Notes from an Animal Psychic's Casebook

Is My Animal Going
to Die?

By Elaine Harrison

Whenever I get a call to go and communicate with someone's animal companion, there is invariably a question the person wants me to ask their animal - sometimes several! That's okay by me, and it usually helps in establishing the core reason for their call, thereby assisting in the healing process. THE most asked question is: "Is he/she happy?" The second most asked question is: "Does he/she like me?" And the third one, which I dread (and which is also inevitable as I am often called to sick animals, just as the veterinarian can do no more for them), is : "Is he/she going to die?"

Well, as much as I may teach and encourage others to not flood their animals with strong emotions when attempting to communicate with them, as soon as I sense someone's fear of losing their beloved friend I struggle to practise what I preach! I have to work at not getting caught up in the emotion and, instead, remain clear and peaceful. It may help a little here if I digress for a moment and explain what exactly I mean by this. And to do so we need to look at how communication works.

We humans may think we are very advanced and intellectual because we have the power of speech and, therefore, can verbalise our communications. However, communication actually works on many levels, and unless much consideration and care is taken over the words we use, we can actually end up complicating matters. Many books have been written about misunderstandings in conversation - particularly between the sexes. How often do we hear such phrases as: "He just doesn't understand me"? Or, 'She misinterprets what I am saying"? It is the feeling behind the words that really matters, and because we are all telepathic (to varying degrees) we can often find ourselves hearing one message and feeling another! Very confusing! Speech can actually get in the way.

Well, animals are lucky because they never need to get tongue-tied. They are superbly telepathic and also are excellent at reading body language, because it is one of their main physical means of communicating with one another - and, consequently, with us, too. Trouble is, just as they aren't fluent in English, French, Swedish, Japanese etc., we are often sadly lacking in animal body language. And, boy, can this complicate matters! Sometimes when we get all concerned about our animals, and start to fuss over them, our body language can actually become quite aggressive - in their eyes, that is. We have so much to learn from them.

And how do we score when it comes to telepathic communication with our pets? Telepathy is all about receiving thoughts/messages from another living being - and these are invariably infused with feelings, or emotions. So, if you sit down alongside your ailing doggie, puss-cat, or whatever, filled with a fear of losing him or her, what message are you sending out? And what do you think you are likely to receive back? You are probably sending out an image of your fear, plus an overwhelming emotion. If you are putting out strong emotions you are generally not very receptive to anything else. Plus, if you do receive anything back from the animal, it will probably be their response to your fear and anguish.

Learning about telepathy and communicating with animals teaches you to be so careful with your mind's activity. And from this, communication with people dramatically improves, too! Try and see your own mind as a TV screen, which is avidly watched by your animal friends. Then think about how you react when watching a fearful or sad movie - or even how confused and frustrated you can feel if someone keeps flipping channels. Tune your TV well and protect their viewing.

A quick scenario that helps to illustrate the above point is the occasion when someone comes to visit who doesn't like/is allergic to/has a phobia about cats. Everyone else will acknowledge or even ignore puss - but the person who really does not want her to go sit on them is pre-occupied with her. Their mind will be saying '"please don't come near me" - so what will be on their TV screen for puss to view? The answer lies in your response to the following instruction:

"Right now, don't picture pink elephants!!"

What did you picture? Exactly! And that's one of the reasons why puss often chooses the wrong knee.

SO, back to what I started out saying - when someone asks me if their animal is going to die soon, I have to be aware of my emotional reaction. If I get caught up in their own fears and sorrow, I cannot really help their animal friend, or them. I should also say at this point that I do not always know the answer to that question! Often the animal does not know either - as so many animals are very much living in the moment and not projecting ahead. However, sometimes they do tell me...

HANGING ON

One day, I was approached by a woman who had obviously heard about what I do, but wasn't too sure about it at all! However, she was at her wit's end - she'd try anything, even me! Her youngest pony had been in and out of veterinary hospital and no-one could do anything to help. She couldn't breathe properly and was hardly eating, so was fading fast. Tests had 'inconclusively' pointed to a possible rare disease to which there was no antidote. Drugs were being administered to try and help her breathe, but it was looking inevitable that she would have to be 'put to sleep'.

Talking with June I soon realised she was doubly distressed because it was little over a year since she had lost another dear little pony to spirit, and she was still harbouring her grief over him. She also felt guilty because, she admitted, she did not really 'get on with' Mini like she had with her other ponies. Mini was just over a year old and June had never been able to cuddle and pet her. Whenever she went into her stable Mini would turn around and face the opposite way and any touching resulted in flat ears and stamping feet (horsey language for 'leave me alone') - even before she had gotten really ill.

Thankfully, June was standing a little behind me when I first saw Mini - because my face probably spoke volumes! I had never seen a pony look so ill. She was positively gasping for breath, her ribs were poking out through a dull and lifeless coat, and she looked like a very old pony. I could hardly believe she was so young. As I composed myself I suddenly saw the spirit of a small white pony dashing about Mini's stable, looking full of health and vitality. I instantly KNEW the spirit was Mini. I also knew she was going to get worse before she got better - but how much worse could she possibly get?

