Animal Totems: Discover the Animal Within Yourself

When we enter into a lifetime a part in each of us is connected to a certain animal or animals. If you notice, cat people seem to be really cat people, horse people, really horse people and so on. A real bird person will love birds with all their being. When you observe these lovers of a specific species you start to see similarities in personality and behavior, often even in appearance. This is something I’ve noticed over the many years of being an animal communicator and it was through this observation that I became interested in learning about animal totems.

We can work with the nature of animals in many ways. Some people have spirit animals as guides or protectors. We might call on the essence of wolf when we need to power-up or the cunning of fox to get out of a sticky situation. These essences can be called upon whenever needed. Our animal totems though are with us for life and weave in and out of our lives in a complete and intimate manner. These are the ones that are part of who we are down to our very core.

Learning our essential animal nature can better help us understand ourselves. When we discover our soul’s connection to one animal in particular, we can be on the lookout for those same attributes in ourselves and thereby work through what we perceive as faults and strengthen what we see as our advantages.

In the fourth class of my Animal Communication Program we learn to communicate with the wild animal kingdom along with nature spirits and the plant world. On the first day of class we go to a wild animal habitat to observe and connect with our animal totems. The last time I taught this class we went to the G W Zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Prior to going we all drew a card from the Jamie Sams Animal Medicine Cards that represent each of the animals at the park. That day the spirit of mountain lion awakened in my heart when I drew that card.

After our guided tour of the park each person spends time with the animal on their card. Our guide, Reinke took me to the enclosure that was the new home of two recently acquired mountain lions. One male that had been declawed and neutered and a female who was intact and still had her claws. It was my intention to just observe and connect with this animal species but the mountain lion had a different agenda that I discovered days later.

As I watched the female I could sense her total acceptance of whom and what she was, even the circumstances of her being at the park. My eyes took in every detail of her physical appearance. Her ears were back, her eyes very alert, a low guttural growl vibrating through her body, nothing moved, not a paw, not her tail, not even her head. Then Reinke ever so slowly reached out and touched her. A moment in time, each one holding their breath ready to react; this moment, the shaping of a relationship between a magnificent mountain lion and a kind reassuring human. I watched all of this in fascination and left admiring her but did not feel a deep spiritual connection.

The following week I thought of the female mountain lion again, she seemed so vivid in my mind that I sat down to connect with her as I would in an animal communication session. But something very different happened. Part of my spirit jumped out of my body with one great fluid motion with such force I was startled. It was like I finally let loose of something that I had been forever holding back. My joints were free and rotated to a greater degree. There was no forethought to my actions, everything was instinctual. I was alive and part of all of the forest around me. All of my senses were heightened, hearing, seeing, and feeling the earth under my paws as I sped over the ground. I slowed down and effortlessly climbed a tree, walked to a horizontal limb and laid down to survey my surroundings. It didn't feel like I was observing a mountain lion, this felt like my experience. Following my own instincts not someone else’s. I was comfortable being alone. I was powerful and had no doubt in myself. I roamed great expanses of land knowing I was one with everything.

When I finally found myself back in my chair I knew that a vital part of me had been awakened, and understood what it was to truly know my animal totem. I started thinking about the parts of the mountain lion’s personality I already utilized and the parts that were there for me to integrate into my life. I felt a wholeness and completeness that I never had before, a better understanding of myself.

I wanted to give something back to this magnificent animal. Then the female mountain lion from the park popped into my head and said, “My name is Irena.” I got goose bumps all over my body and tears began to flow as my connection to her intensified. It was then that I called the park and signed up to donate money every month for the care of Irena.

Clearing Toxic Filters

The large part of a shamanic practitioner’s work is what we call inter-dimensional journeying.  This is when we travel back into a client’s past life, their ancestral lineage or even the country of origin to release old toxic imprints from traumas that they carried forward into their present life.  The goal is to release the negative energies surrounding these imprints to help the client shift an issue or the way they relate to the world.  As an animal communicator I adapted these techniques to work with animals and learned that they too can carry forward toxic imprints, although not as often as humans and to a much lesser degree. There are some who say that animals do not reincarnate but I disagree as my work has verified that not only do they have many lifetimes; they can also change species.

