The first two things I have to stress is to always call your Veterinarian for any, and all, medical questions and problems. They are your first line of protection for your loved ones. Additionally, I always tell people that animals have free will just like we do. Sometimes just a little conversation can make wondrous changes. Other times, not so muchI Your animal companion can be just like some of your recalcitrant friends or family. They just won’t change whatever it is that is bugging you, no matter how often you beg, implore, discuss or bribe. And I have done all of those things. With some animals just a quick conversation explaining a situation can create changes; such as telling them they are now in their "forever home" and not another foster home. Some animals want to negotiate; such as wanting more treats, or walks. Other times, an animal companion can be very stubborn, which is their right.
Also, Shamanism is very metaphorical. I have to admit that I had a hard time with that when I began the study of Shamanism years ago. I tended to be a very black and white person. Good was good, bad was bad. I had problems with shades between. Shamanism changed my life and also expanded everything around me in a very good way. Don't worry I will give you a few examples below.
I will use a drum or rattle through out our session. We all have read about the therapeutic effects that music has with Alzheimer’s patients, autistic children, trauma patients, recovering addicts,etc.. Science has proven that drumming and/or rattling changes a persons brain waves. It induces deep relaxation, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress. It is now coming to light that the reason Shamans from all over the world (Mongolia, Africa, Indonesia, America etc...) have been using drumming for thousands of years, is because of the profound effects it creates in the brain. The constant rhythm puts the Shaman in a place in his/her brain that is not normally used. It synchronizes the two cerebral hemispheres so that the logic left hemisphere and intuitive right hemisphere start to work together. For that reason I will begin our session by drumming (or rattling) in the Spirit Guides from the North, East, South and West, and continue to drum or rattle throughout the session. I always start in my “middle world” where I will meet your animal companion along with the Spirit Guides I work with. From there we will determine if we will go to my “ upper world” or “lower world” to do the healing and communication needed for your companion. Again I cannot stress enough that Shamanism is metaphorical, and ritual is important to the process.
Some healing will be done through past lives. You do not have to believe in past lives for the healing, or change of behavior, to happen. It is a tool that is used. Also, when something is “extracted” from your animal, such as a disease or pain or emotion, it will also be metaphorical. And once extracted we replace it with an “animal power". As one teacher said to me, “ The Universe does not like a void, so we replace what we take out with a "healing animal spirit”. When that time comes, I will either have my Guides pick a " healing power animal" or you may be asked to do so.
I often find that the "healing power animal" picked is often more for you, the human companion, than the animals. Go figure….our animals are always trying to help us. Even when we are trying to communicate and/or help them, they always have us foremost in their minds. I reference a book called “ Animal Spirit Guides” by Steven D. Farmer, Ph.D. His book details just over 400 animals, in which he outlines with each animal what it means if an animal "shows up", i.e. you are driving along, and an owl fly’s by your car for several seconds; or if you "call upon" a certain animal, as we do in my sessions; or if a certain animal is your specific Power Animal.
After a session I will send you a copy of Steven Farmer’s info about the power animal or animals that appeared in our session. One good example is when I was working a dog with a broken back. The "healing power animal" given to the dog was an Elephant. It made no sense to me how the Elephant related to this dog’s back injury, but I have learned to trust what my Guides tell me. Later the human client called me to tell me she has several framed pictures of Elephants in her house. It was clear that her dog pick an Elephant, as her dog knew it was important to her human companion.
An example regarding past lives came to the forefront with a horse I was working. The horse initially had one serious disease which I worked on, but honestly I thought the Veterinarian cleared up the problem. About a year later the horse was diagnosed with cancer. This time, this beautiful horse showed me that she had been sick in a past life with the same human companion and she believed that it was their “contract” with each other to be constantly sick. My Guides immediately jumped into action and explained that was not “their contract" and the horse could get well - immediately. The next visit the Veterinarian made, the Vet discovered the cancer was gone - not in remission, but gone. So the point of this story is that you don’t have to believe in reincarnation or past lives, but past lives can be used as a tool for healing.
And a word of warning, I can only relay to you what your animals tells me. Unfortunately, I don’t always see the nuances, as can happen with communication between humans. And example of this was when I was working 2 dogs for an owner, a male and female dog. Since we were in the same city, I went to the clients house to give Reiki to both dogs. While giving the male dog Reiki, the dog told me he did not trust the tall, dark haired, man who was the partner of his human owner. When I relayed this info, I was quickly and tersely told I was completely wrong. Months later I was working the female dog again at the owners house. The owner’s partner walked in and I met him for the first time. The minute this man entered the room, I noticed his vibrations were lovely. He was clearly a very nice person. But, as I was giving Reiki to the female dog, he knelt down next to me and whispered to me to take very good care of her, because she was always his favorite dog. And, he asked that I please not tell anyone that! I have to admit that it took me a while to figure out that was why the male dog didn’t totally trust him. Of course, the male dog sensed he was not the favorite. So, I have to warn people not to take statements at total face value, as things can be construed differently from the animal’s point of view!
