As I checked in with Sera, I sensed a tiredness, a weariness, like her life has been a series of big transitions, upheavals, and situations that have been very draining. She is ready to let down her guard and rest, though I don't think she is quite there yet with being able to do that. She is still checking things out, seeing how it all plays out. Because of her life path, it feels like she doesn't have a clear sense of self. She hasn't been able to really feel and explore who she is and what she likes. I do feel like she has a gentle nature inside. She just wants to love and be loved; to be part of a loving family unit. She is currently waiting to see, as there is a part of her that isn't sure if her current home is permanent or yet another way station. "Sera, I can feel your weariness. Are you okay?" I asked. "I'm just tired," she replied. "It's been a long…" and she trailed off as she thought of the right words. Life, road, journey, were some of the words she considered, but ultimately, left the sentence unfinished. Her weariness feels emotional. Life's rollercoaster has taken a lot out of her. She comes over to me and just curls up at my feet to rest. This is representative of her current happy place — a place to curl up and rest, where she can feel safe and secure and know she is loved. "Anything you want to tell me or show me, Sera?" I asked. I see a dirt road and someone on a bicycle. It kind of feels like somewhere in Asia. As the person rides the bike, a bamboo mat begins unrolling from the back, leaving a long trail. The mat is still connected to the bike, but it just keeps unrolling, on and on, and along the whole length of the mat are what look like red rubies. I'm not sure what it means, whether it represents Sera's path or not. So I quickly searched the internet and the first thing I came across was Dorothy's ruby shoes and "There's no place like home." On the same page, it described rubies as being used to bring down walls we put around us to keep others out, bring a positive and courageous state of mind, and to restore vital life forces, increase energy, and vigor. I was getting a lot of symbolism, but tried to shift to Sera's specific desires, needs, outlook. She feels very much like she is waiting. She is not allowing herself to feel much or get attached to anyone or anything because she's not sure where things will land for her. When I asked about how she feels about her people, she says, "They are kind," but didn't elaborate. "What will make you feel more secure, Sera?" I asked. "Time," she responded. I tried to get a feel for her likes and dislikes, but it all felt hazy and numb to me, like none of that mattered at this point and it would all have to wait until this ongoing transition was over and she could recharge, feel secure, and then be able to express her true personality. So I just sat with her, placed the Healing Bowl nearby, and just surrounded her with light, good energy, and intentions for a happy future. She seemed to like this and asked, "Can I just hang out here for a while?" "You mean in the place you're physically at now?" I wanted to clarify. But she instead said, "No, in this moment." She just wanted to feel this peace and restful state for a while. So I assured her she could be in this space as long as she liked. "And are you okay being on this site, to talk with people?" I asked. "Yes, this feels good," she answered. "I'll be able to be a better conversationist later on." "Take your time, Sera. There's no rush," I told her. So we just sat there in what looked like a living room, though it wasn't mine. There was a fire in the hearth. And it felt like the last scene of a movie or book, where you know there most certainly will be a sequel, so there is hope and anticipation in the air. Feedback:You’re on point with everything. Sandy was adopted by a man 8 years ago as a pup and then given to his dad after 2 years and for the past 6 years has been chained outside. We finally got her surrendered to us. She is still getting used to being an inside dog with 3 other canine siblings and hasn’t fully adjusted as I assume it would be a full 6 months to see her be able to relax. When she sleeps in bed we weren’t sure if she even slept or just laid down and watched/listened being due to probably being chained outside. She was very malnourished and gained a full 10 lbs in the first week with us getting used to regular feedings and having fresh water out.
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Our house is on a hill. So our back deck overlooks the forest and is quite high up. In the winter, I sometimes leave some seeds or nuts out for the squirrels. If the jays don't get them first, the squirrels go crazy over them. One in particular lately, has been visiting. I would think that finding a free stash of seeds would be very exciting to him and would compel him to visit religiously every day (or even multiple times). But that isn't the case. It feels like he visits randomly, whenever he thinks of it. Almost like a "nutty professor" who has a scattered mind. I thought I'd ask him about this. "Hello squirrel," I opened. He nearly spun around in surprise. He didn't necessarily seem afraid as I thought he would. But he was nervous that I was there — as it turned out, mores because he thought I was going to take some of the seeds! "What are you doing here?" he asked me, nervously. "I just wanted to ask you how are you enjoying the seeds?" I said. "What, these?" and he looked up and down the railing on which the seeds were spread. "These are nothing you'd want." He was very worried I was there to take part of his stash. "No, I don't want them," I told him. "I'm the one who left them out for you because I thought you'd like them." He thought of this for a few moments as he twitched his head this way and that before asking, "Why would you just give these away?" "They weren't right for me, but I thought you'd enjoy them, so I left them out for you," I replied. "I DO like them," he said. "Who else have you told?" "I haven't told anyone. I just left them out to see who would find them — and you did," I explained. "I was actually wondering why you don't check back here every day," I said. "I would think if you like them so much and are worried that others will take them, that you would be checking back more often or at least regularly. But it seems like you are here randomly, like whenever you think of it." His energy felt a bit scattered to me, and I don't think it was just his quick, nervous movements. "It can be difficult to keep track of everything I find and hide," said the squirrel. "I find food everywhere." "You must lose track of a lot of it if you really don't have some kind of system for hiding it and then finding it," I posed. His reaction to this comment was akin to "Bite your tongue!" He didn't say those words, but he was horrified by the idea of losing track of his stashes. "We shall not talk of such things!" he insisted. "Okay," I replied, backing away from the subject. "So how do you know when to come check this place for seeds?" I wondered. ""I have a sense about these things," he said. Except it seemed like I could actually see his thought process and it was quite random. It was something like, "Okay… where can I find seeds… oh — I can check over there!" But it seemed to me that if that idea didn't pop into his head, he would never have remembered to check that location for seeds. Just a random thought. The squirrel proceeded to defend his line of thinking, "You just don't understand the way of the squirrel. Are you are squirrel?" "No, I'm a person," I answered. "That's why you don't understand why things work the way they do," he continued. Honestly, it still felt to me to be random and his argument was weak, but he was sticking to it and it seemed mildly distressing to him to think that perhaps his whole system was not as efficient as it could be. So I just wished him well and said, "Enjoy your seeds." But his mind was already flitting all over the place with thoughts: seeds, safety, stashes, food, hiding, birds, person, seeds. It was exhausting trying to follow his thought process, but it seemed to work for him! I gently sat down in front of Sinbad, who had a mouthful of grass he was munching. He looked at me as I explained why I was there and why he was on the site. He replied, "Why would I want to talk to people?" I responded, "Many animals enjoy it, as it gives them a chance to express themselves or even make requests of their people." He thought about this, but wasn't completely convinced. He hopped to another spot to munch something over there and finally said with a full mouthful, "So, what do you have to say?" "I think it's great that you live such an independent life here. You can take care of yourself, find your own food, even go on walkabouts," I commended him. "I'm an adult!" he replied, a little exasperated that I would think an adult not capable of doing all that I described. "Well, most domestic animals don't have the freedom you have," I explained. "They are given food, kept in an enclosure for safety, and consequently, don't learn how to do all the things you do — because they don't have to." "Well I'm independent," he maintained. "Always have been, always will be. I like it this way." "You're not ever afraid of predators or other dangers?" I asked. "It's not something I focus on, like a fear," he said. "It's part of life and I simply live it, deal with it, take precautions within reason. I'm not overly focused on it because then I'll live a paralyzed life." His demeanor was not overly friendly, but not unfriendly. Just more business-like. "Do you consider yourself wild?" I wondered. "I'm wild-grown. Wild with privileges," he replied, then added, "I choose to be here because I like it." "I think there's another rabbit living with you. What do you think of him?" I asked. "That one? We may as well be a different species. We live completely different lives and have a much different approach to life. He just doesn't get it — and never will." "He may not 'get' your life, but he probably is fine with his life and is very happy with who he is and what he has," I countered. "True. But it's like city-folk vs. country-folk. Huge difference." "Is there anything you need?" I asked. I didn't get a clear or distinct answer to this, but instead saw a family of mice and also the idea of iron in the blood popped into my mind. "Do you think your rabbit neighbor would like a companion?" I asked. "Probably would appreciate someone who's not like me! I'm just not suitable for him. He needs someone like him. City-folk." "Anything else you'd like to ask or say?" I wondered. "I didn't have anything to say before, so why would I now?" he said, a little like a grumpy old man. "Favorite memories? Interesting stories about your life?" I encouraged. He sighed, "You've got the wrong rabbit. Or at least the wrong timing. I'm just not the conversationalist you are looking for. Too old. Too set in my ways." I could see him thinking back over his life and wondering which stories he would even tell if he felt like it. But he pushed that away and stuck to his preference of not being interested in saying much now. Then he added, "Did 'she' put you up to this?" He meant the person who looks after him. "She has her heart in the right place, but it's just not for me. The other guy would be a better choice," he said, referring to his neighbor. And when I tapped into that scenario, I felt it to be true, that his neighbor would be interested in talking with people. "Okay, Sinbad. So are you saying you'd rather not be on this site to talk with people?" I wanted to confirm. "It's for the best," he confirmed. "Okay, I will let your person know. Thank you for talking with me today anyway." He sort of just grunted a reply to acknowledge me and went back to munching grass, happy to be back to his own world. Feedback:Well, how interesting. Oh my goodness what an eye-opener but it absolutely does not surprise me that he has responded like this. I did not receive any negative feelings from him when I asked but I must have misunderstood. Perhaps he just had no idea what on earth I was talking about and I didn't explain clearly enough. It does make sense that he replied ‘Why would I want to talk to people?’ though - yes, oh dear, I should have known better.
It is so interesting that he mentions country-folk and town-folk as I never actually thought of them being that way but it is true that he is much more of a country bred rabbit, whereas my other rabbit was bought from a pet shop in the ‘city’. No wonder they really do not see eye to eye. I had no idea that rabbits would ever make that distinction but it just goes to show how little I know. And the wild-grown comment - yes - he wasn’t born a wild rabbit, he only found his freedom when he came to live with us, but 'wild-grown’ is a very good way to put it as he has grown into his wildness - albeit a very 'gentile' wildness ! You are absolutely correct about the family of mice - there is one living right next to his shed and they eat from his food bowl. I will definitely look into the iron in his blood, that is very interesting indeed. He has a bit of a sneeze and I wonder if that is connected. I am very sorry that I put him through this, I have not received another conversation with him yet, yours is the first. I am so glad that you got the feeling that the other rabbit may be more open to having a chat with humans. I had not thought about putting his profile up on the site as I saw there was another bunny called Harley on there, and I thought that maybe a little confusing for people but I will consider it - I will make sure that I ask him first and also make sure I get the message across completely about what it is all about. The two of them have been fighting quite badly and I thought that Sinbad would have an opinion about the other rabbit but it seems he really isn't bothered at all about trying to change the situation and resolve the issue, which is totally okay. Too old, too set in his ways - yes that must be true! Harley is very agitated by his presence, very uptight and aggressive but has also been bitten repeatedly on the nose by Sinbad, causing quite bad injuries. EpilogueAfter getting this feedback, especially about the mice, I thought I should relay exactly what I saw about the iron. I had assumed it had something to do with his blood because I had seen what looked like rusty iron tools or metal and blood on it. But after giving this enhanced description, Sinbad's person replied: As for the iron and then the blood - I'm so glad you came back to me on this! YES - wow, we put a corrugated iron roof over our other rabbit’s pen this winter to protect him from the snow and during a storm it blew off and across the garden and this thing is big and heavy and I knew it must have frightened the rabbits. You asked him if there was anything he needed - and he mentioned the iron (and the danger) then, so I think that actually might have been a request to have it secured, and I think it may have been for the other rabbit’s sake as much as his, after all, he did say he wasn’t frightened of much - or certainly doesn't focus on fear anyway, so that leaves me thinking that at the end of the day he does actually care about the other rabbit’s safety, even though he may come across as not being too bothered - wow, so great to know. We tethered the iron down a week ago so it cannot move now. Every day for what seems like months now, I see a single ant on the bathroom floor. I always find this unusual because ants typically hang out with other ants, especially when foraging. But I haven't seen a single other ant. So I alway wonder if he is lost, if he goes back to his colony each day, or what? I thought I'd try to find out. "Hello, I'm the big person you may feel in the room sometimes," I said to the ant. "Yes, I feel you there." "But you don't ever seem afraid," I commented. "Of what? You have yet not interfered with my work, so I consider us peaceful companions." "That's nice to hear," I said. "But what exactly is your work?" "I collect things. Organics. Things we can turn into food." "How is it that you are foraging alone?" "I always forage alone." "But don't ants usually forage together?" "Usually. But I found this place and am willing to go the distance. Everybody else goes to the closest hunting grounds." "Are you finding a lot?" "No, but enough." "So you go home every night?" "Yes." "Can you show me where you go?" "No, I can't do that. It's not safe for us." "I understand. " "So you don't mind being alone every day?" "I'm not alone every day. I don't always come here. It just seems like it. But we're pretty focused on work, so that's what I think about, not about socializing." "So you don't need me to put you outside so that you can find your way home?" "Oh no, that would doom me. Then I'd really be lost without the trail. Just leave me be and I'll do my thing without harming anyone or anything." "What's it like to be an ant?" "It's noble. We are fiercely loyal. We can't not be loyal. It's part of us. It's what makes us so strong together. All one, working as one." "Has your colony ever experienced a tragedy or crisis?" I was thinking of something else invading their home. "Well, our queen is intact. What else is there? The rest is just life. Things we do to maintain the colony. We don't categorize them as tragedies or crises. It's just life. It's what we do." I didn't sense any fear or actually any other emotions. It was all very matter-of-fact and almost robotic. "Okay, well good luck with your foraging and I guess I'll see you around." "I'll probably be here if I'm not somewhere else." I wasn't really sure I was connecting to the real ant in this conversation because it felt strange. But actually, not too much different than other conversations I have. The subtleness of it all really requires you to rely on faith that it's actually happening. So today, I'll go with faith that it was real. Who's to say it wasn't? EpilogueA few days later, we discovered that a colony of ants had come into the house one floor down and congregated around the warmth of a wifi device plugged into the wall. We had never seen anything like this – but it seemed likely that this was where the ant had come from. Before knowing this, my mind was already constructing scenarios about whether the ant comes into the house each day to the very same place or whether they live somewhere in the house or whether the ant was just lost and couldn't find its way back home, so was endlessly wandering this area each day. Best to just let the facts speaks for themselves!
