My journey as an Animal Reiki practitioner began during my quest for miraculous healing for my pet. In 2019, Bolt, my golden-brown lab, was detected with cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart condition. Besides optimal medical treatment, I explored all other possible healing modalities for Bolt. As I delved deeper into spiritual healing, I came across Reiki. I was drawn towards this form of divine healing since I believed it would help my pet. So, I completed my Human Reiki certification, following which I began offering Reiki to Bolt. My family and I began seeing positive changes, as he was able to resume his erstwhile active life. He felt relaxed, less tired, and the stiffness, inflammation and pain in his limbs due to arthritis also appeared alleviated. He continued his long walks much against the advice of the vet. Encouraged, observing this perceptible progress, I decided to further my knowledge of Reiki. I then did my Animal Reiki Master certifications, and also completed Usui/ Holy Fire III Reiki Master. Equipped with specific Animal Reiki erudition, I then intensified my sessions by offering Reiki to Bolt every night. Within minutes of laying my hands-on Bolt, he would fall asleep deeply. When Bolt would wake up the next morning, he was all energetic and spirited. I too became calmer, unfazed and felt more positive as I gave Reiki to Bolt. Despite his advanced stage, the omnipotent Reiki healing helped my pet endure through all those years without any complications. My faith in Reiki was cemented when I witnessed Bolt live indefatigably until his last breath on 6th October, 2023. I deeply felt that had Bolt left me with a meaningful purpose of a deeper commitment to caring for animals with patience, presence, and love.
One evening in September 2023, while feeding Snooky, a stray cat in the basement parking, I fortuitously spotted an orange stray cat, fairly sized, with a bushy tail. The feral cat appeared famished, and meowed looking at me from under a car. I was moved by its plight, and as a pet parent to two cats, I instantly deduced its hankering for food. I grabbed a fistful of dry kibbles from my treat bag, and walked towards it. Watching me approach, it instinctively receded beneath the car. I placed the dry food on a piece of paper, and then gently pushed it towards my furry friend. Skeptical initially, it cautiously walked forward to eat and soon gobbled up all the kibbles. Looking at Snooky from a distance, eating nonchalantly from her bowl, was reassuring since it meant she had not disapproved of the presence of another feline in the territory. Heartened by the approval, I then tore open another packet of wet food and poured it on the kibbles. The orange tabby, probably starving for days now, immediately took two steps forward, and devoured the food. Finally, feeling satiated, it looked at me in my eyes, turned and walked away.
The following day, anticipating another encounter with the furry friend, I went down with its food. This time the cat showed no trepidation and ate the food placidly. Watching the cat eat, the catchy name Tangy popped in my head as it was an orange tabby tomcat. What added to the special moment was the heartwarming welcome that Snooky gave to the new kid on the block. She walked up to him, and the two hit it off as they touched one another’s nose. From that day onwards, both Snooky and Tangy bonded well as they ate their dinner together in the basement parking. A few days later, having explored the vicinity, Tangy began accompanying Snooky for food in the mornings too. Every morning, I then started feeding both of them at the same designated place in the basement.
Over the next month and a half, Tangy had become chubbier, stronger and healthier. He also had marked the basement and my car parking as his core territory. Both Snooky and Tangy had become good friends. They used to be together, chasing and playing, and parted ways later. I often saw Tangy perched on the boundary wall of the building or sitting beneath a car, while Snooky hid in the bushes.
One night, when I went to feed both, I found only Snooky waiting. I called out Tangy, but he was nowhere to be seen. Not making much of it, I fed Snooky, and decided to come later in the night. After about two hours, when I went and called out Tangy, I heard his faint meow. As I looked around, I saw Tangy walking towards me with scratches and blood on his face, and his bushy tail had a gaping wound. I was shocked to see him in this condition, and understood that he had a fight with another stray cat.
I first gave him food in the bowl, and tried tending to his wound. But he stepped back in fear. So, I let him eat in peace. Soon after he had finished eating, he walked away slowly. Since it was late night, I was unable to take him to the vet. I was lost as I could not figure out a way to help him at that moment. However, practicing Reiki daily in my life, and being fully aware of its potential, I immediately sent distant Reiki healing to Tangy. I prayed for his highest good as I set an intention of seeing Tangy healed, and let Universal divine energy take care of his well-being.
