The Reiki Cafe 

Due to a discussion on another thread, thought I would share my experience with reiki and animals.

I have always had some affinity with animals, but now they seem to seek me out for Reiki. I have one dog who I think is addicted to it - he just loves it so much. My other dog comes for it when she needs it - last night she climbed up onto my lap - not an easy task as she's pretty big, 85 lbs. My friends dogs and cats seem to love it as well. In fact, strange cats will follow us when we go for our nightly walk.

We were out canoing on the lake a couple of weeks ago and had a duck follow us around. He even tried to get in the boat - LOL. Don't know if he was attracted to the Reiki or if he was just begging for food, but I sent him some anyway. Domestic birds, especially, seem to love Reiki.

The most amazing experience so far though, has been at the zoo. Now, I am usually not particularly keen on zoos as they tend to make me sad. However, the Phoenix Zoo has done some wonderful things to save endangered species, especially the Mexican Gray Wolf which is very near and dear to my heart. They also have amazing programs for children. My daughter loves to go there, so we go often. This last trip was amazing.

We started, as we always do, in the native species area - first we have to see the snakes and reptiles (my daughters wish), then the other Arizona animals. When we got to the aviary, the Bald Eagle sat at the front and, since I could feel it in my hands, seemed to request Reiki. Of course, I obliged. This seemed to happen with many of the animals we saw. The llamas all congregated where we were standing, wanting Reiki and communing with us. It was wonderful. We then went to the Harmony Farm area (for kids to learn about farm animals, and a play area), we were looking and talking to the horses who really seemed to like Reiki, when my daughter announced that Pete (38-yr old Shetland pony) wanted Reiki - we walked over there and sure enough, he did. In fact, he didn't want us to leave - but a 2.5 year old doesn't have the patience to stay for too long. It was a wonderful experience.

I have an aquaintance who does equine massage and uses Reiki for the horses. It is my understanding that they love it, and she has had some wonderful results with horses that have been injured.

It is clear to me that animals need Reiki as much as we do, and they seem to seek us out when they need it.

Blessings and light (and a howl at the moon)
DesertWolf

I love sharing with my anjimals. And they do enjoy it immensely. I always ask for permission. The one time i didn't think to ask an animal the chow/german shephard mix tried to take my face off and was rather aggressive the rest of it's stay in our house.

I had a similar experience with a cat this weekend. I was at a friend's house to do Reiki for her and her roommate. I was waiting to get my table set up and in the interim, was loving on the cat, Hopecicle. At first, things were fine as always (we are familiar with one another) but after a few minutes, she just out of the blue, smacked the bejeezuz out of me. Caught me right across my left cheek and side of my nose. Luckily, she didn't use her claws. But she had the nastiest cat look on her face and she hissed at me for a while. I didn't get mad afterwards but left her alone for a bit. Later she returned for some lovin but only a little. Got to be careful with creatures!

cindy

cindy, what do you suppose was the reason for this abrupt change in demeanor of the cat? Do you think she sensed the energy and did not want it? Or maybe something else spooked her?

I have a cat who used to love Reiki. Now, if he's in my lap and I begin sending to another, he leaves. I think he also leaves if I'm petting him and I accidentally have Reiki going. (I love him, and it just seems to flow from that....hard to stop it.) Not only does he leave if he thinks I'm giving him Reiki, but he leaves with ATTITUDE. You can see the disgusted look on his face. Go figure.

I think I caused this change in attitude. I was giving him Reiki on his crown and used the opportunity to give him a message that he was loved and wonderful, but that I would like him to please only use his litter box and not my bathtub. That was 6 mos. ago and he has not used the bathtub once since then, but his whole attitude about Reiki changed. I suppose, in retrospect, this may have been a misuse of the energy, but I saw no harm in connecting to him in this manner and gave him a loving message. I think he just doesn't want any more messages from me in his head and he's not taking any chances.

