It was another beautiful summer afternoon, and I was sitting in the shade chatting with a friend. I had just started to tell her the story of my amazing encounter with a wild bird (see Feathered Trust), and as I turned my head I discovered that a Western Swallowtail butterfly had landed on the pillow I was leaning against—right by my head. Neither my friend nor I had noticed her arrival, something I found rather odd since she was a rather large butterfly.

With frequent turns of my head to see if she was still there I finished my story, and we chatted a while longer before my friend had to leave. My butterfly friend remained, so telling her that I would return to sit with her I slowly got up to say good-bye to my friend.

When I returned I took a few photos and gently sat down in my chair. My butterfly friend seemed content to remain where she was, never moving other than when the breeze lifted her wings.

As I sat with her I tried to empty my mind and connect. For the first time I noticed that a large section of her right wing was missing, and I wondered if she was still able to fly. As I looked around my yard, currently filled with many species of birds engaged in various activities, I felt concern that by resting so long in one place she might be at risk of being eaten by one of them. Had she come to me for help?

I have a history with injured and dying insects coming to receive Reiki for healing or assistance in transitioning, so I asked her if she would like some Reiki and if she would like me to build a Bridge of Light for whenever it was her time to cross over. I received a very clear “yes” and since I now had permission I began to offer Reiki. I built the Bridge first, sending it into the future so that it would be there when she had need of it, asking that her passing be as swift and joyful as possible.

Then I shifted to offering Reiki in the present moment for her highest good. I could feel the flow of energy, which was quite strong, especially for such a small and light being. My sense of the flow lasted for a few minutes and then stopped—my butterfly friend had all that she needed.

As soon as the flow stopped, for the first time, my butterfly friend shifted position. She turned left and right—I had an impression of searching. Her wings moved up and down as though she were testing them, and then, seemingly unhampered by the missing section of wing, she rose and made her way unerringly to the other side of my yard and two Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) plants in full bloom.

For the next few minutes she fluttered from blossom to blossom, sipping of their nectar and gaining sustenance.

And then, powered by nectar and by the Reiki beneath her wings, my butterfly friend flew to the corner of the house. Gracefully gliding on the air currents, with the light of the setting sun illuminating her beauty, she faced into the west. Riding a beam of light she turned the corner, and was gone.

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Want to learn Reiki for animals and people? I am passionate about sharing my love for Reiki with others, and offer a mentored live six-week Reiki teleclass series where you can easily learn Reiki in the comfort of your own home. Available worldwide.

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A WILD WAY TO HEAL
Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is an animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic energy healer, and author. Her classes, sessions and ceremonial work are inspired by wild and domestic animals who have issued a call to action for personal and global healing.

Her book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism features heartwarming stories about animals and their role in her evolution as an energy worker and shamanic healer.