TTouch and Reiki at Bideawee: The Journey and Transformation of Baby Tommy (and a bit about his friend Miu Miu)

Baby Tommy (also known as Beau) was a terrified kitty when I first met him in the downstairs receiving area at Bideawee. He was hiding inside of a cavelike bed, and would hiss and swat when the cage opened.  I was not able to get a decent photo of him in the beginning as he was mostly hidden when I first started working with him.  But he looked like such a different cat than the one you see in these pictures here.  He was so frightened and pulled in and hunkered down.  It was as if his true self was covered with layers of fear. 
I started out by sending him Reiki just sitting next to his cage.  I did this for a while, and could see that this was helping him to relax.  Having this distance, and just making contact with the energy can help to establish a connection that is very soothing and non-threatening.

After a couple of sessions, I decided to try making contact with him using a paintbrush. At this point he was inside a cavelike bed which was turned to the side so it was hard to see him.  I very carefully turned it a bit so that I could see enough of him to see his response.  At first he hissed, but as I began to do some of the circular TTouches on his forehead, he began to calm.  I just did a short time at first, and he began settling into a longer time after a while.  As I worked, even though he was hard to see, I could see and feel him becoming more relaxed.
Shortly after I began working with the paintbrush, the cave-bed was substituted with a metal mesh box which was partially covered with a cloth.  The mesh enabled me to see more of him, and he was still able to feel safe as he was enclosed.  He was still scared and would start out with a hiss, but was very responsive to the TTouches on his head with the paintbrush.  His body posture would settle as I worked with him. As time went on, I was able to TTouch him around his face, and a bit on his body as well.

Once he became more comfortable with this, I began to work my hand down the paintbrush and do a few TTouch circles on his forehead with the back of one finger, actually the fingernail was what was in contact with him.  He began to respond to this more every time, relaxing his body as I worked with him.  Pretty soon I could approach him and TTouch him directly with my hand.  He was still cautious and wanted to remain near the back of the cage, but he was more and more comfortable with me each time I worked with him.  Reiki was also flowing as I was working with him, helping to create a sense of calm.

Meanwhile, there was another shy cat in the receiving area named Miu Miu, who had come in with kittens who were adopted quickly, but she was initially quite wary of people so needed more socialization. Miu Miu connected very strongly with me and, I think, with Baby Tommy.  Her cage was up a level and one over from his, and when I worked with him, she would sit at the front of her cage, look at us and purr.  So sweet!! 

Above: Miu Miu

I was working with her a lot as well and making huge progress with her - first by doing TTouches with her with a paintbrush, to give her some space, and later I could TTouch her directly with my hands. 

 Above:  Baby Tommy and Miu Miu

 After some time in the receiving area, Baby Tommy and Miu Miu were both moved to a resort with several other low-key, mellow cats and this environment helped them both to jump ahead to a whole other level of comfort.  Though they both were hiding initially cuddled together with another cat Zoe inside the litter bench, Miu Miu soon started coming out to explore and was more confident and friendly every day.

 Above: Miu Miu

Her sweet, funny personality came forth more and more, and it wasn't too long before she went home.

Above:  Miu Miu, Baby Tommy and Zoe

Baby Tommy was still cautious with others, hissing when the litter bench was opened, but he remembered me from when he was downstairs and he soon was nuzzling into my hand, licking it and purring.

His eyes began to be more relaxed and open than I had ever seen them.
Each time I came to work with him, he was more and more trusting, and soon he began to come out of the litter bench when he saw me, rubbing into my hand.  He recognized me, and recognized my energy.  He was becoming more comfortable with others as well, especially some of the regular volunteers, and he began to be comfortable enough to be petted by them and to play with them.
It really was lovely to see his whole demeanor change from when he was in the receiving area, so scared.  He is such a beautiful cat, and he looked even more beautiful as he came further and further out of his shell.
He still could get timid with too much activity, but in general, his face and body were so much more relaxed, and since he was so comfortable with other cats, having his kitty friends around him helped him to feel more comfortable as well.  He would come up to any new cat who arrived in the resort and would want to be friends with them.
Tommy was comfortable at this point with me doing TTouches around his belly area, so I decided to see how he felt about being gently picked up.  I sat on a low stool, and first just picked him up a bit off the ground, then placed him back down and did TTouches with him.  We did this a few times, and then I picked him up and put him in my lap, then started doing hair slides and TTouches with him right away to help him be comfortable. 
  

