Radiance Series | Pet-Sitting as a Reiki Practitioner with Christiane Michaels

Welcome to Radiance, a series from the Reiki Women Podcast, where we explore how the system of Reiki can support everyday life, spiritual practice, and meaningful service.

In this episode, we’re joined by Christiane Mikles, a professional pet sitter, Reiki practitioner, and longtime animal care professional. Christiane shares her journey from wildlife rehabilitation and veterinary assistance into blending Reiki with pet sitting, offering calm, presence, and energetic support to animals and their humans.

Together, we explore how Reiki can support animals during times of stress, illness, transition, and separation, and how trust, attunement, and presence are at the heart of ethical animal care. Christiane also speaks to the importance of working alongside veterinary medicine, honoring both science and spirit in compassionate pet care.

This conversation is filled with practical wisdom, lived experience, and gentle reminders that animals respond not just to what we do but to how we are with them.

✨ Whether you’re a Reiki practitioner, pet sitter, animal lover, or simply curious about energy work with animals, this episode offers insight, grounding, and inspiration.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Reiki and Animals
00:22 Welcome to the Radiance Series
01:27 Meet Christiane Michaels
02:13 Background in Animal Care & Reiki
04:36 Building Trust with Animals
07:38 Understanding Animal Behavior
10:48 Reiki alongside Veterinary Care
17:25 Pet Sitting as a Reiki Practice
18:59 The Power of Presence and Calm
33:14 Blending Science and Spirit
41:07 Closing Reflections

🌿 Guest Speaker: Christiane Mikles
Instagram: @circleoflifehealingarts
Website: https://sitstayhealing.com/
Email: circle.of.life.reiki@gmail.com

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🌸 About the Podcast
Reiki Women Podcast shares the voices of women-identified Reiki practitioners from around the world. Through stories of healing, lineage, and spiritual practice, we explore the culture and community of Reiki practice.

Join hosts Bronwen Logan, Carrie Varela, and Michaela Daystar as they reflect on the system of Reiki and the women who shape its path.

Meet the Hosts
🌿 Bronwen Logan — @reikiwithbronwen
🌿 Carrie Varela — @reikihealingsociety
🌿 Michaela Daystar — @heartscapes.insight

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📲 Join our Facebook group: facebook.com/reikiwomenpodcasts/groups


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#ReikiWomenPodcast #RadianceSeries #AnimalReiki #ReikiForAnimals #PetSittingWithReiki #EnergyHealing #HolisticPetCare #ReikiPractitioner #AnimalCompanions #ReikiHealing #SpiritualPractice #HealingPresence #ReikiRyoho

Transcript

Speaker 5 0:00

I think that being in Reiki versus the doing is really where it falls with animals. Sometimes it's not about petting them or running your hands over their energy centers or whatever your practice with that may be. more about just the presence and the being.

0:22

Welcome to Radiance, brought to you by the Reiki Women Podcast. This is an interview series focusing on meaningful topics from our community of Reiki practitioners. This season, we're exploring the intersection of reiki and our animal companions across every stage of their lives and in the environments they inhabit. From the vulnerable creatures and shelters waiting for homes to the aging pets we love through their final day. And from the wild beings we encounter in nature to the animals we care for Professionally, we are acknowledging how our reiki practice supports us to be open to animals. As healers and teachers, this series celebrates the profound bonds between and animals, and how Reiki practice can support both creatures in our care and those who dedicate themselves to animal welfare. Subscribe now and join the conversation.

