I'm so grateful for Reiki

 

Inca in the herb garden with the catnip

My feline companion Inca, had been suffering bouts of ill health for a while and with a sinking heart I knew that the heart-wrenching day no animal lover ever wants to think of – was soon approaching.

As the days rolled by, I became increasingly grateful that I had been attuned to Reiki. Not only did it help Inca to cope with her illness, but it was also a time of special togetherness, of reflection and introspection. She would lie on my lap while I channelled the energy – purring happily. Occasionally I would move my hands to the areas of her body she specifically wanted treated. Sometimes she would lie fully stretched out on the bed, for over an hour, just absorbing the energy.

The day before her passing I put her in the herb garden, her favourite spot, where she loved to sit amongst the catnip plants. When I went to check on her later, I was surprised to find that she was not there. The gardener said he saw walking at the bottom of the garden, and I got the feeling that she was saying goodbye to all her favourite haunts.

She returned later and I began to feel hopeful as she seemed much better. But my joy was short lived as during the early hours of the morning she called loudly to us from her bed. She seemed to be having seizures. It was terrible to watch, her eyes were huge, and she was breathing heavily; her body was stiff and shaking.

I wrapped her in a towel, gave her some Rescue Remedy and I sat with her in the reclining armchair giving her Reiki. She eventually calmed down and dozed off to sleep. I kept channelling Reiki and asked my Divine Helpers to help her, with whatever she needed at this time for her highest good. I asked Archangel Raphael for his help, and to fill her aura with his green healing light. As the eastern sky ushered in the dawn, I knew this would be Inca’s last hours with me, in her physical form. Tearfully I thanked her for everything, telling her that I loved her and that I released her in Love and Light. I told her we would have to take her to the vet to help her to cross over, and was she ok with that, she said she was. I asked for Reiki to keep flowing to her every minute from then and especially during her transition.

The vet tried her best to comfort us, but it was very difficult, as our tears continued to fall as we said goodbye to her again. I told her that as soon as the vet starts the procedure, she must go quickly to the Light. And she did. She just slipped peacefully away into Spirit. 

Murphy’s arrival

Life didn’t really return to normal after the passing of the old dogs. Having shared our lives for such a long time, it was very difficult to adjust to their absence. I especially missed their exuberant greeting early in the morning and at the front gate upon our return home when we’d been out.

Nikki had always loved doing the rounds in the garden with me each day as we walked from feeder to feeder, putting out seeds, fruit and bread crumbs for the wild birds. All the dogs usually accompanied me to the veggie patch at the bottom of the garden. They would sit in a semi circle around the enclosure, and wait for me while I picked veggies. It’s at times like these that I missed them the most.

Inca, the cat, carried on with her life as usual, but seemed to spend more time in the kitchen with Tess, the remaining border collie. I felt that she was sensing Tess’s loneliness and offered her company especially during the recent thunder storms.

I’d been giving Tess a few Reiki treatments and Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, to help her to cope with the parting of her friends.  But she seemed to sink into a depression and hardly wanted any food. I know animals suffer from grief just as we do, so I increased the Reiki and included some TTouch during the sessions as well, setting my intention for the healing to help ease the grief. We took her for walks and spent more time in the garden playing frisby with her and she seemed to perk up a little.

We’d decided that we’d not get any more dogs for a while, but then we wondered if it would help Tess if she had some canine company.  I believe that it’s a good idea to always consult the animals first about any upcoming changes in their lives. So I connected with her and asked if she would like a friend. I got the sense that yes she would like to have somebody to play with again.  I checked with Inca too, she said she didn’t really mind if it was dog, but definitely not a cat.

We decided against getting a very young puppy and opted for the chance of giving a shelter dog a good home. Our daughter Colleen put us in touch with an organization who’d rescued an eight month old Labrador-cross type dog from a busy street and was now in foster care.

For days before he’s arrival, I kept telling Inca and Tess that Murphy would be coming home soon. I’d look deeply into their eyes and visualise the young yellow dog being in our home. They seemed to understand what I was telling them.

We collected Murphy last Saturday and brought him home. Colleen, her dogs and Bronwyn and family came round to welcome him as well. It was wonderful to see all the dogs romping together in the garden.

Tess was a bit weary of Murphy all day on Sunday, but early Monday morning they’d made friends and playing together.

Murphy is hyperactive and needs lots of Reiki, TTouch and training, but I’m working on it and I’m pleased to say that Tess is helping me too, but in her own way.

Maxi’s snake bite

Photo courtesy of Al Coritz, Wikipedia

One morning in the autumn of 2006, Maxi, our old Border Collie was sniffing in the fallen leaves on the lawn when he was bitten by a highly venomous puff adder.

Thankfully my husband Owen was at home that day and drove the car as we rushed him to the nearest veterinary hospital. I sat in the back of the car with Maxi and gave him Bach Flower Remedies. Rescue Remedy to help with the shock and Crab Apple for cleansing. I also kept putting Rescue Remedy on the actual bite on his face.

I did Reiki and some ear slides, a TTouch technique, by moving my thumb and forefinger from the base of his ear to the tip, to prevent his body from going into shock. I drew the Reiki symbols and used the Mental/Emotional symbol to clear the poison from his system.

By the time we got to the vet his face and neck were beginning to swell. He received immediate attention and was put on a drip. Because of Maxi’s age – he was twelve at the time – the prognosis wasn't positive. We were  advised that the puff adder’s poison would cause the skin to rot in the area of the bite, so if he recovered we should be prepared to deal with that situation. We stayed with Maxi as they placed him in a kennel and said a teary goodbye, not knowing if he would ever come home again.

My Reiki students’ network, family and friends sent Reiki and prayed for his recovery. I sent distant healing to him and all  the other animals in the hospital for healing for their highest good. The next day his face and head were swollen to twice the normal size. That night I sat with his photo between my hands and beamed distant healing to him, visualizing the poison and swelling leaving his body. I asked God, Reiki Guides and St Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of animals) for help.

When the phone rang early the next morning I was expecting to hear bad news. The vet said the swelling had miraculously gone down during the night and that we could go and collect him! When we arrived at the animal hospital, all the other animals were leaving as they had also made a speedy recovery (another dog also had a snake bite) much to the vet’s surprise.

I continued to give Maxi Reiki and thankfully he made a full recovery without the any of the predicted skin rotting on his face and he went on to live until the ripe old age of
sixteen.