Soon he was settled in my lap, where I did some Reiki and TTouch with him as well.  It was such a moving experience to feel him so comfortable being so close to me.  He was so accustomed to me doing the TTouches with him that at this point he was even comfortable with me touching his paws and around his mouth.  He is such a gentle soul, and it was beautiful to see his sweet, gentle personality come forth more and more.
And there is a special kind of bond that forms through Reiki and TTouch, especially when I work with an animal for quite a while and I see them go through such a transformation.  These are both very gentle, yet very deep ways of connecting with an animal.  It is a very deep spiritual connection, a connection beyond time and space.  A connection of the heart, of the mind, of the spirit.  These are some of the most precious moments imaginable, just being there in the moment with an animal, experiencing the pure love and trust in that moment.

About a month ago, a woman who had previously adopted a cat from Bideawee came in looking for a friend for her cat and fell in love with him, so she took him into her loving home.  It was hard to say goodbye to dear Baby Tommy, but I was so glad that he was going home.  I wish him well, and know that he is in a special place in my heart always.  Thank you little Tommy, for teaching me and for reminding me about patience, slowing down, and enjoying the beauty of the moment.  xoxox

Update on BARC's Little JB (now Isis Pie): Her New Journey in Her Loving Forever Home:)

JB/Isis Pie on her favorite chair

A while back I wrote about my work with Little JB, a lovely, dear cat at BARC Shelter (http://sarahsuricat.blogspot.com/2014/09/ttouch-at-barc-shelter-little-jb-power.html).  Most likely due to her negative experiences before arriving at the shelter, she was very withdrawn and mistrustful of contact with people.  She was ok playing with toys, but it was hard for her to trust being touched.

I found that working with her very slowly and gradually, using TTouch and Reiki, I was able to start to build trust with her.  I would offer her Reiki from a short distance away, giving her space, and would work with her with TTouch either using tools or with "air TTouches", which are TTouches done a short distance (or it can be a long distance) from the body. Sometimes I would do TTouches with a paintbrush, on or off the body.  I also did a bit of clicker training with her, simply having her touch her nose to a wand for treats.  In this way, I could sometimes encourage her to come closer to me. 

I wanted to make sure that I was on the right track with JB, and so I had my dear friend and colleague Eileen Garfinkel (who is a wonderful animal communicator, http://dreamsofamelia.com) do a communication with JB.  Eileen could feel how frightened JB was at the shelter, and her experience before the shelter was negative and neglectful.  When I next went to BARC, I could feel in JB, as though she was more receptive to me and more trusting, as though through the session I had made a deeper connection with her.  I knew that I had to be even more gentle in my approach than I had been before, and I think JB sensed this.  I focused more on Reiki from a short distance away, and kept the direct contact to very short periods of time, following her body language very closely.

At the end of the November, a lovely woman named Julia came into BARC Shelter and felt she made a really special connection with JB.  Not long after that, she and her husband Fred decided to bring JB into their loving home.

Several weeks later, Julia had me come to her home to work with JB (now Isis Pie -- I am going to continue to use her former name for the rest of this post).  JB was contentedly resting on top of the cage that she had borrowed from the shelter to ease JB's transition into the home. JB had been in a cage for about a year, and it is really useful to have a cage to help this type of the transition, so that they don't become overwhelmed by the space and hide.


When I arrived at their lovely apartment, JB was sitting comfortably in a cat bed on top of the cage.  From what Julia told me, she was settling into their home really amazingly well, even coming on her lap and on their bed a couple of times.  She was only using the cage to go to the litter box inside it, and was completely out and about in the apartment.

It was clear that JB recognized me and was probably more comfortable with me there than in the shelter environment, which can be overwhelming.

I showed Julia how to do some of the TTouches by hand, as well as by using tools such as the stick end of a stick toy or the handle of a wooden spoon, and showed her how to do "air TTouches", which are literally TTouches done in the air.  The air TTouches I did out of JB's view, as seeing the movement of these TTouches can be irritating or can entice some cats to want to attack your hand like a toy.  Doing the air TTouches very slowly can create a relaxing energy from a distance if the cat needs some space.  I also did Reiki with JB, which Julia said relaxed her as well.

