The Wisdom Path

Join Me for a New Workshop!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:54:00 +0000

Beyond Animal Communication:

Energy Clearing Techniques to Transform the Human-Animal Relationship
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Saturday, October 13, 2012

6:30-8:30pm, $35

Destiny Arts Theater & School

4 Tennis Court, Hamilton, NJ

*Private clearing sessions for your animal will be offered on Sunday, Oct. 14*

**PS: We love your animals, but they will be much more comfortable at home - please do not bring them to the workshop or private sessions. Thank you!!**

In this 2-hour class you'll gain an introduction to applying spiritual and energetic principles to working with animals. This workshop is suitable for everyone with an interest in animals, energy work, and spirituality, as well as healers and practitioners. Beginning with a discussion of basic animal communication and its possibilities as well as limitations, we will go on to explore the basics of the universal energetic "laws" that govern our relationship to the animal kingdom. We will learn how events such as physical or emotional traumas, illness, or everyday stresses create "blocks" or breaks in the energy body that can manifest at the physical, behavioral, or emotional level, and how we can assist animals to recall their own innate healing ability by facilitating removal of those blocks. You'll learn about some of the energy techniques that work well with animals, and my go-to basic clearing technique that can re-set subconscious behavior patterns. Together we'll experience a guided group meditation specifically geared toward introducing a safe, harmonious way to connect more deeply with the animal kingdom and with our own Higher Selves.

Destiny Arts is a fabulous school and theater for the performing arts, and is run by two dear friends of mine. If you are in the area please check out their many classes and offerings on their website!

I'm so excited to teach this workshop, and I hope you're be able to join us!

You can RSVP or ask questions by contacting me through the blog or my website, or contact Destiny Arts here:

destinyartstheater@gmail.com

609.586.ARTS (2787)

Breaking Free

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:16:00 +0000

Well, that was a bit more of a blogging hiatus than I anticipated... Funny how time flies when you're trying to decide what to do next. After a move, and a 360-degree change in lifestyle, I'm slowly remembering that change really isn't a one-shot deal, but an ongoing process. An evolution. It's not about the destination, but the journey, right? Change into something else, and you will find that the something else brings even more change!

Right now we are in the time of Cancer. Whether you follow that sort of thing or not, we can learn a lot from the tiny crab. Astrologically speaking, just like the molting crabs whose soft-shelled state is so popular with the seafood-eating set this time of year, we are fighting our way out of the "shell" that has become too small, to limiting for us, and moving to better digs. But, the price of that journey is a time of vulnerability and insecurity. This year the change seems especially intense and precarious. So much is shifting on our planet; so much chaos seems to surround us, both in the minutia of our individual lives and collectively. Many animals I have worked with this year have chosen this time to transition, finding that this period of intense planetary change is best navigated by transforming not only their soul, but their form. Others have pointed unequivocally to the need for humankind to re-establish Order on the planet, and that means to step up into our rightful place as stewards, not just "users," of all that is around us.

So much has been written about the changes coming in this year of 2012 - and much of it is, most likely, utter nonsense. What is not nonsense at the collective level is that we are in a time of re-calibration. Each living thing on this planet is being nudged towards a choice - to change, or to stay forever limited by the shells we have built for ourselves. And the choice is not always easy. We get pushed and pulled, nudged and prodded, and for many of us, that is enough to keep us firmly ensconced in a place that feels "safe," no matter how small it may be. I am no different. My path has increasingly led me to be a voice for those that have none, and yet the more I am asked to speak, the more I want to look around for others who might do the talking! We all face these challenges, and yet I do know that unless each of us is willing to recognize our own potential - just acknowledge it, not to create it, or figure out how to make something big of it - we are consigned to forever feeling that we've somehow missed the boat.

Right now, it's like test day in school in our world. We're being asked the big questions. Will you buy into the chaos and darkness you see as reality, or will you accept and know that the solution is already here, that the Light IS here? Will you step up to be who you really are, or will you be what someone else tells you to be (and someone who is NOT your Creator at that?!)? Will you take responsibility for those who can not help themselves by ensuring that the choices you make bring more Life to all and less to none? Will you recognize that when we choose this, then we end lack, and find that there IS enough for all?

It's scary, I'll give you that. For most of us, this is a new way of thinking, living, being. There might not be a traditional model to follow, there might not be the signs of what we've come to recognize as "security" around us. But, take heart, you are just building your new home! And it is a bigger, better one than the one you just left, without limit or restriction, and probably with some cool new features too. Scary? Yep. Hard? Yep. Worth a shot? Yep.

For a crab, it's a matter of survival. And so, ultimately, it is for us as well.

Upcoming Class - Wednesday, Feb. 8. 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:09:00 +0000

I'm very excited to announce that I will be participating this week in a teleclass with Kelle Eli, who is a phenomenal spiritual mentor and coach, and who I've been lucky enough to work with for several years.

"Coming into Right Relationship with the Kingdoms" is a class about spiritual ecology - how our spiritual growth affects the world around us, and particularly those kingdoms below our human one, animal, vegetable, and mineral, that look to us for leadership.

Looking at some of the wisdom of the Old Testament, alongside more new age concepts, and utilizing many of her core teaching principles, Kelle will help us all to have a better understanding of the limits and disinformation that often keep us at odds with the world around us.

Kelle will be interviewing me towards the end of the program as we discuss some of the specific ways that we can better relate to the animal kingdom, and how some of the changes coming to to the planet in 2012 affect our animals.

Join us for "Coming into Right Relationship with the Kingdoms" on
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 8:00pm ET/7pmCT.

Cost is $33 and includes an MP3 download, so if you can't make it live, you can listen later too!

Click Here to visit Kelle's website and get registered!

Web Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Yes, the blog has been on a long hiatus! I've been busily working on some other projects, and thinking up some new things to write about. In the meantime, I'd like to announce the launch of my website - finally! This is the main thing that's kept me distracted from blogging, but I hope the content, and the answers to many questions I've received in the last few years, will be worth it. It will also streamline my booking process for appointments, which should make us all happy!

