Sharing Animal Love
Blog, Wellness & Spirtuality | January 6, 2010
At an informal retreat, we were discussing how profoundly animals we love have reached us deep inside, changed us, opened us. One woman talked about how devastating the impending loss of her dog was going to be for her. At age 50 she had for the first time allowed herself to unfreeze, to love. Because of this gift she was able to move on to satisfying human relationships and even more so, to a relationship with her self. Others with families and children who also deeply loved their pets voiced the same sentiment — of how much their pets gave them, how wrenching the goodbye. We wondered together just what it was that made what an animal gives so rich and deep and readily accepted; what is it, that an animal has the capacity to unlock fearful and frozen hearts. We know it happens but how — I have yet to find any really satisfying answers. Maybe it can’t be explained or understood except by the heart. Please share your thoughts and comments.
Earthfire’s Mission in Action by Pat Hager
I wonder if its a universal desire to feel needed, acknowledged and accepted and also share the bond of love. I couldn’t figure it out either why I felt drawn to the animals in pictures I found online–like wolves, bears, birds, seals, cougars, etc. I always loved to watch baby animals play and wished I could keep them after they’re grown and they would never hurt me nor I them. There’s such a sweet loyalty about them. Maybe we show each other what we need and we share it. Or maybe they show us of the “oneness” we all share. Or maybe they’re meant to soften our hearts. And just to plain enjoy. They bring hope to people. Maybe it can’t be put into words like the “love connection” we feel with our own kids. Could be a different way of receiving a “love connection”. We can say we love our kids but its impossible to express those deep feelings. Maybe they’re angels in disguise. Maybe their total acceptance of us or the energy of it automatically meets our energy of desire to be accepted or even acknowledged. Like our own thinking can get in our way at times like perceiving experiences from our past. We keep those perceptions forever sometimes even though some aren’t really true or valid. It can be anything and it can hold us hostage to its will. Maybe they have these other innate, special energy forces that behave like a type of reiki energy. And that kind of energy automatically sets out to do what it needs to. After all they’re gifted with senses that we’re unaware of mostly–that we manage to learn slowly but surely. And maybe that’s why a lot of times they can heal themselves. Now I’m wondering if that were so then why wouldn’t they heal their own depression? Then again maybe they do–after all things take time to heal sometimes. And if we were more available to them like you guys have been, healing would be easier for them. I’m just talking now like I do in my journal–thinking my way down any path to some sort of solution that makes sense. Sometimes I talk myself into one. I know more about people than I do animals so I can only speculate. I do know when I stared at a picture of this cougar I could see total authenticity, stateliness, fearlessness, a sense of belonging and this “inner knowing” that it did. And I wanted to feel those feelings. And my intention was set from there on to feel them. I needed reminding along the way and still do. That cougar was not here or around me but I still saw these things in its eyes and demeanour. I wish I knew what it was too. It’s a natural connection of some kind–an energy connection.
From Ontario, Canada
Comment by Anne Johnson — October 23, 2010 @ 3:54 pm