Gazehound's Animal Communication » 2010: January – April

Creature Thoughts, April 2010

Gayze — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 05:00:54 +0000

“Creature Thoughts”

GAZEHOUND’S ANIMAL COMMUNICATION NEWS

April 2010

Missie, my father's cat

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Keeping in touch with the animals….
and the people who love them

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Do Animals Experience Grief?

The March issue of Creature Thoughts was not published, as you know, because on the 26th of February, I lost my Dad. It has, as I’m sure is no surprise, been a rocky month. Not only have our family been dealing with the pain of such a loss, we have been battling bureaucracy, chasing down legal loose ends, and attempting (not always successfully) to put all of the overwhelming aspects of life in some semblance of order. In our self-centered human way, as preoccupied as we are, it might be easy to forget that there is another victim of grief left behind.

My Dad’s cat, Missie.

Fortunately, for both of us, however, I’ve had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with Missie every day. As soon as we’re physically able, in fact, we will be moving in with her. (I will notify everyone of phone number and address changes.) Missie and I have been a great comfort to one another, as Dad’s two girls have shared some very similar emotions.

In animal-human partnerships, it’s often the animal who passes into spirit first. I think every person reading this has experienced the loss of a beloved pet at least once, if not multiple times, in their life. It’s less frequent that we have the chance to witness the opposite situation. I thought it might be of interest to Creature Thoughts readers to publish, therefore, an interview, of sorts, with Missie, about how she experiences grief.

Note, please, that I’ve taken some literary liberties with the translation of our talk. When I talk with an animal, it is rarely in the form of a direct conversation such as follows. Instead, I receive all kinds of input … the experience of all five physical senses as well as those less physical, memories, emotions, etc. I then translate that information in a way that can be shared with the animal’s human friend. In this case, I’ve typed that translation out in the form of a conversation, to make the words flow more smoothly in writing.

Talking With Missie

Gayle: Missie, you know I talk to animals, to help them to express themselves to their humans, right?

Missie: I remember this, you showed me this when you lived here (I stayed at my Dad’s last summer while he was recovering from some broken ribs). You think to me all the time, too.

Gayle: Would you mind talking with me now? And would it be okay if I shared our conversation with friends who read my newsletter (I show her a visual explanation, of people reading my words on a computer screen).

Missie: Daddy and you both look at the screen all the time. Daddy … used to. I chased the little thing that moves.

Gayle: Yes, many people have screens like this, and we know one anothers’ words this way.

Missie: It’s okay, they can know my words, too.

Gayle: Thank you. I’d like to share with people how you are feeling since your Daddy isn’t here any more. Do you understand where he has gone?

Missie: You took him to the hospital before, and he was gone, and then you brought him home again. This is different. You explained, I understood. He is not coming home the same way. I won’t see him again. (My emotions respond to hers with tears here.)

Gayle: This makes you very sad.

Missie: Yes. You cry tears, I know this. I saw this. My tears are in my heart, but I cry them, too. I like it when you come play with me. I am impatient for you to come here to stay. I wish it was sooner. I am lonely here, I miss Daddy.

Gayle: It will be soon, sweetheart. There’s a lot to do, a lot to arrange, but soon you’ll have a full home again.

Missie: I understand, and that makes me happy.

Gayle: It’s still not your Daddy, though. I know you love him very much.

Missie: I still love him, and won’t forget. He’s my best friend. (She says this in the present tense, very clearly.)

Gayle: He still is? Can you explain?

Missie: He is gone, but he is not gone. He is inside me, and I can feel him close. I sit in his chair, and close my eyes, and meditate (note: this is the closest translation to the emotional explanation she shared of her state of being at those times). I can feel his hand stroking me, like when you almost touch and not quite, in my aura (again, my translation of her expression of being able to feel touch before it reaches her physically). I know he still loves me.

Gayle: He always will, sweetie. Do you see him in the house?

Missie: Yes, but not so much with my eyes. I see him with my spirit. Sometimes I see shadows moving and know it’s him, but mostly with my spirit. It’s not the same, but it’s comforting.

Gayle: I find that very comforting, too, thank you.

Missie: We take care of each other. We do that for him.