Subsequently I did a couple of sessions with JB, which went quite well.  I could tell that she was really absorbing the fact that this was her home. It is so beautiful to see that change, particularly in an animal who tends to be so cautious and fearful.  I still was working with JB in a very slow, gradual way, allowing her to come to me if she wished, doing Reiki from a short distance if she wasn't in the mood for more direct contact with TTouch (either with my hand or with a tool).  Occasionally I would push the envelope a bit and come towards her a bit to see what she would do, but it was usually best to stay mostly in one place and offer the Reiki energy, allowing her to come and go as she felt comfortable. She would greet me when I came to see her, coming up to me and sometimes rubbing her face a bit on my hand.
And I know that Julia and Fred are being so kind to and respectful of JB, letting her come to them as she is comfortable, really listening to what she is ready to do.
 Recently, Julia and Fred went out of town.  They were concerned about how JB would do in their absence.  I offered to come by a few times while they were gone (in addition to the cat sitter who was coming every day) to check on JB and see how she was doing, and do some Reiki and/or TTouch with her.

JB and me

To my surprise, when I entered the apartment, JB came right to me for attention, rubbing her face against my hand. I sat down on the couch and she jumped right up, again rubbing against me, coming in my lap briefly.  She was comfortable with TTouches with the back of my hand around her face.  She laid on her side, stretching out, so cozy. This was the most direct and extended contact I had experienced with her.  (In one of the later visits, she head-butted me as seen in the photo above:))

JB enjoying a Reiki session

When she had enough, she would go sit on a chair or on the floor near me, and I would offer her Reiki energy from where I was.

 Reiki with JB:  keeping a bit of distance so she is comfortable

She looked so comfortable, so at ease.

Settling into Reiki///

Instead of JB becoming more frightened and withdrawn in her people's absence, both the cat sitter and I had the experience of JB being more outgoing each time we saw her.  I knew that she missed her people, but she was so happy to have contact with us in the meantime. 

I told her that her people loved her and would be back, and sent her images of it getting light and dark however many times it would be before their return.

When Julia and Fred returned, of course JB was happy to see them and they were delighted to see her.
Since their return, she has continued to get more comfortable with them, enjoying play sessions and getting closer to them all the time.  It is a gradual process, but it is continuing to move forward. With a fearful cat like JB, it is important to give her the time and space she needs to feel comfortable with closer contact with people.  That way she can continue to feel safe and feel like things will move at a pace she is comfortable with.  Slow and steady is the way to go, less is more!  What feels to us like small steps can feel like very big steps to them.


This past week, I went to do a Reiki session with JB.  When I arrived, Julia said JB had come to them and greeted both of them very sweetly in the morning, rubbing against them, head butts, etc, which is a big deal. As her personality is coming out more and more, she is finding certain cozy spots that she did not venture to before. She loves to go up high and snuggle on a shelf in the closet, as seen below:)

Today she was resting in her bed which is right next to the window.  This is one of her favorite cozy places.  The sun was coming in, and I could tell that she really felt this was her place.  When I first walked up next to her, she recognized me of course but at first looked at me like, what are you going to do now?  I let her sniff my hand, and I decided to offer her Reiki from where I was, so my hands were about six inches away.  I might have been able to touch her but I felt that the gentle energy work was going to be the most beneficial approach that day.

JB responded to the energy right away, and began to relax and stretch out more and more and more, feeling the energy and the warmth of the sun coming through the window.  I was sending energy with the intention that she is very safe and loved.  At one point she rolled completely on her side with her belly exposed to me, and what looked like a smile on her face. By the end, she was very stretched out and cozy as you see here.
 

 JB and Julia

Just as I was finishing up this post, Julia texted me with the above photo of JB, who nestled in right next to her today as she sat on the bed.  She said this broke all previous records:)


Much gratitude to JB, Julia and Fred.  I thank you so much for taking this dear creature in, and for surrounding her with all your love and understanding.  And of course I thank BARC Shelter for taking her in, caring for her and giving her the opportunity to land in this wonderful home. xxoo

Reiki and TTouch with Eliza: Listening, Feeling, Building Trust

I was called to work with Eliza because she is beginning to show imbalance in her kidney function.

