If I go back in time, I remember that as early as my adolescence, a strong drive was born within me to search for something that went beyond what we normally perceive. Throughout my high school years, I was interested in subtle energies, spiritism, and paranormal phenomena. Unfortunately, living in a small provincial town and the fact that the internet practically did not exist back then prevented me from truly exploring these topics. So, with the start of university, I ended up putting everything aside.
The real shift in my life arrived during my training to become a technical instructor in canine behavioral rehabilitation. The more I studied, the more I realized that a dog could not be reduced to a simple collection of instinctive and random behaviors. Most importantly, I realized that the solution to their issues could not solely consist of modifying the final behavior. I felt there was much more to it. The emotional and energetic aspects had to play an important role.
So, during one of my endless Google searches, I stumbled almost by chance upon a word: Reiki.
I discovered that a course was being organized in a nearby town and, without thinking twice about it, despite all my doubts, perplexities, and mistrust, I signed up.
That decision changed my life.
Why is Reiki important? Good question.
Reiki is an energetic rebalancing technique. Today even science tells us that, ultimately, everything is energy. Even matter is energy vibrating at a different frequency. If this is true, then learning to know and manage our energy becomes something fundamental.
I like to use this comparison: it is as if, when we purchase a car, we were also taught how to become mechanics. Faced with any small issue, we would be able to intervene immediately, preventing that breakdown from turning into something more serious and costly.
It should be the same with our body and our mind.
Our thoughts are energy as well. Our emotions, which are the result of neurological, chemical, and electrical processes in our organism, are also energy. And we know very well how much thoughts and emotions can influence our state of health and the quality of our life.
How many times does a thought looping in our head generate anxiety, stress, or fear? And how many times, after days or weeks, do physical symptoms start to appear, such as gastritis, muscle tension, back pain, or migraines?
It is a true vicious circle.
Reiki seeks to intervene before that circle consolidates. It works on the energetic imbalance at the origin of the problem, with the goal of bringing the system back into balance. In this way, conditions are created so that the discomfort either does not manifest or presents itself in a much milder form.
And this is just one of many benefits that Reiki can offer. It can be a valid support for both acute or chronic physical issues, as well as for emotional and mental difficulties, helping the person rediscover a state of greater harmony.
All of this applies to our animals too, who, in addition to their own life challenges, constantly absorb ours.
Their imbalances translate into reactive, aggressive behaviors, extreme agitation, or conversely, total apathy. Offering them an energetic rebalance is, in my opinion, one of the greatest gifts we can give them.
Naturally, Reiki, like all energetic disciplines, does not replace Western medicine. On the contrary, I believe the two realities can and must integrate.
Traditional medicine is perfect when dealing with a major symptom. If I have a severe migraine that prevents me from even standing up, it can make sense to take a medication to feel better.
However, once the acute phase has passed, it is worth asking: why did that migraine appear?
If I can understand its root cause, I can work to prevent it from returning. Perhaps I notice that it always appears during periods of high stress, when I am living in anxiety, or when I am emotionally under pressure. That is precisely where Reiki can become a precious tool, helping me rebalance those inner states before they transform into a debilitating physical disorder that forces me to resort once again to medication, which by its nature relieves a symptom but creates strong imbalances in the rest of the body.
For me, Reiki does not simply mean "giving a treatment." It means learning to...
To answer this question, I will share two stories with you.
The first happened while I was stopped at a gas station refueling. At one point, I looked up and saw two pigeons perched on a power cable. Right next to it was a beautiful tree with large branches. For about a minute, I kept watching those two birds, sending them a simple mental request: "Go onto the branch, do not stay up there, you might risk hurting yourselves."
When I finished refueling, I saw them take flight and land right on that branch.
The second episode occurred while I was walking alone in a small forest. At a certain point, my gaze met a maritime pine tree standing slightly off to the side. I felt a kind of call, as if that tree were inviting me to come closer. So I did, and from that moment, a conversation began.
Yes, it may sound absurd, but plants and trees are living beings as well. They communicate, and very often they do so simply to teach us something.
All this is to tell you that intuitive or telepathic communication can happen at any moment. You simply need to be willing to open that channel.
As far as I am concerned, I choose to do so mainly very early in the morning, when I dedicate myself to communicating with the animals of the people who contact me. I chose that time because I notice it is when I am most receptive, most centered, and mentally most free. Additionally, I know I will not be disturbed, because everyone at home is still sleeping.
So no, during the day I do not normally communicate continuously with animals. Unless an animal, or perhaps a plant, spontaneously calls for my attention.
I will tell you about my ideal routine, but let me tell you right away: I do not always manage to respect it. Not all days are the same. There are days when I am out all day for work, others when I have many commitments and available time is inevitably less.
The important thing, in my opinion, is not to put the dog in the background relative to everything else. At the same time, however, it is essential to teach them flexibility. A dog should not get anxious if, every now and then, the routine changes or gets modified. Real life is full of unexpected events, and they must learn to face them calmly.
In my typical day with Ugo, I try to take him out for a walk at least twice: once in the morning and once in the late afternoon or evening. I am fortunate to have a fairly large garden, so during the day he can go outside freely whenever he wants. If I lived in an apartment instead, I personally would do at least three outings a day.
When we return from the morning walk, I prepare his breakfast, which in his case is wet food, and then we both take a moment of quiet.
Towards late morning, if I have time, we do some search games or mental activation activities. In the afternoon, we alternate more dynamic activities, such as playing with a ball or frisbee, with more relaxing ones, like using a licking mat, a snuffle mat, or engaging in chewing with natural chews.
In the evening, for dinner, I give him wet food mixed with kibble. We stay in the garden for a bit for the final bathroom break, and then we go inside to rest.
Every day I always try to offer him at least these three things: a couple of natural chews, a scent work activity, and the licking mat. They are simple tools, but they help the dog immensely to relax, release stress, and maintain a good emotional balance.
When I know I will be out all day, I organize myself in advance. If needed, I wake up very early to take a longer walk before leaving. Fortunately, someone is almost always at home, so he is never left completely alone, or at least not for many hours.
For this reason, I believe there is no perfect routine that is identical for everyone and to be followed to the letter. There is a routine that adapts to the family's life and, above all, a dog that learns to adapt together with us.
The important thing is to find the right balance between their needs and ours, organizing as best as possible without expecting every day to be identical to the previous one.
This conversation is an invitation to transition away from treating animals as infant substitutes and toward establishing a mature, long term partnership rooted in mutual accountability.
We sat down with visionary lightworker and yoga teacher Benedetta Spada to discuss her fourth book, Il Sentiero dell’Eternità, sacred feminine energy, and her personal secrets for overall longevity.
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