Prepare for fun, prepare for a good time, because our buddy Otter is visiting us this week!

Now just look at Otter’s picture…..don’t you already feel a smile coming to your face? 

Otter brings joy on all levels, inner, outer, spiritual, physical.  While Otter is attentive to all things which ask for his attention, he is not overwhelmed by them, nor does he take them too seriously.

Whether it’s earth or water, Otter feels at home in both elements.  Take a minute to playfully look at your environment: do you feel comfortable in more than one element?

Otter helps us to be children, no matter our age.  Otter would like us to remember (these are his words): “Remember that you are all children at heart.  So many of you humans play at being an adult, meaning you are acting like you think adults should act.  Where did that come from? (shaking his head) We otters have lots of fun AND we do what we need to do, as we need to do it. But we do it with a light heart, a light Spirit.  What happened to your light Spirit?”

Questions to ask when Otter shows up:

• Am I working too hard?
• Am I being called to be more creative?
• What’s my light Spirit up to these days?

If you’re ready to lighten your burdens, create more freedom in your life, have a good time and discover delight and joy in life, call on Otter.  Otter is ready and willing to help you find fun!

Thank you Otter,  for your guidance and leadership, we delight in your presence with us!  For this and all you are, we are grateful.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Recently my dog Max had a rough day.

It started out innocuous enough.  He and Emmie were just going to get toenails clipped and then we were off to run errands.

The groomer started with Max’s front paws and everything was fine.  She got to his back paws and Max had a meltdown.

He was cowering, wimpering, trying to snap at the groomer.  Max was mentally and emotionally transported back to a past event in his life.  He was no longer in touch with the present reality.

The more he became disengaged from the present, the more the groomer hung on to his back paw.  The more she hung on to the his back paw, the more disengaged he became.  It was a vicious circle, a no win situation, certainly from Max’s point of view.

I told the groomer to stop and her response was you couldn’t let a dog get away with that kind of behavior.  She also said I need to work more with his paws at home.

Max has always let me play with and touch his paws.

I have never understood the philosophy of ‘power over’ an animal.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand animals are animals, and we need to keep ourselves and the animals safe.  I understand a dog always knows where their teeth are, a horse knows how to execute a well-aimed kick.  I understand there are times when you need to help an animal through a response or action through consistent, respectful, gentle and effective training.

I simply don’t understand when a human continues to inflict an action on an animal, purposefully escalating a situation, so the animal ‘won’t get away with that behavior’.  In Max’s case, he was responding to a situation created by the groomer. He was telling her things were not right, he was not OK with what she was doing.  She didn’t listen to Max, she didn’t listen to me. We now have a different groomer.

In life, people are on their journey where they are on their journey.  There is not a doubt in my mind the groomer thought she was handling the situation in a most professional manner.  Nor is there a doubt in my mind her actions would have worked and probably have worked with other dogs.

I am simply saying that I prefer to work with people who understand the concept of ‘power-with’ animals.  After all, We All Do Better When ALL Creatures Do Better.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Muskrat came forth to help us this week. Muskrat is a large, aquatic rodent with a thin, long, nearly hairless tail. They are talented water creatures, being able to swim up to three miles an hour and being able to swim backwards.

With spring in the air, Muskrat reminds us to do spring cleaning.  Get rid of the clutter, whether it is spiritual, emotional, mental or physical.  By doing a little bit at a time, the job will be finished.

Because Muskrat is a water creature, now is a good time to deal with any emotions.  Water is symbolic of our emotions in the Tarot deck. We can dive down into the depths of ourselves, discover what is there, what is helpful, what is not helpful.  If we discover something that is no longer serving us, Muskrat will help us clean it out.  Muskrat is of great value when we find ourselves experiencing unfamiliar emotions.

Muskrat is typically nocturnal, but may be seen during the day on overcast days.  During this time we may experience more dream activity.  Ask Muskrat to help you with the interpretations of your dreams, and it will be very helpful to keep a dream journal during this time.

Questions to ask when Muskrat appears:

• What is cluttering up my life?
• Am I avoiding/ignoring my emotions?
• What are my dreams trying to tell me?

