What do animals gift that you may not be receiving?

WORDS VIV ADCOCK

Gifting and receiving offers a possibility and different way of being that, if we acknowledge and allow it, can transform how we interact, not just with animals, but with people and our entire life. We tend to gift to and receive from our animals without a second thought. Do we do that with people?

Some of us two-legged beings are great at gifting, but the receiving part may require more presence. Have you ever been aware of refusing to receive from a person so you don’t feel obligated? Could the animal world invite and cultivate a different, more conscious way for us to flex our muscle of receiving?

In human reality, gifting and receiving are often mixed up with the energies of ‘give and take’. The ‘give and take’ program is like having a scoreboard in the back of your mind that tots up the exchanges of interactions; that is, who owes who what.

None of this exists in the animal kingdom. As the birds sing and the bees buzz, there is a simultaneity of elegance, effortlessness and joy that when we observe, can create in us a sense of peace, wonderment and connection.

The animal kingdom is constantly offering the incredible visual and visceral experience of gifting and receiving. Does your cat ever have a calculator out as it purrs away in your lap, or does your dog count the number of licks and tail wags it gives in appreciation for you arriving home?

Do your happy hormones increase and your heart melt when you see the smile on your dog’s face, feel your cat rub around your legs or even hear your horse whinny at your presence? How often do we smile and laugh at the antics of the animal kingdom?

This osmotic interaction is what expands our receptivity from a space of openness and presence. People regularly seek out animal company as we tend to have fewer barriers to receiving from them than people.

So, when you next lay your hand on your fur or feathered friend, I invite you to put all your awareness into your hand and be present. Connect with every fibre of their being. Be present with the energetic exchange that is occurring. Take the time to watch them, observe their body movements and resist the temptation to DO anything, just be there. If your pet comes to you asking for engagement, take the space to acknowledge their ask – receive them and become aware of the gift of their presence in your world.

Receiving is the opening of the door to having something greater.

Vi Adcock is a Talk to the Animals Facilitator. She offers facilitation, classes and animal readings. Email: viv@vivadcock.com