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General Communication Questions;
Euthanasia
How did you get interested in interspecies
telepathic communication? I have had a lifelong affinity for animals. I
always had a sense/knowing that I communicated with them on an unspoken,
heart-felt level. However, it was not always easy, and I did not learn to
fully utilize my abilities until several years ago. At that time I had a
sudden, deep internal urgency about learning all I could about this form of
communication and realized it was time I got serious about using my gift for
the benefit of others.
How did you regain this ability? I began studying metaphysical,
spiritual and animal care subjects many years ago. Having had animal
companions since I was born (whether permanent members of the family, or
fosters until I found them good homes), I naturally developed this ability
at a very early age, so it was a matter of re-accepting the gift when I
decided to use it to benefit others. The ability is available to anyone
willing to commit to the work involved in strengthening it (through study,
practice, and more practice, and then learning to trust the communication
process).
And I also worked on addressing my personal blocks to doing this work (such
as: am I really doing this, or just making it up? Will anyone believe me? Do
I really WANT to do this? How will I know it’s okay? Do I deserve to be paid
for this work? etc.). After doing a number of sessions free for clients, I
began to accept that I really do communicate telepathically, I have the
ability on many levels to do so, and it is beneficial to the clients and
their animal companions. Over and over clients tell me how much they
appreciate my work, the changes they’ve noticed in their animal companion’s
behavior or demeanor or health, how issues have resolved between animals in
the same household, etc. That validation is what really made me accept my
abilities and continue striving to enhance and solidify them.
How long have you been communicating for? I have been communicating
on a professional basis for several years now. For probably 10 years before
that I assisted friends from time to time with issues their animal
companions were dealing with. I have communicated with animals all my life
on a non-professional basis, beginning with the animal companions who were
with me from infancy and through my childhood. I have never not had an
animal companion, whether a mouse or gerbil or cat or whatever. Being in an
animal’s presence on a regular basis definitely helps foster this ability,
as you begin to know and understand the animal in a way that is more than
just figuring out their behavior and attitude.
How do you quiet your
mind so you can hear the animal? Well, I didn't become
proficient overnight! It was a lot of work to learn to quiet my mind, to
trust my inner knowing, to trust myself to be safe in those quiet spaces
(mind chatter keeps you from focusing on your inner being, your centered
place, your connection to All That Is). I've also been a student of
metaphysical and spiritual (not religious) matters since the late 1980s.
Having that background helps a great deal, but is certainly not necessary to
be able to communicate telepathically. Learning to meditate will help you
achieve the ability to go into a quiet mind state whenever you choose, as
you learn to ignore and then discard the distracting thoughts that pass
through.
How did you get into
doing this work? I've always been fascinated with the "wierd-n-woo-woo",
as I like to call it (tongue-in-cheek!). Even as a young child, I loved watching shows like the
Twilight Zone, and Rod Serling's Night Gallery . . . and people who were
psychic, well, they just fascinated me! As I grew older and realized
that it was completely up to me what I did with this interest/fascination, I
took classes in many metaphysical subjects (psychometry, energy healing,
crystals, clearing and rebalancing the chakras, connection with my Higher
Self and with Spirit, tarot cards, Native American practices, etc.).
As a result, I am an Ordained Minister, a Reiki Master, and am also trained
in several different energy and emotional release/healing modalities and
techniques. I have also been an empath all my life, meaning I feel and
take on what others are feeling and experiencing. It used to be quite scary
to me -- I didn't know where I ended and they began, what was theirs and
what was mine. I would even talk like them, and it would happen in an
instant. I've learned to control that now, thank goodness. I am
clairvoyant, clairaudient, clairsentient, and am sensitive to energies in
animals, people, places and objects. Having a natural connection (which I
did not know how to "operate" at the level I do now) with animals was the
basis for all of this. I have been blessed with animal companionship my
whole life. As a young child, you're still open to the mysteries of
the Universe, and having a deep, unspoken, "intuitive knowing" bond with an
animal is not weird, it's quite natural. That bond can be strengthened
any time you choose, if your intent is to do so, if you're willing to let go
of your fear about it (if you're holding fear at any level), and if you're
willing to open yourself to hearing what the animals have to say in whatever
manner they choose to convey that to you (pictures, sounds, feelings, etc.).