Thank you, Muskrat, for coming forth and sharing your wisdom and guidance.  We appreciate your skill in helping us maneuver through the emotions we are experiencing, and in helping us clean out that which no longer serves us.  For this we are grateful.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Fox has come forth this week to help us.  Fox brings with him blessings and magic, an invitation to use our intuition and to trust our intuition.

Fox is most active at night, but generally chooses to present himself to us during the dawn or dusk hours.  Fox invites us to blend in with the scenery, therefore being present but not necessarily visible to those around us.  In this way we can observe things we might otherwise miss.  Fox reminds us to keep our learnings to ourselves.  It is not the time or the place to share with others.

This is a good time to pay attention to our energy cycles.  With Fox present, we may find we are more productive during the night time hours.

With Fox’s keen sense of smell and hearing, we are invited to trust what we smell, trust what we hear.  This is where the use of our intuition comes into play.  We need to trust what we experience, not what others tell us to experience.

When we trust our instincts, our intuition, we find we are more in tune with the flow of life.  Opportunities appear, difficulties are avoided or are easily put to right.

Questions to ask yourself when Fox appears:

• Am I too transparent with my plans?
• Would it be beneficial for me to blend in more with my surroundings?
• Am I trusting my senses and my intuition?

Thank you, Fox, for coming forth and helping us this week.  We value your teachings and experience. For this we are grateful.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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True confession – sometimes I get just gosh darn giggly happy when a certain animal appears in my life.  And that’s the way it is for me when Crow appears. My neighborhood is filled with crows and I can’t help but wonder if I moved here because of the crows that were already here, or the crows came to welcome me and decided to stay!

Crow brings with her magic and energy.  Be alert, be aware of what different things pop up for you this coming week.  The world is full of possibilities.  Crow will help you be vigilant with your observations.

With the magic comes manifestation.  Things we have asked for may not appear in the way we think they will, so we need to be open and ready to receive them in the way in which they appear.

Crows congregate together. Now is the time to work with groups, not to be solitary. Crow reminds us to ‘caw’ out our needs, we do not have to experience situations or go through life by ourselves.

Questions to ask when Crow appears:

• Are we being too solitary?
• Are we oblivious to what’s happening around us and/or to us?
• Where’s the magic?

In addition to the above sample questions, it’s OK to ask an animal if they have a specific message for you.  Animals are our teachers and guides when we are open to their teachings.

Thank you, Crow, for coming forth and helping us this we.  Your wisdom, intelligence and guidance is appreciated. For this we are grateful.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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When we are in communication and connection with another creature, I see one of the foundational points as being in a place where we can honor that creature as well as ourselves.  It is when we have mutual respect that a relationship can be created from a place of power with, and not power over another.

As you are practicing your animal communication, think of the word HONOR and what it means:

H stands for HONESTY.  Be honest in the communication with what you hear and what you say.  To be honest with ourselves, we need to be aware of where we are coming from in the conversation….what is the end goal regarding this talk? We are honest with the other party when we do more than hear their words, we listen to the meaning behind the words.

O means OPENESS.  We are open to the flow of the conversation and do not have a hidden agenda in mind.

N signifies ‘NTUITION.  Be willing to open your intuition so you can receive the communication through all channels through which it might be sent.  Do you have a physical or emotional feeling? Be willing to stay with that feeling, see what part it plays in the communication.  Your ‘ntuition will give you clues, bring those clues to your conscious mind.

O conveys OWN SELF.  Be true to your own self in the conversation.  Speak with integrity from your experience, not some one else’s experience.

R stands for RESPECT.  Respect the animal you are talking with, yourself and the flow of the conversation.

When you Talk2theAnimals, think of the word HONOR.  The animals will sense that and be opening and willing to meet you half way!

Remember: U2CanTalk2theAnimals

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Mark your calendar, because this is a show you will not want to miss!

Thursday, February 18 at 1PM CST Talk2theAnimals Wisdom Behind the Whiskers Radio will be talking about ‘Animals and Creativity’. Our special guest for this episode is Minneapolis/St. Paul based artist Jessie Marianiello of Stray Dog Arts.

Jessie started her artistic career doing portraits of people. She enjoyed seeing how the portraits came to life under her paint brush. One day, while shoveling snow, Jessie asked herself what made her the happiest.  The answer, which she says was an easy one, was dogs and art.  Stray Dog Arts was then born.

