When Animals Talk Back:
Adventures in the World of a Pet Psychic

May 12, 2004
By Erica Gerber
Argus-Courier Intern

Since childhood, Marla Steele has communicated in ways others never imagine. She remembers dreams in which relatives and friends who had died would visit. In the morning she would pass on her mental notes, as she knew the individuals’ loved ones would find the information pertinent and comforting.

She also had dreams about real events. When she was studying in London, she had a dream about a plane blowing up. “The next day I packed all my stuff and went home. I had to get out, I didn’t feel safe anymore.”

The week she was originally to return home was the week of the Lockerbie, Scotland PanAm crash, on the same route as her flight.

These dreams brought a unique perspective to Steele’s view of the universe. “I was always open to there’s another world that we can communicate with, another way besides the normal way.”

In 1992, her dream of owning a horse came true. She named the Arabian “Steele” and he began to communicate with her, even when she was not with him. She calls the information he gave her “interesting and verifiable.” She felt even more connected with him at a distance than in person.

The horse was a catalyst that encouraged her to help other animals now he had given her the tools. Another important push came from her husband when he encouraged her to quit her job and search for a “new career filled with passion and depth.”

With a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, while searching for this new career in 1999, Steele was taking veterinary classes, and psychic and meditation classes for fun, having never practiced either. “My grandmother popped into my head and said, ‘Your dad is sick and you’re going to need to take care of him.’ Eight months later we heard he had cancer.”

Needle tests and biopsies on Steele’s father did not detect a malignancy and by the time it was found, there was little that could be done.

“That’s when I got involved in the Reiki energy healing. It works with the chakras and unites our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body bringing clarity, peace and relaxation and can help reduce or eliminate pain so you can get more out of life.”

Reiki can be done hands-on or at a distance, mentally sending Reiki in a way similar to praying.

She was away caring for her father on a daily basis and performing Reiki on him. “The Reiki was increasing my intuition.” Her psychic dreams and feelings grew more common. “The more I noticed it, the more it seemed to happen.”

That was when Steele got a feeling that something was wrong with her horse. “I went home to check on him and he was so-so and I couldn’t put my finger on it, so I went back to take care of my dad. And sure enough a few weeks later, he [‘Steele’] almost died.”

Steele sent her horse Reiki every day, and she checked in with him mentally. During his recovery she learned massage for horses, something she practices today, along with Reiki and pet psychic readings.

When performing a Reiki session, most commonly over the telephone, she acts as the “middle man” between the universe’s energy and the pet or human. The process is similar with readings, but then she communicates with the pet and relays messages to the owner.

“Animals love it, they really relax. I use the Reiki to ‘dial up the internet’ when I’m doing a phone reading and once I am ‘on line’ I can see the animal’s body.” She runs her hand around the animal’s silhouette, helping her to sense where it is having pain, then sends it healing energy. This also helps warn people when they may need to take their pet to a veterinarian for a follow-up examination.

Doing her work over the phone is more exciting, because mostly she’s never seen a picture of the animal she is reading and has a limited description of it. “When I hit all these specific things, then they know there’s something to this. I like doing this at a distance to show this is the real thing and I am not just getting a sense from your animal because I’m seeing it in person.”

Skeptics do not deter her. “Just doing a reading will probably not change their mind. I think it’s healthy to be skeptical. I was a little skeptical at first. I’m not out to convince anybody. So far, I’ve pretty much attracted the people who want to do it.”

Even in Reiki, she has worked with people who don’t believe it will work, then feel a difference and become believers.

Steele believes this power to heal and communicate is not exclusive to a small population. “Anybody can do Reiki and anybody can be psychic. Everybody is born psychic. Everybody does something that they may or may not admit they use.”

These include mother’s intuition and even sports visualization. “Mine is just like a muscle that I flex every day and have built up.”

“Some people smell things, some people hear things — I have a combination. The most important thing is to believe this is possible and be confident that if you’re trying to do this, probably what you’re getting is accurate.”

Sometimes Steele receives “unbelievable” information from animals. A horse once asked her to tell its owners to bring it Popsicles. Although it seemed incredibly odd, she passed it on. The owners said, “Oh my gosh, we used to give her Popsicles, but it’s been about a year.’ And I said, ‘Well, I’m not recommending it, but she’s asking for more.”

Steele is certified by Equinology, allowing her to do sports massage and acupressure on horses, focusing on vital “chi” to balance their energy and make them feel great. “Horses love it and lick, chew or yawn when the energy has shifted.”

She will also do pre-purchase readings for people seeking a new horse. She does not replace the necessary veterinary exam, but can help target specific problems or issues with the animal, helping match the horse with the buyer, based on personalities, pinpoint injuries the seller may have masked or doesn’t know about or desired characteristics. “If someone wants a jumping horse, but the horse doesn’t want to do that, that’s not the horse for them.”

One service Steele does not provide is determining the sex of babies, animal or human. “I won’t do it, first of all, because I’m usually wrong! Everyone has male and female energies. Sometimes a male will carry more female energy and vice versa.”

Steele will teach a Reiki class June 5 and 6, with another session in August. “This is a great way to open up your own intuition.”

Petsmart in Rohnert Park also has periodic charity events called “Just a buck ­ change their luck,” at which Steele answers three questions about your pet for a $20 donation.

KZST has her on the Brent Farris show May 12, in which listeners can call in and ask one question about their pets.

Those interested in learning more about Steele or scheduling a reading, pet psychic party or Reiki session, can call her at 328-4997 or visit her Web site at HealingWithEnergy.com