July/August 2010 - Dogs Naturally Magazine

5. Be compassionate to yourself and others. Helping a rescued
dog is a very compassionate action, which I believe has a
ripple effect out into the world. By working with rescued dogs
in your life, you are not only helping that individual dog, but
also making the world a better place by being a model for others.
So first and foremost, be kind and gentle to yourself. In
following your heart for the dogs who need you, you will develop
and nurture the compassionate spirit within you.
Using Reiki in Animal Rescue
If you are a trained professional or volunteer involved in animal
rescue, you may find yourself in unexpected situations
with extreme stress and sometimes even danger. This can take
a toll on your body, mind, emotions and spirit. Images and
memories of what you have seen may stay with you long after
you have left the scene. Here are some ways Reiki can help
support rescuers’ health and the animals being rescued:
Preparing to go to the scene of the rescue and arriving on the
scene: Breathe. Picture a calm and peaceful place in your
mind. Keep this place with you in your heart as you go about
your work.
Rescuing animals from the scene: Whatever issues the animals
are manifesting, stay positive. Find affirmations to hold in
your mind and heart depending on the animal. For example,
for a very fearful dog, you might use the affirmation courage.
For a dog that has been neglected, you might use the affirmation
love.
After the rescue: Imagine you can breathe earth energy up
from ground and into your heart. As you speak to the dog and
spend time with him, see him with your heart—see through to
his spirit and imagine he is already healed.
Many of us aren’t professional rescue workers, but choose
instead to support rescue efforts by opening our homes to
these animals and asking them to join our families. Here are
some ways Reiki can support adopters and the rescued animals
in their new homes:
Preparing to go to a shelter or rescue to adopt an animal: Set
your intention that your heart is open to connect to the perfect
animal for your home and family. Breathe earth energy
into your heart to help you to stay grounded and centered. Try
to listen to your heart as you meet each animal. Feel for that
special heart connection—that animal will be your rescuer!
Bringing your new dog home: Your role will be to assist your
new dog in healing old wounds and creating new beginnings.
Use affirmations to help the energy stay positive and supportive
as your dog adjusts and begins his new life. Remember to
always see your dog as you know he is at his very essence—as
perfectly in balance. Anything outwardly out of balance
(illness, injury, behavior problems and so on) is simply a manifestation
of wounds which you will help him to heal. In seeing
and believing in his healing potential, you will help him to
reach it.
Reiki teaches us that our role in dog rescue is not only an outward
physical “doing” of the rescue. We can also nurture the
healing of the dog’s body, mind and spirit in focusing our compassionate
intention in a positive direction. Through the Reiki
techniques of staying mindful of the precepts, remembering to
connect to the earth and ground ourselves, using affirmations
and seeing with our hearts, we are better able to stay in balance.
And when we ourselves are in balance, we are better
able to help our dogs.
Kathleen Prasad is an Animal Reiki Teacher, founder of Animal
Reiki Source and President of The Shelter Animal Reiki Association.
Kathleen is a student of classical Japanese Reiki methods,
training with internationally recognized Reiki researchers Frans
and Bronwen Stiene of the International House of Reiki. She is
a registered practitioner with the Shibumi International Reiki
Association (www.shibumireiki.org). She has co-authored The
Animal Reiki Handbook (Lulu, 2009), Animal Reiki (Ulysses
Press, 2006) and edited and contributed to the books Tails
from the Source and Animal Reiki Tails, Volume 2. She has written
many educational articles on animals and Reiki for holistic
publications around the world. Kathleen has taught Reiki to the
staff of organizations such as The San Francisco SPCA, The East
Bay SPCA, The Humane Society of Silicon Valley, BrightHaven
Healing Arts Center for Animals, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and
The Elephant Sanctuary. She has also authored The Animal
Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics, which has been published
in professional Reiki publications and adopted by practitioners
around the world. In addition to offering an extensive animal
Reiki training program and worldwide practitioner directory on
her website, she self-publishes a free e-newsletter on Reiki and
animals. Kathleen enjoys life in beautiful Marin County, California
with her husband, daughter, and two horses. Visit Kathleen
online at www.animalreikisource.com.
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