I will be forever changed by a little rat terrier named Lola, who shared with me such a brief but potent teaching.  Anyone who has ever lost an animal dear to them, ever felt guilty about it, ever spent desperate days on end searching for a missing animal, ever rescued a terrified neglected animal, ever wondered who these animal angels were, ever needed hope in the darkest of nights, then this story is for you.

The moment I laid eyes on her I knew she would break my heart.  I also knew she was very special.  Her name was Lola, and her rescue mommy brought her to me during a brief Animal Communication session at a local pet store.  She was rescued from Katrina hurricanes, after several temporary stops.  She shared with me that she had been in a puppy mill, with up to 50 other dogs, with very little human contact.  Lola lost her first litter in the flooding, and became nearly feral, she explained. The other dogs in her new household gave her a very hard time too. She was quaking, hiding behind the bench, and wouldn’t make eye contact.

That is, until I began to speak to her person about how intelligent she was, and how she understands much more than you would think.  I suggested she speak firmly to the other dogs of Lola’s trauma, and tell them they need to be more patient with her as she is NOT crazy, she just had a hellish life so far.

At that, Lola whirled around and made eye contact with me, staring, as if to say, ‘O my gosh, she GETS it!  She knows I am not crazy or stupid, just scared.”  I had her attention.  I went on to explain how Lola’s terror of the woman’s husband was not personal; merely a compilation of all her fears to date piled into one, the “man of the house”.  Her fears were enormous, and she needed lots of time and patience to work through them bit by bit.

The next day I received this email after our brief encounter:  “We’ve had a major breakthrough after our session with you yesterday!  Our most recent rescue dog, Lola, a Katrina victim, is terrified, especially of men. This morning, while I was still in bed, Lola sat under my husband’s desk, put her head in his lap, and let him pet her!  She has lived with us for 5 months without ever letting him touch her.”

I knew I had to work with this one personally.  There was so much to do to alleviate her fears, as she had nearly given up on humans.  Lola came eagerly to my house several times with her person, and we did healing work together, and hung out.  Her new “mom” said Lola recognized my name when asked if she wanted to come to my house, and fearlessly approached my door and came in, which was completely unusual for her.

So, it seemed only natural for me to extend a week long visit when her mom had to travel north to care for a hospitalized friend.  The first day with me she was glued to a corner near the door, shaking.  By day two, she was beginning to relax and allowed me to walk her without a fuss.  That night we had a major breakthrough.  Lola came toward me, letting me pet her and snuggling next to me!  She even came into the bedroom with my partner and slept under the bed.  We were really encouraged.

Then disaster struck–the retractable leash slipped out of my hand, in a strange kind of conscious slow-motion, and smacked into her butt. Off she vaulted and within seconds she was out of view. I spent the next four hours inching my way painfully through the densest bramble thicket imaginable.

Lola knew how to survive, and was spotted crossing a 4-lane road and stealing food out of dumpsters.  But she wouldn’t let anyone get near her.  I struggled for days with tremendous guilt and sadness, having just lost my own dog a few  months earlier.  Each night after searching for Lola, I would send Reiki healing energy to her. Yet I could not communicate with her at all, which was very unusual.

By the 5th night, both my partner and I finally made a connection.  Lola’s presence filled the room, and the only way I can describe it was a very large and angelic being, with very soft, but wise essence.  She stayed long enough to ease our worry, and to comfort us that there is a Divine Plan operating, which  we could not control.

Early the next dawn, I received several calls of sightings, and dashed out the door without even brushing my teeth.  I spoke to several police who also had reports of sightings.  At one point I even caught a glimpse of her at an intersection.

Little did I know it was the closest I would come to her again.

Three days later I wrote this final report to the growing number of friends who were on the lookout: “I am afraid that the lost doggie saga did not end the way we wanted.  Lola was sighted several times but would never let anyone near her.  Late Sunday night she was hit by a car and died of complications.  Thank you all for holding her in your prayers, and for your effort in driving around.   It really helped knowing we had so many helping to look for her.

After hearing she didn’t make it, we meditated and I asked to connect with Lola’s spirit.  This time instead of feeling her Presence standing in the room, like we had the other night, I felt her wrapping around me in an embrace, very profound and poignant.  Lola, the little rat terrier, was, and is, an amazing being.  I hope this message helps you as it did me.”