Speaker 1:16

Hello and welcome to Reiki Women Podcast. And today we are here with our Radiant series. There's Michaela. Hi Carrie. Hi. And our special guest is Christiane Michaels. Hi Christiane. Lovely to have you here now. A little bit about Christiane before we begin. the focus of today is going to be around the fact that Christiane works as a professional pet sitter, in the beautiful state of Arizona and elsewhere, mind you. But, that's where she's focused, if you like. So if you're looking for a pet sitter in that area, highly recommended. And, we're going find out a little bit more about what she does, how she does it, and, any tips and hints and stories that she can offer us. but before I begin with that, a little bit about her history. So she has a, an extensive history with animals. And in fact, she offers things like distance healing for pets and people. she does animal wellness consultations. do you do that online or in person or both? Christiane? Both. Both, yeah. She teaches Reiki meditation classes and she's been a practitioner since 2004. She started with, a more western style of the system and has moved into a more Japanese style of the system. and, she also does in-person reiki treatments in the Sedona area. So if you're in that area, there's something, beautiful that you could do. she's gained her love of animals, through helping her family take care of neighborhood stray cats and dogs and orphaned or displaced wildlife. While growing up in Colorado, where along with the usual cats and dogs, she cared for everything from salamanders and tarantulas to squirrels and raccoons. So. A lot of everything wild. Yeah. in 2006, she volunteered with Injured and Orphaned Wildlife at Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation and the Whatcom County Marine Mammals Stranding Network. And she also earned her veterinary assistance certification at Bellingham Technical College in Washington State. So she's not a doctor of veterinary medicine, but, her friends and her family all come to her as if she is a vet, which, must put a lot of pressure on her, but I'm sure with all of her experience in vet med, animal nutrition, animal communication, and of course working with the system of Reiki, she is able to help a lot of people out. Where do you live exactly now? Christiane.

Speaker 5 4:11

So I live in a little town called Rim Rock, Arizona. It's just outside of Sedona. Okay. So it's called the Verde Valley area. Yeah. which is like a little triangle between several highways of all the little towns that are connected.

Speaker 2 4:28

She lives with her artist partner, mark Hubert and their dog Uma. So. Welcome Christiane.

Speaker 3 4:36

Thank you.

Speaker 2 4:36

Christiane, as a professional pet sitter, you often meet, lots of different animals for the first time, and you only get to know them for a very short period of time, on your scheduled visits. So how do you establish trust and connection with these animals so quickly, and what role do you think that the system of Reiki and your reiki practice and what you do with animals with Reiki plays in this?

Speaker 5 5:05

So generally, unless it's like a tourist that's just passing through, I have about an hour meeting with like consult to make sure I'm a good fit for the household and that they're a good fit for my services. Yeah. where I can kind of get an idea of from the people, what the animal's personalities are, like, what their needs might be. Although occasionally I do, like hotel visits for tourists where I've never met the animal until they're about to go about their day and leave me with the animal. so I guess just years of experience of getting to understand animal behavior, but also speaking to the reiki portion, you know, just being present with that compassion and calm, I think. Relaxes animals around me pretty easily. Also, I've learned from my dog, because she is, she can be shy of people and she's really taught me how to approach animals in a different way than I have before. where it's almost like ignoring them to a degree, until they're ready to, meet me on their terms. Yeah. so with Uma, it's like if you don't talk to her or look at her, then she feels more calm Yeah. About the situation, and then eventually she'll be like, Hey. Why aren't you petting me? So that helps me, especially with animals who are shy of people or dogs that maybe might be a little more reactive. I end up with a lot of the special needs animals because I, I'm not scared of a barky dog that's, you know, uncertain about people. I can just be in that presence and let them be, and they're like, oh, okay, you're not a threat. So it, it tends to happen. I get feedback from clients a lot. Like, oh, you know, my, my pets never acted this way so quickly before. I can't believe she warmed. Like, I had a meet and greet with a new client recently, and you know, they say the dog, uh. Doesn't do great with, with new people. The dog's like in my lap kissing me. I'm like, well, don't make your mom too jealous here. You know? Yeah,

Speaker 2 7:38

yeah. I can relate to that completely because I have a dog called Motley, and, new people can't look at him otherwise, he just goes off his nut. Right? So he barks and barks and barks at them. And I'm, I'm running behind him going, don't look at him. Don't look at him. If you don't look at him, he doesn't do it right.