You can check it out at www.jessicazullinger.com.

And, if you mention the blog, I'll give you a 10% discount when you book a session in January 2012!

See you back here soon -

By Bread Alone

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:48:00 +0000

Summer always makes me think more about food than any other time of the year. What with the bounty of produce at the local markets, and gardens bursting at the seams even here in the city, it's hard not to give at least a passing thought to what we eat and why. There have been so many books on this subject in recent years that it feels a little redundant to talk about the social and ecological impact of food yet again. But, I have been thinking about food in relationship to my animals, and the animals that form an integral part of our planet's food chain, from humans, to the humble honey bee on who's tiny (albeit multiple!) shoulders rests the health of much of our food ecosystem.

As humans, we omnivores truly do have a dilemma - to eat what is affordable, readily available, and, let's face it, easy, or to be thoughtful about what we choose to consume and how it affects the world around it. And it does have an effect. Factory farming, for one, is changing both the landscape, the land itself, and the livelihood of millions of farming Americans. And yet, it seems at times like the only solution for providing cheap, plentiful food for an ever-growing population. The meat industry has long been at the center of the battle over acceptable farming and slaughter practices, and I'd wager a guess that if a person thinks about food at all, it is "the meat issue" that is usually the first stop on the road to food consciousness.

As an animal communicator, I'm often asked whether I eat meat, and the answer is "yes". I have a body that feels better with the grounding effects of at least occasionally consuming muscle-based proteins. I know this from forays into the world of the non-meat-eating - I'm not one to make a decision without observing all sides! I also eat meat because it is in my nature, as a human and an omnivore, to do so, and I am at peace with that choice. That, to some, will be heresy, I know. I can hear my vegetarian and vegan friends saying "but, it is your job as a human to care for the animals and not eat them!" And yes, I hear you, I really do, and I honor that impulse - after all, animals are a core focus of my life! But, one of the joys of working intimately with animals is that you get to ask them about these things, and learn their truths. What I have learned from the animals is that we are all part of a delicate order, and what is required of us is respect for our place in that order. Just as in the animal world, there is a hierarchy of species, and we provide for each other within that hierachy. Am I saddened when I see a cat kill a rabbit, or a coyote have a deer for dinner? Absolutely - it is painful to see a beautiful life extinguished. But, I know that the cat can no more survive on grass than the coyote can. And, this is what the animals express. They recognize this order, they recognize that we all have a part to play in it.

"But wait", you might say, "you have a choice! The coyote does not, and neither does the cow on the farm that becomes your steak!". True. I do have a choice, and while that cow does not have a choice in being a cow, and being in the cow's place in the hierarchy of the species, we as humans have a choice in how we honor that cow in life and in death. I do have a choice, and so my choice is to try to honor the life that is given so that I might be sustained. In nature, each animal takes only what it needs, consumes only what is required to survive. Animals are not wasteful, and they are not cruel. They do not keep their prey living in unsanitary and insanity-inducing conditions, they do not slaughter in-humanely, they do not treat the resulting meat with all the dignity of rat poison. If we are to eat meat, if, in fact, we are to survive on this planet whether we are vegetarian or carnivore, then we must remember to honor the essence of life in our food, and to work together to sustain food sources that bring more life to all of us, and less to none.

For me, the choice has been to try, when I can possibly afford it, to select foods from known sources, to choose meats from animals that I know were given a good life, and killed humanely, and to choose vegetables from small farms where pesticides are minimally used and I know I am supporting a farm family's way of life. And, no matter what I've chosen to eat, I give thanks. Even that small act has a huge impact. When you sit down to your steak or fish or chicken, your corn or lettuce or beans, give thanks for the animal that is sustaining you - whether it be the cow or the honeybee. These small acts of gratitude create the butterfly effect in Universal terms. When one is grateful for the life of another, we honor the hierarchy of all Life.

Each person has to choose the path that is best for them. I offer these thoughts only for those who have asked, and are struggling with making the "right choice" for themselves. And, regardless of your food choices, do try to support your local farm markets, local farmers, and humane producers. Someday, we can hope, that these options are more affordable for all of us. In the meantime, choose wisely, as best you can, and give thanks.

I Choose You

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:08:00 +0000

The kitties turn 1 this week, and so it seemed like a fitting time to tell the story of their appearance in our lives. It's a good story, because it so well illustrates two truths. 1) that there is very often a plan larger than that which we see so narrowly in front of us, and 2) very often, what we think we need and what we actually need are two very different things.

Last spring, my boyfriend's family dog, Max, was very ill and it was clear that he would not be with us much longer. He had been the baby of the family for his short 7 years, and a good, dear friend, and everyone was understandably devastated. One day, a small tortoise shell cat appeared in the yard, and seemed intent on hanging around. She was extremely friendly, jumping on laps, purring up a storm, and even going right up to the back door and staring in at Max, who seemed a bit puzzled, but not in the least upset by this new visitor.

Over the next few weeks it became clear that the cat, now dubbed "Mrs. Pickles" after the fine cat of a little boy we know, was not planning on going anywhere. Max ended his struggled and passed on to the next world. Everyone was in deep mourning, except Mrs. Pickles, who seemed perfectly aware that she had arrived at a house that needed some bucking up. In the weeks following Max's passing, boyfriend's father (henceforth, Mr. K), became increasingly fond of the intrepid little feline, and in addition to feeding her, spent a great deal of time visiting with her outside. Mrs. K was less convinced. Not a fan of cats to begin with, she wasn't too pleased with one hanging around the house, and particularly not so soon after Max had gone. One day while she was out, Mr. K wondered what might happen if he just let Mrs. Pickles into the house for a few minutes, and so, he did. In she came, and took a thorough tour of the premises, looking under furniture and testing out the beds. She wandered back out some time later and that was that. Until a few days later, that is, when she was at the door and seemed to want to come in again. This time, both K's were home, and she came in and promptly retreated to the master bedroom, where, without further ado, she began the business of bringing her five kittens into the world. Much to everyone's surprise, Mrs. Pickle's somewhat stouter appearance of late had less to do with the introduction of kibble into her life, than it did the introduction of five babies to her belly.

