Month: February 2015

Can our animal friends benefit from energy healing too?

Energy healing in its many forms has become a very popular way for people to enjoy deep relaxation and enhanced wellbeing. If you are an animal owner and have experienced this sense of peace for yourself, you might have wondered if your animal friends could benefit from some healing too. If this is the case, read on, because I’ll be explaining a little bit more about how healing works and how it can benefit not only you but also your animal and the relationship that you share.

Albert Einstein said: “Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not Philosophy, this is Physics.”

Every living thing is made up of energy. We can measure it, and even photograph it (using Kirlian photography).

Kirlian photo of a Coleus leaf:





All animals (including humans!) are made up of millions of cells which are inter-connected and inter-dependent. Chemical and electrical messages (in the form of hormones and nerve impulses respectively) constantly flow around the body, co-ordinating all its functions and – when well – maintaining a state of balance and harmony. This is known as homeostasis.

If something disrupts this balance it results in disease. The body is an intelligent system and it generally knows how to restore its equilibrium. Although this is a natural process, sometimes our bodies can be overwhelmed, or get stuck in a condition of disharmony. When this happens we can benefit from support to help ‘kick-start’ the journey back to wellness.

Energy Healing works with the life-force energy, aiming to bring it to a level at which this natural healing process can function at its optimum. It enables the body to fully relax and raises its energetic vibration, allowing healing to take place on many levels: physical, spiritual, emotional and mental. This makes energy healing very powerful and yet it has no negative side effects.

Animals are particularly receptive to this sort of therapy as they are generally very open and accepting without the conditioned concerns that we humans often experience.

Energy Healing:

•  involves the transfer of natural energy
•  relaxes and re-energises
•  stimulates self-healing ability
•  is non-invasive — there is no physical manipulation or massage involved. Only a light touch is used

It can be used to support many issues including:

• the immune system
• cell repair
• detoxification
• enzyme function
• oxygen uptake
• absorption of nutrients
• wound repair
• pain relief
• balancing
• release of endorphins
• a sense of wellbeing and calm

Each of us may have a slightly different understanding of the term ‘wellbeing’. To me, it is not simply the absence of disease. I believe that wellbeing encompasses all layers of our being: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The details of how this looks and feels may differ for each individual, but for me, it is about being able to truly enjoy each day to the full, being comfortable with who you are and feeling confident and capable to deal with anything Life brings.

Our modern world has come to believe that disease is a ‘mistake’ of some kind, and that it is to be feared and avoided wherever possible. In contrast, I believe that dis-ease has a purpose. It comes from the body’s response to something that isn’t working and, if we explore the nature of the disease, it can lead us to identifying a trigger and thus deal with the issue and make any necessary changes in order to return to the natural state of balance. This greater awareness also helps us in maintaining a good level of health and reducing or avoiding disease in the future.

The animals that share our lives can be a great support in this. They have so much to give and teach us. They are there for us with unconditional love and acceptance and they offer us comfort and a non-judgemental presence when we are upset. They can also often act as mirrors for us, helping to reveal stresses and discomforts in our lives. For this reason it can be very beneficial to share an energy healing session with your animal. Not only will it help you both to feel relaxed and promote wellbeing, it will also enhance the bond of love and trust between you.

One area in which this is especially helpful is when an animal is getting older, or has become terminally ill. Healing can support you and your animal through this time, helping you to share a special closeness and to make the most of the time you have together; through this challenging period, and beyond.

Robyn Harris
Energy Healing Therapist

For further information or to contact me with any questions, please see my website: listeninghandz.co.uk. Please also feel free to download my brochure on bereavement and loss.

Please visit us on our social media pages: Facebook!  Twitter!  Google+!

Note:Healing is a very good complementary therapy and is beneficial in any situation, however you should always seek veterinary advice if your animal is unwell in any way.

I want to tell you a love story.

And it does start with Once Upon a Time.

Once upon a time, a wonderful man and a wonderful woman met, fell in love, and got married.

It was a complete and total love, one that weathered life’s ups and downs.  The kind of love that showed others “we’re here for the long haul, wherever that takes us”.

Sometimes, that kind of love can be consuming. leaving no room for others.

But not this love.

Their loving hearts were so big, and they had so much to offer, that they decided to adopt.

Our family first met Harley in 2002.  With a head larger than his body, and his body not much bigger than a red squirrel. it was love (again) at first site.

In fact, anyone who met Harley fell immediately in love with him.  He was just that kind of dog.

Small and feisty, fiercely loyal, unwaveringly protective, and faster than a speeding bullet – that was the Harleyman.

There was rarely a time when Harley wasn’t around.  Where Mommy and Daddy went, Harley usually went also.

