Lenore
This is a post about the power and beauty of intention, which is so vital to keep in mind when working with animals. It is also about the importance of being flexible, and always being open to learning.
In the following post I will share with you a
beautifully simple, but powerful technique that I used with both Lenore and Bandit at Bideawee, as
they were both in the cat receiving area when I first met them. (I will do
separate posts on Lenore and Bandit at another time, as these are both cats who I have worked with quite extensively).
Bandit
Bandit was
brought in as a feral cat. She has one
eye, and also went through treatment for breast cancer before arriving at the
shelter. So one can imagine that those
factors, in addition to the complete change of environment, added up to a very
scared cat. She was extremely shut-down,
and would hiss any time her cage was opened.
Lenore
Lenore was
also extremely frightened when I first met her, but more apt to lash out when
approached rather than hide at the back of the cage like Bandit. She had been adopted as a kitten by a family
with a child, and then was returned about a year and a half later as she had
been reactive in the home. Without
knowing all the circumstances, I think there is a good probability that the energy
of the child was just too much for her.
Cats are extremely sensitive beings, and the hectic and out-of-control
energy of children can be too overwhelming for some cats. And of course, as
great a shelter as Bideawee is, Lenore was still extremely stressed by being back at
the shelter.
When a cat is
extremely fearful and hesitant to be approached, it is best for me to begin by
using techniques that can be done from a distance, such as Reiki from a short
distance, or TTouch using tools such as a paintbrush or back scratcher.
TTouch with Bandit with a paintbrush
Lenore and
Bandit were both extremely receptive to Reiki, as I did not have to even open
their cage to share the energy with them.
The Reiki helped them both to relax in my presence, their body postures
relaxing and their eyes closing.
I also found
that both cats were very receptive to being spoken to in a calm, slow, quiet
voice.
Which is
what brings me to this technique that I used with them. It is something that was taught to me when I
was learning about using muscle testing.
When using muscle testing, especially in the beginning, it is easy to be unsure about
what you are doing. So I was taught this mantra, which is helpful in
centering and relaxing in such a way that one can go forward with the muscle
testing. When one is doing the mantra for
oneself, one says, “I am very loved, and very safe”. This is repeated over and over a number of
times.
So then when
working with the animals in the shelter, I thought why not use this to help the
animals?
So I would
sit in front of Lenore’s cage or Bandit’s cage, first sending Reiki to them,
then imagining the words before I said them.
Then when I said it, I said it slowly, pausing after “loved” and “safe”,
really feeling and imagining what I was saying.
“You are verrryyyy loved………. And you are verrrry safe.” I repeated it quietly, slowly, continuing the
Reiki flow and imagining the cat safe and protected with light and love. Both Bandit and Lenore really responded to
this, closing their eyes, relaxing, taking it in.
Lenore relaxing
I have used
this with other cats as well, and it always helps to create such a beautiful
energy around the animal and me, that we are connected with this calming light
and energy.
Bandit enjoying TTouch
Many months later, after much slow, careful work with Reiki and TTouch, Bandit is now doing really well and is comfortable with direct TTouch from me. You will hear more about her soon!
Here is a video of the technique, early on with Bandit, and a later session with Lenore which you will read more about below:
And to skip
some months down the road with Lenore, she was transferred a ways back to Bideawee’s
Westhampton facility, which has been a great change for her. She is able to be in a room with a lot of
space, and she is so much more at ease.
Lenore at Westhampton
I have been
going out to the Westhampton facility every week or two to work with Lenore
(and, of course, a number of other kitties!).
One day recently, I just felt like Lenore and I were not
connecting. And it occurred to me to try
the mantra again.
“You are
verrry loved, and verrry safe, you are verrry loved, and verrry safe”.
Lenore
Lenore had
been sitting several feet from me, facing out the window, a bit hyped up because
of some flying leaves and birds outside.
After the first time of saying it, I saw her body posture visibly
relax. She shifted herself and looked
right at me. It was as though she had
gone back to that moment when she had been so scared, and when I had said that,
and it had helped her. I felt she was
thanking me.
I kept
saying it, slowly, pausing after “loved” and “safe”, really visualizing and
feeling it. She kept facing me, and her
eyes slowly closed, getting so relaxed.
After
a while I stopped saying it out loud, just kept hearing it in my head, and kept
feeling the energy of that.
Sky
There is a
glass wall in her room separating Lenore from another room where there were two
cats, Sky and Pumpkin. They always respond when I am doing Reiki with Lenore,
and they were responding to this as well.
Sky was sitting near the glass, relaxing his eyes, and Pumpkin was
sleeping.
Lenore
We were all
part of this lovely, relaxing energy.
And it was interesting, too, to feel that connection with Lenore that
felt like it stretched back those months ago when she was first learning to
trust me.
This session
reminded me, too, that it is always important to keep my mind flexible. The animals remind me of this every day. If something is not working, try something
else. Sometimes it will be Reiki,
sometimes it will be TTouch, sometimes it will be play time, sometimes it will
be talking in a calm voice, etc. If one
TTouch doesn’t work, then maybe another will.
If one TTouch tool is not effective, then maybe another one will be.
The most important thing when working
with an animal is to truly be there in the moment with them. Because when you are really there in that moment, that is
when the magic can unfold.
I thank the animals for reminding me of that, and for all they have to teach me. And I thank all the beings at the shelter, both human and animal, for all the love, caring and beauty that they have to share. :) xxoo
