Another Review of Lucky For Me

This past week, my book Lucky For Me was reviewed by Readersfavorite.com. I was delighted to find out that they gave it 5 out of 5 stars! 

I have shared the review below in case anyone reading my blog is still unsure if they want to read my book. Maybe this will inspire you to make a purchase.  :-)

And for those of you who HAVE read my book, if you feel compelled to write a review I would definitely welcome that! You can post your review directly onto my book's page at Amazon.com Amazon ebook or send it to Riversanctuarypublishing.com  https://riversanctuarypublishing.com/shop/lucky-for-me/ - or both! 

Since there are many people who like to read reviews before making a purchase decision, every review is helpful. I am grateful for every bit of support! 

While book sales are always welcome, for me this is more about Lucky For Me reaching the people who it can provide the most assistance to. That has been my heartfelt wish all along - for our journey to provide support to others. In the prologue I shared a bit about why I wrote the book. Here is that paragraph from the prologue: 

I know I am not the only person who has had an intense bond with their animal, nor am I the only one who has gone to extremes to help an animal recover from the abuse they suffered or heal their own trauma. My intention in sharing our journey is to light a path for those who find themselves with similar challenges. Whether you are someone who is extremely sensitive and feels things very deeply or you are trying to heal the past or you are in a process of self-discovery, my hope is that you’ll experience some “aha” moments and points of connection through this book that can assist you on your own journey, and maybe even inspire you to find your way to a deeper understanding and appreciation of all you have to offer too.

Review by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite:

Maureen Burkley's Lucky For Me is the author's story about her tough but highly rewarding journey with her dog. The author's German Shepherd, Lucky, went from a traumatic experience as a puppy to being rescued by a caring human. As Maureen drew closer to Lucky, she found out about the dog's health challenges and other signs of the lingering effects of trauma. However, she also saw herself discovering similar battles as she strived to be the best human friend to her dog and attend to Lucky's needs. From hospital visits to water therapy and chaotic encounters with other dogs, Maureen's journey with her dog is captured in a very compelling tale. Get ready to meet a resilient and caring human and her playful and adorable German Shepherd in this deeply poignant memoir.

The many profound deductions in the book are quite enlightening. I found myself pausing to reflect on the author's thought-provoking observations, such as her belief that animals "come into our lives to help us reconnect with our true selves." Maureen Burkley's determination not to give up on Lucky, despite being advised to, and the dog's multiple challenges inspires you to tackle any situation life throws at you. Lucky's recovery process and struggle with trauma are depicted well alongside Maureen's challenges with her family and other personal issues. The author's experiences in difficult moments and being on edge when she took her dog outside reveal that her dog rescuer role was far from easy. This soulfully written memoir will make animal lovers feel deeply emotional and captivated from start to finish. I feel very fortunate to have read Lucky For Me.

Animals Do Get Mad

 

This is a blog I wrote almost fifteen years ago. I noticed that recently it has been getting a lot of views so there is something in here that people seem to be interested in. Thus, I am giving it a refresh and publishing it again - trusting that it will serve people in some way.

Sometimes people get confused about the emotional side of animals and have a difficult time squaring up all the different things we hear about what animals feel. They find that the things they believe about animals are occasionally in direct conflict with other things they believe about animals. 

One example of this is the belief that animals love unconditionally so people often assume that means they can't get mad. But the truth is animals DO get mad and for some people that doesn't seem to gel with the idea that animals are just happy all the time, happy to be with us, thrilled when we walk in the door (ok, maybe that isn't what everyone believes about cats) :-) but it's difficult sometimes to embrace the idea that if our animals feel, then they have the capacity to feel all the things we feel, and that includes being irritated or mad at times. 