Lola’s message from spirit:

“I am an angel of Light
You recognized my intelligence, my sensitivity, my purity
For that I am ever grateful
It has truly freed me from the bondage of the body.
C and B (rescue parents) were with me 100% when it counted
And never gave up on me
I don’t know how to thank you all for helping me to complete my mission–my journey”

(I asked what that was)

“To heal, despite trauma. To Love, despite pain. To forgive, despite blame.  To Heal… to Whole.  I became Whole when you loved me.  When you saw me.  Not broken and scared – but sensitive and wise.

You reminded me who I was.  What I could be.  Love and understanding freed me from the karma of the flesh – I could return to Spirit – mission accomplished. I want everyone to understand what you understood when I presented my true self in your living room.  That all is in Divine Order.  That beings are not limited to the form they choose.  That comings and goings are much easier, and much more complex, than you imagine.

It is all laid out ahead.  Events, timing, even difficulties.  We choose our difficulties with great care, for the gems they hold within.  In Spirit we celebrate the difficulties equally with the victories.  There is no difference – for they all bring us to the Knowing, to the Oneness.

My journey has touched many people, you don’t even know how many were looking and praying for me.  This is the REAL story.  Not a missing puppy, not a dog hit by a car, not a leash that slipped, not even a “Katrina” victim.  These are all incidentals to the divine mission I took on, and by the way, accomplished.  I had to bring people together, in small ways, and in big ways.

The police even took time to look for me – the POLICE! – for a missing doggie.  People you don’t even know about drove around, put up flyers, prayed, connected in their concern.  Others saw me as a survivor, not a victim, not starving, but running fast and strong.  You see, perceptions changed.  In small ways, and in big ways.

Kumari saw my true self, and as a result I was able to give her plenty – remove sadness and pain from her own recent “loss”; lessen her guilt and feelings of over-responsibility for things well beyond her – or any human’s – control.  For this she will be forever changed – forever grateful – and much more capable of doing the work she was sent to do, without the burden of misunderstanding life and death, and her role in preserving neither. But simply and heroically I might add, seeing things as they truly ARE, seeing TRUTH and sharing this so others may understand their true nature, their divinity, their special mission here on this planet.

And that is Enough.  Enough for any life.  I had enough – Life.  I had enough – Time.  Enough – Love.  In one drop of C’s tears, enough Caring.  And enough – Sadness. It is not time for sadness.  It is time for celebration.  I return Home – joyfully and with great pride.  Mission accomplished.  More than was speculated.  I am very pleased.

From my vantage point, this life was a great success.  I know this is hard for you to grasp, especially right now as you grieve the loss of the One you knew.  But I am not that one only—four legs, soft fur, sad eyes, etc.  And I am not even the story—Katrina victim, puppy mill, runaway.

I am the Light of God shimmering in Divine Dogness one moment,
and in a flash,
I am Sunlight,
I am golden rain pouring down to soothe the hot brow of Mother Earth,
I am a dancing star.
I am… You.”

It was true what she said about relieving my guilt; there was such Peace in her and such wisdom in her perspective, I felt washed clean of the guilt that my slip-up with the leash had caused her death.  Though I do become saddened, I have never felt the depths of guilt and despair the same since meeting Lola.

“Well that’s the way that I want it to stay
and I always want it to be that way for my Lola….
L-O-L-A Lola…

“It’s a mixed up muddled up shook up world except for Lola
L-O-L-A Lola”

As I communicate often with the spirit of those who have left their bodies, I long to share with those who are grieving and feel left behind the awesome feelings, sensations and awareness I experience from those who take flight from the body. It is not what many people may anticipate; guilt, regret, blame, what-ifs. It is quite the opposite generally, as I connect to the Soul level consciousness, which is filled with tremendous expansion, deep understanding, great awareness and light-heartedness, even bliss.

Actually this topic was specifically requested by my Mom, who transitioned a few short months ago. My mother’s Spirit was very communicative and present for me immediately after she left her body. This was quite unusual, as she had been very sick and on lots of medication at the time.

Lag Time for Clarity
Normally in this circumstance I need to wait for a week or more before there is clarity and the ability to communicate from the new bigger perspective. It is rare that a person or animal can pop out of one dimension (physical) and be instantly clear and present on the spiritual plane.

This happened once before with a man who was surfing, and died from a heart attack on the board as he paddled to shore. He was very spiritually focused for many years, and he was able to describe getting up from the surfboard, and walking through a kind of clear jelly-like membrane and voila! He was fully conscious on the other side. He too was quite ecstatic and able to clearly converse about it shortly after his physical death.

Generally it seems to take some time for souls to gather up the energies and regroup in a very different dimension. Only when a being (animal or human ) is quite advanced and aware spiritually do I feel that they are able to orient immediately and share their expanded awareness and spiritual experience. I usually ask clients to wait a few weeks to have a session for this reason.

