I was first introduced to Suki by my client, Michael (her owner and my now partner), when I went to his place for his first Reiki session. She greeted me enthusiastically with body rubs against the legs and meowed until I knelt down to pet her. After a few minutes of catching up with Michael and petting Suki I had to get set up for his session. Suki went from being curious about who I was to slightly annoyed as why I had stopped petting her. As I started setting up my Reiki table her large, yellow eyes filled with curiosity and she immediately watched me very intently. She took notice of everything I was doing, and even meowed a few times at me as to instruct me on what to do next. Once I was set up and MICHAEL was on the table Suki jumped up as well. She stalked my every move. Wherever I went she followed. If I was near Michael’s head she was near his head, if I was at his feet she was at his feet. My first impression was that she was going to lunge or swipe at me to protect him. As someone who has owned several cats and am familiar with their behavior I know that cats can be just as protective of their humans as dogs. Her stalking session was starting to interfere with Michael Reiki session, to the point I was going to request Michael put her in another room. She finally settled down on the center of Michael body and let me continue with his session and received Reiki herself. When the session was over we had to remove Suki from my Reiki table. She was not exactly happy about this; but complied.

When I returned for Michael’s second session Suki was excited to see me, and when she saw my table her eyes lit up (she has a very expressive face). Again, she watched intently as I set up my Reiki table, however, this time she would not be allowed on it. Michael and I agreed she had been a distraction during the previous session, so this time around she would have to be placed in another room. Suki was not happy about being left out of this session. She meowed loudly and scratched at the door, trying to get it open. When I finished Michael’s session and he opened the door to let her out, she immediately made a beeline for my table. While I knew she wanted Reiki, I wasn’t exactly certain the best way to provide her with what she wanted. During Reiki training we were taught that we can give Reiki to animals in much the same way we give Reiki to people. We, however, were not provided with willing animal participants during training. So, yes I have the knowledge on how to give Reiki to animals, however at this point in time I’d never actually done so. Luckily, I was attending a Reiki circle hosted by my mentor and teacher later that week and discussed both incidents with her and she provided me with suggestions on my next course of action.

Armed with a better understanding of Suki’s behavior and how to proceed, I felt better prepared to help her after Michael’s third session. Again, she was thrilled to see my Reiki table and again, we had to lock her in another room. However, this time I had put my table away before we let her out of the room. She was upset and voiced her displeasure at seeing the table already in its bag. This time I took the time to truly treat her. I sat crisscross on the floor and let her come to me. When Suki came to me this time it wasn’t to be pet, she came to me to be treated. As she approached me she behaved as if she wanted me to pet her, so I started to pet her like I normally would. I was petting behind her ears and down her neck and shoulders, and then she presented me with her hips. She arched her hips up a bit higher than normal and that’s when I knew instinctively that she wanted me to help her with her hips. I placed my hands on her hips and began to let the healing Reiki energy flow. This continued until Suki let me know she’d had enough. Once she’d received what she wanted, she did what all cats do when they don’t want to be bothered, she walked away and found some place to take a nap.

This experience provided me with a lesson in confidence and trust. I learned that I can (and do) provide animals with the healing Reiki energy. I also learned that trust, on both sides, is key when giving Reiki to animals. Suki trusted me and I trusted myself. This first experience with providing Reiki to an animal taught me that my gifts transcend species and all things can receive the beautiful healing gift of Reiki. Since this initial animal Reiki session, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to provide Reiki to ailing butterflies and my friends’ pets. 

Suki is a gentle, loving soul. She is also still one of most my demanding clients and lets me know exactly what she wants and when she wants it. To learn more about how Reiki can help your animals, email me at thequiethealer@outlook.com.