About Animal Reiki
Hi, I'm Kathleen Prasad and have been practicing Animal Reiki for over 28 years. I've worked with thousands of animals (especially shelter animals who are usually very stressed and traumatized) and have developed my own method of Animal Reiki—the Let Animals Lead® Method—AND I've taught thousands of people Animal Reiki all over the world!
This page explains a lot of common questions I get about Reiki, Animal Reiki, in general, and also explains why my Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki is so completely different (and so much more powerful, IMHO) than other methods of Animal Reiki and animal energy work that I've been around.
Click on the pdf below to see the timeline of how Animal Reiki & the Let Animals Lead® method evolved from a human-based method to a completely animal-centric approach!
Your Animal Reiki Questions, Answered
What is Animal Reiki?
Animal Reiki is a meditative practice of calm, healing presence where animals are free to guide the interaction and connect in their own way.
Reiki comes from the Japanese words Rei, meaning spirit and Ki, meaning energy, so really, it translates to spiritual energy or (as some like to think of it) universal life-force energy.
A lesser-used definition of the word Reiki that I’ve come to really appreciate is Soul Power.
For me, this really speaks to the innate healing power that comes from the essence of our being—a power that cannot only heal us, but is also capable of healing others, including animals.
Reiki is not just a word to describe our inner healing light, it is also a spiritual healing practice created by Mikao Usui in Japan 100 years ago and, when it’s used properly, many animal lovers have noticed that animals are drawn to the peaceful, calming energy that Reiki creates.
And so, Animal Reiki, to put it very simply, is an energetic way to connect with animals (from that innate place of healing within us) that allows them to relax and feel safe enough for their bodies and minds to begin healing from within.
Meditation first. Animal agency always. No forcing touch, no ‘beaming’—we invite and let animals lead.
Animal Reiki methods come in many forms and, TBH, most of them involve humans putting their hands close to or on animals and beaming or sending healing energy at them. For many reasons, using this type of approach with animals can come across to them as intimidating, forceful, and—especially in anxious and distressed animals—actually MORE detrimental to their well-being.
And, in over 25 years of working with animals and Reiki, there is a definite negative pattern when we try to force anything, including healing, on animals. In these cases, their extreme sensitivity to energy works against us and they often end up worse off, despite our well-intentioned efforts.
With my Let Animals Lead® method, we put all healing power in the paws of the animal. We never use hands unless we receive an invitation to do so through body language. We never send or beam any kind of energy at animals, even the receptive ones. And we promote animal agency in all things—it is at the core of the LAL® Code of Ethics.
Instead, we cultivate a calm, peaceful, and inviting Reiki space of healing WITHIN ourselves and we give the animals the choice to join us. And, when they choose to step into that calm, healing space, their bodies and minds finally have the ability to help them heal.
Not only can the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki help domestic animals—pets, rescues, and shelter animals—but it can also help wild animals.
Because we abide by the golden rule of hands off and the method is completely meditation based, we can cultivate a Reiki mindset and offer a peaceful, healing space to ALL animals without ever having to touch them or even be near them.
This outside the box approach to Animal Reiki creates incredibly strong energetic trust bonds between humans and the animals we are trying to help. It allows them animals to relax in our presence (or within the presence of our energy, even when we are distant) and let down their guard and wariness. And, when an animal is able to fully relax in the space of healing energy, their body and mind are able to facilitate the healing process.
With the LAL® method, we create the healing space within ourselves and all around us and the animals choose to use that healing space to help themselves find peace, calm, and whatever kind of healing they need.
It may seem a little bit like woo woo magic at first, but once you witness it in action for the first time and you see a sick or injured or distressed animal fall into a peaceful sleep and wake up a different animal, it all makes perfect sense!
Reiki healing in animals doesn't always look like we would expect it to.
We humans usually think of healing as "getting better" from a sickness or an injury or something that has caused us mental or physical distress. Healing to many humans usually looks like a progression back toward good health and vibrancy.
Reiki healing for animals doesn't always look like an animal getting better and it's not always outwardly obvious that things are well. But if you learn how to pay attention to the nuances of animal behaviour, you'll see the healing that Reiki brings.
Sometimes Animal Reiki healing looks like something as simple as an animal visibly relaxing for a few minutes after spending days or weeks or months being tense and anxious and unable to settle or sit still in a shelter environment.
Sometimes Animal Reiki healing looks like an injury "miraculously" mending in only a few days after months of no progress.
Sometimes Animal Reiki healing looks like an old coyote curling up in the sun on my lawn while I meditate on my deck.
The Let Animals Lead® Approach
The approach is key when working with animals and Reiki. Animals appreciate being given control of the session and a choice in whether or not they participate: ie. being allowed to say “yes” or “no” to the session, as well as determining the way the session will unfold.
Although when she first learned Reiki, Kathleen tried adapting the human-led Reiki approach to animals (which was the only method taught at the time in the 1990s), she found limited success, often having sensitive or traumatized animals reject the session because of the nature of human Reiki being so "hands on".
Over the past 25 years, and with the help of many species of animal teachers with a myriad of backgrounds, health issues and sensitivities, she has created a groundbreaking method of animal-guided healing through meditation, not hands!
