Posts Tagged ‘Animal Communication’

Horses and their quirky personalities

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

More than any other animal I’ve encountered, horses have the quirkiest personalities. They are each so unique in their own way. Sometimes entertaining, sometimes exasperating, often times sweet and oh so loveable.

Misty, my heart horse, is by far the quirkiest in the herd. She is an alpha mare (translation very bossy), yet there are times she comes to me asking for love and attention. She absolutely knows that she is my favorite and takes full advantage of that fact.

Misty: "I'm special and I know it."

Misty: "I'm special and I know it."

Because she is alpha I have to be careful to maintain my role as über alpha. When she pushes the limits I often give her the mare squeal, literally or figuratively, depending upon my mood. She gets the message either way and usually responds with submissive body language.

It wasn’t always that way, we traveled a bumpy road to get to this place, but now her challenges to my authority are infrequent. Which brings me to the reason for this post.

Each day when I go out to feed, I bring Rusty and Merlyn out of the pasture because they get a larger portion. Usually I can just motion for them to come through the gate and they oblige. Sometimes they need a little encouragement. Rusty is so easy going that I can just grab a handful of mane and guide him out. Merlyn sometimes takes more persuasion because Arlo, the mini, snarls at him and he’s afraid to pass by. He cracks me up. He’s the tallest and he’s intimidated by tiny Arlo!

After I get the remaining herd members settled with their feed I go out the pasture gate, leaving it open, so that I can drive the tractor through and fill the hay boxes. Most days I’m able to time it so that I can leave the gate open while I put out the hay and then close it after I drive the tractor back through. It’s a routine I’ve worked out that is quick and efficient.

Then there are days like yesterday where one or more of the herd starts eying the extra food outside the gate and moseys on out while I’m haying. On this day I saw Toro get the idea and start heading for the gate. I hollered over to him that he really should rethink that. He stopped, mulled it over, then turned and walked back to his own feed. Smart boy and such a sweetheart. It always surprises me when he acquiesces like that. He is, after all, the herd leader and takes his job seriously, bossing the others around, sometimes because he can.

Misty, on the other hand, has a very different attitude. After watching the Toro episode she decided that she would go through the gate and help herself to some extra food. I hollered over to her that she needed to get her butt back. She didn’t even pause, just kept moseying on out and helped herself. She knows it will take me a few minutes to drive back out and do anything about her flagrant defiance. She was also sending me the message that surely I didn’t mean the rules to apply to her: my black beauty, my special princess. Surely she was entitled to special privileges. Sigh.

With that I hustled on over and told her in no uncertain terms that she was not entitled to ignore my wishes and defy my authority. My little princess has to follow the rules just like everyone else. Off she went with no hard feelings. It’s just her nature. She has to test the waters every once in a while to see if I’m serious about remaining über alpha. I am.

I love that mare!

Doing energy work the hard way…remotely.

Monday, January 30th, 2012

I’ve used energy work with my animals for many years. It’s a simple but powerful tool, one of many I have in my “toolbox.” I primarily rely on EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), but there’s often some variation using other modalities I’ve picked up along the way.

While sharing energy work, the animals provide feedback in a variety of ways: body language, expressions on their face, softening in the eyes, sometimes moving away when they’ve had enough.

I’ve also performed energy work with people both in person and remotely. Since people are able to give accurate and immediate feedback it works very well. But until recently I had not had occasion to use it remotely with animals.

That all changed quite suddenly when I encountered two separate pets in one week that needed remote energy healing. It was a bit of a challenge and was quite intense. But the end results were oh so satisfying.

One was a horse that had been traumatized by a barn fire next door. All the horses perished in the fire and, due to the weather, burial was delayed quite a few days. Generally animals deal with death very philosophically and rebound quickly. But in this case the humans involved were understandably in turmoil which increased the angst for this horse.

She was very receptive to my ministrations and reported feeling some relief at the conclusion. Her owner confirmed that there was improvement. Over the next few days she continued to improve.

