authentic voice as a teacher, while staying rooted in the ethics, presence, and spiritual foundation of the Let Animals Lead® method.

If you’ve completed Level 1 and feel a gentle pull to go deeper, you’re ready. You don’t need to feel completely confident or have everything figured out. Many students come into Level 2 still wondering if they’re doing it right, and that’s completely natural. If you’ve been practicing, even in small ways, and something inside you is curious to deepen your connection with animals and Reiki, you can trust that inner calling.

No, there is no required number of sessions you need to complete before moving into Level 2. This path isn’t about checking boxes or reaching a certain level of performance. It’s about your relationship with the practice. What matters most is that you’ve begun to explore the foundations from Level 1 and are open to deepening your experience. Some students come in with lots of practice, others with just a little. Both are welcome. Level 2 will meet you where you are and help your practice grow in a more grounded and natural way.

Level 1 introduces you to creating a calm, compassionate space for animals. Level 2 is where that space deepens and expands. You’ll review and expand what you learned in Level 1, learn the traditional Reiki symbols and distant healing, all while developing a more steady and embodied meditation practice. But the most meaningful shift is internal. There is less wondering if you’re doing it right, and more trust in simply being present. Many students experience Level 2 as a turning point, where Reiki begins to feel less like something they practice and more like a way they move through the world with animals.

Yes. Distant healing is an important part of Level 2, and it opens the door to a deeper understanding of connection. You’ll learn how to connect with animals across time and space in a way that is calm, grounded, and respectful of their choice. In the Let Animals Lead® method, we don’t “send” energy. We enter a shared field of presence, where animals can engage in their own way. Many students find this to be one of the most meaningful and expansive parts of the training.

Yes, in a very natural and steady way. Confidence in Animal Reiki doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from learning to be present. As your meditation practice deepens, you begin to trust the space you’re holding. You begin to see how animals respond to that calm, steady presence. Over time, that experience builds a quiet confidence. A gentle knowing that you can show up, be present, and allow the animal to lead.

Level 2 is considered the professional level of training and gives you the foundational teachings to begin sharing Animal Reiki with others in all kinds of settings. At the same time, I ask my Level 2 students to first deepen their experience through a self-guided internship of 100 documented volunteer sessions. This is not about delaying your path, it’s about strengthening it. These sessions, and the reflections you gather along the way, help you build real-world experience, deepen your trust, and truly understand what it means to hold space for animals in a variety of situations. By the time you have completed this internship and begin offering paid sessions, you’ll be coming from a place of grounded confidence, clarity, and integrity. This approach ensures that your work is not only supportive for the animals, but also sustainable and aligned for you.

Many people drawn to Animal Reiki are naturally sensitive. In this practice, sensitivity becomes a strength. Through Level 2 meditation and grounding practices, you’ll learn how to feel much more centered and supported within yourself. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, most students find they feel more peaceful, balanced, and at ease. This practice supports your wellbeing just as much as it supports the animals.

This course is rooted in the Let Animals Lead® method, where animals are honored as equal partners in the healing process. We don’t use techniques that impose or direct energy. Instead, we cultivate a space of presence, compassion, and choice. Animals are always free to engage, move away, or simply rest. This creates a foundation of trust that animals deeply respond to, and often leads to profound experiences of connection. Students often share that this approach not only transforms their Reiki practice, but also how they relate to animals, to others, and to themselves.

Absolutely. This training isn’t about adding more techniques—it’s about unlearning human-centered habits that don’t serve animals, and fully embodying a respectful, consent-based approach. Many experienced Reiki Masters say Let Animals Lead® completely transformed their understanding of what it means to offer Reiki to animals.

Level 3 is about full embodiment. You’ll receive the 4th symbol and mantra from traditional Japanese Reiki and learn to use them with animals in the most ethical, grounded way. You’ll also deepen your inner stability, step into more advanced spiritual teachings, and become certified as a Level 3 Let Animals Lead® Practitioner—ready to hold space through even the most emotional or difficult moments.

Not at all. Students regularly connect with animals in shelters, sanctuaries, nature, or even through their windows and gardens. The practices you’ll learn are energetic and meditative, not dependent on physical contact. This training will actually help you expand your awareness of how animals are all around you—whether near or far.

You’re not alone—most traditional Reiki teachings are human-focused and often involve “doing” Reiki to animals. In this course, you’ll learn a completely different way: one based on listening, softening, and being Reiki—so animals feel truly safe and free to choose connection.

This is exactly what the course is designed to shift. You’ll learn practical, daily meditations that help you regulate your nervous system, build emotional stability, and create a healing presence—without needing to perform or fix. It’s all about presence.

Yes. You’ll receive an official Level 3 Practitioner Certificate and Seal of Certification in the Let Animals Lead® method, honoring your training and allowing you to share your credentials with confidence.

The Let Animals Lead® method welcomes beginners with open arms. You do not need prior Reiki experience. All you need is a desire to learn to listen deeply, cultivate peaceful presence, and connect with animals on a deeper level.

Created by Kathleen Prasad, the Let Animals Lead® method is rooted in honoring animal agency and choice. We don't focus on “doing” Reiki to animals. Instead, we focus on becoming Reiki and creating a peaceful, safe space to share with them. This approach is grounded in the Reiki Precepts, ethical awareness, and a deep respect for the wisdom and sentience of animals.

Yes, The Let Animals Lead® approach is especially supportive for sensitive animals because it removes pressure and expectation. We do not touch, direct, or impose energy. We simply create a calm, grounded space and allow the animal to choose how—or if—they wish to engage.

That’s okay. This practice is about animal choice—not control. Even subtle responses like resting nearby or keeping a gentle distance are signs of trust. And when an animal says no, that’s a win: it means they felt safe enough to choose.

This method shifts your focus from doing to being. It’s about releasing agendas and embodying calm so animals feel truly safe choosing connection. Many experienced practitioners say it transforms how they work—with animals and people.

Nope. You don’t need any special gifts. Just a willingness to slow down, stay present, and listen with your whole heart.

Not at all. Many students take this course to support their own animals, deepen daily presence, or bring more compassion into their lives. Professional practice is optional—and unfolds naturally if you feel called.

You can’t. There’s no performing here—just presence. You’ll be guided step by step to show up sincerely and steadily. That’s all animals really ask for.

No. Many students connect with animals in shelters, sanctuaries, parks—or even through their windows and gardens. Wild animals, birds, squirrels, insects... it’s all about presence, not ownership.

Yes. Ethics and consent are at the heart of the Let Animals Lead® Method. You’ll learn how to support animals with full respect—no fixing, no forcing. Just mutual trust and compassion.

You feel calmer. Animals feel safer. Relationships deepen. Even tough moments—like illness, fear, or end-of-life—become more peaceful. Healing unfolds, not because you push, but because you allow.

The course is self-paced and gentle. One video lesson per week, short readings, and daily meditation. It's designed to fit real life—and create deep, lasting shifts over time.