We Walk Beside You: Animal Messages for An Awakening World, by Sandra Mendelson. Little Black Paws Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9992704-0-0.
Animal Communication and channel, Sandra Mendelson, asks the animal kingdom for their thoughts on various topics about life.
The animals share their candid insights about the human race; provide inspirations for the spiritual growth of humans, and encourage humans to be open to communication and guidance from non-humans.
Every being who responds to Mendelson’s questions and topics shows the reader that each being – regardless of species – is a unique individual. The animal’s perspectives are refreshingly direct.
Favorite Passages
“Do you know the reason all these healing modalities work? It’s because humans believe they will, and that belief brings them closer to love so their vibrations rise and they heal.” p. 9-10
“People think that dogs listen to them because they’ve been trained, but this is just force. I listen to you by choice because we are partners, and you treat me that way. If more people tried it this way, they would be so happy and surprised. Understanding begins with one individual at a time.” p. 23
“Please also remember: every action you take has a ripple effect. Nothing is unimportant. You, every one of you, matter so very much to the outcome of us all. How different each of you would feel if you remembered this.” p. 117
From the Author
Q. What was one interaction from your book that spoke to the core of your being? Why?
A: There were several that just left me in awe. One in particular, however, tipped my understanding on its ear: A horse named Honey Bee talked about how “every thought matters because it affects matter”…how we must create change by reclaiming our power as individuals and coming from joy and how “it may seem counterintuitive to play and laugh and celebrate when you think you are surrounded by suffering and hatred, but this is how you shift the illusion.” [that we are separate from each other and all living things]. There were things she said that, four months later, were spoken by the Dalai Lama as he gave his advice on how we could get through the four years following the most recent presidential election.
Q. What words of encouragement would you like to share with those who are interested in pursuing communicating with non-humans?
A: Connecting with all Life is one of the innate abilities we all have. Communicating with animals is basically a transference of thoughts, pictures, emotions and feelings between the sender and receiver (also known as telepathy). There are approximately eight different means by which we receive these messages so the trick is to have the time and patience to discover what your means (aka gifts) are! Quite often we use more than one. Just a few examples are:
Paracognition
(instant knowing)
Clairaudience
(hearing with a “spirit ear”)
Clairvoyance
(seeing with ‘spirit vision” things such as images, colors, symbols, a brief “snapshot” that flashes into your awareness, numbers, letters, etc)
Clairsentience
(feeling in your body things such as vibrations, tingling, changes in temperature, and the physical symptoms of another).
For those who want to begin to uncover their gifts, here are SEVEN STEPS TO BEGIN CONNECTING WITH ANIMALS
1.COMMIT TO “SILENCE, STILLNESS AND PATIENCE” – You notice how you can’t hear a single voice at a crowded party? Well, the noisiest party is between our left ear and our right. Begin with deep breathing and/or meditation – whatever will still the noise.
2.GROUND YOUR ENERGY INTO MOTHER EARTH – Being barefoot is ideal but you can do a simple effective grounding exercise anywhere you are. Here is just one suggestion; you can find many for free online. http://www.michaeljabalee.com/meditation.html
3.BE FULLY IN THE PRESENT, IN YOUR HEART SPACE WITH AN ANIMAL – This means no cell phone, no earbuds, television, etc. You have to share the same reality as the animal so, that means your focus must be 100% in the here and now. As soon as you’re mentally in the past or the future, you have excluded the animal from your reality. Putting your hand on your heart is also a good reminder to get out of your head and into your heart space – the place you need to be to connect with animals.
4.SWITCH OUT OF DOING MODE INTO RECEIVING MODE – As the animals say: “as long as you’re striving, you can’t receive” – so that means be still, breathe, notice and just allow whatever comes up.. Having an agenda or trying so hard to force an outcome will block the energy and your abilities to connect.
5.LET YOUR OWN LANGUAGE/GIFTS EMERGE AND WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU GET – When you write down whatever it is that you receive – whether it’s what you hear, see, feel in your body, perceive through smell or from holding an object, etc you will discover patterns and come to know how your gifts manifest themselves. If you are stuck on expecting to hear something, for example, and you perceive through the experience of instant knowing instead, you will be short circuiting your own gifts.
6.TRUST WHAT YOU GET – As my dog, Mr. T tells me: “We want [humans] to trust themselves. Doubt is what hurts us all; it’s like someone drove a big sword between us. Please don’t doubt your inner knowing; we are here to help you activate it. We are great teachers and cheerleaders. Just give us – and give yourselves – a chance!”
7.TRY THE SQUIRREL EXPERIMENT (note: I have never tried this in the challenging noise and energy of a city environment). Animals read our thoughts. We humans need proof that they really do hear us through the thought stream. When you are outside (presumably in a calm state, walking slowly), stand still if you see a squirrel near you that hasn’t automatically run away. In your mind (do not use your voice), send the squirrel a greeting such as: “Good Morning! It is lovely to see you. I hope you have a beautiful day.” Watch to see the squirrel’s reaction (they will typically stop in their tracks and hang off the tree staring at you in utter amazement.). Do not throw in the towel if you don’t get a reaction the first time. Remember they are all individuals and some are more trusting and interested in connecting with us than others. Practice staying calm and let your neighborhood squirrels start to get to know and trust you. Little piles of raw almonds are a nice touch, too.
FINALLY – There are wonderful animal communicators who teach classes. I recommend checking out the products and resources on Penelope Smith’s site https://animaltalk.net/ as she is considered the “grandmother of interspecies communication” and has a wonderfully long and rich lifetime of animal communication experience to share, along with an animal communicator directory.
Q. How has this experience — from the communicating to writing and publishing We Walk Beside You — enriched your life?
A: First, it brought wonder, optimism and sheer joy into my life as so many animals stepped forward and completely transformed my perspective on their consciousness, intentional behavior and capabilities.
Secondly, the animals have made me a believer in my inner wisdom and sixth sensory abilities – those gifts we all have – that aren’t taught – and that most of us haven’t explored. These are the very abilities that help us heal our lives and our world.
Also, the animals gave me something to share that is not about me, my opinions or my story – it is much bigger than me. I feel honored to share their breathtaking wisdom.
Most importantly, by listening to and putting the “animal wise ways” into practice, I have discovered so much more meaning, purpose and happiness than I ever expected. I am seeing through different eyes.
Q. Is there anything you would like to share with your readers?
A: I have learned – and many readers tell me – that we need to slow down to change our perspective. To absorb the wisdom from “the voice of all Life” as the horses call it, into our everyday lives means we need to digest it in small bytes. That’s why I created the deck of message cards – as daily reminders that re-train how I see things and move through life. FOr those who read the book, I encourage them to go slowly, stop at what really resonates with you and dor ear and highlight the heck out of it. The animals have given us a tremendous gift that’s ours for the taking.
Thank you, Sandra!
We Walk Beside You: Animal Message Cards
A 52 card deck of animal messages. Each card has a picture of an animal and a quote from that animal; cards of inspiration, observation, or words of wisdom to ponder or incorporate into one’s life.
I received a copy of this book and the Message Cards in exchange for an honest review.
Review by Jan Toomer
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