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.