Sometimes this proved challenging, and sometimes this was annoying – especially since Harley wasn’t always simpatico with other four-legged family members.  But, he was always welcome.

Mommy, Daddy and Harley were certainly, without question, the Three Amigos.  It showed, it was cute, and it was love.

It was love during paper training.

It was love during home-alone anxiety.

It was love during loud noises.

It was love during naps.

It was love during “don’t say the CH word”. (cheese)

It was love during zoomies and racing figure-8’s on the lawn.

It was love during <name a hundred other things>.

It was love during Harley’s illness.

It was love during Harley’s blindness.

It was love during Harley’s old age.

And, it was love during Harley’s time to pass away.

Every decision for and about Harleyman was made with love.

It was a complete and total love, one that weathered life’s ups and downs.  The kind of love that showed others “we’re here for the long haul, wherever that takes us”.

And now again, it will be just the two of them.  This wonderful man and a wonderful woman met, fell in love, and got married.

This wonderful love that included a wonderful dog with hearts so big that no matter what life throws at them, they will always carry Harley exactly where they always have – with them.

Rest easy now, Harleyman. You deserve it.

We love you.

Please note that this Blog item was originally posted and shared on Valentine’s Day 2015, but due to a website problem, it was lost.  We’ve reposted it again!

Do you pause in the middle of the day to sigh, thinking of your honey’s warm, wet nose, and furry ears? It’s love, and we know it — dogs and cats make the best Valentines ever. There’s no need to get them chocolates, and they have no use for flowers. In fact, these gifts are actually dangerous for them. But do you know why? Here are five great tips that help will keep your pets safe this Valentine’s Day.

#1 To Give or Not to Give

Are you planning to gift a loved one a new puppy or kitten for Valentine’s Day? You may want to reconsider. Mull it over and do your homework — animals are not disposable, nor can they easily be repackaged, regifted, or returned if the recipient is not pleased.

#2 A Rose is Just a Rose

But then again, a flower or plant can also be a something that hurts your pets. The aroma from your Valentine’s Day floral arrangement may be too enticing for your dog or cat, and it only takes a nibble to cause a severe reaction. Even small amounts may lead to cases of upset stomachs or vomiting, particularly if the plant or flower is toxic. Be extremely careful if your arrangement contains lilies, as these lovely flowers are fatally poisonous to cats.

#3 Restart the Heart

If your dog or cat should ingest large amounts of chocolate, gum, or candy, s/he may go into cardiac arrest. Be prepared this Valentine’s Day by learning the proper methods for artificial respiration and cardiopulmonary respiration (CPR) on dogs and cats, both of which can be found here.

#4 Skip the Candygram

Sugar-free candies and gums often contain large amounts of xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to pets, especially dogs. If ingested, it may cause vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and in severe cases, liver failure.

#5 Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Theirs

Everyone knows that chocolate causes abnormally high heart rhythms in dogs, among other problems. But not everyone is aware that baking chocolate is especially toxic. While an M&M or two on Valentine’s Day may not do any harm, a dog or cat that snatches a large chunk of baking chocolate from the counter may end up in the ER. It is essential to keep ALL chocolates out of your pet’s reach. Yes, even that last raspberry-filled nugget from the assorted box of chocolates no one ever seems to want to eat.

Remember, ANY medical issue needs prompt attention, so keep your veterinarian’s number in a handy place that everyone knows about.

Do you have a Keep-Pets-Safe Valentine’s Day tip? Share it with us, so others can benefit!

Your tip may be the tip to keep a four-legged someone out of harm’s way!

Today a woman reached out to me to tell me that she no longer wanted to be connected to our social media pages because of the pictures that we share as part of spreading the word about Animal Advocacy.

In the past, if someone would have approached me with that statement, it would have made me angry.

Today, it just made me sad.

There is an unbelievable number of people with caring, compassionate souls that simply cannot fathom the injustices done to animals.  For many of those people, although their heart is in the very right place, they cannot take the knowing that comes with being involved in Animal Advocacy and Welfare.

And because of this, the Animal Support community waxes and wanes in numbers. A lot.

Animal cruelty affects people in different ways.  It’s wonderful that for most, it compels and motivates others to move forward, to want to take action – to simply do something because now they are aware.

And for those same people, sometimes it’s good to simply take a break from the daily haunting images and information if only to regroup, take a breath, and re-energize before jumping in again. There is always someone right behind you doing today what you need to take a time-out from.

But, for those that make the decision to simply stop; to tune out and purposely avoid what is happening…every day we lose well intentioned people who simply cannot tolerate the reality of crimes against animals.

So, what does it take?

What does it really take to be able to go the distance, every day, expecting nothing in return except to save or better the life of an animal?

I say, It Just Takes You.