Reiki with All Creatures Great and Small
by Esther Clyne - UKRF Animal Reiki team
Finding compassion in the smallest lives
That sense of connection sits at the heart of everything we do within the UK Reiki Federation Events Team.
This year has been one of growth and exciting change. What began as a small volunteer team has evolved into a dedicated group of six members, each bringing their own skills, enthusiasm and generosity.
Like every volunteer across the Federation, we give our time because we believe in the power of community and in creating opportunities for Reiki practitioners to learn, connect and support one another.
So, what is involved in every online event? There are conversations with speakers, planning meetings, scheduling, marketing, technical rehearsals and plenty of problem-solving when technology decides to have a mind of its own! There are moments of nervousness before going live, but there is also a wonderful sense of trust.
We remind ourselves that we are among fellow Reiki practitioners, sharing a common purpose and a shared passion for helping others grow.
One of the greatest pleasures has been working with inspiring guest speakers and facilitators, alongside continuing our much-loved community events such as Reiki Shares, Reset Meditation and Healing Circles. These regular gatherings remain the heartbeat of our programme, creating welcoming spaces where members can pause, reflect and reconnect.
Sometimes, the greatest lessons come from the smallest teachers. One such lesson arrived unexpectedly outside Manchester Piccadilly Station…
Amidst the constant flow of commuters, a tiny insect was almost invisible against the pavement. Hundreds of people hurried past without noticing it. Yet, with one small act of awareness, a connection began.
A gust of wind eventually revealed that a strand of cotton had become tightly wrapped around one of the insect’s delicate legs. Carefully removing it without causing harm required extraordinary patience and concentration, but eventually the tiny foot was freed.
After some uncertainty about where the insect belonged, it became clear that the safest choice was to allow it to guide the way. A nearby area of trees felt right, and the moment a suitable branch was offered, the little traveller stepped off and disappeared into its natural world once more.
Only much later was it discovered that “Jiminy” wasn’t a cricket at all, but a rare Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle, a species gradually expanding its range into northern England.
What mattered was the reminder that every living being has value. Labels matter far less than compassion.
As light workers, energy healers and animal lovers we need not restrict our empathy to cute and furry creatures. Another example is the time we found a beetle (pictured below, right) that had tipped itself upside down twice whilst trying to climb over a stone. Much to the delight of the two she cats who were present at the time. Had I not been there the girls would have surely tortured this old dear until they got bored or she had a beetle heart attack.
Some may say it was the beetle’s path to have been left helplessly upside down and expire in the paws of a kitty. However, I see it in another way. I was in the right place at the right time. After offering Reiki to the mighty beast, she sat comfortably on my palm as I moved her to a safe house behind some bricks where she could assimilate the energy to recharge and go about her day.
We cannot expect everyone to spend half their lives keeping tiny creatures from harm, believe me, it can become a mammoth task whilst gardening, but we can remain mindful of every living creature as we pass around loving energy in whatever way we see fit.
As Reiki practitioners, we often speak of connection. Sometimes that connection is found not in extraordinary moments, but in quietly noticing the life that so often goes unseen around us.
Perhaps the greatest gift Reiki offers is not only healing, but the ability to slow down enough to truly notice.
