My husband made himself a lox and purple onion sandwich for a treat. He only left it alone for a few moments to get a cup of coffee when our furry baby Kiki ate it probably in one bit and swallow. Kiki has eaten things he ought not to eat many times during the past 8 years. Onions can be extremely toxic and even fatal for our furry ones. I did some research and gave him a few supplements; if he had been more symptomatic I would have taken him immediately to the Vet. Instead I gave him lots of Reiki which he fully accepted. I also asked my husband to give him additional Reiki treatments while I was away from the house for the next few hours. The end of this episode is that he is well and being as mischievous as ever. What would I ever have done without Reiki in our home and family!!!
Reiki During a Pandemic: How to Adapt your Practice and Grow it
When the Pandemic first began to unfold, many of us had no idea how we would continue to offer Reiki sessions or classes. I Meditated on it, prayed, and sent Reiki to it. As Mrs. Takata might say: I let Reiki teach me. Spirit then directed me to write an article to both encourage and hopefully inspire others during this prolonged challenge to our country and world. My article ‘Reiki during a Pandemic’ was published in the Fall 2020 edition of Reiki News Magazine. Please feel free to contact me at Marsha@DesertReikiConnection.comReikiDuringPandemic with any questions or comments.
With blessings; Namaste- stay well and resilient
What to do in the face of acts of Violence
We recently experienced still more mass shootings and loss of life, hopes and dreams. Besides remembering to give yourself, another Reiki colleague, friend or family a Reiki session, you can send Reiki to ‘support all those impacted by the shootings/acts of violence’. We may think of the victim, his or her family members, the survivors, the first responders…but so many more of us may be impacted in ways that we can’t imagine. Even yesterday when I was meeting with a friend and giving her some Reiki, I asked about how her husband who was a former police officer was coping; she said that he couldn’t even talk about it. Folks are hurting deeply and needing the comfort and healing from Reiki. As Reiki practitioners this is something that we can do.
Reiki and Mother’s Day
My 6 top recommendations for Mother’s Day:
- If you are Reiki trained and a ‘Mother’ (even to a 4 legged furry baby), do some extra Reiki on yourself including your heart chakra to celebrate yourself on this Mother’s Day
- If your Mom is still alive and geographically close by, do some Reiki on her as a gift of gratitude for her giving you life
- If your Mom lives a distance away or has passed, consider sending her some Reiki and bring Mindfulness to how it feels to connect using the loving energy of Reiki
- Consider offering Reiki to a Mother who may be a neighbor or even a person in a Nursing Home who does not have any of her children nearby
- Send Reiki to your relationship with your Mother…your Grandmother…Great grandmother who are all part of your precious lineage as a woman
- Gift your Mother (or special Mother you know and love) with a certificate for a Reiki session or Reiki class with a RMT– Bonus recommendation from one of my students: have a little fun today!
Persistence and Resilience
Since I have only been volunteering at PACC for less than 6 months, I am still learning so much; just like teaching a Reiki class or giving a Reiki session to human clients, one needs to be Mindful about what is unique in each situation.
This week I was saddened to see or learn about a few older dogs whom had been adopted out during the holiday season and returned; it hurt my heart for these precious lives to have found hope and a new home..only to be disappointed and returned. Perhaps the cat didn’t get along with the new dog…or there were questions about how this new member of the family would do with the children. I remember back to my own experience after adopting Kiki 6+ years ago; he was difficult in many ways especially when he ate thru 3 couches, some curtains, part of a wooden rocking chair leg, mail, etc. He was also very reactive to all the rabbits in our neighborhood and would stand up on his hind legs whenever he saw a rabbit! Despite all of this, he was ours and there was no question about returning him; we were family and needed to learn how to best work with his behaviors…helping him to be the best Kiki Drozdoff possible! He no longer reacts to rabbits nor eats furniture! He does occasionally take a piece of mail as a joke…and definitely thinks that he is the neighborhood protector from coyotes.
We have so many precious dogs at PACC who deserve a loving home and will definitely enrich your lives. Be persistent with your love, positive expectations and reinforcement; be resilient and unless there are dire circumstances, don’t give up!
Don’t be Deceived by those Eyes!
When I go to PACC each week, there are so many wonderful dogs competing for my attention; each one tries to express it’s individuality whether by barking, sitting for me, using non verbal communication…including ‘those eyes’. I am usually excellent at assessing which dog might benefit and welcome me for some massage, Reiki and hopefully good company.
Last week my heart responded to ‘those eyes’ that were sad, inviting and hopeful. I had read on the board that this dog could be a bit ‘shy’ (which is often my favorite to work with)…and might pull getting back into the kennel. I decided to take this big girl out to a play area and I could see that her main focus was on how to escape if the opportunity presented itself; after a little time together I decided that she wasn’t getting that much benefit and decided to take her back to her kennel. Getting her in wasn’t bad but when I tried to exit, she pushed past me and was soon running throughout the pods as if she was in a marathon. I kept running after her…and she kept running away from me. Other dogs were barking and there wasn’t anyone to initially assist me. Finally I trapped her by a gate…and asked a young man to accompany us back to her kennel.