As you can see talking to our loved animals is a trip. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always informative.
Also, Shamanism is very metaphorical. I have to admit that I had a hard time with that when I began the study of Shamanism years ago. I tended to be a very black and white person. Good was good, bad was bad. I had problems with shades between. Shamanism changed my life and also expanded everything around me in a very good way. Don't worry I will give you a few examples below.
I will use a drum or rattle through out our session. We all have read about the therapeutic effects that music has with Alzheimer’s patients, autistic children, trauma patients, recovering addicts,etc.. Science has proven that drumming and/or rattling changes a persons brain waves. It induces deep relaxation, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress. It is now coming to light that the reason Shamans from all over the world (Mongolia, Africa, Indonesia, America etc...) have been using drumming for thousands of years, is because of the profound effects it creates in the brain. The constant rhythm puts the Shaman in a place in his/her brain that is not normally used. It synchronizes the two cerebral hemispheres so that the logic left hemisphere and intuitive right hemisphere start to work together. For that reason I will begin our session by drumming (or rattling) in the Spirit Guides from the North, East, South and West, and continue to drum or rattle throughout the session. I always start in my “middle world” where I will meet your animal companion along with the Spirit Guides I work with. From there we will determine if we will go to my “ upper world” or “lower world” to do the healing and communication needed for your companion. Again I cannot stress enough that Shamanism is metaphorical, and ritual is important to the process.
Some healing will be done through past lives. You do not have to believe in past lives for the healing, or change of behavior, to happen. It is a tool that is used. Also, when something is “extracted” from your animal, such as a disease or pain or emotion, it will also be metaphorical. And once extracted we replace it with an “animal power". As one teacher said to me, “ The Universe does not like a void, so we replace what we take out with a "healing animal spirit”. When that time comes, I will either have my Guides pick a " healing power animal" or you may be asked to do so.
I often find that the "healing power animal" picked is often more for you, the human companion, than the animals. Go figure….our animals are always trying to help us. Even when we are trying to communicate and/or help them, they always have us foremost in their minds. I reference a book called “ Animal Spirit Guides” by Steven D. Farmer, Ph.D. His book details just over 400 animals, in which he outlines with each animal what it means if an animal "shows up", i.e. you are driving along, and an owl fly’s by your car for several seconds; or if you "call upon" a certain animal, as we do in my sessions; or if a certain animal is your specific Power Animal.
After a session I will send you a copy of Steven Farmer’s info about the power animal or animals that appeared in our session. One good example is when I was working a dog with a broken back. The "healing power animal" given to the dog was an Elephant. It made no sense to me how the Elephant related to this dog’s back injury, but I have learned to trust what my Guides tell me. Later the human client called me to tell me she has several framed pictures of Elephants in her house. It was clear that her dog pick an Elephant, as her dog knew it was important to her human companion.
An example regarding past lives came to the forefront with a horse I was working. The horse initially had one serious disease which I worked on, but honestly I thought the Veterinarian cleared up the problem. About a year later the horse was diagnosed with cancer. This time, this beautiful horse showed me that she had been sick in a past life with the same human companion and she believed that it was their “contract” with each other to be constantly sick. My Guides immediately jumped into action and explained that was not “their contract" and the horse could get well - immediately. The next visit the Veterinarian made, the Vet discovered the cancer was gone - not in remission, but gone. So the point of this story is that you don’t have to believe in reincarnation or past lives, but past lives can be used as a tool for healing.
And a word of warning, I can only relay to you what your animals tells me. Unfortunately, I don’t always see the nuances, as can happen with communication between humans. And example of this was when I was working 2 dogs for an owner, a male and female dog. Since we were in the same city, I went to the clients house to give Reiki to both dogs. While giving the male dog Reiki, the dog told me he did not trust the tall, dark haired, man who was the partner of his human owner. When I relayed this info, I was quickly and tersely told I was completely wrong. Months later I was working the female dog again at the owners house. The owner’s partner walked in and I met him for the first time. The minute this man entered the room, I noticed his vibrations were lovely. He was clearly a very nice person. But, as I was giving Reiki to the female dog, he knelt down next to me and whispered to me to take very good care of her, because she was always his favorite dog. And, he asked that I please not tell anyone that! I have to admit that it took me a while to figure out that was why the male dog didn’t totally trust him. Of course, the male dog sensed he was not the favorite. So, I have to warn people not to take statements at total face value, as things can be construed differently from the animal’s point of view!
As you can see talking to our loved animals is a trip. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always informative.