I hope you will all find this comforting, as I did. When my dear ferret boy Jake died in the early hours of Thanksgiving, I could still feel him receiving the Reiki energy I was giving him even after his breathing and heart had stopped. I have been thinking about this since, and I am sure that the true Jake, the one that is more than a body, was still needing support as he left his body and moved on to the next life. To explain why I am sure of this... It isn't possible to give Reiki to nothing or to someone who doesn't want it. I gave Reiki once to a man who didn't want it. He was in a group of people attending an Intro to Reiki session in which I went around the circle giving a sample of what Reiki feels like by putting my hands on people's shoulders for a few minutes. (Like I did for you folks who were at my table at the Forum at the Falls.) When I came to this man, I couldn't feel a thing happening in my hands, and sure enough, he said afterwards that he didn't want Reiki. Once when I sent distance Reiki at night to a ferret who was dying, I sent him Reiki again first thing the next morning... and he just wasn't there. I called my friend, and she said that he had died hours before. When I am giving Reiki to anyone and the area my hands are treating has had enough Reiki, the amount of energy I feel in my hands lessens a lot or even ceases. But when I kept my hand on Jake after he had died, the energy was still so very strong, almost painful. I didn't understand why, I even wondered momentarily if he was still alive and just peaceful, but I did keep my hand on him for a while. I am sure God was using me to help him transition from one life to the next. If this happens again (as I am afraid it will... or maybe I hope it will because I can tell how much receiving Reiki helps them while they are dying) I will keep my hand on the little body until the energy subsides and I know the spirit has gone on. Someone said once -- in response to the scornful question, 'You don't seriously believe that your body has a soul, do you?' -- 'I believe that I AM a soul who temporarily has a body.' This experience was a small confirmation for me of this great truth. Blessings Judith -- Reiki Master & Karuna Reiki(tm) Master * * * Reiki Distance Healing * * * For You and Your Animal Companions http://www.Reiki4Healing.com [Posted in FML issue 3985]