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These games are quick, fun and easy to play. For all of them, you’ll need a notepad and something to write with, so you can jot down your results and bring them back to the original post to leave as a comment. I will be playing along, but won’t post my own results till others have had a chance to check in first.
Although all the games are created to be quick to play, and posting once is fine, it’s also fine if you enjoy them enough to play multiple times. Feel free to return and post second, third, or more comments.
Challenge Game #2: “Who Am I?”
Variations of this game have been played in animal communication workshops and psychic development circles. I first played a version of it in a workshop, many years ago, put on by Dawn Allen (who was not even Dawn Allen yet) in upstate New York. Since then, I’ve seen similar exercises recommended in a number of different places.
Play along, have fun, and return to let us all know what you experienced!
I would like everyone to take a few minutes out of their day to get quiet and focused. Be indoors, be outdoors, be sitting, lying down … in whatever place and position you feel safe and comfortable. Breathe slowly and naturally, relax your body, and wait until you feel quiet and open to receive.
Once you are fully relaxed … reach out and ask an animal to “let you in”. What I want is for you to simply connect to an animal and experience the world through its senses. Here are the rules of the game:
- Do not reach for an individual animal, especially one you already know. Just reach out and be open to whoever responds.
- Do not reach for a particular species of animal. The key to the game is not to know who you are connecting with.
- Be respectful. Let the life forms around you know you wish to learn, to be taught by them. Explain that you wish to broaden your horizons and experience life from the viewpoint of another species for a moment. Do not ask the animal who or what it is.
- Then, once you feel you’ve made the connection, allow the impressions to come in. Open your senses. What do you see, feel, smell? What physical sensations do you experience? Do you feel emotions? Desires? How does the world look and feel to you from inside that animal’s skin?
- After you have absorbed that animal’s point of view for a few moments, jot down your guess as to what species of animal you experienced.
- Then, ask that animal to show you an image of itself to confirm.
- Once done, return here, tell us what animal offered to be your host, and what you experienced!
I look forward to hearing about your adventures in a new realm!
After a thought of some feral cats first crossed my “vision,” I waited.
That vision popped like a soap bubble, and after a beat another vision developed, this time of the lengthy, stretchy belly of someone, gliding along the ground, then stopping.
Couldn’t see the entire image of whoever it was, but I knew it was a snake, a small- to medium-sized one. I didn’t ask it what it was, but the “knowingness” was so strong that I accepted this. This snake clearly wanted to avoid rustling any leaves beneath its belly.
I asked if I might share the snake’s experience for a few minutes, and after a pause I heard, “You are welcome.”
Here’s what happened: hearing the wind/breeze whistling overhead. A pressure on my sides/ribs, like being held (but not squeezed) from the outside. Conscious of being exposed to the elements above me. Quite aware/careful of the tip of my tail. Sidelong looks at whatever is above me, a repeated thought. Would like to be in warm sunlight, but I need to stay put for now. Also, I want to scurry despite feeling I must stay put. My nose is so sensitive to breezes across it.
That’s it. I forgot to thank the snake till just now.
Regards, Liz
Wow, Liz, what an awesome experience! I would never have consciously thought about things like being sensitive to breezes across a snake’s snout, and being aware of the tip of the tail. Fascinating!
Time for me to join in … and hopefully others will also find time to play this one with us!
I have a much easier game planned for next month, don’t worry.
****
I almost wish I hadn’t decided to play this one, myself. It is a bit harder to get around the distractions of life and just open up to “anyone” who wants to share. However, the creature that let me in, when I realized who I was experiencing the world through, hasn’t been one that’s been our family’s best friend lately. I had to set aside a personal grudge and let my heart open up to real gratitude when I thanked him for his hospitality. Ouch, why did I phrase it like that?
Anyway. I got quiet and reached outward and opened up to any animal which would like to share experience with me. I found myself hyper-aware of my surroundings, nervous, twitchy. Smells were enormous, sounds amplified, and I could “feel” the vibrations of all life around me through my skin and through my whiskers. An entire huge sector of my being was focused on finding food. The leaves, moldy and old and damp, were above me as I rummaged around in the humus, digging, moving in short bursts. I would sit still then, perfectly still, the only motion in my body the buzzing of my “sensors”, which were located at the end of my muzzle. Then I would dart again through the leaves and forest undergrowth. At one point I found an old maple seed pod that had begun to sprout, and gnawed the tender seed out of it. I could see my tiny white paws holding the seed, and realized at that point that I was a mouse.
The seed tasted bitter … my human tongue went “ew”, but the mouse tongue loved the flavor, and I allowed myself to experience the sense of satisfaction as I ate it down to nothing.
At that, I thanked the mouse (again, as our family home has been battling a major increase in the mouse invasion forces this year, I had to set aside personal feelings first) and “stepped away” to let him continue his adventures.
Now, we catch the mice in live traps and return them to the forest, so I don’t really have to battle guilt about having killed the little fellow’s relatives. And at least I connected with one in the woods rather than in our WALLS.
However, I find it very interesting that the species who offered to “host” me is one we have been unwillingly “hosting” ourselves of late!
(Anyone know a good mouse repellent that won’t hurt them? Those sonic things are worthless.)
I will admit, this game intimidated me, I guess because I wasn’t sure what I would feel/see/sense? I have only tried once, and will definately try again. When I opened up, the first thing I sensed was the sensation of many legs moving and “thank you”. However, I seemed to know right away that this was the ants outside whom I had tossed a poptart my daughter didn’t eat. I thought the birds would eat it, however, getting out of my car I saw ants all over it one day, and the next they had built an anthill all around it, I am sure that is quite the feast for ants!! So, I guess I got the game half right? I didn’t seek them specifically out, I did know it was them. I am looking forward to trying again and making my guess at the end. Thanks Gayle, want you to know I am definately interested in this
Sandy
Hi, Sandy, and thanks so much for participating! I think it’s pretty cool that the ants expressed gratitude for the pop tart, and that they shared that through the connection with you!
Remember, everyone, there’s no “right or wrong” in these games. The goal is the experience!
I KNOW in my head I am a Spiritual Being having a physical experience, but this knowing has not settled in my heart. I, at times, struggle with trust and worthiness issues, being good enough and trust enough to do what calls to my heart. I came here for a purpose, like everyone else, but have issues of wholeheartedly opening my heart to whatever happens. Whatever happens is EXACTLY the way it is supposed to be, but instead of honoring that, I judge it. EMAHO!!!! (And so it is) Jeanie
Hugs, Jeanie! And thank you for responding so honestly and sincerely!
This “who am I” game is a gentle one that, if you play it occasionally, and let your heart open up at its own pace, and in its own good time, might help you to receive such “volunteer impressions” without judging. It’s all a process, and will move forward in the time that is just right for the Spiritual You!