Following a period of much chaos, and not a few threats of divorce, five kittens and one Mrs. Pickles took up residence in a fine box in the carport. Many months later, two of them came to live with us, and that is the story of Squeak and Boone. In the larger sense though, it is a story of an animal choosing the right time, right place, right family, and not without a little bit of what can only be Divine intervention. Mrs. Pickles was a stray - where she wandered off from, or whether she was abandoned, we don't know, and I have not asked. She clearly knew people, because she was never shy or fearful around us, but she even more clearly knew that this was a house that needed her - even if they didn't know it yet. She and her kittens gave everyone a reason to keep loving, even when it was hard to think of anything but the much loved dog who was gone. And, in perhaps an even greater miracle, attesting to the power of cuteness possessed by babies of all species, those kittens even won over Mrs. K, who couldn't be without them now. Squeak and Boone's brothers and sister continue to live with the K's, and Mrs. Pickles is now happily living with a veterinarian nearby.

Sometimes, it appears we are doing a kindness for another being, but in the end, they are really doing the kindness for us. And, even those things that seem unpromising at first glance, can sometimes be the very thing we need. Thank you for these lessons Mrs. Pickles, and thank you for Squeak and Boone and their siblings. Happy birthday kitties!!

Barking Up The Right Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:46:00 +0000

If you had some form of religious education as a kid, you no doubt know the story of the Garden of Eden, since it's compelling visuals are a favorite among Bible stories taught to children. In the garden were two trees, the Tree of Knowledge, and the Tree of Life. When I had the pleasure of working with an aging rescue dog awhile back, he conveyed an image of the frustration of barking up the wrong tree (he had apparently been trying to rid his human friend’s yard of squirrels for some time and was growing weary of the battle!). The Tree of Knowledge offers us the ability to see all, to being in charge of our own destiny, to be creators. However, the life it offers is also limited, and it comes with the experience of all that is life’s opposite - death, sadness, pain, and limitations. Science tells us nature abhors a vacuum, and on this tree, as we create good and wonderful things in our life, we also create a vacuum into which the shadow side of this tree must come. What that old dog had to share about his frustrations with the wily squirrels was a good reminder about a larger life lesson – be careful which tree you’re attending to.

When a squirrel disappears up a tree, or a mouse into a hole, our animals do what logic demands. They sit and wait with infinite patience at the spot where their quarry was last seen. How often do we also wait and wait, or push and push, or try and try, for something that we want desperately, even when all signs point to its already having left the building? I know I’ve spent my share of hours waiting for Elvis to reappear. Unbeknownst to us, our quarry may have slipped out the back while we stewed out front. In this scenario, it’s all about being guided by logic – “I think and see, therefore, this must be so”. We do not have the perspective to see beyond the spot where our last known encounter with our subject existed.

The Tree of Life, however, is an entirely different animal. When we are barking at this Tree, we don’t have to care that reality seems to suggest that our goal has disappeared, we will always be guided to the right place to be at the right time so that we can see where it went, or if perhaps there is another, better quarry for us. On this tree, there is no separation from that which we desire, and no limit to our ability to see it. It’s like having a direct phone line to the Creator, who is giving you step by step instructions to lead you to your goal “ok, move to the second oak on your left and wait at the north side, the squirrel is coming down the trunk in 2 minutes”.

What this old dog was telling me is that even my greatest efforts are blind. The illusion is that I know it all – I know exactly what I want and how to get it- but the reality is that my vision is limited to what I can see directly in front of me. The miracles given to us at this time of year are many – the rebirth of the planet in spring, the Israelites’ escape from both slavery in Egypt and the Angel of Death through Passover, Christ’s death and resurrection freeing us from our prison of self-slavery. We are shown that even what appears to be final - and death is the ultimate final for most of us - is only an illusion when we allow the Creator to assist us. And if we can accept that something that big and scary could be only an illusion, then surely we might be able to get some help finding that darn squirrel…

Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:51:00 +0000

The birds are back and the cats are going crazy tracking their every move outside our windows. Must be spring! There is something so amazing about seeing trees and gardens that have looked beyond dead for months suddenly burst into bloom. What an amazing miracle! And how amazing that the trees and plants are working on this top secret operation all winter, completely under our radar and with no external hint of things to come.

Of course the extra time spent outside lately, still shivering slightly, but determined to embrace the whiff of spring in the air, has induced pondering. hmmmm... It seems to me we are a lot like these trees, or even, dare I say, the barren little gardens. Often what others see on the outside has zero to do with what is going on inside. What we project to the world is just our outer mirror - reflecting back to others what they choose to see based on their own experience. Problem is, sometimes this can make us feel pretty sad and disillusioned, because we are used to making the assumption that others see us clearly, and therefore, what they see must be exactly what we are.

What a mess! Now, the ultimate occurrence of this identity phenomena probably happens to teenagers. These poor kids are in the midst of trying to figure out who they are - breaking away from how their parents' define themselves, and creating a new "Me" that reflects what their own souls are all about. And here comes the world, showing them all kinds of images, expectations, and judgements about who and what they "should" be, or even telling them "you're not good enough because....". That's pretty confusing. It's a wonder any of us makes it to adulthood reasonably well-adjusted! And, there is a whole other chapter here on the world of the teenager, but suffice it to say, next time you meet one, have some sympathy - they are in the business of self-definition, and it's not an easy business.

But what happens when we become adults? Well, often, we never do learn the lesson that nature has for us, and we believe the message that the collective (by which I mean humankind, the world, society, etc) tells us "you are who we see you as." Dr. Wayne Dyer tells a wonderful story about a flight attendant he meets who is so broken down by the abuse she suffers at the hands of disgruntled passengers every day, she can barely smile or even get out of bed in the morning. When he points out to her that these people aren't attacking HER, they are just attacking the being they see as "flight attendant", or the persona her outer shell has adopted, she begins to see that she can use that shell as armor, and deflect the negative comments. Afterall, they aren't even about "the real her"! In fact, we are all two separate beings - the inner Soul, and the outer shell - and how well these two performs their roles has a lot to do with how comfortable we feel in our own skin.

