Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Welch.
Hi Nancy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my journey into energy healing while still working in the business world. In 2016, I felt drawn toward spirituality and started exploring angels, crystals, and other intuitive practices until I discovered Reiki—a gentle, transformative energy that immediately felt like home.
Today, I’m a Reiki Master, certified in Holy Fire® III World Peace and Karuna Reiki® through the International Center for Reiki Training. I’m also a Certified Level III Animal Communicator and Angel Oracle Card Reader.
In 2022, I became attuned and certified in Animal Reiki, a specialized form of Reiki energy for animals. Since then, I’ve dedicated my practice to sharing this compassionate healing with pets and their people.
Along with offering private Animal Reiki sessions and currently doing a series of podcasts on the Global Podcast Network, I also lead a bi-monthly event called Peaceful Paws & Reiki: Pet Loss Support Circle —a safe, heart-centered space for anyone grieving the loss of a beloved animal companion. These sessions can be found on Dragonflyreiki.me.
Looking ahead, I’m currently pursuing the additional certification required to teach Animal Reiki, so I can share this healing practice with even more people and their pets. I’m also registered to begin a class in Companion Animal End-of-Life Care, as I feel called to deepen my understanding and support around this profound part of the pet-human journey. These next steps are all about expanding how I can help animals and their humans experience comfort, connection, and healing throughout every stage of life.
Through all of my work, my mission is to help people and their pets find calm, connection, and comfort, one paw at a time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a new business later in life definitely comes with its challenges. One thing that made a huge difference in overcoming them was the support I received from The Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance. Their free training programs gave me the tools to better understand every aspect of running a business — from developing a solid business plan to marketing and administration.
Even though I come from a strong business background, that experience provided the confidence, structure, and community I needed to bring my vision for Balancing Connections to life. I’m so grateful for their encouragement and for the inspiring network they’ve built to empower women entrepreneurs across Michigan.
I had to learn not only the practical side of entrepreneurship, but also how to introduce something as unique as Reiki to people who may not have heard of it before. There are still a lot of misconceptions about what Reiki is and how it works, so part of my mission has been to educate and gently open minds.
I love explaining Reiki to those who are curious but unsure — helping them understand that this gentle energy healing isn’t tied to any religion, and that it can be shared both in-person and from a distance and does not require touch if the animal is not receptive to that. Another common misconception is that Reiki is a “quick fix,” when in reality, it’s a process. Deep or chronic issues often take more than one session to fully shift, and animals — just like humans — have free will. Reiki supports them in their own healing journey, but it never forces change.
Another challenge I often face is helping people understand what animal communication really looks like. Many imagine it to be like Dr. Doolittle — a full, word-for-word conversation. While that makes for a fun story, real animal communication is much more intuitive and heart-centered. Sometimes there are actual words or brief conversations, but more often, the communication comes through as images, emotions, sensations, or even smells and tastes that offer insight into what the animal is feeling or trying to express.
Each animal “speaks” in their own unique way. Helping people understand that this process is about energetic connection, empathy, and trust — not just verbal exchange — has been both a challenge and a joy. Once people experience it for themselves, they’re often amazed at how real and meaningful that connection can be, opening their hearts to an even deeper bond with their animal companions.
Every challenge, in the end, has been a gift. It’s taught me patience, creativity, and compassion — and it reminds me every day why I love doing this work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My business, Balancing Connections, is all about creating calm, harmony, and understanding between people and their animals. I specialize in Reiki energy healing for pets, helping to bring balance, comfort, and emotional well-being on every level — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual — through gentle, heart-centered sessions.
What sets Balancing Connections apart is the way I combine Reiki, animal communication, and intuitive insight to support deeper healing and connection. Each session is unique, guided by the needs and comfort of the individual or animal. Whether it’s helping a nervous pet relax, supporting an animal through illness or transition, or helping them feel more grounded and peaceful, the goal is always the same — to restore balance and connection from the inside out.
I also facilitate Peaceful Paws & Reiki: Pet Loss Support Circle, a bi-monthly event offering a safe, compassionate space for anyone grieving the loss of a beloved animal companion, where participants can receive healing Reiki. More information can be found at DragonflyReiki.me.
Giving back to the animal community is an important part of my work through Balancing Connections. I volunteer my time and Reiki services to support local animal-based events, fundraisers, and rescues throughout Southwest Michigan. Whether it’s offering Reiki to animals in shelters, participating in community wellness events, or donating sessions to help raise funds for rescue organizations, I believe in sharing this gentle, healing energy wherever it’s needed most.
Supporting these causes allows me to connect with like-minded people who are passionate about animal welfare and holistic care. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how even a few moments of calm energy or compassionate touch can help an anxious rescue animal relax or bring comfort to a person navigating a difficult time. Compassion can take many forms — and that even small acts of kindness can create ripples of comfort and hope for both animals and their people.
For me, community involvement is simply an extension of what Balancing Connections is all about — helping people and animals find peace, understanding, and support in every setting, whether that’s in a private session or out in the heart of the community.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is the sense of trust and peace that grows from this work. Clients often tell me their pets seem calmer, more connected, and that they themselves feel lighter and more centered. To me, that’s the heart of Balancing Connections — helping people and animals heal together through the power of gentle energy and unconditional love.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’m constantly inspired by the teachers and resources that help me grow in my Reiki and intuitive practice. One of my Reiki teachers, Andrea Kennedy (another Michigander!), has hundreds of free Reiki videos on her YouTube channel, Mainstream Reiki, which are my go-to whenever I need a quick energy boost. She also hosts a podcast called What Resonates? (formerly Beyond the Reiki Gateway). I also love The Telepathy Tapes by Ky Dickens and am currently enthralled with listening to Lee Harris’ books, Conversations with the Z’s.
In addition to these resources, I also spend time in group practice and Reiki shares with other Animal Reiki practitioners who are focused on deepening animal connection. I regularly work with Linda Roberts of Whispers of Love and Pea Horsely’s The Pride group, where we continue to explore the energetic and intuitive ways animals connect and communicate with us. These shared practices are both grounding and inspiring — they help me continue growing as a practitioner and bring fresh insights and experiences that I share with my clients and listeners on my podcast interviews on The Global Podcast Network.
Pricing:
- 15 minute “Get to Know Distance Reiki” for $25
- 30 minute Animal Reiki Intuitive sessions start at $75
- Packages are available starting at $180
Contact Info:
- Website: BalancingConnections.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancingconnections/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.welch.304049/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5JzWk363Os3xgphNXfyBzE
- Other: https://dragonflyreiki.me/practitioners/nancy-welch/
