Attuning Animals to Reiki

Animals understand Reiki energy because they are in touch with the Universe at a different level. Their minds are tuned into frequencies of which we have limited comprehension. Our feline and canine companions have an incredible intuitive instinct. This instinct is commonly known as a sixth sense or extra sensory perception (ESP). Reiki Master and author Diane Stein explains that, “Cats are particularly aware of Reiki energy, but they have an attitude about it. They feel that cats invented it…dogs are more laid back; Reiki energy tickles them”.

There are many stories of animals acting as assistants to Reiki practitioners. My feline companion, Matisse, would often intuitively lie on clients exactly where the energy was needed. She was so eager to participate that I attuned her to level 1 and level 2 Reiki. Matisse made her transition into the spirit realm this year, but I feel her presence whenever I see clients or teach classes.

Here are some ideas for Reiki teachers who would like to attune their companion animals to Reiki.

Asking Permission

Spend some time in meditation to connect with the animal. Explain the attunement process and that they will be able to send more healing energy through their paws, eyes and heart chakra.

Pictures are a good way to transmit thoughts, as it is believed that animals primarily think in pictures combined with other senses such as smell or sound. This telepathic ability exists because the mind is ‘non-local’ and exists both inside and outside the body. Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist who has studied this phenomenon, has anecdotal evidence, which demonstrates a strong emotional connection between animals and people that is transferred across time and space.

It is important to get a yes or no response or a positive feeling in your heart about whether to proceed.

This is a wonderful exercise, called Colour Transmission that I teach to students so they can gain confidence with telepathic communication. Telepathy is like a muscle, so this exercise may need to be repeated to get stronger.

Thoughts are just energy, which can be sent and received! Concentrate on your breath to calm your thoughts. Pick a colour and concentrate on that colour for 3-4 minutes and then see if your partner can identify the right colour. Focus on the area between your eyebrows (the third eye). Imagine sending the colour from this region to your partner’s third eye chakra.

Telepathy can take different forms. People may receive emotions, impressions, thoughts, words, pictures or sensory messages (smell or taste). Is the colour associated with something? If you selected blue it might be the ocean. Taste the salt of the seawater on your tongue or hear the sound of the waves. Imagine the sky. Experience the coolness of green by thinking of a rainforest or the smell of freshly mown grass. Is there an emotion associated with the colour? Red may indicate passion or love.

Selecting the Right Time

Animals have a natural routine or body clock which is helpful to know before proceeding with any attunement. For example, the standard daily schedule for a cat is to hunt, eat, wash and sleep. This can be repeated several times throughout the day. Therefore, choose a time when your animal friend is resting.

Tips for the Attunement

Place your companion animal on a massage table in a sidelying position which allows a comfortable height and for front/back access around the animal. I open up the initiation from behind. I call in my Reiki guides, spirit animal guides and St Francis of Assisi to help with the ritual.

I ask that the right amount of opening and fine tuning for the chakas is given for the animal and I ask that the animal’s Higher Self (the part of the animal connected to Source) also helps with this process.

When I draw the symbols into the crown, I do so in the aura, as some animals may be sensitive when the head is touched. Then I move around to the front, to open the third eye, heart and front paws, which is the equivalent of human hands. As sometimes paws can be sensitive to touch, it can be best to work in the aura.

Some attunements may take a couple of minutes, some may last much longer. Let the animal lead the way. If they want to stop the attunement, respect their wishes.

Spacing the Attunements

If you use four attunements, you can space these over the course of a day or alternatively do two attunements and the last two on the following day. It is also possible just to do the first attunement, so the animal recieves what is known as a Heart Attunement, which temporarily allows for the animal to gift Reiki.

Article by Jackie Segers

Free eBook download: We’ve created an eBook with our best articles on this topic, and offer it for free to all our newsletter subscribers.

Jackie Segers is a Reiki Master and certified reflexologist who lives in
Auckland, New Zealand. Jackie is the author of “Reflexology for Cats- and other natural therapies for your feline companion” and “Reflexology for Dogs- and other natural therapies for your canine companions”. The books also include chapters on Reiki, acupressure, craniosacral therapy, Bach flowers and holistic pulsing. Jackie can be reached at – jackiesegers.com.