An example of how an inter-dimensional journey can improve the quality of life for an animal and its family is Nala, a gorgeous, blond tri-colored collie.  At the age of three Nala was adopted by Jamee and Vance from a rescue organization. She seemed to be the perfect dog - house trained, smart, loving, and very well mannered.  Jamee and Vance couldn’t believe their good fortune. That is until their first thunder storm with Nala when she started to shake, pant and drool and then became so uncontrollable Vance had to hold on to her so she wouldn’t harm herself.  This happened every time it stormed and Nala only seemed to take comfort with Vance’s arms and legs wrapped completely around her holding her tight.  After trying every conventional method to help their troubled girl, Jamee and Vance called me.

At the time of the call I had a student from Europe studying animal communication with me who was also trained as a shaman. This was the perfect exercise for Avis to test her new communication skillsso we both worked on Nala separately. First we set our intention, called on our spirit guides and healers and began our journey to the underworld, the place where all our memories lay.  That place where time is not liner but circular and a spirit can visit the past and even change the imprint left from an old trauma.  Even though we saw different past lives and traumas on our journeys after we cleared the negative imprints in Nala’s energy field we both received an image of her playing in the rain and looking peacefully up at the sky.

Afterwards all we could do is wait to see what would happen the next time Nala heard thunder. Three weeks later I receive an e-mail from Jamee saying that during the previous night’s storm Nala jumped up on the bed, laid between her and Vance and all she did was shake a bit. There wasn’t the extreme reaction and Vance did not have to wrap his body around her. This was a huge improvement and very similar to the way most dogs react to the sound of thunder, yea!

Removing the old imprint raised Nala’s energetic vibration, Vance and Jamee could sense it in their home.  Animals are such a wonderful example of this type of work because they don’t counteract their own healing by dwelling on the old negative thoughts; instead they live in the moment.

We are moving into the potential of a new humanity, some call it homo luminous or others shifting from the third to the fifth dimension.  Our entire earth is changing; many of us are finding our key issues being triggered so that we can let go of our old karma and what no longer serve us.  The more we live in peace and not see the world through these toxic imprints the higher our vibrations become, without the old baggage.

I think it is interesting that in the movie Inception they took their client through four levels of dreamtime to plant a seed in order to change his outlook and reaction to his father. In fact all they did was unlock the knowledge he already had buried deep in his subconscious or in the lower worlds. Afterwards he no longer looked at his father from a filter of hurt and unworthiness.  I find it so encouraging that today our mainstream media is taping into the world of metaphysics and willing to delve into the world of the unseen. 

Tween: That Place Between The Worlds

There is a place where you are not awake or asleep, a place
that is not night or day, light or dark, some call it tween. The clinical term
is hypnagogia or threshold
consciousness (commonly called "half-asleep" or "half-awake",
or "Mind Awake Body Asleep"), which describes the mental state of
someone who is moving towards sleep or wakefulness but has not yet completed
the transition.  I like the word tween as
to me it is the place where two things overlap and become for a moment, neither
one nor the other. Often client’s animals that are deceased will come into my
thoughts when I am in that place of tween and ask me to convey information to
their person.  At first I doubted the
reality or truth of what I was receiving.  Now, after many times having key information
verified by the client I know the place of tween to be very real.

In the fourth class of my animal communication program I
teach my students to communicate with nature spirits, elementals & faeries.
 I am always looking for new information
on this topic, and read Faery Tale, One
Woman’s Search for Enchantment in a Modern World, by Signe Pike. In the
book Signe mentions learning about tween, a place where the vale between dimensions
are thinner; where it is easier to see the spirits of nature, when our left
brain is not so active. Faeries love anything ‘tween. When I read this, I thought,
“I know that place” so I set my intention for a tween visit that night.  What actually happened was more than I could
have ever imagined; something so powerful and real that I will always be
grateful

