Yet, cats are also well known for their independent nature. They do things on their own terms and do not like to be coerced into doing anything. Countless times I’ve responded to my cat’s cries to be let into or out of a certain room, only to open the door and have the cat stand there as if deciding whether or not they really want to bother. They love and crave affection, yet will accept it only on their own terms. My own cat seemed to want to be on my lap when I was busy doing something, forcing her head under my hands and purring up into my face … yet when I was settled in with a book and wanting her near me she wanted nothing to do with me!
The dichotomy of a cat’s nature lends itself to some special considerations when offering Reiki. If they sense that they are being coerced or forced into a treatment, they usually will have no part of it. But if you start off by offering Reiki from a distance and asking the cat to take only what they want, you are much more likely to get a positive response. Cats are very sensitive animals. They have extremely strong senses and will react emphatically to strong odors and sounds. Reiki energy is very often new to cats and the initial offering is very important. It can be simply overwhelming to them if the energy is just “blasted” at them without any warning or without giving them the option to choose. When offering Reiki to a cat for the first time, I start out by just sitting in the room with them. Almost always the cat will sit across the room from me and just stare! I silently ask the cat to accept only the amount of energy that she wants and let the Reiki flow. She’ll sense the energy right away … and usually will come up to me at this point to investigate. I always enjoy when cats do this, as often they’ll gently touch my hands with their nose. Sometimes they’ll come and sit directly across from me and look at me intently, staring directly into my eyes. At this point I can tell how accepting the cat is by her body language and how strong the energy flow is. Cats tend to have more of a variety of reactions to Reiki than most other animals do. For example, dogs will either usually fall right to sleep or come and climb into my lap. Horses tend to stay at a distance and snooze or fall into a deeply relaxed state. But I have found it impossible to predict what a cat’s initial reaction will be. Some of them will curl up in their bed or their favorite napping spot and take a nap, while others will sit and look at me the entire time – I will admit this can be bit disconcerting! Some cats will walk around the room, rubbing on the furniture. I’ve also seen cats that just relaxed into that oh-so-comfortable cat position where they’re laying in an upright position with their paws tucked into their chests, relaxing that way for the entire session. Once the cat has experienced Reiki energy, they will very often want hands-on treatment. Since cats have small compact bodies, one hand can often do the job. One position that cats tend to love is to place one hand on their chest and the other hand on their shoulders, encompassing them in gentle healing energy. They will sometimes sit or lay like that for the whole treatment, eyes closed, softly purring … I find it to be a very relaxing and comforting experience for myself to give Reiki to cats! I very much enjoy treating a cat when there is more than just that one in the household. In just about every instance, all the cats in the home will be receiving a Reiki treatment because they will ALL sense the energy and make their way into the room. I position myself at one end of the room and let the Reiki flow. Soon there will be a cat or two on my lap, one at my feet, and sometimes several draped across the furniture! It’s a very comfortable session for all involved. There isn’t much that’s more relaxing than being in a roomful of purring kitties! As with most animals, cats will let you know when they have received enough Reiki. They will wake and stretch, go get a drink of water, or just simply leave the room, though very often they will thank you for the treatment with a nudge. Sometimes the energy flow will just stop on its own while the cat is still sleeping, in which case I just let them sleep. Cats, even more than most other animals, have definite minds of their own. Trying to force them to take Reiki in a certain way only leads to disappointment for the practitioner and loss of treatment for the cat. Let the cat dictate how she wants the energy and you’ll find that she becomes a very happy kitty, seeking out Reiki on her own whenever she wants it. Having your cat seek you out for a Reiki treatment is very rewarding, and I always loved it when my cat would “ask” for some energy. I felt very close to my pet at that moment and I think it strengthened the bond between us. This was a gift that my kitty gave to me in return.
Rdiki For Cats With Minds Of Their Own by Debbie Thivierge Read about this amazing story in Bellesprit Magazine goo.gl/oDVu6 — BellespritMagazine (@BellespritMagaz) September 9, 2012]]>
