Animals and Reiki have gone together for as long as people have practiced it. Many people give Reiki to their own animals at home. Some animal shelters and sanctuaries welcome Reiki volunteers.
I offer distance Reiki for animals, too. Here’s how it works, and how your animal stays in charge of it.
Can you send Reiki to an animal from a distance?
Yes. Distance Reiki for an animal works the same way it does for a person. I’m in one place, your animal is in another, and I send Reiki to them for twenty minutes.
Distance can actually suit animals well. There’s no stranger walking into their home and no hands reaching toward them. They can rest, wander, eat, or nap. Nothing is asked of them.
My teacher often starts animal sessions with distance Reiki, even when she’s in the same room. It gives the animal space to decide.
How does an animal give consent?
This is the part I care about most.
With people, I only send Reiki to someone who asked for it. Animals can’t book a session, so consent comes in two parts.
First, you say yes, as their caregiver
You need to be the animal’s caregiver: the person who lives with them and looks after them, or someone who has that person’s permission. I won’t send Reiki to an animal whose caregiver hasn’t asked for it, like a neighbor’s dog or an animal you saw online.
Then, your animal gets a say
When I begin, I quietly offer Reiki to your animal and let them choose whether to receive it. I don’t push it, and I don’t try to make them settle. If they don’t want it, that’s their answer, and it’s a good one.
Because I’m not in the room, you’re my eyes. If you can, spend a few minutes with your animal during the session and notice how they respond. You don’t need to hold them, call them over, or keep them still. Just let them be.
What should I look for during the session?
Every animal is different, and you know yours best. Here are some things caregivers often notice.
Signs your animal may be welcoming it
- lying down, stretching out, or settling in one spot;
- softer eyes, slow blinks, or eyes closing;
- a deep sigh, or slower breathing;
- falling asleep;
- coming closer to you, or leaning in;
- turning a hip, a shoulder, or their back toward you.
Signs your animal may not want it right now
- getting up and leaving again and again;
- pacing, or not being able to settle;
- a tense body, flattened ears, or a tucked tail;
- whining, growling, hissing, or other signs of stress that you recognize in them.
What if they move around?
Moving doesn’t always mean no. Animals often shift, get up, wander, or change spots during Reiki, and then settle again. My teacher says animals move around a lot during sessions, and that it’s normal.
What matters is how they seem overall. If your animal seems upset, or can’t settle at all, text me “stop.” I’ll stop right away. No reason needed. You can always try another day.
What if I don’t notice anything?
That’s okay too. Some animals don’t show much. Some are asleep the whole time. Some go about their day as usual. There isn’t a way to do it wrong.
How does a session work?
It’s very close to a session for a person.
- You book a time and answer a few short questions about your animal. You can share their name, what kind of animal they are, and a few words about what’s going on for them. You’re welcome to send a photo, but you don’t have to.
- I text you when I begin, so you know the session has started.
- I send Reiki for twenty minutes. I write your animal’s name on a small piece of paper, set it beside me, and light a twenty-minute candle to keep time.
- You let your animal be. Watch if you can. Text “stop” at any point if they seem unsettled.
- I text you when I’m done, with a short note about what I noticed, in plain words. I won’t tell you what anything means, or what’s going on with your animal’s health.
If you’d like, I can also send Reiki to you and your animal together. Sometimes what’s going on for an animal is also going on for their people: a move, a loss, a new baby, a hard season. In that case, you’re both saying yes.
What can a session focus on?
You can share a few words, or nothing at all. Some caregivers book a session when their animal is:
- going through a change, like a move, a new family member, or a loss in the household;
- going through a hard or busy stretch;
- getting older, or near the end of their life;
- home after a vet visit;
- or simply because they’d like to offer their animal some quiet care.
Is Reiki a replacement for veterinary care?
No. Reiki is a gentle relaxation practice. It isn’t veterinary care, and it doesn’t replace it. I don’t diagnose, treat, or give advice about your animal’s health, food, supplements, or medication.
Please keep up your animal’s care with your vet. If your animal is sick, hurt, or in distress, contact your vet or an emergency animal hospital first.
Do you need special training to give animals Reiki?
You don’t need a separate certification. People have shared Usui Reiki with animals for a long time, and my teacher includes an introduction to animal Reiki in her classes.
To be clear about my own training: I’m a Level 2 Usui Reiki practitioner. I learned the basics of working with animals from my teacher, Deborah Dixon of Subtle Wellness. I haven’t taken a separate animal Reiki course.
Common questions
What animals can you send Reiki to? Any animal in your care: dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, reptiles, farm animals, and anyone else you look after.
Do I need to be with my animal during the session? It helps, so you can see how they respond and text “stop” if needed. But you don’t need to hold them or keep them still.
What if my animal is asleep? That’s fine. Many animals sleep during Reiki.
Can you send Reiki to an animal that isn’t mine? Only if their caregiver asks for it. I don’t send Reiki to animals without their caregiver’s yes.
Can I watch my animal’s candle? If you’d like a video of the candle, I’ll send you a private link after the session. It stays up for 30 days and is only for you.
What if my animal is in pain or very sick? Please contact your vet first. Reiki can sit alongside veterinary care, but it can’t stand in for it.