Speaker 5 7:56

My contact can feel like threatening for them sometimes. So like, looking away, yawning, exposing your neck, those are all very. Things that dogs see as like safe and less aggressive. So

Speaker 2 8:11

I, I won't run up to someone and say, exposure nick. Exposure Nick. That would be weird. It is funny how people actually think that they need to look at the animal and say, I'm okay. I'm, I'm fine. I'm your friend. Whereas that could be more of a threatening thing.

Speaker 5 8:31

Yes, I, I get that with our dog a lot where people are like, oh, I love animals. They love me. Hi, you know, bend down into the face. And that's not the how to get her to trust you. So, yeah.

Speaker 2 8:47

My other dog, Daisy she is just timid. So while you're talking to someone, you won't know she's even there. But I'll see her sneak up behind the person, and so they don't even see her. And then she goes and she has a little sniff of them and they're okay, and then she goes away. So, yeah, it's interesting, isn't it?

Speaker 5 9:06

My new neighbor has a Mastiff Dane mix with a big scary bark and he's uncertain of people 'cause he is kind of just that guy's dog, you know. So when we had a meet, he and I just chatted, sat down, had a conversation, and the dog just came and laid right next to me a couple inches away. But I made sure not to reach towards him because then you could hear a little grumble, like if I did move my hand a little too close his direction. He is like, not sure about that. But yeah, I could feel his breath occasionally when I, when he's sneaking in like that. Mm-hmm. To check me out.

Speaker 4 9:44

I had a, public speaking coach, that I used to hire for my students when I worked at a university. And she would explain that the reason that public speaking is so high on the list of like terrors that people have is because, you know, we're mammals. And in the wild, if you're a mammal and something is looking right at you, it either wants to eat you or mate with you. And so of course when we're standing in front of a room full of people and they're all looking at us, like our nervous system is responding to that old cue and that. advice was so helpful when I met my best friend's, very large pit bull who had a lot of PTSD sweet dog, but definitely easy to trigger. And I was just like, I don't look at you, you don't look at me. We're good. And like he is, I mean, I've known him his whole life at this point. And, we're, we're good. And we just do not regard each other. Like we just, we just exist in the same space and it's all fine. But that makes a lot of sense, that like understanding animal behavior would be such an important piece and, and reiki being such an important piece and I'm, I'm curious about the blending of those two backgrounds. You have this background in veterinary care and wildlife rehab and just engaging with animals in all of these different ways. And then you also have this extensive background in reiki. So I'm curious about how those worlds inform each other and how that particular blend of experience and expertise, impacts the animals that you work with and maybe even their, their humans as well.

Speaker 5 11:22

I think that they've all led to one another in a lot of ways. Like animals have been my safe place since I was very young. my mother raised me to appreciate animals. She raised me vegetarian. My stepfather would bring home wildlife that was losing its home because he was a surveyor, and we would rehab it, or take care of it until we could rewild it somewhere else. So they instilled that love of animals in me from a very young age. And then, I guess. Guess my mother also taught me some healing, like distance healing, not from a Reiki perspective. And unfortunately I don't know what her background was. Now that I'm, curious enough to dive into that in my life, she has passed away. So I don't have a way to ask her about that. But when I was working in, pet Boutique in Seattle, I came across an ad for Reiki class and I'd never heard of Reiki before. but it was in the little pet publication and it was for people and animals and I didn't know what it was, but I knew that that's like what I had been trying to do and that I needed to be in that class. And the woman that I studied with is very animal focused. she teaches her. Master students, often on field trips at the zoo. And so that was really awesome. I had this amazing interaction with the hippos. During that day, our field trip where they would come out of the water and like be with me when it was just me standing there. And when other visitors would come through, they'd go back under the water and I just hung out so that we can enjoy our time together. And it's been like that with me, with animals Previous to studying reiki for most of my life. just because I don't, I don't know. I haven't been officially diagnosed any particular neurodivergent situation, but I have suspicions because a lot of my friends are, very neurodiverse and like attracts like. I studied with Temple Grandin, briefly when I was going to school for veterinary medicine, which reiki. So after I studied reiki, then I had a practice for humans and animals and decided, oh, I should learn more about animal anatomy and physiology, just to, you know, enrich my own practice and did a vet assistant certification with no intention of working in veterinary medicine just to like enhance my reiki practice. But then I found that, that felt like my calling at that time. So then I changed my focus towards veterinary medicine. I did not end up with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree as my heart dog at the time was a senior, when I was working on my undergrad. And so. That kind of changed my, life path at the time because of the struggles that he was going through. you know, I tanked my grades for one thing, so veterinary school was not really as atten attainable after that. but then I worked in veterinary medicine as a tech non-credentialed tech or an assistant, and that's what led me to pet sitting because I was pet sitting on the side. And then when it became more difficult for me physically to lift dogs all day and stand in one place for hours for surgery, I went into pet sitting more full-time. And now that's brought Reiki more back into my life because it's opened up more space for me to feel less hurried and just be more in that presence of self and. Oneness. I love that. and so I think that's how it helps the pets and the people that I work with as well. as you can tell, I can be very gregarious. And so I think that helps my clients also on our first meeting, because I'm very open and this is how I am on with everyone, that they have a sense of who I am and who they're inviting into their home when they're gone. And so I think that it helps put them at ease as well, just like having that presence.

