Happy Lughnasadh!

August 1, 2024……. This Lughnasadh I have been busy babysitting my granddaughter, so I did not have a chance to bake bread or do some of the things I would normally do for this Sabbat, but I was able to decorate my Altar, enjoy a cup of herbal tea, pick some flowers and herbs from my garden to create a bouquet for my altar, make a corn doll with my granddaughter, and enjoy a lot of time outdoors playing with her, and observing all that nature has to offer us right in my own backyard and neighborhood….I love teaching her about the different plants in our yard and gardens and observe and explore all the cool little beings we find like the garden slugs, butterflies, etc. I love watching both my toddler granddaughters play with the Fairy House my husband and I built in the garden too. Truly magical! Lammas(word meaning Loaf Mass) is celebrated much in the same way with the difference being this was a “Christianized form of this Sabbat where Christians would go to church (Mass) and have their loaves of bread , blessed to bring good luck to their Harvests this year.

Something new I learned this year is that the phrase, “the dog days of Summer.” This expression is not about an image of a dog panting on a hot summer day, but was named because of the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, which is the nose of the Canis Major (Big Dog Constellation) which rises high in the sky this time of year. How cool is it that people in cultures including North America, Greece and Ireland, all knew this meant it was the time of year that there would be a lot of long, hot, dry days, and the time to harvest their crops?!

If you wish to learn more there is a lot of information on the Web if you google or search Lughnasadh or Lammas, and different ways you can celebrate this beautiful day! Wishing you many blessings for a wonderful August, however you celebrate….

My Fairy House, Pollinator Garden, and a Medium’s message ...

July 24, 2024

It all started with a dream to create a beautiful flower garden dedicated to the types of flowers that would attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds for pollination, as well as bring a sense of joy and inner peace into my little backyard that is surrounded by houses in our development.   There are many mature trees in our new neighborhood which I love and appreciate, but I miss the woods that surrounded my previous house, the larger piece of property our house was on which created more space and privacy from our neighbor’s homes, and the local wildlife that visited daily, which included deer, turkeys, foxes, opossums, owls, raccoons, snakes, and wood ducks, to name a few. My present backyard is much smaller than my previous one and mostly shaded during the day by my neighbors tall Pine and Oak trees so growing veggies like I did in my previous backyard is out, which is why I decided to learn more about flower gardening since many flowers can thrive in partial sun and total shade. There are two spots in my backyard that are sunny for several hours. In one of those spots I have a raised garden bed dedicated to growing herbs, and the other, my new pollinator garden.  There are also  a lot of bunnies in my present neighborhood so finding the types of flowers that they do no like to munch on has been a challenge but at the present time I seem to be winning this battle. I’ve been working very hard to bring my dream to fruition and planting lots of different types of flowers, that will  bloom at different times with the idea that the backyard gardens will always be exploding with color and different flowers. It makes me really happy to already see a lot activity in the gardens everyday between the bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds!

Another interest of mine is all the folklore and whimsical tales about Fairies and I had been contemplating building a Fairy house that I thought my young granddaughters would be excited to see in the garden. They both love gardening with me. We hunt for slugs in the mornings when they are here visiting and remove them from the garden and place them in the far corner of our yard, away from the flowers, together. We also plant seeds and water the plants together. I began sketching ideas for my garden and Fairy house in a little book, last winter.  I got busy breaking ground for the new garden this past Spring. The Fairy house was still on my mind but hadn’t started to build it yet.

On April 6th, I went to my friend’s Yoga studio, with another friend of mine, to an “Open Reading event” with a local Medium, Chris.  There were 12 or 14 guests at this event including me, and one by one he would look at each of us when he felt a message come through from “Spirit” and give us a message.  Well, Chris  blew me away when it was my turn!   First he told me that he felt a grandmother energy around me and told me she said she is always with me and loves the Lilies in my backyard.  I knew right away he was talking about my Nana, as she and I were very close, and my backyard is full of Lily of Valley flowers that the previous owner planted and Lily of the Valley was one of her favorite flowers. When we were looking for a house in 2022, the housing market was crazy and we lost several bids on other homes for various reasons, but  when I saw these flowers in the backyard of this home, I told my husband it was a sign that this was our new house! And we got it, with Nana’s help, I’m sure!   But what really blew my mind was the next thing Chris said was that your Nana wants you to make a Fairy Garden! There were several other messages too that night, but the fact that he picked up on the Fairy Garden I had been thinking about and no one else new about  yet,  and the Lilies was enough for me to get busy building my Fairy House!  I started on this project right away, sketching the way I wanted it to look, taking walks in the woods to gather bark that had fallen off the trees to use as roof shingles, pinecones, sticks, dried seed pods, etc., to use for decoration.  I enlisted my husband to build the roof frame for me that would sit on a tree trunk I found in a neighbor’s yard from a tree he had taken down.  My husband did a great job creating the roof for me. It was perfect and couldn’t wait to begin decorating it.The search for the right trunk took a couple of weeks.  I would search our neighborhood whenever I heard someone taking down a tree to see if there was a tree trunk I would be able to use for my project and I eventually found the perfect one. 

Overall, this was such a fun project to do!  I spent many hours in my garage, in my creative flow, catching up on podcasts and music, while crafting my Fairy House.  I felt Nana’s presence with me too!  I painted the roof with house paint to help preserve the wood. I covered the roof with bark I found from all different types of trees. I filled in any holes and crevices with moss to give it a more whimsical woodsy vibe.  I crafted and painted a little birdhouse for the front of the home, from a piece of scrap wood, and used pinecone shingles for its roof. I next got the idea to add a balcony which I made out of another piece of fallen wood I found in a local forest and built its fence out of sticks I found as well. I built a chimney out of cement and river rocks. I used vines off of plants in my yard to decorate the roof too and I know this will keep evolving over time as well as my gardens.  I did purchase two, beautifully crafted, little Fairy doors and windows from two different artists on Etsy.

It’s only been outside for a week in my garden and has already brought a lot of joy to my granddaughters, family, and friends, when they see it.  It makes me happy too, every time I walk into the backyard, and see it in my garden and I know my Nana loves it, too! 