The other recipient was a dog with a mystery malady. His behavior was off and he clearly did not feel well. He couldn’t tell me exactly what was wrong but together we worked through several issues using energy work extensively. By the end of our session there was only minor improvement. Usually energy work will have a residual affect so that one session is often sufficient. However, in this instance I felt more was needed. Each day I checked in with him to see how he was feeling. There was steady improvement and I continued to perform energy work for several days. The dog reported relief a full day before his owner did. That’s the residual affect in action.

I have to say it was an exhausting week focusing so much healing energy in such a short time but it was also exhilarating being a part of that process.

No doubt there are more than a few people who will regard this anecdote with skepticism. That’s ok. We each have to follow the path that feels true. For me I know that it works and am forever grateful to those who have gone before and shared these powerful modalities with us.

Interspecies Communication with “Frog”

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Did you ever wonder about the life of frogs? Do they know that some people think they are lucky? What do frogs think about the state of the world?

I was pondering these questions and decided it was high time I just asked the frogs to see what they had to say. Their answers were not quite what I expected, but interesting nonetheless. So without further ado here is what the frogs had to say:

It is of little consequence to the frog what humans think. We live very much in our own space and time. Humans exist on the fringes of our world and we take little notice. We are not terribly disturbed by the state of the world. We notice that one season is different from another but do not concern ourselves with long range thought such as comparing one year to another. Many do not survive past the first year of life.

We are just enjoying the ride like shooting down a water slide. When we reach the end we get back up and jump into another incarnation and take the trip all over again. Our needs are simple and uncomplicated. We are optimists and look for the joy in each moment but are also realistic enough to know that survival rates are low for our offspring thus we produce voluminous egg sacks to ensure that at least some of our DNA survives.

We have a well-defined culture and observe certain rituals but otherwise are free to live, love and laugh. We like nothing better than feasting on plump, juicy flies. That brings great satisfaction as well as a full belly. What more could any frog want?

Does my horse have hoof pain?

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Why don’t horses tell animal communicators their feet hurt?

Remember the Pet Psychic, Sonya Fitzpatrick, on Animal Planet? I used to enjoy that show, especially when she talked to horses which are my passion. One thing I never understood, though, is why the horses didn’t complain about their feet.

At the time I was studying natural hoof care so was really tuned into it. I could see that many of the horses she talked to had issues with their feet of the sort that would normally be painful. So why didn’t they tell her so she could alert the owners?

That mystery was finally solved when I became an animal communicator and started talking to horses. Talk about an enlightening experience! What I have come to understand has been positively mind boggling.

• Many horses are very stoic and not given to complaining. Their desire to please their owner supersedes pain.

• Lameness is very common in a large percentage of horses. Often they are given pain killers or nerve blocks so that they can continue performing. With these remedies the pain is masked although they are still lame.

• Many horses believe that painful feet are a normal condition so it wouldn’t occur to them to complain.

Toro, a very stoic horse

Toro, a very stoic horse

Little wonder that horses weren’t volunteering comments about their feet when they considered themselves normal.

Animal communication can be a valuable tool in finding and/or confirming pain in our horses, but we have to ask the right questions. Sometimes with very stoic horses we have to really probe as they are extremely reluctant to complain. I’ve communicated with horses who denied pain because they were afraid of what might happen to them. Others denied it because they didn’t wish to burden their caretaker. It’s amazing the justifications they can come up with, to their own detriment.

Some horses are so convinced that pain (or a physical condition) is normal that they are resistant to healing treatments. More than once during a communication consultation I have found myself explaining to the horse that it certainly is not normal and it is safe and desirable that they allow themselves to heal. Once they understand this concept, they very often begin showing improvement in short order.

Sometimes it can take more than one consultation to help the horse accept truth and consequently healing. This is when animal communicators need to be part therapist. Horses have complicated psyches!

To eat or not to eat…meat. Do animals know that we eat them?

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Recently I wrote about animals being sentient beings. In my experience they most certainly are, so I see nothing wrong with anthropomorphizing. However, I have never applied that principle to eating meat.