Reiki can help the body to remain in optimum balance, can help to stimulate the appetite, and can promote a general sense of well-being.  So it is affecting the body both physically and emotionally.  TTouch can also help in a similar way, though it is a different approach.  With a kidney imbalance, I most often primarily focus on Reiki, but I usually bring some TTouch into the session as well.

Eliza is a beautiful black cat with lovely green eyes.  She is very sweet, and she and her person Randie have an amazing bond - they are so connected with each other. 

Eliza is wary of strangers -- Randie said she has some feralness in her -- so I wanted to approach her particularly gently and gradually.  At the first appointment, she was in the closet.  This was actually completely fine for our session.  Reiki does not have to be hands-on to be effective, and particularly for cats it is often best to do it at least a bit hands-off, especially at first, unless the cat guides you to putting your hands on.  Cats are extremely sensitive beings, and the energy can be too intense for them if you have your hands too close.

I sat outside of the closet, offering Reiki to her, telling her silently that she need only take as much or as little as she wanted.  At first her eyes were very big and scared, but they started to relax as I continued with the session.

Each session, Eliza has become a little more comfortable with me.  At first she was remaining in the closet or under the bed for the session, but little by little she began coming out from the hiding place.  Sometimes it was just to go get some food or water from the kitchen, but then she started to be comfortable staying out for at least part of the session.  Randie is usually at her desk, so Eliza will often go to sit down near her chair and get a few pets from Eliza.  This is a safe place for her, so I decided to see if I might touch her as well, or at least move a little closer and have her sniff my hand etc.  Initially I just sat near her, still sending Reiki from a short distance away, but once she became more comfortable I had her sniff the back of my hand and just did a stroke or two with the back of my hand.  Initially she was a bit scared of this, but one day she actually started leaning into my hand a bit, so I was able to do some TTouches using the back of my hand (this is a more gentle feeling than using the front surface of the hand).  I have found that slow zigzag TTouches, which help to connect the body, are helpful for her (she has some arthritis as well).  I have found that llama TTouches, which use the back of the hand, are also comforting for her.  After becoming comfortable with the llama TTouch, now she is comfortable with the lying llama and abalone TTouches (which use the front of the hand).  I do these TTouches using the "snail's tail" at the end, which give an extra release. You do the regular clockwise circle and a quarter of a regular TTouch, pause, and then release counterclockwise for a quarter of a circle. Below are two demos. For the Lying Llama TTouch, I am actually seeing that my fingers look a bit stiff here.  Remember to keep your fingers feeling soft and flexible, even if they are not moving a lot.  For more, please have a look at my youtube channel, http://youtube.com/sarahsuricat.

Eliza also enjoys contact around the sides of her face and under the chin, so I often will offer my hand and let her rub into it as much as she is comfortable doing.  It is so important for the cat to feel that you are not forcing anything on them.

I generally will do TTouch with her for a short while, as I don't want to overwhelm her.  Then I resume the Reiki session, sitting near her and offering the Reiki with my palms upturned, rather than placing on the body.

That is, until the session two weeks ago...

It was getting near the end of our session, and Eliza had settled in several different places during the course of the session, which is quite normal.  She was laying on a table and I was sitting nearby.  I had been doing some TTouches with her, and at one point I just held one of my hands very still, offering Reiki (actually, I think the Reiki is flowing the whole time through my fingers, just more consciously so when my hands are still).  I felt her settling into the warmth of the energy, and felt the energy being absorbed by her.  I decided to stay with my hand there for a while.  We remained very still and she continued to settle into the energy.  My hand felt as though it was glued there, feeling her absorbing the energy on a deeper and deeper level.

After we finished, I thanked her, as I always do, but this time, it felt like an even greater honor than usual, as though we had gone to another level with trust with each other.

I saw Eliza this past weekend, and when I came in, she was out on the bed, and very cozy there.  I very quietly sat down near her.  I had recently completed Level I of Healing Touch for Animals, a form of energy work with a more clinical approach to it.  I was eager to give it a try with Eliza.