April 2024 Full Moon blog and ritual ideas

Happy Full Moon, everyone! Wow, I can't believe we are moving towards the end of April already. I'm sorry I did not schedule a Full Moon Circle, for us tonight, as I had several conflicts with different dates and times this month, so stay tuned for next month if everything goes as planned. However, I am still planning to do my own ritual under this beautiful Full Moon as I saw Grandmother Moon shining in all her amazing glory last night, and thought I would share some ideas with you. Last night my husband and I tried to find a dark spot outside, in the area we live, as you were supposed to be able to see "The Mother of Dragons" comet right after sunset, near the horizon line in the Western direction of the night sky, just below the constellation Taurus, but we were not able to see it. We will try again as it is supposed to be visible through early May although Sunday and last night it was supposed to be at its brightest. So much going on in the sky this month with the Total Eclipse, seven planets being lined up in a row, and now this comet that wont be back until 2095! Crazy stuff. And I certainly have been feeling it! Have you? Would love to hear from you in the comments below if you have felt anything. This April Full Moon is great for not only releasing the energies, and experiences that are no longer serving us, but to also manifest on areas of love, relationships, fertility, creativity, new goals and dreams. This Full Moon falls in the water sign of Scorpio and is known for its intensity and emotional releases, so including the element of Water in your ritual is a good idea. I personally will be using a

pink candle for my ritual, writing down what I wish to release on paper, then burning the paper so I can give the ashes back to Mother Earth to transform the negative energies to positive. I will also write in my journal what I wish to manifest in my life this Full Moon cycle. Some other ideas for you would be to plan to leave a covered jar of water to create Moon Water for morning tea /coffee and for any future rituals you may do before the New Moon on May 7th. Pamper yourself with ritual bath and include flower petals, lavender, and salt in the water. Plant flower seeds in a pot. You can put your crystals out for a Moonbeam bath for cleansing. Pull Tarot or Oracle cards for youself. And lastly, don't forget to go outside and say hello to our beautiful Grandmother in her Fullness. As you see her, you will be seen... All my love, Patti

About those 2024 goals...

This New Year’s Day, I decided to take the time to sit down and write down three goals I have for myself this year.  One of the goals I set for myself, on New Year’s Day, was to commit to a personal, daily practice, of pulling at least one Tarot card and one Rune Stone for an energy read for myself. 

Then Covid invaded our home, January 8th, and I basically became a “Spiritual”Couch Potato, until, Tuesday of this week, as I am slowly getting my energy back.  So I am only three days into my new daily, Tarot practice, but it is going really great so far and I am always amazed at how accurate the Tarot cards and Rune Stones are, as to what’s going on in my life each day.

I have been interested in Tarot for many years and increased my study of the cards, last year with a deeper dive into their meaning, and I plan to continue to do so, as they have proven to be a great tool to use along side the energy work I do.  Rune Stones have also always fascinated me, as well, maybe because of my Celtic and Nordic Ancestry. So this year I have set a goal for myself to learn more about them and to start using them more regularly with my readings. 

Today’s reading was so on-point with my energy level this month, and goals I set for my business this year, that I had to share.

My Tarot card for the day is “The Magician.”   The message for me was that, 

 I have all the tools I need to be successful in what I have planned, and to get moving with my business plan.  The Magician is holding a Wand in his hand which represents fire/creative energy, so I felt the message for me is to stop procrastinating and get to work getting my ideas out there.  As my energy is returning, I can feel my creative ideas are returning too.  

My Rune Stone for the day was  the symbol “I”, called Isa. Also translates as the Winter stone for Ice.  This is a stone about patience, for Winter is a period of gestation that precedes a re-birth.  The book I have reads, “There is a freeze on useful activity, all of your plans are on old due to an energy drain, (which for me was Covid. ) “This is a time to rest, shed, release, cleanse away the old, and doing so will bring on the thaw (my Covid brain). There is no reason for anxiety, submit and be still, for what I am experiencing is not necessarily the result of my actions or habits, but rather arises from conditions about which I can do nothing.” I believe this again, is about healing from Covid.  Just as Winter is a time for going within, drawing “Isa” can announce a time of restoration and renewal at the deepest level. “Remain mindful that the seed of the new is presenting the shell of the old, the seed of unrealized potential, the seed of the good.  Trust your own process and wait for signs of Spring.  That last line was perfect as Imbolc, a celebration on the Celtic Wheel of the Year, celebrating the first signs of Spring, a time for birth, rebirth and renewal is only one week away.  

How does a distant healing, Reiki, session work?

One of the things I love most about practicing an energy healing modality, such as Reiki, and understanding how energy works, is that Reiki clients do not have to be present in a shared space with me during a session.  Reiki can be shared remotely, in the convenience of your home because it is not a “hands-on approach”,  and because energy is not limited to distance or physical limitations. A distant healing session works extremely well, on people and animals, but it is also great for animals who may be experiencing anxiety,  to feel safe, supported, and secure, in their own living space. Reiki works because we are all made of energy, come from the same original energy source whether human or animal,  so we are all connected,  and part of a larger whole.

How can Reiki ease anxiety in humans and animals?

Recently, I was asked, how can a Reiki session help ease anxiety in your pets?  As a Reiki practitioner, specializing in Animal Reiki, animal lover, and pet owner, it makes me feel so good when I can help ease an animal’s pain, whether it is physical or emotional with a Reiki session.  So please bare with my longer than usual post, but I thought this information may help others who are seeking new or different ways to help beloved animals in their life.

Animals live their lives on such an energetic plane. They are natural, great readers and receivers of energy. When an animal is stressed and experiencing anxiety, this activates their fight or flight mode, their sympathetic nervous system.  This can affect them emotionally and physically.  This stress response can also become magnified when their owners become anxious, from feeling and witnessing their pet’s stress and they, in-turn, become stressed themselves. And so this cycle can go on and on, repeating itself. 

When an animal is open to receive Reiki whether in person or in a distant healing session, with me, they are able to get into the parasympathetic, rest and relax state, reducing their anxiety,  allowing them to feel happy, rested, and like themselves again. This  “ripple effect” of calm energy is also felt in their owners too.  This creates a calm and healthier environment in their bodies where physical and emotional healing can take place. That also ripples out into their living space as well. 

One of the things I love most about practicing an energy healing modality, such as Reiki, and understanding how energy works, is that Reiki clients do not have to be present in a shared space with me during a session.  Reiki can be shared remotely, in the convenience of your home because it is not a “hands-on approach”,  and because energy is not limited to distance or physical limitations,

A distant healing session works extremely well with animals, who may already be experiencing anxiety,  to feel safe, supported, and secure, in their own living space. Reiki works because we are all made of energy, come from the same original energy source whether human or animal,  so we are all connected,  and part of a larger whole.

Reiki does not replace the need for veterinary care or medicine, but is a great addition for an animal’s overall health and well being. 

