Photo by Mofeda Dababo on Unsplash

Your animals can be a reflection of you.

One of my clients, whom I’ll call Betty, requested a session because her two new kittens, whom I’ll call Molly and Mittens, were fighting.  Molly is 8 months old and has very high energy.  Mittens is a male, a little over a year old, very sweet, loving, and more sedate than Molly.  Molly had been with Betty for more than a month before Betty brought Mittens home a few days ago.

According to Betty, Mittens became depressed and his appetite has declined because of vicious attacks by Molly.  Betty, in describing what was going on, was quite angry and annoyed with Molly.  Her goal for the session was to find out more about what was going on between the two cats and then decide what to do.  Betty explained that she didn’t want to give Mittens away, but thought she might have to do that.

It was difficult, at first, for Betty to listen to what Molly told us.  Betty kept interrupting and saying critical things about Molly as I tried to encourage Molly to speak with us.  I finally persuaded Betty to open her heart center and quietly listen to Molly without making any judgments.

With some encouragement from me, Molly explained that she has a hard time getting close to anyone, including people.  She had sensed a connection with Betty when they first met, and wants to be close, but doesn’t really know how.  In addition, she had been very sick when Betty brought her home and she really appreciated how well Betty cared of her.  Now that she feels better, she has lots of energy, just like many young, healthy kittens do.  She doesn’t feel like cuddling much because she doesn’t trust at a very deep level.  She is afraid to let love in because she might lose it again, and she showed me an image of her mother cat with the sad emotion of loss.

Once Betty heard what Molly had to say, Betty was deeply moved.  She told me, “I can’t believe how much this sounds like me.  I have issues myself about getting close to others and letting in love.  Molly has really touched my heart.”

I spoke then with Mittens, who explained that he feels very safe and has a lot of love to give.  He wants to be in this family so he can be a center for grounding energies and giving unconditional love to both Betty and Molly.  After we talked for a bit, Mittens said he felt better – less sad and more focused on his purpose for being in this family.

Betty went on to say that she had read books on Animal Communication written by Penelope Smith in which she had learned that animals can reflect our issues.  “I just never expected this to happen to me,” Betty told me.

I explained that this was a powerful opportunity for spiritual growth for both Betty and Molly.  “Stay out of judgment as much as you can.”  I suggested.  “These two cats have come to be with you to participate in an expansive and healing spiritual process.  If you get upset with Molly, just remember how much she is like you.  Keep your heart center open as much as possible and keep focused on forgiving and loving yourself.”

We tend to judge others negatively for exactly the same things we do not like in ourselves.  I have learned that when I am upset with someone else for something they have said or done, my next step is to look at myself to see what button in me got pushed and in what ways the other person reminds me of me.  Then, I know that I have to heal myself through forgiveness and love.  I have to forgive myself.  I have to love myself.  When I have done that, I no longer make negative judgments of other person who gave me the gift of being my reflection.

I suggested some flower essences for Betty, Molly, and Mittens.  The essences will smooth the way for the cats to integrate with each other, and will also help Betty and Molly develop a closer bond.  Of course, Betty will still need to work on her own issues, but flower essences can be very helpful as we move through the healing process.

The world outside us is a mirror of our inner world.  To change the nature of what we experience “out there”, we have to change our limiting beliefs and emotions inside.  The place for you to begin is with yourself.  The place for me to begin is with myself.  Then, when enough of us changes ourselves, we will also have shifted the consciousness of humanity into a place of greater love, acceptance, compassion, forgiveness, and joy.

Nedda