My experience that night of tween was not with the faery
kingdom as I thought it would be but with my dog, Luke who had transitioned
over two years ago.  Luke was a Border Collie,
with a soft long black and white coat, and huge brown eyes that had white
around them like a human. Looking into his face was like looking at wisdom,
love, and power. Luke and I spent eleven memorable years together.  The first years were training and attending sheep
herding competitions.  We were together
24-7 and traveled all over the central United States competing.  After he could no longer physically compete I
sold his sheep and he became my constant companion and dance partner. When I
clean house I like to play rock and roll music and boogey around. Luke would go
from room to room with me and be my dance partner.  On occasion I would ask my husband Mac to
dance in the house. When this happened Luke would go up behind him, whine, and
poke his nose into Mac’s bottom until he let Luke dance.  He was saying, “Hey Dad move over this is my
partner.”

When I first found myself in that place of tween I saw a dog
in the distance.  At first I couldn’t
tell who it was but as I moved closer I realized that it was Luke.  The next thing I knew he is in my arms.  I could smell him. I could feel his fur in my
hands, and I could look once again in his amazing eyes.  As I was rubbing my face on his, I was aware
of three things.  First I knew I was in that
place of tween, that it was very real and actually happening, and when I became
fully awake Luke would be gone.

I was conscious enough to feel like I could hold onto him as
long as I wanted, so it seemed like a very long time.  After all of my tactile senses felt complete
I said good-by and he was gone.  When I
awoke all I could do was sob in appreciation for the experience while my brain
went into overdrive with questions.

Foremost on my mind was, “Why was I having contacts with
animals that had transitioned while in this state?”  Was it because this is where the two worlds
can more easily overlap with one another? There are many spiritual teachers who talk about parallel
universes.  Is the place of tween one of
those parallel universes that is on a higher dimension?  We hear so much about the opportunities of shifting
from the third dimension with the planetary ascension of 2012.  As we approach this threshold will the vales
between the worlds become thinner?  More
and more questions flooded my mind but then I remembered something that I tell
my animal communication students.  If you
are not receiving information ask a question as animals will respond to a
request. This also applies if you want something from the Universe you must ask
for it. So I am asking you to share any of your similar experiences and
information.  You can do so by emailing
me at bmc@brendamcdonald.org.  If I receive responses I’ll share them in the
next issue.  Of course anyone can have a
tween experience; the most important thing is to ask and believe.

Naomi McDonald is a professional animal communicator,
certified shamanic practitioner, and educator. She is the author of the newly released book, They Sing to Our Hearts: A Communicator Shares Her Stories of Animal
Wisdom, which deepens the understanding of our communication & connection
with All Beings. In it Naomi poignantly describes many touching experiences
she's had the privilege to share with an eclectic group of animals, including a
duck who loves French fries, and a dog who reached out from the spirit world.
 To learn more animal communication and energy healing work visit www.brendamcdonald.org.

   

What Greater Gift

I recently taught the fourth class in my animal communication program. Although I enjoy teaching all of the classes this one is very special to me as we study wild animals, and the plant and nature spirit
kingdoms.  Communicating with a wild animal is different and more challenging than someone’s pet. For instance they may not have a name or be comfortable with a mind to mind and spirit to spirit
connection.  Often we need to ask an animal’s diva or body elemental for help with communicating. 

For my students to practice this type of communication we visit the rescued wild animals at either
the GW Animal Park or the Safari Wild Animal Reserve that are in my area. The
dedicated employees and volunteers at these rescue facilities look forward to
our visits and often ask us to help them resolve any issues that they need help
with.  This last trip was to the Safari Wild Animal Reserve and a few of the volunteers had made arrangements to meet us there with questions and concerns about some of the animals.

When arrived and walked into their main room we all stood
in awe with huge smiles as there in front of us was one of the volunteers,
Carol sitting in a large upholstered chair with a six month old kangaroo, named
Erwin snuggled up under her arm.  Erwin was dressed in a pair of coveralls with a blue and white striped shirt. The clothing was tailored to fit him perfectly down to the hole in the back to
accommodate his large tail and the tiny cuffs for his wrists.  We discovered that Erwin had fractured his neck when he ran head long into a fence, and was left with some brain
damage.  Through Carol’s constant care and dedication, Erwin’s fracture had healed nicely and he could now hop a step or two on his own. Carol went on to confide that prior to helping at the park
she suffered from severe depression and had attempted suicide.  But everything changed once Erwin came into her life and it was not by chance that his accident happened one week after she
started volunteering.  Her comment was, “We have saved each other.”

