Not all who wander are lost – Part 2

Animals leave …

… because their work with us is done

A cat of mine, Janosch, left one day and moved in with a family somewhere in my neighborhood. When asked why he had left, he said his work with me was done, and he now had work to do with the other family. He was a very powerful cat who, throughout his life with me, had appeared to me in numerous meditations and had been instrumental in helping me get started in my Animal Reiki and Animal Communication work. He had served as a powerful catalyst and teacher for me, and it was extremely hard to lose him, but I knew I had to respect his decision to move on and not search for him to get him back.

Did you ever have an animal companion who you sensed was with you for a particular reason and left when his or her work with you was accomplished? To leave a comment, just click on the blog title. I’m curious to hear about your experience.

Not all who wander are lost – Part 1

Animals leave …

… to have an adventure

I received a call from a person who was very concerned, because her recently adopted, former-feral-now-housecat Sammy had not come home the night before.  When I communicated with Sammy, she showed me where she was, and her person identified the area as the immediate neighborhood. When she asked Sammy to come home, Sammy insisted that, as a former feral cat, she could handle herself outside, that she enjoyed being out by herself, and that she was going to be home “in her own, good time.” Her person then asked me to explain to Sammy that she cared about and was worried about her when she was out after dark, which took Sammy by surprise. It hadn’t occured to her that people could worry. That evening I got a call: Sammy had come home as it was getting dark.*

* All animal stories with names and pictures are used only with the consent of the animal’s person.

A cat of mine, Oliver, also left one day and didn’t come home that night. When I communicated with him, he told me he was fine and just wanted to be on his own for a while. He had been a stray for a long time, and I had learned through our years together just how street-wise he was. However, it wasn’t easy for me to respect his wishes and just leave him alone and not check in with him. Fortunately, about ten days later, he returned home. He looked good and showed me how he had been fed by various people and also had caught a lizard and a garter snake.

Do you have a cat or dog that is the adventurous type? How long was your animal companion gone? Does he or she frequently leave for extended periods? To leave a comment, just click on the blog title. I’d love to hear about your independent, furry friends!   

The animals will teach us

The dog who taught a man to listen

I just finished a gem of a little book by J. Allen Boone called “Kinship with all Life“. First published in 1947, it tells the moving story of the author’s encounter with a remarkable German Shepherd that changed his life. “Strongheart,” a famous Hollywood dog-actor in the 1920s, teaches Boone not only how to communicate with animals, but he introduces the author to the universe itself. Once Boone is able to communicate with Strongheart and explore the meaning of existence through conversations with him and other animals, the author finds himself in the company of a second teacher: a housefly he calls Freddie. Through his relationship with Freddie, the author learns yet another profound lesson about the interrelatedness of all living things in the universe.

What makes this book so very engaging, in my opinion, is that J. Allen Boone is able to tell the story of his relationship with these remarkable animals in a way that allows the reader to experience the fascination and wonder in his discoveries along with him. He writes from his heart and his mind, and the result is a collection of stories that has the power to transform us.  No wonder this little book is still in print and going strong. Read it, and you will never look at animals the same way again.

Do you have a favorite book about animals that expanded your view, changed your thinking, or in some other way moved you? If so, I’d love to hear about it! To leave a comment, just click on the blog title.

Reiki FAQ – Part 2

In this blog, I will address a number of questions regarding learning Reiki for oneself.

Can anyone learn Reiki?

Yes. Reiki is a healing system that can be learned by anyone. There are no prerequisites. A lot of people learn Reiki to help themselves, family and friends, as well as their pets. Others, such as doctors, veterinarians, nurses, human and animal massage therapists, etc. learn Reiki to use as an adjunct in their professional practice.

Is Reiki just for people and animals?

No. Reiki energy can be used for just about anything. In addition to helping people and animals, Reiki can be used to help every living thing. As it helps restore energetic balance, it can be used for plants, water, the earth, etc.

I see there are different Reiki systems?

Yes, there are a number of Reiki healing systems available, these days. While the term Reiki became synonimous in the Western world with the healing system developed by the Japanese Mikao Usui,  it is a  Japanese term that refers to universal energy-based healing systems in general. Mikao Usui’s Reiki system or Usui Reiki can be split into two branches: Usui Shiki Ryoho, adapted to suit Western society after its import into the United States in the 1930s and Usui Reiki Ryoho, which teaches Reiki from the Japanese perspective. At Fauna Wellness, Usui Reiki classes are taught from a Western perspective but include additional information regarding traditional Japanese practices. For an explanation of other Reiki healing systems and their origins, see the world-wide-web!  

I want to learn Reiki – what do I do?

After you have decided which Reiki system feels right for you, you can search for classes in your area via the internet. You may want to call or meet with individual instructors,  to ask them about their qualifications, experience, course fees, and what you can expect from their classes, so that you can decide whether you feel comfortable studying with that person.