I think the difference with animals is that they seem to get over it more quickly, forgive almost immediately. They don't hold grudges. They can be mad one moment and then be finished with the feeling. Often times all it takes is for someone to acknowledge their feelings or explain something to them and then they feel content again. I think that is why they are generally peaceful and happy. They may be irritated from time to time or get their feelings hurt, but they don't stay stuck there, as far as I can tell. 

But still, sometimes it's hard for us to believe that they get upset, especially if they are upset with us. Years ago when I was in the presence of another animal communicator, I was talking to her about my beliefs about animals and I said something about some breeds of dogs being smarter than other breeds. She stopped and said, "Lucky is upset with you for saying that" and I was thinking "What? Lucky's mad at me? How is that possible, with all the nice things I do for her. :-) It wasn't like I said German Shepherds are dumb."

The communicator told me that Lucky believed all animals are equally intelligent and that the only difference is in how they are labeled and treated. Since certain breeds are labeled as "more intelligent" they show more of their intelligence. Breeds that are labeled as "goofy" often act that way to appease our expectation. On a personal level, if they are treated like they are smart and will catch on quickly to things, then they usually do. If they are treated like they are dumb, they don't bother to let their intelligence shine through. She said Lucky was upset that I didn't realize that all animals were equally intelligent. 

I am happy to say I have learned a lot about animals since then and have since grown to share Lucky's belief. I'm embarrassed that I used to misunderstand animals that way. I don't even know where I learned that  but I'm just happy that I got "re-educated." While it took me a few days to wrap my mind around the idea that Lucky could be mad at me, it seemed to shift our whole relationship onto a new level. I saw her in a different light and was much more conscious of the things I said and how she reacted. It changed the way I looked at ALL animals and helped me understand the magnitude of what they were capable of. 

I continue to see evidence of other animals being upset and it still makes me smile, because it is a reminder of their emotional capacity and how much richer our relationships with animals can be when we more fully embrace the depth of their emotional experience. 

One time I was giving a dog a Reiki treatment and I asked her guardian how her birthday was because I knew some friends of hers were throwing a party for her at a park. Just then I could feel irritation from her dog. When I tuned in, what I got from the dog was that she was mad that she hadn't been able to go to the party. In her mind, since the party was at a park, she should have been able to go. When I told her guardian what I was picking up, she smiled and nodding in a "knowing" sort of way, letting me know she wasn't entirely surprised to hear her dog was upset. She explained that this particular park didn't allow dogs. At first I felt resistance from her dog and could sense she didn't believe her guardian because she believed dogs were allowed at all parks as long as they were on leash and well behaved. Her guardian explained to her that this particular park didn't allow dogs because there were a lot of deer and other wildlife . . . while her guardian was saying this, I felt contentment run through her dog's body. She heard what her guardian said, she understood it and she was no longer mad about being left at home when her mom went to the park for her party. 

Sometimes animals get irritated because there is a change in the home and no one bothered to give them a heads up about it. It could be the arrival of a new animal, the departure of a family member, or where their bed got moved. Animals just want us to explain things to them. Once we do, they are content again. 

I have worked with many animals who were having "behavioral problems" that started once a new animal was brought into the household. Usually, all it takes is for their guardian and I to acknowledge their feelings and explain how things are going to be different or the same now that the new animal is there, and miraculously the "behavior problems" go away. As I said, they can "get over things" quickly once someone acknowledges their feelings and helps them understand what is going on. 

Our animals also get mad at us sometimes or feel let down if we aren't taking care of ourselves or we're letting other people hurt us. They don't stay mad, but they certainly have feelings about it. 

I had a client whose cat was sick so I was giving her frequent Reiki treatments. One particular day, I could feel anger coming from the cat, which I had never picked up before. I asked her guardian what had been going on around the house, and at first, he wasn't offering up much. The sense I got was that someone was being taken advantage of but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Finally, her guardian told me that his girlfriend hadn't been treating him very well lately and he admitted he wasn't doing anything about it. Finally, the pieces fell into place and I explained that his cat was upset that he wasn't standing up for himself and that she would prefer if he didn't let the girlfriend walk all over him anymore. His reaction was a mixture of gratitude, amusement and disbelief. Months later, after the girlfriend had moved out, he confessed to me that he was still stunned (and very touched) that his cat cared that much about how he was being treated. 

