Home Study Call - Sam the Dog

Sam is a 9 year old German Sheppard who lives with Leann, and Frank, a 2 1/2 year old pug who is his best friend.

We started with our meditation, and then I connected with Sam. He struck me as being a calm protector, and very happy. I got images of being in the grass, playing with balls and running. I asked him about his home and he showed me a round bed, and his kennel, and that there are stairs in his house, but he doesn't go up them much. He loves to wrestle with Frank, and he likes to snuggle with his humans, too.

Other students gave their information, and affirmed what I found. He is a gentleman, a bit like an Elder Statesman. He has an air of dignity, and calm, a bit like a Buddah. He's warm, and has a very stable heart, he's a balancer and stabilizer in the household. He loves to chew toys, and play ball with Frank, and likes to jump. Several people picked up that he was achy and stiff in his hind end, and maybe his right shoulder. Another person felt he had labored breathing as if he had been playing.

Leann let us know that Sam had a Bowen treatment, and was likely stiff from the treatments. He's protective of his people, but he's also friendly with guests. He's very bonded with one person, but really does like everybody. He has to go up stairs to get into the house, but there aren't stairs in the house. He has an endocrine insufficiency and has lost a lot of muscle as a result. He is a protector and stabilizer, and makes sure everybody is happy. He's a very gentle soul, even when the nephews were mean. He loves to go for rides if his people are with him. Sam sometimes gets jealous of Frank because Frank can get on the couch, but he can't. He sometimes snores because he has tumors that come and go in his nose and sinuses.

Homework Practice Call - Charlie the Dog

 Following the class call, I had a call arranged with Angela to do some practice homework. Having the calls back to back is nice because I'm already settled into the frame of mind, and can maintain it a little better.

Charlie is about 2 years old, and Angela and her boyfriend have owned him for about a year and a half. He came from the humane society, and they think he is a Chocolate Lab/Chesapeake/Pit mix. I gave her information about Bear, and we got started. This time I meditated for a short while, and then connected with Charlie. Being able to write while I was communicating made it easier to remember to ask more questions.

Charlie is wiggly with joy! He's curious and likes to run a lot. He's very athletic and enjoys jumping. He has a yard, and likes to be outside and go on walks. He has some kind of a stuffed animal toy. The area where he lives seems to be somewhat arid or desert like. He doesn't interact much with cats. He lives in a house with an upstairs, and has a bed that seems to be brown. He enjoys chasing Hula. I attempted to find out if he has a kennel or not, but didn't get a clear answer. I tried to send him a picture of Bear's wire kennel, but that didn't help).

Debriefing with Angela, I found out that I had gotten a lot of information. He does in fact have a brown bed, there are 3 of them in the house. There is an upstairs in their house, though they don't sleep up there anymore. He loves to run and chase Hula, and they do actually have two kennels. There is a wire kennel, but that's the one that Hula uses. The kennel that he uses is canvas and collapsible. He loves stuffed animals and almost always has a toy with him. He likes to shake the toys. He loves new people, and is always wiggly and likes to get into everything and he sniffs a lot. He does have a yard, and he likes to be in the front and back. He has a dog door, and loves to be outside on walks. They do live in a dry arid environment, with a lot of scrub.

I feel a bit better about the connections that I've made and being able to connect a little better. Practice, practice, practice!

Home Study Call - Lily the Cat

We worked with a cat named Lily that technically belongs to the daughter of Karen who was teaching. Lily and her "sister" Chloe (who we worked with previously) were adopted at the same time from a shelter by Karen's daughter. Unfortunately, due to her work, her daughter is unable to keep the cats with her and her fiancee, so they've spent a good amount of time living with Karen, and her cat Roxy (who we also worked with).

Lily's essence is very sweet and warm. I got the impression right away that she wanted to crawl up in my lap and cuddle, purring the whole time. She struck me as being very outgoing. She likes to play with toys, like the feathers/tassels on a wand. She loves to run and play with Chloe, but is rather indifferent about Roxy. She loves to rub her head on things, including people she is cuddling with. She loves her coat and grooms herself a lot. I also got a fleeting image of her eating out of a can, maybe cat food?

