OK, admit it. How many of us talk to our dog or cat or horse? And we know they understand, right? Non-animal lovers may think we are crazy, but we know that there is a special communication going on. I remember having a discussion with my cat when a friend of mine was visiting. Oblivious of his watching the interaction, I was asking her if she wanted wet or dry food and pulled out the dry. He said, "She told you she wanted dry food?!" I guess it was then that I realized that not everyone does this. But I would wager that everyone who shares a home with a beloved pet does. Animals may not have words, although sometimes I’ve even heard cats and dogs utter very word-like sounds, but we still get the message, don’t we? And they seem to know when we are coming home because they seem to always be waiting for us when we drive up to our house. The increasing popularity of pet communicators, "horse whisperers," and pet therapy indicates that this kind of interspecies communication is coming out of the closet. Even therapy with horses and dolphins is being researched by mainstream institutions. This is, of course, nothing new to anyone who has experienced the "laying on of paws" by a cat, an experience entirely different than the usual "making bread."

Many indigenous cultures have worked with totem animals and power animals for thousands of years. The Australian Aborigines and North American Indians, for example, recognize a totem animal for each individual and clan or tribe. In a manner similar to astrology, the traits of this animal help people understand themselves better. Power animals are spirit helpers who assist humans by offering them certain strengths and abilities or knowledge to help them in their lives. They are like angels of the Earth Mother. Each person has at least one power animal who offers protection and advice throughout their life. Other power animals may be called upon or just show up at different times throughout a person’s life to help them with different challenges. For example, Eagle may be called upon to request clearer vision about a certain issue, Jaguar may enter a person’s life to give them stealth and courage, Heron may enter to teach patience and swiftness. Knowledge of totem animals and connection with power animals occurs through the altered state called journeying. This altered state is most often reached through ceremony, drumming, chanting, and dancing.

The indigenous people often speak of birds as being the messengers between the seen world of matter and the unseen world of energy. I recently had the honor of working with a patient who chose to die a conscious death at home with his loving family. The family shared a story with me about such a bird messenger. One of the family members heard a tapping sound against the window of their home and discovered it was a cardinal. The beautiful red bird pecked relentlessly until it got the attention of the entire family. When they told my patient, he became very excited and explained that cardinals were reminders to him of his beloved grandfather. This gave him great peace. His death was accompanied by a chorus of birds singing throughout the night. Were they celebrating his homecoming? Several days later I was awakened before dawn by birds singing. I invited my boyfriend for a walk so we could walk among the birds. Suddenly a cardinal flew down into a bush directly in front of us. What a sacred reminder of the continuous cycle of life and death these birds are! How precious are all of Earth’s angels!