Next morning, intuitively inspired, I took the carrier along with me, and went down to feed. Snooky was again waiting alone in the usual spot. She was scared looking at the carrier in my hand, and ran away behind a car. Apprehending her fear, I placed the carrier next to a pillar, and walked up to her. I quietly kept her food bowl down, and retreated. After gauging no threat, she came out from behind the car, and ate her food quickly as I stood and watched her from a distance. Soon after she left, I once again called out to Tangy. Fortunately, I saw him coming out from beneath a car next to the pillar. I walked up to him to give him food, but to my horror saw an even deeper cut in the middle of his tail. The remaining bloodstained tail tip at the back was hanging and dragged down as he walked. I realized that he had again picked up a fight as his wound was fresh. I stood appalled. I knew well that catching him forcefully would only worsen the situation, and would alarm him further.
Tangy was critically injured. I was disheartened, but at that moment, something struck me. Promptly, I beamed Reiki on Tangy as he ate his food, and also offered Reiki to the situation. It was an onerous task to take him to the vet since it was challenging to restrain him in the cat carrier. However, as I offered Reiki, I was suddenly inspired by an idea. I quickly took out a creamy treat that tangy loved. I tore it open, and emptied the packet in his food bowl that I placed inside the carrier. Following the irresistible whiff of the creamy tuna, Tangy walked right inside the carrier to eat. As soon as all his four paws were in, I gave a gentle push on his butt and confined him briskly by closing the door. The moment he was trapped inside, he turned around to escape. In twisting and turning, his tail brushed against the door and in a blink of an eye, his dangling tail fell off inside the carrier on its own, without a flinch.
It was unbelievable to see Tangy inside the cat carrier without any coercion, and miraculous to witness his tail fall off naturally. I felt Reiki work right there in the most unexpected way.
My husband and I then took Tangy straight away to the vet. After examining Tangy, the vet advised only dressing of the wound. He was glad that the tail fell off on its own. Explaining to us further, he told that had the tail not fallen innately, it would have had to be amputated. Tangy would have had to endure more pain via the surgical procedure besides being admitted, and given anaesthesia. Instead, of undergoing surgery, all Tangy had to go through was the routine medical clean-up, followed by dressing. The vet bandaged his little tail from the base, and advised to come for dressings until healed fully.
On my way back home, I was reminded of the miracle of Reiki healing that let Bolt a pain-free and dignified cross over the Rainbow Bridge in October 2023. Tears welled up in my eyes as I once again witnessed the sheer marvel of Reiki when Tangy did not undergo any surgery.
I brought Tangy home, and confined him to a big crate. Initially, angry and frustrated, he meowed for hours. He seemed to be missing his freedom. So, I began giving him Reiki from outside the crate. Within a few days, all his incessant meowing and growling stopped. One day, I even dared to open the crate and give hands-on healing. Instead of escaping out, Tangy purred and fell asleep. He enjoyed each time I offered him Reiki. Besides Reiki, weekly visits to the vet for dressings continued for about month and a half. Gradually, after several dressings, the vet removed his bandage, and let the wound dry. Reiki was not only healing Tangy, but also helping me cope with the deep sorrow and anguish I was suffering due to passing away of Bolt. I too became impelled to practice Reiki healing on other strays that suffered from minor issues like bruises, injured leg, fear and anxiety. Finally, after the tip of his tail recovered, I left Tangy back in the basement, thanking the Universal spiritual energy for blessing Tangy with his tail. Time passed and several months later, Tangy walked with a short bushy tail, hale and healthy.
Tangy’s story deepened my desire and further inspired me to dedicate my life and offer healing to all beings- humans, plants and animals alike. Each and every time I channelize the divine light of love and healing, I am astounded by the unique, remarkable, phenomenal and miraculous nature of Reiki. Reiki now is essentially the way of my life as I see its marvel unfolding each time in a unique manner.
Cover illustration: AI-generated artwork inspired by Tangy’s story.
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