In the last few years my husband I have made it a habit of giving each other gift certificates for anniversaries and holidays for different things we have wanted through the year. Massage was always at the top on my list. I made an appointment with Kathy, someone I had been going to for several years. Unfortunately, I came down with a horrible case of bronchitis and called to cancel my appointment. My wonderful masseuse said ‘come anyway, I want to try something on you that I just learned’. I agreed hoping the massage would help me feel better. After about twenty minutes on the table, Kathy asked if she could do Reiki on me. I thought ‘sure, whatever works’. I hadn’t a clue what the word Reiki meant, but I trusted her.

After looking up towards the ceiling and doing what seemed to be a short prayer, she placed her hands on my very congested chest. Within seconds I felt an incredible surge of heat. It was like she had a heating pad in her palms. In about ten minutes I felt (and heard) what sounded like a ‘pop’ in my chest. Suddenly I was breathing easier and felt amazing. Wow I said. What in the world did you just do? ‘Reiki’ she said.

I wanted to know more about this healing technique, so in January 2001 I took my first Reiki workshop and was attuned. If I thought Reiki was powerful during Kathy’s session, I was blown away by the surge of energy I felt during the attunement.

Okay, so here is where we get into the part about cats and Reiki. At the time of my graduation from Reiki l, I was a volunteer with a small humane society. I was a seasoned cat trapper, foster care home, and spay neuter educator.

My goal was to use Reiki with my personal animals, and also those nervous or injured rescue animals. Many of the animals who were homeless found themselves in that predicament because of emotional issues. I felt if I could find a way to help these animals adjust maybe they could remain in their homes.

My cats were a little uncomfortable with Reiki. Whenever I began, three out of three would jump off the bed as though they felt a ‘shock’. I gave up (sort of) for awhile. During that time, I worked on my husband and son and they loved all the attention. I discovered later that some animals find Reiki a little too strong. Many cats and small animals (rabbits, gerbils, hamsters) are not all Reiki fans.

One day, a humane society friend of mine who fed two neutered males behind a cemetery noticed a young cat who had taken residence among the colony of ‘old men’ as she affectionately called them.

Marcia made a make shift shelter for the older guys but found that the new cat was spending more time in it then they were. Strangely enough the ‘old men’ did not challenge the newcomer. We came up with a theory that this new cat must be a pregnant female nesting in the warm straw, and the boys just stepped aside for her.

It turned out that our hunch was correct. This became an interesting challenge. We would not only need to get the momma cat fixed, but needed her to nurse her babies for six weeks and then be able to handle (socialize) the kittens so they would become adoptable.

Unfortunately momma was very feral (wild) and we felt it was too dangerous to try and socialize her. We had to hatch a plan where she could be trapped, nurse her kittens in a place that was safe, and easily accessible.

It seemed like an impossible situation. But with the help of third trapper and Marcia’s generous offer of letting Momma stay in a crate in her house, “mission impossible” began.

After the kittens were a week old, we set a trap for the mother cat knowing she left her babies in the make shift shelter several times a day to hunt for food.

We set up an elaborate trap that would have the mom go towards the babies but instead be humanely trapped. After a few hours, she was successfully trapped and the two other gals transferred her to Marcia’s house to a warm and safe crate.

My job was to pick up each kitten (I hadn’t been near them until that day for fear that she’d move them if I did) and transfer each to a laundry basket with straw from the shelter they were born in. Time was of the essence because infant kittens eat every two hours and these babies were overdue.

I successfully got them all in the basket and into my car that was already warmed up. When I got to Marcia’s house I went to a separate room while the gals took on the tricky job of transferring momma from the trap to the crate.

Each of those kittens were moving around and mewing at the top of their lungs when I moved them from their nest outside. I wanted them warm so I let them get somewhat buried in the straw. As I took each out to examine them, I was horrified to find that one kitten was totally still.

Her breathing was unnoticeable and her body beginning to feel cooler then the others. I was in a panic, but couldn’t open the door to alert the others since one of Marcia’s dogs was now standing guard outside and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

I called but no one heard me. It was a moment like none other I had ever experienced. I sat on the floor with this lifeless body in one hand. I was in a state of total helplessness. I thought I needed to pray for this little life that seemed to have ebbed out. Suddenly in the middle of my praying, the thought ‘try Reiki’ came to me.

I held its' little body in my hands, and tried to use the techniques I had learned not long before. I continued praying through my tears that God would help me save this little one.

I don't have a clue how long I stayed like that. But after awhile the lifeless kitten began to move. I mean really move! How could this be? What was happening here? Could the Reiki energy (which I believe is a gift from God) have energized the last bit of vital force in that animal? I’ll never know the particulars! The only thing I’m certain of is that some sort of miracle occurred in that room, and I was blessed to be part of it. Looking back, I still can't believe that kitten survived.

So to all you recent Reiki graduates, please know that even a simple Reiki l graduate was able to access this powerful gift which is available to all of us.

I learned that if you have the desire (or intention) to help another you are 99% there already. It matters not how many degrees you have on the wall or whether or not you have your RMT (Reiki Master) after your name.

One does not have to be an ‘expert’ in anything to make a difference in anothers life. That kitten lived on and was eventually adopted into a loving home.

Reiki is pure love and love is what I we’re all about. For me personally, Reiki is a gift from God to all of us. Please don't let your doubts stop you from being a vehicle for miracles! Remember me, the simple Reiki l graduate.