Robyn Benelli has written this beautiful article on Animal End-of-Life Support
Animal Reiki for End-of-Life Support
by Robyn Benelli
“One of the most difficult parts of animal companionship is the transition at the end of their life. It can feel stressful, sad, and confusing. Caregivers always want to do what is best for their animals, which can present them with questions and difficulties in creating a plan. Luckily, Reiki can support this process and what has become more common is for Reiki practitioners to give Reiki before, during, and after an animal’s transition. Reiki can help with every animal’s end-of-life circumstances, such as a life-threatening injury or old age.
Animal Reiki energy and techniques provide animal Reiki practitioners with the tools, skills, and energy to guide the process and help the animal and caregiver during this difficult time. The practitioner allows Reiki to guide the caregiver in the hard decisions they need to make. As a practitioner, there are things to remember about being involved with this challenging and unique time, and these tools and techniques can help.
Code of Ethics
At the end of life, Reiki is always a complementary therapy and works to support medical treatment. Trips to the veterinarian are commonplace. As a practitioner, you should never diagnose medical issues or suggest changing medications or prescribed treatments. It is not the role of an animal Reiki practitioner to give advice or have opinions about a caregiver’s choices. The animal Reiki practitioner’s role is to offer Reiki support, so the animal’s caregiver has greater clarity of mind to manage the choices they need to make.
An animal’s caregiver might ask the Reiki practitioner for advice on whether the animal is ready to transition. It is important for the animal Reiki practitioner to stay within their role and scope of practice and allow Reiki to guide the caregiver’s decisions based on the information
they receive from professionals and the diagnosis of their veterinarian. Animals do not fear death in the same way humans do, and they are often ready to transition before their caregiver is ready. The animal supports the caregiver’s decisions. When the animal is diagnosed as terminal by their veterinarian, it is ready as soon as its caregiver is ready. A clarifying question caregivers can ask themselves is, “Am I prolonging life, or am I prolonging death?” The practitioner can ask Reiki to provide the caregiver with clarity and guidance. Sometimes it is appropriate for the practitioner to ask Reiki the question silently, knowing it will still provide the caregiver guidance.
Let the Caregiver Decide
You may have a different opinion than the caregiver about what choices to make concerning an animal’s end-of-life care. However, it is best not to offer your opinion and allow Reiki to guide the caregiver’s decisions. You may have a differing opinion about how soon or how late a caregiver chooses compassionate euthanasia. One caregiver may choose to do all the medical treatment options for illnesses such as cancer, and other caregivers may choose not to do a medical intervention. Some caregivers have financial restrictions and may have to make decisions based on their finances. There can be many differences of opinions about compassionate euthanasia when animals have injuries,
chronic conditions, or aggression. Some caregivers may choose to allow their animal a natural death, and others may choose compassionate euthanasia as the end of life. As a Reiki practitioner, it is your role to provide Reiki and allow it to guide the caregiver’s decisions rather than offer your opinion. If you find yourself disagreeing with the caregiver’s decisions, give yourself Reiki, or ask another practitioner for a Reiki session to help facilitate the healing you need as a practitioner to better serve the caregivers.”
Read the complete article by Robyn Benelli HERE
