On the other side of this sign is a bin full of toys. Stevie Wonder was not in the yard when I walked by, but I would happily have chucked a ball (even though I throw like a girl).
I am always touting the benefits of animal enrichment, not to mention community support, with clients. So this made my day. Kudos to Stevie Wonder for getting someone with thumbs to design and execute it!
I’m a stickler about permission, both from the animals I work with and their people.
An animal is free, at any time, to choose not to communicate with me or participate in a Let Animals Lead® meditation session. We can try again another time (sometimes a few minutes is all it takes) or I can issue a refund.
Regardless of who pays, I must have permission of the animal’s owner for an animal communication or meditation session. By owner (or guardian) I mean the person who is legally responsible for the animal, whether that is an individual or an organization such as a shelter, rescue or nonprofit.
Having permission from the person who is legally responsible for the animal:
• Keeps everything above board, which naturally brings better outcomes.
• Respects boundaries. Put another way: Say you have a child, or an adult for whom you are legally responsible. Barring an emergency, you would not want someone to arrange a counseling session or alternative treatment for that person without your permission.
• Is in keeping with the codes of ethics I follow for animal communicators and Let Animals Lead® practitioners.
What if there’s an animal you want to support with animal communication or Let Animals Lead® and they’re not technically yours?
Talk with the animal’s person or rescue director and share a link to my website; they are welcome to contact me with questions. You could offer an animal communication session as a gift to support the animal (and them). If the answer is yes, I am honored to help. If the answer is no, that is absolutely fine.
Maintaining trust lets us all speak, and most importantly listen, more freely.
Healing energy is infinite. My lap is not.
That’s what I told the three cats, but they worked out the logistics themselves. The tabby stayed put, the black cat sat on my shins and the calico decided it was more fun to sit on the counter and swat at everyone else. We all settled in for the meditation session … just as it was, which is what the Let Animals Lead® method is about anyway.
Here’s what I’ve learned in my animal communication and Let Animals Lead® meditation practice … and in my own home.
If a horse comes to the fence or sticks his head out of a stall, I go see him first. For example, a Tennessee Walker who kept catching my eye and pressing against the fence told me about some hip and back pain. I was able to pass that along to the equine chiropractor and help him with Let Animals Lead® in the meantime.
Animals can be astute, too, about who might need help more than they do at the moment. Two mini horses (one of whom was disabled), were hanging with a mustang who’d been battling a persistent infection. When the three of them approached me, the two minis hung back. I thanked them, worked with their mustang buddy, and made sure to see those kind minis before I left that day.
A cow at an animal sanctuary had adopted two young calves. When I approached their stall and offered to share a healing meditation, the cow turned her head toward the calves. I assured her all of them were welcome to participate — but following her lead, turned toward the youngsters. As the session continued, mama cow joined us.
Dogs are famous for their “how could you?” looks if you pay attention to another dog or come home smelling like one. (Canine jealousy was even documented in a University of California study.) Yet imploring any being not to be jealous is likely to be ineffective.
Over time I learned that when I come home with the scent of other dogs on me, it’s best to let my dogs sniff without comment. Then I make sure they get a belly rub or a couple of toy tosses sooner (like now) rather than later.
When we build even a little more awareness and trust, “enough” can look like plenty.