Maybe as spring awakens all around us, we might look a little more closely at the example Mother Nature has set for us. Deep down inside we are unique, beautiful beings just waiting to burst into flower - and nobody knows what that flower will look like until we show them, deliberately. Until then, the world sees the exterior "bark" we present. If we remember that the exterior can be whatever we choose, and behind it our inner, genuine self is safely protected by that shell and can't be harmed or altered by the judgements, opinions, or wishes of others, perhaps we will feel safer aligning the external and internal so that people can get a glimpse of who we truly are. When we do that, we fully live our lives, being and knowing who we truly are, and with the certainty that, whatever the world sees, we know the Truth. There is beauty within.

New Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:55:00 +0000

I can hardly believe it's been over a year now since my dear cat friend Haley left this life for the next. For most of this year it has been hard to imagine caring for another animal as I cared for her. She was a friend, teacher, constant companion for 12 of her 14 years of life. Looking back on our time together, I am blown away by the growth that I went through, and almost a little saddened that I did not realized how much deeper a bond could exist between me and Haley, or any other animal, until fairly late in her life. But, that is the way of all journeys - we come to a turning point only when we're ready, and not before. In Haley's last months, she bestowed a virtual brain dump of teachings and support on me - much of which I barely understood at the time. Her ability to see beyond the everyday facade to the real inner me, and to see where I was headed, is the sort of thing that sometimes only another being can do for us. So often we are blind to our own path.

While the loss has eased, I still miss her terribly, and so when the opportunity to bring two new kitties into our home arose, I was hesitant. I literally didn't know if I could care for them, or even like them all that much. But, as usual, kitties showed up and so eventually I came around to showing up for them. The boyfriend's parents were graced with the visit of a stray cat last spring, who soon had kittens. Her story will be a feature of a later blog post, since I think it's a wonderful one in its own right. And so, five kittens later, the household was understandably a bit stretched at the seams. We decided to take two, a girl and a boy, but yet again the best laid plans were destined to undo themselves. In the end two girls came home with us, and one of them is a brown and white tabby like Haley. Ugh, even harder to look at this little one and see Haley, but not Haley. And yet, after only two days with us, they are worming their fuzzy way into my heart with a frightening efficiency! And so, I introduce Boone (aka Joan Booner, Speaker of the House), and Squeak (aka Ms. Pippa Squeak). Boone came by her name thanks to her first Dad, who thought she looked a bit like Daniel Boones coonskin cap, and then of course it had to be politicized for use in this city. Squeak, quite simply, squeaks. She squeaks all day and night - quite a lot to say, this one. She also squeaks at the birds outside, which is utterly charming. I am so looking forward to what these two girls have to teach us.

New year, New life

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:32:00 +0000

Funny how time flies. No sooner did I start this blog than my life turned upside-down and it had to be temporarily put on hold. What with little time or brain cells left for thinking, let alone expounding on matters spiritual or animal, this post has become long overdue. A month ago I was working full-time restoring buildings, and trying to find time for my too-abundant hobbies, quiet to feel where I was being guided spiritually, and some semblance of space for the loved ones in my life - including moi! It's interesting how when we sense we are stuck in an all too familiar rut and are spinning our wheels madly trying to get out, when we finally do find a way to move, it's often from or to a place we least expect. When I finally stopped spinning I realized the only thing to do was to just get out of the car altogether. It was time to move.

And so, I find myself a newly minted resident of Washington DC - today with the drivers license to prove it. It has been a month of moving, letting go, packing up, parting ways. A month of ups and downs, tiny miracles, and new experiences. And I am not working. At least not in the traditional 9-5 sense as I've always done. Days have a whole different rhythm - one I'm still learning to roll with. And yet I am, as always, busy. Unpacking, moving a life, learning to see all the other little ruts I've been in now that I'm out of the big one. And I have a list, a long one, of things I want to do. Mostly though I'm ready to step out of the frantic pace of my life and create a life with more Life in it. To listen to where I'm being guided to go, and to go there, even if it's shocking, scary, or makes me think other's will question my sanity! After all, it is my life, and I wish to live it, not just some of the time, but everyday. Many people I talk to express a sense of feeling a calling to some purpose in their life, and many ignore that call because it just doesn't seem possible, or even safe, to answer. I am blessed to find myself able to stop, listen, and ponder what is next, and by doing so I hope that my tiny life will create a ripple that allows someone else the space, the freedom, to entertain the possibility of "what's next for me?" and to hear the answer.

Blessings for the new year and your new life. Take it, it's yours.

A Still, Small Voice

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 04:05:00 +0000

Listen. Be still. Just be. Transformative concepts, and yet if you are a "thinker" like me, hard concepts to get into! Over the years, I've read so many books, and have heard so many teachers tell me that if I got quiet, and just listened, went still, in that place I would hear the still, small voice of the soul, that inner guidance innate within each of us. But how do you get quiet in a world that is anything but? I struggled with different techniques and meditations for many years, and mostly my too-active mind would jump around like a 5-year-old hopped up on Halloween candy, while I tried to be calm, centered, focused, or I would simply fall asleep.

So I looked at what made me feel closest to God. For me, getting out in nature has always grounded me and brought me back to myself, and music has a truly soul-opening effect that has left me crying uncontrollably at rather in-opportune times. This was good, and I knew I was getting close, but somehow I still didn't get it - what is it really like when your soul talks to you?? Was this it? This wave of emotion and feeling of limitless joy that could come through a day in the woods or a bit of a symphony? Then oddly enough, the thing that finally made it click, was not working at it at all. I found that when I least expected it, wasn't really even paying attention, I would get a flood of inspiration, and that little voice would come. Journaling, much as I seem to avoid picking up pen and paper, has been a big help in channeling the guidance waiting to come through. The fear always was "I have nothing to write", and the idea of chronicling what I had for dinner each day was decidedly uninspiring. But the point IS to not have anything to write about. When we have an agenda, that is exactly what we get - our agenda blocks out anything else that might try to come through and nudge us in another direction. By letting go of expectation, by just beginning to write whatever comes, we allow our soul to speak to us through the pen. Let go and let the only effort be in not stopping the flow by thinking too much. Not always easy, if, like me, you are inclined to correct spelling and grammar as you go! Just as when we wish to hear the longing or guidance of our own souls, stillness, quietness, softness are all the qualities that allow the voice of one soul to be heard by another, and when that opening is permitting to happen, the most remarkable things happen. This is heart of communicating with animals.

