I began to explore animal communication and animal Reiki in 2006 as a way to help my cat, Idgie (1996-2012), a sweet diva of a tabby I adopted as a tiny kitten. By age 10, she was dealing with inflammatory bowel disease, hyperthyroidism, and anxiety. I knew there was more to all of it … and more I could do.

As our animal companions so often do, Idgie also helped me learn how to heal myself. I took Reiki I and II the following year, and Reiki Master training in 2008 and as a refresher in 2014.

In 2007 I began studying, and soon thereafter practicing, animal communication. (Yes, I was a skeptical journalist. I also knew telepathic communication with animals was possible.)

I completed the Animal Reiki Core Curriculum with Kathleen Prasad, author and founder of Animal Reiki Source and the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA), of which I’m now a member. I also trained, at the master level, with Prasad in her Let Animals Lead® meditation method of animal Reiki in 2017. The Let Animals Lead method is what I practice now.

Before all that, I earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Butler University and a master’s in theology at Louisville Seminary I hope I never stop learning.