I spoke with Flynn a few days ago and the feedback I received was generally positive, but felt like it was generous, as it didn't seem like the Flynn that I was presented with was too accurately the Flynn his person knows him to be. So I was curious what happened. Why was his personality and energy so different in real life than what I got? Could I have been wrong? So I thought I'd connect again and see if I got a different read — or maybe even an explanation! "Hi Flynn, it's me again," I greeted him. He shook his head at me like last time. And like last time, I felt it was purposefully directed at me. But now knowing he has a nerve issue with his head shaking, I could also see where that was happening along with it. But I could clearly feel his intent to nod at me. "You're back so soon," he said. "Well, I was kind of curious… the feedback I got from your person on our conversation painted a different picture of who you show yourself to be in real life. It was almost to the point of my wondering if I connected with the right horse! So I wanted to check in with about why you thought that happened." "I don't need to think about it," he began. "I can present myself in any way I want, any time I want." He said this with a growing tinge of irritation, which surprised me. It felt like he didn't want anyone questioning him and his motives or actions. They are his to do what he pleases with! "You're saying you presented yourself to me in a certain way just because you felt like it, but that you really have a different personality?" I asked. I could feel the rising irritation in him as he started to protest this line of questioning, but then suddenly, he let all that go and returned to that genial, clean-energy horse he was in my first conversation. "It's a matter of choice," he began explaining. "When things go my way, I can be easy-going — and why not? But if they don't go my way, I can choose to help that situation along by displaying behavior that is often quite convincing." "You mean, it gets you what you want?" I clarified. "Yes," he said simply. "So then why did you present yourself to me as someone you are typically not?" I asked. "It's not that I'm not typically that personality — I can be with the right people and the right situation. But many people and animals and situations require something more than easy-going to produce the preferred end result." "There's a human expression, 'You catch more flies with honey.' Has that not worked for you?" I asked. "See previous answers," he said. I guess he has said it and doesn't want to go over it again! "Okay," I said, letting it go. "But was it true about your health, that you feel there's nothing wrong with you?" "I don't want anyone fussing over me," he said. "I'm not the fussing type. Give me some breeze, I'll give you the ease." As I thought about this and wondered if he would then explain what would happen if you don't give him the breeze, he came back to say, "I'm allowed! We can be and do anything we want in this world. It's part of how it works. If someone doesn't like who I choose to be in any given moment, they can simply move away from me. Or I can move away from them if I don't like how they are." Each time Flynn expressed himself in this way, with a little irritation, I wondered how he was able to present such clean, easy-going energy to me in my first conversation. And each time I thought of this, his current, slightly ornery energy, melted away and turned "clean." "It really is as simple as that," Flynn commented on my observation. "You do it all the time. Everyone does." I could see his point, though to go from super gentle and breezy to irritated and ornery seemed a little extreme, like two separate personalities. It felt like it was a reaction to his feeling of having no control over certain situations, and this made him feel trapped, boxed in, and irritated. Health limitations and not always being in control of his situation or destiny or getting what he wants feels like it is part of this picture. I was going to ask him for details, but he said, "It is what it is." "My choice, in this moment, is to be congenial," he continued. "So let's leave it at that. Another moment will have its own tale to tell." "Okay, as you wish," I assured him. It felt like he could really turn on the charm when he wanted to — again, his choice. "Thank you for the explanation, Flynn," I said. "I hope you have a nice day." "Things are looking up," he said cheerfully. And I could see him looking over a fence into another field where there were some other horses. I think these were the "women." See previous conversation! Feedback:Firstly there was no question in my mind that you had not connected with Ludo in your initial communication. However, I am really pleased that you chose to reconnect with him and look a bit deeper. I love that Ludo is a showman when he telepathically connects with people as I feel that he loves being this carefree spirit who can be whoever he wants, like a kind of escapism for him. So it did trigger a bit of my protectiveness for him when you asked him for more of his "real" self and it raised irritation in him but your conversation with him was still very respectful so thank you. I think also there is a huge lesson in here that Ludo is sharing. It has taken me many years to understand Ludo and he still sometimes baffles me. You have picked up his irritation a few times in this second communication but as quickly as it comes as quickly as it goes. In real life he is the same. He will go from talking away to me with his ears pricked up then as quick as a click of the fingers he will bite me, then flip back to butter wouldn't melt. Over time horses have evolved to fit in with humans "needs" in order to survive. They have become slaves or servants doing things that people want them to do in return for food and shelter. As prey animals being controlled by predators it is so far from nature. I believe that Ludo's primal instincts are very close the surface and his feelings of being trapped and having no control comes from a combination of instinct and people trying to break his spirit through bad "training" when he was young. You have summed up and captured him so perfectly in this paragraph - "I could see his point, though to go from super gentle and breezy to irritated and ornery seemed a little extreme, like two separate personalities. It felt like it was a reaction to his feeling of having no control over certain situations, and this made him feel trapped, boxed in, and irritated. Health limitations and not always being in control of his situation or destiny or getting what he wants feels like it is part of this picture. I was going to ask him for details, but he said, "It is what it is." Ludo doesn't make life easy for himself but really why should he when a life in the wild with a herd of "girls" would have been the perfect life for him. The lesson I have been reminded of in this communication you so kindly shared with me is about choice. We can choose to be who we want to be. Do we really have to conform just to be liked? Move away from things we don't like or people can move away from us if they don't like what they are seeing. I have learnt to work with Ludo and have his environment as natural as possible and if I need to do anything with him I wait for him to decide when I can do it. Just recently Ludo has sore heels because of all the mud and wet so it would help him to have some cream on them. His first reaction was to kick and kick and not allow me to even look at them and my first thought was I'd have to tie him up but then I thought how is that regarding his feelings, not at all. So I waited and I explained what I wanted to do and today he let me put the cream on with no fuss or argument. I'm so super impressed how insightful you have been in this deep conversation with Ludo and I'm really appreciative of the time you spent with him and what you have shared with me. I wanted to check in withy own dog, Gingersnap. She is getting older and is experiencing some of the things that often come with aging, like physical and mental difficulties. I admit, it's still challenging for me to connect with her because I am so in-tune with her in real life, that those perceptions try to step to the front and take over. So I tried to first read her energy. She seemed buoyant and happy. That's good! I got a lot of bright green colors for some reason. I don't think I normally have colors come through to show me things, so I wondered if this meant anything. I thought I'd look it up to see what, if anything, that coloring could represent. The first thing I found was about green auras, which pertain to the heart and lungs. Green is a comfortable and healthy color of nature and represents balance, growth, and change. This all makes sense and fits well with where Gingersnap is in life. However, I wanted to keep digging, because the color I saw was not just green, but a brighter green, almost like a yellow green or chartreuse, which one site connects to the attributes of Communication, Heartfelt, and Creative. Another site says it represents enthusiasm, happiness, nature, growth, and youth. If this is what is surrounding Gingersnap now, I think that is a good thing! "Gingersnap, how's it going these days?" I asked. "Good!" she answered a little questioningly, wondering why I would ask such a thing. "I'm glad to hear that. It just seems like you are having some trouble with a few things that you never used to," I explained. "No, I'm good. Those don't bother me," she maintained her stance. It felt very much like her stance was not to focus on the negatives, but only on the good in the present moment. And the good happening now is that she is happy. No, she may not be interested or able to do some of the things she used to, but her interests and desires have changed along with those shifts. And that new alignment equals satisfaction with her life. This is a hard one for most people. We don't find it easy to let go of the past or what we want from the future. We use those things to compare and contrast and judge — and that approach often makes us feel disappointed or discouraged or bad about where we are in the moment. Gingersnap's approach brings her happiness and nothing else. I certainly didn't want to bring my human stuff to her perspective, so just tried to move where the conversation flowed. So I responded, "I'm very glad to hear that! You used to enjoy longer walks and now they are much shorter and so I wonder if that's sad for you," as it is for me, I wanted to add. "I do all the things I want to do and nothing more," she said. "My world includes all the things I am able to do, which translates into all the things that are perfect for me. If they are perfect for me, why shouldn't they make me happy?" "It really makes perfect sense," I agreed. "People have a different thought process that really complicates things, so I admire your outlook." "So there's nothing we can do to make things more comfortable?" I asked, thinking about supplements or therapies that we could add or adjust. It felt like maybe bump up the glucosamine/MSM we give her and a little home massage or bodywork would help loosen things up. Otherwise, she is pretty good. "Anything else you need or want?" I wondered. She shows me nuts, like pecans. I feel like it represents snacks and food in general. She wants more snacks all the time because it's fun. I see her with a big smile on her face as she waits for them, anticipating. I begin to explain, "If you are walking and exercising less, it's not the best idea to eat more…" but she immediately pushed this thought aside like someone would do with their now empty plate at a diner. None of those facts or statistics matter. Eating is fun. That's all that matters. "Okay, I get it," I said. "And for the record, we do give you lots of snacks during the day." "But I live in the moment. You can't expect me to remember the past," she said with feigned innocence. On to her game, I just gave her the "I know what you're up to" eye, but assured her we will continue giving her snacks and treats when possible. She seemed happy with this conclusion and like she got what she was after. But in a playful, rather than bratty, way. As I refocused on her to see if there was anything else, she was already asleep, as she was in real life. It was like she was saying, "No further comments. Mission accomplished." This interaction made me smile. Yesterday, I spoke with Teddy to see what he thought of his brother and their relationship. Today, I'm speaking with his brother, Lenny, to get his perspective. Like his brother, Lenny feels very focused on whatever is happening at the moment. But he actually feels more reactive than Teddy, quicker to bark or "get into the fray." He also feels a little harder to reach when he is in that mode, meaning he is so focused that it's difficult to bring him back to reality. I don't feel any animosity between the two dogs. Like Teddy, Lenny feels a synergy and affinity with his brother. They both seem to feed on each other's energy and reactiveness, so if one suddenly starts barking and running after something or reacting to an event (real or perceived), the other one will immediately get involved, whether he knows any of the details about it or not. Whereas Teddy feels a little more grounded, Lenny is more fluid (scattered?) and shows affection easier. But his focused attention feels short-lived. Whereas Teddy has exceptional focus and staying power (he locks in), Lenny may do the same initially, but is easily distracted and can switch to the next thing to focus on… and the next and the next, on a whim. "Hi Lenny," I greeted. "I visited with your brother yesterday. I thought I'd hang out with you today. How does that sound?" Instead of an actual reply, I got a stream of "almost replies" that were very excited. It was like he had the emotion of excitement and it was coming out in too many ways at once for him to coherently put into words. So it came out as a jumble of "All right! - That's great! Yes! This is exciting! A visitor! It's my turn!" Except I only got the first part of each of those exclamations and just was able to intuit the rest. "Why is that so exciting, Lenny?" I asked. "I love when there are things happening," he replied. "I love to be involved." "Do you get involved with all those things along with your brother?" "We do most things together, but I'm usually first to the scene." "Does your enthusiasm for 'getting involved' go over okay with your people?" I wondered. This question seemed to stop him cold and I could hear him think, "How does he know about that?" He tiptoed into the next comment, "Well…they love us." He was trying to skirt the subject, then decided to admit, "We can get a little excited… too excited sometimes. But it's because we love exploring things!" It felt like it wasn't just that they wanted to explore things. It was that they wanted to explore every thing. Every sound. Every movement. Every wisp of the wind. "Isn't that great?" he said of my conclusion. He was genuinely thinking it was all positive for everyone involved. It wasn't my place to judge their behavior, so I let it go – with an amused smile. "It sounds like you get along with your brother pretty well," I said. "We do!