"Is she going to die? Should I have her put to sleep?" asked a tearful June... Oh, that question!!!! I told her NO - she was going to get better, but first she would get worse, and it was important that June trusted me on this because others would push her to 'do the kind thing'. As I gave Mini healing she got so hot she broke out in a sweat, it was literally dripping off of her - and me! Never before, or since, have I experienced such a phenomenal heat while giving healing. June was more than a little concerned that something I was doing was actually making things worse. Mini then began to cough so violently I thought she may actually fall over! Phlegm was running from her nostrils, as if a tap had been turned on. Yet, throughout all this, Mini felt calm.

Eventually the coughing stopped and, with a small rug over her, Mini had dried after her sweating, too. Her eyes were half closed and June commented how she had never seen her look so relaxed with people in her stable. I asked Mini if she had anything she wanted to say. Her answer was very simple: "I want to be like other young ponies, I want to go out and have fun - and I don't understand why she doesn't like me". There were other details, too, about how she missed her old friends (she had not been allowed near any other ponies for four months for fear of her illness being contagious!) and how she felt physically - but the crux of the matter was, Mini wanted to get well and she wanted to feel loved.

There were many tears as I discussed the situation with June, who desperately wanted to like Mini more, but couldn't understand why Mini seemed to dislike her so! What a misunderstanding! I spent some time explaining to June how inter-species communication works, and how it was important that she 'talk' to Mini, that she tell her how she feels. I said to her what I say to everyone - you can talk to your animal aloud or in your mind, in any language you choose - the important thing is that all that you say comes 'from the heart'.

Sometimes I am amazed at the speed of change. Less than 24 hours later I was called by a delighted June. She had spoken to Mini after I had left; 'poured her heart out' she said. Then, the very next morning, for the first time EVER, Mini had popped her head over her stable door and whinnied when June appeared on the yard! She didn't turn her bottom toward her when she went into the stable and had even had a cuddle!

Mini did become even more poorly, and June came under some pressure from her vet and her friends for a few days to do the kind thing and put Mini out of her misery. However, she remembered what I had said, and her resolve was strengthened further still by the relationship blossoming between them, despite Mini's obvious physical distress. Then - all of a sudden - Mini began to get well. And this last summer she went out and had fun like the other ponies - she went on to win Supreme Champion in a major series of shows and June has since been inundated with requests to buy Mini. But she will never part with her.

WHEN IT IS TIME

"Is he going to die soon?" asked Jake's owner. Jake was very old and very thin. Sue was concerned that he suddenly seemed depressed, and she wondered whether she should call a vet. Jake began communicating almost instantly. He told me how he and Sue had been together for 15 years, and he made us both laugh as he recalled many of his earlier antics. This was a very special inter-species bond, but he told me it was almost his time to go 'home'. He wanted me to help prepare Sue. He asked me to 'thank her' for all the good times.

When I connect with an animal I am often led to scan their body and am able to see and/or feel what is going on inside. As I did this with Jake I knew he had a problem with his blood, he felt faint and weak and was also unable to properly absorb his food. He had an infection in his stomach. I also sensed lumps appearing all over his body. I explained all of this to Sue and said that, yes, I thought she should get a vet out to see him. To see if he could be made more comfortable.

Should she have him 'put to sleep'? I never feel it is my place to answer this question. It is a very personal process in a relationship, and all I ever do is talk about 'how' someone can make that decision for themselves - and what actually happens when an animal passes to spirit. (I will save much of this detail for a later article, when I plan to tackle the whole subject of euthenasia and how you can help yourself and your animal through this process). I told Sue that Jake would be ready to go soon and that she would 'know' when the time was right - be it that day, the next, or the following week. Jake would make it obvious to her. I advised her to say her goodbyes - to get anything she wanted to say to him 'off her chest', in order to prepare them both for a physical parting.

The vet did visit - Jake had a stomach infection and had also started to come out in lumps all over his body. He was given some drugs to help for a while, but the prognosis was poor. A week later Jake went out into his field and was later found lying down, unable and unwilling to get up. Sue was with him at the end.

On both these occasions I was able to remain calm and clear, and not get caught up in the floods of emotion that were inevitably around me. That isn't to say I didn't 'feel'. Indeed, I shed a few tears with both couples. But there is a difference between feeling and expressing an emotion, and allowing it to engulf you to the exclusion of all else. Animals are our teachers and healers. They are our companions and friends, and it is okay to get emotional about and around them. But it is also worth trying to find a space of calmness inside ourselves and, at times of crisis, ask how best we can be there for them. Step inside their paws/hooves/claws and ask yourself what they would best like from you. We all have a lot to learn.

Elaine was born and raised right in the very heart of England, in the County of Nottinghamshire. Able to see spirits and auras from childhood, she tried to put a lid on her apparent 'differences' as she left school and ventured into the world of journalism. As a writer, Editor and Marketing Manager she enjoyed many years working for a number of prestigious titles and travelling the world in the process. Of course her spiritual quest could not be ignored and soon any spare time was spent exploring mediumship (studying at the world-famous Stansted Hall in England) and healing. Animals have played a major role in her life and animal healing and communication work now take up much of her time. Elaine is also a qualified TTEAM (Tellington Touch) Practitioner. Elaine currently divides her time between her animal work, lectures and demos, mediumship and freelance writing.

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