MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL
Animals love us. That’s what they do! Is your pet your spirit animal? Their desire for connection and contact remind us what love is all about. Does your physical pet attend to you when you are sick or depressed without forcing the time? Do they feel trust when you are around? Does your pet sense spirits? Are they able to peel you off the couch for a walk or take time to play? Science recognizes the healing power of animals. For example, the soft and strong purr of cats has a vibration frequency that is a healing sound. It is referred to as Biomechanical Stimulation Therapy.
SPIRIT ANIMALS Even if you don’t have a pet in the physical realm, you can apply energy medicine to your spirit animal as well. Animal images and encounters are often valid signposts within our life. They can be messengers either in dreams, meditation or waking life that stimulate a primordial part of our imagination. They help us open our perspective to new possibilities. Establishing a relationship with them provides many gifts: messengers, personal power, protectors, healers and teachers. Engage in energy medicine with them. They are as real as you are! To discover your spirit or power animal, you may ponder these questions:
What animal were you drawn to as a child?
What animal are you drawn to presently?
What animal appears when you begin something new?
What animal do you dream of?
Besides walking, feeding and playing with these beautiful souls, (in physical or non-ordinary reality) enhance your relationship with energy medicine. Acupressure, Qi Gong, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Reiki, and Massage (to name a few) all have wonderful benefits for our friends. In Acupressure and Qi Gong, meridians connect organs with other parts of their body. When the flow of Qi is blocked at any point along the line, dis-ease can occur. Applying these modalities promotes the release of endorphins and influence the nervous system. Use for a warmup, relaxation, to stimulate circulation, and calm anxiety. Massaging ears is very relaxing. Their ears have many nerve centers which are sensitive. Do this for anxiety as well as separation anxiety. In winter months, animals don’t get as much exercise, so massage helps to stimulate blood flow and relieve stiffness. (Just a heads up: never apply pressure over an open wound or any area that is bruised or swollen.)
Qi Tips
To begin it helps to calm and center yourself. LI4 is located in the webbing between your thumb and forefinger. While holding this point, set an intention for what you want the animal to receive during the session. Take a few breaths and repeat on other hand. By using the heel of your hand, slowly stroke down the animal’s body just to the side of the midline and spine from head to hind paw. This follows the Bladder Meridian. Trace three times so that the animal knows you are doing something other than petting them. Use one hand while the other rests comfortably on their body. Gentle pressure with the thumb or two fingers is plenty on the points. When completed, retrace Bladder Meridian three times on each side to give the session a finishing touch.
The Thumb Technique – counting to twenty, apply gentle pressure. This works best for medium and large sized animals’ trunk, neck and larger muscle masses.
Two Finger Technique – counting to twenty, placing your middle finger on top of index finger, put soft tip of index finger on acupoint for count of twenty. This is good for small animals and lower extremities on medium to large size beings.
Here are a few points to get you started:
BL 60 In the depression just above the ankle joint, on the outside of the leg is the
“Aspirin Point”, pain in hind limb, lower back, ankle
BL 40 On the back hind leg, in the very center, right behind the knee helps with Inflammation, arthritis, stiffness and pain in the back, hip, and knee
Please refer to the link below for other helpful energy points.
KITCHEN FARMACY
There is a site called Dog Food Advisor that reviews dog food on the market and gives pros and cons of each. All the Best Pet Care has valuable information for healthy eating:
For Cats:
1. 1/2 cup ground or chunked raw meat (beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, ostrich, quail, etc.) Preferably with organ meats – 1/6 of total meat portion.
2. 3/4 tsp. Edible human-grade Bone meal (calcium source – provides the “bone” for the meat)
3. 2 T Ground raw green & orange vegetables (carrot, sweet potato, zucchini, parsley, kale, other greens, etc.)
Optional: one raw egg yolk (enriches food for a cat’s higher nutritional requirements). Use a food processor to finely grind all veggies together, or put through a juicer, and use both juice and pulp. Mix together all ingredients for a consistency.
For Dogs: Any Meat with Oatmeal One Pot Dinner
1 cup quick oats 2 cups water with 1/4 tsp. salt 1 lb. (2 cups) any kind of ground meat, including ground poultry parts – may include organs Optional – 1/2 to 1 cup ground raw mixed veggies, fresh or frozen
1. Bring water and salt to a boil in medium saucepan.
2. Add oats and cook one minute, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from heat, cover and let cool slightly.
4. Add meat all at once and stir. The heat of the oatmeal should barely cook it.
5. Cool to lukewarm and add vegetables if used, and supplements.
This makes 4 to 5 cups of food, half meat and half oats. You can reduce oats or increase meat if desired. Leftovers can be refrigerated.
“HE WHO FEEDS A HUNGRY ANIMAL FEEDS HIS OWN SOUL.” Charlie Chaplin