Helping an Injured Bird with Reiki
Whenever we find a bird that is hurt, we can always send reiki to help it heal. Just as with any other animal, giving reiki to injured birds gives them a chance to rebalance their energy systems.
It’s early morning on the shore and a canopy of light streams down around the beach in rays from behind a cloud. As I relax in my beach chair, to my right a ringed-bill gull teeters unevenly along the sand. It slowly approaches me and as it gets closer, I see that it’s hurt.
As it hunts for breadcrumbs that have been dropped nearby, other gulls encroach and roughly nudge the hurt gull aside. The other gulls greedily eat the crumbs, leaving none for the little gull. With each nudge, the gull’s body shakes a little and lifts off above the sand a few feet, flying unevenly. It comes back and hobbles across the sand. It can fly. But not so smoothly. Walking is a challenge too. So I begin to send reiki to this little injured bird. Soon it stops shaking and comes closer to me, as the other gulls move away, finding more scraps to feed on.
I feel the Reiki flowing through me. It expands like a great orb of light that emanates from my center and flows to the gull standing before me. I visualize the light embracing the gull like a gentle cocoon. I picture the injured bird whole and healthy and free. When I open my eyes, I realize the gull has come closer. It looks calmer. It isn’t shaking anymore.
I continue allowing the reiki to expand from within me. It envelopes the gull like the canopy of sunlight enfolding the shore. After a few moments I open my eyes and observe the gull. It looks more relaxed and settled in its body. Perhaps it knows I’m a friend. The gray and white feathers on its head fluff up in the breeze. Then it looks directly at me. There is a moment of connection.
Finally, I feel the reiki session is complete and I give thanks. Then the gull lifts off and flies into the sky. I watch it soar higher and higher, and for a moment, the gull carries me with it, and I feel truly free. I follow my gull until I can’t see it anymore. Then I wait a little while. It doesn’t return.
Four Signs that an Injured Bird is Receiving the Reiki
You can tell the Reiki is being welcomed if the bird:
- perches nearby
- starts to become calm
- comes closer to you during the session
- stays near you for a while
Reiki for Injured Birds at Rehabilitation Centers
There are centers that take in injured birds. The licensed rehabilitators can help them to heal, with the goal of releasing the bird back into the natural environment. In some situations you can give reiki to the injured birds while they are still healing at the center. You can also give them reiki once they’re healed, if you’re allowed to observe their release. Giving reiki to birds at their release can help to create positive energy for a successful release and for a healthy life after the release.
I had an opportunity to watch the release of an eagle at a nearby park in Northern Virginia. The eagle had been brought in with an injured wing. After a while, with daily care and attention, the wing began to heal. A day was finally scheduled for the release. The rehabilitators felt great anticipation for the newfound freedom the eagle would soon discover.
There was a small group of us standing outside the main park building to witness this special moment. Soon we were instructed to quiet down so that the eagle could remain calm. In the silence, I began to give reiki, letting it expand from within and flow toward the eagle. I sent reiki for the eagle’s well-being and for its wings to take it wherever it wanted to go. I sent reiki for a safe flight and a healthy and safe life.
In an instant the eagle was freed from the tether. At first it fluttered, then it took off and landed high in a nearby tree. We all watched in silence. I continued to send the reiki. At one point, the eagle looked down upon us, then in a flash it took off into the sky. I closed the reiki session as the eagle became smaller and smaller in the distance.
Finally, when our group was allowed to talk again, there were cheers and applause all around.
Self-reiki for Bird Watchers
If you ever want to get a longer viewing time with a bird, giving yourself reiki will allow the birds to feel your calm demeanor. This will build trust so that they might perch near you. They feel the calm reiki energy and that allows them to feel safe. The reiki invites them in. It also invites them to stay for a while longer than they might otherwise allow.
Two Main Chakras for Self-reiki before Bird Watching
Once you’re in the environment where you want to see birds, you can give self-reiki. You can be either standing or seated comfortably in a folding chair. You might begin by placing your hands on your solar plexus (your stomach above the navel). This will help you feel more grounded, centered, and calm. Then you might want to move your hands to your heart chakra (the center of your chest). Just allow appreciation for nature to fill your whole chest area.
When giving self-reiki, the birds, even the more hesitant male cardinals, tend to come in closer. It allows us to be with them and feel this wonderful moment of calm connection. And the longer we can stay with a beautiful bird nearby, the longer we feel more deeply calm. It can fill our hearts with joy! And this, in turn, brings a sense of well-being to promote optimal health, not only for the birds we love, but for ourselves.
Many blessings,
Yvonne P. Gleason, Reiki Sanctuary of Northern Virginia
Certified Reiki Master
Certified Meditation Instructor and Life Coach