Gayle: Yes, Missie. Yes, we do.

At this point, Missie’s “verbal connection” faded and I was left with a heart-joined sense of comfort, a knowing that as we’ve shared this loss, so we have gained something, as well. Together.

Missie and her Daddy

Have you known an animal who has lost their human, either to death or in some other way? Have you noticed signs of grief in them, or indications that they either understand … or perhaps, don’t … the situation? Please visit this post on the web and share your experiences in the comments section.

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FYI NOTES and NEWS

Thank You–

For all of the lovely cards and thoughts of comfort you have sent over the past month. And a special thank you to those who have made a donation to New York Wildlife Rescue Center in memory of my father, Frank Stubbs.

Don’t Forget….

… that gift certificates do have an expiration date. If you’ve given them as gifts, or have them tucked safely away at home, check those dates and be sure to redeem them before they expire. I’ll continue to post this reminder in each issue of “Creature Thoughts”.

Gift certificates are always available at a special discounted price. Visit the Rates and Services page for details or to make a purchase through Paypal.

Website Features

Recent Ramblings!

More News On-Site

Don’t forget that you can always keep up with changes and info on rates, policies, and “other fun stuff” on my website: http://www.gazehound.com, and that you can find archives of this newsletter and other articles on my Creature Thoughts Blog: http://www.gazehound.com/category/creaturethoughts/. Archives before May 2009 can still be found at the old blog site: http://gazehound.blogspot.com.

E-News List

It has become more important than ever, that all of my clients are subscribed to my e-news list. Thus, whenever anyone inquires about information, or sets up an appointment, they will receive both an invitation to the list and a separate note from me letting them know they’ve been invited. I strongly encourage all my clients to stay in touch, by remaining subscribed to this list. And please feel free to forward this newsletter issue to any friends, family, and acquaintances whom you feel might be interested in joining us. There is a subscription box for the newsletter in the left sidebar of gazehound.com.

Free Help For Our Animal Friends at NELR

Northeast Llama Rescue and Barnyard Sanctuary and New York Wildlife Rescue (an IRS 501(c)(3) charity) accept Paypal donations through their website at http://www.redmaplefarm.net. I’ve dedicated much time and love in the past several years toward helping to build a safe place for our wild friends in need, and our livestock rescues, and am extending the offer to all of you to aid in their care as well. And now, we have a totally painless (and free) way for anyone to support the animals at NYWRC/NELR. If you sign up to shop online through iGive.com, at no cost to you, every purchase you make through the iGive gateway will earn a donation for the animals.

To sign up to shop through iGive for NYWRC:

http://www.igive.com/NYWildlifeRescueCenter

And even if you don’t sign up (but why would anyone not sign up since it’s free and painless?), you can still earn money with each internet search you do simply by logging in to the iGive search engine rather than Google or whichever other search engine you normally use:

http://www.isearchigive.com/NYWildlifeRescueCenter

I set the above link as my homepage in my browser to remind me to search through iGive and earn pennies for the animals each time I search.

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Gayle Nastasi (of Gazehound’s Animal Communication) is a professional animal communication consultant and writer, who hopes her connection to the animal world can serve as a way to help her fellow humans enrich their relationships with their animal companions. By better knowing our non-human friends, we ensure a kinder future for our world and we learn what it means to be a unique and essential part of all that is. Permission is given to forward this article to anyone you feel might enjoy it, as long as it is understood that copyrights are held by Gayle Nastasi, and the author’s name, and links to her website(s) are left intact. If this publication has been forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe to Gazehound’s free monthly e-newsletter, “Creature Thoughts”, just visit the newsletter link below.

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Gayle Nastasi
Animal Communication Consultant
http://www.gazehound.com or http://www.animalcommunicator-ny.com

Free monthly e-newsletter & emergency list:
http://www.gazehound.com/animal-communication/free-newsletter/

Creature Thoughts Blog:
http://www.gazehound.com/category/creaturethoughts/

Online Book Shop:
http://www.gazehound.com/animal-communication/bookshop/

No Usual Creature Thoughts for March

Gayze — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:24:32 +0000

No Usual Creature Thoughts for March

Hello, Friends,

I’m sorry that I will not be sending out a March Creature Thoughts as usual. In addition, I will be less available than I normally am for sessions. Please do email or call if you need to schedule, but be prepared that I may not be able to fit you in right away.