The other students in the class filled in even more information. She is inquisitive and curious, which sometimes gets her in trouble. She's a bit on the mischievous side, but also very loving and sweet.  She's very happy go lucky, light and joyous. She likes to pouncing on animals, people, and anything else that strikes her fancy. A student asked her about all the moving she's done in her short life, and she said that where ever she is is the right place to be. Her energy comes in spurts, and likes to nap in the sun when she feels like it. She'd play with Roxy's tail if she could, and she enjoys going outside when its dry. She loves chasing yellow or green balls, and likes to romp down the hallway.


Karen was excited about how much detail we all got from her. She is sweet and playful, and has been very understanding about all of the moving she's done. She's very adaptable and wise for being so young. She is inquisitive and curious, and gets into the cabinets in their built in shelving.
She has a lot of toys, and her favorites are the crinkly balls. She LOVES to fetch toys. She does chase Chloe, and they love to romp up and down the hallway. She has little toy mice to play with, and likes hay bale twine, too. She enjoys being outside, but not when it is cold and wet. She likes to hunt, and enjoys going under the house and into dark places.
She and Roxy don't interact much, they'll sniff noses, but then growl a bit. Lily does antagonize Roxy sometimes. She likes to sleep in warm places, and has several spots that are her favorites. She likes to sleep on a blanket on the dryer, and has a pad in the guest bedroom. Sometimes she will sleep on the couch curled up.
I was thrilled when Karen noted that she did something unusual that morning and gave the cats tuna, putting half of the can on a plate, and sitting the other half of the can down, and Lily happily ate the tuna from the can. No one else got this detail, probably because I inquired what Lily liked to eat, and received the image of her eating from the can. I guess she likes tuna!

At the end of the call, another student happened to mention that she remembered I had asked the question during the Q&A call the week before about whether or not to write while attempting to communicate with the animals. Up until this point I had always tried to meditate, and then connect with the animal, and then make notes. Joan suggested, and Karen agreed, that writing while communicating was easier and helped to not forget anything (case in point, until Karen mentioned it, I forgot that Lily told me that she loved how pretty her coat was and liked to groom herself). Excited to have been reminded of this, I decided to try it out on my homework call.

Homework Practice Call - Crusader the Horse

Crusader, aka CR is an 8 year old Kentucky Mountain Horse that belongs to Lois and her husband. They've owned him since he was 5, and he lives with Rusty and Buddy in his herd, plus Lois, her husband and their dog, Misty. Lois and I traded information, and then spent time meditating before connecting.

I had trouble getting a clear connection and settling in. I got a feeling of warmth, like being in the sun, and got the feeling that CR really likes carrots. I asked him about Rusty and Buddy, and he conveyed that he loves to play with Rusty chasing each other and playing the nip-nip game. He didn't really have any strong feelings about Buddy or information to share.

I checked back in with Lois, and she told me that he can be challenging to connect with, which is why she didn't give him to me first. He has a higher energy level than the other two horses, and he can be a little flighty and aloof. He was purchased from a horse dealer, and came to them underweight, and is still low on the pecking order. His favorite treat, is in fact, carrots. When they brought him home he liked carrots so much that he got the other horses to enjoy carrots too. He and Rusty will play chase and tag with each other. They'll even pick up branches and play tug of war with them. Buddy is the leader, and was more standoffish when CR arrived, but they have settled in now.

Lois connected with Storm, and he was also eager to chat (there go my talkative animals again, I guess they get it from me!). She felt that he has a quiet gentle soul. He is aware that he is larger than the other horses, and that they respect him for his size. He really wants to help me work on the animal communication stuff, too. He likes to be in the pasture, but he told her that Keeper (the new horse) is still adjusting to the herd, so he's not always included, yet.

Home Study Call - Delila the Dog

Joan led today's call connecting with Delila the dog. She arrived to Joan at about 5 weeks of age, and has lived on the farm ever since. She's now 3, and lives with 2 other dogs, Isabella and Olivia, plus 5 cats and 3 horses. Originally, she was raised by a friend of Joan's that lived on the farm in her trailer, but the friend has since left, and Delila stays on the farm.
I got a sense of warmth and serenity right away. She seemed playful, but also very princess like, but not in a prissy kind of way. More in a Princess Di kind of regal way. I got the sense that she likes to be outside a lot.