Shortly after I sat down on the bed with Eliza, she moved so she was actually closer to me, right next to me.  I began to do some TTouch to initiate contact, and with some zigzag TTouches discovered that Eliza was emitting a lot of heat from her lower back, which makes sense, as she has some arthritis in the base of her tail, as well as having the kidney issues (corresponding chakra is in this area).  It was clear that area was too sensitive at this time to be directly touched.  I began the HTA Chakra Balancing process, though I did it with my hands off, so she would feel comfortable.  She completely relaxed into it.  It was lovely to be sitting right beside her for this whole process, and that she had wanted to be closer to me from the beginning of the appointment.  Each time I moved my hands towards a different area, she relaxed more into it.  When I began working near the front legs, she stretched them out.  And at the moments when I was working on the two shoulders and later the two hips, I really felt her absorbing the energy.  So hopefully this will help her be a bit more comfortable walking.  Randie had said she had noticed her walking a bit more gingerly lately.

When I was done with the Chakra Balancing, she went to get a treat from Randie, and then briefly settled again, laying on her side for a bit of Reiki, just having a peaceful connection with her for the last moments of the session.

As an animal gets to know and trust me, I feel them absorbing the energy on a deeper and deeper level, and they often are more comfortable with closer or more direct contact, which is so sweet to feel.  

Thank you Eliza!  It is a pleasure working with you and feeling a closer connection every time.  I look forward to our next session!  xxoo

My Journey with Luther and Mr. Maps: Relaxation, Recovery and Focus with TTouch, Reiki and Clicker Training

Above left: Luther, above right, Mr. Maps

Some months ago, I began doing Reiki sessions with a dear black Persian cat named Bunny, who had kidney disease. You can read more about him in a past post, http://sarahsuricat.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-power-of-patience-and-quiet.html.  His people, Suzanne and Mike, did everything they could to help him but sadly, this quiet, sweet and powerfully spiritual creature passed away the end of June.

Mr. Maps

Bunny had two adopted brothers, Luther and Mr. Maps.  Luther is a handsome young tabby and Mr. Maps is a delightful white Persian cat with two different colored eyes. Mr. Maps seemed to take Bunny's death especially hard, so I made both cats Bach Flower remedies following Bunny's passing.  It was a loss, an adjustment and a shift in dynamics in the household, but both cats are now doing quite well, and most likely have become closer to each other.

Luther had been adopted when he was still recuperating from a broken leg, so he was on cage rest for a while.  When he was able to emerge from the cage, the people soon were able to see more of his behavior.  He is very energetic, being a young cat, but is so sensitive that he can become overstimulated extremely easily.  And when he becomes overstimulated, he sometimes will exhibit that with scratching, pouncing on you, etc.   It was often difficult to handle or pet Luther without him becoming overstimulated and reactive.

I began working with Luther after I had been working with Bunny for a bit, as Suzanne and Mike wanted me to do what I could to help Luther calm down.

Initially, I worked with Luther using long TTouch wands, so I could give Luther plenty of space.  I felt he needed the space as he was so sensitive to any kind of direct contact with people, even though I sensed he really was a very loving being, and that he longed for contact.  This worked very well at first, and doing the TTouches with him this way got him accustomed to being touched in a gentle way, yet not having someone too close to him.

After a while, he wanted to use the wands as toys, so I decided to shift to a different approach.  I did some TTouches on him using paintbrushes, but also began doing Reiki with him.  Reiki energy helps to calm on a very deep level, and my hope was to release some of the trauma that he may have been holding from having the broken leg and whatever else he may have gone through before he was rescued.

Luther, relaxing into Reiki

Luther, being so sensitive, is very receptive to Reiki, and usually settles into it right away, stretching out and closing his eyes, taking it in.  After he settles for a while, he often will come up to me and sniff me and start brushing his body against me.  I stay very still when this happens, as I do not want to risk him becoming startled or possibly reactive if I move.  What he generally does after this is to go a few feet away from me and settle down again.  It is really beautiful to see him become so truly peaceful, to sense a very tangible shift in his whole energy.

Luther, relaxing into Reiki

Over the past couple of months, I have started to feel a very tangible shift in Luther's presence.  He is still a lively and playful cat, but he seems to have more openness and ability to shift into a more mellow space, which is great.  And if he does get overexcited and jumps at you or hits you with his paw, it is much more gentle and the claws are usually in. 

And as he has gotten more used to me and to the energy, I think we both have become more comfortable around each other, and I know that over time he will start to receive the energy on an even deeper level.

