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Theosophical order of service, Usa spring 2014
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
—anaTole france
For the Love of Life 1
Editor AnanyaS.Rajan
Designer LindsayFreeman
OfficErs anD BOarD Of DirEctOrs
President NancySecrest
secretary AnanyaS.Rajan
treasurer BettyBland
Board Members TimBoyd KathyGann JonKnebel JeanneProulx
Honorary Board Members JosephGullo MilesStandish
ContactinformationfortheTheosophicalOrderofServiceintheUnitedStates:
Mailing address TheosophicalOrder ofService 1926N.MainSt Wheaton,IL60187
send donations by check to: P.O.Box1080 Wakefield,NC27588
Phone 630-668-1571ext.332
E-mail [email protected]
Website www.theoservice.org
to leave a name for the Healing network: 800-838-2197.
FormoreinformationabouttheTOSaroundtheworld,gotohttp://international.theoservice.org/
Disclaimer
Articles and material in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Theosophical Order of Service or the editor of this journal. An effort is made at all times to give a fair consideration of views. —TheEditor
contentsspring 2014
For the Love of LifeTheosophical order of service, Usa
2 from the president’s desk ByNANCySECREST
4 The reason Why ByRAdHABURNIER
5 an inside look at animals an interview with robyn finseth ByNANCySECREST
9 To Ziggy with love ByANANyAS.RAJAN
12 Meet the girls ByANANyAS.RAJAN
14 on service animals ByNANCySECREST
19 do animals have rights? ByMORRySECREST
22 Beagle freedom project ByKATHyGANN
23 happy Birthday Jane
25 Where the Wild Things are ByANANyAS.RAJAN
28 scholarship recipients On tHE cOvEr:
FRIENdSFORLIFETIMES--BELLAWITHTARRAROAMTHEGROUNdSAT
THEELEPHANTSANCTUARy.dESPITEHERSIzE,BELLAWASKNOWNTOBE
PROTECTIvEOFHERdEARELEPHANTFRIENd.(SEETHEIRSTORyONPAGE12.)
Spring 20142
from the president’s desk By nancy sEcrEst
“Aunionofthosewholoveintheserviceofallthatsuffers,”themottooftheTheosophicalOrderofService,includesloveandservicetoanimals.
Someofusserveanimalsinprofessionalcapacitiesasveterinarians,trainers,groomersorprovidersofanimalcareproducts.Othersadvocateforanimalrights.Manyofusarevegetarians,therebypracticingahimsa(harmlessness)towardanimalsinourdailylives.SomeofushavejoinedtheTOS’animalhealingnetworksendinghealingthoughtsandintentionstosickorinjuredanimals.Thoseofuswhoshareourliveswithpetsexpresspubliclyourspecialbondtothoseanimals,acceptingresponsibilityforourpets’careandwell-being.Allofourpetsagejustaswedo.Withagecomesthoughtsofdeathandendoflifecare.
Mykitty,Sylvester,isnearlyeighteenyearsold.That’saboutahundredinpeopleyears.LastweekSylvesterscratchedhiseye.Hehasanallergy.Towhat,wehaveneverbeenabletodetermine,butitcauseshimtoitch.Hetakesmedsfortheitch,steroids,whichhelp,buthestillscratchessometimes.Normally,heaimsforhisneck.Thistimehemissed.
Hiseyebecamesquintyandrunny,andwecalledthevet.Letmerephrasethat.Wetriedtocallthevet.Afterseveralphonecalls,avisittohisnowvacantofficeandquestioninganothernearbyvet,welearnedthatSylvester’sveterinarianhadretired.Somenoticeandareturnofmedicalrecordswouldhavebeennice,butohwell.Theothervetwashappytotakeover,buthadnoavailableappointmentsforthreedays,andsuggestedtheanimalemergencyhospital.
