When I am working with animals and the First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand®, it is not uncommon to find that the essences “chosen” by the animals, reflect some aspects of what is going on for a person or the people in their lives.
I have lost animals to cancer and been curious as to why this has occurred. I have been told and accept that just like our own soul, an animal’s soul has certain experiences to be had, but I am also curious about the relationship or connection to us. How do our personal lives affect animals, especially those in close contact with humans. As far as I know, animals in the wild, do not experience cancer.
Is it possible that a person with very rigid thoughts and beliefs may have an animal that develops something like arthritis or a similar complaint, a complaint that reflects a degree of inflexibility? Did my horse, Sunny, reflect or take on my own inability to breathe in life fully with self-confidence and self-love, with his expression of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)? Is it too much of a stretch to think that? Regardless, the truth was, that these areas of my life did need attention.
Other people may think this is rubbish, but it is reasonable, I think, to see that this is happening when you look closely at animal/people relationships. And, no matter what you think, what your own personal experience is, I think we could agree that it is important for our animals that we take our own wellbeing into account. If we need healing or help of some kind, then it is not only advantageous to us, but also to our animals, to seek help. We look after our animals better when we are feeling balanced, well and loved.
Through self-reflection we may see some parallels between our own “struggles” or issues and those reflected emotionally or physically in our animals. There is no point in wasting energy on feeling guilty if we think this may be the case. The point is to have compassion for self and the animals and to continue to explore a path of healing, not necessarily knowing where that may take you.
At present, I am moving from place to place, with my cat. She is remarkable, in that she can be let out at any stopover, will hang around, before setting off again to the next destination. It does not feel like an ideal situation, but it is what it is (as they say). Upon arriving at the current destination, she paced for the first few days, just as I too was pacing inside myself. As I have made effort to settle within and face my own fears around this unsettling moving time, she too has settled and can stretch out in the sun.
It seems obvious to some people, that their animals are with them for a reason and part of that reason may be to help “shoulder” or share a load which may or may not result in the physical manifestation of an illness. It may result in a beautiful relationship that exists with or without dis-ease. I met someone recently who had bought a dog for his wife. His wife had passed over soon after and since then and up until now, years later, this delightful dog is of immeasurable comfort and companionship to the man. The man himself, told me, that he was focusing on his own wellbeing.
Taking care of ourselves can prove to be quite challenging, especially in these times of uncertainty and with any fears held about the future. For me, it requires a constant returning to centre, facing my fears and talking to them. I am discovering not only more about myself, but that nothing is what it seems around us. In the middle of this are the animals. They help to bring us to the present moment and to ground us, by giving attention to what needs attention. Their eyes see into our souls as we try to work both simple and complex things out, as we try to make sense of what is happening around us. They require us to attend to not only their physical needs, but also their emotional and mental needs. Hard to do, if we are a wreck or not attending to our own needs.
There are so many ways that animals share our lives, expressing not only their loyalty but their compassion for us. This is a time when they need us to step up for them and ourselves and give the gift of self-care to ourselves. It isn’t just about them being here for us or our needs or wants – it is, to my way of thinking, every bit about us attending to them and their needs. One of the best ways, I believe, is to make sure we treat ourselves with respect, understanding and great compassion. In this way, we can pass on to them what we already know and hold within ourselves.
Naturally, I work with the flower essences for not only myself, but for the animals too, as well as making practical changes where I am able, to their immediate world and to my own. There are many ways available to help ourselves and we can explore what they are and what works best for us. The outcome for the animals is that potentially their lives will be less stressful and be more joyful. By gifting ourselves self-care we gift to them.