Speaker 4 16:06

Yeah. I love that. Thank you for sharing that background. I always love hearing about the, the paths that people walk and the threads that they weave together to create, you know, our career. You know, it's, it's really not, typically super linear experience anymore. You know, it's so much more common and maybe always have been. But, you know, we have this kind of ideal of like, you pick a field, you go to school, you get a job, you work who at the ladder than you retire. And, it's just so much more interesting to see the ways that these moments in our life and these things that matter to us in a season, things that shift our priorities in another season, you know, weave together to make something that often makes a lot of sense as a lot of coherence from a particular perspective, but can seem quite disjointed sometimes from other perspectives. So I, I love hearing that and, and the way that that ended up landing for you. Thank you.

Speaker 6 17:05

Thank you. I was just talking about that experience for my, myself in a newsletter I just wrote this morning about how sometimes, like life just takes you on these different curves and turns and it's, it's hard to make sense of that cohesiveness, but, you know, it's good to feel that we're cohesive no matter what, where we go, in this crazy life. So, Christiane, you worked with many different animals in your years, Petit being a vet tech. can you share some memorable stories where an animal was experiencing stress illness or was emotionally distressed? and how did your reiki approach shift the situation? So, that's the question, and I also have a story for you, about our time together when, few months ago, but I'll, I'll let you answer that question first.

Speaker 5 17:56

It's hard to narrow it down to one. the woman that I originally studied reiki with, it's funny because she always has like yellow jackets and other animals come to her like when they're dying. She's like, Beth Doula almost. But then it felt like that was like randomly like inherited as part of my lineage or something. 'cause then all the yellow jackets started trying to make their nests in my house after I finished my master teacher training with her. And so I still have, yeah, that kind of experience sometimes. There was a time where there was a hummingbird, like frozen on the ground next to my tire when I was getting ready to go to work one day and I was like, well, I guess I'm gonna be late for work 'cause now I'm gonna save this hummingbird. You know? And so I brought it in and warmed it up and get, and you know, used a little dropper to give it some sugar water until it could come back to life again and fly away. And so I don't, I think that the being in Reiki versus the doing is really where it falls with animals. Because like the hands off note, don't look at me thing that we were talking about earlier, right? working with animals, sometimes it's not about petting them or, you know, running your hands over. Their energy centers or what, whatever your practice with that may be. it's more about just the presence and the being. It's almost like Reiju in a way, I would think, of just like sharing that oneness and calm, being with them. Did that answer the question? I'm not sure. I think