This last month, the first month of the new year in Jewish calendar and a time of endings and beginnings in many traditions, has been a time of listening for me. A time to begin to become quiet, and see where my soul wishes to take me. Lots of exciting things are happening, and I can't wait to begin to share them here over the next few months. My animal communication work is changing dramatically - I am shifting away from dealing directly with behavioral, emotional, or physical "issues" to a practice based on energetic soul clearing and alignment. Rather than trying to dialogue about a problem, or "think" through a solution, this process is about helping the animal to re-connect to their own soul and Divine Source and to begin the healing process from there. I'll be sharing many more details soon, but recent clients are getting a sneak peak at this new model, and I'm looking forward to getting feedback from those who've had sessions so far.

Major changes are coming to my life, and I'm learning that the best way, the only way, to move forward in Certainty is to listen well to that still small voice within. One of my goals in starting this blog was to provide a place where I could share some of the amazing resources I've come across over the last few years. As with many things, I'm still working on the format for this, but my first suggestion is this - if you're looking for a little inspiration for your soul, click on over and check out my dear friend Shelley's fabulous new business Soul Musings. Shelley and her partner Mare have created the most gorgeous note cards, with inspired photography and thoughtful affirmations that are sure to get your soul singing, and are a beautiful way to spread a little joy around.
Enjoy...and listen!

Animal Wisdom for a New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:09:00 +0000

Rosh Hashanah begins this year on September 8th, and for the next 10 days a remarkable window of opportunity for personal transformation opens. Now, those of you that know me are wondering what on earth I, a good Lutheran, am doing talking about a Jewish holiday. Rosh Hashanah is traditional to the Jewish faith, it's true, but it is much more. As with many "religious holidays" its roots are deep in broader cosmic truths that affect us all - whatever the denomination, and "religious" or not. This holiday represents a new year, an opportunity for new direction, a chance to take stock of where we've been, and to re-create where we are headed. It is also a chance to accept all that the Creator is trying to give us, to revel in deep appreciation, and to resolve anew to apply our energy and Light with care.

I find it interesting that this holiday coincides with the start of the school year for many of us. What better example of a clean slate, a fresh start, than a new school year? No matter how the last year ended, we can begin with new resolve - to work harder, get better grades, try something new, make new friends - and we have the power of hope in a new beginning to propel us into manifesting those intentions. It is also a time of turning inward. As the weather cools and the leaves begin to fall (at least in my part of the planet!) we see the animals and plants preparing to enter the quiet season, a time of deep reflection, of just Being.

I am often reminded during holidays such as this of our connectedness with the animal and plant kingdoms. It is so easy to miss or ignore the rhythms of life under the chaos of our daily world, but, much like holidays that return each year on the calendar, those rhythms are always there, supporting and guiding us. I recently did a few animal communication sessions with some shelter animals. Two dogs and a charming donkey! They were remarkable beings in many ways, but they come to mind today because of the personal messages they had for me. I was struggling at the time to get better at locating disturbances in an animal's energy field for the purpose of helping to understand emotional or physical problems the animal is experiencing. Very often what begins as an emotional "disturbance" in the energetic body, ends up manifesting as a physical or behavioral ailment in the physical body. More on that another time, but the point is that I was working hard, and finding that while I could get the information, I finished sessions tired and drained, despite all of my work to balance and protect myself from absorbing the energy of those I work with.

The message all three of these animals shared with me, each in his or her own voice, was "you are getting what you are meant to get". Huh? "But that can't be right", I thought, "I'm not getting what I'm supposed to get, and when I do I'm tired and it doesn't feel so good". Now, they were telling me what I was "meant" to do, and I was telling me what I was "supposed" to do. Quite different things. It finally dawned on me that maybe my gifts, my natural abilities, are not in the minutia of energy disturbances, but in the greater soul-level connections that I make easily and with a great return of energy and joy.

Once I finally got this through my brain, I felt like a huge weight was lifted - I don't HAVE to practice this work in the same way that everyone else does, I can do it my way, and that will be more than good enough! How liberating! And so, I am beginning this new year with a new resolve, to live from my own gifts, to offer what comes most easily to me, and to see what comes back to me in return. Rather than trying to make things happen, I will just try to BE, to be guided by what is instinctual to me, as the seasons change and the new year - a clean slate - begins. I invite each of you to look inward, to listen for that still, small voice calling you back to who you are, to your gifts, your own personal creative source, and to rejoice in knowing that you start this year fresh, with no mistakes in it.

Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:57:00 +0000

"Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe."
- Saint Augustine

Faith seems like a big topic to tackle after a week off and a hectic first few days back to work, but since my intention in starting this blog was to go with what comes and not judge it, today we have "faith"! I just read this outstanding quote from Saint Augustine (clearly being a Saint involves the ability to quote with laser insight!) and got chills up my spine. It is this concept - we create our reality through our belief - that has sort of been the carrot-on-a-stick of my personal journey over the last few years. Getting this concept and being it, are, it turns out, two rather different things. Deep down inside I firmly believe that Saint Augustine is right, but what shocks the socks off of me is how darn hard it is to get all of me on board with living that faith. Living from the belief that I create my world, I am not a product of it, is a quantum shift in my lifelong behavior. I think it is for many of us.

