We will never forget the winter everyone in our home got the flu. One after another, we got sick. Often all we could do was lay on the couch and moan. Our dog lay right on top of us the whole time, passing from one person to the other. He got up when we did (seldom), and he ate, drank water, and stayed with us. We agreed he was literally healing us. We joked about “laying on of paws” healing. The truth is, we believe he did help heal us. Nothing has felt quite as healing as the love and energy that dog poured into us. I know every dog owner has a similar story.
Healing Dog
Most people recognize the healing power of companion or “service” dogs in today’s world. This power to heal, comfort, and guide people with mental or physical issues was even more recognized in the ancient world. The Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and Hittites thought that the dog spirit protected not only from terrestrial enemies, but also from evil spirits that were seen as the cause of all disease. If a person felt the onset of these spirits, they often had a magical dog or a dog charm nearby.
Have you ever had a dog lick your cut? I remember once gardening and slicing my palm on a thorn. My dog was nearby and licked it. I figured I’d wash it later, but I forgot. The next day I was amazed to find it basically healed and free of infection.
Since ancient Egypt a dog lick has been considered by some to be the equivalent of antibiotic cream. This likely adds to the mythic connection between dogs and healing in many cultures. There is actually some proof to this belief. Dog saliva contains lysozyme, an enzyme that kills some bacteria, histidines that ward off infections, and other chemicals that promote healing. Historical accounts from ancient Greece and Rome tell about dogs accompanying soldiers into battle and being used to clean wounds by healers. Considering that none of these people possessed antibiotics, likely they were on to something.
The greatest healer of the ancient world was supposedly Aesculapius, a Greek demigod, often depicted accompanied by a dog, his divine helper and protector. At Epidaurus, his sanctuary and place of origin, and at every asklepieion (“healing shrine”) we visited in Greece, statues of his magical dog helper are still found along with the divine serpent crawling up his staff, a symbol of medicine. Sacred dogs were always present at these shrines, and are considered part of the healing process. Maybe, we can surmise, from their healing licks, but also because of the psychological and spiritual assistance they provide.
The Celtic god of healing was Nodens. His symbol was also a dog. In England, images of Nodens and his dog have been found on offering plaques left by grateful pilgrims healed from a variety of afflictions. These temples of Nodens were healing centers much like the asklepieion in Greece.
The dog, a healing power in ancient Celtic society, is often depicted in images and on offerings found at healing springs all over the United Kingdom and Europe. The goddess Epona, best known as a Celtic horse goddess, is often depicted holding her sacred dog in her lap. The Celts invoked Epona for fertility and healing for animals and humans. Many healing female deities are shown with sacred dogs.
The god Cunomaglus (Great Hound Lord) is known from an inscription at his temple in the United Kingdom. Truly dog healing magic was a huge theme in the ancient Celtic world where, even today, if you visit, you will see a truly dog-crazy nation. Look at the amazing Westminster dog show.
Divine dog healing was also all the rage in the ancient Near East. There the dog was associated with many healing goddesses such as Ninisinna, Bau (or Baba), Gula, and Nin-karak. From prehistoric Sumerian culture through Akkadian, Babylonian, and Chaldean times, healing goddesses were commonly depicted with divine healing dogs.
Often a dog image was venerated as the actual embodiment of the healing goddess. For example, during excavations at Isin, the ancient city sacred to the healing goddess Ninisinna, archaeologists discovered plaques with images of dogs, a statue of a kneeling figure hugging a dog, and small clay dog amulets inscribed with prayers to the goddess for healing.
We were lucky enough to see some of these items at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi) in Turkey. We thought that the people hugging the healing dog goddess looked a lot like family pictures of us hugging our dog. It is nice to know people have been hugging dogs for health for ages. We know that dog hugs make us feel better.
Of course we can continue going on and on about healing dogs. Let’s face it, dogs are loving and trustworthy, and you’d trust a doctor who had a friendly dog, right?
