“Learning to be present with an open heart for others is the best way to help them heal.”
— Kathleen Prasad
I’ve been away for a little bit, taking some time to reflect on my Reiki practice and how it has grown over the years. There has been a lot of clarity that showed up as I took a little vacation with my parents and visited Victoria, BC, for a week. It is one of my favourite places to go to when I am being called to step back and slow down. As I was sitting among trees, listening to the birds and breathing in the late summer air, I remembered something that happened a few weeks back. I was feeling a bit out of balance, doing too much and worrying about a lot of things going on in my life. Two beautiful and bright souls reminded me to reconnect with joy and be present.
I have two miniature dachshunds named Ariel and Luna. They are always around me and even participate in my Reiki sessions at times. On that day, they could feel that I was feeling down and not my usual self. Both of them started ringing the bell that hangs on the door, which usually indicates they need to go outside. But this time I felt their urgency was different. So, I got off the couch where I was sitting and opened the door. They ran out so fast and started playing in the yard. I followed them and decided to just get some fresh air.
As I looked around, both Luna and Ariel stopped near me and started playing again. Their funny antics made me smile and realize that all my worry was just a distraction from experiencing the day that was unfolding. It was keeping me from the joy that I feel when I look around me and take in all the magical things that Mother Nature has to show me. As soon as I started letting go, birds showed up as they always do. They sat in the trees in the backyard and shared their melodic songs and chirps with me. I laughed as Ariel ran by me and thanked her and Luna for showing me how much wisdom they hold. They have so much to show me each day, and all I have to do is pay attention.
I didn’t make myself wrong for feeling what I was feeling that day. With the help of my dogs and birds, I saw that I could choose to step back and see from a different perspective. I can choose to step away from fear and into love. That shift can happen in just mere seconds; that is all it takes.
In the 5 years that I’ve been practicing Reiki personally and professionally, I have come to see how much animals teach us when it comes to energy. They don’t beat around the bush or pretend. They show us exactly what is there for us to see. There is this incredible grace that animals have. And here is what they have taught me so far on the journey of energy healing.
Find Joy in Everyday Moments
At times, we as humans can get caught up in our to-do lists, overworking and trying to get ahead. It’s not by any fault of our own. Modern society is the perfect example of that; when constantly pushing forward at any cost is rewarded and slowing down is seen as a form of laziness. In the animal kingdom, rest and listening to what we need is seen as something natural and sacred. It reminds us to connect back with ourselves and helps us see where we need to draw boundaries.
Don’t Take Everything So Seriously
Do you recall the last time you laughed at yourself? Life is supposed to be filled with laughter and silly moments. My dogs are the perfect example of that. Their hilarious antics remind me that it doesn’t matter if my social media posts will get likes or how many clients I will have the next day. There is always a moment to step out of everyday life worries that are not as serious as your mind perceives them to be.
Live in the Present
This moment right now is where everything is happening. Not in the past or the future. There is so much here for us to see and be grateful for. Sitting outside with my morning tea, watching my dogs play and listening to the birds, is a way for me to connect to what is here for me.
You Don’t Need to Be Perfect
This one is something I’ve struggled with at times but have slowly let go of with the help of all animals that have been present in my life. They have shown me that their unconditional love does not depend on a certain factor; for example, they don’t care if I am in my PJs all day and not looking presentable. They have shown me that in my Reiki practice, each session or class will not look the same, and that is totally okay. I do not need to strive for perfection, for it is an illusion that can make us hyper-fixate on standards that only our ego has created.
Co-Creation and Collaboration Over Comparison and Competition
You are uniquely you, and there is no body else like you in the Universe. Don’t compare someone else’s gifts and talents to your own. We all have a set of skills that are different from any others. The Divine expresses through us in so many different ways. It doesn’t matter if someone has a better website, prices or offerings than you. There is so much that you have to offer to the world. Competition is just our ego wanting us to get validation and see ourselves as separate from one another. When we co- create and collaborate, it opens so many possibilities and heart-centered connections. Nature shows us how everything is connected and intertwined. When it comes to Reiki, I truly believe that the Universal energy flows through me. I just guide it where it needs to go. I am in partnership with this incredible energy and the Divine/Spirit. That is who does all the work, and I have deep trust in that.
There is still so much for me to learn from animals, and I always have an open mind to what they have to share with me next. They always guide my animal healing sessions. Luna loves to sit next to me when I am doing Reiki on myself or someone else. She helps me see where I need to let go more and trust in what is unfolding. Animals are my guides and teachers. You don’t have to do anything special to connect with them. Get grounded, center yourself, sit quietly and let them show you the world through their eyes.
