• what flower essences are
• the benefits of usage
• topics for usage
• individual essences
• blended essences
• how to safely use flower essences for our companion animals

then this 45-minute informational tele-class may be for you. We will discuss the benefits and how to safely use flower essences for our pets. For more information and to register visit the Articulate Animals website.

“Is my pet happy?” or “Am I meeting all my pet’s needs?” It doesn’t seem to matter if this is the first time a human is communicating with their pet or if they regularly communicate, this is a very common question. We want to know if we are providing a quality experience for our animal companions, and if there is room for improvement. Sometimes there is room for adjustment; sometimes the pet indicates happiness or jumps to another topic. Still, it’s always a great question to ask even if the pet expresses complete contentment every time.

“Have we been together before (i.e. in another lifetime)” or “Will we be together again (i.e. will my pet come back to me)?” There’s no doubt about it, there are animal-human relationships that could be quantified as the human version of soul mates. Sometimes the bond is so intense and the relationship so effortlessly joyful we feel that there must be a past connection. Often there is. Even more frequently I get the question about a future connection with a beloved pet who has passed away. It is very possible to request, support, and even encourage our pets to consider coming back to us in a new body. Sometimes the animal needs time in the spirit world before they are ready to consider this possible next step, but it never hurts to make the invitation!

“Why do you do x,y,z?” This is usually a curiosity question with no need or intention to change the behavior, just the human’s opportunity to know their pet better and to more fully engage with them in their world. Very often a portion of the response has something to do with “because it’s there” or “because that’s what I do!” In our human minds we quickly realize (usually) when a behavior doesn’t achieve the desired outcome and it’s time to move on. I find that animals, however, live in the moment and usually in a state of hope and belief that things can change at any time and therefore a big payout may be right around the corner if they keep doing that special thing they do.

“How do you spend your time at home during the day without me/us?” I think most of the time this question from the human is asked because we want our precious companions to have the best experience possible while living in our family. Some animals use this time to patrol and “do their job” of maintaining the perimeter; some use the time to rest up so they are ready for fun and games when their humans return. Some express mild (or not so mild) anxiety or a level of alertness, and some request a companion – stuffed or alive – to play with through the day. Every animal has a little different take on their time without their humans and it can be a wonderful gate-way question to a better understanding of their personalities and their needs.

“Any messages?” There are as many responses to this question as there are animals. Some use this opportunity to make requests for food, comfort items, or exercise. Some take this as a sign that their human is ready for wisdom or guidance and that can range from “I worry about you not sleeping enough” to “it’s time to start that thing you’ve been thinking about.” It can be shocking and even a little disconcerting to recognize just how well our animals know and love us, and yet it is also very comforting to know that we’re not going it alone.

This is just a small sampling of the kinds of questions humans ask their animals. There are many other regularly asked questions and topics that are directly related to behaviors, the human-animal relationship, physical health, emotional balance, aging issues and how best to provide comfort as they prepare to pass on. When our intention is to better understand and provide the best possible care for our pets, any topic is fair!

I am pleased to announce the return of a referral program at Articulate Animals. If you are an Articulate Animals client or will be soon, you are eligible for this referral program running through 2013. There are a couple of ways in which you can participate:

1. When you refer new clients to Articulate Animals I will gratefully notate a referral discount on your account which you can use for your next animal communication consultation. If you prefer you can donate your discount to my “referral bank” which will benefit families and pets whose household budget doesn’t accommodate a much needed communication consultation.
2. Let me know of a deserving family who would greatly benefit from an animal communication consultation but their budget does not allow. As the referral bank accumulates discounts these deserving families will be offered a discounted or complimentary consultation for their pets.

Full program details can be found on the Articulate Animals website.

There are more and more animal sites, blogs, and services available and I can’t list them all but this one captured my heart. Check out Catmoji and maybe it will speak to you too!

Daisy

Trust. Daisy had extreme sensitivities which presented as fear reactions. Interesting, strange things like the click of the power button on the stereo (even when the volume was off) or oncoming headlights when driving after dark, had Daisy quivering and rolling up into the smallest ball she could become. Daisy has learned to trust her beloved human and many other humans as well. Daisy was able to let go of her difficult experiences in the past, realizing that every experience going forward is a new one and can be approached with a fresh perspective. Daisy was even able to trust her human enough to welcome a canine companion to her home. What a valuable lesson from Daisy – our fears are valid to us, but great things happen when we trust, let go of the past, and treat each day as a new experience!

Sid

Heartfelt connections. In his final days, Sid’s only remaining request was an opportunity for deep, heart-to-heart, uninterrupted quality time with the human he had spent his whole live with. Sid knew, and teaches us, that in the end the most precious commodity is a loving connection.