In Catholic churches, even today healing dogs abound. Mother Mary is often shown with a dog, representing love and compassion. Saint Domino, the saint who heals diseases (especially rabies), has a dog as his symbol. Shrines of many saints who have a dog as a symbol, such as Saint Guinefort, are famous for healing as well.
Who does not immediately love babies and puppies? Having a baby is never painless for people, we know from experience. Yet when our friend’s poodle had pups, it was fast and seemed almost painless, even having a litter of ten puppies. That easy birthing is a powerful magic that mankind has noticed throughout history. This explains why divine dogs are often invoked to ease and protect women and babies during childbirth.
The fearsome Hekate is a goddess who helps with childbirth, and as such, her dogs became a symbol of easy and safe birth. In Japan, worshipers pray for an easy and safe childbirth at shrines to the watery kami or child-god Suijin (also called Suitengu), whose symbol is a dog.
We visited such a Suitengu shrine before the birth of our son. We rubbed the large metal magical dog’s nose and received an amulet to bring to the hospital. Who really knows if it helped, but nurses at our son’s birth in Tokyo were all very impressed we went there. Many temples and shrines in the ancient world that were connected with dogs served as spiritual (and at times, actual, as in Greek asklepieion) hospitals. In this way, the loving and patient dog spirit was and is helper and guardian of healing and helping adults and new human pups.
Spells, Meditations & Charms
Receiving Dog Healing Meditation
Are you sick? Down in the dumps? Whatever it is that is making you unwell, your dog can help comfort and heal you. Dogs for thousands of years worldwide have been present to heal and comfort the sick. Dogs will naturally lie by you when you need care, and they won’t leave your side until you get up and are feeling better. Giving healing energy comes naturally to dogs, and receiving healing through meditation with your dog is extremely comforting.
You will need:
• Salt
• Pine or cedar branch or pine or cedar incense
• A dog brush
Sprinkle salt around where you are going to perform your healing and then say:
I start the healing
To connect with the chakras as one,
And now I will receive your
Divine energy to get
Better and once again
We will run in the sun.
Now burn the incense or wave the branch and say:
By the healing sound of Aum*
And the healing sound of Ha,*
Aum-Ha.
Brush the dog three times and say three times:
Sickness out
Night and day,
Sickness away
Aum-Ha.
Invite your dog to lie next to you as closely as you can until both of you are comfortable. Keep your heads near each other. Put one hand on your dog and the other where you feel the most discomfort. You will be tapping into your chakras with this meditation.
Close your eyes and breathe in and out rhythmically until you feel relaxed. Then you are going to vibrate the sound of the chakra associated with the part of your body that needs healing. If you are sick all over, maybe with the flu, vibrate the sounds of all the chakras, from the base to the top. As you do this, feel and see the loving green healing energy of your dog filling you.
The root chakra starts at the anus and the chant is Lam.
The second chakra starts at the lower back and the chant is Vam.
The third chakra starts at the stomach and the chant is Ram.
The fourth chakra starts at the heart and the chant is Yam.
The fifth chakra starts at the throat and the chant is Ham.
The sixth chakra starts at the “third eye” of your head and the chant is Om.
The seventh chakra starts at the top of your head and there is no sound but the “silent sound” of all.
Chant the chakra sounds until you start feeling better. Thank your dog with a hug and give it back some energy and maybe take a nap together. Make sure you both eat well when you can.
* Translation (Sanskrit): Aum = Om, the force of Creation. Ha is the seed-mantra for the Endless Manifestation, the other seed-mantra sounds activate the chakras indicated. All chakra mantras are pronounced with long A: Example: YAM = Yi-AY-MM; HAM = H-AY-MM.
Restful Night Sleep for You & Your Dog Spell
Sometimes with a new puppy, an older dog, or simply for a restless dog, sleep is a problem. We all know what it’s like when you have to go to work and your dog wakes you up several times at night. Calming this energy can help both you and your dog sleep well and will be good for both of you. While the goddess Hecate may seem forbidding, she is the protector of dogs, guide of the pathways of waking and sleeping, and lady of night and rest. Call upon her for restful sleep.