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. Then added, "He's not my born brother, but he's my brother and best friend." "Oh, that's so nice!" I told him. "We would do anything for each other," he continued. "We're…" and again I got a rush of jumbled words, descriptors, phrases that seemed to get tangled up because his excited mind was flooded with emotion. It was a mix of "blood brothers, partners in crime, and pals forever." "That's very special that you have such a relationship," I said. "How did you arrange to be together in this life?" I wondered. "He was here when I got here!" he said in an astonished way, like it was a miracle. The feeling I had gotten from Teddy, that Lenny is like a slight irritation to him sometimes when Teddy just wants to focus on something, also showed up on Lenny's side. Except, it was Lenny who knew in the back of his mind that he could be a little irritating to Teddy because he can be too enthusiastic and bring too much distraction energy to the party. But he tried to push this thought away. There was a little brother-big brother vibe going on. "What do you like most about your brother?" I asked. "He's fun," he said instantly, but it felt like he wanted him to be more fun than what he is, so this was a little bit of a wishful thought. I waited for him to expand on his answer and he continued, "I like how he is always in control. He's a leader. That's why he's a big brother." "Those do sound like qualities you'd want in a big brother," I agreed. "And what do you bring to his life that he might appreciate?" I asked. "Craaaaazy," he answered. "More fun, helping him let loose." "And does he like that?" I asked. "He may not know that he likes it, but it's what's best for him," said Lenny. "Okay, well, it seems to be working for you," I said. "I'm glad we got to talk and that you shared your side of things. Now I have a balanced picture and the conclusion is it sounds like you have a very nice and happy life together." He was happy to hear this and also to know we were done talking, as it seemed like he needed to find out where Teddy was and what he was doing so he wouldn't miss out on anything. He was off running before even saying goodbye! Feedback:Lenny can be very focused on what is happening but it is generally short lived as something else takes his attention. Lenny will always be the one to react first mainly barking (a lot) and it is often difficult to bring his attention back. Once he starts then Teddy will join in and both will be involved in the event, as you say whether real or not, and do feed off one another’s energy Teddy is definitely more grounded and to others yes Lenny will show affection more easily than Teddy. Lenny is definitely easily distracted and his focus switches very easily. Again your description of Lenny talking to you and loads of sentences coming out at one time is just so him. I always imagine him talking with a real Essex accent, talking really quickly and getting as much information out in a real excitable manner whereas Teddy I imagine talking in a posh, slow methodical way and raising his eyebrows occasionally when listening to Lenny as if to see “oh for goodness sake he’s off again”. Lenny does love to be involved in everything and he needs to be close to see what is happening, if he can’t see you he will often demand attention by barking. They do most things together but as you picked up it is always Lenny first there, and I can imagine him skirting a comment he was unsure of how to answer. He is very excited – all the time – which is lovely but can occasionally be a little full on. They definitely get on and yes they are not born brothers but are “brothers and best friends”. I have often in the past referred to them as “partners in crime and best friends forever. Teddy was here for around 16 months before Lenny joined the family and they’ve been friends ever since. Teddy is always in control and definitely leads the relationship but I can see that sometimes Lenny just wants to run riot and act crazy together and Teddy isn’t up for that. As you found his focus is always on what is next so apologies he never said goodbye this time. xx This was part of a pair of conversations I had with two brothers (not by blood). The goal was to discover how they felt about each other and how they would describe themselves. I greeted Teddy and he barked a hello back. The first thing I noticed is how focused he was — beyond just what his photo depicts. He locks in on just about every activity and has a singular mission. When other things are happening around him at the same time, they are minor distractions and not enough to throw off his focus. Even when he is playing with his brother (more like his brother is trying to play with him), he can do some of that, but he still maintains a focus on something primary. Nevertheless, he is a good boy, loyal, gentle with a hard edge (from his regimented mentality), smart, a dog who has a clear sense of what he's all about. He wants to please, protect, and fully embrace the persona he has (and he loves that persona!). I was about to ask Teddy about his laser-like focus and some of the characteristics I was picking up, but he answered me before I could say it: "It's the breed," he said simply. "You were going to ask why I'm so focused and vigilant about things. Others wonder about it too. But it's just the breed. We do that." "And you seem pretty proud of it?" I kind of questioningly stated. "Yes, I love it. There's a clear purpose. A mission. I know my place and that feels great," he explained. "Is that different than if you were another breed?" I wondered. "There are some other breeds that also have very distinct missions, but most leave things to chance. Most fall under a wide variety of characteristics and many of those have issues." I took "issues" to mean things you might discuss with a therapist, like anxiety, fear, nervousness, destructive behavior, jealousy, etc. "There's a simplicity when you peel all that other stuff away and specialize in a single area," he said. "Doesn't that feel one-dimensional? Like there are no other sides to you?" I asked. "I have other sides — and you mentioned a few. I still like to play, explore, analyze, watch, hunt, love, dig. It's all wrapped up in my personality. It's all in there." "That's great that you have such a positive sense of self, you are clear about what you want and who you are, and you have no doubts," I responded. As soon as I said this, I actually felt he has doubts under the surface, but he covers them up with all the regimen. He feels it too, but I didn't think asking him about it would be productive. So instead, I asked about his brother, Lenny. I didn't read their backgrounds too carefully because I didn't want the histories to color my perception. The whole time I have been speaking with Teddy, I was feeling that they get along and are happy to have each other, but that Teddy feels that Lenny can be a slightly irritating distraction sometimes. This is because Teddy wants to stay focused on the task at-hand and sometimes Lenny wants to let loose a little and play. But that was all in the back of my mind before. As I brought it to the front of my mind and intended to ask Teddy about it, I kind of felt the scenario was reversed. Both dogs are very focused and regimented, but Lenny perhaps even more than Teddy. And it's Teddy who can sometimes initiate interaction — and they do play sometimes — but Lenny stays in character more often. "I know he's like that, but I don't hold it against him. It's the breed, remember? It's what we signed up for. I just try to lighten things up sometimes. I know what I'm doing — and I know what the reaction will be," he says with a knowing smile. Both dogs do like and appreciate each other. They are glad to have one another as a companion and "member of the breed." I kept trying to feel which dog was more of the leader or older/more mature and they kept flip-flopping on me. One moment Lenny felt younger and looked up to Teddy and followed his lead, but the next moment was the other way around. I really don't feel any animosity between them, just that slight irritation which comes from the other being a distraction when the first is trying to focus on something. Teddy says of their differences, "Lenny sniffs more; I watch more. When I am getting attention (from people), he needs to come get attention. He feels like he need everything that I have. If I have a bone, he needs a bone. If I am out front (like on a walk), he needs to be out there, too." It doesn't feel overly competitive to me, just something brothers do. And in this vein, it does feel like Teddy is the older brother. With that in mind, I asked, "Teddy, how does life with Lenny compare to when it was only you?" "It's more fun with Lenny here. I don't mind not having all the focus be on me, though that felt good," he remembered. "Yes, it's better with the both of us. I love him. I appreciate him. I would never want to be without him." "Sounds like a really great relationship," I commented. "I plan to ask LennyLenny some of the same things as I asked you. What do you think he'll say?" This question stopped him for a moment and filled him with some doubt. But when he thought about it and how good their relationship was, he assured me, "He'll say similar things about me. We think alike. We're not alike in every way, but we feel that connection, that love for each other that brothers feel desire any differences." "That's so nice to hear," I said. "I'm really glad you have such a nice home life." As I was about to say goodbye, I noticed that Teddy was still sitting up at attention — and had been the whole time, like he was in a job interview. I started to feel bad about making him do that, but he came in to say, "It's my choice. It's what I do." "Okay then, Teddy, thank you for spending some time with me today…" I waited for a response or to see if he had anything else to say and he just sat there at attention, looking at me, listening. The suddenly with the silence, he realized it was his turn to talk and quickly replied, "Thank you!" Feedback:So much of what you said I can connect with and much of it brought a smile to my face as I recognised so many of the traits. You mentioned that he communicated his focus and the fact that it was “the breed”. He is such a proud boy and he will always be on guard and thinking about this and what you said makes so much sense – he is proud of who he is and feels as the breed he is it is his job to protect and look after us. Teddy can sometimes get irritated by Lenny especially when he is in a thinking and thoughtful mood (perhaps this is the focus you mention). Occasionally it does look like it is Teddy who wants to initiate play and he may be lying down then will demand that Lenny play fights with him. You are correct in that Lenny stays in character more – he is always crazy whereas Teddy comes across as very switched on and focused (which he is) but sometimes his playfulness comes out. I loved the fact that you picked up on his “sitting up to attention” as that is so him – he often sits with his chest puffed out just watching and taking in the surroundings and making sure everything is as it should be. He does have an amazing relationship with Lenny and they do definitely love one another as brother would. The fact that Teddy mentioned that Lenny always has to have what he has is spot on! If Teddy has a bone then Lenny has to have two. The funny thing is that Teddy now uses this to his advantage. If Teddy wants something that Lenny may have he will go and pick up another toy and really play with it. Lenny will then drop what he originally had to go and get what Teddy has. Teddy then can leave the toy he didn’t really want and go and get what Lenny had which he wanted – intelligent ☺ He definitely loves having companionship in Lenny. For some reason, I had been thinking about Flynn for quite a long time. I had seen his picture a lot and just never got around to talking with him. But his name kept popping up recently in my mind and so I knew I'd probably stop in to say hi. When I did, he bobbed his head up and down at me, not like he was saying "yes," but more like "pointing" at me, and he said, "So, you finally made it." "Yes, better late than never right?" I answered. "Oh, you're not late. You're right on time," he said breezily. Flynn's energy is crisp and clean, strong, healthy, friendly, positive, grounded. It's not complex like some people or animals. It's… clean (the word came back again) and unfettered. I wouldn't be surprised if he is the type others are always drawn to. "Easy to read, easy to please," said Flynn to these musings about his energy. "How do you do it?" I asked, wondering if it's a conscious thing to create such a persona. "Oh, it's a little bit of fate, a drop of choice, a dollop of luck," he said cheerily. Then in a light-hearted way added, "Ah, who am I kidding, we're born this way!" "I think that has been my conclusion, too," I agreed. "We all have a basic blueprint for our personalities. We can certainly shift that somewhat over time, but the foundation is still there providing some kind of structure and influence." He nods affirmatively — and cheerfully — at this. "So, life is good?" I asked. "Yes, life is good," he echoed. "Anything you need?" I wondered. "A good woman (mare)," he answered. I hesitated, wondering if I really heard that right. My mind was trying to explain it, thinking of reasons why he would have said that or why I may have made it up. "Did you really say that?" I asked. "And why not? I'm a warm-blooded being. What's so odd about a little companionship?" "Nothing at all," I admitted. "But aren't all mares 'good'? What did you mean?" "They are all good in their own ways, but not all good for me. Some of them are difficult and ornery. I prefer easy and gentle." "I can certainly pass that request on for you, though I don't know if that's a possibility," I told him." "Fair enough," he said. "You asked and I answered." "What about any health issues to note?" I asked. He got up really close to my face and opened his nostrils wide to show me. Then in this same close-up way, he showed me his eyes, then his brain, then his spine and down to his legs. "All clean," he reported, preemptively diagnosing things for me. Although, I did see some kind of visual of something clearish slowly dripping from his underside. It didn't seem like Flynn wanted to focus on or talk about anything that might be wrong with him, which is why he proactively gave me a clean bill of health report. But the dripping thing seemed like a visual he had floating around in his head that I just "happened to catch a glimpse of." When I asked him about it, he said "You didn't hear it from me. But if you saw it…" Flynn is friendly, social, enjoys interacting. He's also pretty easy-going and is open to most experiences. I asked him about "most," and he said, "Well, I'm not going to just give carte blanch." He seems to enjoy a scratch behind his ears, especially the left one. And grooming feels nice, "Just not too much fussing, please — I have my limits." When I asked him about foods he liked or wanted, he showed me eating a wide variety of vegetables and grasses. The visual I got was just of him eating one after another… carrot, beetroot, purple cabbage, alfalfa, corn on the cob… The idea was that he enjoys variety and is open to lots of different things (whether they are good for him, I don't know!). "I see a question on your page about whether you need any healing and if so, which kind?" I mentioned. He sort of chuckled and it felt like his meaning was, "Humans and their modalities…" He then chose to elaborate: "I can breathe Reiki. Healing energy is everywhere. Give me the right conditions and I'll provide the positive mindset to use life's energy. Flower essences, I can see being useful sometimes, as that is something external (and something horses would naturally gravitate to), as is manipulation (massage, chiropractic) — sometimes, when nothing else works to move the flow (of energy)." Throughout the conversation when talking about health, I got flashes of fluid-filled areas on a horse. Lymph nodes? It didn't feel serious, just something that may need to work out or require draining. It feels like that is where the massage comes in, to break it down and reintegrate it? It didn't seem like it was on the neck area, but more like the torso (I don't know where the lymph nodes are, sorry!). "Is it okay if I pass along my impressions to your people, Flynn?" I asked. "My life is an open book," he said, then specified, "To her — not everyone." "Okay," I assured him. "Anything else you want to talk about?" "I'm good if you are," he said. "Seems like a good place to leave off," I answered. "Thank you for the nice chat today!" "My pleasure," he said, with a slight bow with his head, then added, "Do good." I was going to reply, but it didn't feel like it was necessary to say anymore, so I just smiled my appreciation. And so did he. Feedback:Your AC with Flynn made me laugh. It sounds like you both had fun together. I love that Flynn has been nudging you to connect with him, he is very persistent so it is great that you listened to him. From experience I have come to understand that Flynn becomes a bit of a showman when he communicates telepathically. In real life he is much more cautious of people and things so I love that he gets this opportunity to express his true self. Where you describe Flynn s character with a crisp and clean energy, strong, healthy, friendly, positive, grounded and not complex - I had to stop and think hard about this because really he is all these things yet sometimes I feel he is so complex, ungrounded, negative and unfriendly. However at the root of Flynn I believe what he has shared with you is who he really is. "Easy to read, easy to please" made me laugh again. I guess if I read into that that he likes his own way and if he gets it he is pleased, sums it up. Again, it is so funny that Flynn shared with you that he wants "a good woman (mare)". He sooo loves the girls. Sometimes some horses are rested in the field next to his and without fail one will always jump into his field and he will fall in love with her. I think he lures them in lol. I have often wondered if he is a "rig" which is when colts are not gelded properly. I'm glad Flynn gave you a clean bill of health. He is a "head shaker" which is nerve damage in the nose and face so it is interesting that he first of all showed you his nostrils, however I have been thinking a lot recently about what we focus on is what we get more of and I'm sure this is how Flynn thinks and why he isn't focussing on any health things. I can only think that "something clearish dripping from his underside" is from his sheath but I don't know what that could mean. His sheath does get a bit dirty and sometimes seems swollen so there might be some significance there. Flynn does enjoy grooming, on his terms always, and he does certainly enjoy food. I love the insight he has shared with you about healing and what a wonderful lesson and reminder that energy flows through everything. People are not the givers of healing we are merely the channel and do we really have to be if it can be drawn straight from source. Flynn has access to his field at all times but our weather has been so wet and windy recently and his grass is now limited he has been spending more time in his shelter eating hay. This has had an affect on his circulation and his legs have been filling up with fluid some days. I'm happy that Flynn feels happy enough to be "an open book" with me. I think we understand each other well after all these years however AC has really enhanced our relationship, so thank you Josh for sharing your conversation with Flynn with me. I hope you had as much fun with your interaction with Flynn as I did reading it. My ResponseI felt uneasy about the feedback I received from Flynn's person. It almost felt like she was being very generous with her confirmations and that I really didn't tap into the horse very accurately. So I decided to try again. You can read that conversation here.