Others echoed my feelings. She told someone "I'm an Antenna" and gave the impression of being very aware of the surroundings, and scoping things out all the time. She is a bit of a little sister to Olivia, and she likes to clown around, but also has a serious side. She loves to engage people, and enjoys connecting. She's eager to please, and very loyal to Joan. She has a cat "buddy" that she likes to be with, and also loves her people cuddle time. She has very high self esteem, and likes to play with balls. She also likes water, and has fun barking a lot.

Joan described her immediately as a very happy dog. She's just completely happy, for no reason at all, and doesn't need one. She's mischievous and sweet, and while Olivia runs the farm, she is the apprentice. She is a peaceful warrior, and full of exuberance. She would like to herd the horses, but isn't successful at that. She knows the routine, and knows what happens before what happens happens. She always checks people out when they arrive, and she always knows when the coyotes are around the property. She has a special relationship with the Ravens that hang around the farm. She is the one that helps balance everyone else's energy in the house. She is a delight, and always fun to be around.

Homework Practice Call - Hula the Dog

Hula the dog is 2 1/2 years old, owned by Angela and her boyfriend. Hula lives with her buddy, Charlie who is close to her age. She was rescued from the local Humane Society.

After Angela and I began with our meditation, I connected with Hula. Her energy seemed playful and vibrant. I sensed she loved balls and doing tricks, and liked to go on walks and explore new places. She also seemed to like to be snuggly and was very close to Charlie.

Angela confirmed that she is a super cute dog, and likes to beg and do other silly tricks. She likes to watch Charlie chase balls around. She has crazy bursts of energy where she runs all out, and then will be relaxed again. She does love to explore, but also likes to be near Charlie for security.

It was Storm's turn to connect with someone, and so Angela worked with him. She felt immediately that he is a sweet hear, but can be a little timid and stubborn sometimes. She felt he had a lot to give though. She sensed he wasn't the herd leader in the group, but he loves to be in his pasture. She felt how strong and how fragile he is all in the same breath. She got a bit sleepy when she connected, and sensed that he liked to be in the sun. He loves hands on his nose, and likes the little treats he gets. He's been working to use his withers more in the work we have been doing, and she sensed something might be a little off with his feet. He also indicated that he had some saddness from the past, and that someone, somewhere had been mean to him in the past. He wasn't clear about these details, and she wasn't able to get any more identifying information. She checked his Chakras, and found that his stomach was a little unsure, and he was a little fuzzy in his crown Chakra, but everything else seemed balanced.

When she finished, I checked out the window, and sure enough, the herd was napping in the sun, up against the brush wind break. She was delighted to have picked up on those details. I asked her to check back in and see if he would tell her who the herd boss was, and he referenced the red mare, which would be Heidi. I laughed, and knew immediately that was correct. He seemed content not to need to be the top boss. I was delighted to have some of the information, and glad that he was so willing to talk.

Homework Practice Call - Misty the Dog

Lois and I got back together for another practice call working with her dog Misty, while she worked with my dog Bear.

Misty is a 13 year old Jack Russel mix that Lois and her husband have owned since she was 12 weeks old. She's been mostly a house dog, but lives on the farm with Lois, her husband, and their 3 horses, Rusty, CR, and Buddy.

After I gave her Bear's information, we both took some time to meditate and then connect with the animal. I picked up that she is energetic, and a guardian, as well as a bit of a princess. Sh likes to chase balls, and possibly sticks, and thinks she runs the show. I felt like she was chewing something, maybe a rawhide treat or something, possibly, but I wasn't sure what it was. She gave me the impression that she likes to curl up and be snuggly somewhere, maybe on her bed or in a favorite place.

Lois confirmed that she is still very energetic at 13, and loves walks in the woods. She does run the show, and is a bit of a princess. She likes to curl up on the couch in the morning sun, then she has a bed in the kitchen and moved in there when the sun changes rooms. She does have rawhide sticks that she enjoys chewing, and she played more with balls when she was younger. She still does enjoy it, but now that she's 13 she doesn't have quite as much energy as she had.

