Messages from animals

I have had a hummingbird feeder in my backyard for quite a few years but it wasn't until about a year ago that I began to notice hummingbirds stopping by the feeder almost every day.  I was going through a rough time when this started to occur and I started to wonder if there was a reason that I was suddenly being visited by hummingbirds so often.

I went into my office and pulled out a book I had called Animal Speak by Ted Andrews. Someone had given it to me as a gift years before, and while I had looked through it at the time I had received it, it had since been sitting on my bookshelf collecting dust.  The book focuses on recognizing and interpreting the signs and omens of the natural world and is based in the belief that whenever animals appear in our lives, there is meaning . . . they have come to help us see something or learn something, and if we are willing to pay attention, they can serve as our guides.

I read what the book said about hummingbirds and one sentence in particular caught my eye. It said that the hummingbird is a symbol for accomplishing that which seems impossible, that hummingbirds can teach us how to find the miracle of joyful living from our own life circumstances.   At the time, I was feeling incredibly defeated and just reading that they were a symbol of accomplishing that which seemed impossible lifted by spirits.  I wasn't sure if that was the reason they were showing up in my backyard as often as they were but I wanted to believe it was . . and from then on, each time a hummingbird stopped by for a drink from the feeder, I would thank him (or her) for the reminder and a heaviness would lift from my shoulders.  

Recently, I have noticed that the hummingbirds are back.  I have also noticed that they only seem to show up when I am having a tough day and am feeling defeated.  With Lucky's health deteriorating so much lately and her tumors still growing, I have spent many days feeling overwhelmed by it all and wondering how I am going to get through it.  Those are the days the hummingbirds seem to come around and each time I see them, I try to remind myself that they are a symbol for accomplishing that which seems impossible and I thank them for coming.  I have also noticed that when the presence of a hummingbird doesn't immediately lift the heaviness that I am feeling, another hummingbird will come by and then another one and then another one.   They seem determined to help me get the message they are there to deliver and thankfully for me, they haven't given up trying to get through to me. 

I really do believe that animals are here to teach us, if we're willing to pay attention.  They don't need to be our pet, although, I believe our pets are always here to teach us as well.  I believe that the more we pay attention to the animals that cross our paths, whether they are walking or flying, the more guidance we will receive.  

I am grateful for the hummingbirds that keep me from getting too discouraged, who remind me that I need to find joy in my circumstances.  They help keep me in the present, they help me to appreciate every moment that I have with Lucky and they help remind me that I can accomplish whatever seems impossible that day.

Animals know their bodies

One of the most important things I have learned in my work with animals is that they have a far greater understanding of what's going on with their bodies than most people give them credit for and if we're willing to listen, we have a better chance of helping them.  When I work on an animal, they will always show me what is bothering them the most - first.  Only after we have addressed that issue, will they show me what else is bothering them.  When I touch an animal, I physically feel the sensations they are experiencing in their body and I trust that what I feel first is always what is bothering them the most.  For that reason, I often refrain from asking their guardian too many questions about what is going on with them, because I know the animal will show me what is most important to them. 

With one recent experience I had, a new client told me her horse was dealing with lameness issues when she made the appointment.  She asked me if I wanted to know more and I suggested we wait and see what her horse showed me.  When I first went into the stall to begin giving her horse Reiki, my right hip started to ache.  I focused on that area first and within a few minutes, I began to get a sense of some of the emotions that were stuck in that part of his body.  I spoke to his guardian about what I was picking up (the horse had concerns that he wasn't able to perform his "job" at the ranch and feared he wouldn't be able to remain there if he wasn't "earning his keep" so to speak.  This is a horse that does therapy with children who have disabilities).  With his guardians help, we were able to reassure him that he wasn't going to have to leave the ranch and that our only concern was helping him feel better.  As his guardian spoke to him about her plan to help him get healthy so he could begin working with the children again, I could feel the tension easing in my right hip.  When the pain had ceased and I could feel the energy moving easily in that area again, I asked him what else he would like to show me.

I circled his body, slowly, as I continued to touch him.  Within a minute or two, I felt a lot of pain in my left arm.   As I began working there, more of his feelings started to come up and I shared what I was getting with is guardian.  He expressed concern about her and that fact that she hadn't been very happy lately.  He worried that she was unhappy with him.  Once again, with his guardians help, we talked with him about what was going on with her, reassuring him that her unhappiness had nothing to do with him, that it stemmed from trouble she was having in a relationship.  I suggested to her that she explain to him what was going on if she was having a bad day, so that he would better understand what was going on with her and not feel responsible for how she was feeling.  Eventually, the tension in my arm started to ease, although I sensed it may take a little time for his arm to heal.  It felt like muscle strain and I told her I thought he needed to take it easy for the next week or so.  

I suggested that she let him make the choice about how much exercise he would get and how strenuous the exercise should be.  As an example, she was worried that having him walk down a steep slope would be too much for him, so I suggested she give him the choice when they got to the top of the hill, telling him that if he was up for it, he should proceed and if not, he should stop and/or turn the other way.  I trusted that he would be able to tell her what his body would be able to handle from day to day.  

A week later, she called to give me an update.  She had been letting him decide what he was up for exercise wise and she said that for quite a few days, he made the choice to avoid the steep hill and that he let her know by stopping when they got to the top of it.  Eventually, he wanted to go down one of the less steep hills on the ranch and when he did so, he didn't limp at all.  The next day though, he stopped when they got to the top of the hill, so she listened to him and understood that he didn't want to push it that day.  

