Animals Can Be Mirrors

Over the years, I have seen example after example of where our animals can be a "mirror" for us. Sometimes, when we understand what they need, we discover it is the same thing we need, or when we identify something they need to work on, we find that it is something we need to work on ourselves. I don't think it's any accident that this occurs . . . as I believe it is part of their purpose here on earth, to help us learn about ourselves and help us grow.

I am often tickled when I get to witness these occurrences of "mirroring" - to see the eyes of a guardian light up when they realized how much they have in common with their animal or when they are deeply touched by what their animal is trying to teach them.

Just last week, I had the opportunity to work with three wonderful women and their four horses. There were a mixture of physical and behavioral issues that had these women stumped and they were looking for insights into what was going on.

When one of the gals asked me why her horse occasionally would stop and refuse to move anymore when they were out for a trail ride, I began explaining what I was picking up from her horse. I sensed that her horse needed to know the "big picture" before they went out for a ride. She wanted to know where they were going to go, how long they would be gone and when she was going to get to eat again. :-)

As I was explaining in more detail about the horses' desire to have her expectations managed, her guardian shook her head and started to laugh. She said, "Oh my gosh, she's just like me!" It hadn't occurred to her that her horse needed the same thing she did but now that she knew, she was more than happy to start offering up more of an explanation before they left the barn. She knew how much it helped her, so it was easy for her to see how it would help her horse.

One of the other horses was being pushed around by some of the other horses when they were out in the pasture. I sensed some confusion in him, given that he was always complimented by all the 2-legged folks for being such a sweet, gentle horse and he didn't know how to still be sweet and gentle while standing up for himself with the other horses. I talked to him about how it was OK for him to be confident, that he would still be the same sweet horse he's always been, even if he stands up for himself a bit more. I told him it was safe to be both sweet and confident.

At the time I was talking to him, I sensed it was potentially an issue for his guardian as well, but I didn't say anything at the time. I had just met her and wasn't sure how comfortable she would be with me pointing out what my intuition was telling me about her. :-) Much to my delight, a while later when we were working with one of the other horses, the guardian brought it up herself, mentioning that she saw the connection when we were talking to her horse. She said she often was afraid to speak up for herself for fear that people wouldn't like her anymore. I suggested that maybe it had come up that day so that they could both work on it and help each other make progress on this area. I could tell that it really struck a chord with her.

The week before, one of my dog clients was having difficulty recovering from an injury. I told his guardian that I sensed he wasn't healing because he wasn't resting enough. He seemed to always feel like he had to be "on" - always doing something, and since he never stopped moving, his muscles weren't getting a chance to heal.

As I was explaining all of this, she looked down at the ground, then slowly lifted her eyes to meet mine and quietly said, "He isn't the only one who has this problem." She confessed that she had trouble being still herself, that she never seemed to stop moving either. I suggested that maybe it was something they could work on together, maybe they could take some time out each day where they both rested and were just still. I sensed that it was something she would be more apt to do since it was also going to help her dog.

I think our animals are offering us insights about ourselves all the time and there is so much we can learn if we look at ourselves as closely and lovingly as we look at our animals. All of my clients genuinely want to help their animals and go to great lengths to ensure they are happy and living a balanced life. I think their animals genuinely want to help their guardians too and will go to great lengths to ensure they too are happy and living a balanced life.

Sometimes our animals will help give us the courage to do something for ourselves, when we see how doing that same thing helps them. They really can give us great insight into ourselves. So, what do you think your animal is trying to tell you about yourself? You might be amazed at what you see if you take a look.