Reiki: A Support for Animal Advocates
3 Ways Reiki Supports Animal Advocates
“It’s not enough to love animals; we must actively protect and preserve them. It’s our duty and responsibility as custodians of this planet.”
— Daphne Sheldrick
I’ve been on a lifelong journey to support animals and the environment. A focus for justice for all beings is something that has always existed inside of me. I am not a “professional” advocate or lobbyist, just a person who cares and tries to do my part in being a responsible steward for God’s creation. Strangely, speaking up for creation hasn’t always been easy. As a kid, it always shocked me that all people aren’t bothered by injustice or cruelty and don’t speak up. As I journey on, honestly, I’m still shocked. I have received my fair share of huffs and eye-rolling. But, as I am sure some of you can relate, you can’t help it when something calls to you from within. You keep your chin down and follow the wisdom of your heart, even when you feel totally alone.
I have found that my personal journey has been deeply enriched through Reiki meditation and then gained a whole new aliveness when I began to study & practice Reiki with animals. Here are a few ways that practicing the Let Animals Lead® Method of Animal Reiki supports my work as a backyard citizen advocate for animals. Let me know if you can relate in the comments section below. I’d love to hear about your experiences.
Strengthening Bonds with Animals & Nature: Spending time meditating with animals, recognizing their soul journey and expecting nothing from them has deepened my ever-growing appreciation for them. When we appreciate things, we come to know them. Then, we can better speak for them when they need an advocate.
Managing & Transforming Anger into Clarity & Action: Reiki has helped me quiet my mind and body from the swirling activity that is being human. In this process, I am able to manage anger and transform it into meaningful action. When I can find ease in my mind and body, I'm in connection with my wisdom and can speak and act from the heart with clarity.
In advocacy work, many human actions ignite extreme anger and sadness. I have found people are much less likely to engage with me in a meaningful way when I am angry. They don’t want to hear what I am saying when I am squawking with rage. We need to alchemize our anger into a meaningful, calm message and be willing to listen to other perspectives in the process. This is so important for the animals, people and environment that we are defending. I don’t want to waste precious time that could lead to a meaningful conversation or alert someone’s perspective because I was too angry to attend to the matter respectfully. Reiki is a beautiful support for this aspect of the calling.
Caring for the Spirit: Compassion fatigue or activism overwhelm is real. Advocacy and animal care can be physically & emotional draining, even when we are living our purpose. There seems to be a constant stream of bad news, setbacks and oppositions. Reiki meditation helps me to make space, sit with and process very difficult emotions and situations that arise on the path of animal & environmental stewardship.
Bonus Perk - Awareness of Continual Gratitude: It is also important note that because of Reiki Precept Three, which calls us all to seek gratitude in all circumstances, I am able too take joy in the small wins, the connections, the people that are working so hard in the fight and doing the work. Without the ability to lean into gratitude when times are tough, it would be easy to feel complexly hopeless. And for the sake of animals, people and the environment, we must never lose this precious spark that keeps the work moving forward.
In peace & solidarity,
A.C.
Can you relate? Share you experiences and reflections below.