 We can make agreements while still in spirit to enter into each others lives on the earth plane and to share experiences.  Certainly, this is true for Erwin and Carol who are taking care of each other.  When we connected to Erwin his comment was, “I am in my perfect place” and that he
is contented and happy with his life just as it is. Carol is now doing ar projects and becoming part of a community, living life from a much happier place. How beautiful to be saved by a kangaroo.

Mike another volunteer had some concerns regarding two female wolves he cared for.  Even though he was their caretaker for over a year he could still not approach or touch the wolves and
felt that they didn’t like him.  These wolves could not survive in the wild as they had been raised by humans who relinquished them to the park.  Now they lived in as natural habitat as possible with large oak trees, huge boulders, and warm safe houses.

Me mentioned that he knew the wolves liked wild game such as buffalo or venison better than
ground hamburger by the way they ate thieir food.  He also shared that he would sit in a chair
in their pens so the wolves could be used to him just being there.  One morning when Mike arrived he noticed three holes dug into the ground near the front fence under a large oak tree.  Two of the holes were the shape and size of the wolves and the third was the same as Mike’s chair.  They had dug a cool place to lay for themselves and Mike.  Absolutely, they were letting him know he had been accepted.  We wached and listened to Mike as he worked around the wolves.  His voice was soft and melodic, his movements fluid and even. I felt a heart connection to the wolves and knew
that they understood Mike would not harm them. They also felt completely comfortable with him in their habitat even though they were pacing back and forth and staying out of arms reach.  When I asked about their actions the communicated that through centuries of being in the wild and caring for their young this type of behavior was normal and natural for them.  Being leery was a part of their nature and not a reflection of how they felt about Mike.  The minute I explained this to Mike he was
very relieved and felt a deeper appreciation of the wolves. 

These two stories made me think of how we can chose to view
the events that happen to ourselves and those in the world, which are often
made through the filters of our own inner suffering. We could look at Erwin’s
accident as tragic and wrap a lot of sadness around it.  We could judge the people that originally
raised the wolves and abandoned them to the park. Or we could choose to see
that all events have a reason and from the words of Erwin are in their perfect
place.  During this holiday season finding gratitude in the smallest of things, like a hole dug out of caring by a wolf or the giving of one’s self to a wounded human can change our entire
outlook of our world.  Sensing the profound connection and miracles in life, can there be a greater gift?

Love to all,

Naomi

     

shamans wisdom: Bill’s Ability to Follow His Heart

shamans wisdom: Bill’s Ability to Follow His Heart: " Dear Naomi, I just finished reading your book They Sing To Our Hearts and I have a question.You mention several times that animals are ab..."

Soaring Through the Eyes of Eagle

Dear Naomi,

     I am writing this to you in letter form because I don’t think I can say it out loud with out breaking down and crying. 

     The day I had to take my wonderful little man Clancy (a Sheltie dog) to the vet to be put down I was so distraught and emotional that my legs would not carry me back to the treatment room.  I said my goodbyes in the waiting room and let the veterinarian take him back.  I can not tell you how much guilt I have felt over this. I feel like I abandoned him when he needed me most.  Can you please tell him how very sorry I am and how much I love him?

Thank you so much,

Jodi

Dear Jodi,

     I was able to connect with your Clancy and this is the response I received from his sweet, sweet soul.

“By the time the vet took me back, most of my spirit had disengaged from my physical body and all but a tiny thread was still attached.  I tried to give you all the comfort I could while I sat in the waiting room beside you. I didn’t need your physical body with me as all I could feel as my heart stopped beating was your enormous love for me.  Love is the power over everything.  We, in dog form do not share the range of emotions as humans and we hold no judgment.  Mom, please don’t feel guilt over what happened. I am in the perfect place with Tex watching over you, and smiling as I remember you rubbing my belly; it’s time for you to be happy again.”

