“Just as water ripples outward with the drop of a pebble, Reiki flows to exactly where it’s needed for the highest good of all.”  

~Cathy Malkin, The Animal Muse

As a Reiki Master Practitioner for over ten years, I’m still in awe of the incredible healing power of Reiki. The more I practice Reiki, the more I see how the Universal Life Force Energy ripples outward flowing to precisely where it’s needed the most.

When clients sent up Reiki sessions for a particular animal in their family, I encourage them to be with their pet during the treatment because Reiki frequently benefits other family members including pets and humans. 

An excellent example of what I call the “Reiki Ripple Effect” happened when I offered a beautiful 16-year-old Golden Retriever mix named Shanti distant Reiki.

Shanti’s human, Serena requested Reiki to support her best friend, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, and for an upcoming move. Given all the different holistic options, Serena felt long-distant Reiki was the best choice to compliment Shanti’s cancer treatments and help decrease her anxiety around the move.

Before Shanti’s first Reiki session, I suggested Serena and her two cats create a “healing circle” around Shanti. In other words, I wanted Shanti’s family to sit or sleep close by one another while I offered Reiki to Shanti.

After Shanti’s initial treatment, Serena shared the following feedback:

Reiki goes where it needs to go, right?

It went straight to my own body, which has been in intense body pain for over a week. After Shanti’s Reiki session, I had NO pain for two days!

As for Shanti – the light in her eyes are bright as her eyes tend to become dull when she is uncomfortable. And her gorgeous coat has shined up. . . it’s palpable!

The cats? They’ve have been playing more. 

Also, thanks for getting rid of my dang virus that had a hold on me.

That’s the Reiki Report!

After Shanti’s third Reiki treatment, Serena wrote:

Three times is apparently the charm. Shanti seems transformed this evening standing for her supper, which she hasn’t done in weeks.

Serena and Shanti’s experience highlights Reiki’s innate intelligence and its ability to go to whoever needs it, which in this case, created positive healing results for the entire family, including Serena.

The post Animal Reiki Helps People, Too appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

My Keeshond and Birthday Boy, Bodhi Bear

I do. I love showing my animal family how much I love them by celebrating their Birthdays and GotchYa Day each year. 

Okay, maybe I take it a bit far giving Bodhi a few parties but he’s worth it. Plus I love making him a happy dog.

It’s hard to believe he’s 4 years old already. Time has flown by as it feels like only yesterday that he was just a baby puff.

Baby Puff Doggy Bodhi Bear

Now he’s grown up and quite the Puff Doggy.

“Is It Burger Time?”

Bodhi Bear loves celebrating his birthday with good friends like his puppyhood buddy and DFF, MacGuyver the Puggle aka “Mush-A-Moo.”

MacGuyver The Puggle aka “Moo”

This year, Bodhi asked his Godfather, Craig, to grill up some Birthday Burgers for his special day.

Birthday Burgers on the Grill

So being a great Dog Father, Craig tossed a few dog patties on the grill for his dog and mine. 

Both dogs waited patiently for their burger “bites.” 

Bodhi patiently waiting for his birthday burger bites.

And then the big moment finally arrived:

A fun time was had by all, especially the boys who loved eating the burger bites. 

Happy Birthday, Bodhi Bear!!!!!

I Love You!!!

But wait, there are more birthday surprises for Bodhi Bear:

Stayed tuned for the Keesateers and more birthday fun for the fuzzy birthday boy. . .

The post Celebrating Bodhi the Keeshond’s Birthday appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

Grandpa dining on hibiscus

At 104 years old, Grandpa is the oldest animal and living being I’ve ever spoken with. From what I discovered from a brief search on the internet, Grandpa might be one of the oldest living desert tortoises in the world. 

Grandpa has lived with his current person since she was born. Grandpa explained that he raised his person, Carolyn. Carolyn’s mom got Grandpa when he was a just a baby. Carolyn “inherited” him when her mom passed away and has known him for 60 years.

Carolyn asked me to talk with Grandpa so she could get answers to some of her questions. She wanted to know how Grandpa was feeling and what, if anything, she could do to make him a happier tortoise.

Despite his grand stature, Grandpa only weighs 9.9 pounds. He enjoys sitting Carolyn’s lap where he says he feels comfortable and safe. So Grandpa sat on Carolyn’s lap while I interpreted his thoughts, feelings, and viewpoints.

When I began communicating with Grandpa, I mistakenly referred to him as a turtle. Grandpa was indignant and made it crystal clear that he’s not a turtle. So I asked him what the difference was. He said he’s not into swimming or spending time in water except to drink. As a tortoise, he explained, he’s strictly an earth dweller.

After our talk, I googled the difference between a turtle and tortoise. Grandpa was 100% correct. Tortoises dwell on land only. Turtles, on the other hand, need to live in water, at least some of the time.

Grandpa

The more I listened to Grandpa, the more I found him to be a wise, grounded and loving spirit. He enjoys being gently massaged by Carolyn when he sits on her lap. He also enjoys following her around the yard and house.

I was taken aback by his wisdom, kindness and his detailed memory. I have to admit I developed a bit of a “crush” on him the more I got to know him. I particularly enjoyed his sense of humor.

Grandpa is also stubborn and determined. Like the time he wanted to come into the house, and no one was around to let him in. Grandpa took matters into his own hands and decided to let himself in by breaking through the screen the door, not once, but twice! 

Grandpa asked Carolyn for a “tortoise door” so he can come and go at his leisure. Carolyn felt adding a door was an easy solution to bring him happiness. Grandpa is one lucky Tortoise!