Lois then gave me the information that she got from Bear. He was also very chatty, as Toby had been (being my animals, I guess I shouldn't be surprised!). He is very proud of his tail with its unique and special "cute curl" as he called it. He was friendly, but also a little aloof. He likes the other animals (the horses, and chinchillas are ok). He does miss his old house, but he likes the new farm, too. I asked Lois to check in with his mouth and make sure he was ok since he hadn't been chewing on things as much as he had been before, and he gave her the impression it just wasn't as much fun as it had been when he was younger. His teeth seem to be more sensitive now. Hopefully we can get some softer chews for him and he'll go back to happy gnawing.

(Update - I picked up some wonderful Acadia Antlers again at the Pet Expo! Carol hooked me up with some softer pieces of Moose Antler to give to the dogs to see if that interested them more than the older harder pieces. I always got the hardest pieces I could find because they were such rugged chewers. Now that they are older, they seem to prefer the softer pieces. I'm thrilled that they're chewing again, and are getting the excellent added benefit of the nutrition of the dense moose antlers!)

Home Study Call - Chloe the Cat

Karen led us through the call which we connected with her daughter's cat, Chloe. Chloe and her "sister" were adopted together from a shelter by her daughter, and they are both about one year old. Chloe lives with Karen and Roxy, but technically belongs to her daughter and her daughter's fiance.

I connected with Chloe when I had finished my meditation, and felt like she was crawling right up in my lap. She was very gentle, and seemed to like snuggling. I got the impression that she is timid with strangers, but has big energy and isn't afraid to connect with people she knows. She loves playing, pouncing, grooming, and cuddling with her sister Lily. I didn't get the impression that she was much of an outdoor cat.

Others on the call also picked up that she likes to play. She is sweet, tender, and caring, likes to be in Karen's house, but misses her daughter. She doesn't like the moving around back and forth that has happened in her short life. She's a talker, and has that "little girl" persona. She also enjoys sitting by the window.

Karen elaborated that she is indeed a big talker, and has a loud purr. She is sweet with people she knows, but shy otherwise. She does like to cuddle with Lily, but she keeps Roxy at a distance. She likes to drink out of the sink, and does like to go out and hunt, but doesn't get out much right now. She enjoys climbing trees and likes to jump. She likes rubbing on things and laying on a blanket. She likes long pets (long strokes) and likes to sprawl out across your lap. She loves grooming and is proud of her coat.

Homework Practice Call - Rusty the Horse

We were given a partner to work with to trade practice time. Since we all have animals, it makes it easy to partner up and swap photos to practice. Lois and I arranged a call and she sent me a photo of her horse Rusty, and I sent her a photo of my dog Toby so we could trade. We both went through some meditation time, and then connected with the animal.

Rusty is her 9 year old horse that she and her husband have owned since he was 6 months old. He lives with two other horses, Buddy a 13 year old, and Crusader, aka "CR" who is 8 years old, plus their dog Misty and she and her husband.

I connected with Rusty, and immediately got the feeling like he was standing RIGHT in front of me, almost with his forehead pressed against me. I connected a little deeper and got the impression that he liked to nap in the sunshine, and that he felt very young to me, regardless of his age.

When we reconnected, Lois confirmed everything for me, and told me that he also enjoys playing with CR a lot, and is in general very playful.

She shared with me about her connection with Toby, and that he interrupted her meditation wanting to chat! She had to tell him to wait a minute and let her finish. When she connected wtih him she found that he likes to be close, especially to things that are mine and smell like me. He's very loving. He also told her he wants to be in charge (thinks he is....), he's very proud of his coat and how shiney it is. He is also proud of his home and the humans he lives with (myself and my boyfriend). He likes to be outside and inside, and likes other animals. He showed her his bed (she saw something stuffed and blue), and then told her about a round bouncing object that was red that he loves to play with.

I was able to confirm everything she got, and discovered later that the round bouncing object was the laser dot that we sometimes play with him. He loves to chase it and will probably chase it forever if he's given the opportunity!

