Is your beloved animal companion struggling with emotional or physical challenges? Are you searching for ways to support their well-being and bring peace back into their life? 

Animals suffer just as we do. The difference is that they are always in the present moment, and their present moment may be a continuous feeling of deep grief for a missing friend, or the anxious feeling when left alone, or overcoming the trauma of emotional abuse and physical neglect. Our shelter and sanctuary animals are particularly susceptible to feelings of anxiety, fear, anger and grief. The wonderful news is that with consistent love, care and the right healing touch, animals have an incredible capacity to heal.

 The Power of Healing Touch

There are numerous soothing and healing modalities available to help our animal companions find emotional and physical balance. Techniques such as Therapeutic Touch, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Reiki and Breathwork offer pathways to healing that are both gentle and profound.

Ted’s Tale of Grief and Love: At the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, NY, where I volunteered, I met Ted, a large horse who had lost his best friend, a Shetland pony. Ted’s grief was palpable, and he would sway back and forth in his stall, refusing to be comforted. The sanctuary hung a ball in his stall to distract him, but Ted was uninterested. His sorrow ran deep, and it lingered for weeks. I placed my hands on his chest and upper back, gently “sandwiching” his heart. Gradually, he stopped swaying from side-to-side, his grief softened by the loving energy he received.

Star’s Silent Sorrow: Another horse, Star, was a broodmare with a deeply swayed back from multiple pregnancies. There was a profound sadness about her that manifested into health issues. I placed my hands in four positions around her head, a technique often used to support “mothering” issues. Star exhaled deeply, a sign of release, and her physical conditions improved.

Henrietta’s Search for Peace: Then there was Henrietta, a turkey who anxiously searched for the perfect spot to lay her eggs, and never feeling settled. Her restlessness was almost frantic. I gently placed one hand on her back below the shoulder blade and the other on her opposite lower back. For the first time in a while, Henrietta relaxed, sitting on the ground, feeling some calm.

Rambo’s Resilient Spirit: Rambo, a large, curly-horned sheep, had earned his name from “ramming” the walls of any stall he was placed in. His aggressive behavior was a response to the trauma and neglect he had endured before arriving at the sanctuary. The sanctuary allowed Rambo to roam free, where he found solace in the company of other animals. After receiving treatments aimed at restoring his vitality, Rambo would run out of the barn with a renewed spirit.

Healing in the Hands of Children: At the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, turkeys allowed middle school students to place their hands on them for a calming Jin Shin Jyutsu treatment. The students were astonished as the turkeys settled into the earth beneath their gentle touch, their eyes fluttering in contentment. Even children, with the right guidance, can offer profound healing to animals in need.

Addressing Emotional and Physical Needs

Does your animal companion grieve the loss of a loved one? Do they feel anxious in certain situations like thunderstorms or when left alone? Have they developed physical conditions linked to emotions like anxiety, fear, anger or grief? 

Seeing to our animal companions’ emotional and physical needs can be done by lovingly placing our hands on their bodies in an informed way, according to their emotional and physical need. If our animals are anxious and need comforting, we could place our hands on them by “sandwiching the heart”. If our animals have a chronic illness and are stressed, we can place our hands under each armpit. If our animals are transitioning over the Rainbow Bridge, we could hold the back of their ears on each side while we sing to them. By doing so, we are “jumper cabling” their life force energy, moving it along toward harmony and balance.

Julianne Dow, of the Dow Integrative Institute, in Kent, offers both online and in-person coaching on the Dow Integrative Animal Health modality. This holistic, hands-on approach empowers pet owners to nurture their animal companions, addressing their physical and emotional needs. While this modality is not a substitute for veterinary care, it complements and supports it, offering a way to connect with and heal with your beloved pet. To learn more about this healing tool, visit JulianneDow.com/jin-shin-jyutsu-for-animals. See ad, back cover.

Dow Integrative Institute 

Julianne Roshan offers an integrative non-invasive approach to holistic healing and wellness through ancient and hospital researched modalities, such as Jin Shin Jyutsu, Yoga Nidra, Medit... Read More »