The Empowered Companion’s Values & Ethics: A Heart-Centered Approach to Animal Care
At The Empowered Companion, our values are the foundation of everything we do, guiding our interactions, services, and teachings. These values shape our approach to animal care, ensuring that every being—human and animal—is met with compassion, respect, and mindfulness.
The Empowered Companion’s Values
Compassion – We approach every being—human and animal—with kindness, empathy, and understanding, ensuring they feel seen, respected, and supported.
Respect & Agency – We honor the autonomy and emotional needs of animals, recognizing them as sentient beings with their own desires, preferences, and boundaries.
Mindfulness & Presence – We practice being fully present in each interaction, creating spaces where healing, connection, and trust can naturally unfold.
Education & Empowerment – We believe in sharing knowledge that strengthens the human-animal bond, equipping caregivers with tools to create positive, informed relationships with their companions.
Collaboration & Community – We cultivate an inclusive, supportive environment where caregivers, professionals, and like-minded individuals can learn from and uplift one another.
Whole Being Care – We recognize and nurture the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of both animals and their caregivers, fostering balance and harmony in every stage of life.
Integrity & Trust – We are committed to ethical, transparent, and heart-centered practices that honor the sacred connection between humans and animals.
These values align seamlessly with the Animal Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics developed by the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA), which serves as a guiding framework for all our services—whether animal Reiki, compassionate pet sitting, feline training, or end-of-life support.
Our work is inspired by Kathleen Prasad, the creator of the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki. This method emerged from years of practice, where Kathleen observed that animals preferred connection through a non-judgmental, expansive heart space rather than through directed, hands-on energy. The Let Animals Lead® approach reminds us that Reiki—spiritual energy—is inherent in all living beings and can be accessed through presence, trust, and an open heart.
The Animal Reiki Code of Ethics
At The Empowered Companion, we embrace and embody the guiding principles of the Animal Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics. These principles shape the way we interact with animals and their families:
We believe all animals are equal partners in the healing process.
We honor animals not only as our clients but also as our teachers.
We recognize that all animals have physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects, and that Reiki presence can bring profound healing responses.
We believe that bringing a Reiki presence to human-animal relationships transforms how humans perceive and engage with the animal kingdom.
We dedicate ourselves to humility, integrity, compassion, and gratitude in all our interactions with animals.
Beyond these professional commitments, we also embrace the personal responsibility of spiritual growth and self-awareness to better serve our animal companions:
We integrate the Five Reiki Precepts and the Let Animals Lead® Code of Ethics into our daily lives and professional practice.
We commit to ongoing self-healing and spiritual development to remain a clear and strong channel for healing energy.
We recognize the sacred nature of all beings and honor the depth and value of animalkind as our partners on this planet.
We listen to the wisdom of our hearts, remembering that we are all connected.
At The Empowered Companion, our work is more than just providing services—it is a compassionate practice rooted in the belief that the well-being of animals, humans, and our shared world are deeply interconnected. By adhering to these ethical principles and values, we create a sanctuary of healing, presence, and unconditional love for every animal and family we serve.
For a full listing of the Animal Reiki Practitioner Code of Ethics, we invite you to visit the Shelter Animal Reiki Association website. We are honored to integrate these teachings into our work and to walk this path of healing alongside the animals who so graciously share their lives with us.
For those interested in deepening their understanding of Reiki and its ethical foundations, we recommend reading Healing Virtues.
This article is brought to you by Jaime Kuhn, the founder and owner of The Empowered Companion, a platform dedicated to enriching family life through mindful and compassionate practices with our animal friends.
©2025 The Empowered Companion
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