Communicating with Animals,
Or
"Why Do Stray Cats Always Show up on My Doorstep?"
By Ultra Fun Workshop Leader ChristiAnn Rose

 You know how the fairytale witches always seem to have toads and cats as familiars?  I was wondering about the "truth" behind that stereotype.  Is it *really* possible to communicate with toads and cats - or any other animal, for that matter? 

 Native Americans claim to have numerous "totem animals" with whom they have intimate relationships.  Chatting with ravens, coyotes, spiders and any other number of creatures is completely acceptable in Native American society.  It's our techno-seduced, ego-centric culture that thinks animals are "stupid" or lacking in cognition.  After all, we are the superior human race, right?

 Well, check this out.  Since moving to Austin, Texas, I have met three - count `em - THREE individuals who make their livings as "animal communicators."  (Or "Interspecies Communicators," as my friend Meg dubs herself.) Now, for those of you living in say, Pascagoula, it may seem a bit odd that some Texans part with real greenbacks to learn why their precious Fido barks at nothing all night long, or why their beloved Fluffy scratches herself raw behind the ear.  (I confess: I used to think anyone who hired a dog psychologist was a real nut case.  But Meg has since brainwashed - er, I mean, educated me.) 

 Meg claims that animals aren't "stupid" at all.  She says cats and dogs think *we're* the stupid ones.  For instance, they go to the door, scratch - and we don't get the idea until the third or fourth demonstration.  You see, animals don't communicate in symbols, like words; they communicate in pictures.  In order to understand how this works, you need to accept that thoughts have an energy. (Scientists have proven this.  Honest.)  Animals pick up this energy as we direct it toward them.  In other words, Meg says animals are telepathic.  Her job is to translate their "pictures" for their owners so everyone can live happily ever after.  (Meg told me a story about a New York gelding, which supposedly communicated accurately to its owner how to "heal" his sick child.  Word got out that this animal was an "angel" in a horse's body, and Meg claims she was paid by real New York physicians - who naturally preferred to remain anonymous - to ask the horse how to cure their human patients' more baffling symptoms.)

 Hey, I just report the weird stuff.  You have to decide if it's true.

 Now then:  if you want to communicate with Fido beyond simple concepts like, "Sit," Meg says you have to send him visual pictures with your mind.  She bombarded me with case studies in which this procedure worked.  I smiled politely, rolled my eyes when she wasn't looking, and went home...only to remember something kind of spooky.  One morning, when Ray was still a kitten, I woke up after a rare, but welcome, erotic dream and loitered in my bed, replaying the luscious details in my mind.  After a good ten minutes of this indulgence, I noticed Ray was watching me from the floor.  Suddenly he jumped up on the blanket, stretched out on his side, and put his little head on my pillow.  (Until that moment, he had never done such a thing.)  I smiled at him; he stared long and intently into my eyes, and then, without warning, he leaned over and tried to LICK MY LIPS!  Argh!

 So, recalling this bizarre little incident, I decided to send Ray a visual message.  I made it simple.  He loves to fetch, so I caught his eye and, in great detail, envisioned him trotting over to his toy, picking it up, and depositing it at my feet.  He got very still and stared at me.  I sent him the message again.  He meowed.  The third time, he came running to my side, eager to play.  Unfortunately, the little darling didn't translate the vision accurately, because he didn't bring the toy.

 I tried again a few weeks later.  This time, I had a stomach ache.  I held his gaze and visualized him jumping in my lap and putting his paw on my belly.  (I was in pain and needed love.  What can I say?)  I was flabbergasted:  after the second attempt, he actually did it!  But he also gave me this really suspicious look like, "Why do you want me to pat your gut?"  Needless to say, the next night I ate humble pie at Meg's. 

 Now, you may choose to believe Ray is an extraordinary animal.  And heck, I won't argue with you!  But don't tell me that *yours* isn't just as brilliant.   I'll bet ya, with a little patience and perseverance, you can get that puppy of yours to start chewing his bone instead of your Pierre Cardin pumps!  It's worth a try.  Just don't tell any of your more sane family members what you're doing until you and Fido have worked out all the kinks.  They may disown you.

 Before I go back to teaching Ray how to wash the dishes [snicker], I wanted to tell y'all about an awesome book, if you're ready to become a believer.  FLOWER A.  NEWHOUSE'S ANGELS OF NATURE, Edited by Stephen Isaac (Quest Books, ISBN 0-8356-0721-6) is a compilation of  "deva sightings" by Newhouse, who lived from 1904-94, and was an internationally recognized clairvoyant.  I mention this book especially for anyone who has ever lost a pet.  Newhouse says a whole hierarchy of nature angels exist, and one particular branch of these beings, which she called Budiel Angels, are instrumental in helping strays find homes.  I swear, one of those Budiel Angels stands on the roof of my friend, Alexa's, house, and sends out telepathic advertisements: "Tired of being feral? Come on down!" Yep, Alexa's the type who's ALWAYS finding strays on her doorstep.  She now has 13 cats and three dogs.   She swears she won't adopt a single `nother one.

 But I don't know.  That Budiel Angel seems to have plans for her...

Visit my unCommonBond.com site at www.unCommonBond.com/christiann

When ChristiAnn Rose isn't writing award-winning novels or teaching creative, inspirational, and holistic classes, she's busy communicating with...uh, things. (Yeah, that's write: four-footed ones.   And some leaf-growing ones, too!)  ChristiAnn likes to believe she has a warm close personal relationship with nature devas.  (What the devas think, we can only speculate.)  However, she does seem to have a special knack for attracting zillions of them to her home.  (They seem to be especially fond of her cat - go figure.)  Although she is based in Austin, Texas, she is available to come to your city to deliver her popular workshops (including A WALK ON THE WILDSIDE:  COMMUNICATING WITH NATURE SPIRITS) and other fun classes. Be sure to check out the "Services" section on this website -  - to learn more about ChristiAnn's fun, hands-on presentations!  You can also email her at harmonyhealing@ev1.net.

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