By Penny Peterson

Beginning in April of this year, I have had the privilege of sharing
Reiki with a nine year old horse name Moe - he has a more formal name but I don't know what it is. To me he is Moe. He has shared himself with me in the most sacred and beautiful ways since he has let me into his life. I have always loved horses, but I hadn't been around them since my teens. I was asked if I would offer Reiki to Moe by his human companion after she had received several Reiki treatments from me and I had given her Kathleen's book to read. Moe was bucking her off every time she tried to ride him. Unfortunately, Moe had received considerable abuse at his former home related to his dressage training.

Before meeting Moe, I had already spent Reiki time with two of her cats who had various presenting challenges. I've kept a notebook of my times with Moe, and I would like to share excerpts from it. I am so grateful that Kathleen encouraged us in the workshop to do that, because I would never have remembered all this information after eleven meetings. I've not included all the entries and I have included the brief notes from some times when he didn't want Reiki. I hope this shows you the ebb and flow of how he directs me. He obviously knows when and what he needs, so I consider him my teacher and mentor for working with not only with horses but all animals. What a gift he has been!

Reiki meetings:

1. Within a short while of beginning to offer Reiki to Moe, he came to
me and rested his head on my shoulder, first one then the other. Moving into and away from me. Licked my hands a lot. Sniffed my face and ran his muzzle over my face and head. I was filled with a deep sense of sadness in him and aware that he had been badly treated by humans before his current companion. (I was completely blown away by his response).

2. He kept his distance. Only interested for about 10 minutes.

3. He almost fell asleep. Moved to me. Hands on neck and shoulder.
Stood for a long time and absorbed the energy.

4. A lot of licking again and his energy felt more balanced.

6.Today Moe spent much of our time licking my raincoat -first up one
sleeve, across the front and up the other sleeve. He stood right up
close to me. He put his head on my shoulders again and moved his neck and shoulders up close. He just couldn't seem to get close enough to me and ran his muzzle over my face again. I told him I loved him as I left.

8. Not particularly interested today and he seemed a bit spunkier. He
felt almost happy today.

9. He clearly wanted me to have my hands on his neck, and once again pressed his head against my shoulder -first the left, then the right. He would back up and then come to me again. He lowered his head into my hands in such a way that it seemed he wanted me to touch the lower part of his jaw. He then started extending his lower jaw out so his lower teeth were way ahead of his upper. I put both hands right up under his mouth and jaw and he stood very still. Then I noticed that his lower lip was quivering. My heart filled up with emotion (as I am now) and what kept coming was abuse to his mouth by his previous owner. I wanted to weep for him and the suffering that he must have been subjected to. I laid my head against his and told him how sorry I was that he had been abused. We were communing at a deep, deep level.

Truthfully, I don't remember how we ended or that I knew it was enough, but I thanked him for his profound trust in me.

10. He was rather indifferent today. Welcomed me, but didn't seem to
take much energy.

11. It's been 2 weeks since we have seen each other and today was a lovely reunion. Before we began the Reiki I had been stroking his neckand talking quietly to him. Moe moved right into the energy and stoodvery quietly for more than 1/2 hour. I was drawn to his neck and jawagain and spent most of the time with my hands in that vicinity. Hemoved in close today and seemed to want to be touched. There were times when he would move slightly away from my hands and I just kept them in the proximity of his neck and jaw. His lower lip quivered a little bit today again, but not as it had two times ago. I was so touched today by his beautiful spirit. It was absolutely shining today, and I talked to him quietly at the end about how beautiful and
wonderful he is. He just stood quietly and absorbed it. I was once
again filled with a great sense of reverence for his being and how
loving he is. Today again I am struck by the holiness of this communion we are given with animals through Reiki.

I always thank Moe for allowing me to share Reiki with him and offer a
blessing on his behalf and all horses whose stories he may carry. As a wonderful conclusion to this story: since receiving his Reiki
treatments, Moe no longer tries to "unseat" his person!

About the Author: Penny Peterson first completed Reiki in 1986 with Ethel Lombardi. She repeated Reiki I & II in '04 and '05 with Joanne Panarisi of Intrinsic Wisdom. She completed the Animal Reiki Workshop with Kathleen Prasad in April of '07. Her practice is in Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas. You can contact Penny through her Website: reiki4animals.org, or email: penpete@myway.com.