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Browse published articles attributed to Val Heart, with full-archive search.
"The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." -- Eden Phillpotts "My husband and I first met Val over two years ago. I had worked with another animal communicator who spoke in too many non-specific terms to make me believe in the practice. I think I found Val by surfing the net.
Leadership problems cost us big in more ways than most of us realize. Whether we are struggling with authority figures in our lives, or struggling to be the authority for others, learning how to be a good leader is critical to our success. If your company’s top management aren’t good leaders, then the employees will be more inclined to steal, commit fraud, act badly, not show up for work, or will leave for a better job somewhere else. If the relationship you’re in is suffering in some way, then chances are, there’s a leadership problem.
Itch, itch, scratch, scratch… thump-thump-thump… I honestly don’t know who whines more when our dogs have itchy skin problems, us or them! They’re obviously being driven nuts by chronic itching, burning, or stinging pain, and are miserable. You’re worried, stressed and conce ed about how to help them, especially when what you’ve tried so far just isn’t working.
Surprisingly not many people know that you can use muscle testing (kinesiology) with animals to help determine the causes of illnesses and behavior problems. Muscle testing can also help you know if you are feeding your dog, cat, horse, yourself or your children the right food, supplements, homeopathics, minerals and vitamins. It can also be useful in finding answers about past life experiences, gauging the individual’s preferences (especially important when they can’t tell you verbally), their likes and dislikes, and a host of other applications.
Have you ever experienced being loved unconditionally? Without reserve or embarrassment, from someone who doesn't care about your weight, whether you have makeup on, if you're having a bad hair day, or have issues, woundings or baggage? They don’t worry about whether you had a bad day at the office, had a argument with someone, or are hurting?
Ever wondered how cats purr? What is it exactly that makes that amazing sound and vibration? Why do they purr at some times and not at others? For instance, cats purr just as much when they are in pain, injured or ill as they do when they are content, pleased and in a meditative state of mind. Science has not been able to figure it out completely either. It is a fascinating topic. However, not only is it interesting HOW they purr, but what happens when they do. How Cats Purrr
Ever wondered what animals think about death? Or, if they know anything about the afterlife – if it exists? How it works? I was undecided how I felt about this issue for many years, until I met an injured wild deer at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation where I worked on staff. I was delighted when the deer began talking with me. One deer became a dear friend (no pun intended) and I always looked forward to feeding time when I got to sit and chat with this very special being named Roland. I always took his favorite foods to eat and sat down with him while we communed together.
90% of dis-ease is either caused by, or made worse by, stress. Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands. For many, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life. When you are consciously unaware and feel powerless to make positive changes, you accept tension, dread, worry and chronic anxiety as your normal ‘comfort zone’.
Are they so different from us? Humans have traditionally held themselves as being separate and more intelligent (read “important”) than other Beings. They perceived animals to be different ("they don’t talk or look like we do; therefore, they are obviously inferior to us"). Until recently, this has been easy to believe where animals are conce ed. They cannot speak “the language” like we do (of course, they don’t have the vocal apparatus humans do which makes this feat basically impossible!). And, after all, humans can often control, dominate and manipulate them.
We're all born knowing how to feel and connect with others over a distance, but as we grow up, our society begins to teach us other ways to communicate and often, we forget to ‘listen’ through our heartmind. There are a few Basic Principles you'll need to be aware if you want to begin opening up your own ability to communicate with your animal friends. First is your Attitude. More than any other factor, your Attitude towards Animals determines your receptivity to what they have to say, and that affects their willingness to communicate openly with you.
My mini Schnauzer dog Einstein just came over and asked for some attention. He wanted a rub and a hug and to share a loving moment with me. And a treat would be nice too, like icing on the cake! He has an admirable and standing policy of always asking for what he wants. Sometimes it’s annoying, sometimes it’s inconvenient, sometimes his needs go unmet anyway (although he’s a master in the art of persistence)… but most of the time, he gets what he wants and I’m happy to give it to him if I can, once I know what it is.