I was feeling under the weather today, and since the theme on Day 20 is connecting with nature, I thought I'd see what a recording of an Aspen grove would bring me. My intention wasn't necessarily to communicate with it, but to get grounded and recharged and feel better. As i began listening, I immediately felt lighter. But I also noticed that although I could hear and visualize the forest sounds on the recording, and picture myself sitting their amongst it, I couldn't really feel or smell or actually become one with the forest as if I were there. I also noticed that my mind kept wandering to things I had to do or other topics instead of just being present. I wondered about the life of a tree. Are they always present? Is it ever boring? How do they occupy their time and feel fulfilled? "We re always using our senses, Josh" answered the trees. "The difference between us and humans is that we are aware of it. We are aware of our senses and are in every moment consciously experiencing what we are sensing. That's what keeps us present." "You wonder what experience you can take away from being in nature. But why must everything be taken away? Why not leave it where it was born, created, thrives. Come to us, to the source, and experience our world as we do. Packaging up this experience for use later in an environment that doesn't match is like a fish out of water, as you say. Yes, you can use your mind to transport yourself there. But as you found, it is not a dimensional experience. You got the visual and the sounds, but the smells, the feels, the sensations are lacking. That's how you become present." I tried for a little longer to just sit with this track and try to experience all my senses and just be present with it all, but my mind continued wandering. The trees came back in and smiled and said, "No you know the mastery of the trees. Now you know what we do day after day. Now you know why it's never boring." Today, I thought I would spend a few minutes sending energy to the site's Healing Bowl, which is available to all animals on Speak! if they need some extra help. I began by following my breathing in and out. On the intake, I would draw universal energy in. On the outbreath, I would funnel that energy into the bowl. After a few seconds, instead of this multi-step process, I decided to simply hold the bowl and visualize the energy flowing through me into it. I could see pulses of energy as it traveled to its energizing vortex within the bowl. I wondered if the animals actually use this feature on the site to help themselves. When I focused on this, I got flashes of various animals who are on the site and understood that these were some of them who have used it. "We appreciate that this is something we can do ourselves," was the collective message I heard. "Empowering us, treating us as sentient beings, individuals who know what we need and want, is the greatest gift." It didn't feel like I was expected or even meant to answer this message, so I just sent back gratitude for being here and helping everyone on the site. I got a visual of a Green Room, which is what the entertainment business calls a room set up back stage for the featured performers. It is typically stocked with food, beverages, and anything else they may need and serves as their private lounge — a perk for being there. The Healing Bowl is the green room on the site, where the featured guests can go to get what they need. I see them visiting, mingling, recharging, appreciating. What a nice scene to experience! "Good morning, Lucky," I greeted. "Your photo is kind of funny, as you look like you don't want to be bothered too much." "It's because they think I'm cute and always want to take pictures," said Lucky. "…And you don't like that?" I asked. "I guess I just don't understand that. Is it helping me in some way? Is it needed?" he wondered. "Oh, it's just a human thing," I explained. "Taking your picture preserves that moment in an image so that you can look at it and relive that moment in the future whenever you want. It's actually a compliment that they want to take your picture so much. It just means they think you're extra cute and they love you so much!" He gets a little grin on his face as he thinks about this idea — that he is the star and focus of something like this. He won't bring himself to verbalize it, but now that he understands, he is secretly okay with it and kind of likes the idea. "It's easy being cute," he said next. "Well, it's true that dogs and cats and other small animals are considered very cute by many people," I said. "But some animals are cuter than others. Know anything about that?" I asked him playfully. He giggled at this. He knows everything about that! It feels like Lucky is a very sweet and loving boy. He is pampered and sometimes has an attitude to match! He feels very safe and secure in his home, loved by his people, and happy with the "amenities." He likes his routines. He does seem fairly particular about food and treats. I see him eating a light-colored kibble with some kind of gravy maybe? I also see a treat that looks like Snausages or pigs in a blanket. He also shows me eating scrambled eggs. Also, avocado is making an appearance. He enjoys going for walks, but especially because he knows wherever he goes, he can get a ride in someone's arms if he doesn't feel like walking anymore. I see the word entitled and then Lucky comes in to say, "Yes, I'm entitled to it!" "What do you think of your name? Does it suit you?" I asked. He pauses at this question. It feels like he is trying to choose his thoughts and words carefully. If he admits he is "lucky" then he feels he loses some of his entitlement. "I don't think it will have any affect on your life, Lucky, just by admitting you feel lucky to have what you have. Gratitude usually brings more of what you are grateful for," I told him. He's still hesitant. He feels being called lucky could mean he isn't really deserving of everything he gets but that he just lucked into it and it could all be taken away just as quickly. "Well, I don't know your family, but as much as they love you, I can't see any of that being taken away. But if it helps, you could say they named you Lucky because they felt lucky to have you in their lives. He brightened significantly at this. THIS feels like a good way to see it to him. It feels like perhaps there is also a cat in the house and Lucky feels a little jealous over not getting ALL the attention. "Lucky, why do you feel insecure about how much love and attention you are getting?" I wondered. "You can't have too much love and attention," he said. "One hundred percent is available and I am just claiming it for me." "Isn't that like ordering a pizza and saying one hundred percent is available and claiming it all for yourself, even if there are others in the house who want some?" I asked. "No, it's more like saying which topping you want on the pizza and when it comes, you want all the slices that have that topping on it," he explained. It felt like he was stretching, "Usually the toppings are distributed evenly. So if you requested pepperoni and another person requested peppers, I think each piece would have both. So you would be claiming theirs no matter what," I reasoned. "Well, it works in my head," Lucky maintained. I decided to change the subject, as I didn't want him to feel bad about this discussion. "Anything else you'd like to talk about?" I asked. I thought I heard, "Dad makes some tasty meat outside." Like on a barbecue? "When is he going to do that again?" "I don't know," I admitted. Maybe it isn't the right weather right now. Most people do that in the warmer months and I don't know what it's like where you are." I could see/feel him internalizing this. Then he perked up and said, "Okay! I'll ask him." "Do you usually get answers back from your people?" I asked. "Well, yes. I understand them," he replied. It didn't necessarily feel like it was through animal communication, but a knowing and reading the cues. Lucky feels pretty well understood and comfortable with the level of communication. "That's good to hear, Lucky. Many animals are thrilled when their people understand them on a deeper level, like through animal communication. So it's nice you already feel that way." He put his head down to rest and it felt like we had strayed into nap time. He yawned to confirm. "Thank you for talking with me today, Lucky," I said. He had a twinkle in his eyes before he closed them. It was that same knowingness he conveyed at the beginning of our talk: one where he knows how "lucky" is is, though he doesn't want to admit it. Then he was asleep with a slight grin on his face. Feedback:I feel that you have captured the essence of Lucky's character. When I took that particular photo, you are right...Lucky didn't want to be bothered much. Thanks for explaining to Lucky, why I take photos...you are right, I have lots because he is so cute and I love him so much! I can imagine him having a little grin on his face at the idea of being the star and focus. I sense that he really likes to be centre stage but won't admit it! He does know that he is cute but I think it has caused him problems in his past. Children in particular, make a bee line for him because of how cute he is. He hates it when strange people invade his personal space without his invitation. Lucky is definitely a very sweet and loving boy. He is not at all aggressive, yet he can really stand up for himself when necessary. I guess he is pampered! I brush him most days and he gets lots of cuddles and treats. And yes, he has a very strong mind of his own which I love. If he doesn't want to do something, he communicates this very clearly! That is really lovely to hear that he does feel safe and secure in his home, loved by me and happy with the 'amenities'. Whenever we arrive home from being out together, he runs in the front door looking very happy to be home. You are also right that he is fairly particular about food and treats. He knows what he likes and is not a greedy dog. He does eat kibble and I make him a chowder to mix in with it (split peas, lentils, barley flakes...it is quite sloppy). Not sure about the sausage shape treat....it might be the chew sticks I have given him in the past. Yes, I had given him scrambled eggs the morning you spoke with him! I give this occasionally as a treat. I have tried him with avocado in the past but he wasn't sure...I will give it another go. Regarding his walks...yes, he generally enjoys his walks. I quite frequently take him in my rucksack for a ride on my bike and he gets a walk at our destination. He really plays his doggy care lady when I am at work...he refuses to walk down her road with her to the park and he knows that she will carry him there when he refuses! I do believe that he would see himself as entitled to this treatment! Your discussion regarding his name was interesting and I am actually glad that you have clarified things with him. He came to live with me with the name Rocky. I felt uncomfortable every time I used this name as I sensed he had been given it as a bit of a joke...he was so not a Rocky! I decided to ask him one day, what he thought of the name Lucky instead. He responded immediately and I therefore changed it. I felt and continue to feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have him in my life. Thank you for showing Lucky this. Regarding a cat....no, there are no cats in the house, or in his previous home. However, I have just met a new partner at the beginning of January. I am due to take Lucky to their home in a couple of weeks....where a cat also lives. I do have a suspicion that Lucky may get jealous at not receiving ALL the love and attention. It is also fascinating how much Lucky maybe mirroring my own insecurities. I can easily feel insecure about how much love and attention I am getting, because of trauma in my childhood. I have done a lot of personal development work to heal such insecurities, which can only help Lucky too. I am still reflecting on his responses re the pizza conversation...his viewpoint is interesting. I wonder whether he experienced BBQ sausages in his previous home...I will buy some sausages for him. I did notice his eagerness at sausages being left over on customer's plates in a pub a few days ago, just before your conversation! I'm very pleased to hear that Lucky feels understood. I sense his needs through intuition, a knowingness because I feel tuned in with him and I do read the cues. "Do you have a message for me?" I asked the great whales. Most of my life I have moved to my own beat, created my own path, and tried to shine the light on more enlightened ways for others. But the process is slow and can be frustrating because most simply aren't on that wavelength. And so I kind of had that in mind when I asked this. "You go deeper than most," they said. "Many people don't want to find themselves there. In the deep. It's too scary. It's too dark. It's too unknown. So they stick to the shallows where it takes little effort to stay afloat and no effort to navigate. Yet, you want to bridge those two worlds. Show the way for shallow-enders to go deeper. It just takes but one. Then another follows and another and another. Even a single line can lead the way, create a chain from the shallows to the deep." "I see that, but it feels so slow to go one at a time!" I lamented. "All in due time. We all have our due times. Our own timelines. Some come before. Many come after. Everyone comes eventually — or not. The shift you propose is a grand one. It's not comfortable for everyone. So they need time to adjust — and many still won't. But one at a time still gathers momentum until one day you have filled an ocean. An ocean of change. And then what? The previously relatively empty waters of the deep are now filled like the shallows once were. Where then? Deeper still, of course. But in time. Make space to let others adjust to the pressure of the deeper waters. "No amount of cajoling or trickery will get someone to enter the waters when the temperatures are not right for them. Yes, there are those who dive right in. A very few. The rest put a toe in. And wait. Then another toe and another wait. Until they are ankle deep, then knee-high. There are those who continue, but most stop there. And even that takes a lifetime. "So how fast can you push them? Never faster than they are willing to go." I feel the whales now looking forward (in time) and they say, "We get there," as if answering my next query. "We all get there. But it may never look as you envision. After all, it is your vision. Each is entitled to that — to their own way. But we get close enough so that it would feel better to you." They said this last part as if the timing would be well after I am gone, and therefore, it would be only something I would like, not will experience personally. I thought this was curious. They waited while I thought about this. And then came back to say, "We would like it too," meaning they — of the deep — will also no longer be here to experience it personally. They have come before to lead the way. And when they have gone as far as they can, they must go elsewhere, as there is no going back to the shallows, not once you dwelled in the deep. However, others will come along and inch everyone forward, step by step. There was no feeling of urgency or frustration or pressure to get it done. They said this as if it were the truth of the world and what happens will happen and timelines aren't important. Eternal patience. Deepest wisdom. Purest intentions. I thanked them and simply felt the magnitude of their presence. A connectedness and oneness with Earth. All the worries and feelings and insecurities that flow through humanity were simply nonexistent. It felt good. I was all set to speak with another animal today, when Tiffi popped in and offered to "take that tour now" that I had promised her yesterday. She chortled a little nervously at being so forward, and said, "A gal's got to chase what she wants, doesn't she?" "No apologies needed, Tiffi," I told her. "I didn't forget our deal, I was just waiting for the right time. And if today works for you, let's do it!" "Yes," she said, settling in. "How does this work?" "You could just follow me and I'll show you where I live," I suggested. "Okay," she replied. We "landed" in front of my house, which is in a very forested area and we are in winter, so it's colder, though no