Cosmic Cruise
Not my MOM—she was raring to go, chatting me up night and day about the Bliss of not being bound to an aging ailing body. She was ECSTATIC and wanted to tell me all about it. I felt like she was experiencing a Cosmic Cruise, able to travel anywhere in the universe instantly with just a thought. She was having a ball!

The first conversation I had with her the day after she passed I asked her to describe what she was experiencing. She related immediately; “you know how I so enjoyed the gorgeous tropical sunsets every evening here in FL?” Losing her eyesight made her extremely grateful for the beauty she was still able to observe each day. “Well, all I have to do now, is THINK of the sunset, and I AM THE SUNSET!!” she crooned excitedly, like a child at their first amusement park. I could feel tingles of joy.

Mom wasn’t close to finished bubbling. “And you, I just think of you, and I can MERGE right into you!” Indeed, I could feel her energy merging with mine as we spoke. By the way, this part is not common or necessary for communicating with Spirit, but does sometimes happen –only with my permission now.

She was delighted with her new abilities and perspectives that opened up to her. She was, as many of us who are left behind try to find solace in, Blissful and FREE.

Animals Spirits are Blissful too
I have experienced this overwhelming joy with so many souls, but one of the first ones really stands out. Pooh Bear, who I dubbed the Buddha Kitty, left his body at the vet’s office and within moments my client called me, quite distraught of course. She wanted to connect with her best friend.

At first I had trouble “finding” him. It took longer than usual and when I mentioned my difficulty connecting, I finally felt him, laughing at me. Pooh Bear said distinctly “ You can’t find me because you are not looking Big enough!” In fact, I had attempted to connect with his rather small kitty body as I had done many times before to send him healing energy. But this time I had to widen my scope, and eventually I cast my energy radar to the width of the whole room, and then I felt him. His energy was HUGE!

The next thing that happened has been life-altering for me. I couldn’t find words to describe the waves and waves of joy, freedom, and ecstacy flowing from him and through me. I knew my client was too sad at the moment to take all this in, yet I so wanted to share my experience.

With this intention, I quickly grabbed a quartz crystal nearby and asked Pooh’s spirit to fill this crystal with his awesome radiant essence, so she could perhaps feel some of what I was tapping into. Quarts crystals are extremely dense and are known for their ability to register and amplify frequencies. I shipped the energized crystal to her, with the instructions to open it when she was ready. I had no idea then what she might feel.

Several weeks later I heard from Pooh Bear’s mom that she opened the golden cloth pouch and removed the crystal, held it and burst out crying. She could instantly feel Pooh Bear’s unique Presence. Since this time I have offered to energize crystals with the essence of the departed souls, and share their unique messages, with the intention that others can access the enormous ecstatic energy and awareness that is available when Spirit takes flight from form.

Copyright Kumari Inc. 2011 All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article in your blog or ezine? You can, so long as you include this with the article:

Kumari Mullin is a Reiki Master, Animal Communicator, Intuitive Coach, Author, Speaker, attorney and equestrian. She specializes in energetic solutions for pets and their people. For the past 23 years she studied and lived with internationally acclaimed meditation masters, spiritual teachers and healers including Penelope Smith, the pioneer of interspecies telepathic communication. Kumari has helped thousands of people and their animal friends internationally including doctors, veterinarians, trainers, holistic practitioners, rescue organizations and zoos achieve extraordinary transformations. Visit www.KumariHealing.com for FREE articles and healing tips!

The Great White Heron definitely caught my attention. After the ambulance rushed my mom to the emergency room at 3am, the next morning she was admitted. I decided to return home to shower and bring back some clothes for mom. Just as I was leaving the parking lot, the gleaming white giant flew over my car straight toward the hospital, so low the enormous wingspan looked like it wouldn’t clear the building. It was very odd also because locally I usually only see Blue Herons and much smaller egrets.

Courageously, I inquired “what is your message for me?” The ominous response came immediately: “I am coming to take her Home”. Nearly every day during the week my mom was hospitalized, very large birds appeared very close and behaved in unusual ways so I was certain to notice. Different birds, same message.

A few days later when I returned home from the hospital with my brother, two hawks were behaving so strangely that we both paused awhile to observe. My brother surmised they might have a nest, as they repeatedly flew over my house in a circle and landed again and again in the same dead pine tree. But there was no nest.

Dreading the answer, I once again asked the hawks for the message: “We are coming to take her Home”. I kept this to myself, hoping I may be misinterpreting. I even went so far as to think it could mean “home” to her house. But deep down I knew better.