I did informal sessions over the years with friends' animals. I
managed to put off taking the final step to following my life path of
working with and assisting animals in alternative ways (communication,
flower essences, and holistic care, among others) until two years ago.
I have had these abilities
since a young child, and was met with funny looks, laughter or sarcasm many
times when I would share what I was receiving. So those who are interested
in learning about and pursuing development of their innate intuitive
abilities must go at their own pace and be comfortable with how it fits in
with their belief systems and their confidence in themselves. It's hard to
do this work when people make fun of you or poo-poo it, but there comes a
point where you know. You know you're not making it up, and you can't
explain it very well to others, but it absolutely fits and rings true for
you. When the cells in your body "stand up" and shiver or shimmer
(an internal feeling which sometimes produces goosebumps or an electrical
charge throughout your body), that is an acknowledgment of a
"knowing" that something rings true within you.
Miss Cali, the feral indoor cat
The
Animals In Our Lives. I never
doubt that an animal crosses my path for a reason, a purpose. Even the ones
we “pick”, we do so because “there’s just something about
him/her” that can’t be defined, but the connection is there. Looking at it from a higher perspective,
there are lessons to be taught and learned by both ourselves and that animal, and services to be
performed by each as well. When we are drawn to an animal or human, either positively or negatively, it’s not a coincidence. We
are all mirrors for each other, teachers for each other, students of one
another. Perhaps you’ve read the following at some point:
“People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you
figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . it is usually to meet a need
you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to
provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally,
or spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend, and they are! They are there
for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your
part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to
bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk
away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must
realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is
done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move
on.
Then people come into your life for a SEASON. Because your turn has come to
share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you
laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give
you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a
season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things you must build
upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept
the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind
but friendship is clairvoyant.” [author unknown]
I think the word “animal” can be substituted
in the above, and mean the same thing for a human/animal relationship. For
instance, a woman who was allergic (as were her children) to dogs felt
compelled to take in one particular stray dog. She fully expected all of
them to have highly exacerbated allergies, and possible asthma attacks.
They didn't. I have no doubt the dog appeared there to help them face
fears about their health issues – and the dog did so as gently as possible,
including supporting the woman when her medical conditions brought up fear
(such as during an asthma attack) or caused the woman pain (falling down as a
result of a muscle wasting disease).
Can you talk with more than one animal at a time? Yes, definitely.
But unless the sessions are about very general/basic questions the client
has, it is more challenging
(takes more psychic energy) to work with multiple animals in one session.
The communicator must disconnect from (in the case where several are talked
to separately in one session) or set aside/put on hold (in the case of
talking to several separately and then as a group) one animal's essence
while you switch to the next. And then bring the others back in to do the
group session and hold your connection to all of them at the same time and
carefully and accurately convey the information which comes from those
blended energies. Although they require more psychic energy, I enjoy doing
these sessions. As one client wrote in a post to a list, "It takes a bit
more time and is more challenging for the communicator but is doable. I
don't think the dogs that were not in the conversation noticed the one that
was [i.e., were not "evesdropping"]. When it was X's turn, he went outside
and strolled around the fence line. It was quite interesting to watch him.
It was totally different from his normal "patrolling" behavior."
Unique behavior is often seen by the person when I communicate with the
animal. This lets them know I've connected with their animal.
Do you talk to your own
animal companions? I don't "talk" with my animals the
way I do in sessions - I
have other communicators do that when I have serious issues to discuss, or
don't want to worry about tainting the communication with my emotions (i.e.,
because I may have a desire for a particular answer or outcome). We have been together for so long that I just "get"
where my animals are at-- most of the time,
anyway. It's like the old married couple that know each other so well, they
finish each other's sentences, have the same thoughts sometimes, etc. Max
is quite a sensitive guy, he's very evolved, and he often helps me with my
communication sessions by helping to hold the energy of a safe, loving space
for the animal I'm working with and myself. With one dog (this has only
happened the one time), while I was communicating with him I cried through
much of the session, it was very emotional. Max came in and laid down next
to me (doesn't usually do that), and when I was near the end and feeling
better, he left. He knows me well, and has been a fabulous teacher and
support for me. With Barney, I "get" information about him, but in a very
different way because he and Max are very different personality-wise.