Mr Maps, relaxing into Reiki

I began doing Reiki with Mr. Maps after Bunny passed away, as Mr. Maps seemed particularly distraught.  Mr. Maps is super-affectionate, so I started out by doing some TTouches with him, and then began sending the Reiki energy to him.  He has been more and more receptive to it each time I have worked with him, and now he completely stretches out on his back or on his stomach with his back legs stretched out behind, with his eyes closed and a blissful look on his face.

Mr Maps, relaxing into Reiki

I have recently added some clicker training into the sessions, particularly for Luther's benefit, as I think it helps him to feel a more focused energy.  Mr. Maps seems to enjoy it as well, but he is not really interested in the treats, so for him, I click and then reward him by a little stroking around his chin and chest area.  I have wooden dowels which I set up in various configurations, sometimes in a path, sometimes in more of a labyrinth.  But even just going through the dowels set up in the path seems very effective, so I often just stick with that.  Cats can have a pretty short attention span for  clicker training, so I observe them closely to see when they are done with it.

Mike and Suzanne were away recently, so I came by to do Reiki with the cats while they were away.  I had been doing sessions with them separately, but it felt right to have both boys in the room with me and just start to let the energy flow to both of them.  Then at different parts of the session, I would focus on one cat, and then the other.  Both kitties completely stretched out as if they were sunbathing, really letting go.  So beautiful to feel this connection, to feel such peacefulness and joy with both of these cats, with the sun coming in through the windows and a slight breeze - that late summer, balmy temperature.

Luther and Mr Maps, relaxing into Reiki

After a recent appointment, Mike picked Luther up and gave him a good hug and kiss, which was so sweet to see.  Mike said that a few months ago, that would not have been possible at all, and he remarked at how he also had noticed Luther's behavior shifting.  Not only that, but he mentioned that the house call vet who they use had been there recently and she immediately remarked on the change.  This is the kind of feedback that truly makes my day :)

I look forward to a continuing and interesting journey with both of these dear beings.xxoo

TTouch and Reiki at BARC Shelter: Little JB: The Power of Quiet Patience and Persistence

Little JB is a gorgeous little calico cat who has been at BARC Shelter for some months now.  The JB stands for Josephine Baker -- she looks like a smaller version of one of the cats who the shelter people own who is named Josephine Baker.

Sometimes I come across a cat who is not so responsive to either the tools with contact with the hand, and that can be a bit of a challenge, but the lesson I learn over and over is to continue to try different approaches, different tools, using the TTouches or tools in a different way, etc. until something starts to click.  It can take patience and persistence, but it is so worth it.  There is always some way to connect with an animal, whether it is in a huge dramatic way or a very subtle way that grows over time.

She has been a challenging kitty to get to know.  The shelter environment is particularly stressful for her and she gets overstimulated easily and will let you know when she is not in the mood for contact with a swat.  She can get engaged in playing with a toy but when it comes to being touched, that is hard for her.

First I tried working with her with a paintbrush, or with a feather, as hands seem to scare her, and usually her response was to swat at them.  Sometimes, if she was in a more sleepy mood, I would be able to do TTouches on her head area with a paintbrush, but that was not so often.  Sometimes I would make the TTouch circles in front of her with the paintbrush, and sometimes she found that to be relaxing. Below is a demo of that.

I started just opening her cage and staying quiet and still, and sometimes she would come to the front and rub a little bit against my hand.  I would just let her do the rubbing instead of trying to reach to her.  Sometimes I would talk quietly to her.  The BARC staff and volunteers also do whatever they can to help her be at ease.

Recently, she was moved to a lower cage and that seemed to make her much more comfortable than she was previously.  She was in a cage next to a very gentle, quiet kitty named Katie Bell, and the two became good friends.  I think both these things were really helpful to her.

At that time I also began to do a bit of clicker training with the cats, having them simply touch their nose to the end of a stick and then I would click and treat.  This simple activity energized some of the cats who tended to stay at the back of the cage, and Little JB was one of them.  When she saw me get the clicker out, she started coming to the front of the cage, and now when she just sees me, she starts to come to the front of the cage, which is terrific.