So…what did I learn???? don’t get taken by those eyes! wear a whistle! be mindful of these animals who are new at PACC and may be having adjustment issues. After all this excitement, I was ready to hold, love and Reiki some 2 month old heeler pups!
‘Hierarchy of Needs’ and Reiki
Many of us may remember studying Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Yesterday at PACC where I volunteer, I was reflecting on that as I worked with one dog who wanted lots of affection (kisses, Reiki, massage and hugs) and another whom had apparently been so deprived of sufficient nutrition, that he just wanted me to keep feeding him treats/biscuits.
If we are Reiki trained and working on someone else, what is their hierarchy of needs? Is it to feel safe? emotionally comforted? physically soothed? or a variety of other needs? As always, take a thorough intake with your client about their intention for the session as well as any history of trauma and loss. Quiet your own mind and be the channel for healing energy, light and wisdom to flow thru you
. And…as Mrs. Takata would say: ‘let your hands teach you’!
Random Acts of Kindness
Today at PACC someone offered me a ‘random act of kindness’. I was working with a small dog in his kennel doing Reiki and massage (also supporting healing over an area that had staples from a surgery)…and a staff person by accident locked me in after putting in food for this dog. From the inside, I could not exit and no one was around. I was all ready to leave for the day…and kept shouting ‘hello!!!!’ while trying not to disturb all the dogs in that area. No one responded and many staff wear ear plugs so it felt as tho’ I was shouting in a vacuum. Finally another volunteer found me and let me out. I gave her a Ben’s Bells certificate of Kindness when I got back to the office.
Of course the question is, how do we respond to others with random acts of kindness. With our ‘Reiki eyes’, do we send strangers positive messages of caring and support? Do we respond to a stranger in need and when appropriate offer to give some Reiki if desired? Bring Mindfulness to your day and you will begin to recognize all the opportunities to offer these delicious acts of kindness that help to shape our world into a more
compassionate place.
Reflections from a ‘Dog Whisperer’ RMT
As you may know from prior posts, I have been volunteering at PACC weekly doing Reiki and Massage (and walking the dogs) whenever I am in town; after being away from PACC for nearly a month due to a fabulous trip to Indonesia/Bali, I was very excited to get back to these precious dogs of all sizes, breeds and time in the shelter while awaiting hopefully adoption by their forever families. When it started to rain and lightening, I decided that it was time to get inside and focus on Reiki and massage instead of giving a few additional dogs their morning walk (and a little massage if open to it). Since many of the dogs in the Pod were above the level that I am presently eligible to go directly into their kennel, I again took a pillow and chose whichever dog was calling for more TLC (or had notations stating that he/she might be shy or very scared or stressed). Sitting across from a 1 1/2 y.o. who had only been there for a month who would barely make contact with me and sat in the back of her kettle, I began sending Reiki thru my hands, eyes and heart while chanting the Karuna symbols Zona Krya Halu Harth; she slowly would peep out at me until she felt safe enough to eat a biscuit and later allow me to touch her thru the cage. I later worked individually with another 5 dogs or so…but wanted to reach them all so I chanted loud enough allowing the positive vibrations to bring healing to each. It was an exquisite day for me…and hopefully for them too. For any ART or RMT students who want to work with animals, this is another reason to take your Karuna training!
Doing a Distant Session from a Close Proximity
Every week that I volunteer at PACC, there is some new wonderful lesson or experience to share. I asked my Volunteer coordinator to confirm that it was okay for me to go into a kennel with a dog whose color rating was a ‘blue’ instead of a ‘green’ that I am eligible to work with. One dog in particular had been referred by other volunteers as a special needs girl who would benefit from extra massage/Reiki and TLC. I was told that due to liability issues, I could not yet work directly with blue or orange graded dogs in their kennels but instead could get a pillow and sit outside the kennels sending Reiki to them. I of course made my initial contact thru my heart and eyes and soon added on my voice telling her/him that I loved them. I sat perhaps for 15 minutes each time directing Reiki with my hands thru each kennel cage. I added on some Karuna chanting, Metta and even a little Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. One little gal relaxed so much that she began to eat her breakfast and to drink some water. I was tickled to learn that she was adopted a day or two later…and was so glad to be part of her healing. In terms of humans, sometimes one can be in the room with another human and it is best to send Reiki; to give an example, years ago a precious older Reiki group member and client had her husband in ICU for 4 months. She tried to work on him with hands on but would get very fatigued standing on her feet; I encouraged her to sit near his bed and send Reiki to him. By being mindful of the special circumstances, she respected her own needs as well as honoring his.