Home Study Call - Buster Keaton the Cat

Joan's cat, Buster Keaton was our animal friend for the day. He is one of several of her animals that she has, and so we connected with him after our meditation.

I entered into the call late due to problems with my phone, so I was a little flustered from the outset. I picked up on his essence of being warm and liking connection with people. I got that he likes grooming himself, and enjoys running around and playing.

Others picked up on the playful attitude as well, finding that he likes the little toy mousies, and crunchy sounding things like leaves and ribbons. He likes to tussle with another cat, and enjoys snuggling with the other animals and people in the house. He is gentle, but has a strong personality, though isn't the leader of the house. He is proud of his fur, and enjoys time in the sunshine relaxing.

Joan gave us the rundown and we had all really picked up his essence. He enjoys being in a group, but also alone time. He likes to groom the dogs, and is careful with Olivia and cleans her ears for her. He loves to take strolls outside, and will steal the other cat's catch from them. He is sometimes reserved, but still fun and playful at the same time.

Home Study Call - Shaker the Horse

Today's class was led by Sue, and we connected with her daughter's horse, Shaker. He is an 11 year old Thoroughbred gelding that is boarded at a nearby barn. Sue led us through the meditation and we all began connecting.

I didn't get much more than a sense, which was disappointing. The essence that I sensed was that he was a real gentleman, and that he loved to run.

Almost everyone in the class sensed that he liked to run. Others picked up that he was easy going, and a funny guy. He likes carrots and apples and walking on the trails. Someone even identified that there is one horse in his herd that he doesn't particularly like, otherwise he gets along with the others. A few people noticed that his right hind felt a bit off. There was also a sense that he liked to play with a ball or toy, and that he likes having his feet trimmed, he just doesn't like the process of doing so.

Sue verified that he had injured his right hind foot last summer. He enjoys rolling, and shaking off. He was a former race horse, and does love to run. He did, in fact, have a ball to play with at one time. He is easy going, and does like his carrots. He hasn't been worked in a while, so he probably is tight.

It was delightful to work with a horse for the first time. I got a sense of a big brown barn, and a sort of shed row, or dutch door style barn that opens to the outside. He was quite the gentleman to work with.

Home Study Call - Body Scan

Karen sent the information for the day's call and included a photo of herself. When we connected to the call, she explained that body scanning is challenging because the animal can't give us feedback. When scanning for general essence, favorite things, and other topics, the person most connected with the animal can give descriptive feedback. When dealing with body scanning, the feedback isn't able to be verified from an animal, so working with people is the preferred learning method.
Karen explained several different methods of body scanning, and encouraged us to experiment to find our own "easiest" technique. She suggested working with the photo, and using "soft eyes" to scan the image to see if we could detect any energetic discrepancies. Another option was to use our hands to run over the animal (physically, if you are with the animal, or using imagery if the animal is in another place) to sense changes in energy, hot spots, or blocks. The last option was to "climb into" the body, and use our own body to sense feelings, energy, heat, and possibly pain, to sense what the animal is experiencing.

We began the session the same as we always do, with a meditation to get grounded and connected, as well as to identify anything in our own bodies that could interfere with receiving information. Once the meditation was finished, I began to scan, trying to place my body within the image of hers and feel any sensations that I could. I felt slightly nauseous, and a little light headed, but couldn't identify anything more than that.

Karen filled the class in after we all gave our descriptions. She did say she was a bit dizzy and not feeling well. She was not working at 100% and was feeling a little fuzzy. She explained she gets frequent headaches, and wears reading glasses. She's been a little stuffy with some sinus issues, and has been seeing an ENT to help diagnose that. She explained she probably should be taking her thyroid supplements, but hasn't been. Her shoulders and back were a little tight from traveling and hauling her suitcase. She feels there is a hip or leg issue on her left side, but isn't sure of what it might be at this time. She has also been dealing with grief issues, and has been doing a lot of transformational clearing work in the past couple of years.

Many people in the class got a number of the details that Karen elaborated on. I think that my own inability to connect is based upon the fact that I am unsure that "I can do it" so that is leading to the reality that I can't do it. Hopefully this will shift with more practice. Body scanning work is my weakest area currently.