This leads to another interesting thing about the work I do. I am usually contacted initially to help an animal, but the majority of the time, the guardian ends up getting help as well. I probably coach the humans as much as I communicate with the animals. Typically, I partner with the guardians to help the animals, and I partner with the animals to help the guardians . . . and it makes the work I do even more gratifying. 

If you aren't already embracing the depth of your animal's emotional capacity, I hope you will consider moving in that direction. There is so much we can learn from animals if we're willing to "listen" to them, observe them and give them credit for all they have to offer us.

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.   

Giving medicine to animals

Many of my clients have animals who are sick and need to take medication.  Their stories are often very similar . . . their animals spit pills out, no matter how creative their guardians get in hiding the pills in tasty treats, their animals run and hide as soon as they see the medicine come out, or their animals fuss and fight any time someone is trying to give them medication.  

I personally believe that most of the time, the problem is that the animals doesn't understand what they are being given or why.  I always encourage my clients to talk to their animals and help them understand more about the medicine.  Here are some 'talking points' that I give my clients when they talk to their animals:

- Tell them what the medicine is and why they are giving it to them

- Explain how it will help the animal feel better in terms they understand ("You know how you have been having pain when you try to run?  This will help make the pain go away." or "You know how your skin has been itchy and irritated?  This will soothe your skin so you will feel better.")

- Tell them how long they will need to take the medicine.  They are often much more willing to be cooperative when they know it's only a ten day course of antibiotics or just something they have to endure for a few weeks.  If it is a medication they will have to take for the rest of their life, explain that to them.  (refer to the point above, making sure they understand how it will help them).

In most cases, this type of open communication with the animal will help them be more cooperative when taking medication.  Most of my clients tell me that after talking to their animals, all the previous behaviors (spitting out pills, hiding, resisting) have subsided.  

In some cases, animals who were being cooperative for a while, will suddenly start refusing the medication again.  When this happens, I encourage my clients to 'listen' to their animals.  I believe animals know what is helpful to them and what isn't.  If your animal is refusing medication, it might be because they don't need it anymore or because they need something different.  It can't hurt to go back to the vet to find out if the medication is still necessary or if there is something else that might help more.  

Animals are such intelligent beings and if we are willing to work with them, giving them the opportunity to understand what we are giving them and why, I believe they have the ability to get on board with what we are doing.  I also believe they can partner with us and let us know if what we are giving them is actually helping them.  If we just force them to take medication without telling them why, often all we create is resistance.  Animals are not much different from humans that way . . . we often resist that which we don't understand.  So, talk to your animals, help them understand what you are giving them and my guess is, you'll find a much more cooperative recipient of medications. 

What the name means

Many people ask me why I chose the name "Healing Animal Truths" for my website and my blog.  The name comes from my desire to "heal" the things that people believe about animals.  I have often heard things such as "animals don't have feelings" or "animals are dumb" or "animals can't recover from the trauma they have experienced."  I know in my heart those things are NOT true.  It is my belief that animals DO have feelings.  They are intelligent, amazing beings who have a great capacity to overcome even the most painful of experiences. They are capable of so much more than many people give them credit for. 

In the work I do as an animal communicator and energy healer, I am doing what I can to dispel the myths that have been shared for years and years about animals.  I want to do my part to help people see animals for who they really are so they can be treated with the respect, the kindness and the admiration that they deserve.  

This blog will include updates on my experiences in working with some of amazing animals I have had the honor of interacting with as well as other stories that I come across that demonstrate the "truth" about these incredible creatures.  

Stay tuned for weekly updates and if you have comments or questions, please let me know. 

Maureen