My father passed away suddenly on Friday, and life is quite up in the air at the moment. I thank you very much for your patience, and extend my gratitude for keeping our family in your thoughts.

–Gayle
In other news:

As many of you know, if you’ve visited my website, I have a book coming out soon. It’s not a book on animal communication, as many have asked, but a mystery story for young readers. The book will be published by Lost Bard Books in e-book and paperback formats, and is the first of a series.

You can read more about it on my website, in the recent blog post: Lost Bard Books and My Novel.

Creature Thoughts: February 2010

Gayze — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:17 +0000

“Creature Thoughts“

GAZEHOUND’S ANIMAL COMMUNICATION NEWS

February 2010

Moonrise Before Eclipse, © Dede Price, 2008. (Click for more of her photography on Webshots)

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Keeping in touch with the animals….
and the people who love them

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The Full Moon and Animal Behavior

On the morning of January 31st, a day before this newsletter was due to be published, I posted to my Facebook profile that I was having a hard time thinking of an article for it. My friend Lin responded: “How about the link between a full moon and animal behaviour?” That sounded like a great idea to me.

Then, as I was trying to remember whether or not I’ve seen an increase in odd behavior in animals I work with during the full moon, it occurred to me that, other than one major incident, I really haven’t paid all that much attention to the moon phases! Uh oh … not much fodder for an article that way, is there? I have, however, seen an increase in the past week of people needing help with their animals, and many of those issues have been behavioral. One full moon does not a study make, of course, but it was at least a point to make note of.

That one major incident I mentioned, however, was significant … and was one of the events in my life that led me to the path I currently walk. In 1996, there was not only a full moon in June … but a blue moon. I’m sure most know that the phrase “blue moon” refers to two full moons in a calendar month. It was on the night of the second full moon, that my little tortie-point Siamese, Pree (yes,”that Pree”), who had been happy to be an indoor cat her entire life, tore a hole in the kitchen screen … and vanished. Pree had never once expressed a desire to investigate the outdoors. Her behavior was a complete mystery. Pree was gone for an entire month; we had feared that we would never see her again. It was on the following full moon, however, that the call came through that she’d been sighted, and we collected her and brought her home. Pree’s full story, Moon Journey, can be found in the old archives of her Pree-Am-Siamese blog.

This one experience was so intense, so mysterious, that, had I not already suspected a tie between animal behavior and the phases of the moon, it would have convinced me.

This morning, after Lin’s great suggestion, however, I decided that my one intense memory, and an over all feeling, really didn’t make much of an article. Therefore, I hit the Web, did a google search, and found this:

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
July 15, 2007, Vol. 231, No. 2, Pages 251-253
doi: 10.2460/javma.231.2.251

Canine and feline emergency room visits and the lunar cycle: 11,940 cases (1992–2002)

It appears that the research veterinarians at Colorado State University also suspected that the phase of the moon caused variations in animal behavior, and animal health. In fact, their suspicions were strong enough that, for eleven years, they performed a study of 11,940 cases (9,407 dogs and 2,533 cats), and concluded that there was a significant increase in veterinary emergency room visits during the fuller phases of the moon. The article states:

Emergency type was categorized as animal bite, cardiac arrest, epilepsy, ophthalmic, gastric dilatation-volvulus, trauma, multiple diseases, neoplasia, or toxicosis. The corresponding lunar phase was calculated and recorded as new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, or waning crescent.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that more emergency room visits occurred on fuller moon days for dogs and cats.

So, if you’ve noticed that your animals behave differently when the moon is full, or that health issues appear to accelerate … you aren’t alone. Not only do I agree, so do the researchers at Colorado State.

Do you have examples and experiences of “moon phase behavior” in animals you’ve known? Please return to this post on the website, and tell us about them in the Comments section!

Pree

Links of Interest:

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FYI NOTES and NEWS

Don’t Forget….

Gift certificates are always available at a special discounted price. Visit the Rates and Services page for details.

Website Features

Recent Ramblings!