You will need:
• Chamomile tea
• A small ceramic bowl of salt water
• Lavender incense
• A purple candle
• Matches
Make the chamomile tea and set it on your night table along with the salt water. Light the incense and candle and say:
Io Evoe*
Come, O gentle Hekate,
Protector of dogs,
People too,
Bring restful sleep,
We petition you.
Praise Nyx.*
Before your dog goes to sleep, think of a calm, quiet night and letting go of stress. Drink the tea, giving a little to your dog as well. Cuddle with your dog and as you do dip your ring finger in the salt water, touch your dog’s head, and hum a sleepy time tune to this invocation:
You are that, you are all.
With all you rise,
With all you fall.
Life and death,
Night and day,
Pain and pleasure,
Ever-changing play.
In the center of all
Is great release.
You are the center of all,
Now go to sleep.
When the tea is gone and the incense is done, wish your dog a good night and blow out the candle. Have a restful sleep.
* Translation (Greek): Io Evoe = (no direct translation, but this is closest) Yea. Hail. Holy; Nyx = Night.
Spell for Successful Dog Travel
Time for the family vacation, which of course includes the most important member—the dog. What would a vacation be without including the whole pack? Not going on vacation? Maybe the family dog or a new dog will be traveling alone or delivered by plane or some other means of transportation. No matter if your dog is traveling with you or not, having your dog travel is hard for everyone. Hermes watches out over dogs, so maybe his help is just what you both need. To ask for his help use this spell.
You will need:
• Crumbled dog biscuits
• A luggage tag
• A pen
• An orange candle
• Matches or a lighter
Take the crumbled dog biscuits and hold them in your hand. Stand in the middle of the place where your dog will be sleeping and put the luggage tag, pen, candle, and matches at your feet. You will be sprinkling a little of the dog biscuit crumbs in each direction, and as you go around, say:
In the east:
By the winds about the world
Ever whirling in their course
Shared as the breath of every life,
Which speaks all words of power.
In the south:
By the fires of transformation
That blazes and burns,
That spirals and turns,
That fills the darkness with shadow.
In the west:
By the waters of wine-dark sea,
Waves that shake the solid land,
Ocean womb that brings forth life
To rise and grow and change.
In the west:
By the stones beneath our feet,
By the wilderness of time,
By the ancient name we invoke thee:
Hermes, Hermes, Hermes.
Write on the luggage tag the addresses where your dog will be coming from and then arriving to. Place it near the candle and say:
Hermes/Mercury, the god of traveling,
Watch over my dog as he travels far
Swiftly and painlessly, to you we sing
Whether by air or train or car.
Hermes of the crossroads—so may it be.
Now blow out the candle and carry the tag with your dog or have the luggage tag attached to its bag or crate.
Keep Your Dog Healthy Meditation
A note of caution, if your dog seems really ill, take him or her to the veterinarian and get it checked out immediately. This mediation is to give your dog healing energy if it is a bit unwell. Having a sick dog is very sad, especially since dogs don’t complain, and it is difficult to know how it is really feeling. Keeping it healthy is always of utmost importance and giving it healing love if it is ill, injured, or just under the weather will give you both a feeling of well-being.
You will need:
• Some fresh grass
• A small amethyst stone
• A small onyx stone
• Bowl of salt water
Start by sprinkling grass around your sick dog, saying:
Gaia, mother of animals,
Lady of beasts,
Protector of the wild ones,
Mother of healing and love,
Banish all illness
From this your child.
Place the amethyst in your right hand and the onyx in your left. Hold the stones above the places your dog is hurting or at the weakest part of its body. If it is a general problem, pet your dog from head to tail with the stones over and over. Try to breathe in and out with the same rhythm as your dog. As you breathe, visualize your dog’s pain absorbed into the onyx and allowing the stone to hold all the negative energy of its disease or injury. When you no longer see the dark energy of your dog’s hurt drawn into the onyx, put the onyx into the salt water. Using the healing power of the amethyst, still breathing as closely as you can to match your dog’s breathing, visualize the amethyst’s powerful energy transforming into a great beam of light to heal your dog. Place the amethyst into the salt water, take out both stones and go outside to pour the water into the earth.
