What is Reiki?

Reiki as defined by the Oxford English dictionary is:

“A healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient’s body and restore physical and emotional well-being”.

It is however, also widely accepted that Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) can be given and received equally effectively hands-off or via distant healing. The Japanese word ‘Reiki’ literally translates as universal life force energy. This system of healing was developed by Mikao Usui the early 20th century. It is a non-invasive complementary therapy that has been taught and used in the UK since the late 1900s, but Eastern medicine has for thousands of years worked with this energy, recognising its flow through all living things.

Reiki supports orthodox medicine or can be used alone but is not a replacement for traditional medication or treatments. It is not based on any belief, faith or suggestion, yet, scientific research using quantum physics is starting to help us to understand how reiki may work to benefit the recipient.

Reiki supports the body’s natural ability to heal itself, Healing on all levels whether mental, spiritual, physical and/or emotional. Loosening blocked energy, cleansing the body of toxins. Increasing intuitive awareness, strengthening immune system.

How does Reiki Heal?

The energy flows through the healer, who acts as an open channel for the energy and through the hands to the recipient, harmonising and balancing the energy fields and thus ‘removing’ any areas that believe they have dis-harmony or disease.  The healer is a channel for Reiki and thus never ‘drains’ the healer- in fact the more Reiki a practitioner gives of the energy, the more is received.

Reiki clears, aligns and heals energy pathways allowing the life force to flow in a normal and healthy way. It is a very relaxing and calming energy.

Benefits for Animals

For those of us who love animals, they are our world! They live with us as our family members and companions, they help us forget our worries and give us a reason to get up in the morning. Animals assist us, protect us, entertain us and tolerate us. We are careful with our animal’s diets, provide them with shelter and schedule veterinary visits and medicines as necessary.  With Animal Reiki Therapy, we can now give them the opportunity for stress reduction, faster recovery from injury or surgery, improved emotional well-being and a more balanced lifestyle.

Reiki brings a wonderful emotional healing following trauma, abuse, neglect, fear and trust issues, bringing peace into even the most damaged situation. Reiki induces deep relaxation and stress-reduction and, over time, reduces the anxiety which creates stress for high-strung or nervous animals. Reiki has the ability to repair physical illness and injury in animals and is also used to ease emotional and spiritual problems.

Reiki gently goes directly to those situations in need of healing, even if they are not known to the practitioner or their human and most animals will present the area in need of healing to the practitioner. Even with hands-on therapy, Reiki is so gentle it will not harm injuries or surgical sites.  Reiki is safe and comfortable.

There are a number of Vets and Nurses who agree that reiki can be a valuable asset when used to support in animal care and well-being. Using one or more sessions. It can be used to support veterinary medicine before and after surgery and also to promote the animals general well-being. It is recognised in a number of Animal Rescue Centres across the world that animal reiki is a valuable addition to care for animals that are nervous of strangers or have had traumatic life experiences they become calmer and generally more relaxed. Reiki can be offered for first aid in an emergency purely for calming whilst waiting for the Vet to arrive. More Practitioners work with Reiki in human medicine than with animals but it is becoming more widely used.