Guardian care

Lately, I have had a big increase in the number of clients who ask for Reiki treatments as well as having their pets receive Reiki treatments.  This warms my heart because I believe one of the best things we can do for our animals is to take care of ourselves as well.  

The connections we develop with our animals is often so intense that the lines can become blurred between what our animals are picking up from us and what we are picking up from our animals.  When we become stressed or sick, our animals naturally pick up on it because they believe it is their job to help us shoulder our burdens in life.  They hold that stress in their bodies and it can make them ill.

This cycle can become even more intense when our animals are already dealing with illness.  We worry about them and can often be filled with fear over what is going on with them, trying to determine how to help them, worrying about how we'll handle it if they don't get well.  Our animals then pick up that stress from us and the vicious cycle continues.   

My clients who receive Reiki treatments usually feel more peaceful afterwards.  When they feel more peaceful, their bodies have a better chance to healing themselves.  They also often feel more peaceful about what is going on with their animals and feel better able to make decisions about the care of their animals, if their animals are sick.  If the guardian is feeling more peaceful, there is less stress for their animal to pick up, so their animal will be more peaceful as a result.

Sometimes, when I mention to clients that I give Reiki to people as well, they cringe at the idea of doing something kind for themselves.  They feel it is their job to do everything and anything they can to help their pet but the idea of doing something to help themselves feels too uncomfortable to them. 

I often think of the analogy I heard once regarding the safety instructions we receive when we are on a plane.  They tell us that if oxygen masks are needed, once they come down, you should put an oxygen mask on yourself first, then put the mask on your child.  If you don't put your own on first, you may not be in the position to help your child.  I think of this often when I am interacting with parents, whether their children are 2-legged or 4-legged . . . we can do a better job of taking care of our 'children' if we are taking care of ourselves.  

When my client's guardians ask for a Reiki treatment for themselves, it makes me smile because I know these are people who see the value in taking care of themselves as well.  I believe the healthier we are, the more we have to offer our 'children', regardless of how many legs they have.  

So, I will leave you with this thought tonight . . . What are you doing to take care of YOU?

When animals are nearing the end of their life

In my work with animals, I often work with them when they are nearing the end of their lives, and they have taught me a great deal about that process.   When I first started giving Reiki to animals, it was hard for me because I wanted to believe that they could all be healed and live forever.  I know, a little-girl mentality but one I had a hard time shaking.  It was hard for me to accept that I couldn't change destiny, and hard for me to accept that animals were going to die, regardless of how much Reiki I gave them.

Over time, I have realized that the work I do with animals at the end of their life has more to do with helping their guardians.    I don't believe animals are afraid to die.  What they do worry about is their guardians.  They worry that they are going to be sad, they worry that they are going to second guess themselves or not be ok once their animal is gone.  I am given a beautiful opportunity to help guardians and their animals talk to each other and to help the guardians feel at peace about the process of their animals passing on.  I truly believe that animals come into our lives for a reason, to teach us things or support us in special ways, and I believe that animals are at peace when they die because they know they have fulfilled their purpose in our lives.  I try to help people see the gifts they received from their animals and help them see that those gifts are not taken away when the animals die.  Those gifts are theirs to hold forever.  

If you have a pet that is nearing the end of their lives, I know it comes with great sadness.  I also know that we can be more at peace about it if we talk to our animals.  I encourage you to tell your pet how much they have meant to you, let them know what you have learned and gained as a result of them being in your life. Assure them that their work is complete, that the gifts they brought to you have been received and are appreciated.  

In honoring their lives and all they have brought to us, we can find a peace inside of us, and we can give them peace as well.  If they know we appreciate what they have done and they know we are going to be OK after they are gone, they will not worry about us and then will be able to go peacefully.   I can't think of a better way to honor an animal, then to thank them for what they have done and remind them that we will hold them in our hearts forever.

Direct Communication

A client of mine pointed out the other day that I talk more directly to her dog than she does.  At first, I was puzzled . . . I guess it's because since I communicate pretty directly and openly all the time and I forget that not everyone else does.  :-)  My client pointed out that she was learning from me that it was ok to speak more directly to her dog.  As we continued to discuss it, I got a better understanding of what she was talking about and how this comes into play with our communication in general, whether we are speaking to our animals or other humans.  

