Animal Reiki Book Reviews

 

Professional Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association

Animal Reiki: Using Energy to Heal Animals in Your Life by Elizabeth Fulton and Kathleen Prasad
Foreword by Cheryl Schwartz, DVM; Photos by Kendra Luck Ulysses Press, 2006
ISBN 1-56975-528-0
8.3 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches, 236 pages with black and white photos, index and appendix

reviewed by Patricia Monahan Jordan, DVM

The authors start Animal Reiki by reporting that "animals teach us so many things" ... they tell us that the sympathetic connection that allows animals to manifest the reflection of human problems is one of their most subtle of lessons, and yet one of the most profound. In so many ways, animals gift our lives and enrich our soul. Reiki, the compassionate channeling of universal energy for the highest good, is the true holistic prayer from the heart of the practitioner to another spiritual being. The authors celebrate the relationship of all sentient beings and the universal love that Reiki promotes. Yes, animals do think, they do emote, they are capable of emotion, and yes, they are spiritual. I believe this is the core lesson to the readers of Animal Reiki, and I for one am glad to see this acknowledgement in print. Animal Reiki supplies us with the specifics for treating any animal under any circumstance: wild, aggressive, orphaned, traumatized or emotionally abused animals. Separate chapters focus on the treatment of specific species: dogs, cats, horses, birds, small animals, farm animals, wild animals, senior and special needs animals, and dying animals. One of the most helpful aspects of using Reiki is its ability to help restore harmony to the macrocosm of the animal's family unit. Reiki works as vibrational holistic healing: the call for universal energy of the highest purpose for the individual or situation.

The authors are clear to state up front that the use of Reiki is an adjunct, not a replacement for veterinary advice and care. It is a valuable component of an integrative approach to healing and health maintenance. Reiki can support any other treatment, and transverses emotional and spiritual imbalances and energy deficiencies or excesses. Similar to Feng Shui, Reiki treatments re establish harmony. Reiki helps animals be heard and actually increases communication between the species. The subtle language of healing energy is the language of Reiki, and this language is understood universally, recognized, and even sought out by animals in need. The explanation of the differences of animal Reiki practice and human Reiki practice is an insightful acknowledgement of the differences in the language between humans and animals. The need for patience and building trust, not to coerce, and to allow the animal to choose if and how much Reiki energy they wish to receive, are all-important ingredients for a successful Reiki treatment. The goal is to empower the animal (any animal: wild, orphaned, abused, sick, or dying) to participate in the healing process. The authors' real life experiences are gems of gold offered to healing practitioners everywhere who want to help animals.

Reiki is noninvasive by nature. When the Reiki practitioner respects boundaries and allows freedom of movement and choice in participation, even animals previously forced to endure painful or traumatizing experiences with the human species can come to find acceptance of healing through Reiki.

Other perks of knowing Reiki are for individual or group therapy as in flock or herd treatment. In addition, all beings, even fish, like other animals, can become stressed by tensions and emotions in the household. Reiki offers help in mental and emotional healings. Reiki can also offer some of what's missing in captive, indoor life by bringing harmony and peace to any situation, and always for the highest good of the animal.

Many physical ailments have emotional root causes; our animal companions may even take on their caretakers' emotional root issues. Electromagnetic transference of heart patterns between two or more individuals, animals, plants, and people-these facts are no longer a speculation of science. The existence of the human-animal bond has never before carried so much significance. Animal Reiki addresses these

issues, and I for one am grateful finally to be taught a healing modality useful in engaging my patient in a relationship of true healing.

Animal Reiki by Elizabeth Fulton and Kathleen Prasad is a valuable resource on the Japanese practice of Reiki as applied to animals, the first of its kind to be published, and includes many, many cases of "hands-on" experience with animals of all species.

Kathleen and Elizabeth's participation in an NIB funded research study of Reiki show their openness to furthering the scientific research of this modality, which is still in its infancy. In the meantime, as with many of our holistic modalities, we need only to be courageous and document the many successes we see in our patients; the results of the healing we see cannot be argued.

Page 30· Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association July - September 2006

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