Soaring Through the Eyes of Eagle
Pet Talk – November 2010
by Naomi McDonald
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.
