A Day in the Hay: Animal Reiki Barn Dance
By Carol Schultz
Part 1:
On a gorgeous and sunny Sunday afternoon recently, there was a meeting. A meeting of hearts and minds, seeking to come together and learn from each other, and learn from the animals. I drove up the gravel road to the barn to meet with a small group of members from one of the Animal Reiki class sequences here outside of Chicago. In previous classes over the past two years, we had only worked in person with canine participants during Level 1 of the course, and I had not ventured into taking students to a barn to work directly with horses. However this time, for students in the course interested in learning more about horses, we were being warmly hosted at the barn by Hope, a fellow Reiki Master Teacher, along with several horses at the barn including Dakota, Lady, Frosty, Country Swinger, and Snoopy.
Walking up to the barn, I felt the dirt and rocks of Mother Earth below my feet. My senses and lungs filled with the sweet smell of hay. As I listened to the beautiful chorus of horses serenading our entry, it made adventuring out of the classroom and away from our Reiki notebooks well worth the trip. Not knowing quite what was in store for us aside from my own instructor’s outline for the afternoon, the animals had assured me telepathically on the drive there that they knew what to do, and would guide the students well. They said to simply let go and trust, and the students would each receive what they needed for their next step forward with Reiki. A wonderful dance of harmony, with horses in the lead.
As Hope introduced the students to the horses, we began to quickly notice their differences in personality and characteristics. Each was clearly a unique individual, inviting us to know them, each with their own story. Over the years of doing animal communication consultations, I have learned that so much of the background of horses becomes unknown as they often change hands from person to person. This is also true of many other species of companion animals as well. It is both interesting and helpful to hear the animals’ perspective on the earlier times of their lives, and what that means to them as part of their journeys. I have found that simply holding a sacred space and allowing the animals to share their thoughts, feelings, and energy can provide profound emotional releases, and assist them in letting go of the past, whatever that might hold for them.
Near the beginning of the gathering, we checked to see which one of the horses was open to working with the group first. Dakota, a very large grey Holsteiner, roughly 18 years old, immediately invited us to work with him. He was described by our host, Hope, as sweet, kind, and gentle, with very giving energy. Unfortunately, he had been abused and beaten prior to becoming a member of Hope’s animal family many years earlier. Due to recent illness, Dakota had been on stall rest, but he encouraged us all to venture in to his stall as a group. As we circled around him and began energetically clearing the space, preparing to work, he encouraged each student to place both of their hands some where on his body. He proceeded to explain to the group many aspects of Reiki and working with animals, accompanied by humor and warmth. As students picked up a variation of energetic shifts with his body, Dakota encouraged them to breath with him through his skin to deepen their spiritual connection with him and this magnificent species. Dakota explained that while the students continued to work with him, he would attune them to horse energy, and help to further open their palm chakras to work with the other horses in the barn, and then ongoing with other animals. It was a very special Reiki attunement for the group from a very special horse, and we felt it was a tremendous gift for him to share. As we completed our connections with him, disconnected energetically, and then exited his stall, he joyfully invited all of us back to work with him further.
After working with Dakota, we were next invited to work with Lady, a 9 year old chestnut Thoroughbred. It was explained to the group that for a very long time following her adoption at four years old, she could not let anyone ride her. Rather than entering her stall, she was most comfortable having students work with her from the barn aisle. Lady was not sure of everything at first, especially since she was most comfortable having her caretaker, Hope, work with her energetically. She suggested asking for just two students to work with her, an
d to begin slowly. After a few minutes, she was accepting an increasing amount of Reiki energy, and she loved making the connection with the group. Later on in the afternoon, two participants, Tammy and Tiara, worked with her further, and Lady thoroughly enjoyed her time with them.
Tammy and Lady
In the stall next to Lady was Frosty, a Quarter horse. As the group shifted to work with him, he must have been peeking in at how we began with Lady. Frosty also specifically requested only two students approach, and then begin the Reiki connection from outside the stall. Near the beginning of the session, everyone in the group could sense him hesitating and pulling back, so the Reiki flow was small, and their approach was soft. However after just a few minutes, Frosty began to relax. Claudette and Sandy, the two students from the group working with him, received guidance on where to direct the Reiki around and through his body. They began to feel energetic blockages releasing from his sides and back end, and chakras centers opening up and balancing, while both they and others could provide a description of what they felt releasing from Frosty. By the time we thought he would be finished, based on his hesitancy at the beginning, he continued to ask for more….and more, and more, and more. Eventually, as we needed to complete his session, the students felt him in total acceptance, and he was actually sending energy back to help them as well!
