About Pets, Reiki, and Loss
This October, I want to dedicate my blog article to my little Princesa, my beloved 15-year-old dog, who passed away on October 5.
There is a quote that says the only imperfection of dogs is that they leave us too soon, and I agree. Throughout my life, every time one of my furry friends has left me, the pain has been immense. These creatures give us so much more than we could ever give them in return. No matter how hard we try to keep them happy, healthy, and safe, the love they give us seems infinitely greater. Perhaps it is because their love is so pure and comes straight from their hearts. And perhaps that is why, when they leave us, it always feels as though we had so little time with them.
We know that life is a journey of learning and growth, and that eventually, our time here comes to an end. The same is true for our animal companions. Yet, even when we understand this intellectually, accepting it with our hearts is an entirely different matter.
Some say that the same lessons keep coming back until we learn them. Maybe this is one of the things I am still learning in this life, and I would say it is one of the most difficult ones. I remember being five years old when the woman who helped my mother at home lost her brother. I felt so sad for her that, with the innocence of a child, I told her, “I will go before anyone else in my family, so I won't have to experience this pain.” But obviously, that was not how life unfolded. When I was eleven, I lost my father. At the time, my mother told me that his mission here was over, and that was why he had to leave. I couldn't understand how his mission could already be over when I was only eleven.
Over the years, more losses followed, including the loss of my dogs, and each time, the same pain returned. Of course, I gradually came to understand that loss is part of life and that I would have to learn to live with it. Perhaps I was fortunate to reach that understanding early on. During the past five years, I have lost two dogs and my mother, one after another, not to mention the other losses along the way.
As many of you know, I am a homeopath and holistic veterinarian. Although I have never formally calculated the numbers, I am quite sure that more than 70% of my patients are adult and senior dogs and cats. Over the course of my veterinary career, I have therefore experienced the loss of many patients. Even when I have been able to contribute to a better quality of life and, in some cases, greater longevity, it is still painful to watch these wonderful beings leave us. But each one has also taught me something valuable and, I am sure, has taught something to their caregivers as well. Perhaps this is where we can direct some of our attention: not only toward the pain of losing them, but also toward everything they brought into our lives and everything we learned from them.
Looking back at these past five years, the first loss during this period was my beloved dog Chiquinho. He was the one who introduced me to Reiki and ultimately led me toward research. Among the many things he brought into my life, one of his greatest gifts was showing me the Reiki path. I am infinitely grateful to him for that because, years later, Reiki became a source of strength when I had to face my mother's illness and passing. I am not sure I would have made it through that period in the same way without Reiki.
After Chiquinho, I learned Reiki and became a Reiki Master. I began offering Reiki to Princesa and my patients, introducing the practice to my clients and pet parents, and encouraging them to explore this wonderful tool. Eventually, I immersed myself in Reiki research involving animals, hoping to contribute to greater awareness among the public and my veterinary colleagues of the importance of the body-mind connection in the well-being of our beloved pets. Beneath all the pain of losing Chiquinho, something significant was unfolding. His passing marked a major turning point in both my personal and professional life.
And now, my little Princesa… I am still grieving and trying to understand what her loss means to me. Princesa was a strong, lively, and happy dog. It was heartbreaking to watch her gradually lose her strength during the last few months of her life. In some ways, it reminded me of what happened to my mother, who had been a strong, active, and fearless woman before becoming increasingly fragile. I think this transformation can sometimes hurt even more than the passing itself...at least, that is how it feels to me. There is something deeply painful about watching someone we have always relied on become someone who now depends on us to get through the final stage of life. The roles change, and we must learn to care for those who have always seemed so strong.
I could not be there for Princesa on the day she passed away because I was abroad attending a conference. Sometimes, I wonder whether there was a reason she chose that moment, when I was away, perhaps sparing me some of the pain of witnessing her final moments. I cannot know, but I find comfort in allowing myself to consider that possibility. I relied on Reiki to help me feel connected to her, send her all my love and comfort, and accompany her through her transition, even from a distance...and I am pretty sure Reiki is still keeping us connected.
Princesa passed away just two days after the Animal Reiki panel I participated in at the International Reiki Research Conference. During the panel, I listened to Kathleen Prasad explain that, in Animal Reiki, we should not try to fix things. Instead, we need to let go of control and trust that animals know what is best for them. Her words touched me deeply. As a veterinarian, I am used to trying to fix things. I observe, investigate, seek solutions, and do everything I can to help my patients feel better. With Princesa, I did exactly the same… but perhaps I needed to look at the situation differently. Perhaps, at some point, helping did not mean fixing...maybe it meant accepting what I could not change, letting go of the need to control the outcome, and offering her love, comfort, and peace as she approached the end of her life. I am still learning what that means.
Knowing that many pet parents go through similar experiences, I wanted to write this article to share the importance Reiki has had, and continues to have, in my life as I navigate loss. It has not taken away my grief, nor has it given me all the answers, but it has offered me comfort, strength, and a way to remain connected to love even when I must face separation.
I hold on to the hope that the losses and changes we experience throughout our lives can offer opportunities for learning and growth. But this does not mean that we must find a lesson in every loss or that we need to understand it immediately. Sometimes, we simply need time to grieve, to feel the pain, and to gradually find our own way through it. To all the pet parents experiencing the pain of losing a beloved companion, Reiki may offer a way to cultivate moments of calm, connection, and comfort during this difficult time. Every person experiences grief differently, and there is no single right way to navigate it.
Our animals may leave us physically, but the love we shared with them does not simply disappear. It remains in our memories, in the changes they inspired in us, and in the ways we continue to carry them forward in our lives...Chiquinho led me to Reiki. Reiki helped me face my mother's illness and passing. And now, with Princesa, I am once again learning that this path is not always about finding a way to heal or fix what hurts. Sometimes, it is about letting go and trusting the process, even when our hearts are not yet ready.
For all the animals who have shared our lives, taught us, comforted us, and loved us so unconditionally, may we always remember how fortunate we were to have them with us.
Just for today, be grateful for everything your pets teach you and for all the beautiful memories you share.
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