So how did I become an animal communicator?
In order to answer that, I'll have to tell you a bit of a story...
As a child I developed a deep respect and love for mountains and forests and always felt like my home was among the trees. I'd spend my summers exploring the Rocky Mountains with my family learning about the flora and fauna within. I felt like I was one with nature.
Image: I had just earned my first junior ranger badge
I was raised by two teachers so we had ample time to go outside and explore. In my free time, I would walk around my neighborhood picking up stray animals convinced they needed rescuing. Most of the time I had to return them to their yards! Oops. If I wasn't stealing animals, I was playing with insects marveling at how cool they are or looking at plants (sometimes eating them just for fun).
I was always overly concerned with all animals' well-being, I would pick up earthworms off of the sidewalk after a rainstorm and move them to safety, I'd bring home birds that I noticed were injured and place butterflies with broken wings on flowers in hopes that they'd at least get some nectar, not knowing what else to do.
There was a drive in me to rescue every animal regardless if it needed rescuing or not. During road trips I observed animals that got hit by cars and my heart would sink. I would be devastated and secretly cry. When I realized most people weren't as affected by those sad moments, I internalized my emotions. In grade school most kids on the playground wanted to swing or play chase while I was content watching the anthill and admiring how hard those little creatures worked.
As I got older, I realized my childhood was far from "normal". My mother being a science teacher and nature lover would have students that would bring her unwanted pets. We housed everything from chinchillas, parakeets, salamanders, rabbits and so many others. Through the years I learned a lot about all different kids of animals. I never understood why so many people were afraid of spiders, worms or snakes. Apparently it isn't normal to have a back yard full of turtles.
When I went to school, I just didn’t fit in. I always felt like an outcast. I was an extremely reserved girl, who loved all animals. I would cry when animals in movies got injured, even if they were obviously not real. In Honey I Shrunk the Kids, for example when the ant dies... Intuitively, I knew I was different but I didn't understand why.
"Being made fun of, laughed at and being called weird just exasperated my shyness."
I didn’t know how to express myself in a way that was socially appropriate to my peers. I would rather hang out alone outside or with my pets. I had zero confidence, and I remember crying a lot at school because I was so lonely.
"I became tired of being sensitive
tired of being “weird”
and tired of not fitting in"
I learned to change my style and personality so I would be accepted. By pretending I was someone I wasn’t, I became moody, cranky and just in general not a nice person. I didn’t even want to hang out with me. Welcome to my adolescence.
Most of my adolescence was a tug of war between the pretend me who didn’t care about anything and the little girl who cared about everything… and then one day I was done. I had enough.
"I hated who I was.
I was miserable and suppressing who I really was. Was it worth it?
Absolutely not."
I had no experience with horses except watching my best friend interact with hers and a few lessons here and there as a child so of course, I thought it would be a good idea to get one of my own.
"So, I dumped the life that I knew
and got a horse."
I had no idea that this horse, named Foolish, would give me my life back
and redirect my future.
Neither of us knew how to be with each other. We were both awkward, scared and had a bad attitude. Anytime I showed up to the barn moody, he would give that attitude right back to me. We battled for a few years while we learned how to be authentic with each other.
I spent my days at the barn mucking stalls which to this day, is still one of my favorite things to do.
I call it poop therapy.
Though Foolish was a bit wild for a novice, he taught me that every living creature has feelings too and needs a gentle hand and compassion and that it is okay to be me. Creating a bond with him over fifteen years will always be one of the greatest gifts of my life. He accepted me for who I was and showed me the value of being authentic with myself.
He is the reason I am who I am today. He carried me through my adolescence and brought me into adulthood a bit more gracefully than I would have on my own.
He and I were inseparable. He bounced around with me while I went to college, moved from state to state following various job leads and was there for me when I became a mother. More about him in a different post.
Anyways, I eventually went to college to study wildlife biology thinking I wanted to work as a wildlife rehabilitator. I was told that a career in wildlife wasn't a "real job" by an advisor so I finished my degree and bounced around from non-profit to non-profit focusing on wildlife, outdoor education, animal rescue... you name it, I've probably tried it.
Throughout my career adventures I always felt like something was missing. I always felt lost as to what my purpose was supposed to be in this life. I kept searching for that "thing", that thing that my soul was looking for. I wanted to make a difference but my work was not fulfilling my needs. What was I looking for? What would fulfill that unknown "thing"?
Plants, animals, nature...where does the next path lead?
I had finally settled into the idea of working as a landscape consultant for those interested in using native plants but the universe had other plans for me.
My life of confusion and searching was about to change in the biggest way.
A coworker of mine found a stray cat, and not knowing what to do with it brought it to me to help find it a home. Once I got this kitty home I realized, she was pregnant (of course) and just about ready to pop. So instead of pawning her off to some rescue I decided to keep her until she had her kittens so she could be comfortable.
After she had her kittens a few months later, I was sitting quietly with her and all seven little ones. As I sat there quietly contemplating and wondering what her name was, she stared directly at me. The intensity of her stare caught me off guard so I paid attention. Suddenly, I heard it. She told me her name was Samantha. I then heard several other names which I believe were the kittens chiming in. At that moment I froze.
"My world stood still."
(The image is of 3 of the 7 kittens she had)
"But it happened."
For a split second I thought it was my imagination running wild. What just happened? How did I do that? Am I crazy? I've heard of people who can talk to animals but I highly doubt I am one of them... Of all the animals I have spent my life with, why was this stray cat the one that spoke to me?
All of these questions ran through my head but at the same time it didn’t surprise me at all. I felt a shift happen within me as the world stood still. I had this incredible sense of awe and wonder and this magical moment where everything fell right into place. I knew this was real, I knew this is what I had heard.
"That pivotal moment changed my life forever."
Samantha gave me that push to learn more. I always thought you had to be "special" to talk to animals. Turns out that's not the case at all. We ALL can do it.
After that I dove deep into animal communication, the theory of energy, telepathy and anything else I could get my hands on. I started dabbling in animal communication classes trying to sort things out and after learning a little bit I realized I had been communicating with them my entire life. I devoured information savoring every morsel of the metaphysical realm and finally everything fell into place.
Samantha opened my eyes to my true self and it was in that moment that I realized my entire life was leading me up to this point. This beautiful stray cat, gave me the most special gift on that day. The gift that made me realize that I could understand and hear all creatures.
"The mosaic of my life
all of a sudden
fell into place"
I realized I feel so deeply for the animals and nature because I connect with them already, effortlessly. I just didn't recognize the signals or messages I was being sent.
I have learned that you can't talk to animals without first having a connection to the Earth, they go hand in hand. So while I was bouncing around from job to job feeling un-grounded and disconnected to myself and the Earth, there was no way I was going to be able to connect at this level. I had to be ready and receptive to the message that Samantha gave me in order to move forward on this path.
Earth, nature, animals, connection, Spirit all go together seamlessly it's up to us and our inner-selves to hear and recognize their messages.
So, this isn't totally where the story ends... but I'll leave it here for now.
The rest of Foolishs' story is what pushed me to announce publicly that I can talk to animals, something I've held close to my heart for a long time. The decision did not come lightly, as I don't like to put myself out there, but the gift that Foolish gave me upon his passing was too great to ignore.
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