New Moon in Virgo, and "The Magician" Tarot card

Happy New Moon to all!
I pulled a Tarot card for the collective today, and it is the perfect card to celebrate tonight’s, New Moon, in Virgo. Today’s card is “The Magician”
Spiritually since the New Moon is about the beginning of a cycle, you can think of it as a cosmic reset. The new moon is the perfect time to set intentions to manifest dreams and goals that you'll develop as the moon waxes towards its fullness.
The Magician gives us the message that we have all the resources we need, to manifest our dreams and desires. This is represented by symbols of all the suits (tools) on his table. Its a card of manifestation, growth, and willpower! Just like the New Moon Phase! Ask yourself
How does the Magician, show up in your life? What would you like to manifest? He can also represent a teacher. Is there something new, you have been thinking about that you would like to learn?
Some ideas to do during a New Moon…
1. Sit down and journal what it is you would like to manifest into your life. (Its nice to make a cup of tea and light a candle, to create a sacred space for yourself while you do this.)
2. Write down some positive affirmations, for example….”I have everything I need inside me to manifest …
3. Place what you wrote, overnight, under the New Moon. Bring it in, tomorrow morning and save it to read out-loud, once a day for the next 2 weeks, until the Moon becomes Full. Release it back to Earth transmuting. Lastly, if you really want to celebrate your inner Goddess, prepare a candlelit bath for yourself, with Espom Salt and Magnesium for relaxation and grounding. Since we are entering Mabon, a celebration of harvest, to celebrate my inner Witchy side, I also like to pick some herbs from my garden like rosemary and lavender for protection and relaxation and self-love. I might even toss some apple slices in there too to be festive!
Would love to see your comments on what you would like to manifest this New Moon. If you want to learn more about Tarot and Moon rituals, please feel free to contact me. You can follow me on IG at the_spiral_paths
All my love, Patti
#tarotwithPatti #themagician #thespiralpathslife

July 17, 2023 New Moon Ritual for July 17, 2023. New Moon in Cancer…..

July 17, 2023

Let’s begin with a New Moon Ritual for July 17, 2023. New Moon in Cancer…..

Ritual information for the New Moon in Cancer, Monday, July 17th.
As a water sign, Cancer is all about the natural ebb and flow of our emotions, and life. A New Moon is all about new beginnings, so it is always a great time to manifest new ideas, etc.
Water signs are very intuitive, very connected with our emotions, and all things Spiritual, so this is a great time to practice Divination, but coming from a place of our inner wisdom, our inner knowing, and our inner guidance.
I have been asked by several of my online community friends, what my New Moon Ritual will look like, so I thought I would post my ritual for this New Moon, in hopes that it may inspire others to create your own.
First, I personally will be taking the time to meditate and think, what it is I would like to manifest this New Moon, cycle.
Second step, I will create a Sigil and carve it into a candle and dress my candle with oils and herbs to further enhance what my intentions are. I will be thinking about what my intentions are while I am creating the Sigil and dressing my candle. For me personally, I am concentrating on growing my business in new directions, so I will be using a green candle, but if you don’t have a color in mind for your intentions, that's ok, a white candle is universal and works for everything.
Third step, I will light my candle and then write down what my intentions are. I will read them out loud under the Moon who is in her Maiden (new beginnings) cycle, and then I will light my paper on fire, using the candle and let it burn all the way through, in my caldron (but any fire proof bowl will do.) Please make sure you have a safe space to do this and a fire-proof bowl.
Don’t blow your candle out! Best to let it burn all the way down to the socket and let it go out on its own. I like to use small candles for rituals for this reason. If you use a large candle and can't wait for it to burn all the way down, snuff it out instead of blowing it out, and announce that your ritual is now closed. Best not to "blow" your intentions out of the candle!
Last step, In the morning you can either blow your ashes into the wind and let the wind carry your intentions like dandelion seeds, dispersing your seeds of intentions, into the universe, or bury them as if you were planting seeds in your garden.
Since Cancer is a Water sign, something extra special to treat yourself too, is a Ritual Bath by candlelight, on a New Moon, night. I like to use Epsom Salt (clears away energy that is no longer serving you), in the tub along with Rosemary for protection, Lavender and Roses to surround myself in Divine Feminine energy. Of course, you could also add whatever else calls to you. I also like to place some Moonstones and Rose Quartz in the water. Moonstones are connected to the Moon’s energy and Rose Quartz gives off a beautiful, soft, heart chakra-centered energy. All of this creates a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere, for your Ritual bath, that you very much deserve!
While in the bath, again, meditate on your intentions for this New Moon Cycle. Focus on the kind of energy you want to bring into your life, and the emotions you feel while nurturing your Mind, Body, and Spirit.
If you would be interested in learning more about Sigils, Candle Dressing, Moon Cycle Rituals, and more, please contact me through the website. Also if you would be interested to meet on Zoom, for Moon Cycle Rituals, and/or classes on the above, please let me know. I have gotten some interest from others already, to start an online circle of people with like-minded interests. I can feel this New Moon energy, already, manifesting my dreams.....Very exciting happenings on the way, for sure! New Moon Blessings, everyone! All my Love, Patti

2021- Catching Up and a new year of promises...

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything in here. Between Covid,  Facebook,  Instagram, my Reiki, and Yoga practice, time seemed to have gotten away from me to blog on my website.  I am making a commitment, today,  to enter more regularly on this page. 

So where do I begin…..2020 was a year of ups and downs for me.  January and February I had the Flu and that went into an asthma reaction and losing my voice for 2 weeks.  It was awful.  I Had no energy. Every day felt like a battle to get up and move through the day.  In March, the Covid pandemic took a turn for the worst, and as many of you can relate,  affected my job as well.   I was forced to make a tough decision to give up being a Health Coach, a job that I loved, which allowed me to travel to different locations  to speak in groups and one on ones, to  help others attain a healthy lifestyle,  or work from home for the same company as a customer service agent, mostly listening to complaints or billing issues, with a little bit of coaching on the side.  I ended up leaving my Coaching position, in order to stay safe and also keep my family safe from possibly exposing them to Covid. In the end, leaving a job that I truly loved, to work from home for safety.  

March 2020 brought on lots of anxiety, worrying about our future, my families safety, and myself.   Literally, at times, I worried about dying alone in a hospital, from Covid, and not being able to be here for my family, as I heard about that happening to many people through my job and the news.  I worried all the time about my husband, my parents, and my kids, catching Covid and becoming very sick and I wouldn’t be allowed or able to be there for them to help. I decided to shut off the news, stop reading all the FB posts, and decided in order to keep my sanity and physical health, I needed to keep my mind busy on things I enjoy, so I decided to do something I had wanted to do for a while, and get my Yoga Teacher Certification.  All online. Safe in my own home.   I’m so glad I did this.  I absolutely loved it and it really helped keep my mind off Covid and creating a healthier lifestyle for my mind, body, and spirit.  Fast forward I received my 200 Yoga Certified on 04/25/2021, and my 300 hour Yoga Certification on 08/08/2021.  To celebrate this achievement I purchased a Djembe drum, and started to learn meditative drumming through another online school.  That’s been fantastic too, and I also feel so much healing as happened for me through Yoga, and drumming.  It’s funny how the Universe works when you open yourself to the Divine and follow the path that all of a sudden appears before you. 

In May I changed my website name to Inner Peace Reiki and Yoga and began offering Yoga classes online.  It’s been wonderful, and my practice is growing!

Our family experienced two big losses this year in our family.  My father-in-law passed away in  November. It was very sad to lose him and very stressful too, as we were not able to be with him in the end due to Covid. Funeral plans were on and off and on again, and  in the end it was only my Mother-in-law, my husband, and his sister who were able to attend the service for him. 