Place both hands on the ground and say:
I am,
You are,
We are
Gaia healing.
Kiss your dog and visualize him or her feeling better soon.
Spells to Heal Dogs Who Have Suffered
Nothing is sadder than to see in the news or on television, or to hear a witness describing, a dog or dogs suffering. Maybe it is just seeing the horrible aftermath of a mistreated dog. Maybe you adopted a traumatized dog that needs help. Although the damage is done, you can start helping the healing process magically. Spells can be used directly with the dog next to you, or you can use a spell to heal a dog (or dogs) that you won’t ever have in your arms. Either way, magic is powerful and can soothe not only the dog, but yourself as well. You may feel helpless, but in reality you are giving a wonderful gift, the gift of hope and healing.
You will need:
• A green candle
• A white candle
• Matches
• The abused or injured dog or a picture of the dog or dogs you want to heal
• Some horsehair and/or a picture of your favorite horse
Light the candles and stare into the flame with the hurt dog or the photo of the dogs you want to heal lying next to you. Now place the horsehair and/or a horse picture next to the hurt dog or the photo. Place your palms open and toward the dog you want to heal (or the photo) and say:
Epona, great Celtic goddess of healing,
Protect and heal this dog’s body and feeling.
May you hold them in your arm
To keep them from further harm.
Curatio Sanat. *
Now touch the abused dog to be healed or the picture of the dog(s) that you want to ease the suffering of. Place both of your palms on the picture of the horse or hold the horsehair in your hand. Visualize that you are the goddess Epona riding her horse with the dog sitting on your lap and say:
Great Goddess Epona,
Riding a horse,
Ease the suffering
Of the dog in my lap.
Curatio sanat.
Have this supercharged healing energy run through you to your hands and into the dog. If working with a dog directly, stroke the dog gently with the horsehair.
Then burn the photo and/or the horsehair and eventually toss the ashes into running water. Blow out the candles
* Translation (Latin): Curatio Sanat = Heal and Cure.
Charm for Dog Healing: Issues of Appetite,
Weight, Energy & So On
Sometimes all you need is a charm to help boost your dog’s appetite, balance its weight, and/or moderate its energy. It can be frustrating, as well as confusing, not knowing what one should do when things are out of balance with your dog. If it is affecting your dog’s health and you need to get your dog to eat, or it has a low (or too high) energy level or is losing weight, try this charm. Be sure that you take your dog to the vet in case it has an underlining health problem and may need medical care. However, a charm may help get your dog balanced again.
You will need:
• A pin or a small knife
• A tiny piece of your dog’s favorite food or a treat
• A yellow candle
• Matches
At midday, have your dog close to you. Take the pin or a small knife and draw an infinity symbol 
on the treat.
Light the yellow candle, which is the chakra color for the stomach area and controls metabolism and energy. Have your dog lie on its back and rub its belly, tracing the infinity symbol over and over again gently with your fingers, saying:
Balance, balance,
Calm and peace.
Balance, balance,
Stress release.
Balance, balance,
Eating and energy.
Balance, balance
IAO*—so may it be.
Wave your dog’s food or a treat over the flame eight times and feel it full of balancing yellow energy. Say:
Strength and strong,
Balance, balance.
Happy and glad,
Balance, balance.
IAO—so may it be.
Take the tiny piece of your dog’s food and as you feed it, say:
Feel better,
Balance, balance.
Get well soon,
Balance, balance.
Healthy you will be,
Balance, balance.
IAO—so may it be.
Your dog should feel better in no time.
* Translation (Greek/Gnostic): IAO (pronounced EEEE AHHHH OHHH) = HEAL—also can mean LIGHT.