One day I happened to glance outside onto the shaded area of my patio deck and noticed my grey tabby cat laying in a regal pose, front arms stretched out with her paws elegantly crossed in front of her. Her eyes were half shut, she seemed to be smiling a Mona Lisa smile, and even from inside the house I could see that she seemed to be vibrating. Fascinated I watched as her energy seemed to grow and grow until it connected with every living thing and object within at least 50 feet of where she was. The air around her seemed charged with life force and peace, humming with power.
Did you know that animals have philosophies of life that are as profound as any master teachings? I once spoke with a Be ese mountain dog and what he told me about living a good life was as insightful and beautiful as any I've ever heard. * We are here to enjoy life fully - deeply experiencing the fun and playfulness of being. * Our job is to love others unconditionally; to have compassion and tolerance for all other Beings. * We are all one and can feel the joy of being connected. * Others are here to play with and enjoy.
Dear Val, My little Annie was diagnosed with luxating patella on her back right leg. They have suggested operating. I am not wanting to go that route as she is so hyper that I do not think I can keep her calm etc for 6 weeks. Am going to get her cartilage shots for a month and see if that helps. Wondering what is the best decision? -- Sheila Dear Sheila,
Understanding these three basic rules of dog psychology can help you overcome many of your dog’s behavior issues. Knowing which actions you are taking, or not taking, that is causing or contributing to their behavior problems can go a long way in helping you and your dogs have a better relationship and be able to live together in deeper harmony. Do you think that if your dog really loved you, she would behave better, would come when you called, and wouldn’t eat your shoes, pee in the house, be aggressive, or tear up your stuff…?
On special dog's story about rediscovering her life's purpose... Have you ever wondered what your own life’s purpose was? Did you know that animals also have a life’s purpose? I recently worked with a very frightened young dog who had forgotten her purpose. She had been badly abused the first four months of her life, living in fear and shut up in a small cage most of the time. She was not socialized at all, nor was she taught anything except to be afraid, always afraid.
Aggression in a Pitbull, Rottweiler or other dog is a dangerous tendency that can be managed and retrained. If you have a Pitbull, Rottweiler or other dog that is aggressive toward other people coming from their instinctual need to protect you, then I have a technique that you may find very useful. Your a Pitbull, Rottweiler or other dog may be either trying to protect you or your family, or he may simply be territorial. Whatever, the situation, you need to remedy it as soon as possible.
Debarking is a painful, confusing temporary solution to a much deeper human management, miscommunication and training problem. When the urge to bark is suppressed and not dealt with properly, then even after undergoing the surgery, the bad behavior only redirects and then surfaces in other inappropriate activities. Ultimately, the animal lives an unhappy life, and may lose their home or more tragically, can even lose their life.
One of the most dreaded and possibly painful experiences all animal lovers must go through comes at what seems to be the end of your animal friend’s life. Do you know if it’s time for you to let go of your animal friend? How can you know if you don’t ask them first? After all, who else would know better than they do?
When Dr Joey contacted me, he wanted my help with his dogs. He had been putting up with really bad behavior from them for a long time. He was grieving terribly for his Forever Dog Friend, Satin, who had passed away. And his other best dog friend, Shami, had also recently passed away after a terrible and mysterious illness.
The holidays, and special day events like birthdays, are known to be key markers for humans in their lives. Many times folks who know they are dying will hang on until that special day, then let go and move on. Our animals do this as well. Sometimes it’s just a good day to die, as the Indians would say.
You know that your animal tries to tell you things every day. However, what if you don’t know how to spot a bad habit that comes from a reaction to emotional trauma, or whether they are experiencing physical pain, illness or discomfort? Even the most caring, loving owners mistakenly do things all the time that adversely affects their animals.
You may not if you haven't asked them directly. Years ago I was called in to assist a well known and respected quarter horse trainer with a mare he was having trouble with. When I arrived at the ranch, we walked over to her stall and I introduced myself.
A client called not long ago to ask my assistance with his horse, Snow. Although Snow was a friendly, caring gelding, Bob was worried that his friend was having a really rough go of it lately, and his trainer had been hinting that perhaps he should consider putting him to sleep. My client was hopeful that Snow would tell us that he was fine, really didn’t hurt much, and wasn’t ready to make his transition… maybe he even knew of something that would help him recover. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
In order to stay healthy personally and within our community, we must stay connected with the animals, treating them with respect and honor, listening and learning from them on many levels. Animals know us better than almost any other being on the planet. They see what’s in our minds eye and they feel what we’re feeling. They can get closer to our hearts than anyone else because they get under our defense mechanisms!
