Animal communication and Reiki for animals are two different services, but because I offer both of them, people sometimes get them confused with each other. If you’re not too familiar with either one of them, then I understand why you might be scratching your head. So that’s why I’ve taken the time to explain what animal communication and Reiki are, their similarities and differences, how they can help you and your companion animals, and how to know if you need one, the other, or both.

Note: I acknowledge that there are many different ways to practice Reiki and animal communication, and I can only truly speak to the way that I do things.

What is Animal Communication, and How Can It Help?

Animal communication can be useful any time you want to know what your companion is thinking, feeling, needing, wanting, and experiencing. Put simply, animal communication is the exchange of information between human and non-human animals.

Some people use the term interspecies communication, which is more technically correct, but it’s also a bit of a mouthful.

This type of exchange happens in the subtle energetic realm, which is beyond what our five senses usually detect.

For example, during my exchanges with animals I may see faint images, words, or scenes in my mind’s eye; hear quiet music, words, or sounds in my head; feel a slight physical sensation or emotion; faintly taste or smell something; and sometimes, I just suddenly know something or receive full thoughts. I also may feel the energetic dynamics between the animal and others in the household or the energy of a situation.

I do this all by connecting with the animal’s energy and soul, which are not bound by the physical body, time, or space. That’s why I can do it remotely, without the animal being present, and also why I can also connect with an animal who has died.

During my animal communication sessions, I do my best to facilitate a conversation between you and your animal companion(s) and to be a humble vessel for whatever they want to convey to you. We may cover anything from food, illness, behavior, and opinions to your purpose together, dying wishes, the afterlife, past lives, and much more.

Ultimately, this conversation can help you reach a level of mutual understanding and support that you might not have realized was possible—even after they’ve crossed the rainbow bridge.

What is Reiki, and How Can It Help?

When we talk about Reiki we’re actually talking about two things: Reiki itself and Reiki practice.

Many types of Reiki practice exist. The one I was trained in is Usui Reiki Ryoho, which was developed by Mikao Usui in Japan in the 1920s and brought to the U.S. by a student of his, Hawayo Takata, in the 1930s.

Reiki itself is the dimensionless, unified field in which everything exists. For ease of understanding, we can call it Reiki energy. Reiki practice, or the act of accessing this universal energy, is often viewed as both a healing art and a spiritual practice.

Trained Reiki practitioners may channel Reiki energy to themselves or others (including animals) to gently restore energetic balance to the whole being and bring about the needed conditions for all types of healing—spiritual, emotional, and physical.

Practitioners can do this either in-person or remotely because Reiki energy isn’t bound by time or space. Remote sessions are just as effective as in-person ones—and I find that animals actually often prefer them.

Every Reiki experience can be different, but generally, it’s known to ease pain, calm nerves, and soothe the soul. When practiced with animals, it can be a safe, gentle, and non-invasive complement to veterinary care and provide them with compassionate support through illness or difficult times. It can also help bring more peace and ease to their end-of-life transitions.

I also offer people the opportunity to receive Reiki alongside their companion animals (a pretty unique offering). This can be especially helpful if you’re both dealing with a similar issue, such as anxiety. It’s also a great way to get more in synch with your animal companion or move through difficult situations together. And it can even help strengthen the lines of communication between you, as well.

Where Animal Communication and Reiki Intersect + Differ

As the name suggests, the focus of animal communication sessions is on the communication itself: Conveying what the animal wants their person to know (and vice versa) to reach a new level of understanding.

The focus of a Reiki session is usually to bring about the needed conditions for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

All of my Reiki sessions include some animal communication, but my animal communication sessions do not always include Reiki.

To practice Reiki with animals, we don’t necessarily need to communicate with them beyond getting their consent. However, I choose to communicate with them in all of my animal Reiki sessions (this is not usually the standard). I’ll spend a few minutes communicating with them at the beginning of a Reiki session and then remain open to anything they have to say as I channel Reiki energy to them. This helps me understand their needs and wants—and they may also offer some messages for their people, as well.

While Reiki can certainly help open the lines of communication with animals, it’s not needed during animal communication sessions. And although animal communication sessions can certainly shift energy and feel very healing, they’re not the same as Reiki sessions.

Generally, for a Reiki session, we’ll talk for a few minutes via Zoom or phone and I’ll communicate with your animal a bit, and then we’ll hang up or go offline so I can channel the Reiki energy. I’ll then follow up with any messages that may have come through during the session. During a communication session, we’ll stay on Zoom or phone the whole time as I relay messages to and from your animal companion.

So, Which One Should You Book?

In a customized private session for new clients, I always start with animal communication to get to know the animal(s) and their preferences. Then, if it’s needed and appropriate, we can include some Reiki in the second half of the session.

If you’re a returning client, then we’ve likely already discussed your options.

But generally, if you’re looking to better understand your animal companion or connect with your beloved animal in spirit, then it’s usually best to choose a communication session. If you want to support an animal who is sick, anxious, or having other major issues, then a Reiki session or a Reiki + communication combo is the way to go.

At the end of the day, it’s all up to you and your animal, and I’m happy to support you in making an informed choice.