Get in Tune with Your Pet's Soulful Side

By Allen and Linda Anderson

Have you noticed that pets demonstrate spiritual qualities--joy, unconditional love,

creativity, gratitude--in abundance? If you want to develop a deeper spiritual connection

with your pets, there are sacred practices that you can use. They allow human-animal

relationships to move into greater awareness, enlightenment, and divine love.

By using the techniques presented in this gallery, you have the opportunity to experience

spiritual growth while sharing life with your pet. Paw in hand, the two of you will travel

a journey of the heart together.

Keep a Pet Gratitude Journal

Now is a good time to give the relationship with your pet a spiritual vitamin by starting a pet gratitude journal.

Before you go to sleep at night, for as many nights as you wish, list three things you appreciate about your pet.

Look at your pet and read these three items to him or her. Go to sleep with your pet on the bed, if that works

for you, and fill your heart with gratitude for having such a loving presence in your life.

Imagine and Dream Together

Spend silent time with your pet before going to sleep. With a gentle touch, stroke the animal. Imagine your pet

as a soul inhabiting an animal body. Ask this soul to visit your dreams and communicate with you.

Place your notebook and pen or a tape recorder near your bed. In the morning, before starting your day, write or

record any dreams you may have had.

Express Affection in Special Ways

What are the special ways that you and your pet show love and devotion to each other? What always makes you

 laugh? How have you learned to read each other's minds and hearts? What rituals and routines do you have?

Write about your unique forms of human-animal affection in your journal. When the sad day comes that your pet

passes on, it will be these memories that bring you the deepest consolation.

See Life from Your Pet's Point of View

At a time when no one else is around, turn off the phone and remove as many outer distractions as possible. You

are creating a place where you can spend quality quiet time with your pet.

Lie on the floor or get to eye level with the animal. Reflect on what it is like to see the world from your pet's

perspective. From this viewpoint, observe what your pet might experience while looking at you or other human

and animal family members.

Ask, Why Are We Together?

Grab a photograph that shows a close-up of your pet's face and eyes. Look into the image and reflect on the love

 between you. Ponder why this relationship is important to you.

What could be the spiritual reasons that this animal is in your life right now? Have the two of you made a sacred

agreement to assist each other? Reflect on these questions and write spontaneous, unfiltered answers to them.

Sing a Spiritual Love Song

Did you know that singing and chanting holy songs also uplifts animals? HU (pronounced like the word hue) is an

 ancient love song to God that we sing personally to our pets. It tunes us into the divine love flowing through all

of life.

Stand or sit near your pet. Fill your heart with love. Take a deep breath. As you exhale, sing HU in a long, flowing

 note (HU-oo-oo-oo). Repeat a few times. Together, enjoy a spiritual boost by chanting this golden sound.

Get in Touch with Nature

Take a walk in a lovely environment and allow yourself to appreciate nature. Turn this stroll into a spiritual

adventure in which you are open to all gifts.

Listen to the delicate sounds of birds chirping. Observe squirrels darting up trees and crawling along leafy branches.

Just as you and your pet inhabit a physical home as members of a family, we all share this planet with the animals.

Meditate, Pray, and Relax

Many animals instinctively know how to relax and let go, making them natural mediators. During a time when your

pet is resting, try sitting in a quiet room with the animal nearby or on your lap.

Take a few deep breaths. Close your eyes. Stay in a soothing inner space of love, peace, and harmony for five or ten

minutes. Silently pray with your heart open to receive blessings. Meditate or pray at the same time every day.

Nurture Trust in Times of Emergency

Help your pet learn the spiritual quality of trust by being consistent with daily care, affection, and training.

Be ready for physical emergencies. Have a pet disaster kit, emergency first aid materials, and extra food, water, and

prescription medications on hand.  As friends and mutual guardians, know that you will make it through whatever

storms come your way.

Always Forgive and Show Love

One of the most frequently mentioned benefits of having pets is the unconditional love that they give.  How many

of us remember to return that love unconditionally?

Next time your pet makes a mistake, use the spiritual practice of loving without conditions.  Truly feel the words as

 you say to them: "I love you--no matter what."

Allen and Linda Anderson are authors of a popular series of books, articles, columns, and bogs about the benefits of human-animal companionship. They are founders of the Angel Animals Network and publish the Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter. Visit Allen and Linda at www.angelanimals.net

Animals Teach us many things. They teach us to listen, to live in the moment, to forgive and to be joyful.

Animals teach us about commitment and acceptance. They are our friends, comforters, and our special people................

Reiki can help animals in many ways. It can also deepen your bond, understanding and trust between

you and your animal. It can help maintain health, it can heal physical illness and injury to animals and

help emotional and spiritual problems. It can help animals with issues of being high strung, nervous or

trauma. Reiki brings them relaxation and stress reduction and can reduce the tendency to overcome nervousness.

It can help with healing after surgery or an injury by accelerating the healing process. And for animals ready

to cross the rainbow bridge it can help support you and the animal so the animal has a peaceful transition.

Although Reiki has been mainly for humans it has many qualities that make it ideal for animals. It is gentle,

painless, non invasive and stress free. It heals at all levels for the animal's being, physical, mental, emotional and

spiritual. It is one of the few therapies that brings no harm to any living thing, plant or animal. It goes to

the issue needing healing.It is always safe to the animal and comfortable for you and the animal. It can be given at

 a distance or hands on.

Birds: Put your hands on the bird cage, or hold the bird in one hand with the other hand over top.

Cats and Dogs: Place your hands behind the ears, One hand on top of the head and the other under the throat, Hands

on the belly, back, hips, or specific organs.You can also treat injured or pain areas directly or through bandages.