How Shelter Animals are Teaching us to have Open Communication with them.
We all have our secrets; some we hold on tightly and others we may share in the right situation and at the right time. When we realize it’s time to release the burden, it’s because we feel safe in our environment and the people who surround us. Shelter and Rescue animals often carry their own secrets. These emotionally destructive experiences have recreated their personalities, yet they often remain loyal to previous owners (hence ‘The Secret’,) and it prevents them from being ready to find their new home. Their fears, lack of confidence, need to protect themselves; all inhibit any hope of finding their forever home. And yet when the environment is supportive and loving, when they are given the opportunity and feel safe enough to share, the vast, life changing transformation, healing and shift in personality becomes completely awe inspiring where words are not enough to express the ‘what just happened’ moment.
These incredibly brave and courageous animals are willing, most of the time, to reset from the damage created by a human, in order to trust another human with their heart! I often wonder what reflection for humanity is being shown to us by these animals in such an unconditionally loving way. There is always a lesson for us when around these incredible creatures.
‘The Secret’ is revealed during communication and energy work sessions either at the shelter, or in someone’s home, if they are an adoptee. As the conversation is opened up, the intention is to invite the animal to share. The words begin to become the story that is expressed telepathically visually (like a movie) of a time when there was no hope and this was the way life was going to be… and yet the animal endured and survived. I often have felt they sensed there was a small chance of being found, recovered, helped and given the opportunity for a new life. And truth be told, occasionally the animal is so deeply wounded emotionally and physically, their request is to transition. They will share that they don’t trust themselves ‘out there’, and they would rather be released from their body so they can begin again…
I have experienced ‘ The Secret’ as a concern for those animals left behind in a hoarding situation, back yard breeder, or vary- ing levels of abuse. The animals all remain connected, whether abused, neglected or witnessing it and are therefore concerned about the animals who remain there. Animals have shared street addresses with me, and pushed hard for someone to explore what may still be happening…
These animals are incredibly wise and capable of sharing, if we are willing to take the time to listen and ask questions of them, we can guide and support any stories they wish to share. What I have witnessed over the years of shelter time is that when they begin to unfold the story, it is possible to literally witness them change in front of your eyes, their relief is very apparent now that they do not have to carry ‘ The Secret’ any longer. They will always validate the conversation by either choosing to sit with me, yawning, stretching or suddenly having the desire to play!
It has been one of the most heartwarming experiences and learning to have open conversations with these amazing creatures has been the catalyst for releasing ‘ The Secret’.
A dear friend recently contacted me and was eager to share a story of validation as she felt that it was important for me to hear how the releasing of ‘ The Secret’ can have such a profound effect on these animal’s lives. We’d had a conversation with her recent adopted 9-year-old dog, Lily, who was a senior and had found her way to my friend’s home to live out her years. Part of the conversation that Lily had revealed was that she had been shot with a Beebe gun (this unfortunately is not uncommon and hard to detect without X-rays!). She shared visions of her abusive, and uncaring experiences. This enlightened my friend to have a better understanding of who Lily was now and how to best support and love her. is conversation with Lily was a couple of years ago. More recently, Lily had been experiencing some mobility issues, following X-Rays to get a better diagnosis, it was found that Lily did in fact have Beebe gunshot lodged in her body. It was not the causing factor of her mobility issues, but simply validation that ‘ The Secret’ she had shared was real.
Most of the time, when sharing an animal’s history, the only way to tell if it is resonating and true is the animal’s emotional response to the conversation being shared. So validations like Lily’s do not happen often and my friend wanted to help me to trust in my visions/readings to ALWAYS share what I am receiving.
Shelter animals will also “veil” themselves so they are not seen by potential adopters. is was one of the first aspects of self-preservation I experienced in the shelters. The “veil” was to protect themselves when they were not ready, still had their Secret, or didn’t want to be out there. This ability to be invisible works amazingly well. An open conversation to explore from their perspective, why they are veiling, helps to reveal ‘ The Secret.’ is ultimately leads to an unveiling and their new family can find them now that their energy field has shifted and their frequency then matches their perfect family. My first experience of this was many years ago volunteering at a local shelter:
Doja had been at the shelter for many months, with no interest from the public to adopt her. When I was introduced to her she was in an outdoor run, situated out of sight from passing potential interest. Doja and I spent some time together and I offered her a Reiki session. It was very apparent that she had a “veil” around her. She had shrouded herself because she had lost her self-confidence and didn’t feel worthy of a new home. We worked together to clear the veil and increase her confidence and self-esteem. It was a heartfelt experience as she opened up her emotions again. When I returned to the shelter the following week, I was told she had been adopted the day after her session!
These animals are also helping their shelter care takers to see life through their eyes, which is often a different viewpoint. Shelters are very stressful environments for the humans who work/volunteer and the animals whose lives have been turned upside down, landing in a strange environment. Emotions are as variable as a roller coaster ride, and sometimes the animals are misunderstood, or they simply need their story heard for more accurate choices to be made on their behalf.
Caesar was a 9-year-old mixed breed who had been at the shelter for a while. I was asked by one of the volunteers to have a ‘chat’ with him to see why he hadn’t been adopted. It was so interesting to find out that he thought the shelter WAS his new home – I petted him and smiled, I explained that this was a place to keep him safe until he found his forever home. I learned the following week that he had been adopted within a couple of days.
I invite you to take a moment and imagine life through the eyes of your foster, shelter or adopted animal. What do you sense from them beneath the surface? Perhaps they are confused as to what just happened in their life, or they are grieving the person who died and need to be acknowledged. Their trust left along with their abuser, or their animal family remains in danger. When you open up conversation and talk to them, just like you would talk to a friend, ask questions, and watch, sense and witness how they respond to your inquiry…you will be giving them one of the best gifts you can, to release ‘The Secret’, un- veil and reopen their world to a better place. Their history can define their future, and yet ‘The Secret’ revealed gives them the opportunity to release the burden, heal their past before they step foot in their new home to seek a loving, kind experience where they can redefine their purpose in life.
With honor always – Soul to Soul, Heart to Heart