Guide to Working With Animal Energies

Jun 23, 2012 by Rosemary

Though much of the work I do involves animals and helping pets to heal naturally, this particular article is about working with animal energies or animals as guides in life. When I was guided to write about working with animal energies it became clear to me that I take this work as “matter-of-fact”. I acknowledge animal guides and recognize the influences of animal energies in the work I do every day. However, everyone’s life is infused with animal energies and influences. Do you recognize the animal guides in your life?

You don’t have to have a pet in your home to be aware of or to work with animal energies. Anyone can become aware of the animal energies that play a role in their lives. However, if you want to learn more and do have a pet, start there.

Recognizing Animal Energies
Have you ever found yourself attracted to an animal image or figurine? Maybe it was a butterfly sticker for your car window, or a facebook image you shared of a polar bear and her cub. If so, you may be using the subtle influences of an animal guide.

Acting as your “guides”, animals help you to become more aware of certain aspects of your sense of self and/or purpose. Their influences vary and can often be related to the animals’ characteristics in physical form. For example, butterflies undergo metamorphosis, changing body form from egg to larva to pupa to adult. If butterflies are showing up in your life, might you also be experiencing some form of transformation and growth? In addition, if you are seeking to bring about change in your life you can bring butterfly energy into your day with images of butterflies, even as a screen saver for your computer.

Each stage of the butterfly’s metamorphosis holds certain recognizable attributes that we can use as beneficial energies or guidance. For example, the egg stage can represent new beginnings, abundance, raw or new ideas, opportunities and creativity. The pupa stage, as in a chrysalis of a butterfly, can signify waiting, a time for inner reflection and self-healing, preparation for new events or transformation. The butterfly in this form is all but inactive. Though it may seem like a quiet time, there may be much happening energetically to help you move forward into the next events of your life.

Getting Started
If using animal energies is new to you, you may quickly discover that it’s easy and fun to begin using animal energies with more purpose and awareness. Just follow my Guide to Working With Animal Energies below:

Guide to Working With Animal Energies
1. Recognize the connection you already have to animals and their actual presence in your home or office. You might have feather earrings, a special dolphin painting, a bird figurine or shells for decoration or a favorite stuffed animal. Your animal energies might even be from your current, beloved pet.

2. Learn about the attributes offered from the animal guides you recognize. The goldfinches chirping at the birdbath on your deck bring “joy” while the red-tailed hawk overhead may signify “keen observance” or “strength”. Dogs of any breed offer “family” energy, “protection” and “companionship” to such an acute degree of “sensitivity”. Their longtime co-existence with humans offers us an opportunity to learn more and connect on even higher levels to our animal guides.

3. Invite animal energies with intent and purpose. Do a little research or trust your instincts. Many cultures use animal statues, pictures or figurines to bring in attributes of wealth, longevity, protection, peace, endurance and well-being. Turtle, for example, helps to bring in energy of many wonderful attributes such as abundance (look at all those eggs!), protection, fortitude and longevity. Bats, cranes, fish, frogs, elephants and dragons represent “good luck” as well as other wonderful qualities.

4. Honor and trust animal energies. It is not only through our awareness but also through the sometimes forgotten observations of ancient cultures that we acknowledge animals here with us on earth. Even with televisions and computers, indoor life and modern conveniences we could realize the importance of understanding animal energies. As we learn about building trust with our pets, joy from songbirds, insight and wisdom from dragonflies and the fragile nature of life as well as strength and fortitude from spiders, we begin to realize the greater connection we have to nature and all animals on earth.

To learn more about working with animal guides or pursuing energy work, especially Reiki, please visit my website for advanced energy/ Reiki training.