Jessie says this about her painting:

I paint pet portraits because I have more love for animals than I know what to do. I paint because there is something beautiful to be captured in those transitory moments we share with the pets who have stolen our hearts for good. I paint to tell a story. I paint dogs (and cats and horses) because now I cannot stop.

What do animals have to say about the artistic process? Why does your pet keep reposing him/herself into a pose they like, not the one you had in mind? Listen to Jessie and me as we talk about the creative process when working with animals.

If you can’t make the show live, not to worry, it will be archieved and you will be able to tune in at your convenience.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Today is a bittersweet day here.  It is the 10 year anniversary of having to put down my first cat, Pookie.  Pookie taught me a lot about animals, especially cats.  And this Valentine’s Day is the first one without my perpetual puppy, Teddy.  To honor these two, I’d like to share with you Pookie’s beautiful picture and the post Teddy wrote last year about Pets and Valentine’s Day.

It is possible for a person to simultaneously hold two such contrasting emotions as I do today: missing Pookie and Teddy and wishing all of you a wonderful, harmony filled Valentine’s Day.  The secret to this is to honor both emotions, and to ride the flow of the emotions.

May you have a glorious Valentine’s Day!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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This week we’re working with Ladybug – she has graciously flown forward to help us with her energies and her teachings.

In The Animal Wise Tarot, Ted Andrews classifies Ladybug as a shapeshifter, meaning during her life time she takes on different shapes and forms.  We all experience change in our lives, and Ladybug can help us with those changes, helping us make an easy transitions from the old to the new, or from the same to the different.

Ladybug brings good luck whenever she flies your way.  She brings with her abundance in all forms and a new happiness.  Ladybug shares her innate sense of timing with us: when she appears, now is the time to pursue the opportunity that has knocked at your door.

Questions to ask yourself when Ladybug shows up:

• Am I letting others tell me what my dreams ‘should’ be?
• Am I limiting my dreams?
• Am I forcing my dreams instead of letting them develop organically?

Thank you, Ladybug for flying into our lives today, bringing luck, fulfilling our wishes. For this we are grateful.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Welcome to today’s Talk2theAnimals Animal Communication Practice Session.  This is your chance to deepen your relationship with animals and see what messages they have for you.

Before you start talking with today’s animal, prepare yourself by gathering your animal communication journal, a writing stick, and, should you so desire, a beverage.  Set aside 15-20 minutes to have your conversation. Make sure this is a time when you are able to be fully present to the animal and the conversation.  Go to a quiet, comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed. Empty your body and your mind of all the ‘monkey chatter’…..thinking of your to do list, your schedule, etc.  ‘Monkey chatter’ is anything internally that is standing between you and listening to the animal.  It helps me to create an imaginary wastebasket.  When those distracting thoughts come along, I simply put them in the wastebasket, knowing I can pick them up after the conversation, if I want. You are in a safe, quiet location, and only that which is for the highest good for you and the animal will present itself.  You have now created your Circle of Listening.

The animal that volunteered to help us today is Hawk.  Interesting enough, as I am writing this, I hear Hawk outside of my window!

Just like when you meet a new person you introduce yourself, introduce yourself to Hawk.  Ask if Hawk is willing to talk with you, and if so, if this is a good time.  Go with what Hawk says: if you caught Hawk in the middle of hunting, this may not be a good time to talk.  Ask Hawk to connect with you when it is a convenient time.

The following questions are to get you started, feel free to create your own to let the conversation flow!

• What does it feel like to fly?
• Even though humans have no wings, is there a way I can create a similar sensation in my life?
• Are there places in my life that I can learn to fly like you do?
• Do you have an individual message for me?

Once you have finished your conversation, thank Hawk for talking with you.  Take time to note the conversation in your journal and what it was like for you to talk with Hawk.

Most likely, your conversation has not finished here.  Pay attention in the upcoming days to messages from Hawk.  Let Hawk stay in your consciousness.  Are you suddenly seeing Hawk all the time? As you’re reading, does the work ‘hawk’ keep coming up? Are your friends suddenly talking about Hawk?  Pay attention to these experiences AND pay attention to what is going on in your mind/body during these experiences.  This is a way the animals keep the conversation going.

Leave your comments here on the Talk2theAnimals Blog about your experience with Hawk.  Others can learn from your experience.

Remember: U2CanTalk2theAnimals!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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