Animals and the Power of Presence

I just listened to a podcast titled,  
'Ep. 138 - Animal Wisdom with Dr. Linda Bender'

"David chats with Dr. Linda Bender, an advocate, author and educator in the sacred connection shared by humans, animals and nature.
Dr. Linda talks about the reality of our connection to all animals - the root word of animal is "animus" which means soul.
Dr. Linda says, “When we name and have a relationship with that being - be it a dog or a cat - we recognize that being as an individual - we get to know that individual and that individual becomes special. 
We are all here together as one and we have a sacred connection to all life.”
David quotes from her book, Animal Wisdom: ”We get to know who we are as human beings when we see the reflection of ourself in the eyes of a being that is not human.""
Being interested in the shamanic arts myself I found this podcast quite interesting. 

Scenes from the movie, 'Babe'

I must say that it is not the animals themselves that interest me in the study of shamanism, because animals are no better than humans in the sense that an animal will eat and kill other animals in the wild, just like some humans do.

Scene from the movie, 'Babe'

It's the common force that we all share that interests me, the force that connects all living beings.

Scene from the movie, 'Babe'

I think animals are great teachers, as are humans ... but I'm weary of both when they are operating from the ego and not the cosmic force from which they are attached.  

Scenes from the movie, 'Babe'

Shamanism sure is a bit of a rabbit hole to explore.

Scenes from the movie, 'Babe'

WHO ... are you?-)

I love how Linda tells the story in the podcast about the panther in the zoo and looking into its eyes.
Number 23 and Genetic Luck?

My panther tattoo

And remember that not all animal stories are as cute as they seem, as this story in the news in the last few days proves -

That Story of a Polar Bear Petting a Dog Just Took a Dark Turn
"Remember that heartwarming video showing a dog as it was being petted by a giant polar bear? In a twist that comes as a surprise to no one, a polar bear had to be immobilized last week after it killed and ate a dog from the same sled pack.
Brian Ladoon, who runs the 5 Dog Sanctuary in Churchill, Manitoba, told CBC News that he spotted nine bears near the area where he keeps his dogs chained up, and that one of these bears killed and ate one of his dogs. 
"That was the only day we didn't feed the f#cking bears, the only night we didn't put anything out," he exclaimed."
Great podcast though and something to ponder. 

Another Orb at the Byron Bay Writers Festival?