We are all so maddeningly busy that the time we spend with our animals tends to be taken up by the "must do's."

Your cat, dog, horse, bird, goat or hamster must be fed, watered, exercised, groomed, trained, and seen by the vet for periodic checkups. There are occasional cuts and bruises that must be attended to, and trips to the pet store or grain mill to pick up food, bedding, and supplements.

It's our love of our creature companions that motivates us to spend our time and money and energy to ensure that they have a comfortable, happy life, and it's gratifying to be able to accomplish this much.

But if you aspire to open up the telepathic channels of communication with your animal, the best thing you can do is to stop.

Sit with her, breathe with her, and let silence reign for as many precious minutes as you can afford. Consciously open your heart, and your mind, and then let what will be, be. You may be surprised at what you hear.

Author's Bio: 

Maureen Harmonay is a lifelong animal lover who first discovered that she could communicate with animals in the early 1980s, when one of her racehorses told her what nickname he wanted.

Maureen turned to animal communicators in 2002 when one of her cats was missing, and this eventually led her, in early 2005, to take a series of weekend workshops. To her surprise, she found that she was able to make telepathic connections with animals in a variety of situations.

Maureen has been certified as a Professional Animal Communicator, having successfully completed Carol Gurney’s 4-part comprehensive HeartTalk Program®. She wholeheartedly endorses and and subscribes to the Animal Communicator Code of Ethics developed by Penelope Smith.

Maureen is the founder of the "Finding Animals Stolen Tipline" (FAST), an online clearinghouse for publicizing and locating animals who have been stolen in the New England area.

She is also the Massachusetts Adoption Coordinator for New England English Springer Spaniel Rescue, and as a former thoroughbred owner and breeder, is an avid supporter of efforts to ensure that retired racehorses find good homes.

She shares her life with three cats, Casey, Neil, and Glenda, a Springer Spaniel, Tish, a Golden Retriever, Ashley, three Spanish Timbrado canaries, a barnful of chickens and Hayley, a former Premarin mare whom Maureen fell in love with while doing pro bono animal communication work for Bay State Equine Rescue in Oakham, Massachusetts.