I only hope that if and when he really NEEDS the energy for an illness or injury, he will then allow it. (I'll stay away from his crown and not try to give him any message but love.)

Namaste,
Lionheart

Otoharo!

Lionheart, I once had an experience with a cat that was unusual for me. I spent a sunday afternoon, with a friend in Roswell, N. M. Her apartment was a duplex. The other ocupant had left their cat on the screened-in back porch. It kept stalking and wanting to come in to participate in our conversation. My friend let this neighbor's cat in. He came up to me immediately to smell my hands, and licked the center of my palms, each hand. That seemed to satisfy him, and he lay down on the floor to the side of the arm chair where I was sitting. (This is before reiki). His pose was so regal, like a lion. I said as much to my friend, not to him. He sqaurled at me, rose up tall, placing his front paws on the arm of my chair, hissed at me, as his eyes looked like two rods coming out of his eyes. They looked like they were two pencils about two inches long.

Apparently, he read my words or my thoughts or my energy field and felt indignant about what I said.

finality

I forgot to mention, that this day was the day when people in the Eastern religions meditate a lot. I followed the regiment and had meditated all the previous day. I think it was a day in May, but I can't remember the details. It was in the '84.

finality

But don't you think it odd that he would be offended at being compared favorably with the regal pose of a lion? I would think he would be flattered, but then, he may have felt totally superior to the wild lion. To him, it may seem that a lion is a primitive beast and he, of course, is a much higher level pampered house pet. Hmmmmmm....

Maybe he just didn't like being spoken of as if he wasn't there. I know my Timmy hates to be laughed at, and he particularly hates for me to tell anyone the story of him missing the table top and falling to the floor on his very ungraceful behind. He weighs nearly 20 lbs and he's gorgeous but not really agile at jumping to table height. He heard me telling this story to my daughter on the phone and he actually turned his back to me, which placed his face within a half inch of the wall (counter height.) There is no logical reason why a cat would place his face to a wall like that. It was quite obvious he was showing me his disdain because his dignity was highly offended. You just never know with animals, (or people either, for that matter <grin>) Out of respect for his feelings, I no longer tell that story when he is present.

Namaste,
Lionheart

I don't think communicating with him and asking for something like that is a misuse. You're asking. For myself I always specify in my asking that they have the choice but i would appreciate it if blah blah. It's no more a misuse than talking to another human. Ya communicate as ya can. Trying to butter an animal , human or otherwise, with Reiki is a misuse to me.

I know all about the Reiki just starting to flow. To me it's very natural if I shake hands or pet an animal , give someone a hug. But I do stop myself unless I have their okay.

Some of them say I'm cute or precious or loveable. The only term I kind of understand is "loveable." What's precious? Does it mean it's good to eat? I don't want to be good to eat! I do understand what loveable means because when they touch me, I feel the warmth of thier hearts shining on and in me. They do other nice things, like finding just the right spot to scratch that I can't reach. I usually feel safe around them, but there are times when they seem to be miraculously ignorant. They can't smell rain before it comes. They can't hear anything but really loud sounds. It almost seems accidental when they understand what I ask for. They clamber and shuffle noisily when they walk from one place to another. They can't see at night, so they imagine what they don't see and stumble over things they should be seeing.

I really had my hackles up today when one of them began acting very strangely toward me. She touched me differently. Instead of petting me, she started shouting Ki at me in her thoughts! I don't know what brought that behavior on, but had to get away from her. She was being so wierd, it made me feel strange.

I stayed in my quiet place for a while, just to let all the tingles and impulses find peace, so my body could again feel like smoothness and pounce. I was drifting in the moonlight with my eyes closed when this thought pulled me back to wakefulness: The poor thing is just lately noticing her Ki! I can't imagine what it must be like for her to be just now discovering something so much a part of her being. Would it be like me waking up one day to discover I had two tails? Then I realized that I had to be patient with her and maybe even allow her to attempt sharing Ki with me. Before my first eye opening, the Creator gave me instinctive knowledge of my Ki and that I will always infuse Ki into everything I touch or sense.