Working as an energy healer and running an AIDS hospice, I have been present at more than my share of transitions, or physical deaths. And I have picked up quite a lot of subtle clues which until now I have not shared. When my mom left her body recently, I was keenly aware of the signs and portents I received, as I had experienced so many similar events.

Helps you to Prepare and Make Appropriate Decisions

Even though I did not like the message, the bird visitations were helping me to prepare and be more aware of what was happening. So when her doctor told me mom was well enough to “go home” after 3 days, I remembered the birds’ messages. I pleaded with him to reconsider as I feared she really was too sick to be alone. Gratefully the doctor agreed to keep her hospitalized another day, and overnight her health tanked. A few days later she transitioned.

Animals as Spirit Guides and Messengers

In Native American traditions, animals have “medicine” or gifts and teachings for us. Hawk is the “messenger of the gods” and often appears to get us to “observe, tune in and listen”.

This was not the first time I had encountered hawks and owls participating in the process of transition, for animals and humans alike. Many of my clients would share similar strange appearances while a loved one was very ill. For many days one kitty in Atlanta had several hawks holding vigil perched on lawn furniture right outside her favorite window. Another woman had multiple unusual owl appearances the entire time her cat was transitioning.

One hawk encounter was so dramatic it surprised even me. The day after one of my animal communication workshops a student called revealing a true horror show when she returned home. Her husband attempted to shoot her and gratefully she got away; however, he did succeed in killing himself!

At that exact moment, a large hawk swooped down to ground level and sped straight toward me! Only in the final two feet did he shoot skyward, narrowly avoiding crashing into my office window. In each case it seemed the birds were somehow involved in escorting the spirits to the other side.

The powerful and dramatic Presence and messages from the birds gave me and my clients a sense of peace and protection under some of the cruelest of circumstances. The birds unusual appearances truly supported us to let go of the physical form and feel more connection and greater trust in the ever-unfolding divine plan.

Copyright Kumari Inc. 2011 All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article in your blog or ezine? You can, so long as you include this with the article:

Kumari Mullin is a Reiki Master, Animal Communicator, Intuitive Coach, Author, Speaker, attorney and equestrian. She specializes in energetic solutions for pets and their people. For the past 23 years she studied and lived with internationally acclaimed meditation masters, spiritual teachers and healers including Penelope Smith, the pioneer of interspecies telepathic communication. Kumari has helped thousands of people and their animal friends internationally including doctors, veterinarians, trainers, holistic practitioners, rescue organizations and zoos achieve extraordinary transformations. Visit www.KumariHealing.com for FREE articles and healing tips!

Our puppy Suki was about 3 months when my ex and I visited a friend’s house. When we held her for a nail trim, she squirmed and my ex cut the quick. As Suki scampered off I watched in horror as drops of blood smeared across our friend’s carpet. Ashamedly, I lost it. I began crying hysterically and uncontrollably. I was certain his carelessness was the direct cause of me losing an arm in a past life (you think I am kidding here?).

Needless perhaps to say, as a result of my hysteria, Suki had grown to seriously dislike nail trimming, to the point of sheer panic. She was so freaked about the whole nail incident, combined with the “docking” of her tail by the vet before I got her, (that’s another story) that she would hide under the bed at the mere glimpse of any metal implement.

The next time we attempted to trim her nails Suki was about one year old and 75 lbs. of pure muscle, her nails were a definite problem. Seeing the growing terror in her eyes as we held her down, I asked my ex-hubby to meditate for a moment and ask if pinning her was the right thing to do. We both got “no”. So I told Suki we wouldn’t force her, but she had to somehow manage her nails so that no one got hurt. I commanded the now-famous words: “Whoever you are in this doggie body, if this is not something we need to go through, then manifest shorter nails!”

Overnight her nails were all the perfect length—smooth, no rough edges!” I almost didn’t believe my eyes, but I had 2 other witnesses living in the house who verified this. (PS for all of you thinking that she must have filed them down on some concrete—we live in FL on sand roads and she never left the carpeted house; but you are entitled to cling to your logical explanations).

While I had read stories of great beings and sages morphing their physical structure to become taller, thinner, shorter, etc. I had never personally witnessed this ability to shapeshift. And I don’t know exactly what made me think to call on Suki to access that great siddhi, or spiritual power, at that moment. Except that I had seen and felt her extraordinary Presence many times, and I trusted that we were not supposed to force her, so I called on the only other way I could think of—a miracle.