Sometimes, we think it's better to 'protect' others by not saying things in front of them.  I understand where that comes from, it ultimately comes from a place of kindness and concern.  If you think something is going to upset another person (or animal), we are fearful of saying things outright.  If we are worried about our animals, we want to 'protect' them and not let them know. We put on a happy face and try to pretend that everything is ok.  I believe that animals can handle the truth - in fact, I think it's better for them when we can be as truthful as possible, because they are sensitive enough to pick up on what we are feeling anyway.  If we don't put words to it and explain it outright, we can end up confusing them or making them worry unnecessarily.  

Give it some thought . . . How honest are you with your animals?  Do you tell them what you are really feeling and thinking? or are you trying to protect them?  I have a feeling you'll see positive responses in your animals if you begin to communicate more directly with them.  Trust them to handle the 'truth' because they can be trusted with the truth!

Your animals understand - talk to them

Last week, one of my clients mentioned that her older dog was doing something she hadn't done since she was young . . . she was coming into her bedroom and waking her up in the morning.  She was tickled that her dog was doing this again after so many years, as she had missed her morning wake ups, but she confessed to me that her dog was waking her up at 7am each morning and she really didn't need to get up until 8am.  

I suggested we talk to her dog about it.  :-)  I asked her dog if she could give her mom an extra hour of sleep and wake her up at 8am instead.  I assured her that her wake-up calls were much appreciated, it was just that her mom wanted an extra hour of sleep.  

A week later, my client reported that starting the morning after our visit, her dog had started waking her up at 8am instead . . . even letting her sleep in until 8:30 one of the mornings.  

I tell this story in the hopes that those of you who are reading this will be reminded that your animals ARE smart enough to understand what you tell them and smart enough to comply with your requests.  Heck, they can even tell time!   So, keep talking to your animals.  They will continue to surprise and delight you with all the things they can understand!

Ask your animal a question

Ever wish you could communicate with your animal?  It's easier than you might think.  You don't need special "animal communication" capabilities.  Your animals understand most of what you say, as long as you have been talking around them all their lives and haven't made them wear ear plugs.  ;-)   Animals can give you "answers" to your questions if you give them choices.

I learned this early on with my German Shepherd.  I would ask her a question and give her choices so she could let me know what she wanted.  When I was getting ready to leave the house, I would tell her where I was going and give her the option to stay home or go with me.  I would say "if you want to go with me, go to the kitchen so I can put your leash on, if you'd prefer to stay here while I am gone, you can go to the laundry room.  She'd stand there for a minute, obviously contemplating her decision, and then she would make her choice. Sometimes she'd go to the kitchen, sometimes she'd go to the laundry room.   We have always operated that way.  I give her choices whenever I can, so that I have a better understanding of what she'd like.

I encourage my clients to talk to their animals this same way.  One client asked me which saddle her horse preferred.  I suggested she ask him herself.   I explained that all she needed to do what let him know what she would look for as a "yes" or a "no" as she put each saddle on him.   She put each saddle on him and said "If you don't like this one, shake your head or move your feet around, and if you do like it, stand still."   He communicated his feelings as clearly as she had asked.  She wasn't ready to trust she had really received a valid answer, so she tried it again, switching the order she put the saddles on him.  Sure enough, his answer was the same. 

This kind of communication can become especially helpful when an animal is sick and nearing end of life.  I have worked with many people who struggle at this point, fearful they aren't doing the right things, or that they are making their animal stay around longer than they want to, or that their animal is in more pain than they think.  It is a very real concern.  Anyone who loves their animals is naturally going to be concerned for their animals well being and want to do the best they can for their friend at the end of their life.  

Let your pet know what your concern is, for instance, if you are worried that they are in more pain than you think, tell them that you are operating under the assumption that their pain is not too great.  Ask them to please give you a sign if their pain is greater than you think it is. You can tell them what you'd like the sign to be.  If you are concerned that your animal is ready to go but holding on because of you, let them know that.  Let them know that if they need to go, it is ok with you.  Remind them how much you love them and how honored you have been to spend all those years together and then give them permission to let go if they are ready.  If you are worried that your animal isn't as sick as you think they are, ask them to give you a sign that they are healthy and not ready to go anywhere just yet.  You can give them something specific you'd like them to do, such as play with a favorite toy, to let you know that they feel better than you think.  

Remember that they can understand what you say and giving them clear choices will help them show you what they want and need.  They will welcome the opportunity to communicate with you.   If you aren't doing it already, give it a try.  I am sure you and your pet will not be disappointed.