The holidays are upon us, and it’s time to celebrate the joy of the season with family and friends, including your animal family. Unfortunately, the holiday season also disrupts daily routines, which can create stress and anxiety in pets.

Your pet’s daily rituals build confidence and help them feel safe, secure, and loved. For many animals, even the small changes in their daily routine can be stress and anxiety-producing, especially for elderly pets. If left unchecked, stress can impact your pet’s behavior, health, and overall quality of life.

To avoid behavioral problems and stress, here are three easy ways to prepare your animal family so you can all enjoy a fun and joyful Holiday Season:

The post 3 Tips to Prepare Pets for The Holidays. appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

I’m not a big fan of the holiday season.

Why?

Because I’ve suffered a lot of loss in December, which colors my holidays with tinges of sadness and grief.

Yesterday marked the 5th anniversary of when my beloved dog, Bodhi Bear, died.

Bodhi was an extraordinary dog. He stood beside me through my late husband’s illness and death. He supported me with love and joy when everything felt overwhelming, and I felt so very lost.

When Spirit called me home to Connecticut, Bodhi Bear sat by my side for 5 1/2 days as we bounced across the USA in a noisy RV during the middle of the Pandemic.

I had no idea when we left California that Bodhi Bear was riddled with stomach cancer.

Somehow, he found the strength to bring me home.

A month later, we said our goodbyes, and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

I’m sharing this because I know the holidays can stir up a particular kind of grief that doesn’t always fit neatly into a season that insists we be happy, grateful, and full of cheer.

The holidays have a way of intensifying loss when everything around us seems louder, brighter, and more emotional; the absence can feel sharper.

You’re not alone.

The season is rich with triggers, including memories, routines, songs, and smells that can resurrect your loss anew.

As a Pet Loss Grief Counselor, I want to remind you that grief doesn’t take a holiday or have a schedule.

5 Ways of Coping with Pet Loss During the Holidays

If you’re missing a loved one this holiday season, here are 5 things you can do to take care of yourself:

• Modify Holiday Traditions:
  It’s okay to scale back and say “no” to events that feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. Prioritizing self-care is a fantastic way to honor your pet.
• Plan an Act of Remembrance:
  Shift your focus from the absence to the love you share. Light a candle, look at photos, hang a special ornament, or donate to a local shelter in their name.
• Feel the Love That Still Connects You:
  Take a moment to feel all the love in your heart for your loved one and feel the love they have for you.
• Find a Glimmer of Joy (Without Guilt):
  It’s okay to experience enjoyment and seek out simple pleasures without feeling guilty. It’s an essential act of self-care.
• Reach Out for Support:
  If your grief feels overwhelming, ask for help.

You may also find comfort in remembering that your beloved animal’s support is still there for you.

If any of this resonates, please know that the Animal Muse crew and I get it.

Our hearts go out to you ,

~Cat, Minnie, Yogi Bear, and Finnegan

If this post resonated with you, I invite you to share your thoughts or your animal’s name in the comments.

I also encourage you to share this post with others who may be grieving the loss of a beloved animal this holiday season.

And please subscribe to the blog for ongoing support and reflections.

If you’re grieving the loss of a beloved pet, please feel free to reach out for support. BOOK PET LOSS Session

The post Navigating Pet Loss During the Holidays appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

As the holidays draw near, it’s easy to feel more frazzled than thankful. Between errands, gatherings, and to-do lists, our nervous systems can forget what our hearts already know: gratitude heals.

Thanksgiving can also be a beautiful invitation to slow down, breathe, and reflect on what we’re grateful for.

But if you really want to understand what pure gratitude is, you don’t need to look far because pets model it every single day.

The Everyday Grace of Gratitude

Animals don’t need a holiday to express appreciation; they live it, because gratitude flows naturally through their being, expressed in the quiet, wordless ways that touch our hearts.

It’s in the dog’s soft sigh as they rest their head on your foot.
The rhythmic purr of a cat curled on your lap.
The horse that leans into your hand in a moment of mutual trust.

These aren’t just sweet behaviors;  they’re profound acts of love and thankfulness.

Ways Pets Teach Us About Being Thankful

Unconditional Love.
Our pets love us exactly as we are. They don’t care about our bad hair days, messy kitchens, or missed deadlines. Their unwavering affection reminds us that genuine gratitude begins with acceptance of ourselves and each other.

Living in the Present.
Animals don’t replay the past or fret about tomorrow. Watching them chase a leaf, nap in a patch of sun, or greet us joyfully at the door reminds us that being fully present in the moment is an act of gratitude. When we slow down, we join them in that sacred space of now.

Joy in Simplicity of Life
A favorite toy, a walk, a gentle scratch behind the ears are ways pets celebrate the joy of life’s simplest gifts. Pets remind us that gratitude doesn’t come from grand gestures but from shared, heart-centered moments.

Comfort and Healing.
Science shows that our animal companions lower stress, boost mood, and support heart health.  Our pets’ presence grounds us, helping us to breathe easier and live from gratitude rather than anxiety and tension.