For over 8 years Suki manifested short nails in this magical way. I had to bring her attention to it perhaps 4 more times when I noticed they were getting long. I would just get her attention, remind her of that original conversation, and say “whoever you are in that doggie body, if you don’t need to go through a physical nail trim, then handle it yourself and create short nails”. Overnight, they would always be the perfect length again.

However this all changed when she was 8-1/2 years old. I noticed her nails were getting long again, and I had a sinking feeling it was time to face the nail trim demon. It became clear to me that Suki had released her fear, but I still had trepidation about getting a bleeder. I had to go buy a trimmer as I didn’t even own one anymore.

One day, I was very serene and felt bold enough to attempt a trim again. I had tried to sneak up on her before, and it always backfired and I lost a lot of trust with her. So I knew I had to come straight on and show her what I was doing, and manage my anxiety first. That was key—to manage my emotions so as not to trigger her fear.

I was very empty and able to approach her with the trimmers—a miracle in itself. She watched carefully but didn’t bolt like usual. When I got them around her nail, and was ready to press the blade down, I had a thought “wonder if I am doing this right” and my stomach tightened. That was all Suki needed to bolt under the bed. Yet the sequence was now crystal clear to me…a worry thought, a feeling of incompetence and concern of hurting her –and she vanished! It was MY anxiety causing the panic. She was totally reading me for her reaction now—when I was calm and empty she was fine…as soon as I contracted, she read “Not SAFE” and bolted.

It took me another two weeks to get that deeply calm again. Meanwhile I practiced cutting tree branches to build my confidence about using the nail trimmer. I also picked up the nail trimmer many times in sight of her and left it out so she could see. When I felt very comfortable I approached her and she let me place it on her toenail without moving, and I successfully cut one nail! The loud sound of the cutting unnerved her however and she tensed, but I quickly put the trimmer down before she bolted. I realized I had built our whole relationship on respect and trust, and I could no longer apply control and force with her.

I figured it was more important for both of us to maintain this new trust, so I decided to wait and only cut when we both were relaxed, even if it took me a month to trim all her nails. And it took more than that.

Suki left her body that year, but by the time she transitioned I had been able to maintain my poise, check my energy and quit when she got afraid; in this way I accomplished cutting all her nails finally! Even though she obviously had the amazing ability to shapehift her nails shorter, she never failed to be the Teacher and help me overcome my obstacles. We both walked through our fear that year.

How to Transform Insecure Aggression to Confident Champion in 2 weeks

Perhaps the simplest and most effective tool I know after 20 years of energy work with people and animals is Grounding, and everyone can do it. Just as electrical appliances need a grounding wire to stabilize, our bodies’ electromagnetic systems could greatly benefit from energetic grounding. I have helped aggressive dogs become sweet and calm immediately, horses stop rearing, and all kinds of behavior and health shifts for people and their animals

“I have been a dog breeder/trainer for many years but when I lost my best friend (a Mastiff) to cancer, one of my females became increasingly aggressive and uncontrollable. A judge disqualified her at a recent show feeling Belle was threatening to other dogs. Kumari showed me how to release some emotions and ground my energy. As soon as we did this, Belle went from constant perimeter patrolling, to flopping on our feet with a huge sigh! This technique made such a difference in Belle’s temperament, that only two weeks later Belle placed first in her Breed By Exhibitor class in all three shows and won Best of Breed twice making her an International Champion!”

Brian Grimo, Mastiff Breed er/trainer FL

Preparation
This exercise can be done either sitting comfortably erect with your feet on the ground, standing or lying down, so long as your legs and arms are not crossed. It is helpful to close your eyes so you can be more inwardly focused. At first give yourself up to 10 or 20 minutes or more to fully experience it. After some practice, it will only take a few moments, depending on how much you need to release.

Step 1: Grounding
Breathe deeply several times. Visualize a tube or cord at the base of your spine going into the center of the earth. Make it large enough to let things flow easily. (Some people like to make it like a bank teller tube ? or large pipeline). No matter where you are you can begin to feel your connection to the earth, to the ground as you focus your awareness on the base of the spine and your grounding cord or tube connecting you to the center of the Earth. Notice how your body feels–you may feel more centered, stable, solid, relaxed yet focused

Step 2: Releasing
Make the intention that anything you no longer need, any energies that are not for your highest good, be released down this cord or tube into the Earth to be recycled. Release any tension, any tightness, any worries or thoughts–let them all go down this tube. Make it large enough to let things flow easily. Notice how this feels. Most people report feeling lighter, less pain and tension in the body, or a quieter, more peaceful mind.

