Do you know a pet who is in “The Wise Old Animal Club”?
Let’s chat about aging animals, anticipatory grief, and the power of intuition
If you live with an older animal you are going to want to stick around for as we chat about our wise old aging animals!
If you’d rather listen…
Hello Dear Intuitive One
Real magic, transformative magic happens when we are able to see the difficult situations we are facing through the lenses of our intuitive goggles. I’m not taking in a spiritual bypassy way, but in the way our intuitive googles can help give our challenges and struggles purpose.
This magic offered by our intuitive goggles is especially helpful when we apply it to the inevitable “anticipatory grief” that overwhelms so many of us sensitive ones when our beloved animals reach a certain age.
We’re talking about those anxious grief-laced feelings preventing us from staying in the present moment and enjoying the company of our beloved animal friends in the here and now.
The complicated feelings surrounding anticipatory grief regarding ageing pets, is also one of the most talked about topics for both humans and animals in communication sessions.
I’m no stranger to anticipatory grief. Having lived with animals my whole life, those breath-holding, worry producing feelings of anticipatory grief and I go way back. Until that is my older animals started teaching me about something they called “The Wise Old Animal Club.”
What is The Wise Old Animal Club?
The Old Wise Animal Club first came up in conversations with cat brothers, Miles-Smiles and Dizzy, who started mentioning it when they reached that stage of aging when they were sleeping very, very deeply, sometimes even through dinner time. The brothers both spoke of the old wise animal club as a stage in their aging where they were able to access both the physical world and the spiritual world in dream time.
They spoke of their entry into this special club as a rite of passage, a threshold they had crossed, a sacred club they had entered having reached a certain age. They shared that conscious entry into this club was earned, not unlike in the story of the Velveteen Rabbit, when his Realness was earned with his worn elbow stitching and thread-bare fur.
The concept of The Old Wise Animal Club, comes up regularly in sessions with older animals and many clients, human and animal, have shared how helpful talking about it openly can ease anticipatory grief.
It helps us humans and our pets remember, see and even celebrate the gifts that are associated with aging.
It helps us remember that it is actually a privilege to grow old.
A privilege that offers a new lens to see and experience our world, and the time to develop unshakable bone deep wisdom-the kind of wisdom that only comes with worn elbow stitching and thread-bare fir.
A privilege we are lucky to witness and support our animals through.
Let’s pause for a moment and give ourselves a moment to do exactly what most of the animals in the Wise Old Animal Club ask their people to do more of, be present in the here and now.
Give yourself permission to put down the busyness of your day, ground into this moment, and breathe to be in your body. If your moved, place a hand on your heart, and a hand on your belly to help you anchor into the here and now.
As you drop back into the present, give yourself a cleansing breath and remind yourself that this feeling of being in your body, is exactly what your beloved animal friends LOVE MOST. When you are present and in your body, just like this, your able to meet them and share all the feelings of joy, grief, love and goodness that make life so wonderful.
From this place of presence, if your moved, speak a promise to your animals (and yourself) that you’ll do your best to listen to their wisdom, to be present with them to celebrate the ways you have loved one another into being.
To bring our tuning-in to a close, rest your hands that have been holding your heart and belly and take a moment to notice how different the world feels from this vantage point of mindful presence.
Thanks for tuning in with me.
Do you have an animal friend who has been granted entry or is about to cross the threshold into The Wise Old Animal Club? I’d love to support you in having the deep important conversations to help you both process, and celebrate honor the Velveteen rabbit they have become.
XO
Joanna
Image: Photo of animal communicator, Joanna Schmidt (me!).
Animal Talk
Let's chat: Animal Teachers
Image: Heart-melting super power dog-friend Whiskey, in the garden. She’s a Retriever-Rottweiler mix and is wearing her “Welcome to the garden!” silk flower and ribbon wreath.
You know how some animals have that heart-melting super power?
Our dog Whiskey, is one of those heart-melting beings. Adding to her heart-melting power, is a master ability to assure everyone she meets is instantly put at ease, and every being great or small in her company feels that they belong. She is a master teacher and guide and I am so grateful to be her guardian.
I believe every animal has a super power, and it’s not always as simple as "to guard or protect”. The animals in our lives have complicated and profound super powers, special gifts, and knowing that they are can help us make sure they feel seen and feel that they belong in our home and family.
What are your animal's super powers?
If you already know what your animal’s super power is, be sure to tell them that you notice their good work! If your still learning about your animal friends super power or what their life purpose is, I’d love to help you talk with them about it! Most animals LOVE talking at length about the things they do for their human companions!!