Challenge Games Discontinued

Wild Bird Rescue in Winter

RAOKA for December: Wacky

If I Had A Million Dollars

More News On-Site

E-News List

Free Help For Our Animal Friends at NELR

To sign up to shop through iGive for NYWRC:

http://www.igive.com/NYWildlifeRescueCenter

http://www.isearchigive.com/NYWildlifeRescueCenter

I set the above link as my homepage in my browser to remind me to search through iGive and earn pennies for the animals each time I search. iGive’s usual one cent per search is doubled through the month of December, too, so get using it now while we can earn the big bucks!

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Gayle Nastasi
Animal Communication Consultant
http://www.gazehound.com or http://www.animalcommunicator-ny.com

Free monthly e-newsletter & emergency list:
http://www.gazehound.com/animal-communication/free-newsletter/

Creature Thoughts Blog:
http://www.gazehound.com/category/creaturethoughts/

Online Book Shop:
http://www.gazehound.com/animal-communication/bookshop/

How about the link between a full moon and animal behaviour.

Creature Thoughts: January 2010

Gayze — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:34:23 +0000

Creature Thoughts

GAZEHOUND’S ANIMAL COMMUNICATION NEWS

January 2010

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Keeping in touch with the animals….
and the people who love them

================================

“For Auld Lang Syne”

For over a week now, I’ve been mulling through ideas, wondering what my January newsletter article will be about. This morning I woke, as did many across the globe, with a certain song ringing through my mind. The article then just wrote itself.

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun ’till dine ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

[complete lyrics....]

So many of my thoughts of late have been about those friends and family, both human and animal, who have crossed over. I know that this is the case with others as well, owing to the number of calls I receive asking me to help people connect with their pets who have passed. I was saying to someone on the phone just the other day, that I think connecting with pets in the spirit world may be my favorite thing to do. I think this is because I have said goodbye to so very many of my own animal family in the past couple years, that I can completely understand the grief … as well as that slight sense of relief, that easing, at the moment we realize that their spirits still hear our voices.

The broad seas of life and death do seem to roar between us, when a friend crosses over. And yet the ability to lift the cup … to open the connection once again … can be such a comfort. No, it will never be the same. We will no longer run about the slopes with that animal friend in the same way, never feel their fur, or their soft breath upon our faces. They do, however, hear our voices, sense our emotions, and know the love that lives forever for them in our hearts. Although Auld Lang Syne is not necessarily meant to be a song which calls forth those from the other side, it speaks of memories, of connections, of loves gone by, and of friends who have been an important part of our lives. It talks of celebration of those memories, of an honoring of the past. Surely, an important part of the past lives on in the spirits of those whose journeys have taken them beyond our physical reach.

Those memories which at first touch us with deep sorrow do mellow with time. Those which bring tears and despair, a year down the road will bring fond smiles. The longing never ceases … and yet it loses its sharp edge. Rather than stab the heart, it caresses, and is further blessed by the knowledge that our beloved spirit friends joy in helping us to heal.

A spiritual teacher said to me, long, long ago, years before I began studying animal communication, when I was taking psychic development classes and learning to serve as a medium, that she felt that I would become an “animal medium”. I think she wasn’t far from wrong.

Although I love connecting with all animals, helping their people solve problems, digging up hints as to what may be causing physical issues, or just assisting people in strengthening the bond with their pets, I think that I am most “at home” when touching the other side. Perhaps this is why, at this time of year, my thoughts … and my writings … are so filled with soft, fond memories, and thoughts of all our dear ones across the broad and roaring seas.

[So, take my] hand my trusty friend !
and give a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

Are you missing an animal friend? Do you have memories you’d like to share, or wounds that haven’t yet healed? There are many resources that can help your heart to adjust. While I would never promise that all the hurt will go away, I can reassure you that some sense of “a different normal” can enter your life, and you will be able to once again feel the quiet peace of connection.

There are grief support groups for those who have experienced the loss of a pet, including internet communities. Although I do not have any specific groups to recommend from experience, I do know that a web search will bring up quite a few that appear to be beneficial. Do you have a favorite support group? Please visit this post on the web and leave your recommendations in the Comments area below the post for others to benefit from.

