http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-healing-of-unconditional-love.html
The Healing of Unconditional Love
Researching and co-writing Through A Dog’s Ear: Using Sound to Improve the Health & Behavior of Your Canine Companion was a true gift. I now understand the benefit of a healthy sonic environment for my patients and pets. The most exciting piece of this work, however, was the revelation that psychoacoustically arranged music is a tool that helps both humans and animals. The story of George and Gracie illustrates how music can help canines and their guardians through difficult times.
Gracie is a beautiful Akita with a huge heart. Her first year of life, however, was filled with abuse. She was rescued by a wonderful, caring family that had given her a fabulous home. Unfortunately, the previous abuse took its toll, and Gracie was left with fear aggression. Her family did everything they could from a conventional veterinary and behavioral perspective, but she still retained some aggressive tendencies. Since I had taken care of other canine members of this family for years, I asked if I could try energy therapy with Gracie. They were open minded and open hearted enough to try it. The energy sessions did wonders for Gracie — she acted like a puppy again.
Many months later, George (Gracie’s guardian) underwent surgery, and he suffered complications. He was in tremendous pain and was very ill. Gracie had never seen George like this, and the stress brought back her previous fear aggression. George couldn’t understand why Gracie didn’t want to lay by his side, and he was crushed when she growled at him. To make matters worse, his post-surgical pain was preventing him from sleeping. It was a very stressful time for the household.
I then remembered that Music to Calm Your Canine Companion had been so helpful in my previous work with Gracie. Perhaps it could now help both of them. His rest and healing would play a role in reducing her stress, and her return to a happy nature would help him on his road to recovery. How wonderful it was to have a tool that really supported the human-animal bond. To me, this was what the music study was really all about — animal and person healing together.
The most important point to this story, however, is that the restoration of George and Gracie’s relationship was essential for each of their recoveries. Gracie needed to know her human companion was safe, and George needed his beloved canine companion watching over him.
George’s wife, Tina, became the healing angel for both of them. She didn’t banish Gracie from the home — she understood how important it was for George and Gracie to stay together. Her caring and calm nature kept it all from falling apart. Through some intensive work by all involved, George and Gracie soon were helping each other heal. The entire family got through the difficult time together.
Whether it goes from person to animal, or animal to person, nothing heals like unconditional love.
Say goodnight Gracie. Woof
Adapted from Through A Dog’s Ear: Using Sound to Improve the Health & Behavior of Your Canine Companion, by Joshua Leeds and Susan Wagner, Sounds True Publishing
Dr. Susan Wagner is a board certified veterinary neurologist whose pioneering work acknowledges the bioenergetic interaction between people and animals. She is an advocate for change in the area of interpersonal violence and animal cruelty, and works toward a greater understanding surrounding the health implications of the human-animal bond.
Residing in Worthington OH, she is an active public speaker in the areas of energy theory and healing, spirituality, and the human-animal bond. She especially enjoys teaching about the spiritual nature of animals. Dr. Wagner is published in several peer-reviewed journals. She is also co-author of Through A Dog’s Ear: Using Sound to Improve the Health and Behavior of Your Canine Companion, and was research director for the Through A Dog’s Ear CD series. Dr. Wagner is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University Veterinary College, and a Level IV Healing Touch for Animals practitioner.
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16 comments
add your comment »My pets, four cats (all neutered, of course) and my Peke always make me smile. They love me even when I am in Bitch mood!
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Sounds like a great idea to me. But then again the whole world could use a dose of self-awareness if you ask me. Kindergardners take naps, why not just keep doing that and making it meditation as the kids get older kahramanlar izle and more aware. Count me in on this one, I love the idea.
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Beautiful piece! Want more! :-)
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Hi, Risa
Thank you for your kind and caring message. I know exactly how you feel about the loss of Skcrappy. I cannot offer you any advice as each person handles their grief differently. I still think of Shane every day and we have many pictures of him about the house. I find that you never forget but you learn to cope. I am sure that you will soon find your way.
Wishing you and your husband well.
Marilyn
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Outside of a book dog is man's best friend. Inside of a dog's too dark to read.
Groucho Marx
HA HA HA I MADE A FUNNY! foflol
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When my dog had to be put to sleep after 14 years of being with the family and sharing many phases of life with us I could not emotionally recover, I went to the bereavement group that provided a place that I could continue crying as everyone else began to tire of and could not understand this behavior.
I was asked to walk thru a Shelter with my grand daughter who worked there, after saying I would never replace Shane, I went and found a 4 pound abandoned Laso Aphso Mix. I could not stop thinking about her and adopted her the next day. My husband and I don't know how anyone could abandon such an intelligent, clean, loving dog who now weighs 9 lbs and is the love of our lives. I say I save her live and she saved mine.
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Noted early 20th century philosopher Martin Buber relates a similar story of his connecting on a spiritual level with his horse. He called it 'I and Thou', a relationship that stresses the mutual, holistic existence of two beings.In an I-Thou encounter,infinity and universality are made actual (rather than being merely concepts).The opposite encounter he named 'I-It'.In this relationship the beings do not actually meet.Instead, the "I" confronts and qualifies an idea, or conceptualization, of the being in its presence and treats that being as an object. Buber says in order to create an I-Thou relationship, a person has to be open to the idea of such a relationship, but not actively pursue it. The pursuit of such a relation creates qualities associated with it, and so would prevent an I-Thou relation, limiting it to I-It. He says by being open to the I-Thou,it will eventually come to you and this I-Thou relation lasts as long as the individual chooses.
Anyone interested in taking this path should read his work on this subject called, "I and Thou". Truly enlightened and way ahead of his time.
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Thank you Susan, so true...
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T'would help if writers used the correct preposition in article titles; this should be 'by' not 'of'. When I read the title my first thought was "I didn't know unconditional love needed healing".
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I wish there was a global law in effect whereby "any type of animal cruelty (even just ignoring them or not pampering them enough) would be dealt with so harshly that NO ONE would even consider being stupid enough to think about it. It hurts me so much that people out there hurt our innocent animals! They are part of our hearts and souls and "WE NEED THEM" just as much as they need us, if not MORE. I would do anything for them, but I don't even know know what to do for myself anymore; to move forward and feel okay. I've been without my Skrappy for 5 months now. My little Pom-a-Poo was my pride and joy and best friend. He made everyday wonderful regardless what else was going on. We shared 14 precious years together for which I am so grateful. But now my heart is so empty, the hole is enormous, deep and unbelievably painful. When I took vacation several years ago, my mom took care of Skrappy (he was very comfortable with her), but he got ill. The vet told me that he "missed me". We were so connected, and now I live missing him every moment. People who help animals (such as in this article), based on their accreditations, abilities, etc. impress me so much & I wish I could work with them on any level. Helping, loving and pampering animals seem like a great way to feel joy and love while dispensing it. But how do you help if you bond with "all animals" and "cannot bear" to see them in cages or in pain (omg, I'd break down constantly)? I love animals & animal people.
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