snow. Tiffi immediately began looking all over and making little comments like, "Oh! Ooh! There was also some mumbling under her breath, sort of like she was commenting to herself. "This is the front of my house," I told her. She looked around — up high at the tall trees, down low at the vegetation in my yard, then said, "Lots of places to hide." It felt like that was a good thing to her, as she seemed a little worried about the lack of visibility (due to the trees) and the worry about predators. I invited her to sit on the front steps with me and watch a flock of wild turkeys roam the neighborhood. They walk up and down the streets and into yards looking for food. As soon as Tiffi saw them, she leaped in the air, flapping, and alarmed. "Well, THAT'S a gang," she commented. "They don't look friendly." "They're not unfriendly," I told her. "But they don't really like to interact with people, who are always shooing them away." I added, "It doesn't seem like you have an affinity for them, even though they are birds." She quickly shook her head "no" and was wide-eyed and on alert. "You must have a lovely backyard," she suggested, hoping we would move away from the turkeys. "Well, the backyard is mostly forest, so low visibility," I told her. "I think that instinctively makes you nervous, right?" "Well, we aren't your size, you know," she replied. "We do have a few more things to worry about." "I realize that. There are owls and hawks around here, so it probably wouldn't be safe for you to just be out here in the open." We were now on the back porch, looking out at the forest. Tiffi scanned the area. She hadn't given her cheery/nervous chortle in a while, I think because there was a lot to take-in and worry about. I waited patiently as she got her bearings and to see what she wanted to do next. As she continued looking out into the forest, she said, "Well, this just won't do," referring to chickens in this type of terrain. "We need more visibility." Then she clarified, "Not to make us more visible, but so that we have more ability to see what's around us." "Do you want to see inside?" I asked. In my head, I was picturing walking through the house and it felt like she immediately picked up on this, saw the preview, and answered, "No, I think outside suits me better." The darker, closed-in feel of inside didn't feel right to her. "Do you want to look out through my eyes?" I asked. "Yes, let's give a look," she replied, and immediately her cheery self came back. "Ooh, I must be 10 feet tall! And so still and steady, like a statue. This really is an experience." On my end, I didn't feel anything unusual, so the experience was all hers. "I could get quite attached to something like this," she marveled. It felt like she enjoyed how safe things felt being in a bigger, sturdier body like this. The world didn't feel so scary. As I thought that, she chimed in with the musing that it wasn't as if her world was scary, just that as a smaller animal, she needed to be more on alert, and actually, her "community" was quite comforting and not at all scary most of the time. From her "big body" view, she looked down on the wood deck we were standing on. It felt like it was an instinct, to look to the ground for food. "Where does one eat around here?" she wondered, seeing no natural ground. "This house is built on a hill, so we are quite high off the ground," I explained. "And, of course, it was built for people, so we don't need the ground to eat from." To this explanation, she looked up at me quizzically and wondered about a vegetable garden. "Oh, you're right, of course we need the earth to grow things to eat. And we wish we had that here at our house — but there is no flat land with sun exposure to grow on," I explained. Tiffi was now back in her own body. She felt calm, happy, curious, and satisfied. "The stories I will tell!" she exclaimed, thinking of how much she has to share with her friends. In her world, "gossip" like this was a big thing and she felt she hit pay dirt. So nice to have you visit, Tiffi," I told her. "Delighted," she replied, then gave her trademark jovial laugh. "It's not everyday a chicken gets to see the world." "You are welcome to visit any time you want," I told her. She seemed to blush at this, but not out of embarrassment or anything like that, but because she was thinking how special she felt, especially compared to her friends back home. We both retreated back to our own worlds and good feelings were in the air. Feedback:You certainly made an impact on her yesterday (for her to be eagerly awaiting to have her tour of what it's like “to be Josh”…She must of felt so important (an ordinary chicken been shown this different outlook on life. I can just imagine the “gossip” that must be going on at home. Im so glad (and surprised) to know that she is going after what she wants. She often “hangs back” at home as if she is “second best” to our lead hen. Even back home she will hold back with going up the stairs into our house. She will wait below with another hen while the lead curiously takes a walk around our house. She must of been quite confused but interested by your surroundings as we dont have snow very often and huge trees close together like a forest. Although we have a big garden with plenty vegetation and places to hide, she is always able to have that visibility so going for the tour must of left her a bit uneasy - not knowing what was around the corner - for example those turkeys. Haha she has never come across them before it must of been quite an eye opening experience. I can just imagine how “unapproachable” they would look to her. I so enjoyed her perspective of finding it strange being so tall and not being able to peck around. It's always good to get a different perspective though, for all of us. We forget just how challenging and different things can be for smaller creatures. How very overwhelming it must be. I can just imagine her giving her opinion about what is good for the chickens and her chortle. She is like a wise middle aged granny to me. Taking in all the surroundings but quick to say what won't work, and what has to be changed. Just like a human. She is so intelligent (especially with knowing that we still need vegetation to grow food) even if we dont eat from the ground. She seemed quite perplexed by how we live (or should I say in this instance how you lived. This is so sweet. She seems so interested in all of it even if she doesn’t understand something or finds it worrying. I wonder if her other companions will believe her adventures when she tells them??? This was again so lovely and very entertaining. Thank you Josh. I know you made a little chicken very happy today and broadened her outlook on life so much. I always think it's curious when some people say you need to specifically ask for an animal by name, breed, location, and any other personal facts to make sure you are connecting with the right one. I've never done this or even felt the need to do it. But for some reason, today, this came to mind, and so when I initiated my connection with Tiffi the hen, I sort of descended from above and said, "Tiffi the hen from South Africa…" She looked up in the sky at me descending in this way. For a moment, she was frozen – perplexed at what this was and why it was happening. The next moment, however, she realized it was a person and she broke out in a very jolly laugh, such as you might hear from a large middle-aged woman. More like a chortle. "Oh, that's quite a way of making an entrance," she said, still in a jovial, good-natured way. She has a cheerful personality, someone you'd want to spend time with because she is always happy. "Oh, sorry about that, Tiffi," I explained. "I don't normally do that. I was just wondering if you wanted to spend some time today and show me what it feels like to be a hen." She chortled again at this idea and said, "Oh my — be like me? But whatever for?" She was amused. "I guess it would just be a way to better understand you and your life. I could even show you what it feels like to be me if you are interested." "Oh, well THAT would be a hoot, wouldn't it?" It didn't take much convincing. She was in. I began, "Can I just imagine that I am you, see what you see, feeling what you feel?" "Why, I don't see why not?" she said genially. So I tried it. My first impression was: shaky cam! Her head was making so many little movements, that it made me a bit dizzy. So I closed my eyes (or maybe she did to help me) and for a while just felt the other sensations, like spreading her wings, flying a few steps at a time as chickens do, clucking, pecking at the ground. After a while, I realized my eyes were now open again and everything looked clear and the shaky cam was gone, or at least it didn't affect me. I was traveling along with Tiffi through the yard. There were some steps leading up to a house. I could see various buckets and objects around the yard, and could sense other chickens milling about. Although I could feel and see what Tiffi was doing, it was more like I was accompanying her rather than feeling like I was her. I still had to use my imagination to transform my own feet into her feet to try and feel what it was like to walk the ground like she does. In this way, I could also experience her doing something like pecking at grains on the ground and feel how precise she was at zeroing-in on the smallest bit. But it wasn't like I was actually doing it or that I needed to use my own skills to do it. It felt like Tiffi was a little self-conscious walking around the yard with me kind of "with her." I wondered if others would be aware of this experiment. I guess Tiffi was wondering, too, though it didn't feel like others were aware. "Tiffi, shall we finish your tour as separate individuals?" I offered. "Oh," she said in a surprised, but relieved, way. "Well, we could… if you wish." "Sure," I encouraged. Now side by side, she sort of shook herself off, like she would after a dirt bath, and I could tell she felt better about this. She immediately started making clucking and other hen noises, communicating little things to those around her as she walked me through the yard. The plot felt circular the way we were walking it and there was a tree in the middle. Also, lots of light fencing around. Tiffi felt very proud to be walking amongst her friends and family, showing me where she lives. I could feel and see her talking to me almost nonstop, though I couldn't hear exactly what she was saying. It was just sort of a stream of talking, telling me every detail about the place… who lives where, what the cat does when visiting, where the dog goes, where to find the best treats, where she once found a really juicy insect, etc. She was in her element and it felt like someone gossiping over tea. I thought I'd try to ask some specific questions, since the general information she was speaking wasn't really clear to me. "TiffiTiffi, what do you like about living here?" "Oh, it's the community! We are all family. It's quite social," she described. I could feel what she was saying — the close-knit vibe of the yard, how it feels safe, exciting, like a social hall or marketplace with lots of activity and friendly neighbors you say hello to and catch up on the latest news. "Anything you'd want different?" I asked. "Oh? There are options?" she asked quizzically. "I think I'm pretty well set. We've got what we need. Of course, I'm speaking for myself. You'd have to ask the others about their preferences." "Glad to hear you have such a nice life," I said. I thought I'd say goodbye for today, but had the idea to ask about Al, who I talked with last week and was suffering from some losses in his life. "Oh, yes, Al," she said thoughtfully when I brought him up. "Poor chap. It's a pity what he's putting himself through." "Isn't it more like what is happening to him, rather than his fault?" I questioned. "Well, loss is loss and natural," she explained. "But he has gone ahead and lost himself in the process of losing others!" "Doesn't that happen with many, though? Losing those you love can be painful and can easily send you off track," I said. "Yes, I didn't mean to sound callous," she answered. "I'm just saying he knows how it works deep down. And we're all still here for him. He knows that, too. We'll keep supporting him, don't you worry. He's already feeling a wee better." She thought on this for a moment, then gave her trademark chuckle, sweeping away the sadder thoughts and focusing on the good ones. "Life goes on," she said cheerfully. "The sun is out and it's another beautiful day." I just smiled at her as she rejoined her community, chatting away with her "peeps" as she meandered along. It was only after this that I realized I never showed her what it was like to be in my body, so that will have to be another time… Feedback:I must say I was actually so amused at seeing this side of Tiffi. We haven’t had her as long as our other animals so this chat was so uplifting and informative as I got to know her a bit more deeply and understand how she sees her surrounding and other animals around her. I have never thought of her as quite a down to earth/humorous hen. She is so funny in her mannerisms. I couldn’t stop laughing my head off - imagining what you must be feeling when Tiffi showed you things from her perspective (especially with the head movements and pecking). This must of been such a strange perspective and you must of been quite dizzy!!!. You do have a couple of little steps leading down our back foot into the yard. There is a biggish tree in the middle of the garden and we do have watering cans/flower pots and buckets around to pick up the rain water. The “light fencing” is I think where Al is kept. It’s like a soft light green shade cloth cage. I am glad she has noticed him feeling “a wee bit better”....she has a very advanced way of thinking about Al and loss. I am so pleased to know that Al is not alone in his challenges. Your description or image of how you saw our back yard with all the companions is so true and lovely to cherish - that it’s all safe and close-knit. As I sat down in front of Diego, he was slightly alarmed and asked, "Why are you here?" "Just to talk — if you feel like it," I answered. "I don't think I need more people to talk to. I'm fully booked." It sounded like maybe he didn't understand the practice site. So I explained. "That's pretty personal, to be out in public like that, telling everyone your secrets," he said, still trying to get used to the idea that I was even there presenting this to him. "It's only your photo that is in public, just to let others know they can talk with you. You still have the choice to say no or 'maybe later.' And no one is making your conversation public," I said. "This is all so sudden," he said. "Most of the animals seem to enjoy talking with people, which they don't always get to do in their regular lives," I explained. "But proper notice… I like to know what's in store for me in my own life," he said. "I completely agree. Not everyone likes spontaneity." Then I added, "Would you like to make an appointment to talk — say, in five minutes?" "Yes, that will work for me. I'll be waiting." I waited five minutes (actually nearly 10) and then came back to Diego, who promptly said, "You're late." He figuratively taps a wrist watch and says, "It's why we made an appointment, so we'd know when." "Are you really concerned about the timing of everything?" I asked, wondering if an animal would really be focused on this kind of stuff. "It sure matters at supper time, so why not now?" he said. "Do you have other things you have to do?" I wondered. I could almost see him think about this and realize he had nothing before he replied, "That's really not the point." "Okay, well, I apologize for the surprise visit, then being late for my appointment. Can we start over?" I was feeling a little aggravated at this point, as our conversation was going in circles and I certainly didn't want him to feel frustrated with this experience. Diego laid down and relaxed his stance. He was visibility more at ease. But I could tell it was simply a decision he made to get to that point — a decision he could have made at any point in this conversation. He gave a slight smile and I realized he was making all of this more than it needed to be on purpose. He likes to be difficult — or making it seem that way. "Is that true, Diego? You like to be difficult?" I asked. "It's not a matter of being difficult. It's a matter of doing it my way, on my terms. We can all request that. We can all demand it." "You're saying you like to get your way?" I tried to confirm. "Yes, I like it," he answered. "Do you have a sweet and gentle side?" I asked. "When I wish. I admit I sometimes make it difficult (for others), but it's just who I am." I keep seeing fish flash in my mind and I wonder if Diego is the one who keeps thinking about it. His tummy rumbles and he said, "Yes, it's me. I get fish for dinner and I have it on my mind." It feels like this is a hope, not a sure thing. And it feels like this is just something he regularly flashes in his head, like "Ooh, can't wait for dinner. Maybe today it will be that legendary fish I've been hearing about…" "How do you know that's what's for dinner?" I wondered. He again figuratively taps a wrist watch to remind me it's all about schedules. "Why are schedules so important to you?" I asked. "It's how I plan my day. When I know when meals are, when this person is going out or coming home, when the sunny warms at particular spot in the house, I know where to be at what time. It's really not as silly as it sounds." "Yes, when