Grandpa loves apricots.

Before Carolyn could ask Grandpa what his favorite food was, I heard Grandpa declare that “Apricots are my most favorite food in the whole world!” He continued to say that Carolyn wasn’t giving him enough of them.  Carolyn promised to get him apricots as soon as we were done talking. That made him very happy!

Tortoises brumate (hibernation for tortoises) during the winter months. Given that Grandpa lives in Northern California, it’s an ongoing challenge to find an appropriate space that remains cold enough to support his brumation. 

Grandpa felt the garage, in years past, wasn’t consistently cold enough. He also said he didn’t want to brumate in a refrigerator, which apparently some people do with their tortoises. Carolyn laughed out loud when I told her this. We reassured Grandpa that no one would ever put him in a wine cooler!

Grandpa asked if he can brumate behind the toilet this year instead of the garage because the temperature in the bathroom is more consistent. Carolyn felt this was another easy request to fulfill. She’s planning on posting a sign in the bathroom warning people of Grandpa’s presence so as not to startle him out of his deep slumber. 

Grandpa’s cats, Mel and Mick

Grandpa shares his home with two cats, Mel, an orange tabby and Mick, who is orange and white. The cats are cousins who grew up with Grandpa. According to Mel and Mick, they don’t mind Grandpa, except on the rare occasions when he urinates in the house. The cats can’t stand the smell of reptile urine–it’s nasty. Carolyn couldn’t disagree with her cats.  Other than that, Mel and Mick feel Grandpa is a pretty cool and don’t know life without him.

According to Grandpa, he still has many more adventures to experience and apricots to eat. He’s a contented and healthy Tortoise who plans on living for many more years to come. Given a few Giant tortoises have lived to be 150, Grandpa could end up being the oldest living tortoise in the world.

The post 104 year old Tortoise Talks About His Life appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

As I quickly opened my front door, Kevin told me that while Gigi was sniffing around in the grass, when right out of the blue, she screamed and jumped. He said Gigi immediately started to kick and bite at her back right knee after she screamed. He was positive she had been stung by a yellow jacket, which is a wasp not a bee.

When I asked Gigi what happened, she confirmed with me telepathically that it was a yellow jacket that bit her. She said her leg felt hot and it really “stung.” Despite panting nervously and biting at her leg, Gigi seemed to be okay. I told Gigi to hang in there and we would make her more comfortable as soon as possible.

I suggested to Kevin that Gigi would benefit from a baking soda poultice and Reiki to help ease her suffering. Reiki, which is a Japanese Energy Healing System, means “Spiritual Energy.” Rei translates into “spirit”and Ki means “energy.” According to the Animal Reiki Source, 

“Reiki is ideal for use with animals because it is gentle, noninvasive and doesn’t require physical contact. It doesn’t cause stress, discomfort or pain, and yet yields powerful results. Animals respond intuitively to Reiki’s power to support the healing of emotional, behavioral, and physical illness and injuries.”

Kevin seemed relieved that I knew how to help his “princess” since his wife and daughter weren’t home. So Kevin said, “Let’s do it!”

Gigi Relaxing After Receiving Reiki

Poultices, which have been used for years, draw toxins out from the body like wasp/bee stingers and neutralizes the painful venom. They are super simple to make and quite effective. In Gigi’s case, I mixed together a 1/4 cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and some water until it became the consistency of paste. If I had been outside, I would have made a mud poultice for Gigi, which works just as well.

Once prepared, I gently placed the poultice on Gigi’s leg, careful not to break the “venom sack” around the wasp stinger.  I then began to offer Gigi Reiki, which she gladly accepted.

About a minute or so later, I removed the poultice. Gigi communicated to me that she felt stinger was gone. She also said the awful “stinging feeling” from the wasp venom was easing.

Gigi had calmed down enough to take a couple sips of water and eat a Charlie Bear cookie I offered her. Both excellent signs she was well on her way to recovery. I then gingerly handed Gigi back to her “Poppa” and sent them home.

I continued to offer Gigi Reiki from a distance after they left. About 45 minutes later, I felt Gigi say that the Reiki had helped her a lot and she was ready for a nice long nap.

Later that evening, I received a text message from Kevin saying Gigi was doing great and back to her normal self with no evidence that she had been stung by a yellow jacket. He felt the Reiki and the baking soda poultice helped Gigi a lot and was incredibly relieved and grateful for my assistance. The best part of the text said Gigi took a nap about 45 minutes after they left my house!

I am grateful that I know how to offer Reiki to animals especially in situations like Gigi’s. Reiki has the ability to calm animals down so they can relax. Once relaxed, than the animal’s innate healing process kicks in.

The post Reiki Helps Dog with Bee Sting appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

As an Animal Reiki Teacher and Practitioner, I continually experience firsthand how powerful yet gentle Reiki is when offered to stressed animals like these shelter dogs. It doesn’t matter if an animal is in a shelter, ill, anxious or transitioning, Animal Reiki helps animals with all aspect of their lives.

Thank you Kathleen Prasad and the Shelter Animal Reiki Association for showing us how Animal Reiki can help Shelter Animals and all the animals in our lives.

The post Reiki Brings Peace to Shelter Dogs Video appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

Kobe Bear was thrilled when he was tapped to be a “KOFY Dog.” Kobe says he is proud of his work and looks forward to his next starring role.

Please “like” Kobe Bear’s videos as he hopes to be the most popular KOFY-TV20 dog ever!

The post Kobe Bear is a TV Star appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.