As an expert animal communicator many people come to me wanting help picking the right dog to bring home, the one that is a right fit to include in their family. A staggering percent of dogs end up in shelters and face possible euthanasia because their owners didn’t consider some important points before making the most important decision in their dog’s life.
They often mirror and react to your own personal imbalances and issues. “That’s just spooky!” A recent client told me when I pointed out that both she and her dog had a problem in the exact same vertebrae in their backs! I assured her that this happens all the time, and that it has to do with The Human Animal BodyMind Connection. Did you know that animals mirror you in mind, body and spirit? They Reflect Us. Animals are spiritual teachers, and are at times barometers of our souls! So when we have a problem, they are talking to us. The question is: Are we listening!?
Animals have long lives, and most folks intend to give them a forever home. After all, our animal companions are often a large part of our lives and we spend a great deal of time, energy, money and effort on their behalf! But the fact is that millions of animals are purchased or trade hands every year, and more than 40% of these amazing beings wind up moving on from one owner to the next, until they are at the end of their lives which often comes a lot sooner than expected.
Are you struggling with a behavior or training problem with your sport horse? Sport horses of all breeds are spirited, gifted and intelligent athletes. But if you get on the wrong side of your sport horse, then things can go bad in a hurry. If any of these scenarios feel familiar, then you’ve got a real problem on your hands that may not be easily or quickly resolved through normal training methods or approaches. * Does your Thoroughbred spook, act skittish or nervous in hand or under saddle?
Do you know the 8 common signs of illness for your animal friends? Things can go wrong in big or subtle ways, so be sure you are paying attention. The most distressing consultations are the ones when I am called in as the Hail Mary, the desperate plea of last resort, to help people or their animals who are suffering a health “emergency.”
Animals know us better than almost any other being on the planet. They see what’s in our minds eye and they feel what we’re feeling. They can get closer to our hearts than anyone else because they get under our defense mechanisms! In order to stay healthy personally and within our community, we must stay connected with the animals, treating them with respect and honor, listening and learning from them on many levels.
Our bodies store cellular memories of events, traumas and injuries that we’ve experienced, sometimes at a deep sub-conscious level. Some memories are from our current life, yet some aren’t. One explanation is that they come from past lives. Animals often tell me about incidents that happened to them in another time and place. Many times they remember their people from ‘before’. In order to resolve a current behavior or health issue, we have to find the trigger for it. And that trigger may have happened a long time ago…
Many years ago I went to a Pre-Olympic Trial Dressage* Horse Competition and was introduced to a world class upper level dressage horse, Okzident, and his owner and trainer, JP. As soon as this man learned that I could communicate with his horse, he dragged me across the arena saying: "You have to talk with my horse!!"
When Dr Joey contacted me, he wanted my help with his dogs. He had been putting up with really bad behavior from them for a long time. He was grieving terribly for his Forever Dog Friend, Satin, who had passed away. On top of that, his other best dog friend, Shami, had also recently passed away after a terrible and mysterious illness. He told me his heart was so heavy with grief that he just didn’t know how he could go on. His health was very bad (he was suffering from cancer) and he could hardly move because he was in so much pain.
Animal Talk: Beaten Into Submission (This is a continuation of the Article called, Magical Things!) “Thank you so much for yet another enlightening experience. We are wondering how many times people's animals have tried to tell them something -- only to then be whipped into submission. I really feel like we are both becoming more attuned to our animals and learning to trust them when they tell us that something is not right. We have you to thank for that!” -- Miki & Steven
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Gandhi Animal Talk and Body Talk: Slim and Corey
On good days, your horse brings you so much joy, companionship and sense of partnership. They make your heart sing. There’s nothing like a horse – human relationship, nothing! On bad days, they bite. And it hurts! You’ve got a big old painful multicolored bruise, maybe it even bleeds a little. Even worse, they can seriously injure you, or even cost you your life. If your stallion bites you, it’s time to get horse savvy now. You’re missing some fundamental rules of equine horsemanship.