Then on December 4th,  my beautiful Heart-Dog, Jasmine, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in my arms, on my birthday.  A day I will never forget.  I was and still am heart broken and miss her everyday.  She was very special to me. 

The Holidays were different this year due to extra precautions and social distancing but we made it work outside with heaters, and Christmas brought a special surprise of our 1st grandchild being on the way.  Very excited about this! 

So, as you can tell, 2020, was a year of ups and downs.  The downs were really down, and the ups were really Up! We had other great losses along the way, that were very sad,  too, and also some more joyful news, but I think by now you can get the picture here.

It’s so easy to lose focus on the present, being grateful and blessed for everything we have,  for every minute we are here, when  we are overcome with so much stress, uncertainty, worry, fear, loss, and/or anger.   Being able to fall back on my  practice of Reiki and Yoga has really helped me work through all of the above emotions.  Learning to let go of expectations and being able to go with the flow of change. To be able to quiet my mind and focus on the present.  To be able to  let go of worry, which keeps us in the future, the “what if’s or “worse case scenarios,” and to let go of anger which keeps us in the past, replaying the scene over and over again expecting a different outcome.

To be able to sit with yourself, or another person, or hold space and meditate with an animal to bring inner peace and relaxation to yourself and other beings, has been such a great gift too! 

 Before Covid I was regularly visiting a farm sanctuary and local animal shelters, to share Reiki with the animals. The shelters closed their doors to the public, as all businesses closed down, so I was not able to visit during Covid.  I really miss my animal friends, but lucky for me I have lots of  trees and wildlife in my backyard and neighborhood, to practice and “be Reiki,” with,  My husband and I also welcomed a new puppy into our lives, in 2021, who has definitely helped us heal from the loss of our Jasmine.  We named our new little guy, Teddy.  He is already showing signs of loving Yoga and Reiki.  As soon as I roll my yoga mat out, he is right there ready to practice with me. LOL

The word Yoga means to Yoke or Unite, and the practice of Yoga helps us “unite” our body, mind, and spirit. It allows us to let go of the “to dos,” and the “what ifs.”  Sounds simple, right? It really is.  By regularly practicing  Reiki and Yoga, you create a ripple out effect in all areas of your life, and you will start to notice, the difference in the way you carry yourself through-out the day, and also the way you react to different types of situations and everyday stress.  My favorite Mantras are “All is Well,” and “I l release it” ….

Reiki is a type of meditative practice that teaches you to go within, and  will help you achieve, a feeling of relaxation and inner peace.  Animals love Reiki too.   I am grateful I found this path for healing. I am also grateful I am able to be able to share these practices with others and teach others to do the same.  I believe my true path, my sacred purpose, is to keep learning and teaching about these modalities. 

Recite the Reiki precepts every Morning and Evening... "The secret of inviting happiness through many blessings. The spiritual medicine for all illness." Usui Mikao

2019 "A Butterfly Summer"

Reiki has opened up so many new worlds, for me, by living and understanding the precepts.  Recognizing that a soul is a soul, and we are all one.  Every being on our planet is connected. Soul to soul, heart to heart, we are all one!  I have always felt this since I was a little girl, but not deeply living it, everyday.  

I have always loved animals.  All kinds of animals.  I love spending time with them, and have always helped  in some way, but honestly never really thought about  “bugs,” so much. I never really thought about the importance of butterflies as pollinators, either.  Again, Reiki and age, has made me so much more aware of animals, our precious planet, our environment, climate change, plant based diet, etc.

This past Summer, I read an article about Monarch Butterflies and how they are on the brink of extinction, because of pesticide spraying, parks dept.’s mowing down the only plant they eat and lay their eggs on, Milk Weed, parasites, climate change, logging, and natural predators, to name a few. I’m smart enough to know that every being, no matter how insignificant we might feel it is, has a purpose and when one goes extinct, others will follow.  It also said that we should all do our part to help and plant Milk Weed in our yards to help them out.  Simple enough, right?  So that is what I set out to do.

I purchased a pack of Milk Weed seeds, planted them, and thought I was done. 

One sunny morning, a few weeks later, I was outside watering my vegetable garden, and I noticed a beautiful Monarch Butterfly, land on a several of my baby plants, and got excited to see that I was already helping the environment. How the heck did that beautiful butterfly, find these 4 inch high plants in my back yard?   A few days later I noticed something was eating the leaves on my young plants and got upset because I was worried there would be nothing left for the butterflies to eat, not realizing the tiny little worms I found on them, eating them, were Monarch Caterpillars! Butterflies don’t eat the plants. Only their caterpillars do. I had a lot to learn!   I couldn’t believe that I witnessed a visit from a Monarch and she laid eggs on my plants.  Next day, I went outside to visit the caterpillars and they were all gone,  Where did they go?  What I did notice were wasps hanging out by the plants, so I got on my computer and “googled” What eats Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars?

The article said Wasps, Ants, and Beetles, look for holes in Milkweed plants so they can find caterpillars to eat.  So my poor little guys were a meal for other bugs.  I felt like a failure, and immediately began to google, “Butterfly Habitats.”  My thought was, I would order one and be ready for next summer so I can protect the baby caterpillars.  

A few days later, I noticed more caterpillars, the size of inch worms, munching on my plants, so I dug the plants up, potted them and brought them in my house.  I quickly ordered a Butterfly habitat from the internet, and two days later it arrived.  It was inexpensive, light weight, and made from a netting that has holes too small for ants, beetles, and wasps to get through.  Problem solved, right?

New problem to solve.  Monarch Caterpillars, eat a lot. I had 6 caterpillars, and they very quickly ate all the leaves off my young Milkweed plants, so now I was in a panic, where can I get Milkweed?  I had no idea they ate that much!   I put a search out on FaceBook and very quickly I had so many responses from nature loving, FaceBookers telling me where I could find some in my neighborhood, a co-worker brought some into work for me, and also a neighbor did the same.  Problem solved. Let me tell you, it gets exhausting when you have to go out and hunt down Milk Weed daily, so there is always a fresh supply and enough leaves for very hungry caterpillars. 

Rainy days, I carried the habitat inside, Too sunny, I would move them in the shade,  and misted the plants so the caterpillars stay hydrated.  My little Butterfly Sanctuary was turning into a full time job, but I was learning so much, and I loved it! 

One by one, the caterpillars matured into beautiful White, Yellow, and Black banded Caterpillars. A Co-Worker also shares this interest in raising Monarchs and had one that had already entered it’s Chrysalis phase and she was going away, so she asked if I could foster her Monarch for her?  Of course I said yes.  So now I had 7 Monarchs to raise.

Over the next few weeks,  as the caterpillars matured, each would hang in a “J” shaped hook from a leaf and a little string of silk they created, or from the top of the netted habitat, and then 24 hours after that, like a magic trick, in an instant.  they would be all wrapped up in a beautiful, “jade-green,” colored, silk Chrysalis, which resembles a beautiful lantern with iridescent gold dots on it.  Amazing!

Nothing to do but wait now.