There was something about the clicker training that helped to energize her, and it was something more than the treats, as she was not always that interested in the treats.  She seemed to be coming forward for a connection of some kind.  I felt like I was getting closer to her, even though I was not touching her.  I would often just sit outside her cage, sending her Reiki, or even just sitting there quietly.

Recently, a new volunteer opened her cage and she actually came out on their lap for a bit.  She didn't want to be touched, just wanted to sit there.  A couple of days later, she came out on my lap briefly - didn't settle there but I had a feeling that she was thinking about it:)

She also started feeling very comfortable with me doing TTouch circles on her head with the stick part of a stick toy.  This was a new level of comfort for her as well.

Last week a larger cage on the upper level came available so Little JB was moved there.  Even though she is back on the top level where she previously was not so comfortable, the location is different and the space is twice as big as before, so she seems even more comfortable than in the cage on the lower level.

Yesterday was a real breakthrough for little JB.  Diana, one of the wonderful keepers of the cats (Colin is the full time cat guy and Diana is two days a week) said that she had noticed that JB was comfortable being touched through the bars of the cage, though not if you opened the cage and tried to touch her.

Little JB was resting in her bed which was close to the bars of the cage, so I began to do some very gentle strokes and TTouches on her head.  She pushed into my hand and made the cozy smile that cats can make when they really are enjoying something.  I continued for quite a while, as she kept gently pushing into my hand and rubbing into it.  This was the first time I had seen her truly enjoy contact for an extended period of time.  And I felt like I was getting a glimpse into the real personality which I had always felt that was there beneath her sometimes bristly exterior.  That sweetness, that longing for connection.

This lovely moment is the type of moment I really live for - when you feel you connect with the heart of another creature, when they trust you enough to make this connection.

I look forward to seeing you again, little JB, and of course look forward to the day when you will go to a beautiful forever home.

A Shift Towards Balance and Healing: Reiki with "Taco" at BARC Shelter

 Shelter animals most often arrive in a state of stress and trauma in one form or another, but sometimes that state is more extreme than others.  Reiki can often help to shift the body and mind into a more balanced state, so that it is more able to begin the healing process.

Taco arrived at BARC Shelter in an extremely weakened state, so extremely emaciated and fragile, that the shelter people were unsure if he were going to survive even until the next day.

I wanted to connect with him in the gentlest way possible, so I began by sitting in a chair outside his cage, sending him Reiki energy, and speaking to him in a soft voice, reassuring him that he was in a safe place.  At that moment, he was crouched in a position which told me he was uncomfortable and scared, and he also seemed very out of it since he was so weak.

Little by little, I saw him begin to shift his body position, and he began to get into a more comfortable position, curling up and becoming sleepy.  I stayed with him a long, long time, just letting the energy flow, telling him he need only take as much or as little as he wanted.  A couple of times I reached into the cage to gently stroke him, and he nuzzled against my hand.  I felt his energy and feeling of his life force start to shift during the session, as though the Reiki energy gently flowing through him was breathing more life into him.  I could see him looking more comfortable, his stiffness melting away, and his energy becoming peaceful as I imagined light all around him and through him.  One of the images I love to use during a Reiki session is that of connecting with the bright light that is inside of the animal, connecting with that positive energy which can grow and expand, healing and permeating through the body and spirit.

After I gently ended the session, he got up, came to the front of the cage and did a really nice stretch, standing up on his hind legs at the front of the cage and putting his paws against the front of the cage door, as though to stretch towards me and show me that he was doing better, as though he had been shifted onto a better track where he would be able to begin to heal.

During the next few days, thanks to the wonderful BARC staff (Colin and Diana, the keepers of the Cat Loft) hand-feeding him and helping him get the nutrition he needed, he began to perk up more, so the next time I saw him (several days after the first session), his energy and vibe were better.  I opened the cage and he came right to the front of the cage, out of the cage and he melted into my arms.  I felt our energies merging, as he completely relaxed into the Reiki energy.  He drifted into a state of peaceful sleep.

I remained there for over an hour, feeling light and energy traveling back and forth to and from my arms and hands and his body, a feeling of a bubble of light around us, so that whatever sounds, etc (a shelter can be noisy with people walking around, dogs barking, cats meowing at times, etc.) seemed to be in the background, as we were in this protected space.

When I felt that it was time to end the session, I gently lifted him back into his cage, and he curled up for a cozy nap.  So sweet to see him so peaceful.

