I learned to practice Reiki in 1998. When my dog Dakota came over and sat on top of my feet during my first Reiki self-treatment, I had two incredible realizations:
1) Dakota liked the feeling of Reiki so much that he couldn’t bear to be even one foot away from me as I practiced.
2) Dakota seemed to be able to tune into the healing power of Reiki, without my having to “give” it to him. It was as if he was already fluent in a language much too subtle for me to sense!
With these two realizations, I began a long, miraculous journey of discovery and healing in my life.
Besides offering peace and comfort to the animals who have crossed my path over the years, Reiki has healed my lifelong battle with anxiety. My Reiki practice brought me peace, strength, and balance in my recent battle with breast cancer.
Although I have always loved animals, the heart-to-heart connections I have experienced while practicing Reiki have greatly deepened the way I relate to all beings and species on this planet. We are all One; compassion is the ultimate healer. Animals are our spiritual teachers.
My passion is to share Reiki with animals of all species, and to teach people who love animals how to connect more deeply with them. Healing starts where our hearts connect.
Animal Reiki is meditation with animals
Reiki consists of a series of meditative techniques to help us remember our inner spirit, that beautiful bright light and potential that exists in all of us. Sometimes it’s covered up by our physical and emotional issues, but our beautiful light is always there. When we uncover our own light, it becomes easier to see the bright lights of others. We begin to realize that we are not so different from one another; we are all connected to each other on this beautiful planet. By awakening this connectedness, Reiki cultivates compassion for others, which in turn brings about healing transformation.
“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” –Thich Nhat Hanh
Through the mindful presence that Reiki meditation cultivates, we can more easily navigate our life’s challenges with grace and surrender while we to learn to listen to and be present for animals in a compassionate space. In this way, we learn to share precious moments of healing with them.
Why Reiki is so special
Reiki offers simple techniques that anyone can do, and that help us to open our hearts to the animals and the world around us. When we live our life in this open and present way, animals, who are so pure and sensitive, feel it, are drawn to us and want to share with us and support us. A beautiful, peaceful, compassionate space that embraces, connects and encompasses all beings, all species, all life: this is Reiki in action.
The Reiki ripple effect
Because the practices of Reiki are focused on helping us remember our inner wisdom and universal connection to all things, the more we practice, the deeper our healing can go. Because we are healing our inner essence and spirit, we often see ripples into the other layers of our being—spiritual healing through the dying process, or emotional, mental and physical healing throughout life’s journey. I call this the “Reiki ripple effect.” When we open our hearts to balance, clarity and harmony—in other words, the beauty of our world as it should be and our place in it—then healing, contentment, transformation and renewal will follow.
What I have experienced has inspired me to devote my life to Reiki practice
I initially studied with Martha Lucas of Denver, CO, and Siddheshwari Sullivan in CA of The Reiki Alliance. I also honor thousands of animals around the world as my teachers. They have shown me how to open, trust and surrender to the healing power of nature and of our own inner spirit. My animal Reiki travels have taken me across the U.S. and around the world from England to France to Australia. I am so honored to be able to share the gifts that animal Reiki has brought to my life.
I have brought together meditation, compassion and animals to create an exceptionally respectful, sensitive and effective approach to healing for all creatures
I’ve created a unique healing and educational program at Animal Reiki Source that combines my knowledge and experience of Japanese Reiki traditional practices, with teachings about the sensitivities, preferences and wisdom of our animal teachers. Due to the simplicity and profound effectiveness of these teachings, thousands of students from all over the world have incorporated these techniques into their lives with great healing success.
I invite you to take my hand and walk with me on this amazing journey of healing transformation for your heart, the hearts of the animals, and the heart of the planet.