Animal Reiki Scotland
Animal Reiki Scotland is a resource for rescue organisations, animal guardians, pet owners and complementary therapists who wish to learn about animal reiki and other energy therapies for both animals and people. Based in Glasgow the aim of Animal Reiki Scotland is to provide information and training in Animal Reiki, set up in 2012 by Alison McKinnon. Alison and her network of students provide reiki to animals in shelters and those who have been rescued or rehomed as well as sessions for animals and their human guardians.
Reiki is highly effective in countering the effects of stress and past trauma allowing the animal's true self to shine through while helping them settle into a new home. Alison is a teacher/practitioner for SARA The Shelter Animal Reiki Association, and travels extensively to bring Reiki to shelters.
She teaches from her direct experience of sharing reiki with companion, domestic and wild animals, a student of Kathleen Prasad, Alison also teaches the Let Animals Lead™ method incorporating the Animal Reiki Code of Ethics.
Reiki allows us to speak a language that animals understand, the language of energy, creating a deeper bond, communication and understanding between species.
Animal Reiki Scotland provides
- Individual treatment sessions and classes in Reiki, meditation and stress management
- Certified training from Levels 1-3 in both human and animal reiki
- Training for Reiki practitioners in techniques specifically for animals
- Training for owners and animal guardians
- Workshops and Classes for rescue organisations - self care for staff and volunteers
About Alison
Alison with Mouse at Tolfa India
I am a complementary therapist for people and animals, my mission is to empower individuals to take control of their own health and wellbeing - mind, body and spirit, by creating awareness of lifestyle choices and offering therapies that enhance health and healing naturally. We ALL have the inherent instinct to choose the food, plants, remedies and energy that will bring us into a state of balance and allow self healing to take place, but our reliance on a quick fix, people in white coats and therapists to give us permission to heal and tell us how to live, means this natural ability is often buried deep, waiting to be uncovered.
Looking at ourselves and our loved ones from a 'wholistic' point of view can be completely life changing.
I have many years experience in the field of complementary healthcare, having worked for well known companies in the health and wellness industry in roles ranging from product development, teaching workshops and staff training courses through to delivering hands on therapies in health spas and medical centres. The core therapies that I use for people and animals are ayurveda, clinical and holistic aromatherapy and various forms of bodywork. My experiences working with the energy of plants and essential oils led me to explore other subtle healing systems and energy work including Reiki
I was first attuned to Reiki in 2002 while living in London and subsequenty studied with several teachers and masters in both western and eastern reiki philosophies. I had been practising for a number of years when a chance conversation with a colleague in the field of animal healing regarding a particularly sad case I was working with at the time. The case involved two adult dogs, rescued from a puppy farm/hoarding situation, who were in the care of a large charity in Scotland, my colleague mentioned he was reading a book by Kathleen Prasad and recommended I have a look at her work, this led me to experiment with some of Kathleen's techniques - the results were almost instant. The dogs went on to be successfully rehomed.
I was inspired to train with Kathleen taking Shinpiden ( Level III Reiki also referred to as master level ) and Animal Reiki Teacher training with her.
I am now able to pass on those techniques to fellow students of Animal Reiki. I am a teaching member of Kathleen's charity SARA and continue to study with her as my knowledge of Reiki develops.
It is the system of traditional Japanese Reiki in its purest form that I pass on to my Reiki students. Traditional Japanese Reiki founded by Mikao Usui is a system that can be used by anyone, from owners wishing to create the best possible life for their pets and themselves through to the experienced practitioner of Reiki that wishes to deepen their knowledge - it is deceptively simple on the surface but further study and practice can open up depths of healing for both themselves, their animal and human clients.
For me Reiki is a life path that I have chosen.
'' Instead of thinking of Reiki as lifetime practice, we now know that life is our Reiki practice''
Kathleen Prasad on Shinpiden
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In my experience traditional Japanese Reiki is a practice that puts us into an energetic state that animals know and easily engage with, the animals lead the way and will decide on whether or not to participate in healing, of their own free will. When holding Reiki classes a priority for me is to honour the animals as our teachers and support each student on their path to become a pure and focused channel for this gentle but powerful healing system - it is a privilege to set each student off on their Reiki journey. |
SARA founder Kathleen Prasad, Alison McKinnon, Sarah Faulkner and Jacquie Shankster - SARA Teachers. Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary in Essex.
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Whenever possible I combine my love of travel with animal healing by teaching and introducing the SARA philosphy at animal welfare centres in the UK abroad. Particularly in to India and Egypt, two wonderful countries I have a strong connection with, I work with all types of animals but have to admit to having a big soft spot for Indian street dogs !
At TOLFA Tree of Life for Animals, Rajasthan you can join me on my Healing Paws Retreats to learn animal healing techniques including Reiki, at this very special shelter. Read my blog about Tolfa and a visit to Animal Aid Unlimited.
On a recent trip to India I had the pleasure of sharing reiki with rescued 'dancing' bears and elephants at Wildlife SOS, for me it is a joy to enter that space where the notion of species drops away and simply communicate on an energy level with another being.
Read my blog about Reiki with the elephants.
At TOLFA Tree of Life for Animals, Rajasthan you can join me on my Healing Paws Retreats to learn animal healing techniques including Reiki, at this very special shelter. Read my blog about Tolfa and a visit to Animal Aid Unlimited.
On a recent trip to India I had the pleasure of sharing reiki with rescued 'dancing' bears and elephants at Wildlife SOS, for me it is a joy to enter that space where the notion of species drops away and simply communicate on an energy level with another being.
Read my blog about Reiki with the elephants.
Sharing Reiki techniques with a volunteer and rescued 'dancing' bear at Wildlife SOS in India.
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Wildlife SOS India
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Wildlife SOS India
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In June 2015 I was invited to speak at the Shelter Animal Reiki Association conference, at Ratna Ling Buddhist Retreat Centre California, about my Reiki work in the field of animal rescue. The conference was dedicated to supporting our practitioners and furthering the cause Reiki in shelters, where it is most needed. Reports form shelter staff indicate that helping animals deal with the effects of stress it can influence adoption rates. Support is also given to staff, SARA teachers offer workshops on 'compassion fatigue' for staff to experience the benefits of Reiki and gain techniques to use at work. Anyone can become a community supporter member of SARA and help to spread the word about the benefits of Reiki for animals. SARA membership.
SARA Retreat Teachers 2015 Lynsey Mena, Gail Pope, Frans Steine, Kathleen Prasad, Leah D'Ambrosio, Kelly McDermott, Alison McKinnon