Home Study Call - Bella the Cat

This is Bella! She is 2 years old and lives with Sue's family, herself, her husband, and their daughter. The call today was to begin learning to scan the body. This is a form of connection that allows the individual to feel what is going on in the animal's body. It does not take the place of a veterinary diagnosis, but it can help tremendously with tough situations, especially when an animal might be masking pain. There are several different methods to do this, but this call was just the beginning to explore.

After Sue guided us through the meditation, I began to connect. I felt that she was a bit timid and shy, but that she loved to play. It seemed that once she warmed up to you, she would be very affectionate. I got images of her pouncing on things, toys, and feathers, and that she loved to play in the grass. When I attempted to connect with her body, I felt some pain in my left shoulder blade that had not been there before.  I felt unsure working this way, so I was not surprised to not perceive much.

Others in the group picked up more detailed information. Someone identified that her left hind leg seemed like it had an old injury, possibly from a wheel of a car or something else. Another person felt some issues in her solar plexus area, and possible shortness of breath, which was seconded by someone else. Another person identified an odd feeling in the bladder area, while one other person felt there might be some issues in her pelvis or tail.

Several people picked up a little of her essence as well during the connection, with most everyone identifying that she is timid, and shy, but still very playful. She acts like a little sister, and is a bit territorial.

Sue confirmed that we all were very accurate about her essence. She didn't know a whole lot about her physically because she had only come to the family in the previous fall when she wandered up. She likes to hunt rabbits and mice, and is very energetic. She's shy with strangers, but loves to interact and is very loyal with people she knows well.

I'm still feeling very green, and unsure, which I believe accounts for some of my lack of information. I'm just timid myself, so that makes it more challenging. It is challenging to have patience with myself while attempting to grasp at something that is so intangible, but so very real.

Home Study Call - Roxy the Cat

First call of our home study course began with Roxy the cat. Roxy is an 8 year old cat that has been living with Karen since she was 6 weeks old.
Karen led our meditation and guided us through grounding, settling in and becoming neutral, and then connecting with the animal. We were given instruction to check in with Roxy and see if we could find out a little about her essence, or personality, and what her favorite things were.

I struggled to establish a connection, after all, this was my very first attempt! Eep! What I felt was that she was a very feminine cat, very happy and playful and also very observant of what was going on around her. When I attempted to express interest in what her favorite thing was, I got the sense of laying in the sun, on warm carpet.

When the connection period was over, Karen checked in with each one of us on the phone, and we had the chance to talk about what we got.
All of what I got was echoed by other students, in various forms. She was described as being serene, peaceful, but playful. As calm, and not shy, a caretaker and guardian of the household. The favorite things that other people discovered in addition to laying in the sun were playing with feather toys, small balls to chase, catnip, and being out in the garden. Someone even discovered that she liked turkey!

When all of us had given our descriptions, Karen confirmed and gave us more information on Roxy. She loves to lay in the sun! Her favorite spots are laying in the driveway next to the car or in the grass in the yard. She is playful and loves to tear around the house and doesn't act her age. She loves catnip, and has a black ball with catnip in it. She is slow to warm up to new people, but very affectionate with those that she knows well. She loves Karen a lot and likes to spend time in her lap.

The call was great, I was a little stunned to dive right in with so little instruction prior to the beginning. I guess I was expecting there to need to be more guidance and information in the beginning, but Karen did a great job of setting us up, and just letting us role. I felt very vulnerable and new with the experience. Many others in the group got a lot more information than I did. It gave me the feeling of being in kindergarten amongst high schoolers. It was a relief to have gotten some details correct, even if it felt like baby talk to me.

I know that this will be a process and a journey of the exploration of self for me. I know that I will need to be content with where I am in any given moment, while at the same time striving to be more open to adaptation and learning. It is going to take learning about meditation, and doing it, along with learning to connect that will make me better at this. The challenge will be the combination of doing nothing, and not doing too much. I'm thrilled that the first connection was a good one, with validation, its a great place to start. The journey is the most important part anyway!