Animal Communication: Talking To Animals

Talk to the Animals? Yes, We Can

Jake was sad. He missed his buddy, my husband, who had just passed. My Peach-faced Lovebird began picking his feathers and skin until a very deep wound developed under one wing. During many trips to the veterinarian we tried various remedies, an overnight stay in an incubator, a treatment of drugs, aloe ointment and sprays, different kind of collars, floral essences, chamomile tea. I even brought Jake to work at Shamans Market offices to keep a watchful eye on him during his collar wearing phase. Though the open wound eventually healed, Jake continued to worry the area, irritating it and in doing so, making noises of discomfort. The sound was especially hard to take in the night. I tried changing his diet, giving him plenty of fresh air and sunshine during summer months; moving his cage location; rearranging toys inside, music and light therapy, and giving him extra loving attention. Yet, the original picking behavior seemed to evolve into a habit and I could think of nothing else to do.

Crazy Wisdom

Trying to navigate my way as a newly single person, I began cleaning house, literally and metaphorically, and came across a ten-year-old copy of the Crazy Wisdom Journal. Why I kept it for so long, I didn’t remember. Giving it a last scan before chucking it in the recycle bin, I found a tiny ad in the back. I had tried everything else, so I called the number in the ad and connected with Judy Ramsey, Animal Communicator. After explaining her process, I sent her Jake’s photo. We worked remotely over the phone, Judy, Jake and I, and had a number of sessions in which I learned first-hand what animal communication was and how it is used to help an animal heal.

Animal Communication

Animal communication is a telepathic conversation with an animal through a skilled facilitator. The facilitator is a person who receives images, emotions, words, colors, and/or sensations telepathically from the animal, expresses them in English to the human companion, and transmits what the human wants to say back to the animal in a way the animal understands. The facilitator promotes a clear conversation between the animal and human, and helps both parties understand the other’s point of view.

Sacred Work

For Judy, this is not work; it is love made visible. “I have been an animal lover all my life. For over 35 years, I have had various communication roles: translator, social work counselor, educator, mediator and bodyworker. It is a privilege for me to facilitate conversation between [humans and] animals. I consider this to be sacred work and have witnessed many miracles through the animals’ eyes. I take a very holistic and client-centered approach to problem-solving with a spiritual aspect to all my work. ”

Relating To Our Nature Family

Animal Communication is based on the framework of Penelope Smith’s program for remembering one’s natural telepathic abilities. Smith, the founding pioneer of the field whose name she originated, Interspecies Telepathic Communication, has been telepathically communicating with animals throughout her life. She discovered in 1971 that animals could be relieved of emotional traumas and other problems through the same counseling techniques that help humans. She authored the foundation books for the field: Animal Talk, When Animals Speak, Animals in Spirit, recorded audio presentations, presented worldwide at classes and conferences, and founded Species Link magazine. This is a woman who has even communicated with mosquitos and viruses!

Shamanic Animal Healing

As shamanic practitioners, we know humans are a part of the web of creation, as much a part of nature as animals, plants and trees. So why shouldn’t we be able to communicate with our fellow nature beings? The answer is we can. Judy also trained in the field of Shamanic Animal Healing through her training with Carla Meeskes and Sandra Ingerman. By employing the age-old practice of shamanic journeying into non-ordinary reality and asking for guidance from helping spirits and power animals, those who are adept in journeying can engage with animals, plants and other nature beings and be shown what may be happening with a particular animal, person, or situation. These helpers provide wisdom and guidance which is helpful and loving to those involved. In her book Shamanic Journeying, Ingerman tells a story how during a journey she asked her helping spirits if they could tell what’s wrong with her car so that she could tell her mechanic what to look for. They obliged. If helping spirits and guides can diagnose what a car needs, they certainly can tell us what kind of healing an animal or human might need!

An Ancient Skill

The link between animal communication and shamanic practice is very close, if not overlapping. Judy believes “They are both nature-based practices and spirit communication. Once a person has made a shift to be able to open to all that is, communication with all that is follows naturally. We were all born with the capacity to do this. Some of us “remember” the ancient skills when humans and animals spoke to each other.”

Surrendering Ego

Judy has a number of shamanic practitioners taking her animal communication classes. In her experience, “There are aha! moments as their connection with spirit goes to the next intuitive level. Suddenly, journeying, merging with power animals or guides, and trust in outcomes becomes easier, stronger, and deeper. There is a shift of heart and an expansion of awareness that goes beyond physical appearance and logical processes.”

The Loneliest Number

In Jake’s situation, he is strongly missing a mate. The urge to reproduce is very strong, particularly during the times of the year when his species normally mate. After Judy communicated to me the source of Jake’s pain, loneliness and the need to follow his biological imperative, another whole series of questions arose. Should I get Jake a mate? A bird being sold as female would have to be genetically tested. Would she be compatible with Jake? Would I be able or want to take care of two birds? Since birds cannot be spayed or neutered safely, what would I do with any babies created by their union? Would I feel comfortable taking their eggs away before hatching? Would that be even harder on the birds? Lovebirds can mate up to 5 times per year and lay a maximum of 6 eggs per clutch. That’s a lot of eggs and babies!

Letting Go

I wish I could say that Jake is now 100% healed. We are still a work in progress. Val Heart, who calls herself The Real Dr Doolittle says in 10 Things You Need To Know Before Hiring An Animal Communicator, “No one can make an animal change if they don’t want to. Sometimes the problem isn’t with them. It’s with their people, their situation, their management, their diet, background, breeding, training, or lack thereof. They always do what makes sense to them from their viewpoint”. I remember reading somewhere that communication with an animal does not equate to obedience or compliance. I realize part of the solution is for me to let go of wanting specific outcomes and just let whatever is be, and trust in a greater plan. Not easy to do for a person used to being in control of things. In the final analysis, it’s important to remember Jake has his own journey, and so do I.