As I discuss in my book, They Sing To Our Hearts everyone in our life, including our pets, is a constant mirroring of our own core beliefs about ourselves and our feelings.  When this reflection takes place it is like a trigger that activates an emotion or judgment inside of us whether we are conscious of it or not. Often, the trigger is something that has been buried very deep in our own subconscious.

      When I work with my clients it is easy for me to see the mirroring of a person and their pet because I’m a neutral party looking from the outside.  This is one reason why I love what I do, as every day I learn something more about our relationship with the animal kingdom.  Often our pets come to us so we can discover buried emotions and address them. They allow us to fulfill emotional or archetypical needs.  For example, a person who needs to nurture will draw an animal with more physical or behavioral issues. An empty nester might draw to them pets that require more attention or stay puppyish longer.

     Sometimes our companion animals will make us start to think outside our comfort zone by developing a behavior or illness that conventional modalities are unable to address.  Many pet owners will not seek alternative care for themselves, but will be tenacious about finding help for their pets. Others with competition animals can gain confidence, learn patience, become more physically fit and disciplined.  There are so many ways that animals come to our aid spiritually, emotionally and physically. What a blessing they are to us and our planet.

     Jodi, as a shaman two words stand out for me, guilt and abandoned.  I encourage you to look at your experience from a bigger picture, in terms of the Laika medicine men and women in Peru.  Look through the eyes of Eagle / Condor, from the highest Apus (mountain); soaring where only they can, high above with the keenest sight. As humans we have the ability to shift and raise our vibrations into more luminous beings, which some refer to it as homo luminous.  In order for this to happen many of us are experiencing emotional challenges that seem to shake us to our very core. Through these experiences though we have the opportunity to work on the key issues that no longer serve us as we ascend and grow into what we are becoming as a human species, a planet, galaxy, and universe.  Our pets often come into a spiritual agreement to help us on our journey as they are able to open a place in our hearts that no one else can touch. I encourage you to honor yourself by taking this experience and addressing the issues or triggers that have surfaced thereby growing and healing from it. Then when your sorrow and pain start to overwhelm you feel the updraft of flying with Great Eagle, taking you out of the hurt, soaring to the place of knowing that you are still connected to your Clancy, and feeling grateful for the experience of loving him.  While there also use Eagle’s vision to see the potential of your future as you are transitioning into a more luminous being. The more you can move to the state of gratitude and love the feelings of guilt and abandonment will shed away.  So fly high my sweet one.

Love, Naomi

Naomi McDonald is a professional animal communicator, certified shamanic practitioner, and educator.  She is the author of the newly released book, They Sing to Our Hearts: A Communicator Shares Her Stories of Animal Wisdom. Naomi has studied extensively throughout North and South America with renowned teachers in the fields of metaphysics, quantum physics, shamanism and animal communication. She works with clients locally and long distance, teaches an innovative animal communication program that incorporates shamanic healing techniques and personal self development, gives speaking engagements, and volunteers her talents at animal rescue organizations across the United States.  To learn more about animal communication and shamanic practices go to www.brendamcdonald.org.

Breaking the Cycle

     This piece is a continuation of the story in last month’s magazine about Bill.

Bill is now living with his forever family in southern California, for Bill and his family it is definitely a happy ending.

      In an effort to get Bill from Oklahoma to California I contacted friends that I knew to participate in rescue groups around the country. Bingo, a lady from Collie rescue had a contact that organized dog transport all across the United States. This wonderful woman Joan, spent her time setting at her computer contacting and organizing people to fill time and distance spots that would get these dogs all across the country one to two hour legs at a time. The journey for Bill and three other dogs would include seventeen different legs or hand off points. At the end Bill and two others even flew from one point to another.

Each person donating their time, energy and fuel, I was amazed how all of these wonderful people contributed to such a great united cause; made my heart sing.

     My husband and I were planning a trip to Durango, Colorado so when some of the legs from Oklahoma City to Albuquerque New Mexico could not be filled we volunteered to fill the spot.

     Bill had been in my home for two weeks so we knew him well. Two Border Collies were going to a rescue in Riverside, Calif. and one Siberian husky was going to end her journey at a rescue in Albuquerque.