Speaker 6 19:44

so. Yeah. Well, I mean, so we had an opportunity to recently meet, so, uh, you were out in my neck of the woods and came with your friend, also named Carrie for a sound bath in my area. And then you ended up staying with your RV? At my property For a, a night or, yeah, just a night I think. And you got a chance to meet my dog who recently passed away, but, he was just that, it's nice, it's like heartwarming to hear that other dogs have their own quirks and just their things. But my dog definitely had his quirks and so we, we ended up meeting at the like very last minute, four year sound healing event. And then we were, did the sound healing and everyone was hungry. Nothing was open 'cause it was like 9:00 PM and I'm in this sleepy little town. And anyway, so we went to the pizza shop and they just gave us all the extra pizza that they had. We just had pizza for dinner. But I bring it home and my dog loves pizza. And so he was just like in the house and he was like seeing us eat pizza and he was just slowly losing it. Like tell he was losing it and like, you know, you're, you're not new to my dog, so you don't know. But then he just start barking and barking at us 'cause he was so upset that he couldn't get the pizza. So, just, it's so interesting how our dogs have, or our animals have these little quirks and just like learning how to work with them, you know, especially if they're, you're new to that animal. I can imagine that that's quite a skillset that you bring to your work. so.

Speaker 5 21:20

Yeah, his barking wasn't bothersome to me. You know, I'm the bad aunt. If he wants to like give him the little bit of pizza he is probably not supposed to have or something, you know. So

Speaker 6 21:30

I think he got pizza from us eventually anyways, you know, but

Speaker 5 21:35

just claimer, I, I don't feed my clients animals, things that I'm not supposed to, you know, some of them are on very strict diets, but those that are allowed a little bit of this or that, I guess I have some, some background in animal nutrition too, from when I was working in the pet boutique. I spent all my days behind the desk when it was dead. You know, reading up on all the different foods and things like that so that I could help guide people to purchasing the right things for their animals. So. I'm not too bad of, like Aunt Christie's spoiling my animals in a way that I shouldn't. Part of what my clients pay me for is to do things the way they do them. So if it's microwave, a tablespoon of pea for seven seconds, that's what I do. Hmm.

Speaker 2 22:26

You are the perfect pet sitter. I've had people look after my animals and then everything just goes totally wrong. I've written it all down and they said, yeah, I probably should have just done it the way you said. And I'm like,

Speaker 3 22:37

yeah.

Speaker 2 22:38

That would've worked, but, yeah, because animals, they're all just so unique, just like us.

Speaker 5 22:45

And sometimes they get so used to, yeah. The way that people think do things. And even if I may disagree with some of their people's choices, occasionally that's not my place. I might, you know, suggest something like, oh, I noticed this. You might wanna talk to your vet about it, or whatnot. But yeah, it's not my place to make those changes. I can make suggestions

Speaker 2 23:11

and it's also safety. Isn't it? It's keeping an animal safe and I've got a couple of roosters for example, which sometimes we hear in the practice groups online, and if you let them near each other, they will kill each other. Yeah. That's what roosters do. It's like working out when to let one animal out, let another one in, when to feed this one. It's really important. I was thinking about, mutley my barker and don't look at me dog. The other thing that he does is, which my other dogs don't do, is he communicates with me with touch. So I will be working away at the computer and I won't even have paid attention to it. I really need to be aware of him because what he does, he'll come by and he'll just. Like softly like this, just touch me. And it's him actually, communicating something to me about what's going on, what he wants. Or, you know, like your dog, Carrie, wanting food. You know, I've got another dog who'd who'll do that. But, not Mutley. Sometimes I'm so engrossed in something that I don't pay attention. Yeah. And then I feel bad about that later because yes, I, I should have been there for him in that moment. But, it is interesting how they all communicate differently and uh, and it can be incredibly subtle. And my other dog who barks, he always barks if we haven't fed him on time, it might be five minutes out and he will stand in the room and he's an enormous big dog. He's 50 kilos and he has an enormous wolf. And, he will just bark at us. And we're all like going, shh, be quiet. What are you barking about? And then it's like, oh, of course, dinner. So the, the different cues right. That, that you get. And how do you think that working with the system of reiki, actually helped you to understand or listen, you know, to find out how the animals are communicating?