you describe it that way, it does sound helpful," I agreed. "…not obsessive," he stated simply and pointedly at me, in case that's what I was thinking. It did cross my mind, so that's probably where he got this idea! It doesn't feel like Diego is too big on playing with toys. He prefers interacting in the "adult" world. He does seem to like being around his people, so even though he is independent-minded, he is not a loner who doesn't need anyone. It does feel like there's another cat in the house. They aren't necessarily good friends, nor are they enemies, just friendly housemates. Diego comes across as more serious and straight-forward, but a person observing him would instead interpret his personality as quirky, amusing, and full of cat-isms. I don't think Diego would agree (or would want to be seen like that). In fact, it feels like at least part of the persona he has shown me today is one he created — his "macho" side. Most of the time, he is a much more easy-going cat and he makes it easy to laugh about things he does, even if he isn't trying to be funny (and he feels slightly irritated that I just wrote that!). Perhaps in response to the above observations, Diego decides the "interview" is over. He taps the imaginary wrist watch again to signal this. "Diego, don't leave irritated," I said, feeling that he was. "I was just trying to read your energy. Maybe I got it all wrong." "Clearly you did," he said. "Anyway, I didn't approve of anything but the talking." Interpreting was never part of the deal, apparently. It felt like this was a perfect example of something a person would find amusing and endearing in him, but he most certainly would not. But I did understand why he would feel that way, so apologized if I offended him. He walked off pretty quickly, not angry or irritated, just ready to do something else. Feedback:I'm surprised that he was so difficult. He knows I talk to him but he is very attached to me. I do believe he thinks he is a person. He doesn't think of himself as an animal. And he is very adamant about his schedule. He wakes me up to eat in the morning and he always runs to the door when I get home. There is another cat in the house. They are from the same litter so they are pretty close but they would both rather be with me than with each other. And Diego does get fish for dinner. His wet food is tuna based and on the rare occasion that I eat tuna they always get a bite. He is very spoiled so maybe he has developed an attitude. Haha. Ricky is very watchful. As I sit down with him, he carefully watches everything I do, every movement. He feels like a very good-natured dog who gets along with everyone and is always up for an activity or adventure, no matter how big or small. He always tried his very best to be the most he could be in any given moment. Not that he he focused on self-improvement in the human way, but that he put all of himself into everything he did. And he was SO LOVED! I can feel the amount of love and support and appreciation his family had and has for him. There's no doubt that he knew this because he could feel it from you! "Ricky, what a wonderful presence and life you created," I told him. It feels like he was 100% successful at it, accomplishing everything he came to do and more. He wags his tail furiously over hearing this, though it was more of a confirmation wag rather than a compliment wag. He knows the life went well and is deeply appreciative of the opportunity. "What did you like most about your life?" I asked. I see him with the family — sort of generally representing "family life" — and he feels so good and at home knowing he is with everyone. There's no better feeling being part of this "pack." In the visual, he is always out front just by a little. It feels like it is his way of saying he was guiding, leading, protecting in everything he did. He shows me being out in nature, which he loved. It is very open and vast, like open plains rather than forests. He loved being able to see great distances without barriers. Did he have a malamute friend? I see a malamute puppy who seems to have been part of his early memories. They have a kinship and appreciate each other. "What else did you like to do?" I asked Ricky. He shows me a big bone he likes to chew. It has meat on it. "These are really good," he says. Although it seems that Ricky is very easy-going, he also loves "order" and is right there to keep track of what goes on and how it should be. He loves being part of whatever is happening, so if there's some activity going on or a lot of ruckus or action, he is right there to check it out. "I am the curious type," he agrees, though I also see him cautiously approaching things, ready to spring back in the event of a loud noise or sudden movement. "You can't be too sure or careful," he says. "Safety is a good thing. I'm all about keeping people safe." He shows me how he used to spot things out in the backyard and bark and bark for someone to let him out so he can check it out. "Anything else you want to talk about, Ricky?" I asked. "My name…" he says ominously, like someone who starts out "We have to talk…" But then he answers that with an enthusiastic, "…I love it!" I keep hearing his name in duplicate, "Ricky Ricky," as if that's how he heard it or maybe others said it that way? "I also loved family outings," he said. It feels like these were more than just day trips, but he got to go on longer vacations with the family. It really feels like he was such a close part of the family, inseparable. I asked him if he thinks he will be reincarnating and returning to this family in this lifetime and he answered, "Oh, we have lots of plans together, but not necessarily again in this lifetime. That can always change. Nothing is set in stone. But we are often together, experiencing the nuances of life in its many forms and expressions." "You mean like a soul family?" I asked. "Yes! Exactly," he confirmed. It explains why I felt such a tight-knit bond between him and the family. "Well, then I guess there are many more adventures for you ahead," I commented. "Infinite," he agreed enthusiastically. He is very excited about the prospect of experiencing it all. Because of this close bond I feel, I wondered if he is still involved with family life, as some spirits are. When I tap into this concept, I feel that he is always a part of your lives, but since there is such a strong bond, there is a comfort and knowing that your relationship will simply persist throughout time and there's no need for him to be right with you at all moments. He watches over you, keeps tabs on you, but isn't necessarily involved in day-to-day events. Both sides feel comfort with this, at least at the soul level. I now get a visual of him as a puppy — so cute. I wait to see why he is showing me this, but nothing comes through. I continue waiting and finally he says, "We will begin again." What a beautiful message of eternity and love! "Ricky, thank you for sharing this side of you and your life today. It was very special!" I told him. He just nods graciously and is filled with pride and love for his family. Feedback:Rudy was indeed a very happy soul. He experienced life to the fullest and was filled with such happiness all the time. He loved the simple things in life like lying in the dirt and grass in my backyard. He was also a real foodie. That was one of the things we shared and enjoyed together everyday -- lots of good food. He truly lived life to the fullest and I think that was one of his messages to me always. I found him by the side of the road in the desert, eating garbage when he was about 8 months old, so food was always very important to him. He was passionate about his food and always ate the very best. Many times when we had catered lunches at work, I would bring him home a leftover sandwich and it was one of his very favorite things. He had a way of bringing such light and positive energy into situations. We walked everywhere together and spent all of our time together. When I rescued him, he was hanging out with a black Lab so maybe that's the friend you saw him with? They were buddies and I tried to rescue the black dog, too, but he wouldn't come near me. I always felt bad that I left him behind. Rudy was very selective with other dogs, though, and he had only a few friends, all female. One was a large, furry black and brown dog. The other was a petite blond dog. It's very true that he kept me safe. He had a bark that was much louder than his size (about 30 pounds) and I always felt safe around him. He was definitely my protector. Once he saw that I was comfortable around a person, the would then accept them. He also liked order. If the cats were fighting he would try to make peace. He loved a peaceful household. At times when I had larger crowds over my house, he would hang out for a while, but then he would withdraw to the quiet of my bedroom, as if he'd had his fill of the ruckus and loud chatter. He was very much his own soul and knew what he wanted and needed. My backyard, with lots of huge trees and shrubs was one of his favorite places. He would often draw me outside and we'd hang out there, playing Frisbee and in the summer, going in his little pool. It was really his special place and we spent a lot of time there together. It's funny you mention his name because I think I called him every variation and other term of endearment than actually calling him Ricky! But I always felt the name fit him perfectly. He was named after the first food he ate, which was Ricki's bread (I spelled his name with a "y" instead), which was all we had in our car at the time. My Reply:Now I can see why I felt that love bond so strongly between him and his family. And I know I referenced “family” throughout, but that was because I didn’t really feel strongly how many were in the family. The open space I saw him enjoying sounds like where you found him in the desert. Maybe those memories were still good for him despite his situation? And the part about his name is so funny. I always try to recognize the meanings of why I get certain things. Because even though it may not make sense in the moment, with a little more information, the picture becomes clearer. He told me Ricky Ricky. You said you had many, many names for him and rarely, if ever, called him Ricky. It would have been difficult for him to tell me all those names or even get across that he has lots of nicknames. So I think he said his name twice to represent his “other” name or that he doesn’t have just one name, but “names.” Carob is a sweet and gentle soul. He may bark too much sometimes, but he says that's "required as a dog." Plus, he gets carried away with the energy of the situation and the other dog in the house. Otherwise, he is pretty easy-going and loves to curl up next to people on the couch or bed. He looks at life with you as "summer camp." It's all good, there's lots to do and see and it's all fun. He wakes up each day thinking, "What are we doing today?" "Carob, if you got to decide what to do on any given day, what would you choose?" I asked. He immediately said, "The park." I see him playing with a black dog, maybe a terrier of some kind. He loves all the activity at the park, the smells, the action, the sights. It's like going to an amusement park. I feel his excitement walking there, as well. He can hardly wait to get there. When I try to talk with Carob, as in a conversation, he pushes it into having me describe his thoughts instead. "Carob, why do you prefer that over talking?" I wondered. "I'm shy," he says. But he's not talking about being shy in general, only for this specifically. It feels like a form of stage fright, where he is still trying to get used to interacting in this way. So I asked him what else he likes and immediately was shown cheese — a big chunk of cheddar. I think he prefers people food over treats and food made for dogs. He seems to be fine riding in the car. Because he is so easy-going, he often does just go along with things, but I also feel he is swept up in the energy of the situation or his dog pal, who "can be crazy" sometimes (his words). Otherwise, I feel like Carob can be pretty mellow and is happy to just hang out. "Is there anything you want to add, Carob?" I asked, feeling like he was ready to say something. "I love my brother (the other dog in the house), so I don't want it to seem like I don't. I wouldn't want anyone else with me! I was just describing how his energy affects me sometimes. It wasn't a complaint," he explained. "I understand, Carob," I told him. "We're all allowed to express ourselves and if we do it respectfully as you did, others should understand it wasn't meant to blame or harm anyone." He wags his tail at this, it feels like mostly with relief rather than excitement. He was mostly concerned about hurting his brother's feelings or getting him in trouble. When I tap into his brother, I get a hyped-up feeling, very excited and excitable, high-energy, and can be "in your face" a lot of the time. Carob spends a lot of time watching what his brother will do next… before eventually following his lead. "Anything else you love to do, Carob?" I asked. I get a visual of "the river" where people go boating, fishing, jet skiing. Is that somewhere the family visits? I also see him all stretched out and on his back on the couch. "Ahh, smells great here and is SO comfortable," he says. "Anything else you want to tell me, Carob? This is your chance!" I felt a little like I had to pull the conversation out of him, though I wanted to respect his preference if he didn't really feel comfortable talking. I felt like he would be more comfortable after hanging out for a while or during a second conversation after he got to know me more. He shows me he doesn't like loud storms and he seems to stiffen when picked up — not out of pain, just because it makes him feel out of control. "Thanks for the conversation, Carob," I told him. "Did I do okay?" he asked. "Just fine!" I replied. "You don't have to have a personality like anyone else or respond as others might. Just being you is perfect. I appreciate all that you shared with me in your own way and if you feel like talking more next time, then you will and I'll be there to listen." {{big sigh of relief}} Feedback:Your communication is so well rounded and clear - you really get a sense of Carob s personality. I can really tell that you take your time and let his thoughts come through in his own way. Everything you picked up on with Carob s personality is accurate and it is very comforting to know that he is happy and that his crazy brother does not bother him. The reference to the river is sooo interesting. My husband and I love to take them hiking and we have camped alot the last several years. But - here is what is interesting - we have a new granddaughter and her name is River. Carob has not met her yet - the parents are a bit hesitant about dogs - but we have told them about her and they know that they will meet her soon. I wonder if Carob is anticipating meeting her and getting to play with her? I sat down next to Ellie and gently asked if we can talk. She sat up, a little on edge, looked around (or at least didn't want to look directly at me), and said, "Why, did I do something?" She didn't say this in a frightened or suspicious way, just slightly worried that she had accidentally done something wrong. "Of course not," I assured her. "I just meant, would you like to talk today. You are on a site for people practicing to speak with animals." "Oh, I know about that," she said with recognition. She relaxed her body and replied, "Yes, I can talk." "How are you enjoying your time here" I asked, knowing that she is fairly new to her home. I expected an actual reply, but instead I saw cartoon-like stars and rainbows emanating from Ellie's head area. It was her reaction to the question — or actually her answer! "I could throw a unicorn in there if it will help," she offered. 