TherewelearnedthatSylvesterhasanulceronhiscornea.TheERtreatedthat,andsentushomewithmeds,averystylishfunnelshapedcollarthatSylvesterjustloved(yes,that’ssarcasm),andtheknowledgethathehasaheartmurmur.Afewdayslater,thenewvetfollowedupontheeyeinjury.Shealsotookblood,urineandx-raystoassesskitty’scurrentstateofhealth.
Sylvesterwasbornaferalkitten,partofalitterofthree,fromamotherwhowasmostlikelybornferalherself.Hismamaregularlyprowledourneighborhoodstalkingthemiceandbirdsthatkeptheraliveandavoidingcloseencountersofthehumankind.Aratheruglycat,hermottledgrayandbrowncoatlookedlikevomit.Herhalfmissingleftearattestedtotheroughlifeshelived.Wefirstmetherandherlitterwhenshemovedthemunderour
house.Kittymamastendtomovetheirlittersseveraltimestokeepthemsafefrompredators.Ilikedwatchingtheanticsofthekittenswhiletheychasedbutterfliesorplayedtogether,andherlittletrainingsessionswithherbrood.Iputoutfoodtokeepherfrommovingthemagain.Itworked.
Onedaysheledthekittenstoawoodpilenextdoorforamousehuntinglessonnodoubt.youmay
notknowthatkittensmustbetaughthowtohuntbytheirmothers.Theyarenotbornwiththeknowledge.Onekitten,whomwenamedAbby(laterchangedtoAbner),laggedbehind.Hestoppedatthefence,hismamaandhislittermatesnowhereinsight.Whatasetoflungs!Hemewedandmeweduntilmamacameback.Sheclimbedoverthefence,pickedhimupinhermouthandreturnedtothewoodpiletocontinuethekittens’lesson.Theyweremediumhaireddomesticsbybreedwithsoft,shinyfur.ThelitterincludedAbnerwhowasblackandwhite,agoldtabbyfemalewhomwenamedPrecious,andSylvester.AlthoughSylvesterisaveryeleganttuxedocatwithwhitebootsandmittens,heprovedtobethewildestofthethree.
Iknewtheywereweanedwhenthekittensattemptedtoeatfromtheirmother’sdish.Sylvester,thealphamale,battedtheothertwoawayfromthefood.Thelittleupstarttriedthesamewithhismother,andfoundhimselfrollingacrosstheporchlikeaballofyarn.Hedidn’ttrythatagain.
OnedayPreciousstooduponherhindlegs,leanedagainstourscreendoor,lookedinandsneezed.Withthatsneezeandthefactthattheywereweaned,Idecidedtotrytocatchthekittens.Ididn’tthinkthatmuchcouldbedonefortheirmother.Shewasjusttoowild,butthekittenshadachanceatagoodlifeinthecareofpeople.
Iriggedatrapinsidethehouse,baiteditwithfood,openedthedoorandwaitedoutofsight.Itdidn’ttakelongforthefoodtoattractPrecious.Onceshewasinside,Iclosedthetrap.I’dalreadysetuparoomwithalitterboxandfoodwhereIletherout,closedthedoorandlefther.
CONTINUEdONPAGE3
TOSPRESIdENTNANCySECREST
For the Love of Life 3
Shewentnuts,literallyclimbingthewallsandrunningaroundandaroundtheroomlookingforanescape.Thenextday,Ienteredtheroom,threwatoweloverhersothatIcouldpickherupandcradledherinmylap,rockingandsingingtoherforaboutanhourbeforeshecalmeddown.Thatwasit.Shewastame.Wevisitedthevetwhosetreatmentforherrespiratoryinfectionprobablysavedherlife.