Step 3: Grounding Your Animals
Always ground yourself first, like in an airplane you must take the oxygen first then assist others. Breathe deeply several times. Animals will respond to your energy shift and naturally feel more relaxed.

You can then picture a grounding line from the base of their spine or their belly to the center of the earth also. Remind them that they too can let go of anything they don’t need and recycle the energies into the earth.

NOTE: You do not need to know “how” to do this. That is now the job of the grounding cord, and universal intelligence responds to your intention. So will your animals reward you with calmer, more serene behavior!

Copyright Kumari Inc. 2010
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Want to use this article in your blog or ezine? You can, so long as you include this with the article:
Kumari Mullin is a Reiki Master, Animal Communicator, intuitive healer, counselor, attorney, author, and equestrian. She specializes in energetic problem-solving for pets and their people. For the past 22 years she studied and lived with internationally acclaimed meditation masters, energy healers/teachers and with Penelope Smith, the pioneer of interspecies telepathic communication. Kumari has helped thousands of people and their animal friends internationally including doctors, veterinarians, trainers, holistic practitioners, rescue organizations and zoos. www.KumariHealing.com

Animal Communication Workshops: Improving Empathy With All Creatures

February 18, 2010 | By Kris O’Donnell

ORLANDO, Fla. – Zeus, a thoroughbred-quarter horse cross, gallops around the pasture with relative ease. He even stops and happily rolls around in the dirt. But just a few hours earlier, he was clearly walking in pain, the result of numerous physical problems and lameness in both rear legs. But after Kumari Mullin and a group of students in her animal communication class worked with Zeus, the positive change in his behavior was evident.

“He had several emotional releases, which led to physical releases,” Mullin said.

Mullin is an animal communicator and Reiki master. On this day, she’s teaching a class through the Centers for Animal Therapies, based in Longwood, Florida. Mullin shows others how to connect with their animals to gain a better understanding of what their pets are thinking.
“Our pets are completely impacted by our ups and downs,” Mullin said. “They’re impacted by the same stressors we are.”

Zeus was the test subject for the group, and the session began with a process Mullin calls grounding.

“Just like electrical appliances, we need to be grounded to be balanced,” Mullin said. “When we are stressed, which most of us are, our mind-body is very noisy and creates static – so most animals are responding to that even though we’re not aware of it.”
Mullin asked students to turn off their brain chatter and focus on Zeus.

“The main thing that’s required in animal communication is quiet,” Mullin reflected. “There’s a tuning in that happens on all levels.”
As Mullin guided them through the class, several students said they could sense or feel what Zeus was thinking.

With no prior knowledge, the group sensed that Zeus was dejected and feeling like a failure. His handlers confirmed that the horse had participated in a police training demonstration and, upon his return, started having physical and emotional problems. According to Mullin, Zeus communicated that he interpreted his return to the stable as an indication that he failed the demonstration, which was not the case.

“One of the keys is to open the doors and respect them,” Mullin said. “They might have something to offer us, something to teach us. In that way we let go of the judgment and all kinds of connections can begin to be made.”

After a few hours with the group, Zeus was walking straighter and eventually galloping.

At the end of the day, student Keri Boch reflected on the lesson she took away from the class – the knowledge that her energy could impact her dog, Bailey.

“My anxiety is a mirror on her and her anxiety is a mirror on me, so I have learned to ground myself and not project my emotions,” Boch said.
Mullin says the concept of animal communication is not far-fetched at all.

“It’s an innate ability to have these extended senses,” Mullin said. “We just haven’t practiced.”
The Centers for Animal Therapies offers many related classes, and founder Jo Maldonado remarks that even skeptical dog trainers have walked away with newfound skills.

“They all — every single one of them — are coming out of the workshops saying, ‘Wow, I think I’m going to take some more classes. I want to learn what else there is about this because it works.’”

And Kumari Mullin says that’s the ultimate goal of animal communication.

“Every time I teach students to do this, there’s greater harmony and understanding among the species,” she said. “It has a ripple effect that is limitless.”

If you would like more information on Kumari Mullin or the Centers for Animal Therapies, log on to their respective websites at kumarihealing.com or centerforanimaltherapies.com.

Tell us what you think about “Animal Communication Workshops: Improving Empathy With All Creatures ” below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at hfinnegan@zootoo.com.

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This article was written by Kris O’Donnell for Zootoo.

Not to worry–this is not going to be a religious lecture or another “how to de-stress your holiday tips and techniques”. Just a call for contemplation to deepen our experience this season to recapture “holy-days.”

What helps you experience awe, wonder, profound reverence?