      This story is about my experience with Dina, the Siberian Husky.

      I noticed on the run sheet that told us about each dog that Dina had been abused and was a “high flight risk”, two collars and leashes recommended at all times. Our leg of this journey was nine hours. The dogs would need at least one rest stop and potty break.

      On a rainy Tuesday morning we set out with Bill from Tulsa, Oklahoma to New Castle to pick up the other three dogs.  Dina and the two Border Collies had had a lay over in New Castle waiting for Mac, my husband to pick them up, then on to Albuquerque.

      The lady,            that so graciously agreed to keep the three dogs while they were waiting for us had to go to work so we would be picking them up by ourselves.  The Border Collies were very energetic and a little hard to handle, but no problem. We were instructed to have Mac stay far away while retrieving Dina because she was deathly afraid of men.

     Dina had two collars on and I attached two leashes so walking her to the SUV was easy.  She did not know how to jump up into the crate in the back of the SUV, it was when I went to touch her body and lift her up when everything fell apart. She whimpered and scuttled over and threw herself against a near by fence, trembling. She rolled onto her back and the look of terror in her beautiful, human like blue eyes made me start to cry. So then I couldn’t see.  I tried for a long time to pick her up out of the mud and get her into the SUV but I was not strong enough. My husbands help was needed, so I finally called him over and hoped for the best. By this time, I am covered in mud and sobbing, and I am thinking “what kind of a monster could have done this to this dog’.

      Mac is a sweet soul and Dina’s reaction to him was not as expected.  I rolled her over and she allowed Mac to lift her into the SUV. We were on our way to Albuquerque.

     As an animal communicator I often help people with abused animals, most of the time remotely. I had never personally looked into the eyes of such wounding, I had felt it but the combination of feeling and visual knocked me off my feet.

     The next few hours were spent thinking about my reaction and what it could mean.

     I have to admit my first thought was to harm the person responsible for the harm done to Dina, but that did not feel right to my heart.

     When I ask Dina, the response I received was like that of many dogs in her situation.  No anger toward the person, only fear and she commented that they did not understand her and she was often clueless as to what was expected of her from the people. Many times the adorable puppy is purchased by people not knowing how to teach the dog what is necessary to coexist with in the family, nor do they seek help.  Couple this with a tendency to take fear and anger out on others and you have a very unfortunate combination.

      A word kept coming to my mind “punishment”. Many of us have been programmed for generations when wrong is done, punishment is the only answer.

     I have read a lot in the last few years about the shift that is occurring around the year 2012. That part of this shift is our society changing from a mostly negative environment to a more positive one; that we are changing to a more matriarchal society from the patriarchal one that we have lived in for centuries. This means to me that the masculine heavy fighting and war mentality will change into a more feminine, intuitive, problem solving environment. Anyone that I talk to about this says, ‘yes I am ready’.

      Often I have ask my self how can that happen, how would it look and feel?  The word punishment brought all this up for me and I wanted an answer to my question. I realized our core reaction to situations like Dina’s would have to change. If it did the environment that created the fear in Dina would never happen.  But how do we understand it?

     I took Dina on a shamanic journey with me, I saw the angry eyes of the person who hit her. But I didn’t stop there. I went back further and saw the same fear as Dina’s in the eyes of this person as a five year old. This fear later turned into anger. This pattern was the same for three lifetimes back. Also the absolute believe that punishment was the only way resulted in justified violence against another. It is time to break this cycle and the only way to do it compassion toward the person doing the harming.

      I remembered a story about a Native American family that boy had killed their son out of anger. Instead of punishing the boy, the family brought him into the family; healing all of the experiences that resulted in the boy’s anger. The boy turned out to be a wonderful person in the village.  When the white man asks the family about how they could do this for some one that had caused such a tragedy in their family, they responded “the tragedy would have been to waist two lives”. Now is the time to look at the deep core beliefs and begin to change them. There are so many modalities for healing now, instead of judging some one as bad, recognize everyone has the spark of God or  Creator. Sending a loving or understanding thought and steer some one to the right person for help, and break the cycle. What a wonderful thought, never looking into the eyes of fear again.