'Unicorns are always welcome!" I laughed. "But your message is loud and clear — you love living here!" "Yes, I do! THIS is my family," she said emphasizing that she finally feels like she has found her place in life. "That's really wonderful to hear! We are all looking for that place and not everyone gets there. But those who do are very lucky!" This time, her answer was a cloud of cartoon hearts emanating from her head area! "What's with all the animations, Ellie?" I wondered. It didn't really feel like it was her "style." "Just trying out some things," she replied. And it did feel like she was experimenting — something that comes with getting very comfortable with who and where you are. In this case, it also feels like she is expressing a youthfulness that she feels by being where she is. "What specifically do you love about where you live?" I asked. She shows me an overview of what looks like a farm. Except she made it feel like it was a mini kingdom, filled with little townships and interesting friends and places to visit and and smells to explore. She feels like the queen who gets to live in this very friendly place, though she doesn't treat it like she's the ruler, just an honored citizen (honored to be here). When I focus on how she feels about this place, I feel her heart race and she is filled with excitement and curiosity. "Are you having any problems with anything?" I wondered. She didn't come out and say anything, as it felt like she was a little hesitant to even talk about things she is having problems with. But I did get some soft visuals of one of her back teeth and also one of her paws. The thing with her paw seems like it relates to some little thorns or things that she walks on that sometimes get up in her pads. Ellie feels like a very gentle, sweet soul, though was "misinterpreted" before she arrived. Now she feels understood. She is also still in the process of understanding herself — who she is, who she can be, how she can interact with others. She gives this a lot of thought as she moves through her day and encounters new situations. She is very considerate and focused on improvement, though she feels she is prone to misstepping, like letting her enthusiasm for something overtake her and being too rough or clumsy around smaller animals. But she always has the best of intentions. I visualized what she does when she sees her "person" and her heart skips a beat! She pours out those cartoon hearts again. She is full of gratitude and love. And though she has her doubts about her actions sometimes, she by no means has low self-esteem — or any kind of ego or overconfidence. She simply accepts who she is and believes she is a good soul who gets to live in a wonderful place. Period! "Anything else you want to add, Ellie?" I offered. "No. That's my life!" she agreed. I was getting the feeling she was a little antsy, like she's had enough talking and wants to get out to her "kingdom" and visit her fellow citizens. She showed me this by repeating a motion of her getting up and heading off toward "the farm life." So I took the hint. "So nice to have met you Ellie and heard about your wonderful life here," I told her. She curtsied or bowed like one would do in a royal court. Her meaning was, "You are very welcome. My pleasure." Queen Ellie has spoken! Feedback:I am sooo happy you spoke with Ellie and connected in the way you did. It actually made me cry a little but absolutely in a good way 😊. Your initial description of her sitting up and curious if she has done something that maybe she shouldn’t have is exactly what she does. She is not a “naughty” pup but is very full of life and joy which can mean she kinda gets herself into things...she also has quite a short attention span, as she’s keen to move onto the next exciting thing...perhaps this is your feeling of her getting a little angsty. I love that she’s experimenting as she didn’t really get to be a puppy like most dogs do, I especially love that she is using animation...we have a lot of unicorn things here, cards, clothes and a Welsh mountain pony who looks like and we all call our unicorn 🦄. Ellie was very timid when she came to us from a foster home (and previously wa rescue) but very soon, with help from our dogs started to come out. She is truly the most joyous, free spirited and special dog I have ever known. We both feel she has strong characteristics and traits of a previous dog we loved very much. Our words when she got here, was that it feels like she’s come home, hearing via you that she feels this makes us so happy 💜 we have adopted Ellie, as we couldn’t imagine her being anywhere else 🐶 We live on a small holding, with a mix of mainly rescue field animals, poultry and cats and dogs. If I’m honest it is like a little kingdom, a animal village or kibbutz 😁. Ellie loves to try and play with the chickens and guinea fowl, and our bulldog..she can be a little OTT 😉. Ellie's feet are slightly webbed, so it’s possible the beech nuts that fall around our house are hard on her pads, especially as she did no outside walking till she came to us at 7 months old. She also has an extra tooth, which is at the front of her mouth... I can so see Ellie giving a cheeky curtsey 😉. Thank you so much once again, knowing Ellie is so happy really makes us so happy too x" Lizzie is a cat in spirit. As soon as I sat down with her and asked if she'd like to talk, she gently walked over and nuzzled me, mewing as she went. She feels like a very sweet and loving cat who enjoyed her people and was very social and friendly. "What are you up to these days, Lizzie?" I asked. I get a visual of a white cat. "Are you living as this cat?" I wondered. "Yes, among other things," she answered. "You mean you are living more than one life now?" I wanted to clarify. "As many of us do," she replied simply. I also see a tuxedo cat. "None of those details matter too much," she said. "What matters is, my essence is the same, no matter who I am or what I do." "Your essence… you mean your soul?" "Yes, you could call it that. The housing. The soul is the housing for your essence, but the core of your persona, whichever it is you choose in any given life." "How did you decide to choose the lives you did and do?" I asked. "Whichever catches my fancy in the moment. Cat life is always good. There's a standard we've set that allows us to know what to expect each time." "You mean like a certain independent spirit, being able to be and do what you want?" I asked. "Within reason," she replied. "But people know what to expect from cats. They generally know who we are and so it is easy to step into a life as one and feel comfortable." "Do you plan to live another life with the family you had as Lizzie?" I asked. "That's still undetermined," she answered. "I like to leave my options open." Then she added, "It's not that I wouldn't enjoy the experience or wish to live life with them again — as it was a wonderful and fulfilling time. It's that it's all about what I wish to experience next. Would living as this being in this life bring me what I am looking for? That is the question. It's also the answer." "I understand your point," I told her. "What would you like to talk about today?" I asked, wanting to give her a chance to express herself outside of my line of questioning. "It doesn't have to be all about me," she answered. "I'm happy to talk about anything." It felt like she had no special need to speak about certain events or lives, and there was no ego attached to anything she said. It was all very neutral, like she was truly coming from a higher place. "Well, I am curious about what in particular you enjoyed (or enjoy) about being a cat ¸— specifically Lizzie the cat," I asked. She gives me a visual and feeling of some of those particulars and describes, "The silky smoothness of my movements, the quiet stealthiness of my approach, the limber versatility of my maneuvers, the cunning sharpness of my mind. Oh yeah — that's a cat for you!" "But it also feels like you have a soft, loving side," I brought up. "Oh yes, as Lizzie I did," she confirmed. "I very much enjoyed my interactions, the love I gave and received. I cared deeply for my people and they for me. Some cats like to explore their independent sides. I prefer a balance: intimacy and independence." As I thought of what to say next, she continued, "There's really no point in talking about all this when you can just live it. Being in the moment is far more fulfilling than reminiscing over the past and wondering about the future." "It sounds like that may be what you brought to your family as Lizzie," I said, half asking. "Well, that's what love is: in the moment. I showed them every day who I am and what I'm about, so hopefully they got the point. As much as humans can get it." She said this last part simply as a statement of the difference in species, not as a put-down. "Anything else you enjoyed as Lizzie?" I asked. "Well, we won't speak of bells and ribbons, that's for sure," she said. "It sounds like you have a distaste for them," I replied. "Understatement," she said simply. "Did you wear them?" I wondered. All I hear is a ringing bell. It feels piercing in my ears. I think that is her answer in some way. When I focused on mealtime, it felt like she did enjoy food. I see some soft food that's not kibble and not canned. I also feel she enjoyed tuna fish and was interested in handouts from the family when possible. She just has such a sweet, gentle feel about her. I can feel the love she has for you and the appreciation for the life she had with you and the opportunities you gave her to be herself. She confirms this by rubbing up against me, fully enjoying her "catness." And she simply said, "Thank you." I feel this was partly to me for bringing through this conversation, but also to you for the time she spent with you. Feedback:How fantastic - I so enjoy your feedbacks they are really in-depth and almost spiritual for all concerned. You really do know how to bring out the best in whatever animal/bird or species you talk to. It really is so enriching and inspirational. I got Lizzie when I was about 13 yrs old and she was about 2-4 weeks (not quite sure) from a vet. I remember feeding her with a syringe she was so tiny. She developed human habits from us like sleeping underneath the bed covers with her head on the pillow and running to greet me by the front gate with her tail up - just like an overjoyed dog and I would pick her up and she would so enjoy me carrying her around like a sack of potatoes. Lizzie was an absolutely (almost human like cat). She was such an affectionate and vocal cat. As you mentioned she was a really friendly, loving, sweet natured, patient and wise soul. From your feedback - Lizzie comes across as such a matured cat (having kept her special qualities she had but only more amplified). Like a wise soul who knows the meaning of life and what is needed to advance our spiritual experiences. I always wondered if my current cat was Lizzie reincarnated as they had similar characteristics but never quite the same so thank you for answering that one. I get the feeling she is really content and happy where she is at now in her life and is in no rush to come back unless to advance. Although she loved and still loves us and we her. I know she enjoyed her time with us and will hold onto those good moment, just like we should. As you pointed out “living in the moment” and not placing too much emphasis on our time with her. Such wise profound words. I almost can not believe my little Lizzie is so spiritual like a wise sage. I can so see her “not having any ego attached” . She definitely protrayed all those qualities that you mentioned she enjoyed - the silkiness, the stealth and her quick thinking mind. If we didnt wake up earlly at 5:00 to give her food (whch was usually frozen hake which we cooked for her) she would knock things off my table with one eye looking away until we got up. Well planned out that. She did enjy tuna and dried fish and would always leave the little heads when she was done. I didnt quite understand the “ribbons and bells” part. She seems to talk in puzzles. I am honoured that she felt loved by her family and that we gave her sufficient opportunities to shine and grow and share in that universal love. That last part of her “rubbing up against your leg”…she used to always do that with us. So that was a lovely way to end off. Thank you so much Josh for your (as usual) awesome conversation. You picked up exactly how my little Lizzie was with some added extras. I am sure she loved chatting to you. Thank you. "Okay, Rhyan, this is your lucky day!" I opened, as the first conversation I was going to have today kind of fell through. "Everyday is my lucky day," he replied. Before I could ask his reason, he said, "And why not?" "You're saying you feel very fortunate and happy with your life?" I wanted to clarify. "Of course! I see him running very quickly and happily in a grassy setting playing with an orange ball. Rhyan feels like he is very smart, observant, fun-loving, confident. Not overly affectionate, but loyal and in love with his family. He loves to play. And run. He seems interested in other dogs when he meets them. Does he have an issue with his back left leg? It seems like he is showing me that is sort of shifts out of joint sometimes. After the impressions I got of him, I was curious how Rhyan viewed himself, so asked him. "Me? Well, you won't find a better dog! I'm really nailing this role. I'm athletic, love to play, make my people proud, am not a picky eater, and am pretty go-with-the-flow." "Anything you are not proud of?" I wondered. I see him tearing up some papers. It feels like he did quite a bit of that kind of stuff when younger — but has matured since then. "Anything special you want to talk about, Rhyan?" I asked. "We have mice," he replied matter-of-factly. "Wild mice?" "Yes, they scurry around and I chase them," he said. "Is this inside or outside" I wondered. "Mostly outside." "So you're good at chasing things?" I asked. "I have a very good eye for it. I see everything. Nothing much gets past me," he kept adding to the description in case I didn't grasp the magnitude of his talent in this area. "That sounds like a really good skill to have," I commented. "It is. I use it all the time." I recently read about a technique to ask the animal to say it louder if you are having trouble receiving a message. I thought I would try it, so asked Rhyan to say it louder. "Why? You're hearing everything just fine," he said. "Okay, that's good to know," I answered. "Rhyan, can you show me where you play?" I asked. I see a large, open backyard with short grass. There is fencing on either side, but it looks different than the fencing that lines the back of the yard. That one looks like wide, darker brown fence boards with no spaces in between. And it looks like the boards are alternating so that every other board (or every few) is higher than the one next to it. There seems to be a field to the left of this yard, but that just may be Rhyan's perception that a nearby field is right next door. But it feels like that is a route he likes to walk through. I wondered what else Rhyan likes to do. I see him in the living room, hanging out with the family. It doesn't seem like he likes being on the couch, but instead prefers to sit in front of it. I also see him moving a little further away when the TV is on to avoid some of the noise. When I ask about other animals in the home, I get the feeling there is also a cat? At this point, I decided to look at his page and see if there are any questions for him — and discovered there is a new cat in the house! I present this idea of a kitten in the house to him to get his impressions. He's not sure what to think. I see him looking curiously, but also noticing that this new animal in the house doesn't act anything like he does. He thinks this is curious and asks, "What's wrong with it?" I laughed, "There's nothing wrong with it, Rhyan, it's a cat, not a dog. They don't act the same as you would." "So then what's it going to do around here?" he asked. Since it didn't appear that the cat liked to chase balls and run around, he was wondering what else it would be doing for fun. "I don't know. Every cat is different. Many of them like to use their hunting skills or talents for sneaking around. Some like to play with yarn or feathers or various toys, just like you might." "So we can play?" he asked, and I could see he meant playing a little rougher like dogs would. "Yes, you can play if she wants to, but likely not the way you would play with another dog. Cats are a little more fragile and you need to be gentler with them. They don't typically like to wrestle or do rough stuff like that. But you could ask her what she likes and be gentle with her." He is open to this idea of asking her and went right ahead to do so. I waited. I didn't hear what they said, but felt the cat was afraid, like it didn't know what to expect and was still getting used to interacting with a dog. I think in time, if they can sync their energy levels, they can be friends. As I kept checking in with Rhyan energetically, he gives me the impression that he is always wondering, "What's next?" He seems to have a lot of energy and can settle down, but is very quick to ramp back up at the slightest sound or movement or activity. It's not nervousness or anxiety, it's just how he is wired: curious and alert to everything that is happening in the vicinity. "I'm ready to go whenever I need to!" he adds. "Anything else you want to tell or show me, Rhyan?" I asked before saying goodbye. "Say hi to everyone for me," he says, meaning everyone in the family. "Tell them I always say hi to them, even if they don't know it." He shows me how he does it. When he comes back into a room, he will say hi to each person, acknowledging them, checking in. It's a quick thing and seems to be relating to his border collie intuition, where he would check in with his flock or herd. "Okay, I'll tell them, Rhyan," I replied. "So nice to talk with you today. Have fun with your new cat friend." And upon this reminder, he immediately went looking for her, curious about what she's doing. But attention from him wasn't exactly what she was looking for, so she went hiding. Eventually, she'll get used to him and his higher energy. I see it as a game of give and take and they just need to find the proper balance. Feedback:Yes! He loves to play ball and has an orange chuck-it ball. He is very smart, observant, fun-loving and confident as you say but not overly affectionate though he loves attention. But not needy. He usually likes other dogs especially smaller dogs. Though his best friend is his size. He loves to run and play. The issue may be with his rear end. He had to have his tail amputated a month after we adopted him and his rump is still sensitive. Rhyan is an awesome dog, there is nothing negative I could say about Rhyan. Best dog ever! Re: tearing up papers, since we got him about the age of two I don’t know what his young life was like but this may be true. If we give him a cheap stuffed dog toy he can destroy it in minutes! Re: mice — We have gophers in some vacant lots in our neighborhood and there has been a rodent of some kind in the bushes in the front yard that torments him. Re: nearby fields — We live in a development with several vacant lots that are Rhyan’s playground! The fence on the perimeter of the development is darker brown with no spaces between the boards. There are pillars of block every so often that could account for the height difference. Some fields have block walls on the sides, some have bushes or hedges. Your description is spot-on! Rhyan hangs out in the living room with us (my husband and I) he does not like to get on the couch. Rhyan and I sit on the floor together in front of the couch. He does move away from the tv on occasion but I didn’t realize it was because of the noise. I will keep that in mind. He is a very sensitive dog. There is a cat! We do have a kitty that I acquired a few months ago. She started out as a hospice foster and I have since adopted her. She is about 14 years old and a previous animal communicator said that Rhyan thought she was “fragile”. They get along well but she is very wobbly when she walks and he notices that. He is very nurturing and once when she was out front and started to wander away he started to herd her. He is so very sweet. He is always up for everything and is just the greatest dog ever! Thank you for your read on Rhyan. You did an amazing job! I kept feeling drawn to Heston whenever I saw his picture. So today I thought I would say hi. But when I did, even though his photo told me he is a gentle, good-natured dog, he snarled at me. Not with intent to hurt me, just to warn me away. Then he did the Jedi knight thing and said, "This is not the dog you are looking for." When I asked why not, he replied, "You won't want to get involved." It felt like it had something to do with his person. So for today, I will look elsewhere. But I may check back in with Heston at a later date to see if things have changed. Epilogue:Heston's person has been completely unresponsive to any communication. Perhaps that's why I got the wave away?