Parker

Every moment is worth living. Parker was a fun-loving and active guy who really wanted to squeeze the most out of every moment, and encouraged his human to do the same. When Parker was ready to let his body go, he was given a choice between quality, quiet time at home with his human or going to a mountain cabin with extended family. Parker’s choice, of course, was to hike in the mountains, lie in the cool mountain stream, and lick snowflakes off his nose. Parker expects all of us to squeeze every bit of life out every moment.

Katy

Purpose. Katy had a wonderful life with her rescue family and was very much at home, but Katy would bark in the back yard for extended periods of time, looking and waiting for … something. When Angel moved in with the family and needed special attention, Katy was asked to please help take care of Angel, to teach her how to be a dog. Katy’s response? “I’m on it! I’m going to be a *great* sister to Angel! That’s a perfect job for me!” And it was. We all, animals and humans, need a purpose that we can live into. Katy continues to fulfill her purpose, and she truly is the best sister that Angel could ask for.

Bossco and Jezebel

Take a risk. My own Jezebel insisted that it was time for a canine companion. She led us to Bossco, a retired sled dog who could devour little Jez in two quick bites. When I pointed this out to her she said “com’on mom, he’s the one for us. Take a risk!” I did, and without a second of regret. I re-live Jezebel’s lesson to me every day and my life is fuller for it!

In honor of the animals, let’s spend a moment to absorb the lessons, big and small, that our animal companions share with us. They are there for the taking – we just need to slow down and watch for them!

Q: Has Rider reincarnated? Is he with you?

CJC:  That is a complicated question.  I used to be certain in my understanding of exactly what reincarnation is.  To me, reincarnation meant that “you” (the you that is you right now) came back as the same “you,” just in a different body, a different life.  I no longer know exactly what reincarnation is, but my working definition (subject to change as I continue to learn) is that the real “you” is much bigger than the you that fits into your body and your current life.  The real you includes your higher self, and the real you could be in other bodies, other lives, at this very moment.

Banner as a puppy

So yes, by that definition, I believe Rider has reincarnated.  He is definitely with me, both within Banner and outside of her. His spirit is also here with me; I sometimes feel him beside me.  But Banner is her own girl, her own person most of the time.  I catch fleeting glimpses of Rider in her, but mostly she is her own unique being.

Q: You say you catch fleeting glimpses of Rider in Banner. What are the glimpses; how can you be sure you are seeing characteristics of Rider?

CJC:  Little things add up to make me sure.  Rider was an incorrigible food thief.  He could open cabinets and would help himself to whatever he found.  He defeated every commercial baby lock we found, either by overpowering it or outsmarting it.  Thankfully, he is the only dog I’ve ever lived with who had this criminal tendency, and as a dog trainer, I have only met a few dogs like him in my career.  The ability to open cabinets is not common among canines, and it takes practice to get good at it.  That said, when I brought Banner home at the tender age of 8 weeks, she waddled into the kitchen and swiped open the cabinet with her paw.  No hesitation at all.  I knew instantly that it was Rider saying hello.  I told him, “Thank you buddy, I hear you.  I love you!  AND DON’T YOU EVER SHOW HER THAT AGAIN!”  She hasn’t done it since.

Banner, the incredible frisbee dog!

Another thing that makes me absolutely certain that Rider is in Banner, at least part of the time, is that she has been exceptionally, fantastically easy to train as a frisbee dog.  Her regular training, obedience-type stuff, has proceeded quite normally, perhaps even a little slowly.  Her frisbee training, however, has been magical.  I should mention here that Rider was a champion frisbee dog, and though he was a gifted athlete, his frisbee training was normal in that it took effort on my part to communicate to him what it was I wanted him to do, and practice on both of our parts until we got it right.  I have trained several frisbee dogs of my own, and helped others train many more, so I have a good baseline idea of what training a frisbee dog should be like.  I say “should be” because Banner’s training has been nothing like any of the other dogs I have ever worked with.  From an early age, she just seemed to know what to do.  As she got old enough to add more complex behaviors, I would think, “Hmm, I wonder if she can do this?” I would set her up, and toss the frisbee and she would just do it.  This happened over and over, me thinking “what about this?” and her performing a complex and advanced frisbee trick with zero introduction or practice, just nailing it on the first try.  The few exceptions to that, the only tricks I have had to actually teach her, are tricks that Rider did not know how to do.

Q: So Rider is now in a new, female physical body, and yet we are still communicating with him as Rider, as a spirit. He explained this. Can you help explain for the readers?

CJC:  Well, Dear Readers, I hope you are ready for this.  When we asked Rider how he could be in Banner and also be talking to us as Rider, he explained that once you transition back into non-physical, you are in a sort of spirit soup.  You can be individual if you choose, but there is a lot of merging and sharing of wisdom and experiences.  When we ask to speak to him, he presents himself to us as Rider, not because that is who he is now, but because that is who we need him to be when we talk to him.

Thank you, Christi and Rider, for sharing this amazing story of your personal experience with reincarnation. There is a lot to chew on here! Blessings to you both and to puppy Banner who is, indeed, her own girl!