animal communication

Learning About Ourselves Through the Books We Read. How Books Helped Me During My Sabbatical…And Continue to.

Posted by Barbara Techel

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One thing I immersed myself in the last two months was reading. I love to read. I rarely watch TV as books are far more interesting to me.

While I read often at night, during my sabbatical I read when I felt called to, or when a book was so good I just had to get back to it.  I also read with the intent of exploring some avenues that are of interest to me. I’m still doing that.  So many books and even with sabbatical, seems so little time to get to them all!

It is intriguing to me as I let my mind clear what was coming up for me. I found myself going back to books I had read years ago. I followed those impulses as I knew I either needed to be reminded of what matters to me, or I needed to glean something new I might have missed before.

I break my books into three separate categories below. Category one is exploration. These are topics of which I am interested in learning more about. Category two are books I felt the need to read again which I call Revisited.  Category three is For Fun.  No explanation needed there!

Thought you might enjoy a peek inside my sabbatical in this way.  Many books I’ve listed  I have read, some I’m currently reading, and some I look forward to reading.  I think books we are attracted to tell us a alot about ourselves, our interests, and what our hearts may be trying to tell us.

Another thing I realized in the books I’m reading and continue to be attracted to are all affirmations of what is meaningful to me.  When I walked away from writing for my blog and newsletter, as well as setting others things aside, I found that through the books I chose to read, and thoughts that flowed through my mind, that this is who I am. I felt so empty walking away largely in part due to grief, which made me question all over again, what is my purpose? But I continue to be fascinated by exactly the things I’ve always been:  Animals, writing, finding happiness in what brings me joy, and living within what it is that makes my life meaningful for me.

EXPLORATION

Animal Voices, Telepathic Communication in the Web of Life by Dawn Baumann Brunke

Animal Voices, Animal Guides by Dawn Baumann Brunke

Shapeshifting and our Animal Companions by Dawn Baumann Brunke

Animal Teachings by Dawn Baumann Brunke

Enchantment of the Faerie Realm- Communicate with Nature Spirits and Elementals by Ted Andrews

Awakening Joy- 10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness by James Baraz and Shoshana Alexander

The Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Bringing Your Soul to Light by Dr. Linda Backman

I realized when looking through my notes from 2005 when I was going through my life coaching work with coach, Diane that one of my interests I had listed was animal communication. Many of you may recall that I’ve had readings done for Cassie, Kylie, Frankie and Joie.  Also some amazing signs from my animals seem to present themselves to me, which further intrigues me.

I will continue to explore the animal communication world through reading.  I’m also working with Dawn to bring her to my home for an animal communication workshop later this winter or early spring 2014.  The two-day weekend workshop will be limited to 14 people.  If this is of interest to you, please do let me know and I’ll add you to my list of people to contact once we have all the details together.  You can learn more about Dawn here.

REVISITED

A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson

The Second Journey- The Road Back to Yourself by Joan Anderson

A Walk on the Beach by Joan Anderson

A Weekend to Change Your Life-Find Your Authentic Self After A Lifetime of Being All Things to All People by Joan Anderson

When the Heart Waits- Spiritual Direction for Life’s Sacred Questions by Sue Monk Kidd

Endings. Beginnings…When Midlife Women Leave Home in Search of Authenticity by Ani Liggett, Ph.D

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

FOR FUN

Blush- A Mennonite Girl Meets A Glittering World by Shirley Hershey Showalter

One Woman Farm by Jenna Woginrich

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

Do Our Pets Send Us Messages?

Posted by Barbara Techel

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I met Jayne a few years ago when I did therapy dog work with Frankie at our local hospice community. Her black standard poodle, Magic, fell in love with Frankie. Magic and Jayne were quite the striking duo and Jayne taught Magic to dance. It was beautiful to watch.

A year or so ago (I believe) Jayne brought Merci into her life. Seven weeks ago, Magic unexpectedly passed away.  When she emailed me with the news I called her immediately. We talked for a long time.

Jayne is single and lives alone. Her Magic was now gone. Yes, she has Merci, but she and Magic had a special bond.

A few days ago I heard from her. She is still struggling with the passing of Magic.

She said, “Magic made everything easy for me. He was confident and followed my lead. Merci is different. She is timid and lacks confidence.”

I could tell by her thoughts that she was really missing Magic and she didn’t know how Merci would ever be like him, realizing that she won’t. She knows she has to accept this.

I could very much relate to everything Jayne shared as I went through all of this with the loss of Frankie. Joie is different and I’ve had to move through that for myself, which has not been easy at times.

The one thing I suggested to Jayne was to talk to Merci. Actually talk to her out loud. This was suggested to me about two months ago from animal communicator, Dawn that I worked with in regards to Joie and what I was struggling with. I told Joie that yes, I miss Frankie. But that does not mean I don’t love her.  I told her I am trying and would continue to do all I could to help develop our own unique and special relationship.

I also realize now not ever having adopted a dog and this being Joie’s third home, that she had her own insecurities and likely trust issues.  Was I going to also give her away could have very likely been a concern of hers.  I told her she is here to stay. I’ll never give her away. I love her and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure this will always be her home.

It may sound silly, but yet so simple. Jayne gave it a try with Merci and this is what she wrote back to me:

“I think Frankie and Magic are sending us a both a message!  As I have been typing to you this morning, Merci has been quietly laying behind my desk. When I went to talk to her, as you suggested, I looked at her and started to cry. She rarely plays with any toys. They are all in a basket in my office as Magic liked to occasionally play with toys. I saw she had quietly pulled a toy from the basket and was sleeping with it in her bed. The toy…a dachshund toy with a Santa hat…that Magic used to love to carry around. I told him that toy was Frankie and he always acted like he knew exactly what I meant. How fitting that Merci would pick that toy out of a basket of 30+ toys to cuddle with as we corresponded today about our lost loves.”

I’m left with no doubt that our pets communicate with us whether they are here in physical form or not. I know for me, since talking with Joie (and I continue to do so), I feel a wonderful shift in our relationship. We are learning to ebb and flow with each other. Yes, it’s in a different way than I had with Frankie.  But she is Joie. A sweet dog who loves me unconditionally and has stood by trusting we will find our way together.

I’m pretty sure that Jayne and Merci will also find their way together and it won’t be like Magic. But there will be magic, mystery, and love in all the new things and experiences she and Merci will have.

Note:  Thank you, Jayne, and Merci, of course, for allowing me to share part of our correspondence.  I feel honored to have been a part of this sweet, amazing experience.