Two to three times a week, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is visited by Denise Huber, an animal Reiki therapist and volunteer.
For those unfamiliar with Reiki therapy, Ms. Huber describes it as “energy healing,” stating that it heals the body and emotions while bringing alignment and balance. She said it’s not a substitute for veterinary care and isn’t pitched as a cure, but can help alleviate tension, stress and pain.
Animals are more on edge when they’re in a shelter environment, she said.
“Pets are just as dynamic as we are,” Ms. Huber said. “They experience all these things that you and I verbalize. [Reiki is] another way for us to communicate with them, to understand what is happening with them.”
Learning the ropes
Ms. Huber said she first learned about Reiki while on a spiritual journey a couple of years ago, looking for guidance through a tough time. She booked a Reiki appointment based on a recommendation, and after what she said was a successful first visit, she kept going back.
“It didn’t cure what I was going through, but it made me see things differently and internalize it differently,” Ms. Huber said.
She decided to learn the practice for herself. This winter, she met a Reiki master — the highest level of practitioner — through a crystal shop. He first taught her how to perform Reiki on herself. From there, she began to help other humans and animals. As of two weeks ago, she’s a Reiki master.
Helping animals
She got the idea after practicing Reiki on her cat, Mimi, who was sick. She felt that the therapy aided Mimi’s medication.
At the shelter, she said she’s “95 percent hands-off.” She doesn’t start Reiki unless the animal accepts it through its body language. She doesn’t place her hands on an animal unless directed to.
In treatment, she spends most of the time with her eyes closed, sensing the animal’s needs through colors she sees or through sensations in her hands. She is sometimes aided by crystals, bells and symbols while working.
She said the results have been encouraging. Ms. Huber, along with other volunteers, noticed a big change in one of her most frequent patients, a cat named Melody. Melody was described as feral and skittish before, but after three weeks of visits, is now having better interactions with people.
Her next big undertaking will be visiting the shelter on the Fourth of July and doing Reiki on large groups of animals at a time to help them relax before the nighttime fireworks.
Ultimately, she said she hopes to have her own business for this and would love to work with horses in the future.
“I guess you choose if you want to believe or not,” Ms. Huber said. “If you’re willing to open up your eyes and see the difference, there’s no way that you cannot be a believer. I think half of it is just you being open to it.”
For more information, visit www.instagram.com/ sacredanimaldivination or email her at Denise@sacredanimaldivination.com.