When something bad happens to you, or you hit a roadblock on the way to your goal, what do you do? Do you immediately say "well, guess that wasn't meant to be", or "clearly it's not God's will for me to do this", or start replaying all the other bad things and roadblocks that have been visited upon you? From what I see around me, that's a pretty common reaction. But, if Forrest's mom is right and life is like a box of chocolates, why do we constantly focus on the stuff we don't like rather than the fact that it's all candy? Heck, you can just lick off the coating if you don't like the filling and go on to the next one! Why are we programmed to think that if we don't like one thing life gives us, we should give up because the whole box must be junk? If you got one bad candy out of a box, would you give up and never eat candy again? Maybe you just have to go through a few walnut chews first so you really appreciate those carmels!

Assuming that we are not meant to do or have something when we hit a glitch means the Universe would go out of its way to deny us what we want. But why would we be so mistreated by that which put us here?? We are created of Divinity and each of us has that spark within us, so there is no way Divinity would reject or deny us. It's like we all have a bit of Superman in us, but the belief system we have been hanging on to is made of Kryptonite - so we don't realize we can just leap those pesky tall buildings, rather than spending our time cursing their presence in our path.

So, what if the roadblocks and the "bad things" are just distractions? What if the tall, tall wall in our way is not really made of stone but is just a stage prop? What if all we have to say to the Universe is "ok, I see you're checking to see if I reeeeally want this, and I reeeeeally do, so could you please show me what I need to do to step over this wall? Thanks very much!", and then wait confidently for the directions and act on them. Now we find ourselves in a world where believing is the mother of seeing. Suddenly, the wall shows itself for what it really is - an illusion. When we find that serendipity called "faith", suddenly we See only what we know to be Truth. Where we saw hatred, we can see the struggle of those who do not love themselves. Where we saw war we see the result of believing that there isn't enough to go around and we must take from each other. Where we saw ourselves kicking hopelessly at the walls of an impenetrable fortress, we find that the fortress was made of sand.

For most of us, there is nothing easy about the leap into living in unwaivering faith. It is so hard to accept that everything we've ever learned about the world might be backwards. That we might, in fact, have it all wrong. But why not? Are we not created in the image of the Creator? Surely then we too must have the power to create - in fact, we do it all the time, only we tend to do it within the parameters of what we think to be true, rather than what is Truth. More and more people out there are discovering that when we turn things upsidedown and begin to live in expectation of seeing what we know to be True, miracles happen. Look around and you'll see books, movies, seminars everywhere. This concept goes by the name "the Secret", "the power of positive thinking", "consciousness", "enlightenment" and many others, but it is all in essence the same thing. It is the reward of faith. To create our world as we wish to see it, not as it gets handed to us. Each time in my own life that I have been shown a glimpse of this possibility, it has taken my breath away. How amazing it would be to live fully in the breathless wonder of faith in what is possible, rather than in the drudgery of what seems impossible. Every day would truly be our birth-day! Just allow yourself to think about what that would look like for a minute, even one tiny minute - and tomorrow, maybe think about it for two.

Letting Go

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:18:00 +0000

One of the hardest decisions we humans have to make with our animal friends is knowing when it is time to let go. What a strange thing it is to have this power over another life, and a life we care about so much. Strange especially because in our society, death is often an unsure, scary thing, and we feel immense guilt over the possibility of making the wrong decision for our friends.

I was faced with this decision myself this winter as my cat struggled to leave this life. She was clearly at the end, but the message she kept giving me was "I can do this, I don't need help yet." How hard that can be to hear when we watch our friends apparently suffering! I kept asking "are you sure?" I even called a communicator friend to double check. Haley's response to me was "it isn't how it looks to you." Ok, I'm learning that many things aren't what I think they are in life, but this seemed pretty clear cut. She went on to explain that there is a process of leaving the body, leaving this earth, that is very important in the animal kingdom. Most animals view death quite differently from we humans, and for them it is simply a transition out of the physical plane into the etheric - a change of state, something like when a liquid becomes a gas, but is still composed of the same atoms (please don't let my high school chemistry teacher read this sorry comparison!).

The body is a shell, nothing more..

The animals have learned what is so very hard for we humans - that we are not our bodies. We are something much greater. A Divine spark, a soul, a energetic being so complex that the greatest minds have tried to pin down this essence, describe it, and found words paltry and useless.

So, if it isn't how it looks to me, how is it?? Transitioning can be tricky, it can involve the tying up of loose ends, the coming to terms with things undone, the setting right, the permission of the human or animal friends to let go, or simply, the readying of one's self to go. It is an important process, and because humans are someone detached from this process with our scientific and religious "brain information" often leading the way, it is hard for us to grasp. Or maybe it's just hard to grasp until you've been there. I think my grandfathers both went through something like this, each in their own way. It didn't look painful in their cases, but it's not in every animal's case either. I thought I saw suffering, but what Haley was telling me, was that she had moved beyond physical pain to a great extent. The crying and movements of her body were her soul's efforts at detaching - some animals seem to be more in their body's than others and find it takes more effort to let go. It is almost like the struggle of a butterfly to break free from its cocoon or a chick to hatch from its egg, and the journey is different for each soul.

This was radical news to me, but not the only time I've heard it by any means. It is repeated over and over by numerous animals and communicators, and even in human hospices and hospitals. Dying is a personal process, and not for us to judge. The tricky thing is that when it comes to our pets, we sometimes do have to judge. This is where intuitive communication is such a tremendous gift - it give the ability to tune into what the animal's soul is saying, to move past the anxiety, grief, and fear of our worried human brains. The animals tell me that we often rush them, our desire to not see them suffer pushes them faster than they'd like to go. On the other hand, they are usually ok with this and fully understand WHY we rush, they are tolerant of our fear. I rushed Haley - not too much, but I did. I finally could not take it any more, and asked her again if she needed help, and she said it would be ok to have some help. I knew it was time, the vet knew it was time, and Haley knew it was time, she was just a little drawn out in the process. When I connected with her after it was over, several days later, she told me she was very near the end when the vet came, and that it was alright. She transitioned easily and was doing fine. If I could give that feeling of relief, of gratitude, to everyone, everywhere, I would gladly do it. What gifts they give to us, and continue to give, even in another form. Know that when the time comes, if you have to make a decision to help your friend to cross over, you will do the right thing. Help is there if you need it, but above all, listen to your heart, it feels what your friend needs, and you will not go wrong.