Each caterpillar took between 22 and 24 days to emerge, longer that the usual 10-14 days that I read it should take, but I am thinking it’s because the weather has been cooler, especially in the evenings. You know when they will emerge because the Chrysalis goes from a beautiful jade green color, to translucent and you can see your butterfly through it.  When they first emerge or eclose, they must hang upside down for a few hours until their wings grow bigger and stronger.  They emit a hormone to do this.  When the wings are dry and stiff, then their body grows longer and thinner due to the same hormone.  This is a great time to get to know your butterfly, up close, before it can fly away. 

Beautiful Hope, may your wings carry you safely on your journey! Wishing you a blessed journey

I ended up having 3 females and 4 males.  Of course I named them all. Something I have done ever since  I was a little girl bringing home injured wildlife and once a stray dog!. Again, understanding as a very young child, that every animal, no matter how small, was “Some one and not Some thing.”   Every being under my care, got a name!   In the order of their birth, my Monarchs names are  Hope, Nia, Khaleesi, Thor, Hercules, Winston, and Shakespeare.  I learned a lot about these fascinating little beings, from the beginning of their life cycle until the end. I carried that little habitat inside every cool evening and on  rainy spells to give them their best chance to survive.  I moved the habitat into the shade if it got too hot.  I got very attached to these little guys that have so much going against them.  

One of my boys, Winston, emerged late on a sunny afternoon and was not ready to fly until dark so I decided to keep him until morning to give him, his best chance for survival. The next two days were cold and wet, so now I worried about how I could feed him.  Again, I googled “how can I feed a Monarch Butterfly.”  Thank goodness for google!   I learned you can make a nectar with 1 part sugar and 9 parts water.  Make the water warm enough so the sugar dissolves.  After mixing well, place the nectar in a bottle cap and invite your Butterfly to eat.   I can’t tell you how excited I got, when my little “Winston,” sat on my finger and drank his dinner!  So amazing. I think he was my favorite because I had him the longest and I think he liked me too, because before he took off, of my finger, for his first flight, he turned and looked at me as if to say thank you and good-bye!

I shared Reiki with my Butterflies and wished them each a “blessed flight,” before releasing!  I will definitely be doing my part, next Spring as well.  They truly are fascinating little beings!  

I learned so much from them seeing through my “Reiki Eyes.”  The caterpillars born in NY, will live for about 7 to 9 months, and fly all the way back to Mexico, to start this cycle again.

I can’t believe how much I learned about Monarchs this Summer. Crazy things like they taste with their feet. Caterpillars poop, a lot, but Butterflies don’t poop or pee.   They fly all the way back to Mexico, with an innate “Radar Map and GPS” in their heads to make this trip. They have polarized vision so they can see where the Sun is on a cloudy day. They do recognize landmarks. They do not learn how to fly or get to Mexico by previous generations showing them the way. They digest themselves in the chrysalis before they change into a Butterfly. If you broke open a chrysalis before it is ready you would find caterpillar soup for lack of a better word. Crazy right?  A Monarch’s colors warn other species that they taste bad?  Did you know you can tell the difference of a male and female by their spots? Males have two black dots on the backs of their wings.  Did you know they need the Sun to warm the muscles in their wings so they can fly? Butterfly wings are kind of like solar panels and it has to be at in the 50’s for them to fly.  There is so much more  than this too! 

I recommend everyone watch “Flight of the Butterflies.” It’s a PBS documentary and free on Youtube. Very well done and fascinating! Enjoy the photos.  And please, think about helping out the Monarch Butterflies.  They play an important role pollinating our food supply.  At the very least, please plant some milkweed in your yard, and let nature do the rest!  

Meditating With Tigers

When Tigers enter your Meditation

It’s so funny how our minds work sometimes.  How memories of heartbreak and hurt, that we’ve forgotten about or purposefully bury, resurface when we least expect them. Also how past events  we believe we have worked through, remain inside us, silently, until our soul is ready to release them back to the universe. 

The following was an unexpected gift that I received during a recent Reiju, shared with a fellow practitioner, at the CARE Foundation, in Apopka, Florida, 02/23/2019.   CARE is an exotic animal rescue.  I was there, resitting this Teacher Training with Kathleen Prasad, and her “Let Animals Lead®,” method of Animal Reiki, as I wanted the opportunity to share Reiki with exotic animals.   

It all began as I sat in a chair with my hands in Gassho with the intention that I would be open to receive healing, just as I have many times before. 

As the Reiju started I felt very relaxed and peaceful.  As I relaxed even more into meditation, my mind took me from the room to a beautiful place where I saw myself standing, knee deep, in the middle of a sparkling river.  The water was sparkling like diamonds, as the beautiful rays of warm sunlight hit the surface.  I  remember looking around and on both sides of the river taking notice to the lush, tropical, vividly colored, plants, flowers, and trees.  I felt so happy and warm in this place. It seemed so real.  All of a sudden, 3 tigers came bouncing out of the jungle, into the river,  to be with me.  I didn’t feel afraid.  I felt happy and excited to see them!  Very protective, strong, and loving at the same time.  I knew it was Tyrion, Katrina, and Danarus because I had meditated with them the day before.  They ran right out into the water without hesitation to greet me. They were so beautiful.  I looked at them, smiling, and as each Tiger greeted me, they purred and rubbed their body along the front and back of my legs, while my hand ran down the length of their backs,  just like a house cat would, and when they did this, I received a beautiful “voiceless” message, inside me, from each Tiger.  No sound, but the message was so perfectly clear, I felt it in my heart.  Like a heart-hug.  

Tyrion went first. His message to me was “Strength is knowing who you are. Stand in that truth. Don’t be afraid.  You know who you are and no one can take that from you. Strength  does not have to be combative and loud but soft and coming from a place of love and compassion even when you are hurting.”

Katrina went next.  Her message to me was “Be patient. Things will unfold as they should. Don’t let others perceptions of you, become your own. You are loved.  Be the light for others. Be love, compassion, and kind. You are enough. You are strong. Stand strong in your truth.” 

Danarus went last.  Her message to me, “ Don’t feel sorry for me that I am in a cage. I am fine. We all have our own cages, and yours is fear and worry. Be brave and don’t let others fears and anxieties become your own. You know who you are.”

I don’t know how I knew who said what, I just knew.  I held each of their faces and kissed each of their heads and thanked them for their message to me, and then they ran off back into the jungle.  

When the Reiju ended, I opened my eyes and I had tears streaming down my cheeks.  What the heck did I just experience? Did I fall asleep? Where did I go? How long was this Reiju?  In reality, I knew I was awake for the whole Reiju. I thanked my fellow practitioner, and said “I have to hurry up and write down what I had just experienced before I forget any of it! Then let’s talk……Thank you so much!”  

