When it comes to nurturing a deeper connection between humans and animals, Kathleen Prasad stands as an unwavering advocate. As the founder of Animal Reiki Source and the creator of the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki, she has dedicated her life to promoting holistic healing and compassionate care for our furry friends. Moreover, Kathleen’s commitment to this cause extends beyond her work as she serves as the esteemed President of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association. With her expertise and compassionate spirit, Kathleen Prasad has become a leading figure in the field, transforming the lives of both animals and their human companions. Mystic Mag had a privilege to talk with Kathleen about her work.
Can you tell us about your journey in developing the Let Animals Lead® method? What inspired you to create this unique approach to animal Reiki?
The Let Animals Lead® is different from other Animal Reiki approaches. It’s a very unique approach to sharing Reiki with animals that doesn’t involve using our hands or “forcing healing” on animals as all other Animal Reiki methods do.
I often tell new students they will be learning an approach that is completely different —often the opposite—of what they’ve learned for human Reiki. All the unique techniques and practices we learn in this method follow a clear ethic that puts animals first. In short, what makes the Let Animals Lead® method different is that it encourages animal agency within Animal Reiki sessions.
Reiki around the world is a very human-oriented, touch-based practice. Over time, as people began to share Reiki with their animals, this human-centric approach has continued. In fact, this is how I initially began sharing Reiki when I first learned. After all, as their caretakers, don’t we know best? In many cases in our animals’ lives we might answer this question with a “Yes!” but in the case of Animal Reiki, I beg to differ.
Amazing healing possibilities open up when we create a Reiki space for animals where they can act with agency, express preferences and show us who they truly are.
People who practice Reiki on humans often notice that when they are doing a Reiki session for a person, their animal often comes into the room, but if they then try to “do” the session on the animal, the animal will suddenly leave. Why is this? Animals sense and understand the healing power of Reiki much better than we do, which is what brought them into the room in the first place. We often underestimate them in this understanding. When we decide they “need Reiki,” we try to control what the session looks like and use touch because it’s easier and familiar to us. We focus on their ailments and try to “fix” them. Although we mean well, this is uncomfortable to them and that’s why they often leave before we can even begin.
This is a good time for each of us to stop and contemplate our own approach with Reiki and animals. I believe that whatever approach we use, we always mean well, but good intentions are not enough; we need to make sure we are empowering animals during Reiki, not subjecting them to our will.
One of the concepts not often discussed regarding animals and Reiki, is the difference between agency and submission.
Submission during Animal Reiki sessions means that animals must be compliant and acquiesce to human rituals. There are constraints to their movements, and they are expected to inhibit their natural instincts in order to comply with the progression of the practitioner’s formal “rules” of
The opposite of expecting submission of an animal during Reiki would be not only allowing but encouraging an animal’s agency during the session.
The success of the Reiki session would not be focused on the practitioner’s ability to go through hand positions, for example, but rather be centered on making sure the animal is empowered and free to be themselves and make independent choices while the practitioner holds space to support them.
How do the 6 Pillars of Practice in the Let Animals Lead® method contribute to the healing and well-being of animals? Could you explain each pillar in brief?
Here are the 6 pillars and a short explanation of how they help animals to heal:
1st pillar: This Animal Reiki method is founded upon traditional Japanese Reiki techniques and philosophy.
Traditional Japanese meditation techniques focus on meditation and mindfulness for healing. The simplicity and power of just learning to sit and BE with our animals creates amazing healing responses from animals!
2nd Pillar: Touch is used only when animals seek it out, and then only as a compassionate support.
To honor the sensitivities and preferences of animals, the best way to incorporate touch into a Reiki session is to allow animals to approach us, and only then rest our hands gently on the parts of their bodies they present to us. In addition, we must train our minds not to focus on “sending” or “beaming” anything towards them from our hands. Whether we are or aren’t touching an animal, the Let Animals Lead® method teaches us how to hold a nonjudgmental space of acceptance with an open mind and compassionate heart.
3rd Pillar: Mental focus techniques develop an “All is Well” state of mind for the practitioner that sees the animal’s perfection in the present moment, rather than focusing on what’s “wrong.”
I call this seeing with your “Reiki eyes,” or seeing more deeply with your heart. Animal Reiki helped me to face and heal from breast cancer twice in the past seven years. Facing my own mortality, and suffering the chronic pain and issues of surgeries and ongoing treatments has given me a new perspective on what true “healing” really means. Through Animal Reiki, I was able to realize that peace and healing are possible in this present moment, no matter what we are facing. Our beautiful inner light is always perfect! Rather than being fearful of or overwhelmed by times when our animals may be suffering, the Let Animals Lead® method will teach you a deeper truth about healing that can help you walk with peace through difficult moments. This will make all the difference in your animal’s healing journey!