One day I was reading a post by a fellow communicator, Do Animal Communicators Eat Meat?, discussing this very topic. Her conclusions gave me pause.

Growing up on a farm it was accepted that certain animals would be eaten. It was simply the cycle of life, and their purpose for being. The animals had a good life and when it was their time, it ended. After reading the aforementioned post I started to think about anthropomorphizing in regards to livestock.

Do the animals know that we eat them? If they do, how do they feel about it? I already had some opinions on the subject but decided to take my questions to the animals. Here is what they had to say:

Of course we know that certain of our species are intended for human consumption. If we choose to incarnate as one of those species, we do it with the full knowledge that we are most likely going to have a brief life experience. Sometimes that is exactly what we are looking for. Do you not think it possible that being eaten by humans might be considered an honor among some animals? Each individual comes to the planet with a purpose. If that purpose is to be eaten, then we will live our life to its fullest and gladly be sacrificed when the times comes. Unlike humans, animals know that there will be countless opportunities for lives, so we do not become overly attached to any one life experience. Some we enjoy more than others, but they are all merely a part of the journey.

Just as some species are food for others in the animal kingdom, certain are intended for humans. It is all as it should be. You may choose not to eat of animal flesh but it doesn’t matter to our experience. If one human doesn’t choose to eat, another will, and so the cycle continues. Some animals consider it a privilege to be sustenance for humans. Would you deny us that joy and purpose?

With that question answered some others came up so the conversation continued.

Do egg layers mind that we take their eggs? What about milk producers?

Egg layers know that each egg is vulnerable to predators. We also know that odds are if we keep laying sooner or later some are bound to make it to a mature hatchling. Some of us use creative means to hide our eggs, others simply never give up, but we do not hold grudges against those who pilfer. We know this is the order of things and accept it as a fact of life. We egg layers are optimistic for we realize that our very existence means an egg was hatched, therefore others will as well. We are dedicated to the task and will continue as long as we are able. We do experience a feeling of release when our laying days are over. At that point we have fulfilled our obligation and can simply go about enjoying our remaining days.

Milk producers are aware that humans consume our milk. We are actually quite proud that we can share this resource with our human caretakers. We realize that our lives are easier than our counterparts in the wild who do not know where their next meal is coming from. There is sadness at having our young taken before they would naturally be weaned, but over the generations we have come to accept this as well. It is just the way of things for our kind. We know that our milk provides nourishment for the two-leggeds and we are proud of our contribution.

With my questions answered I was left to reflect upon other aspects of this topic:

If we did not consume animals many of them would not exist as they are bred specifically to feed us. In fact, some species might become extinct if they were not on our menu. What would be the purpose in keeping domesticated livestock around otherwise? Because the animals understand reincarnation, brief lives are perfectly acceptable to them.

Finally, I am quite sure that other carnivores do not concern themselves with such thoughts. After all as The Lion King teaches “It’s the circle of life.”

My foray into fostering

Monday, August 24th, 2009

His name was Beau. He was purportedly a shepherd mix. Maybe, but there was definitely some Bull Mastiff in there. He had a huge head which I was soon to learn he used most effectively.

I had decided to try fostering dogs after reading repeated pleas in my local paper. Our county SPCA had closed down and local rescues were doing their best to fill the gap, but they needed foster families to house them.

I also thought it would be a great way to see if a second dog would fit with our family. You see we have this wacky, hyperactive, standard poodle, Saphyre, who we absolutely adore, but her antics can sometimes be a bit much. A companion for her could be exactly what we all needed. Fostering seemed like the perfect way to find out.

Beau was about 80 lbs of sweetness and love. He wanted to kiss everyone and was just happy to be part of a family. He and Saphyre hit it off immediately. They wrestled with intensity and then collapsed until the next time. Yesssss!

Saphyre & Beau wrestling

Saphyre & Beau wrestling

However, like with all things there was good and bad. Beau did not like being confined, even in our generous fenced yard. He immediately began digging under the fence and escaped repeatedly. Once he was loose there was no catching him until he was done with his adventure. Worse, Saphyre escaped with him so there were two dogs running around wildly.