It’s been several months and I still think about this experience because it felt so powerful! I still feel a strong connection to the Tigers at CARE Foundation, and their beautiful energy. I have always felt, sometimes, people mistake kindness for weakness, and what I believe I experienced, is Tiger energy is there to remind us of our inner strength. I believe that was their message to me.  I am grateful for that experience and for their messages. I am grateful for the time I had with them. I truly believe this was a beautiful heart-to-heart connection they created between us, perhaps on a spiritual plane, in a space, that can only can “be Reiki.” 

Patti Andrasak, Shinpiden Level and Animal Reiki, Teacher and Practitioner.  04-28-2019

Handsome Tyrion, right after our Reiki session! An amazing teacher whose lessons will always be with me.

Care Foundation, Exotic Animal Rescue, Apopka, FL.

Just returned home from the CARE foundation. An exotic animal rescue in Apopka Florida. I will never forget my Reiki experiences here, the life lessons the animals have taught me, and the beautiful people and animals I connected with. ❤️🐾💚 #AnimalTeachers #BeReiki#BeCompassion#BeKindToEveryKind

Blondie

Meet Blondie the albino Python! Isn’t he beautiful! Reptile energy is so grounding. Very self-aware, centered and present. They know who they are. A very primitive energy. There is a feeling of honoring each others space, without threat, when you share Reiki with reptiles. #ancientwisdom #knowing #BePresent #honorspace #animalreikiteacher

Tyrion the Tiger

Reiki with Tyrion

“Being Reiki” with Tyrion the Tiger, at CARE Foundation, Apopka, Florida. I learned so many great lessons from the 3 tigers here. Tyrian, Daenerys, and Katrina. Lessons in inner strength, letting go of fear and worry, be brave, know who you are, your true-self. Stand in your truth! Such great spiritual teachers! #tigerenergy #heartenergy #verywise #strengthinsilence #strengthinknowingyourtrueself #animalreikiteachers

Amos

Amos loves Reiki and pizza! Amos now lives with the owner of the CARE Foundation, Apopka, Florida, Christin Burford.CARE is a Rescue for exotic animals. I had so many great Reiki experiences here with the caregivers and animal residents. Such a sweet boy! Purchased as a baby, Amos was raised by human parents, until they passed away, which left him traumatized. Thank goodness he found his way to Christin at CARE, who provides him with all the love and the attention, he so deserves. Amos is 28 years old. #trustintheuniverse #belove #bekind #bereiki #animalteacher #monkeymind #justfortodaydonotworry #animalslovereiki

Goliath

Meet Goliath. A giant tortoise teacher with a giant lesson, in patience and persistance. A very gentle soul, gentle energy, with lessons for me from ancient wisdom. Very grounding and gentle, unlike the crocodiles and snakes that were also grounding but with a more piercing, direct kind of feeling in their energy. We soaked up the sun and Reiki together. #primitivewisdom #animalreikiteacher #patience

Lola

Beautiful Lola! Lola lives at CARE in Florida. “She came to care only a few months old after being used in a TV show. When they were done with her, she was going to be sent to auction. Black bears usually end up in hunting camps after auctions. CARE immediately stepped in and took her home.” I loved our Reik sessions. Her Reiki energy was like receiving a big warm “heart hug,” Very sweet, warm, comforting, loving space. I saw lots of pink, fucshia, and green, while sharing Reiki with her. Heart to heart connections are always the best! I love bear energy! Even after the way she was treated and sent to auction, she still loves people. One of the lessons I felt I learned from her, was about, being present, let go of worry, and let go of attachments to the outcome of situations. In other words, all is well! Everything works out as it should. #bearteacher #hearttoheartconnections #hearthug #animalreikiteacher

Chimera

Chimera the Liliger! What a loverboy! At not quite 2 years old, his energy was all about play and curiousity! Weighing in at almost 400 pounds he eats between 18 -20 lbs of meat a day! He’s not done growing yet! He loved his pool and his toy tire! He would make up his own chase-game, with them. I believe his lessons were all about making time to play and not letting the “walls we put up,” keep us from enjoying life! Not taking ourselves to serious and making time for play everyday. Letting go of anxiety and worry, make your own fun, create new adventures and new experiences even in the everyday little things. His Reiki energy was very happy, fun, and light! I loved his big ole’ paws, too! #Liligerlessons #animalreikiteache

Reiki with a Snake

This morning I met up with a little snake slithering in the grass near me so I decided to share Reiki with him. I never shared Reiki with a snake before but for some reason I felt a connection with him and I asked him if he would like to sit with me and meditate for few minutes.

I sat down next to him, and he stayed still and then lifted his head up and stayed that way for 15 -20 minutes or so . We sat together in silence, in a beautiful Reiki space.” I even chanted with him and I swear he was smiling! I posted this on my FB page, Inner Peace Reiki, and if you listen to the video you can hear how loud the birds were too as we shared Reiki. I love my yard and this time of year. I usually am afraid of snakes but the funny thing about this was I had practiced a meditation a few days earlier, bringing in the wise, ancient wisdom of the snake energy, which helps us go deep within ourselves for healing, and I didn't feel any fear or surprise when I saw this snake in my yard. Instead, I felt affection towards him as I would any other animal I meet, and wanted to create a beautiful space of Reiki healing energy with him. The snake energy is all about patience, wisdom, slowing down, and being present and I believe that's what he was there to remind me of on this day. I would have missed all the special moments I experienced today, with all the animals in my yard, if I did not meet up with my new friend

My Certification as an Animal Reiki Teacher for SARA (Shelter Animal Reiki Association)

Out of all my Reiki certifications I am the most proud of this! I am so excited to become a SARA teacher too, and bring Reiki into more shelters and rescues with the knowledge of Kathleen’s teachings. No other class has changed my practice and the way I will teach my animal reiki classes, the way this has! No other class has been as in depth as this was. Studying with Kathleen Prasad at CAS with all my “animal teachers” has been a dream of mine for over a year now and I’m still beaming thinking about how great the whole experience was for me, and that it really happened!Meeting all the other beautiful souls taking her class and witnessing all the peace we brought to the CAS animals while we were there, was just the icing on the cake for me! I am forever grateful! Grateful and blessed that my Reiki journey crossed with Kathleen and we are friends now too! Kathleen, if you read this, you’re a beautiful person inside and out, and I can’t wait to share this knowledge with others and bring healing and peace to more animals. Thank you again for all you do. “Just sayin’ “
#LetAnimalsLead #GreatfulandBlessed  #SARAteacher/practitioner #animalreikisourceteacher/practitioner 🙏💚

World Animal Reiki Day: My Two Favorite Animal Reiki Experiences

World Animal Reiki Day falls on February 5th. For me, “World Animal Reiki Day,” started before work, spending a beautiful morning, sharing Reiki with my dog, Jasmine, a friendly herd of deer in my backyard, and with my wonderful animal friends at Catskill Animal Sanctuary.  I saw many animals at CAS this morning, including sheep, goats, cows, and even a donkey, Daisy,  but I wanted to share two very special sessions with you today.  