4th pillar: Meditation is taught as a state of mind with flexible physical forms.
I’ve worked with so many species over the years, sometimes very big animals, sometimes very small, sometimes wild and sometimes cuddly. I’ve found myself in all kinds of environments from homes and yards, to parks and beaches, shelters and sanctuaries. I learned pretty early on that connecting with animals didn’t require me to sit still with my eyes closed. In fact, that kind of rigid physical position limited my ability to reach and respond to many species of animals in different environments. Animals taught me that peace and compassion is about our open state of mind and heart, and these are skills we can develop no matter what our physical body is doing—sitting, standing or walking. The Let Animals Lead® method and the 6 Pillars of Let Animals Lead® will help you develop your meditation skills so that living a compassionate life becomes your meditation. It will transform your way of being in the world.
5th pillar: Animal Reiki is mindfulness meditation practiced “with” our animals, rather than an energy therapy done “to” them.
Over the years, animals have taught me that less is more. When I focused on physical ritual, many times animals would walk away and not want to connect. When I found myself focusing mentally on what was “wrong” with a particular animal, the animal would be unable to relax and not want to connect. Over a period of many years, in time I learned that animals preferred me simply to hold the space for them peacefully, rather than try to “fix” this or that issue. When I would relax and just “be” in this present moment with them with an open heart, they would be drawn to me like a magnet and able to deeply relax into a state of peace for their own self-healing. The Let Animals Lead® method will teach you many meditation techniques to use with animals to support their healing.
6th Pillar: This method acknowledges and honors each animal as a spiritual teacher and healer in their own right. Practitioners learn to listen and become receptive to their spiritual wisdom and healing gifts.
When I first shared Reiki with animals, I saw myself as the one helping animals. Sometimes I even felt pity for their situations. Over time and with experience, I began to realize that I received so much more from the animals than I could ever offer. Often the animals who taught me the most were the ones who outwardly seemed the least able to do so (that is, they were fragile or dying). When we learn that even the tiniest creature can be our teacher, our world will be transformed! The Let Animals Lead® method will help you develop your awareness and gratitude for all that animals bring to our lives. Everyone is healed and supported by the peace and compassion that the Animal Reiki connection creates!
What type of services do you offer?
I offer training in introductory courses as well as Level 1, 2 and 3 Animal Reiki Certification. Most of my classes are taught on zoom, however I do sometimes offer in-person courses. I also have a variety of on-demand courses, meditations, articles and books on my website. My books can also be found on Amazon or wherever you buy your books!
How do you integrate Reiki principles and practices into the Let Animals Lead® method?
In a nutshell, we learn Reiki practices to heal ourselves first, so that we can then hold space for others. So at its foundation, the Let Animals Lead® method is all about self-healing, and then learning how to approach animals.
Are there any specific animals or situations that are more receptive to the Let Animals Lead® method?
I have practiced Animal Reiki on all kinds of animals. In the beginning, I practiced a more human-centric approach, as I had learned in my human Reiki training. However this kind of approach didn’t work for shelter animals, rescued animals, wild animals or animals who had been through trauma. I was searching for a way to reach all animals, especially the most sensitive ones. So these animals were the foundation of my learning as I created the Let Animals Lead® method and it evolved over the years. But what I’ve realized now, is that ALL animals deserve to be approached with the utmost respect and to be encouraged to express their agency within sessions – Even the tamest most agreeable animals! We should always check our egos at the door and Let Animals Lead®!
What are your future goals and aspirations for the Let Animals Lead® method? Do you have any plans for further research, training, or expanding its reach to help more animals?
I am currently creating an amazing online community of support and learning on the online platform Mighty Networks. It allows levels of connection and co-creation that is so inspiring! I hope to unite practitioners all around the world: we can do so much more together than apart!
It’s my mission through my teachings to help change the way people see animals – one heart at a time — so that we can live in more harmony with them and prevent and relieve the suffering they may experience. So much healing can be created in our world if we change the way we interact with and treat animals – learning this in the context of Reiki sessions will begin to manifest in many other ways in your life, such as choices you make as a volunteer in your community, as a consumer, choosing what you eat and so on. We have so many opportunities to choose kindness for animals each and every day in big and little ways, and the mindfulness and compassion we learn through the Let Animals Lead® method is a wonderful way to live with more kindness!