I was drawn in by Spirit and her brightness and hadn't remembered that I spoke with her a month before. But something said to talk with her again — and what was unveiled through our conversation and the ensuing feedback was amazing! "Hi Spirit, you have such a bright spirit," I told her right away. I got a big smile back and her eyes even smiled and looked like they were almost closed because of it. As I gazed at her, I was sort of transferred into her body to show me how it felt. She was jumping around in excitement, but her body felt very heavy. Not being a dog in this life, I don't know how it really feels. But I wouldn't think it would feel so heavy, like it took a great force to move around freely. "Why do you want to show this to me, Spirit?" I asked. "I wanted you to feel what it was like to be me," she responded. Then added, "Near the end." "It feels like you still had a light, joyous spirit, but that your body was more difficult to maneuver." I wanted to confirm what I was feeling from her "body." "Yes. Nothing to be concerned about. I'm not showing you to point out any suffering or to bring up bad memories," she explained. "I just wanted you to feel the contrast…" And the next moment, her body felt featherweight and free of gravity. I clearly got the feeling she was showing me her spirit form and how freeing it was. But she wanted to be clear: there is no superior state of being. Being free in spirit has its benefits and wonders. But so does being in physical, and she loves them both. "What did you like most about being Spirit the dog," I asked. "Connection. Physical connection with my family. A caress on the face, a nuzzle, a transfer of loving feelings in the moment — these are things unique to the physical experience and I treasured them," she said. "Were there any specific events or activities that stand out as things you loved?" I wondered. "I loved the times when we welcomed a new member of the family to the house. Being able to comfort them, warmly greet them for the first time and assure them all will be well and they are special here — those were precious moments. They are pivotal moments for the one being welcomed. So you can see what great, positive impact we can have on their lives by how we interact in those first moments; what a great responsibility it is for us to support a fellow being at a sensitive and life-changing time. I savored it. I welcomed with a warm and loving heart, and from my view now, I know it made a difference." "Wow, that's a really beautiful memory, Spirit," I said. "I was expecting a memory about something that happened TO you, and you told me about something you loved to do for others." "I can also tell you about things that happened TO me," she offered. She didn't say this like an apology or to help meet my expectation, but simply to add to the story. She sends me some visuals of a sandy shore. Did she ever visit the beach? Her first time felt like a magical experience. The sand was so… different. PLUS, you got to play in the water! As I ask her about any other experiences she wants to show me, they all involve others, like a family activity, a big playful romp, a gathering. It feels like she is very social, enjoys being with others, and is very easy-going. She wasn't necessarily a leader, but others looked up to her. She led by example. Her energy is very sunshiny and bright. "Anything else you want to say or tell your people?" I asked. "It's okay. It's all okay," she said. "From my perspective, it all works out in the end. Those time of fretting, worrying, scraping to make it all work — know that they do work, and will, even with less fretting and worrying! Take some time every so often and just see and feel what you have around you — it's more valuable and precious than know. The gems are there. They are sparkling right in front of you. Stop chasing peace and instead begin recognizing it." She said all of this without a hint of judgement or guilt, just love for you. "Spirit, we need more beings like you. Thank you for who you are," I told her. "There are more of us than you think," she said. "But there are a lot of distractions in life that sometimes make it difficult to notice what you see in me." She added, "Keep looking. We are doing what we can from here — and from there — to help." Her energy felt like you would expect from a Buddhist monk, full of serenity and love and compassion. "You have friends among you," she said, and sent a visual of all the companion animals in the world, here to help infuse some love into the world — our individual worlds. "Thank you for this loving and hope-filled conversation, Spirit," I said. She just smiled her loving smile, emanating love as she has throughout the whole conversation. Feedback:Near the end her body was wearing out, both her joints and organs. Her spirit never wavered though. She even enjoyed a beautiful stroll in the sun and grass and visiting her bunnies just before we took her to the vet for a final goodbye. That's what was so difficult, her spirit had a lot of love for life still, but her body said it was time to go. We went to the beach many years ago when she was a young adult. We also went a few times about 7-8 yrs ago. She did seem to love the sand and wading in the water. Though she was never one for swimming. We always called her our social butterfly. Anywhere she went a stranger (human or dog) was simply a friend she hadn't met. She especially loved small and young dogs and little kids. She was a great mentor to the young ones. Her medical needs near the end where very worrisome on our family, the cost was very great, causing a lot of worry and fretting. I always stressed over providing the best care for her without causing financial ruin for the rest of the family. Spirit always seemed to reach out to those in need and offer her light and reassurance to anyone. Perhaps she felt a need from you and I for some additional reassurance. After speaking with Lotus yesterday, I was left with an "unfinished" feeling. It felt like I was only getting part of the picture and was supposed to uncover more. So I checked Lotus's page for any more information about him and discovered his abusive past before he came to live with his present family. Because of it, he is often stressed and in a state of fear. This would explain some of the conversation that I got! First, I felt that Lotus was very focused on the past and some specific good memories. If someone has had a traumatic past they may try to block out the traumas and focus on just the good memories, almost like a loop. Second, I felt Lotus had a vision issue, though it didn't seem like it was all the time. If there are things you don't want to see (in your past, spiritually, etc.), this can lead to actual vision issues or even just psychosomatic ones. I can see how the fear could also increase a vision issue. And third, Lotus's drive or longing for a job and purpose… this also feels related to the past and to better times when he may have had that. And now, due to the stress and fear (and subsequently, vision issues), he is not able to do those same things, though he longs for it. This may not actually be a "job" that Lotus is missing, but "himself" — the dog he once was or knows he is deep down. I decided to connect again today and see if I can get some more clarity. "Hi again, Lotus," I opened. He didn't immediately respond, so I continued, "Why didn't you tell me about the stress and fear your people say is hampering your life?" "It's not something you go around telling everyone," and as soon as he said it, I realized it made perfect sense. It's a very personal matter and there was some embarrassment around it. "You're right, I'm so sorry I invaded your privacy like that. Your family mentioned it only because they want to help. So they added you to a site where people can talk with you but also energetically support you so you can get to a better emotional place," I explained. "Is that okay with you?" I wanted to give him the option. He immediately said, "Yes, that's what I want (to feel better)." I was going to ask him about his fears and traumas, but felt it was too much for him. So instead, I just sat with him for a while and sent healing and supported the intention on his page to feel calm, balanced, confident, peaceful, healthy, and safe. As I started by sending him energy healing, it felt unsettled at first. But as I continued, things felt calmer and more peaceful. He stopped panting, hist body was no longer tense, and he actually rolled over on his side, no longer on high alert. I still wasn't doing any of the Quantum Field Connection, which envisions him in a certain way. I wanted to see how he would appear or react on his own. The next moment, he jumped up, full of energy and excitement and leaped down a small, grassy hill into a big grassy yard and began running, very happy to be feeling this way. "I'm back, baby!" was what I heard. It felt so good to him to regain this part of his life that he had lost — this exhuberance, confidence, full abilities. He ran around very fast and with a lot of power, almost like he had superpowers. I continued watching and listening and then got a snippet of a scene where he was dressed in a tuxedo and was bowing and thanking a crowd, like at an awards ceremony. It was representative of the stellar job he had done during those years when he went through the traumas and then time dealing with it and recovering from it. It didn't mean he was just "acting" and making it all up. It meant he was playing the role well — the role he had agreed to take on before coming here to Earth — and now was being recognized for his part. And since he is no longer playing that part, he feels free from it, back to normal, his full self. I then switched into the Quantum Field Connection mode and transferred all that great stuff I had just seen into something he could keep and envision for himself. "Lotus, is that something you can do — keep those visuals and good feelings with you and envision for yourself this better life?" I asked. He just looked at me, feeling like it was a big request and wondering how he would do all that. "I guess you could just begin with who and how you want to be in any given moment," I suggested. "So if you feel anxious or fearful about something, see if you can envision the dog you want to be in that situation. Perhaps one who is fearless, confident, at ease, and full of peace? It might take some work to remember to do that and create a pattern." I told him about the healing bowl on the Speak! site, which makes healing energy available to any animal who wants it and that he can use that if he needs some extra fortitude. He was now sitting up straighter as he thought of this and his ears were very straight and on-alert. He was still panting, a little anxious about this new path. But he felt more confident in this moment. "I know you can get there, Lotus," I encouraged. "You're not meant to live your life in the past and not able to fully live in the present as you wish. You are meant to be the wonderful, sweet, confident, competent boy who is in you, waiting to come out. I see it happening!" He didn't respond to this, as he looked deep in thought about how to go about this, how it would feel, the possibilities… "You have a lot of support, Lotus. Your family loves you so much and will help you every step of the way no matter how much time you need. They'll never give up on you." He still wasn't saying anything and when I checked in to see how he felt about all of this, he felt tired. It was a lot to think about and attempt. But it was something he wanted to try. It didn't feel like it would be an overnight change, but something a little more long term — baby steps. I placed the healing bowl near him and waved goodbye (for now) I had this conversation with Lotus without looking at any of his background, as I didn't want to color my experience in any way. At the end, I felt the conversation wasn't finished, though I didn't know why. So I connected again the next day. But before doing so, I checked the information provided on his page, where I learned he has had an abusive past and consequently is a very scared, stressed dog. This new information initially made me question my first conversation, as it didn't really sound like Lotus — the Lotus he presented to me. But as I thought about it and all the possible symbology, I realized it all made perfect sense, and my second connection with him brought it all together. I think it's incredible when this stuff happens like this! "Hi Lotus," I opened. "I've seen a couple of photos of you and in each of them, you look sad and I always want to reach out to give you a hug." He lifts his head up, a little in surprise at hearing that he is perceived that way. "I think I just need a better picture. Those don't catch me at my best." He continued, "I can be happy and excited or sad and depressed and it can change moment to moment." "Aren't most dogs happy and excited much of the time?" I asked. "Yes, many are, but we are individuals, with different thought processes, backgrounds, situations. If we all had the same personality, there would just be one kind of dog and many different coats!" he proclaimed. "So why are you sad?" I asked, since I still felt he was, despite his claim that it was just the photo. "Things don't look right," he said, and I got a visual of him as if he were being filmed, but the camera kept swinging left and right in kind of jerky motions. It felt like that was how he sometimes saw things and it made it difficult to perceive his surroundings, so he sits still to avoid problems, but it's a little like he is held captive. "I can see why something like that would get you down," I responded. So it's not all the time?" "No, not all the time," he said. He also seemed to be reminiscing about an earlier time when he felt very fulfilled. It was a very green, forested setting. It felt pure and simple. There were school-age kids and they brought a youthfulness to things that he loved. He also felt needed, as he took on the job of protecting them — not because there was any imminent danger, but just in a parental way. He misses those times. "Lotus, are you missing having a job?" I wanted to clarify. He didn't come out and say "Yes," but instead said, "I need to feel needed." It doesn't feel like this is about his present family, as he feels loved and secure in his current home. It's more like he has a strong drive to have a clear and important job — a mission in life. He feels an emptiness without that — incomplete. "What do you enjoy doing?" I wondered. I see him on high alert, "on the lookout." He seems to enjoy making sure everything is going well and is in its place. He loves when the family is together "in their place." There still does seem to be a concern (his concern) about his vision and whether he can perform his duties the way he needs to. Lotus feels like a very gentle and sweet boy. He has a tender and loving side that contrasts with his working "business" mode. He shows me some kind of softer, tasty sausage that he likes. I also feel a tiredness or weariness in him. He feels vert focused on the past, sort of like he is stuck (or has stuck himself) in a scene that feels good to him in order to escape some past pain that hampers him in present-day. I don't quite feel like my conversation with him is complete. It feels like this is half of the story and perhaps I need the other half to make sense of this one a little more. "Thank you for hanging out with me today, Lotus," I said. He acknowledged this silently by raising his head which had been resting on his legs/paws and watching me go. |
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