Luckily we have a lot of rocks which I immediately began hauling and placing around the fence. With all the rocks in place and the yard appearing secure, I let the dogs out again. Beau very shortly put that big head of his to good use pushing the rocks! The ones he didn’t push he flung, some as much as two feet, as he went to digging past them!

After more chasing down loose dogs, and some very scary moments involving the road, they were once more captured. This time I hauled small boulders. These were large enough that I had to use a lever and tractor to gather and place. At last, success!! The dogs were now safely contained and we could begin to enjoy our foster boy.

One thing I noticed was that Beau did not respond to his name. I checked with the rescue group and learned that he had been found wandering the streets. The shelter had given him the name Beau and he had lived primarily in a kennel before going into foster care. Little wonder he didn’t respond to the name. (Being an animal communicator comes in handy at times like these.) I asked him what he would like to be called and heard Sampson. But he didn’t answer to Sampson so I tried Sammy. That was it! When I called him Sammy he visibly relaxed and came to me.

We had a really nice couple of weeks before Sammy found his new family. They made sure to reinforce their fencing before his arrival, and by all reports, he is a perfect fit.

Don’t you just love happy endings?

Farewell little poodle

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

I’ve previously posted about Nyla, the little poodle who went to live with the draft horses. Little Poodle finds home with Giant Horses and Update on the Little Poodle

Nyla had a great life and lived each day to the fullest. She was adored by her family and never taken for granted. She made it her mission to rid the farm of ground hogs and excelled at the task. Much to her chagrin, she had even begun having short “rides” on the horses. Her guardian delighted in seeing Nyla sitting on the back of the gentle giants.

Sadly, Nyla was recently killed in a trailer accident when she decided to go visit her friend, Noella. Her family was devastated and asked me to communicate with her. They needed answers and some closure and I was privileged to be able to act as their conduit.

When I contacted Nyla, she was spending time with two dogs (Princess and Mystery) who had previously lived with her family. They had been there to meet her when she transitioned. Nyla communicated with me both in words and pictures. What Nyla shared with me is below in bold blue. Her guardian’s comments are interspersed in italic green.

She’s hanging out with Princess and Mystery. They are swapping stories about the horses. Mystery particularly wants to hear about the ground hogs. Sitting under a shade tree just relaxing and visiting.

It’s just like Mystery to enjoy hearing about ground hog hunting. She always stood by and cheered Princess while she hunted. It’s fascinating to know Princess and Mystery teamed up on the other side – just like they did in their life with us – to help Nyla.

Nyla says she’s sorry. She just wanted to see Noella so badly and wasn’t as careful as she should have been. She didn’t feel pain. There was just a thud then dark and floaty. Next thing she remembers is being in this new place. Princess and Mystery were there when she woke up and explained what happened. That helped because she was confused. She’s not sorry she crossed over, she rather likes it there. But she is sorry that she broke your heart. She treasured your time together and would not have deliberately hurt you like this.

Nyla’s choice of words, “break your heart”, is significant. I have not said those words to anyone, but Nyla. When Princess and Mystery passed, my heart was broken, but not by them. However, this time, it feels as though Nyla directly broke my heart with her abandoned recklessness.

I appreciate and accept Nyla’s apology. My pain is soothed knowing she, too, treasured the life we shared.

She loved sitting in your lap. It made her feel so special. She wonders if you understood how important that was to her?

Nyla was so undemanding, so perfectly independent – I never refused her need for cuddles. She was irresistible. I’m so glad it meant something special to her. It seemed as though she was here to make everyone she met feel loved and needed.

She says please don’t be sad. She would like you to remember how happy you were and hold onto that. Don’t let the sadness block out the good memories. It’s ok with her if you get another dog but pick a good one so you will be happy together for a very long time.

Our hourly joys were so intense, they easily out shine the pain of my loss. As for my next dog(s), I am already scanning the possibilities.

She says she’ll come back to you if you want. She would enjoy another lifetime riding on the quad and sitting in your lap. It was a good life and she appreciates that you gave her a chance at such a good life.