Trust, Joy, and Peace.
When we open our hearts in appreciation, we feel more centered, confident, and peaceful, which our pets sense instantly. Gratitude becomes a shared vibration, wrapping both species in a warm hug of safety, love, and serenity.

Gratitude as Healing Energy

Gratitude is more than an emotion: it’s energy. When we focus on what we appreciate, our bodies relax and our hearts open. And because our animals are so attuned to us, they feel and appreciate the shift in our energy.

When you pause to thank your animal for their comfort, loyalty, and joy, something changes inside you. Your energy softens, your awareness widens, and the light in your heart glows a little brighter.

In that peaceful state, communication flows naturally. We become quiet enough to sense what our pets are feeling and to hear their messages in return.

Gratitude becomes a language of love between you and your animal. It’s a mutual exchange of thanks that strengthens your heart connection.

A Mutual Exchange of Thanks

Gratitude is a two-way street that our pets travel with us every day. Having a heart-to-heart talk with your animal family is a wonderful way to thank them and vice versa.

If you’d like to communicate with your animal to learn more about their thoughts, feelings, and viewpoints, I encourage you to Book an Animal Communication Session.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with peace, connection, and appreciation for all beings—human and animal alike—who make your world more loving and whole.

The post What Pets Teach Us About Being Thankful appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

One of my life’s purposes is to help animals in whatever way I can, whether it’s empowering them using animal communication, sharing Reiki, or meditating with them. I also gain tremendous joy raising money for different animal rescue and welfare organizations since they usually run entirely on donations. These life-saving organizations need ongoing financial support to feed, house, rehabilitate, give medical care and re-home animals in need.

Service work is an integral part of who I am, and that’s why I’m offering a couple of different fundraisers this month to help animals that I hope you will support. 

On April 19th, I’m offering Meditating with Horses Fundraiser. This webinar will benefit Rising Starr Horse Rescue in Wilton, Connecticut, which saves, rehabilitates, retrains, and re-homes abandoned, neglected, or abused horses.

On April, 30. I’m excited to team up with the Shelter Animal Reiki Association’s Director, Kelly McDermott-Burns, for Meditating with Farm Animals. This webinar will benefit the animals at The Little Red Barn Farm Sanctuary in Turnbridge, Vermont. 

We will create a powerful meditation circle during each fundraiser to offer peace and compassion to horses and farm animals. You experience a heart-opening meditation using the Reiki-based Let Animals Lead® Method that you can share with the animals in your life.

During each webinar, you will learn how meditating with horses and farm animals can

• Calm your mind and body
• Enhance your heart connection with animals
• Strengthen your relationship with animals 
• Create a peaceful and compassionate space
• Heal and transform the lives of animals and you!

I believe it’s essential to give our loving and positive energy to the circle of life. I feel honored to share the potent tool of meditating with different types of animals with you. And I’m excited for the animals to receive the healing benefits of having you meditate with them.

You don’t need to own a horse or farm animals to enjoy meditating with them during these special fundraisers. Just bring your desire to have an open-hearted connection and willingness to connect with these amazing animals for healing and transformation.

I hope you will join us and invite your friends to support horses and farm animals. When we meditate collectively with animals, it can shift humans’ hearts and minds compassionately.

The post Support Horses and Farm Animals with Meditation Fundraisers appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

You should.

As the pandemic wears on with no end in sight, we need to trust our gut and inner voice now more than ever to keep us safe.  I’m depending on my intuitive senses to help me navigate the new normals that don’t feel normal at all.

Animals are wise teachers and guides on how to respond to imminent danger. Animals rarely hesitate to react to the energy around them because they know the best way to keep safe is to always listen to their instincts.

Cats are great examples of how to stay present in the moment. If they feel specific energy is a threat, they quickly move away from it.

As I like to say, “Humans are inclined to run towards danger while non-human animals tend to run away from it.”

All animals, including humans, are born with instincts that guide us in how to respond at any given moment. Gut instincts, inner knowing, hunches, or “spidey senses” are our internal guidance system that alerts us when there is imminent danger.

As adults, it can be challenging to trust our intuition because we are taught that logic and reason are more important than feelings and gut hunches. Children and animals tend to be more in touch with their instincts because they don’t know any different. Therefore, we have to consciously work at reclaiming our ability to recognize and react to our “spidey senses.”

Recognizing your intuition is about listening and trusting yourself at a deep spiritual level. Thankfully, animals continue to show us how to connect, trust and listen to our gut.

Two great ways to develop your intuitive awareness is by practicing Animal Reiki and Animal Communication. When you quiet your mental chatter and worry, communicating telepathically and offering Reiki gives you direct access to your intuition.

When you practice Animal Reiki and Animal Communication, you naturally connect with your intuitive self.  The good news is, once you recognize your “spidey senses,” the easier it is to listen and respond to its wisdom and guidance.

I hope you and your animal family continue to stay safe and above all, trust your intuition.