Dear DesertWolf,

Isn't it great??
I love my connection with animals and children. It's the adults (including me) that require the extra effort it seems.

For being a midwest city we actually have a great zoo. ^Tashi and I were there a few weeks ago. What sticks out in both our minds was passing thru the primate house. As we passed in to view of the lone lowland gorilla in a glass cage, a terrible sense of dark came. The feeling came quick and was only reaffirmed a second later by cathing eye/energetic contact. This gorilla was in terrible energetic shape. What I (we) saw was some one who had a very trauamtic sparation from mom and then has spent a very energetiaclly malnurished life in a prison cage. Seeing him we had the same reaction : it's like rounding a corner and seeing tradgey.

It was (is) so sad. This juvinile gorilla was in a dark and cemented place. When you connect for a brief moment with some one;'s eye contact and state/energy.....it was like that. Terribly sad. We sensed that from other inmates but was the most intense from him.

Not trying to reinforce the sadness of your expereience , just sharing.

Namaste,
Michael

Yeah i like zoos and don't. Oftentimes they help the animals, but i think more often than not they're jes ripping babies from their homes.

I think it was just her way of saying "That's enough!". Cats can be overstimulated to begin with. All the while I am petting her and exuding my OWN energy, I am bombarding her with Reiki as well! Poor thing!

But she came back to me a little while later and I apologized and didn't stroke her as much as usual. We are still buddies! I feed her when her mommy is on vacation so she knows she can only go so far!!!

I don't have that problem with my own cats. I am sure they are used to my energy and when they have had enough Reiki they get up and walk away. They DEFINITELY know they better behave!

It may be that he simply does not like being compared to anything or anyone.

Reiki is a form of Love Energy. As folks grow and evolve, their expression of Love becomes constant and frequently "involuntary by choice." I don't believe it's necessary to constrain the Reiki that flows naturally from us. It is part of our identity, like our physical features or the way we express ourselves. We are not required to distort our own field of energy to accomodate those who'd rather not receive Reiki. If one is not willing to receive Reiki, they simply will not receive it. A hundred Reiki practitioners can be sending that person Reiki, but he or she will not receive any of it if it is not welcome. If such an individual is surrounded by those who exude Love, there may be a moment of receptivity, when that individual is able and willing to accept it.

Michael,
I didn't feel as if animals were asking for Reiki out of sadness or sickness in most cases, it was more of a sharing. Some of the older animals wanted it for healing, but mostly it seemed to be connection.

I understand what you mean though. I have noticed that different zoos can have very different moods to them. We have another zoo here that I don't like to visit. The animals are in small cages and are just so unhappy. We are lucky, in that the Phoenix Zoo works very hard on the habitats and enclosures for their animals. The only time I really sense a lot of sadness is around the tigers. Understandable of course. The only glass cages are for the reptiles, and the only metal caging you see is in the aviaries. Right now, some of the primates have their own island, and they are in the process of building a new area for monkeys that is huge. The enclosure for the Mexican Wolf is so big, and the only place you can look so small, that I have never seen one at the zoo. Its the same with the Spectacled Bear, they can be very difficult to find.

Ruby the Elephant was a fixture here for a very long time. She was the elephant that painted, and was so beloved, the city mourned when she died from childbirth. They have done so much to save endangered species - most of the now 1500 Arabian Oryx in the wild can trace their roots back to the 7 that came to the zoo in 1963. But its their children's programs that are amazing. Toddlers can go have breakfast with the turtles or bunnies, and learn all about the animal. They believe that conservation starts at a young age and have many, many programs to teach kids of all ages about animals and the environment - and how we are, ultimately, responsible.

Hm, I've gone on and on about the zoo now. I seem to sound like an advertisment - sorry.