Imagine for a moment that you are Percy, a beautiful, creamy long hair 10 pound 8 year old cat. Rescued from a construction site years ago, you have healed now, and you are enjoying your life and good health. You often happily accompany your caretakers, Rita and Bart, as they travel around the country to visit family and friends. You are a very special, unique being with a great deal of wisdom and compassion. You love your human friends very much and they wonder what they did before you came into their lives.
I believe that dogs and other animals do have spirits that continue after they leave their body. I’ve felt them and heard them for myself with my own animals, and it is very clear that animal spirits do often come back after they leave their body in what many would term a ghost form. Dogs and other animals are like humans, in that they may have something left undone here or don’t want to leave their humans for reasons they deem important.
Have you ever wondered what an animal communicator (pet psychic) could tell you, and why enlisting the aid of one would be worthwhile? Consider how knowing the answers to these basic 5 questions could improve the well-being, health and happiness of your animal friend: 1) Are they happy? Everyone thinks their animals are happy because we so badly want them to be. However, if your dog or other animal is exhibiting aggressive, seems sad or worried, or shows other bad behavior then that is a sign that something is wrong in their world.
Is the struggle to brush your dog or cat’s teeth and gums making you both crazy? Know you need to do it but can’t figure out how to start… and your pet isn’t cooperating? You’re not alone. Most caring responsible dog and cat parents know they need to take better care of their pet’s teeth by brushing them consistently. But good intentions alone don’t make those pearly whites sparkle… especially if they bite you with them when you bring out the toothbrush.
Bringing a dog successfully into your household and lifestyle consists of a lot more than just buying dog food, letting them run in the backyard, giving them an occasional bath and a place to sleep. It requires patience and an understanding of appropriate ways to discipline your dog, which provide boundaries, rules and stability, making them into model K9 citizens. Your dog should be a true joy to have in your life, and if they’re not, take steps now to remedy the situation.
As an animal communicator I get asked this same question often – what is really going on when my American Bulldog, Australian Shepherd or other dog is pulling ME along during a walk. Many times it isn’t as simple as the American Bulldog, Australian Shepherd or other dog pulling the human along, but the dog also bites on cloths, chews the leash, wraps the leash around the person or something else, barks at people or other dogs, and generally doesn’t listen to commands at all.
I believe that many animals are master teachers and/or angels in disguise, and they all have something wonderful to teach us. This certainly includes those precious, wonderful beings we call 'therapy animals.' Our scientists have finally been able to measure some of the remarkable beneficial effects that animals have on the elderly, ill, dis-advantaged and handicapped. The noble ranks of therapy animals include dogs, cats, birds and horses, among many others.
As an animal communicator I am often asked the question about whether a recently purchased race horse can be retrained to become the next big winner in another horse racing sport. Of course there is no simple answer to that. There are multiple things to consider. Below is an example of a rider who purchased a promising gelding off the track and wanted to know what course of action to take in his retraining.
There are many ways animal communication can aid you when you bring a rescued animal into your home, whether you are only fostering them or offering a forever home. A very ill, abused and neglected young Bichon Frise dog named Rocky was rescued by one of my clients. Bonnie thought that once Rocky was in a new home environment, that all would be well. He just needed lots of love and good food and some vet attention and he would thrive again.
Humans have traditionally held themselves as being separate and more intelligent (read "important") than other Beings. They perceived animals to be different ("they don't talk or look like we do; therefore, they are obviously inferior to us"). Until recently, this has been easy to believe where animals are conce ed. They cannot speak "the language" like we do (of course, they don't have the vocal apparatus humans do which makes this feat basically impossible!). And, after all, humans can often control, dominate and manipulate them.
When you’ve done all you can, weathered through the final chapters and your animal’s transition, then it’s time to make peace with what’s happened. After working with thousands of animals who have passed on, I have a lot of experience in helping people and their animals work through the transition to find more peace, completion and feel empowered to move on with their lives. Communicating with your animal after they’ve gone back to Spirit always helps you be able to feel them, to experience how they are doing, and to hear any messages they have to share with you.