The next time I saw him, he was more peppy, so I did some TTouches with him before going into the Reiki session, and he came to the front of the cage to eat some kibble on his own.  Colin and Diana had said he was eating a bit on his own the past couple of days.  They will continue to hand-feed him until he is eating enough on his own, but this was a really positive sign.

I feel so much trust from this little cat, so much gratitude, so much love.  As though his spirit is so much bigger than his physical body.  Animals have so much to teach us about forgiveness, so much about appreciating the moment, so much about unconditional, eternal love.


Thank you so much, dear little Taco, I am sending Reiki for your continued progress, and look forward to seeing you soon!  And thank you to all the wonderful BARC people, staff and volunteers, for giving this little guy the loving energy that he needs to be able to recover.  xoxoxo

Reiki with Chloe: Coming into her Own

Chloe is a beautiful, graceful, gentle cat.  I first came to know her because I was working with her brother Max, and as time progressed, I began to work with her as well, as she has kidney issues, as well as a mass that is close to her bladder.  Thankfully, at the moment her appetite and energy is good, so she seems to be in a stable holding pattern.

Sadly, her brother Max passed away in March, after battling a number of health issues.  Max was a brave, strong soul - his wonderful people (Debbie and Jonathan) did everything they could to help him, and I know he remained on the earth as long as he could for his people.  I am honored to have worked with him and to have known him - he was such a unique and delightful personality, and truly a warrior.

Though Chloe often appeared irritated by Max, there was still a bond there, and it has been an adjustment for her after his passing.  He was a huge presence, even when he was ill.  I know that she, as well as, of course, her people, felt the empty space that was left when he left the earth.  I felt it as well, even though his spirit is still very much around, and I have seen it/felt it a number of times during the Reiki sessions with Chloe after his passing.

Over the weeks, Chloe does seem to be adjusting though, and really coming into her own.  She seems to be getting more confident, as well as more affectionate, every time that I see her.  And with that trust, as often happens, it feels like the Reiki goes to a deeper and deeper place. It often is a very trancelike state in the midst of the session, like being in a dream although you are awake, and I can see and feel waves of energy as they move in between us.  I have also been able to do more hands-on TTouch with her, as she is much more comfortable with direct contact, and seeks it from me.

And Chloe has also started to do a few things that Max used to do.  One of them is leading people to where she wants to go, by walking a bit, looking back to see if you are following her, etc.

Every once in a while she will sit up very straight and look you straight in the eye, which is something Max also used to do.  There is also a quiet sense of humor which seems to have been coming forward more and more, which is delightful to see.

One of our recent sessions was particularly powerful.  Chloe let me into the bedroom, which was cool, as the air conditioner was going in there.  Chloe seems to be a cat who prefers cool places.

She wanted to stay on the bed the whole time.  From time to time she slightly shifted her position, getting closer til she laid into my hands.  I always start with my hands slightly off her body, and let her guide me as to how much direct contact she is comfortable with.

I felt my hands guided to a place on her lower back, which makes sense considering where her issues are.  During this session, Chloe was comfortable with my hands directly on her body.  I felt my energy merging with hers like my hands being pulled inside of her body. Her feet were touching my hands and my arms, and I felt energy going back and forth there as well. I felt the energy going thru my hands into her like light, as I was visualizing her being healed, and her mass going away. At some point in the session, I though I saw a glimpse of Max, as though he peeked around a corner at us. 

As I continued, my energy merged with Chloe's, like my fingers going inside her body, energy going deeper and deeper.  She didn't want me to stop, and I went on longer than usual.  And as I have felt with other animals, I felt like I was experiencing her true self, her spirit, which is so much larger than her body.

When I finally did end the session, I felt that she was a little sad, but I didn't want to overwhelm her, as the session had been so powerful.  I quietly ended the session, thanked her and left the room. 

A few minutes later, as I was speaking to Jonathan in another room, Chloe quietly came in, as though she wanted a few pets before I said goodbye. 

Thank you Chloe, it is a pleasure and honor working with you (and your people), and I look forward to our continued work together.  And thank you for reminding me of the power of that quiet connection.  When one is truly inside of that moment with an animal, when nothing else exists, that is when the most powerful experiences are able to occur.