Feedback from Tammy and her daughter Tiara:
We really enjoyed our Animal Reiki work at the barn. We haven't been around horses much so it was a great experience. We were amazed by their intense energy, and how you can feel the horse breathe through every part of their bodies. My daughter and I picked up on one horse's stomach issues and their nervous habits to soothe it. We had to respect the animals wishes and "turn down" the energy every so often so the horse could take a break and come back when she was ready. We also experienced an incredible gift of one horse giving us energy back. Gratitude is a very important piece of this work. The animals feel it and send it right back. It was a wonderful exchange. We made a lot of great animal connections and we can't wait to do it again! Thanks,
~ Tammy & Tiara, Illinois, August 2006
The gift flows both ways between us and the animals. All we need to do is accept their invitation to dance, and share in their world of magic and harmony.
Part 2:
Following the initial guidance and practice with Dakota, Lady, and Frosty, the students were divided into small groups to work independently with several horses, and to document their insights and sessions. Tammy and Tiara continued the work with Lady, Nancy and Sandy started with Country Swinger, a 14 year old chestnut Thoroughbred, and Linda, Mary, and Claudette teamed up with Dylan, an 8 year old Thoroughbred.
Country Swinger tends to have a tough guy exterior, and *loves* to get attention. He had asked to be included in the small group work, but when they started Reiki with him, he seemed to be much more interested in thinking he was going to receive food. Neither Nancy, or Sandy felt he was sincerely interested in the Reiki being offered. However, Snoopy, in the stall next to Country Swinger, had made his interest quite clear. Even though he was sometimes considered hard to read or rude, and could be aggressive with ground work, he was now mister sweet man, putting his nose to the bars and clearly extending an invitation to his party. Nancy and Sandy concluded their connection with Country Swinger, and accepted Snoopy’s request. After they began their work with Snoopy, by the end of a 20 minute session of mostly hands off Reiki, he was up against the wall in his stall completely relaxed, quite literally “in the zone”, experiencing a deep and relaxing Reiki nap. Hope reported later that Snoopy was lovely and totally calm for the rest of the day.
The third student group of Linda, Mary, and Claudette choose to work together with Dylan, the 8 year old Thoroughbred. Linda, a fellow Reiki Master Teacher and Animal Reiki case mentor, was there to help facilitate. In combination with Mary and Claudette, they made a wonderful Reiki team. Dylan’s trainer, Sarah, had asked us for emotional healing help with him since he is aggressive in his stall, displays aggressiveness towards humans, and lunges. The session with him that afternoon was somewhat surreal. With Dylan safely in his stall, and the three practitioners standing across the aisle, they introduced themselves to Dylan from their hearts and minds, and asked for permission to send Reiki. They sensed hurt, anger, frustrated feelings, and a weak aura field with gray splotches. As Mary and Claudette held the sacred space and facilitated energetic releases with Reiki, Linda proceeded to incorporate positive affirmations, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), and long distance Tellington TTouch work.
Here is Mary’s description of the session:
I volunteered to work with Dylan, a horse. We were told that he needed a lot of help. As we walked up to Dylan’s he said to me "that man". I could see the anger in his eyes, yet he was ready to accept Reiki into his life. When we started the session, he was backed up against the far wall in his box stall, ears pinned back. As we progressed, I could feel his fear, loneliness, and lack of self worth come to the forefront. I saw a huge energy bubble well up from his hind quarters, and he eventually showed me his sore neck and shoulders. Then he drank in that beautiful Reiki energy. My heart felt as if it had been pierced by an arrow, and my solar plexus was tightening…I reminded myself to breathe and stay grounded!
I called him a very handsome boy as that powerful, yet safe energy surrounded him within and without, helping him to start releasing what he did not need. He told me that he did not want to go back "there", and I told that magnificent creature he was safe here. When we needed to end our session, he was up in the very front of his stall, relaxing with his eyes half closed, and I thought "what a phenomenal experience". The stable had grown very quiet, perhaps absorbing the peacefulness of all of the Reiki in the air.