It was a very cold morning, but sunny as I began my visit at CAS.  The morning sunlight rained down gorgeous rays of light giving the Sanctuary a Spiritual glow as I walked down the path towards the Turkey house for my first Reiki Share with the wonderful turkeys!  One in particular really enjoyed our morning session as he moved closer to me and fell into a Reiki nap, a few minutes into the meditation.  He would open his eyes, in sync with the ebb and flow of the Reiki energy and then fell back into sleep again.  It was hard for me to end the session,  because when I started to say goodbye he would start making cute turkey noises, but I had to, so I had time to share Reiki with other animals.  This little guy would of had me all to himself for the rest of the day if he could!  We were able to spend about 30 minutes together.  The bird house was very noisy until the Reiki started to flow and then a total silence came over their house.  Even the geese across the path stopped honking and hissing and enjoyed receiving Reiki too!  I love sharing Reiki with the turkeys as they are so sweet and open,  creating a beautiful "heart to heart connection," that I feel whenever I share Reiki with them. 

My next share was with two beautiful souls Rowdy and Colette.  Two horses, male and female, that share the same pasture.  The dynamic between these two is really fun to witness!  Rowdy is dominant and always protective of Colette and also the more outgoing of the two, when it comes to my visits. He usually blocks her view of me when I walk over to their pasture so he can get all of the attention, especially when sharing Reiki. They were both munching on some hay when I started to walk up the path to their pasture and said hello, but today Colette began to walk towards me first, when she heard me.  When Rowdy saw this he hurried up to meet-up with Colette. First he stopped between us, walking in front of her, stopping so she couldn’t see me, and then walked on to go back to the hay, as if he gave her permission to go first.  She stayed, standing sideways, ready for Reiki.  I began sharing Reiki with her and she stayed standing, looking very relaxed.  Every now and then she would chew a little, shift her wait from side to side, and closed her eyes.  After about 15 minutes or so Rowdy came back in the picture, and stood facing her,  maybe 20 feet apart, mirroring her  body language,  ready to receive Reiki.

I could feel the beautiful connection with them as the session progressed, and both of them showed several signs of relaxation including chewing, and hip cocking (changing the weight of their bodies over different legs, positioning their hooves with only the front on the ground like a ballerina would on point shoes.) After about 30 minutes or so, Colette did a bow with her head in what feels like a gratitude nod to me, and walked off to get some hay. I thanked her for sharing her beautiful energy with me.  I continued sending Reiki to Rowdy. When Colette walked away, Rowdy began to walk towards me to the fence.   I’m not allowed in the enclosures when I am by myself, for safety reasons. There is a wooden railed fence between us with a wire fence between the rails that has large square-shapes, open in the middle.  Rowdy put his big beautiful head over the fence and put his nose into my chest and I began to stroke his face and cheeks,  brush his bangs away from his eyes, speaking softly to him, telling him how special he is, and how beautiful he is, and more.  He loves our quiet talks, together, and so do I.  What happened next really surprised me.  He began to lift his right front leg and kept placing his hoof in the wire fence and kept bowing his head down, like he was pointing to his knee.  Intuitively, I felt something was going on with his right knee.  I asked him several times is your knee hurting you?  Did you hurt your foot?  Everytime I asked him, he would raise his foot and place it in the fence, then bend his head down to his knee.  I was so surprised.  In my heart, I knew that he wanted me to place my hand on his knee and share Reiki, so I did.  He was close enough to the fence that I was able to bend down and gently place my hand on his knee to share more Reiki with him.  His knee felt warm to the touch and I felt a lot of  Reiki energy in my hand when it was placed on his knee.  Rowdy stood very still, while I kept my hand there for a few more minutes, until I felt the Reiki subside a little. I was so amazed with what just took place, I still can’t stop thinking about it!   My total session with Rowdy and Colette was approx. about 45 min or so. I told Rowdy I would ask someone to take a look at his knee.  Rowdy gave me one more nuzzle with his big, beautiful face, before he turned and walked off.  I thanked him for sharing Reiki with me and for my “lesson.”

 But that’s not all that surprised me.  The cutest thing was,  when I started to walk away after a few steps, I turned around one more time  to make sure he was walking ok and when I turned around I saw that he had stopped walking, and had turned around and was watching me walk away.  I couldn’t believe it!  My eyes welled up with tears. I thanked him again for being such a great teacher and for being such a beautiful, bright light, in my life,  and told him I will be back soon.  It’s hard to express how much I have come to  love this horse after only getting to know him this past year, and how much I appreciate everything he has taught me about patience, trusting my own intuition, letting him lead and allowing him the space to come in and out of the session with the ebb and flow of the Reiki energy and not stopping the session too quick,  and also being open enough to understand the different signs of communication between the horses and with me.  I am truly grateful for all of this. 

I took a couple of short videos and pictures of Rowdy’s behavior to show them to one of the animal caretakers who I’ve gotten to know, and asked her if she knew if anything was going on with his right knee because of what I witnessed and what I felt with the energy during our Reiki session.  She confirmed to me that Rowdy had developed arthritis in his right knee and that they are aware of it. 

I can’t stop thinking about our Reiki session together and how smart Rowdy was to show me his knee and communicate to me that he would love more Reiki there.  

Before Reiki, I never would have thought I could connect with a turkey or other birds in the way that we do, when sharing Reiki.  What beautiful, sweet beings of light, they are too!

All and all I had a great, first, World Animal Reiki Day!

All animals love Reiki! Inside we are all the same. "We are all connected. Always have been, always will be!

Animal Reiki Workshop with Kathleen Prasad

I’m so excited to share, that I just received my Certificate of Completion for the Animal Reiki Workshop, with Kathleen Prasad, Reiki Master/Teacher. Kathleen has practiced Animal Reiki for over 15 years, Co-founded SARA (Shelter Animal Reiki Association), authored several books on animal Reiki, and travels the globe teaching and speaking about all things Reiki. Even though I have a Reiki Master Level certification, in all my studies, animal Reiki was never touched on with the depth, that it was, in this course. Her unique way of sharing Reiki with animals, through meditative practice which allows the animals to lead the way in their own healing, was truly an amazing experience and game changer for me in the way I share Reiki with animals now. It has given me a better understanding of different animal behaviors when receiving Reiki and also in the responses I have experienced from them in return. Some of the “heart to heart” connections I have felt with my animal clients, has been life changing for me. I can't thank Kathleen enough for putting this course together and for sharing herself, her experiences, and insights with me on her calls. Thank you again, for all you do. I am forever grateful!

More exciting news….Now besides my own personal website and Facebook, you will be able to find me, along with my business, contact information, and practitioner services, in the directory, on Kathleen’s, Animal Reiki Source website, at www.animalreikisource.com.

