Finding Calm in Uncertain Times

Teachings from Animal Reiki: Trusting in the Unknown

Animal Reiki has been particularly transformative for my spiritual path. Since animals don't communicate through words, we must develop new ways of sensing energy through feelings and intuition. This practice naturally enhances our spiritual awareness.

I'd like to share two remarkable experiences that transformed my understanding of Reiki's potential and brought me calm during uncertain times.

Finding Kimbra: A Journey of Trust

When I moved to Eugene, Oregon, my cat Kimbra escaped from our apartment and got lost. I lived near a river path, and I spent days looking for her. I walked with her favorite toy, a squirrel tail with a rattle, calling her name. After more than a week, many people suggested I give up, but something within me refused.

"I invited Reiki. I know she's out there. I know she wants me to find her, and I'm going to find her," I told myself each day.

Eight days later, through what can only be described as divine synchronicity, a woman contacted me through a random Craigslist ad I had posted. She had found Kimbra in a Whole Foods parking lot—far from our home, across a busy highway. When I retrieved her, Kimbra was barely alive with a broken jaw and a leg so badly injured that the vet recommended amputation.

In that moment of crisis, I took a deep breath and invited Reiki fully. I remembered Colleen's advice: "Don't have urgency. Just take a moment, invite Reiki, and just believe."

What happened next was nothing short of miraculous. With medical care and daily Reiki sessions, Kimbra's leg healed completely; no amputation was needed! Her jaw recovered, and though she now eats wet food, she's thriving. This experience became a profound spiritual awakening for me, a reminder that just because we don't understand how healing happens doesn't mean it isn't real.

I learned not to give in to the worry or despair but to invite Reiki, even when I don’t understand how things could possibly improve.

Grayson's Unexpected Healing

My other cat, Grayson, suffered from a mysterious bladder condition that caused him extreme distress. After a month of watching him suffer, with numerous unsuccessful vet visits, I made the heartbreaking decision to have him euthanized.

On that fateful day, my daughter Tatem (also a Reiki practitioner) and I took him to our vet. I turned on Reiki music and began offering energy with complete surrender, thinking, "Give it away. It's not up to me."

When I opened his carrier door—remember, he had barely been walking—Grayson leaped out, jumped onto the floor, began grooming himself, and then hopped onto the windowsill to bask in the sunshine. The vet tech was astonished, thinking I was terrible for bringing in a seemingly healthy cat for euthanasia.

The bewildered veterinarian said, "I don't know what I'm seeing right now, and I don't want to know. But here's a side door. Go on out, take your cat, have a nice weekend, and let me know what happens." Grayson has been fine ever since.

Discovering the Magic of Horse Reiki

My spiritual awakening through Reiki continued to expand when I took Animal Reiki classes with Colleen, Robyn, and Sioux  in 2020. Though I had limited experience with horses, I found myself working with them almost immediately after completing the training.

One memorable session involved a rescue horse who wouldn't allow anyone but his caregiver to touch him. After receiving Reiki from a respectful distance, this horse permitted the farrier to handle his hooves the very next day. It was a breakthrough, which his caretakers considered remarkable!

Another profound experience came while offering Reiki to a blind horse who was struggling to navigate his environment and connect with the other horses. The empathy that surfaced during this session was overwhelming, but the horse readily accepted the Reiki energy. His caregiver later reported significant improvement in his adjustment.

Follow the Path Even When You Can't See the Full Picture

My Reiki journey began unexpectedly in a crystal shop in Sedona, where I first heard the word "Reiki" and felt an inexplicable emotional response. A year later, I took classes with Colleen in Portland and began volunteering at cancer clinics—the same type of facility where my mother had received treatment before her passing.

Looking back over 19 years of practice, I could never have imagined where this path would lead. The synchronicities continue to unfold in ways that remind me of Reiki's gentle yet profound guidance.

When we embrace Reiki as a spiritual practice, we learn to trust the process even when we don't have all the answers. We discover that sometimes the most profound healings happen when we simply surrender to the energy and allow it to work through us.

As you continue your own Reiki journey, remember that spiritual awakening isn't about having all the answers—it's about trusting the process enough to follow where it leads. You don't need to be perfect. You don't need to understand everything. You simply need to show up, invite the energy, and remain open to the miracles that unfold.

Whether you're drawn to working with animals or deepening your personal practice, each step along the Reiki path offers new opportunities for spiritual awakening. Trust that you're exactly where you need to be, and the next step will reveal itself when you're ready.

Remember, the most beautiful aspect of Reiki is that you don't need to have all the answers. You just need to trust the process and allow the energy to guide you home to yourself.