It may be church for some, or even family and friends gathering, or gifting and serving those less fortunate. For me, it is often being in nature and the magical gift of chance encounters with wildlife on their own turf.

We went kayaking again with friends who frequent Wekiva Springs north of Orlando. They kayak here several times per week and they said they never experienced so many alligators out. Kumara and I were repeatedly able to get within a few feet of gators, turtles, herons, and hawks, and otters and raccoons, even with a bulky, banging, kayak and camera. This is happening increasingly often.

We observed that when other kayakers approached the animals often they would become nervous and scurry underwater, even though the people were not outwardly noisy or even close at all.

So what was the difference?

It was the internal noise that the animals must have sensed—stressful, tense, afraid, chaotic = not safe.

Kumara and I emanate the deepest respect, and reverence for all life, and are in deepest gratitude for these special encounters. Openness, awareness of our state, and willingness to exchange what fear may arise with a deep desire for letting fear go and instead consciously choosing respect, love and tremendous curiosity and awe.

For humans, cultivating this deep quiet and harmony takes practice. It happens on the inside first, in the mind and heart. Clearing the past through forgiveness and letting go, grounding, breathing deeply, yoga, meditating, even serving others all are ways to become more harmonious.

Initially I was very fearful of alligators especially while sitting inches off the water in tipsy vessels. For me one of the greatest tools has been Reiki energy healing. The consistent practice of receiving and giving this powerful form of life force energy has helped me to release deeply held fears and emotional hurts on every level. And it has given me the awareness of my subtle energy flow, or blocks, in the present moment, allowing me to consciously release and choose differently if I am not satisfied with my emotions or reactions, or the reactions of others. Animals are great mirrors of our inner state.

Peace and harmony between predator and prey

This weekend we came upon alligators hanging harmoniously on a log within a few feet of a heron and a gang of turtles. One turtle even rested on the gator’s tail!!) When the predator is hanging out, not hungry, the usual prey can even find harmony on a log not a foot away! How is this possible?

Harmony: (def.) agreement, accord, congruity of parts to their whole 

In Africa at the watering hole, animal behaviorists note that when the lion is hungry all the other animals would scatter, but when the lion is merely thirsty, the prey animals did not even leave the water. They are reading or “sensing” the totality of the energy frequency—thoughts, stored emotions, tightness in the body all have a specific vibration—and deciding if it feels safe or not.

Animals in the wild generally are not holding onto old resentments and fears. They are in the present moment, congruous parts of the whole web of life, resonating and just “being peace”.

“Peace is not something you wish for; it’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away.” –Robert Fulghum

Copyright Kumari Inc. 2009
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Want to use this article in your blog or ezine? You can, so long as you include this with the article:
Kumari Mullin is a Reiki Master, Animal Communicator, intuitive healer, counselor, attorney, author, and equestrian. She specializes in energetic problem-solving for pets and their people. For the past 20 years she studied and lived with internationally acclaimed meditation masters, energy healers/teachers and with Penelope Smith, the pioneer of interspecies telepathic communication. Kumari has helped thousands of people and their animal friends internationally including doctors, veterinarians, trainers, holistic practitioners, rescue organizations and zoos. www.KumariHealing.com

At the “tail” end of the day, I asked Panther Ridge founder Judy Berens to select the neediest cat for our group to connect with.  She chose Mattie, a 16 year old Clouded Leopard. Mattie ran over to the fence to greet us immediately and I received a clear judymattilovemessage right away: “Love me, love me, love me.” She looked like a kitten desperately wanting to play.

It seemed like she was very lonely, and I asked if she wanted a mate. No, she wanted Judy! Judy agreed, and said they were very  close. “Mattie would be happy to curl up in bed with me if I let her!”

Judy went right in the enclosure and you can see in this photo the love oozing between the two. Judy said she was feeling badly that lately she hadn’t been giving Mattie enough attention. Mattie would respond by biting her ankles as she tried to walk around or leave.

I noted that Mattie wasn’t angry; she was attempting to grab Judy and keep her there longer. This reframe of emotions can be very useful to unravel a difficult situation. Because Judy felt guilty, she assumed Mattie’s behavior was coming from anger.

Judy sat down in Mattie’s pen while our group practiced their newly refined communication techniques. One student shared that she learned to always tell her animals where she was going and when she would be returning, using pictures and imagery that an animal could reference (see exercise below).  I agreed, adding to send positive thoughts daily, letting them know you are okay, instead of sending worry, and guilt that we are away and they must be sad.

