| Shamanic Healing For Animals by Mary Stoffel As an animal communicator, I am often asked during a consultation to inquire if the animal is experiencing pain or illness. I am not a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and have no veterinary training, so I always inform the client that the most I can do is ask the animal to indicate where there may be a physical problem and then recommend that they seek professional help for diagnosis and treatment. In many cases this has been valuable in helping the client explain to the Vet why they feel something needs to be addressed. Or, it has helped the client support the animal through intensive veterinary or therapeutic care. My own experiences with our Western medical culture have shown me that there are many ways to address physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dis-ease. The same is true for our animal companions. While domesticated animals have grown closer to us in understanding and communication, they have also taken on many of our weaknesses, phobias and neurotic behaviors. As with humans, physical illness is often a manifestation of an underlying mental, emotional or spiritual energy imbalance. Animals often act out emotional turmoil in the home with destructive, aggressive or anxious behaviors. Performance animals such as show horses or dogs may show evidence of mental stress or burnout. Spiritual issues may result from abusive or traumatic experiences in this or past lives. When a client asks me to investigate behavior or personality issues, my first question to the client and the animal concerns physical well-being. Any physical imbalances must be attended to first. If the animal is already under a Vet's care or if nothing physical has been diagnosed, the next step is to look for other causes for the problem. Usually the animal can and will share the information needed for resolution. Occasionally, however, particularly with spiritual issues, more intensive healing is required. This is when Shamanic healing can be used very effectively. The spiritual aspect Shamanism is the spiritual aspect of healing. It has been used effectively by many cultures throughout the world for thousands of years. In indigenous cultures, the Shaman journeys to non-ordinary reality to work with the spirits on behalf of the client, facilitating healing and guidance. This is done through universal Shamanic practices involving soul retrieval, power retrieval and informational journeys. A Shamanic culture is a reflection of the connections between all things on this planet. I became a Shamanic practitioner as a natural extension of my work in animal communication. As I have become familiar with Shamanic spiritual healing techniques, I have applied them in cases involving both animal and human clients. Using Shamanic healing techniques for animals happened gradually as I intuitively felt during a consultation that a particular animal would benefit from a soul or power retrieval. For example, a client asked for a consultation because her dog was acting out extreme separation anxiety, to the point of being destructive and causing injury to himself and others. The dog was a rescue animal from the humane society and the woman had no record of the dog's history. When I asked the dog about the underlying cause of the anxiety, I got that there was a traumatic past experience that had left a residual feeling of powerlessness. The dog felt that the woman was his "savior" or lifeline and he totally lost control when separated from her. This feeling was so strong that no training or calming methods could take effect until it was resolved. The animal had experienced soul loss during the trauma and could not respond to behavior modification methods until that missing spiritual essence was found and brought back to him. I facilitated a soul retrieval for him where I journeyed to non-ordinary reality, found the missing soul pieces and brought them back. I also asked the spirits if a power animal was willing to come and help him re-integrate those pieces, recovering his sense of self-confidence and individuality. Following the soul retrieval, the woman reported a distinct change in the dog's behavior. Although he was still nervous and anxious about being left alone, she was now able to work with him in a more controlled way. At last report, he was improving steadily and she was able to extend the separation periods. Soul loss Animals and people experience soul loss in many ways. Each individual spirit has its own definition of "trauma," but some of the common causes are near-death experiences, extreme illness, surgery, loss of a loved one or any kind of abuse. Some of the symptoms that may be present are extreme anxiety, chronic depression or fear, chronic illness, aggression or just the feeling that one is scattered or "not playing with a full deck." Some of the symptoms I have dealt with in Shamanic healing for animals include extreme separation anxiety, extreme fear of thunderstorms or loud noises, fear of riding in a vehicle, lack of concentration in the show ring, severe personality conflicts in the home and pooping and peeing in inappropriate places. I have found that Shamanic healing is a wonderful support for medical or veterinary care as it addresses the emotional and spiritual issues that may be blocking total healing. The intention is to bring all aspects of our being, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, into balance. Harmony within creates harmony without. Mary Stoffel presents a clear view of animals as spiritual beings with their own special awareness and wisdom. Mary's mission is to promote and facilitate communication between people and their animal companions through lectures, one-to-one consultations and workshops. Training in Shamanic practice, including soul retrieval and extraction, allows her to support healing and understanding on many levels. Mary can be reached at (763) 444-8146. Copyright (c) 2002 Mary Stoffel |
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