Speaker 5 25:05

Hmm. I guess just since I've started, practicing a more Japanese version of reiki, you know, there's a lot more meditation and just calm presence instead of the doing that Western style, taught me so. Yeah, I think just being aware and present. I mean, they're each different and like the cat I'm visiting right now, I always forget that she hates having the top of her head touched. And so I'll reach that way. And then she is like, no. And I'm like, oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. So, oh, he loves that. You know? there was a dog I was with this last week who I only sat with him once a year ago. so I wasn't sure how, and he's not sure about people besides his person. And so that's one of the reasons she hired me last year is he seemed good with me, like in the hour that we met. So she felt safe leaving him with me. And when I got there this time, he wasn't sure. He went and hid under the bed for a while and I was like, I'll let her, I'll let you know when he warms up. I'm sure it won't be too long. And he's, she was like, oh, I'm not worried about it. And like within like 10 minutes he is like kissing in my face, like, Hey. And I was like, oh, we're best friends. Well, it turned out that's his way of telling me he needs to go outside. So it took minute to realize that, you know? but yeah, I guess reiki just makes me more mindful in all different aspects of my life, and so it helps me to be more aware of. A broader view of my surroundings in some ways, you know, or just being like energetically aware of like how you were saying your dog sneaks up on people and they won't even realize she's there. Like sometimes it's like that sixth sense of like, oh, I feel you sneaking up. I'm just gonna drape my arm down here so you can sniff my finger, you know, or whatever that is.

Speaker 2 27:21

It just reminds me yesterday in the online class that I was doing and I was talking about something that I just wrote an article About Us understanding our space, which is called ma in, in Japanese. Some people have difficulty in sensing energy with others, and it's like a first port of call is actually to know that we are in space, we are in a space, and to have a sense of that space. And then from that, then we can start to focus more on sensations, so the hip, the, the echo of a body. What it's telling us. But first we need to understand that we are in something that's living potential space. and I think that really relates to what you're just saying about animals, because if we don't have that awareness. We are expecting them to communicate in the way that we communicate, which is very gross. You know, it's very, this isn't it?

Speaker 3 28:26

Yeah, yeah, yeah,

Speaker 5 28:27

yeah. And I think. Like you were saying, each animal has its own personality and way of communicating. and you know, each species is slightly different too. We can't expect our dog to necessarily listen to all of our words if they aren't trained on certain cues. Yeah. It's not how they communicate, you know? So being with my dog, sometimes she likes to wander a little further than she should, but if I'm concerned about that and I'm like, Hey, get over here. She's not coming back fast. If I'm like, where'd you go? Come find me. Like, then she's like, okay, what are we doing? Let's hang out. You know, like, she doesn't want any of that. Where are you Gruff energy, you know? So yeah,

Speaker 4 29:16

that kind of, you know, sensitivity to their, not only. You know, there's the, the species way of being and ways of communicating, and then there's the individual animal within that species. That sensitivity to those levels of communication and the range of, you know, how an animal needs to be interacted with I'm sure really matters a lot given the fact that as a pet sitter, you're working with pets inherently during times of transition and change for them, even if it's just their people going on vacation, you know, from their perspective they've been abandoned, like their people are gone and they, you know. They may have cues like the, the, the suitcase. They know the suitcase comes out and then they, the people leave and they come back. But, you know, it is inherently a time of change. And then of course, you probably also work with people when they're dealing with illness or maybe even end of life or they're moving. And so the, the quality of the household might be stressful or grieving or, you know, so I would imagine that, you know, pet sitting at, you know, feels like, oh, you're just hanging out with the pets, you know, while people are doing their thing. But like, you're actually stepping into a space where these animals might be under a lot of stress or confusion. Mm-hmm. And, you know, that sensitivity to their communication really matters. And so I'm curious, you know, how Reiki has been a way of bringing support and comfort to animals in that time. And if that's something that you can, you know, recognize or have sensitivity to, like what their level of stress is, just around the circumstances that brought you there in the first place.