The post Animals want you to trust your intuiton appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

The post Spiritual and Holistic Explorers Support You and Your Pets During Pandemic appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

The post 5 COVID-19 Survival Tips for You and Your Pet appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

The post Animal Communication Should Be Simple and Easy appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

If you are, you’re not alone. 

• Accurately send and receive telepathic messages.
• Interpret the animals’ messages. 
• Focus on the animal’s issues and problems.
• Clear up miscommunication and misunderstanding.
• Remain open and receptive without judgments, projections, or expectations.
• Empower animals by giving them a “voice,” so they can be better understood. 
• Provide feedback and insight from the animal’s perspective.
• Offer support, counseling, and guidance to animals and humans.
• Advocate for the animal as an equal partner in the human-animal relationship.

While an Animal Communicator doesn’t need to have a counseling background, I find it’s helpful to my clients and myself that I have a master’s degree in counseling. A crucial aspect of the Animal Communicator’s job is to take good care of the human during a session, especially since no one wants to feel judged. A counseling background gives the Animal Communicator essential tools that are needed to create a safe healing space for all involved.

The goal of an Animal Reiki treatment is to help animals through passive Reiki meditation.

• Hold a healing space of peace, love, and compassion using Reiki meditation.
• Not focus on the animal’s issues/problems or need to know about them.
• Not interpret animals’ messages.

It’s difficult for the animal and AR practitioner to go into the Reiki space if there is an expectation that the animal needs to do something other than relaxing. Plus, it’s impossible to carry on an active two-way conversation with the animal and their human while being in the passive state of meditation.

The post How Animal Reiki Differs From Animal Communication appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

From the time I was a toddler, I’ve been horse-crazy. I started riding when I was six and was blessed to have a pony in my backyard when I was nine years old. Being around horses, especially sharing Reiki with them, opens my heart and heals my soul.

When animal Reiki pioneer Kathleen Prasad offered her Equine Reiki Day at Cadence Farm, I knew I wanted to attend. I find sharing Reiki with horses to be nurturing and healing for them and me.

Reiki (pronounced “ray-key”) comes from the Japanese words “rei,” meaning spirit, and “ki” meaning energy. Reiki is also referred to as the “universal life energy.” Reiki for horses and animals is about learning to meditate with them, which creates a healing space of peace, harmony, and compassion.  

Kathleen Prasad with her horse, Kodiak

Equine Reiki Day was held at Cadence Farm located in the picturesque hills of Sonoma, California. Cadence is home to Kathleen’s beautiful Paint horse, Kodiak. He is a Reiki master familiar with the Let Animals Lead® method developed by his human, Kathleen. The Let Animals Lead® method allows the animal to be in charge of how much or how little Reiki the wish to receive.

The highlight of my day came when Kathleen asked the group to share Reiki with any horse that called to us. I decided to head toward the horses who were in the shade, given it was getting hot out. I first stopped outside Beamer’s stall, which was well shaded.

As I asked Beamer if he wanted Reiki, I was interrupted by a loud nicker coming from behind me. I immediately turned around and saw it was Kodiak calling to me from his sunny pasture. He whinnied at me again, just to make sure I heard his request to share Reiki. Without hesitation, I left Beamer’s shaded stall and accepted Kodi’s invitation.

Once we greeted each other, I began focusing inward as I started meditating with Kodiak using the Let Animals Lead® method. At first, Kodi did his best to distract me from focusing inward. He nibbled at me through the gate to his paddock and tried to rub up against me with his head. I sensed he was testing me to stay grounded and focused on my meditation.

Kodiak schooling me on the Let Animals Lead® Method of Reiki

Kodiak clearly communicated that he was in charge. Once I passed his test, Kodiak’s lips and jaw began to relax. He closed his eyelids and he lowered his head as he went into deep relaxation.

After spending about ten minutes in a peaceful and harmonious space together, Kodiak decided to show me that his tail was bothering him. He turned around and presented his tail to me. Then he did something I didn’t expect; he started leaning against the gate with his full weight like he wanted to sit in my lap! I wanted to oblige Kodiak’s request but felt that no good would come from him sitting on my lap.

After discouraging Kodiak from leaning against the gate that separated us, he walked away from me and started to graze. He communicated that he had enough Reiki and he felt complete. I thanked Kodiak for helping me work on my focus and grounding and schooling me in the art of Reiki. I felt honored and humbled he wanted to be my teacher and guide for the Reiki exercise.

When I shared with Kathleen my experience sharing Reiki with Kodi, she confirmed Kodiak knows just how much Reiki he needs and wants. She said that when he’s done receiving the Reiki, he clearly lets you know. Kodiak is a wise and gifted teacher.

Feeling Blissful After Sharing Reiki

Sharing Reiki with the magnificent horses at Cadence helped them feel better. However, I believe the real teachers and healers were the horses as I left Equine Reiki Day feeling peaceful, joyous, and balanced! I’m grateful to the horses at Cadence for opening my heart and filling it with compassion and love.

The post Sharing Reiki with Horses appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.