In our everyday lives, we humans tend to think of ourselves as quite different from the animals we call our pets. In fact, we are all made up of the same materials and are very closely related when you look at the details of our DNA. Despite our differences, all Beings are made of energy. This life force, or electromagnetic field is the thing that causes all of us to be Alive and to recognize this energy in one another.
Energy as a Guide
Animals of all types instinctively rely on their senses to assess their surroundings and survive in their environments. They use their sight, smell, and hearing of course, but also a sense of “feel” that allows them to sense changes in energy around them. Bats sense energy fields in order to navigate and hunt. Birds sense the earth’s magnetic field to guide their migration. Dogs are being used in medical science to locate and diagnose diseases using their senses.
Changes In Our Bodies
Modern science is able to measure the various changes that take place in our bodies as we experience emotions, thoughts, and physical activities. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of physiological changes, occur moment by moment, such as when our body temperature changes and brain waves fluctuate in frequency. Our bodies release chemicals and hormones into our bloodstream as our emotions change. Blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and pupil dilation are constantly changing as well.
One very important fact worth noting is that all of these physiological changes take place in our bodies when we have an experience AND ALSO when we IMAGINE an experience. The animals in our vicinity have no way of distinguishing our physical danger signals as real and current or as fear we are remembering from past experiences or anticipate happening. Their response will be the same in both cases – they will believe we are in danger.
Our pets are able to sense these changes in much more detail and more accurately than we can ourselves. Anyone that spends time around companion animals has seen how they respond when we are sad or stressed. Horses are able to sense the human heartbeat from 4 feet away, this gives them information about us before we even approach. It is said that they can “feel our fear” and in truth, they can. Additionally, horses in a herd tend to synchronize their heartbeats so when one senses danger, they all know instantly.
This type of highly attuned sensitivity has served animals well throughout their evolution and increased their ability to survive. In today’s modern society, however, sensitivity can have both its pros and cons for a companion animal.
Pros
- They feel safe and reassured when their people are “broadcasting” relaxed energy signals
- Animals are able to sense wellness and illness in the people they meet
- Anger and fear energy from a person signals an animal to be wary and cautious
- Dogs learn to respond instantly in training exercises based on the energy we broadcast, even before we can speak a command
- In some cases, a person’s energy helps a dog to distinguish between friend and foe
- A horse is able to adjust his speed and energy output using the rider’s signals as guidance
Cons
- Misunderstandings can frequently occur when an animal reads our energy but chooses an inappropriate response
- Animals can suffer from hyper-sensitivity in a world filled with sensory stimuli
- Humans unconsciously broadcast inaccurate information to their pets and the pet is left wondering how to respond, creating anxiety and a lack of self-confidence
- Humans tend to dwell on remembered events and imagined events that carry their own energy pattern, and a pet cannot distinguish which thoughts are real and which he should be responding to
Our companion animals come to know us quite well by our voice, personal scent, stance, and facial expressions. They also become familiar with and “evaluate” us by the energy that we “broadcast”.
When we become aware of all the ways that our energy can affect animals, we can begin to intentionally think, imagine, visualize, focus, and act in ways that accurately lead and guide our pets to desired behaviors rather than misleading them into undesired behavior. Anxiously worrying about an upcoming event only makes them anxious. A relaxed posture and slow deep breaths can quickly signal to our pet that we are safe. We can consciously become their confident leader and broadcast information in the form of energy that our pets can accurately use to choose the right response in any given situation.