Speaker 5 30:53

I think each animal, again, is gonna be a little different, even if they're facing similar situations. Just like we are all different 'cause there's so many variables, right? but I think brachy does help me be in that just open presence of light that feels safe. animals have always been my safe place and so I'm trying to return the favor to them, right? So it's, it's for me. Sometimes I can be a visual learner, so for me, sometimes it's like visualizing something similar to almost Joshin Kokyu Ho but imagining the animals. Light and my light kind of merging and just that peacefulness, sometimes that helps ground me into that space of just presence with them. and just that compassion. Right? Hmm.

Speaker 6 31:56

I love that. We had somebody, on this radiant series, named Janet, and she was talking about it and as she was like talking about her connection with the animals, like everybody, you know, we've interviewed those far, has has this special gift, the special connection to the animals where they've been coming to them their whole life and they've had. You know, profound experiences like nursing, the, the hummingbird, and it's just something that regularly and routinely comes into your life, which I love. But I was thinking of visioning, Janet, like in the woods somewhere with like a, a deer next to her and a, you know, a bird on her shoulder and her hand holding it, you know, a butterfly or something like that. I love that. But, but the vibe that I get from you Christiane is like, you're riding a horse or you're just. So, so connected to your animals and that they're there with you, and they're such a part of you too. So thank you for sharing more about your gifts and, and how you work with animals. It's really beautiful. I have a question for you though. you know, you have, obviously you have this pet sitting business and you're a Reiki practitioner, and so I'm curious how you've combined reiki in your pet sitting services and Yeah. Coming and I honestly, I've had so many of my Reiki students and friends who've been like, should I add pet sitting to my repertoire of things I should do? And I just like, love that you do this because I'm always encouraging people to do it because it's such a great way to kind of bring both of these worlds together. So I love that you're doing it.

Speaker 5 33:38

So for me, it's been an interesting road because I came from Vet Med and that was like my very science background, right? So you may have noticed I have two different websites. One for pet sitting and one for reiki. I'm working on merging that. but I didn't necessarily advertise my Reiki with my pet sitting initially because I felt like it might. Prevent me from getting certain clients or something that might be a little more science-minded and think reiki is woo or something right? As I'm learning, to not say yes to everything and be in this space of feeling like there's lack. I am realizing that whatever my calling is is this blend of these things, right, where the science and the spirit meet. And so, you know, I bought the URL. Years ago, and maybe in this next year it'll happen, like with the sound healing thing with my friend Carrie that was in the works for years before it actually, uh, took flight. But, sit, stay healing is something that I've been throwing around and bought the domain for because that's like pet sitting. Also, you sit in one place and stay when you're meditating. And so I'm trying to find where those intersect, in a way that feels most authentic to me. I haven't quite landed on it yet, landed, that's why I still have the two separate websites. But I feel I've been feeling the call that those two are coming together more. and some of my clients know one way or the other, right? So some of some people come to me because. Reiki, but then they're really there to learn more about how to understand maybe the notes from their veterinarian. And that's something that I can help with because of working in vet med. I can kind of translate to common language, like what's going on or look at the lab work and help them understand it if the veterinarian maybe didn't take the time to explain those things or kind of guide them in like what questions to ask their veterinarian and stuff like that. so that comes together and yeah, I don't know. I think then also getting cer, I, I'm finally bringing in the, like my ideal clients, which are I. People who need something that not everyone has, which is all these skills together. so I have some new clients in another state who have a special needs dog. Their dog was born with only half a brain, and so he has a seizure disorder. So they found me because they need someone who's there from the time they leave until they get back. Yeah. No matter how long that is. So I may not leave their house for a week or two weeks even to get groceries, but I make sure that I have everything that I need while I'm there so that I can make that happen. and so I, I get a lot of clients with special needs like that, and Reiki helps me in those situations, whether it's something that the client's asking about or not. Mm-hmm. because I can still. Be there to be in that space and offer that for the animal, just in the being of being there. So

Speaker 2 37:30

I would think it's a bonus to get a pet sitter who does reiki. I would pay more for a pet sitter who does reiki. And you've got the Vet Med experience on the other hand as well. They're all just such bonuses. And I would think that it would offer word of mouth, you know, as well, because people would go, well, I've got a pet sitter who does this, this, this.