Solstice

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:51:00 +0000

Now the soft hour

Of walking comes; for him who lonely loves

To seek the distant hills, and there converse

With Nature, there to harmonize his heart,

And in pathetic Song to breathe around

The harmony to others.

- Thomson, Seasons. Summer. L. 1,378.

I've been sitting here on my deck in the evening air, enjoying a break from the day's heat and listening to the birds give their last hurrah before sleep. This time of the day, when the air cools down and the animal and insect world gets suddenly active in the few hours before dark, is full of magic and energy. I can't help thinking about my cat Haley, and how much she loved being out on this deck in the evening. Haley was an indoor cat, necessitated by her having been de-clawed by her first human companion, and it wasn't until I moved to this place with its relatively safe and contained deck that she got a taste of the great outdoors. It may sound funny to say a cat could look blissful, but truly there is no other word for her expression while soaking up the sun or moonlight and watching the world float by. I felt so guilty bringing her in so I could go to sleep!

I'm thinking about Haley a lot these days, she died this past January of bone cancer, and thinking also of all the other animal and human departures that have influenced my little world so far this year. There have been a particularly high number of dear animal friends deciding it was time to cross over, and this has led me to more than the usual amount of pondering on the uncertainty of life and death, and how we live the one and transition to the other. In every animal I've known who has made this journey, and most personally in my cat, I witnessed amazing grace, love, and strength. I have learned so much from them all that I now feel able to find tremendous gifts both in their lives and in their presence in the other world. After the sadness dissipates a bit, there is as much to be learned from how one leaves this life, as there is in how one lives in it.

So, a few future posts here will be about transitions and the things I've learned from those animals and people whose passage to the next world I've been honored to witness. Death is something we don't really like to talk about, but it is part of living, and in the case of our pets, we make a choice to love and live with a being who is in all likelihood not going to be here as long as we are. What an a amazingly beautiful commitment that is to make, what a gift to share that small life for a short while, and how hard when reality comes. Unfortunately, all that not-talking-about-it leaves us ill-equipped to cope when we face the death of a loved one, or even, ultimately ourselves.

Now that I've gone and started on this topic, I'll leave it tonight with some things that have brought me comfort in these last few months of saying goodbye to so many. Each life is precious, and each matters hugely to someone, or something, somewhere. In our tiny little lives it's easy to get lost in the loss, and forget the wonder of being here at all. So tonight, as you go to sleep, take a little minute to be thankful for the wonder, for each of those stars that has shone in your life, and know, without a doubt, that they are with you always.

Together

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Like most everyone else, I've been horrified by the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf. This is a catastrophe on many levels, but the saddest visible effect has been the images of oil overtaking the region's fragile ecosystem. As humans, we alone among all species on the planet have the power to create, and we use that gift to do amazing things. Sometimes, however, we get so busy creating we forget to slow down and consider the power of what we do. Obviously the human impact of this crisis is immense, and I don't want to discount that in any way. But, part of the human impact IS the impact this and other environmental accidents have on the animal and plant kingdoms. We are all tied tenuously together on this rather small planet, and perhaps our greatest responsibility as the "most advanced" species is to be careful stewards of those who depend on us.

We often get fooled into thinking that we have power over the plants and animals and therefore can do whatever we wish, since obviously we know better than they do. What we forget is that even the smallest life thinks and feels, and has a contribution to make. Look at the honey bee, which is facing drastic population decline and potential extinction. Without bees, a critical link in our food chain, our entire ecosystem even, disappears. We can also bring mindful stewardship to our own homes in how we care for our pets. When we consider their perspective, consider their quality of life, our bond with them increases and both of our lives improve. Anyone with a frustrated or lonely dog who is busily destroying their house knows well the dangers of an unhappy dog trying to express itself or "self comfort"! When we choose to bring animals into our human families, we do need to consider their feelings, and their needs. Dogs and cats are not people. They do not have the same perspective on things that humans do, and it's important to take the time to understand how your pet thinks so that you can help it to cope with our busy human world. There are many great books on this now, and people like Cesar Millan are slowly bringing this concept more into the mainstream. Still, there is lingering resistance to the idea that our animals think or feel at all. I find this remarkable since most any pet owner will tell you how clever their pet is, and the amazing way the animal seems to know what their owner is thinking, or vice versa. Still, animals having thoughts and feelings gets us into a realm many people are vaguely uncomfortable with. When a new client comes to me to help them communicate with their animal and expresses doubts or feelings of "I want to believe in this, but I can't til I see it happen", I let them know that it is totally okay and reasonable to question everything - actively communicating with our pets is not, at this point in time, something most of us do consciously everyday. Part of the goal of a session is for the pet's human and I to work together to build trust between us so that we can both be open to what the animal is telling us.

My hope in helping people to build a stronger bond with their animals, and thereby the planet around them, is that we stay open minded to possibility and consider the full impact of each choice we make. It does make a difference, one small step at a time.

What It's Like

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:22:00 +0000

The question that I'm asked most often is "what's talking to an animal actually like?" People want to know how it feels to talk to another creature who doesn't speak English - or "speak" at all in the way we understand. If you talk to different communicators you will quickly discover that we all "hear" a bit differently. Often this is due to each person having particular strengths in their own way of connecting with the world. Some of us hear words quite literally and clearly, others have sensations or feelings, others are visual and get complex pictures. I find I get a combination of these, depending on the information being given, and it seems the animal knows what I need to understand what they are trying to say. While visualization has always come easily to me, sometimes understanding what a cat or dog is trying to show me isn't so easy, since their perspective is quite different from mine. I most often hear words - much like a conversation with a human. Combined with these will come sensations, feelings in my body based on what the animal is saying. Sometimes its an emotion like joy, sadness, anger, sometimes a physical feeling like pain, stiffness, tingling, etc. There have been smells and sounds, and there have been tactile sensations. For example, a human once asked me to find out where in the house was her dog's favorite place to sleep, as they were moving some furniture and wanted him to be comfortable. I saw the color blue, and felt something soft and furry against my face. Sure enough, he had a cushion with a blue fake fur cover. It was actually being washed and he was annoyed it had disappeared and wanted to be sure it would be in the new decorating scheme!

