Communicating From the Heart - continued

Speaking with respect, Dawn told us about life-lessons she's learned from her animal friends. Her beloved horse, Deeteza (deeTEZza), was one of the residents who helped design and teach the advanced Spring Farm communication workshops. Although Deeteza passed over several years ago, she continues to be a guide and inspiration to Dawn. Gulliver the llama, another of the master teachers, is currently helping Dawn write a book. Gulliver's apt title for the project is Humans Being Instead of Doing.

Reincarnation is a topic which invariably comes up during communication workshops. Animals are generally aware of past lives and know they'll return again in a new body. When someone asked Dawn if reincarnation is immediate, she explained some animals spend more time in spirit between incarnations and at other times the return is quick. She told us of a consultation she did for a woman who was distraught over her missing rooster; she feared a fox had taken him. When Dawn contacted him, he told her, "Beautiful morning...I was walking across the yard, gathering up the girls and then, BAM! There I was, back in an egg!" (Dawn added that when she speaks with an animal, she gets no sense of whether he or she is in physical form or in spirit: the animals draw less distinction between life and death than do we humans.)
On Saturday, Dawn divided us into pairs to practice first listening skills, then telepathic sending and receiving. A brief guided meditation included a visualization of the doors of our hearts gently opening to allow the light to stream out. Telepathic communication flows from the heart rather than the mouth and ears. Finally, Dawn led us through a meditation during which we became an animal of our choice; sensing through its body, experiencing its emotions. At the end of the day, she gave us our homework assignment. Before class the next morning, we were told to approach one of June's animals, say hello, and imagine hearing "hello" back. Dawn would validate or correct any responses we got.

Sunday brought a huge improvement in the weather. Blooming dogwoods dotted the surrounding hills like stars as we drove from the motel back to Hidden Heights. I knew I had only a few minutes before Dawn reconvened the workshop, so I took a deep breath and went looking for a target. Mark Russell, the feisty Jack Russell terrier, was far too preoccupied bossing around the visitors, so I wandered until I found June's elderly black Pug waiting for her in the basement hallway. I sat on the floor in front of Pugsley and tried to ground and center myself and picture the opening doors in my heart; then I said hello. Nothing. I gave the dog some light massage strokes and asked him how he liked having so many people in his house. Now I had an impression that he was out of sorts with all the hubbub...but there was a little undercurrent of excitement, especially with all the interesting food around. I was sure I was making it up. As I rubbed his head, I thought I got, "Ooh, that feels good." Body language, I told myself. I moved to his back and promptly heard, 'The head! The head!' I was still sure it was my imagination until the Jack Russell began yapping nearby, then I distinctly heard Pugsley say with infinite disgust, 'And that Mark Russell is running around like an idiot!' Chuckling, I thanked Pugsley for speaking with me (an important step in honoring your animal confidant). When I excitedly told the workshop group what I'd heard, Dawn exchanged a glance with June and they laughed. Dawn confirmed my message: "Pugsley has issues with Mark Russell." I thought with surprise, this is easy, and heard my Husky, Angel, say to me, 'Of course it's easy!'
One by one, participants shared the messages they'd gotten from June's animals. A woman smiled as she told us one of the horses had chided her for recording the messages in her notebook: "People! Needing to write down life's lessons!" Another reported she was disappointed because Mark Russell refused to speak with her and ran away. Her friend pointed out the dog was nervous about the hat she'd been wearing. Dawn suddenly laughed. "Oh, that explains it. I wasn't going to tell you, but Mark Russell said, 'There was something funny about her head.'"

Dawn sent us out for more practice, asking us to connect with June's companions again or the local wildlife. She also mentioned we could try connecting with any of the Spring Farm animal teachers via the photographs she'd brought with her. "Choose a picture that appeals to you," she suggested, pointing to the dozen or so photos spread on the brick hearth next to her. I wanted to go outside in the glorious spring warmth but decided to choose a picture, too. Portraits of horses, llamas, dogs, goats.....I knew one of the llamas must be Gulliver the author and I was too intimidated to select him.


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