So in Mattie’s case, Judy wasn’t traveling, but spending her time with 20 other cats and sanctuary duties. Judy felt overwhelmed with sadness at not being able to do more for Mattie. One of the participants, a holistic vet, reassured Judy, telling her that she couldn’t possibly do more, that all the animals were extremely healthy and vibrant, had beautiful clean stimulating environments, and for the most part were extremely happy. It was so true. She went on to say; “and you can be with her in your heart.”

So we talked about how Judy could send love, rather than worry or guilt, whenever she thought of Mattie or walked by her pen. “Love, love, love”, says everything is okay. I explained that when we shift our energy, our intentions and thoughts, the animals will feel it and respond accordingly. Consciously sending love fills the long hours of physical separation.

Judy began sending love instead of guilt and sadness at not being able to play more, and we all watched as Mattie shifted too. When I felt that Mattie was calmer, I asked Judy to begin to stand up and move slowly toward the gate, sending love, love, love. Mattie came toward Judy, but not with the same gusto. She grabbed at Judy’s legs with her paws, but didn’t bite, and I asked Judy to stand still, and again beam love. Mattie instantly rolled over on her back, and let go of her legs. “This is habit too,” I commented. “She is used to chasing your legs when you head out.” Habit, not anger. This new understanding changed Judy’s entire emotional response. “Send more love, and wait.” Mattie slowly got up and calmly retreated to the back of her cage. “Now, begin to walk toward the gate without changing your energy.” Judy did this beautifully. As she closed the gate, Mattie just watched serenely from a distance.  “In this space of love, there is no leaving.”

Problem:  Animals Become Distraught When Left

I noticed that my puppy Suki would be really calm if I told her where I was going, how long, when I would return, and why she couldn’t come with me. On the few occasions I forgot to mention it, she would look like she was about to bolt through the window.

Whenever you are going out or leave your animals for a time, your animals may feel sad, upset, or even aggressive.

One very smart “investment” horse was so tired of everyone coming and going without explanation she began attacking them when they left her stall.  It was only when I asked the people to share with her their plans: “I am getting the grooming bucket, or tack, or that they would come back tomorrow to ride”, etc. that she would begin to let them in and out of the stall without incident.

Animals understand much more than we think. They know when you are planning to go on vacation long before you get the suitcase out. So how can you ease their minds this summer? Tell them what is happening! Trying to hide it is not working is it? So have a good heart to heart whenever you are planning a trip. You should also be doing this whenever you are leaving the house without them (and in the summer please leave them home in the air conditioning… cars just get way too hot).

Exercise to Calm Animals when Leaving them Behind:

·  Center yourself and become quiet

·  Get your animals attention by calling their name

·  Focus on your heart space and feel warmth and love

·  Tell them you will be leaving and the reason why–very important! They may not like it but they will feel included and considered and they may even gain some understanding of the human perspective

·  Explain why they need to stay home (or wherever they will be) e.g. it is too hot and you will suffer, etc.

·  Tell them when you will return (pictures follow thoughts so you may picture 7 sunsets, 7 dinners, etc)

·  Pick a time every day to connect with them: e.g. each morning you will think of them and send loving energy and let them know you are okay. One person sent her dog the color yellow as it was the color of a favorite robe she left with her dog when traveling.

·  Make sure your thoughts and emotions are positive when you connect, because if you are worrying about them, they will feel the worry and it will be compounded as they wonder if you are okay.

Copyright Kumari Inc. 2009

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Want to use this article in your blog or ezine? You can, so long as you include this with the article:

Kumari Mullin is a Reiki Master, Animal Communicator, intuitive healer, counselor, attorney, author, and equestrian. She specializes in energetic problem-solving for pets and their people. For the past 20 years she studied and lived with internationally acclaimed meditation masters, energy healers/teachers and with Penelope Smith, the pioneer of interspecies telepathic communication. Kumari has helped thousands of people and their animal friends internationally including doctors, veterinarians, trainers, holistic practitioners, rescue organizations and zoos. www.KumariHealing.com

Canine behaviorist Todd Langston, trained by Cesar Milan protege, asked me to contribute to their newsletter recently and I happily obliged!  I’ve always respected what they do as an organization and was more than happy to write something specific to what they do.  To learn more, here is a short paragraph:

Pack Life offers in-home consultations, workshops, behavioral rehabilitations, and lectures for those interested in improving the behavior of their dog(s). Traditional training often overlooks the fundamental rules which can limit overall success. Let us share the fundamentals of the pack to help your dogs become happy, balanced, and well behaved.

Read more about Pack Life on their website.

To download and read my article, please click on this link.  It will download a PDF newsletter which contains the article.