Nyla will always be welcome in my life. She knows my breed, age, gender, size and price specifications. I wouldn’t want to bore her by asking her to return with the same temperament and personality. Instead, I  challenge her to find a way to improve on her already perfectly perfect self.

As soon as she is ready, I want her back in my life.

Her thoughts are still a bit jumbled from the shock so there wasn’t much else but she will fully come back to herself in time and be capable of more fruitful conversation. She’s sorry to be so slow but that’s just the way it is right now.

I will continue to talk to her and enjoy her presence, no matter where she is.

Thank you, Debbra, for giving me such a beautiful message from Nyla, my perfectly perfect poodle.

With gratitude,
Gayla of Serenity Equestrian Center
Photos of Nyla, Princess and Mystery

Are animals sentient beings? What's wrong with anthropomorphizing?

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Anthropomorphism… attribution of human qualities to nonhumans.

I find it disturbing when people espouse the opinion that animals do not have feelings. As an animal communicator I know for certain that they do, as they regularly share their feelings with me. Why is it that some people are so insistent that we not anthropomorphize animals? Could it be that ascribing emotions to animals means we would have to acknowledge they are sentient beings?

When my beautiful mare, Misty, lost her new filly she had tears running down her face. I had never before seen a horse cry, but that day Misty cried. She had so looked forward to being a mommy and she was devastated. She grieved her baby for months. Her usual spark was missing, so much so that she allowed two of the geldings to boss her around, effectively moving her down from second to fourth ranked in the herd. Her normal personality was very much an alpha mare so it was astonishing to see this change.

Later that year she started looking pregnant. The only stallion she had contact with was our mini, Arlo, who at 31 inches could not have done the deed… unless she laid down. Uh oh. Suddenly I started hearing stories about minis who had bred full-size horses.

That very cold and snowy December as her udder filled and began to wax I was checking her every two hours round the clock. This went on for two weeks with all the signs of impending birth. Then one day everything stopped. She had just gone through a false pregnancy!! She wanted that baby so badly that she imagined herself pregnant and manifested all the physical signs. If animals have no feelings then why did Misty grieve and experience a false pregnancy?

How many times have you heard about cats who suddenly stop using their litter box and soil the house? Often they are upset about something and are acting out those feelings desperately trying to communicate with their guardians.

I recently communicated with a cat who felt displaced by new family members and began to withdraw. As he withdrew further and further he left himself vulnerable and was eventually killed by predators. If he had no feelings he would likely still be alive.

Dogs are even more demonstrative, displaying a wide range of feelings. Is there any doubt about the joy they exhibit when their person comes home? My new puppy, a standard poodle, is one of the most demonstrative dogs I’ve ever met. She is filled with exuberance and loves to clown around for our amusement.

How many times have you seen a dog dreaming, talking in their sleep with their limbs jerking to and fro? Why would they dream if they have no feelings? What would be the purpose? And haven’t we all heard stories about dogs who gave their lives to save their person? Is that not love?

I haven’t even touched on their sense of humor. Some are sarcastic, others more thoughtful wisecracker types like a George Carlin, some are raucous, others have a dry wit. They run the gamut. One stallion I communicated with bragged about how “well endowed” he was. I think he got a kick out of the shock value. See, there’s another category: twisted humor.

This post could get very long with many anecdotes about all manner of animals who have expressed their feelings during communication sessions, but by now you probably get the idea.

So just why are some people convinced that animals lack emotions?

The only conclusion I can come to is that believing they are “dumb” animals allows for treating them like inanimate objects, just another piece of property.

What do you think readers? Is that a plausible explanation? If yes, what can we do to change this misperception?

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What happens to my pet(s) when I die?

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

If you have pets, from time to time you may wonder what would happen to them in the event of your death. Usually those thoughts are quickly pushed aside as too painful to think about.

The choices that immediately come to mind are:

1. Do nothing and leave their fate up to providence.

2. Set up a trust to care for them per your specifications.

3. Leave them in the care of a trusted family member or friend.

4. Have them humanely euthanized and let them accompany you to the next world like the Pharaohs of old.

Of course there are pros and cons to each of these options and the choice is further complicated depending upon the number, age, and expected life span of your pet(s).