Even more exciting news…Also upon completing her course, I am now a new member/ practitioner, of SARA (Shelter Animal Reiki Association). A little bit about SARA. “SARA is a non-profit organization that teaches and promotes Animal Reiki through meditation practices. Our goal is to ensure better healing practices for shelter and sanctuary animals. We work closely with caregivers, veterinarians, and volunteers to help create a positive healing space for all animals. With the use of Animal Reiki, practitioners are able to provide a support system for animals. Providing a positive space where they can relax, self-heal and re-balance.” From the SARA website

All of this, because I offered to volunteer, to share Reiki with the animals, a couple of hours every week, several months ago, at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Even before discovering, Kathleen Prasad, through several of her published Animal Reiki books and then taking her class, I observed with my own eyes, the difference a little Reiki can make in the lives of so many animals who suffered abuse and neglect, at the Sanctuary. Those beautiful souls have been some of my greatest teachers so far. And of course, I have to give special kudos to my beautiful Reiki Dog, Jasmine Rose, who was my first animal Reiki teacher, and has taught me, and still teaches me, so much about energy, patience, and listening to our inner voice, by allowing her to lead our sessions and just “Be Reiki” together.#hearttoheartconnectionsarealwaysthebest” Namaste!

"Healing With Reiki In Hospitals" by Tess Ghilaga for Spirituality and Health Magazine

This is such a great article. Worth the read! I have been interested in Reiki and a more holistic approach to health and wellness for years, so this was so exciting for me to see that more and more hospitals, and professionals in the medical community are recognizing the benefits of Reiki for their patientsand staff.

The following is a great article by Tess Ghilaga,  from Spirituality and Health Magazine.

Healing with Reiki in Hospitals

The healing art of Reiki is finding a surprising new home—high-tech Western hospitals.

In today’s hospitals, we see a brilliant show of hands—from the dexterity of a finely trained surgeon to the strong and efficient handiwork of a nurse. Soon, more hospitals might be adding the balancing touch of a reiki practitioner to their ranks.

Pamela Miles, a reiki master with 27 years of experience, advises Western health care professionals on how they can use this Japanese practice of “laying-on hands” to help ease pain, relieve stress, and speed recovery.

"When the human system is balanced, its self-healing mechanisms function optimally,” she says, noting studies have found that in addition to reducing pain and anxiety, reiki can improve blood pressure, respiration, heart rate, and heart-rate variability.

Miles participated in a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, in which reiki-trained nurses gave patients a 20-minute treatment within three days after a heart attack. The patients showed enhanced mood, and the improvement in heart-rate variability was comparable to beta blockers—an important indicator, since poor HRV is the most reliable predictor of death from another heart attack.

A growing number of physicians are recognizing the benefits of this healing practice, including cardiologist Suzanne Steinbaum, the director of Women and Heart Disease at Lenox Hill Hospital, Heart and Vascular Institute, in New York City, and author of Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book. Steinbaum took Miles’ first-degree reiki training course, and approaches her work with the conviction that patients will heal best if their care is in line with their lifestyle and beliefs.

As an example, she recalls a female patient with irregular heartbeats caused by hyperthyroidism who had been advised to get a cardiac ablation (a corrective heart-rhythm procedure) or surgery on her thyroid. But the woman was reluctant to undergo surgery and sought to alleviate her condition with reiki, acupuncture and herbal medicine. So Steinbaum made a deal with the patient—she could try a holistic approach, but under her doctor’s supervision. 

“After five to six months, we started to see improvements, and by eight months, her thyroid normalized,” says Steinbaum. “I knew that if I didn’t help her, she was going to do it anyway, so I decided it was a better option for her to at least be monitored.”     

The results didn’t surprise Miles, who says, “Although people usually feel better quickly—no small thing when you are suffering—the balancing effects of Reiki practice often build slowly when there is a chronic condition. When there is trauma such as an injury or surgery, however, the effects of balancing the system can be quite dramatic.”

Reiki practitioner Nancy Arnott witnessed such improvement frequently during Miles’ 100-hour Reiki internship program on the general surgery floor of Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. There, Arnott treated a wide range of patients, from 19-year-olds with appendectomies to 85-year-olds recovering from cancer surgery, all in varying degrees of pain. Pre- and post-scores showed reduction in pain and anxiety with reiki treatment.

“Some people who are religious told me they saw Jesus Christ” during sessions, Arnott says. “They went deep within and connected to the spiritual part of them.”

Keely Garfield learned to practice reiki with Miles, and took her Medical Reiki Intensive. Garfield is now the clinical coordinator of the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy program at the Farber Center for Radiation Oncology.

Garfield saw reiki come to the rescue during the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, when she offered treatments to abandoned babies, orphans, doctors, nurses, and staff at the NPH St. Damien’s Pediatric Hospital and Orphanage. Reiki’s calming effects were evident, including with an autistic toddler who was blind, partially deaf, and self-stimulating by rocking back and forth in her crib.  Garfield recalls placing her hands on the girl’s chest and belly and feeling the girl became still, her frenetic breathing softening. When she sang to her, the girl turned her face in her direction, and Garfield felt a gentle connection.

In addition to her private classes, Miles also trains doctors and nurses to practice reiki, including staff at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and Yale Medical School. “In the home or in health care, the care of others begins with the care of the caregiver,” Miles says. “Empowering professionals with a daily self-care practice naturally makes them better caregivers, and practicing reiki for just a few moments can help settle distressed patients.”

Animal Reiki

First, let me just say,  I have always loved animals.  All types of animals.  I have always felt a special connection with them.  I have always had a dog or two, in my life since I was a baby. As a young girl, I also had a rabbit, ducks, fish, seahorses, and a couple of little turtles.  Oh yeah, and I am one of those people who stop for squirrels, groundhogs, opossums, turtles,  and other wild-life to cross the street. After all, it's not their fault we  invade their space, now.   In March, I decided to volunteer a couple of hours a week at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary, to help heal the emotional and physical wounds of the animals with Reiki!  I chose a sanctuary, because I felt, those beautiful, trusting and loving animals had already been betrayed by humans they trusted,  and  I wanted to show  them by example, along with the Sanctuary caretakers and visitors,  that all humans are not hurtful!  I also knew that Reiki could help them heal  too! What an awesome  learning experience it has been for me, to work with different types of animals and Reiki.   I have had such amazing visits every week when I go, and I am learning so much from the animals.  The animals have been great teachers, to me, and healers, as well.  Who would have thought this? I was going there to help them, but instead we've  helped each other.   I have so much to share, with you, about our visits.  

On May 2nd, I enrolled in a five week Animal Reiki Workshop/Certification class , taught by Kathleen Prasad, to further my education with animal Reiki.  I truly love working with the animals as they have taught me so much.  I highly recommend this class. Kathleen has been an amazing teacher.  It's been really great and I have learned so much from it.  She has been teaching animal Reiki since 2004, founded Animal Reiki Source, and SARA (Shelter Animal Reiki Association),and has written several books of which I own three of them.  This is my last week of class! I can't thank Kathleen enough for everything that I have learned from this class. Truly, eye opening!  more to come:  

"Listen to the animals, they will be your teachers!" Kathleen Prasad