An animal communicator can often help you to reconnect with your friends who have passed. Just knowing they hear your voice can be extremely healing. Sometimes animals will give us concrete evidence of their presence, and at other times a simple message of their continuing love is all that is needed.

There are many books which address animal death, dying and the spirit in the afterlife. Two that I have found particularly comforting are:

Animals in Spirit by Penelope Smith (This book includes the reincarnation story of my own heart-dog, Kai.)
Animals in the Afterlife by Kim Sheridan

If you have found other titles helpful, please share them on the website in the comments area, as well.

While I realize my articles of late may seem sad, in truth they are not. Yes, I do miss my friends who have passed beyond the veil. Writing about them, and about the connection we can maintain with them, is therapeutic. I write not with sadness, but with a sense of peace, of comfort, and an inner knowing that “all is well”. The calls and emails I have received recently, about pets who have passed away, tell me that there are many others who also seek such reassurance. Thus, I’m moved to share … and to invite you all to open your minds, your hearts, and believe that, though you cannot touch them or see them with your physical eyes, your dear ones are still with you in spirit.

Blessings for the New Year to all my animal friends, here and beyond, and those marvelous humans who love them so dearly.

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FYI NOTES and NEWS

Holiday Special on Gift Certificates is Over

Although the holiday special for gift certificates has ended, you can always find our regular offers on the Rates and Services page of the website. In addition, I will be adding paypal links to that page to make purchasing more convenient.

Don’t forget, also, that gift certificates do have an expiration date. If you’ve given them as gifts, or have them tucked safely away at home, check those dates and be sure to redeem them before they expire. I’ll continue to post this reminder in each issue of “Creature Thoughts”.

New Newsletter Format

It’s here! From now on, or at least for as long as it works out well, Creature Thoughts will distribute through the “MailChimp” newsletter service. Please be sure your “allowed senders” file, however your ISP/email services chooses to implement it, includes my email address of allcreatures@gazehound.com.

Website Features

Challenge Games

Our fifth Challenge Game, “Dream a Little Dream” is online! Have you played yet? Remember that it will be replaced by the next game mid-month. Visit the site by the link above, and join us in a new intuitive experience!

Some Recent Rambles

Polls

I have added a Poll feature in the left sidebar of the website. The polls will change monthly. Feel free to stop by and add your vote!

Testimonials

Have I helped you with your animal friends in a way that you’d like to share with others? You are welcome to visit the Testimonials Page, and leave a “Reply”! I’d love to see your pets featured on the site!

And Other Stuff, too!

Don’t forget that you can always keep up with changes and info on rates, policies, and “other fun stuff” on my website, including the archives of Creature Thoughts.

Additional Web Address! In case it’s easier to remember, we have a second domain name: AnimalCommunicator-NY.com. Visiting that address will automatically redirect visitors to the regular website, and hopefully, it will be easier for people to write down and share.

Off-Site

E-News List

As noted above, come January 2010, I have changed servers for my e-news list. Please feel free to email me right away and I’ll try to help remedy any problems that might crop up.

Free Help For Our Animal Friends at NELR

Northeast Llama Rescue and Barnyard Sanctuary and New York Wildlife Rescue (an IRS 501(c)(3) charity) accept Paypal donations through their website at http://www.redmaplefarm.net. I’ve dedicated much time and love in the past several years toward helping to build a safe place for our wild friends in need, and our livestock rescues, and am extending the offer to all of you to aid in their care as well. And now, we have a totally painless (and free) way for anyone to support the animals at NYWRC/NELR. If you sign up to shop online through iGive.com, at no cost to you, every purchase you make through the iGive gateway will earn a donation for the animals.

To sign up to shop through iGive for NYWRC:

http://www.igive.com/NYWildlifeRescueCenter

http://www.isearchigive.com/NYWildlifeRescueCenter

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——————–

–
– Gayle P Nastasi
Animal Communication Consultant
http://www.gazehound.com
Free newsletter: http://www.gazehound.com/animal-communication/free-newsletter/
Archives and blog: http://www.gazehound.com/category/creaturethoughts/
Online Book Shop: http://astore.amazon.com/gazehound-20