It was an honor to have met Dylan. He touched me in a way that I will never forget, and I am thankful that I chose a path that led me to Reiki. I send a heartfelt thank you to Carol, Linda, and Hope for offering this wonderful practice session, and I look forward to seeing Dylan again and working towards Reiki III.
~ Mary, Illinois, August 2006
Following this orientation day at the barn, some members of the Animal Reiki class volunteered to work with several cases for further practice, and to provide additional assistance to several animals in need. Based on the experience with Dylan at the stables, he was choosen to be one of the continuing student cases. Over the course of the next three weeks, Linda and Claudette were paired to work both in-person and long distance with Dylan, and the results have been both heartwarming and profound.
Approximately a week after the first session at the barn, a small group visited him once again. After energetically cleansing his stall, they helped to release a great deal of blocked energy from his shoulder and solar plexus, and they also incorporated crystal healing work. When they took a break, Dylan actually encouraged them to restart, and by the end of the session his muzzle could be stroked, and he was at the front of his stall to say goodbye. A wonderful experience for everyone!
Several days later, Linda and Claudette returned to continue Reiki work with him again. After doing Reiki on themselves first and reinforcing spiritual protection, during the session he lunged to the front of the stall three times. One practitioner focused on removing negative energy, while the other sent positive energy. He was clearly accepting the treatment, and both Linda and Claudette sensed that they further gained his trust.
After a few more days, Dylan just wanted to talk. No Reiki, just talk. He discussed how humans don’t understand animals. He emphasized the intelligence of animals, along with their feelings and emotions. Dylan also mentioned that the other horses in the barn were curious about the fact that he was talking with humans, and that they were actually listening!
By his sixth Reiki session, Dylan was so anxious to get started, he interrupted the practitioners’ conversation and invited them to come down to his stall. He greeted them politely, and his owner, Julie was now present and participating as well. Julie could not believe how calm he was, and the Reiki team encouraged her to talk with him. As she did so, they all felt a huge release from his heart. They continued with positive reinforcements, repeating the words of “respect, honor, and love”. Showing his apparent agreement of the affirmations being conveyed, Dylan shook his head up and down. After some time, Dylan was getting a bit restless with the amount of Reiki, so the group began gently moving figure eights along his energy, or hara, line to help release any built up energy that wasn’t fully flowing. Upon concluding the session, they also sent calming energy to his stall to release any built up emotional energy from his area.
The feedback from Dylan’s owner, Julie, has been wonderful, and a tremendous validation for the students. At the end of the most recent session with him at the barn, Julie was moved to tears. Dylan allowed her stroke his muzzle. Julie communicated to the students that in the three years he has been with her as a companion, she has never seen anything like this. She has never has this kind of connection with him, and now Julie feels that she is beginning to sense feelings from him as well.
We thank Reiki for these blessings, and we thank Dakota, Lady, Frosty, Country Swinger, Snoopy, and Dylan for being such wonderful teachers!
Are you ready to learn their dance? The steps are easy, and the animal teachers would love to invite you to their party so you can enjoy yourself and have some fun as well. Listen, and you will hear their voices calling you, like a microphone inside your head. Play some music, relax, enjoy, and slow down, and you’ll find them waiting there for you to take some time out and enjoy life!
Originally published on www.animalreikisource.com
Carol Schultz (http://www.chicagohealers.com/interviews/cschultz.html ) is an Animal Communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, Shamanic Healing Practitioner, and Interspecies Life Coach. She began working telepathically with animals in 1999 after being drawn to this spiritual role following her decision to make a lifestyle change from her corporate background and career. Carol initially trained with Penelope Smith, and has studied with many other communicators and healing practitioners throughout her journey. Carol is sponsor of the Animal Spirit Healing & Education Network, which hosts Chicagoland area classes including Animal Communication, Animal Reiki, Pet Loss, Tellington TTouch, and Shamanic Healing. Through Animal Spirit Network, she encourages students being trained in a variety of holistic healing modalities to learn from the animals while assisting with case studies submitted for assistance from area animal shelters and rescue groups.
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