Blessings,
DesertWolf

I do understand what you say. However, it's a matter of principle. First off I do believe there is a difference between the higher self and the incarnated self. Even if the higher self wants the energy , if the physical self says no then I wouldn't send. Animals can say no even after we ask permission by pulling away from our touch or otherwise indicating they are not happy. Now even if i do go to the higher self for permission i always send with the intent if i am mistaken and it is not wanted then the energy returns to the universe.

I think in most cases most people do not want them to do something after they say no. To me it is irrelevant that the person is not getting the energy, simply by sending it anyways i am going against their wishes.

eagleriver,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- welcome to The Cafe :-}}

- I am glad for your voice and light.

Reiki all around,

all blessings,

Firekeeper

The Cleveland Zoo's wolf exhibit is just like that. Only this summer have I finally seen a wolf - and they've had the exhibit for at least 3 years! Sometimes they even howl.

The Akron Zoo is a smally, inner city zoo that used to be typical of inner city zoos - small cages, iron bars. Up until this past year, you could still see remnants of the old cages though they were empty. In the past year they've done fabulous renovation and expansion. They have fewer animals, but the animals that are left have tons more room and more naturalistic environments. It's gorgeous. The whole energy is different now.

How goes it with the desert wolf species in AZ? Are there any left in the wild?

I may not have understood your previous post. I got the impression that you felt Reiki energy or felt that you were feeling the expression of Reiki when you were meeting other people or animals. I thought I perceived concern that such energy may flow from you to others prior to asking them permission for you to send it.

Sometimes I really have to struggle for the right words to express my thoughts. Maybe this will help: Because Reiki energy is a form of Love, and individuals evolve to become the embodiment of Love (or return to Love), they become "beacons of Love." Just like a beacon of light glows in all directions, so will Energy flow out from an individual who honors Love. When Reiki becomes part of a person's identity, no doubt, Reiki energy becomes part of their "glow." When a person who is not willing to receive Reiki walks into this glow, they will not receive the benefit of the Reiki.

Please do not hide your "glow" under a bushel, just to protect the unwilling - who don't need protecting from positive energy anyway. Imagine walking into a room full of people and 99% of them welcome your Energy. Should you (if it were possible) stifle your glow, to accomodate those who are still in the "cold prickly" stage of life?

You were under the right impression of what i was saying. I was trying to state that my view is not to send this to others non-permissioned. Even if just my own personal energy. Definitely better to keep that to myself.

This is not the same as restraining it from my own energy field or as you put it restraining my "glow". I do not hold back in general only in terms of passing this energy directly to others. I keep the Reiki energy from flowing to another unless I have their permission. I let my energy field itself fly as free and as far outwards as it will go. I am merely not sending Reiki directly to another. I guess a better way to phrase it would be that I am passive in this respect. If I choose to flood my own field with Reiki and someone within my field accepts it that is different from my directly placing it within someone as what occurrs during treatment.

Thank you very much!

Sometimes I wish mine WOULD walk away. :) They have to be on top of either me or my wife whenever we meditate or do Reiki. My keyboard gets fuzzy on a regular basis also.

Myself, when I am around people or go to an event, or around animals, I am not doing reiki. Recently, I petted a horse with watering eyes and one eye was closed. I did ask the horse if it wanted reiki and held my hand out a few inches from the eye for a few moments. But to do a reiki session on it when just stopping to ask about horseback riding? No, not just on principle but on not created the space to look like a nutcase.

peace,

prosperity

Yeah i'm not saying i get the urge to do treatments normal style with hand positions ,just that pretty often i'll notice the Reiki will just start flowing and i keep it to myself instead of going on to send to the recipient or more correctly let it flow outward to the recipient.

This is probably Reiki telling me I should offer , but it's not always a convenient or proper time when it starts flowing like that.

Dave, I assume you have reiki III. One function is that of holding the energy. That is what you describe. The Holy can use your body as a conduit for Reiki for people in general. Those who are seeking will take it and may not be consious of doing so.

finality