She was enjoying this new level of communication they were having and trusted that it was safe to listen to him.  She told me that she was also talking to him more about what was going on with her and she sensed he was happier and more at ease.  She admitted to me that the reason she asked me to come up to see him was because she was worried about his front left leg.  She also said she was glad she hadn't told me that, because she didn't know he was feeling pain in his right hip and might not have known that if we hadn't let the horse 'show me' what was bothering him.  

Animals really do know what's going on in their bodies.  They aren't dumb, in fact, in many ways, I believe they are even wiser than the smartest of us two-legged folks.  The key is learning to listen to what they are showing us.

The innocence of children

Some friends of mine have a twelve year old daughter that my dog Lucky and I are very close to. She is a gentle soul and such a delight to be around.  I always enjoy seeing things through her eyes when we are together.

She had emailed me earlier this week, concerned about a dream she had about Lucky.  In the dream, she saw Lucky in a wheelchair.  When she came over to say hi to Lucky, Lucky smiled at her and then disappeared, leaving the wheelchair empty.  Since she knows Lucky is dealing with a lot of health issues, she was concerned that something had happened to Lucky.  When I told her Lucky was fine, she was relieved and then wanted to know what I thought the dream meant. I told her my best guess was that Lucky was letting her know that when she passes away and goes to heaven, she'll no longer need help getting around.  (In the dream, Lucky was in a wheelchair, in reality, I use a sling to assist her in walking.)  I told her I thought Lucky came to her in a dream to assure her that when she left this plane, she was going to be able to run and play without any assistance, so that she wouldn't worry about her.  I was surprised at how much comfort it gave ME to give her that interpretation of the dream.  I think I needed to be reminded of that as much as she did.

Today, this same sweet girl came to my house to spend time with Lucky while I tackled the delayed project of taking my christmas tree down.  When I picked her up, she had a small stack of books with her.  Seeing the question on my face, she said, "I thought Lucky might like it if I read her some of my favorite books.  Do you think that would be ok?"  I told her it was absolutely ok and that I was sure Lucky would appreciate it.  She went on to explain that she picked some short books that all had happy endings.  They were books about animals and fairies.  She said she picked them all especially for Lucky.  I could feel my eyes getting misty, feeling blessed to know this gentle yet seemingly old soul that lived in the body of a twelve year old girl. 

As I proceeded to take the ornaments off the tree, I listened as she read each of the stories to Lucky, pausing occasionally to let Lucky see the pictures in the book.  It warmed my heart in a way that is hard to put into words.  After a while, she said "Maureen . . . Lucky has fallen asleep, do you think she's bored with the story?" and I said "No, I am sure she is just feeling very peaceful and dreaming about the images you shared with her."  A few minutes later, Lucky opened her eyes and looked at her, then turned her upper body in her direction, as if to say "I'm ready to hear some more."  and the story continued . . . . 

It is an afternoon I will always remember and a gentle reminder that we can learn so much from children if we just pay attention.  This little girl loves books more than just about anything in the world, and she wanted to share what she loved with a dog that she loves. Whether or not Lucky understood all the stories is really not the point.  I am quite certain she understood was that this little girl loves her and that's really what is important.   It reminded me that one of the greatest gifts we can give another is not necessarily something we buy, but instead, something we give from our hearts.   

A man who loved his dog

Along with animals, I also love rock music.  At 10pm on Saturday nights, there's a local channel here in the Bay Area that highlights local musicians (or musicians that got their start in the Bay Area).  Last week, much to my delight, they highlighted my all time favorite - Eddie Money.  I was almost giddy as I watched the man that I have been crazy about since seventh grade stand on stage and belt out my favorite songs.  

Tonight, I turned on the TV to see who they were going to be highlighting and it was Tesla.  I have a few favorite Tesla songs . . . Love Song and What You Give holding the place of my most favorite of their songs.  

In an interview with Troy Luccketta, he explained the What You Give was actually written about a dog.  He said everyone always assumed it was written about a girl, which is what I thought as well, but after hearing him say that, I felt compelled to pull out my Tesla cd and give the song another listen.  I was touched to listen to the lyrics with a different 'ear' and hear how this musician felt about his dog.  I decided it was an appropriate thing to share this evening.  So, for your reading enjoyment, here are the lyrics to What You Give and if you feel so inclined, check out the song on itunes.  It really is a great song, all the more sweeter to me, now that I know who it was written for!

Who's the one that makes you happy?

Or maybe, Who's the one always on your mind?

And who is the reason you're livin' for?

Who's the reason for your smile?

I feel so lonely, yet I know I'm not the only one, to ever feel this way.

I love ya so much that I think I'm goin' insane.

I'm goin' crazy, outta my head.

Goin' crazy, outta my head

Can't think about nothin' but your good, good love,

And what you give.

Now everyone needs somebody.

And you know, everybody needs someone.

Well, and a-yes it's true?

Everybody needs a special kind of love,

And your the only one I'm thinkin' of.

You mean the world to me.

You are my only.

It's not whatcha got, it's a-what you give.

It ain't the life you choose, it's the life you live.

It's only what you give, only what you give, only what you give,

It's not whatcha got, a-but the life you live

It's the life you live.

Play it pretty for the world.

You're the only one that makes me happy, oh yeah baby.

And you're the one always on my mind. And yes it's true.

You are my reason, my one and only that I've been livin' for

What can't forever be . . . forever and nothin' more.

I feel so lonely, yet I know I'm not the only one

To ever feel this way.

I love ya so much I lose track of time,

Lose track of the days

I'm going' outta my head,

going crazy, outta my head.

Can't think about nothin' but your good, sweet love

And what you give.

It's not whatcha got, it's what you give.

It ain't the life you choose, it's the life you live.

No, no, no, no, no!

It's not whatcha got, it's what you give.

And it ain't what it's not, but what it is.