Talking to me must be for them a bit like speaking to someone who is just learning a language you have spoken all your life. A bit like me trying to use my pitiful college German, dictionary in hand. Sometimes they deliver concepts all in one bunch, or speak in rapid-fire words and picture, and I have to pick through and try to sort it out, asking for clarification and to slooow it down. A wonderful communicator I know always say "give it to me like I'm a kindergardener". While this can be challenging, especially when talking to a human at the same time and trying to translate between the two, plus connect to the animal, the three-way conversation style of session does give the owner a chance to get a feeling for what it's like to talk to their animal directly. As I go back and forth, they hear me translate their animal's sense of humor, irony, sadness, etc and they can see that often when they ask a question the animal is answering even before the words are all out of their mouth. Or, if they ask me to tell their animal something such as that they love them, the animal will often reply with, "yes, I know that already." This helps us really get that our animals are communicating with us all the time, and we with them. Also, if an animal tells me something that makes no sense, in describing it to the human companion we can often determine together what to ask for clarification. A blue furry bed, for example, meant nothing to me but that owner knew right away what I was being shown.

The most important piece is to know that everyone has the ability to talk to the animals in their lives - domestic, wild, or somewhere in between. For me, I choose to spend more time learning the language than some of us do, but that's ok - by partnering with animals and their human friends we can all get an idea of what it's like to talk to the animals, and to feel closer to our furry family members.

What

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:33:00 +0000

I admit I find it hard to explain animal communication, especially in your average day-to-day settings. It's just doesn't strike people as an "everyday" sort of thing, and yet it is as much everyday as breathing. What has been most surprising to me, is the number of people that begin nodding in some semblance of understanding as I bumble my way through an explanation. If you have an animal friend whom you love very dearly then of course you speak with them, and if you are little bit open to possibility, of course they answer back.

As a child I had no problem imagining that a cat, a deer, a bumblebee or a blade of grass for that matter might speak to me and have something profound (or not!) to say. Why not? As children we sense the world, we do not forge through it like a crusading army. The world unfolds around us and we are quite close to that veil beyond which communication is a vibration, a heartbeat, and much more than words. So what happened? So much. Today we are bombarded with information, our intellectual brains are the size of melons and our intuitive brains struggle for any attention at all. Women often find themselves re-attuned to their intuition through motherhood. Ask any mother for a time when she has just "known" where her children are, what they are doing, if something is wrong, etc. There is a cord of electricity that binds us all, and we have only to flick the switch to ignite it.

When I first heard an animal speak to me as an adult, in a "how to communicate with animals" class, there was shock, but also familiarity. A sense of "I've been here before, but I've forgotten the where, when, and how." Of course my little cat and I communicated constantly, but I didn't recognize this as something interesting or unique, it just was. Likewise with the various horse friends I'd had over the years - and their communication could be quite loud, as in when I'd find myself lying on the ground after having been told in no uncertain terms, "no I do not wish to jump this fence you silly girl."

The thing that is hard for us as humans is recognizing the difference between cerebral communication, our spoken language, and heart communication. Having a conversation with an animal, or any being in nature, is like turning on your 6th sense and letting it drive the car. Possibly a bit unnerving for those of the intellectual persuasion. It is beyond "thinking" and ALL feeling.

I'll explain that all more someday, but for now, the easiest thing is to just take a deep breath, and feel what is around you. Close your eyes - they tend to be tricky and give you a false sense of reality. Just sense what is, and let it in. If your animal friend or your wee child is being particularly nice, or particularly nudge-y at the moment, just be quiet, and see what comes. Don't judge it, and for goodness sake, don't judge yourself.

Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wis-dom (n.)

1. The ability to discern what is true, right, or lasting.

I like this definition of wisdom. I'd always thought of wisdom as something elderly people achieved at some unspecified point in life. Sometime between turning the corner on middle age and becoming truly old you get a certified document in the mail noting that you are now, officially, Wise and authorized to dispense wisdom to the young and foolish at any moment, solicited or non. If you have a long flowing beard and live on a remote mountain top somewhere this potentially ups your wisdom factor quite a bit.

As it turns out, wisdom is possibly something one could possess at any age, and in fact, I am privileged to count among my friends a number of children with wisdom beyond anything I can hope to acquire. When I began communicating with animals a few years ago, I was introduced to the mind-blowing realization that all I'd ever suspected about the inherent wisdom, or "knowingness", of the world around us was, in fact, quite true and then some. The wisdom that animals possess, that all of nature possesses, is the knowing that we are one and the same lump of stuff, all created from the same microscopic specs of matter, just molded in quite different forms. Knowing this, it seems, changes everything. Suddenly what is "true, right, or lasting" becomes much more obvious, and all else falls away like a tawdry side show gimmick.

Still, the gimmicks are pretty powerful stuff, and it's hard not to get sucked in and forget all the wisdom one just spent a good deal of spiritual effort and several lovely, sunny weekend days acquiring. It reminds me a bit of playing "Candy Land" with a small friend not long ago. The absolute worst luck, in my opinion, is almost reaching the end only to wind up in the molasses swamp, where you have to wait out a turn mired in molasses goo with your goal - the coveted candy cottage - in full view. While everyone else gleefully overtakes you, there you sit, thanks to one poor spin of the little wheel. Rats. All that effort, only to be passed by a 4-year-old with better finger dexterity and a possible (albeit unsubstantiated) penchant for manipulating the wheel. So you wait it out, and despite the setback, you get the chance to learn a little about your game-mate, and then you go on. Stickier, yes, but possibly a little wiser about the pitfalls of the game and the nature of your companions.

Maybe that's not the best visual, but the thing is, the wisdom we need to get to our goal is all around us, all we have to do is stay open to it, not fight it, and watch out for sticky spots on the way. Sounds easy right? Yeah, not always. The great thing about wisdom is, it's there for us in the sticky spots too.