Here are just a few basics to guide you to Let Animals Lead® Reiki success:
Intent: Always begin by asking permission of the animal directly OR by setting an open intention.
Touch: Always allow the animal to be the one to initiate physical contact (including where you should touch, if at all).
Movement: Allow the animal to move freely in and out of the session space.
Focus: Animals appreciate a passive and open state of mind from you. Do not “beam” or “send” energy to the animal or to a specific health issue. Relax your mind and focus on your meditative practice, rather than on what needs to be “fixed.”
Body Language: In this same vein, your body language should match this passive intention: in other words, don’t initiate and hold eye contact, don’t make yourself “big” and dominant in your body position. For example, try to stay on the same physical level with the animal and remain in a non-threatening pose -ideally, don’t stand up over a small animal on ground level or have your hands up and palms facing out like a predator about to pounce.
Release Expectations: Let go of your expectations about how an animal should behave during the session (they usually do not behave like humans, lying down motionless for 60 minutes). The typical session consists of an ebb and flow of hands-on/short distance Reiki as well as short periods of movement and relaxation. Also, let go of your expectations about what healing result the animal should manifest.
Gratitude: After you finish the session, always thank the animal for participation in the session (however it unfolded was perfect).
The 6 Pillars of the
Let Animals Lead® Method
The version we learn in Level 1 Practice
The Reiki Precepts are one of the three foundations of the Let Animals Lead method. The six pillars of the Let Animals Lead method, and the Animal Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics are the other two. The Reiki Precepts are one of the original Japanese practices left to us by Reiki's founder, Mikao Usui.
The Reiki Precepts are guides for living and one of the main components of the system of Reiki. Mikao Usui, the founder of the system, taught them as a way to attain "the secret technique of inviting happiness, the spiritual medicine for all illnesses." With these words, he indicated that happiness is the path to an enlightened state of being.
The Precepts are not only the foundation for seal-healing in the system of Reiki, but also can be found as the basis of all other teachings in the system. It is a powerful practice to simply sit in contemplation of one of the Precepts, or to explore the interrelation of the Precepts to each other or to other elements of the system of Reiki.
There are many versions of the Reiki Precepts in existence today. The version focused on in Level 1 of the Let Animals Lead method is as follows:
Do not anger
Do not worry
Be humble
Be honest in your work
Be compassionate to yourself and others
Developed by Kathleen Prasad
Guiding Principles
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I believe the animals are equal partners in the healing process.
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I honor the animals as being not only my clients, but also my teachers in the journey of healing.
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I understand that all animals have physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects, to which Animal Reiki can bring profound healing responses.
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I believe that bringing Animal Reiki to the human/animal relationship is transformational to the human view of the animal kingdom.
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I dedicate myself to the virtues of humility, integrity,k compassion and gratitude in my Animal Reiki practice.
In working on myself I follow these practices:
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I incorporate the Five Reiki Precepts into my daily life and Animal Reiki practice.
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I commit myself to a daily practice of self-healing and spiritual development so that I can hold a clear and strong space for healing energy.
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I nurture a belief in the sacred nature of all beings, and in the value and depth of animalkind as our partners on this planet.
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I listen to the wisdom of my heart, remembering that we are all One.
In working with the animals, I follow these guidelines:
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I work in partnership with the animal.
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I always ask permission of the animal before beginning, and respect his or her decision to accept or refuse my session. I listen intuitively and observe the animal's body language in determining the response.
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I allow each animal to choose how to connect for his or her session; thus, each session could be a combination of physical touch, short distance and/or distance healing, depending on the animal's preference.
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I let go of my expectation about how the session should progress and/or how the animal should behave during the treatment, and simply trust the process.
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I accept the results of the session without judgment and with gratitude toward Animal Reiki and the animals' openness and participation in the process.
In working with the human comanions of the animal, I will:
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Share information before the session about my healing philosophy, the Animal Reiki method I use and what to expect in a typical session, as well as possible outcomes, including the possibility of healing reactions.
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Provide a clear policy ahead of time regarding fees, length of session and cancellation policy, as well as "postponment" policy, should the animal not want to participate that day.
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Honor the privacy of animals and their human companions.
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Share intuition received during Animal Reiki sessions, with compassion and humility, only when necessary for the purpose of supporting an understanding of the healing process.
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Respect the human companion's right to choose the animal's healing journey, selecting the methods, both holistic and/or conventional, that he or she deems most appropriate, with the support and advice of a trusted veterinarion.
In working in the community, I hold the following goals:
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I model the values of partnership, compassion, humility, gentleness and gratitude in my life and with the animals, teaching by example.
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I work to create professional alliances and cooperative relationships with other Reiki practitioners/teachers, animal health-care providers and animal welfare organizations in my community.
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I strive to educate my community in its understanding of the benefits of Reiki for animals.
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I continuously educate myself to maintain and enhance my professional competence so that I uphold the integrity of the profession.
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I consider myself an ally to the veterinary and animal health community. I work to support their efforts in achieving animal welfare and balance. I honor other disciplines and their practitioners.