With Max, I feel like I'm tuned into a New Age radio station. With Barney,
oftentimes it's Rock 'n Roll! Barney also assists with holding safe, loving
energy for these sessions, but more from a sentinel standpoint. He has a
forceful but loving personality, and he acts as a protector and balancer
against tumultuous energies coming through. Miss Cali, the feral cat,
assists me with the furry animals (cats, rabbits, and wildlife such as squirrels).
Do all animals use the
same type of words to convey their messages? Although I work with both
the animal's ego/personality and their Higher Self, the information is still
being translated through me/my Higher Self. There are certain words I write
more often than others simply because they best describe the feeling or
whatever it is that I'm receiving. Translating messages from the Higher
Self to 3-D reality can be a challenge. Sometimes we just don't have words
in the English language that translate/describe something accurately which has
a high spiritual tone. In my sessions I type what I hear, see, feel, etc.,
but sometimes after hearing a word I'll hear another word or phrase that more
accurately describes what the initial word or phrase was meant to convey. I
type that too, as it may mean more to the person than it does to me.
One of the really interesting things about talking with animals is that,
contrary to what some may believe, the things the animals say can be witty,
profound, serious . . . but they always have a meaning. Some things make no
sense to me as I'm writing them, and sometimes I'll ask for clarification if
I think it won't make sense to the client either. The person may or may not
understand it at first. If they don't at the time, I've had clients tell me
after a period of time that they finally understood what something meant.
How do I know when it's
time to let go of my pet? I worry that euthanasia may not be the answer, or
that I'll do that too soon. Q: [from a vet] "I cannot seem
to overcome my personal struggle with euthanasia, no matter how many years
I've been doing it, I always cry and pray for forgiveness. I try and tell
the animal that's it's going to be OK, and that they'll stop suffering and
be happy when they see the light... BUT, what if that suffering is necessary
for their personal development? There's many questions I always have, and
really who am I to ultimately decide it's their moment to go?" A: It
is hard to know. Oftentimes the person gets the thought that it's time, and
it may be the animal sending them that thought. You might ask the people if
they're willing to let the animal go naturally (no assistance), depending on
what the health issue is. OR at least wait until the animal is refusing
food and water. At that point they're definitely ready to go, and may
welcome assistance at that point. There's always a point where you know in
your heart and gut that it's time for your animal to take that final
transition step. Some folks aren't able to wait until that point, their
grieving is too much with having watched the animal deteriorate. But I think
waiting until they know for sure is best, for them and the animal. Being
present and assisting them out (whether by just holding them as they pass on
their own, or holding them during the euthanasia process) when they
let us know it's time to go is the kindest thing we can do.
Euthanasia (second
question, continuing from above): "It is my understanding from shows such
as the Pet Psychic, that sick and dying animals are usually grateful to be
assisted when the time is right, to pass over. If the animal is ill and in
pain, but their physical body isn't letting go, they are okay with us
helping them. Of course, it is another matter entirely if the animal is
just being euthanized due to its inconvenience or being unwanted, or too
expensive to treat. But seeing as how it is so difficult for you [the vet]
to do, I'm assuming that when you have to euthanize, it's for pretty good
reasons. Not that that makes it easier to do, but it is a great gift we can
give our animal companions, and part of the cycle of life. I don't think
you need to ask for forgiveness. Personally I don't think personal
development is an issue when an animal is dying. I also recall that there
were some animals in spirit, on Sonya's show, that passed before the human
expected it, or waited until the person was not there. The animal was
ready, before the person, in some cases. In others, the person felt guilty
for not being there, but some animals preferred to be alone when they
passed. It is an individual choice, and that is why I am glad there are
people like you who can help us better understand what our particular
companion wants, if we are unsure." A: True. But it is still a
fine line. I've spoken with animals who were very adamant about not wanting
artificial assistance out; they wanted to leave on their own. Some have
absolutely done that, usually leaving in their sleep. I know of a few
personally who have just let go suddenly and it was a relatively quick
process through the death throes and on to the other side. On the other side
of this coin, I worked with one client's dog several times over the course
of his illness who wanted to leave on his own, he had visions of what his
passing would be like (and showed them to me, which is indescribable -- we
don't have words on this planet to do this transition justice). However, he
changed his mind at the very end because he could not get his body to let
go, and he didn't want his death to be ugly (he was very concerned about
going through death throes because it would not fit his dignified bearing).