Probably the most common is doing nothing. This option places an unfair burden upon the person handling your estate. Maybe they’ll find a wonderful home. More likely they will end up in a shelter competing with all the other homeless animals, potentially facing euthanization. Pleas for pets seeking homes after their owner dies are not uncommon.

If you are financially able, you may choose to set up a trust and specify your wishes in your will. (It is important to note that without a will pets are considered part of the estate and go to next of kin, regardless of your wishes.) In this way you can provide for your pet(s) for the remainder of their lives. You can specify the exact care they are to be given. There is still no guarantee that they will thrive without you, but at least you will have done everything in your power to provide for their well being.

Designating a trusted family member or friend to assume the responsibility may be an option if that person is ready, willing, and able to take on such a responsibility. But what happens if the pet(s) outlive this person or if their circumstances change?

I have heard more than one person state that it is their intent to have their pet(s) euthanized in the event of their (the owner’s) death. Having considered the above-mentioned options and their associated pitfalls, they have concluded that this is the best way to ensure their pet(s) well being. However, this option requires finding a vet willing to euthanize pets regardless of their age and physical state. You should also know that your request may not be legally enforceable.

There simply is no “right” or “perfect” choice. In fact the “right” choice may differ from one pet to another. So what is a caring pet owner to do?

As an animal communicator the most natural option that comes to mind is: Talk to them about your concerns and find out if they have a preference.

You may be surprised at their answers. Animals view death as simply a transition, as opposed to humans who mostly fear their inevitable passing.

Your pet(s) may not want to live without you. How many times have you heard about pets who die shortly after their owners? On the other hand, your pet(s) may not be finished with this life experience and would prefer to take their chances at finding a new, loving home. You’ll never know if you don’t ask. Plus you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your pet(s) were included in the decision-making process.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or to assist you in communicating with your pet(s).

Reincarnation, is it real?

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

I had no idea when I previously blogged about reincarnation that it would become one of my most popular posts. Overwhelmingly you want to know if reincarnation is real and if your pet will return to you. I can tell you that the animals have told me it is real. After their transition they choose if, when, and in what form they will return. Some come back nearly immediately, others need a recuperation period.

Rather than take my word for it, however, look to science if you will. Science has proven that living beings are at their core energy. Since energy never dies, it has to go somewhere when the physical body is used up. That leaves us to speculate on what happens to it when released from the physical, or believe the animals when they say they absolutely do reincarnate.

Let me relate to you a story of a lovely young dog I spoke with who had recently transitioned. His owner was quite distraught as he was young and it was a sudden death. She was desperate to know if he would reincarnate and return to her. In our communication he revealed that he had been with her before in the form of another dog. He was sad to leave her and wanted to return, which he had as her new puppy.

However, he also had a desire to try an experience as a german shepherd rather than the small breed dog that she preferred. He put his desires on hold to return to her once more, but he chose a short life as a compromise. He will likely return to her in another form one day but in the meantime, he may revisit other people he has loved or meet entirely new ones.

I was so struck by this conversation, having gone through something similar myself. When my old dog, Joshua, was getting ready to transition, I asked him if he would return. He promised to do so. As I grieved his loss, I asked him again after he crossed over to please return and he again promised. I believe that he did return to me in the form of my new dog, Saphyre.

But after talking with that young dog, I began to wonder if it was selfish of me to ask Joshua to return to me. What if he had other people he wanted to visit, or new adventures to experience, or what if he didn’t want to come back as a standard poodle, the breed I had decided upon? Of course he has free choice and could have made other plans, but being the amazing, kind, spirit that he was, he honored my request.

I am so grateful for these beings who freely share their love and wisdom with me and in the future will strive not to put my needs before theirs. Perhaps the best course of action is to let them know we would welcome their return, but only if and when they choose to do so.

What do you think? I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments section or contact me directly: petchatter.