Speaker 5 37:54

I haven't had to do much marketing, honestly. It is word of mouth and then even though I haven't like dialed in my SEO or whatever, like the right people are finding me through internet searches. So it's coming together. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 4 38:11

I totally relate that feeling of like, can I be explicit about this part alongside this other part? I think a lot of people do go through that, especially when they're transitioning between different types. But, you know, when we feel the coherence of. Those threads woven together in our lives and are able to find the language to really articulate that, as Bronwyn saying like, that is gonna call in the people who are the best fit. Right? And you're already, I love that mindset of like, okay, I don't actually have to say yes to everything, which means I can also say no to things, which means I'm also okay with letting go of those who are not gonna select me because of this reason. Because as Bronwyn also said, the ones that are drawn to you for that reason are gonna highly value what you have to offer. and will really see that. And especially since you're already, you know, not surprisingly drawn towards working with animals that have special needs that are particularly well suited to being, you know, tended by somebody who can hold a space of reiki. It's just, I just love hearing the evolution of that and hearing you like taking the, the, the step of like, maybe I can step into this. Maybe I can own this and, and articulate it and, and let it be more visible. For those who wanna see it. So I, I applaud you for that. Thank

Speaker 6 39:31

I love how, whenever you're talking about like some sort of like marketing thing or reiki master thing, you put it in quotes. Ideal client.

Speaker 5 39:38

I don't use the word master any longer. Yeah.

Speaker 6 39:42

I just think it's super cute. but yes, I think we've all had discomfort with those, those words and those titles and whatever they mean, because I don't know, when we're an open hearted empath, empathic person, of course we wanna just help everybody we can. so, but good for you. I, my Monday mantra this week is boun, uh, boundaries are self love.

Speaker 3 40:07

Mm. Mm-hmm. Reminder,

Speaker 2 40:09

it looks like the sun is setting. Is the sun setting in? Yeah. It's so beautiful, isn't it? Oh my goodness. We get such a great view from here, and it actually looks like there's two moons behind you, so it's sort of like some, I don't know, some mystical, something beautiful. Anyway, two

Speaker 5 40:28

Moon Christy, Must be a vortex or something. That's the language, you know, for Sedona. That's one of the reasons a lot of people come here is to visit all the Vortex. So, yeah. Or, yeah, vortex

Speaker 2 40:41

Christie.

Speaker 5 40:42

Well, my family has a joke that, the Michaels are master Titians, which actually on my tour with Visha where I met Carrie, you know, I could really see like the energy swirling where it was like creating a vortex. So maybe really, maybe we are Vortex and I thought it was a joke, but it's real. Who knows How beautiful.

Speaker 2 41:07

Well, on that note, thank you for bringing your, vortexy self to us. And, it was beautiful, to hear about your relationship with the animals and all the wonderful things that you can do for them and that they do for you. and in this world that we share together, it reminds us of how wonderful it is to share our world with animals, and that's so unique and special and, we do get so much out of it, and if only we knew and realized how much we get out of that. So thank you for adding to that with this podcast, and I hope that, people, get a great, sense of that from this and that those people who might be also interested in doing pet sitting picked up some tips. And, I hope that for you, for your future with your animals and reiki that it all goes so beautifully and blends into one. And I look forward to seeing that all happen. Yeah.

Speaker 5 42:09

Thank you, Brian.

Speaker 2 42:10

Thank

Speaker 5 42:10

you, Kayla and Carrie too for sharing this space with me today and all of your lovely questions and sharing.

Speaker 4 42:19

Well, friends, thank you so much for listening, for watching, uh, this conversation. We would love to hear your pet adventures, your stories, moments that you've had with animals in your life, and the ways in which reiki might be a part of those interactions. Drop those down in the comments and share this episode with a pet lover and animal lover in your life. And until next time, thank you so much for being with us. We love you. Goodbye.