I spoke with him again two days before he passed over. His person (a very
spiritual, holistic care oriented woman who definitely believes in soul
paths and the right to choose) really struggled to let him go, to get
through her fear and doubt that she would not do the right thing, and she
felt a great deal of emotional pain about the idea of assisting him out with
needles. She did make an incredibly difficult decision to euthanize him
after I spoke with him the last time. He was very relieved and grateful, and
left peacefully.
I do believe if the idea
occurs to the person to euthanize, it is probably coming from the animal,
and the animal is grateful for the assistance. But the decision may also be
made earlier than the animal is ready for because it's the person's way of
dealing with death as best they can, by making the decision for the animal
before they (the person) are completely devastated by grief and watching
their animal suffer (I'm talking about deciding to euthanize because of an
illness which has completely compromised quality of life, versus just
because they are old and can't see, for example). This in no way should be
taken as I'm saying that people who euthanize are doing their animal a
disservice. If that is what feels appropriate to them given the situation,
then they should trust themselves and proceed that way. It is very, very
hard for most people to watch an animal go through an illness to the point
of not eating and drinking. And for most, it is even harder to watch their
beloved animal companion go through the death throes, because they do not
understand the death process and it looks painful. In actuality, the
release of electrical charges from the cells of the body as it shuts down
are what cause the twitching and sometimes involuntary sounds such as a howl
or groan, or a long sigh a minute or more after the body stops moving, which
is the last air releasing from the collapsing lungs.
 I counsel people to trust
themselves to know when the time is right and in what manner that will
happen. There comes a moment where you stop waivering back and forth
between what you should and should not do, or how or when, and you just
know. I've been there enough times myself. I learned a very hard lesson
years ago with my beloved cat, Strut, who had FIP. He had about 50% lung capacity and at
times would stagger, was weak, couldn't jump up on the bed any more because
he was oxygen deprived. He had rallied while my vet used an experimental
treatment program, but the results only lasted about two weeks. I came home
to him staggering again one day and decided I couldn't watch this any more
(note that it was I, not he, that couldn't handle it). I laid with him for
about an hour, talking and crying and petting him. Then off to the vet
clinic at 7 p.m. My cat screamed (literally) and moaned and clawed at his
cage door the whole ten miles. My vet had to put a muzzle on him because he
was fighting so hard and biting and clawing because he did not want to be
euthanized. I just didn't get it. He hung around for months to make sure I
got the lesson. That was the last time I decided to euthanize an animal
before I was absolutely certain it was time [that gut instinctual knowing],
and what the animal wanted (i.e., showing me vacant eyes, refusing to eat or
drink any more, can be signs that they're ready to leave). My cat was still
eating and drinking and purring just fine. He probably would not have made
it much longer, but I jumped the gun out of my own pain. Animals do not
take death lightly and have their own issues about dying to deal with, so it
is a process for them as well as for us. [Picture is of Strut, in "jungle
mode"]
If it gives you any comfort, in my experience
animals and people (after crossing over) don't hold “grudges” – they, as
souls which are pure Love and Light, don’t
think that way. They offer us unconditional love. They may have feelings
during the initial days that they work to release and dissolve. In the core of their being they are pure love. Animals in
Spirit do not sit in judgment of the person, nor blame them for the
situation or the animal's death. With terribly abused and traumatized
animals that die as a result, they may have issues and feelings to process
on the spiritual level about what happened to them on the Earth plane.
These are special cases. If you euthanized your animal companion and
feel guilty, know that you did the best you could and what you thought was
right – and it was right. It's very, very possible that the reason you did
so was because the animal telepathically conveyed a message to you that it
was time to go. Guilt can prolong the grief stage. Guilt is useful
only for the lesson it may teach us; it is an emotion that lets us know we
have not conformed with our own moral codes, ways of operating, or belief
systems. Carrying such a feeling does not serve anyone, including yourself
or your animal companion. If there is a lesson to be learned from your
experience, note what it is and then let it go.
"For all the joy you've
given us, For the glory days gone by,
Our best and final gift, my
Love, is to give you wings to fly."
[(c) Isabel Molina, Phoenix
Rising Publications, reprinted with permission]
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