Abnerwasnext,tamedwithinaday.Sylvesterprovedmorechallenging.Hewasluredintothetrapandcaughtmuchliketheotherkittenshadbeen,butheescaped.Hedidhiswallclimbinginourlivingroom,andwhenmyhusbandattemptedtogethimdownfromthetopofourdrapesbloodwasspilled,anditwasn’tSylvester’s.Finally,Sylvesterrandownandhidunderacabinetforaboutfivedaysuntilhetentativelywanderedoutonhisown.Wepretendedtoignorehimforawhile.Then,Iwrappedhimupinatowelsohecouldn’tscratchmeanddidtherockingandsingingthinguntilhewascalminmylap.WhilePreciousandAbnerwerefinewithallpeopleoncetamed,itwasyearsbeforeSylvesterwouldallowanyonebutmyhusbandormetotouchhim.Hehidwheneverwehadcompanyuntiljustafewyearsago.Thevetwasanexception.HemusthavehadsomespecialvibethatSylvesterfeltandtrusted.
ThevethadsuggestedthatItrytocatchthemamacatinthesamewaythatIhadcaughtherkittens.HesaidthatifIdid,hewouldspayherforfree,andthenIcouldreturnherto“thewild”asitisuselesstotrytotameanadultcatthatistrulyferal.Shewasatoughlittlequeen,butIdidmanageto
trapher,thistimeusingacatcarriersothatshecouldbetransportedsafely.Ilaterlearnedthatmostvetsadheretoaspay/neuterandreleaseprogramforferalcatsinanattempttoreducethecatpopulation.
PreciousandSylvestercontinuedtolivewithus.Abnerwenttomymother-in-lawwhogavehertoa
friendinneedofacompanion.SheintroducedAbnertothecatshowworldwherehewonprizes.Preciouswentmissinganumberofyearsago.Alittleneighborboyfoundhercollarabouttwoblocksawayandreturnedittous,butweneversawheragain.Sylvesterhasbeenwithusforeighteenyears.Otherthantheallergyandsometoothextractions,hishealthhasbeenperfect,untilnow.
Hisnewvetconfirmedtheheartmurmurandexplainedthatitcouldmeanheartdiseaseoraproblemwith
avalve.Hemayneedtobereferredtoakittycardiologist.Theresultsofthebloodwork,urinetestingandx-raysareintoo.Hehassomearthritis,nosurpriseathisage,hisaortaismisshapenandonekidneyisenlarged.Thevetsuspectskidneydisease,butitcouldjustbeaninfectionthatcanbetreatedandcured.We’llknowwhichbytheendofthisweek.Regardless,allofthemedicalattentionfocusedonSylvesterthisweekhasmademethinkofouranimals,ourpets,andtheirendoflifecare.
Animalscannotgiveadvancehealthdirectives.Theymustrelyonustoactintheirbestinterests.Animalsareofteneuthanizediftheirownersfeeltheirpetsaresufferingtoomuch,oriftreatmenthasbecomecostprohibitive.Thelatterisanunfortunatebutrealisticfactoflifethatpetownersmustsometimesface.Mostofuswouldgotogreatlengthstopreservethehealthofourpets,butmanycannotaffordthecostsoncereallyseriousillnessisdiagnosed.Petinsurancedoesexist,butObamaCaredidnotreachintotheanimalworldand,unfortunatelyforSylvester,thosewithpreexistingconditionsareexcludedfromapplying.
So,whatthen?WilltreatmentforSylvesterstopwhenwecannolongeraffordit?Ifwedoneedtostoptreatment,willhesuffer,andifheissuffering,willweopttoendhislifeorchoosetoeaseanypainandallowhimtodienaturally?ThesequestionscametomewhileIheldSylvesterinmylap.Icanonlyhopethatwhenhisenddoescome,itwillbequietandpainfree.Perhapshe’llbesittinginmylappurring,beingpettedandthinkingaboutchasingbutterflies.
NANCyANdSyLvESTER
Spring 20144
The reason Why By raDHa Bu rn i Er
T heTheosophicalSocietyimposesnorestrictionsonthelivesofitsmembers;theyare
freetoadoptanylifestylethatsuitsthem.Theobligationsmemberstakeuponthemselves,voluntarilyofcourse,areindicatedbytheObjectsoftheSocietytowhichtheysubscribewhileenrollingthemselves.
Aquestionoccasionallyarisesaboutthedietarynormadoptedattheosophicalcentres,conferences,summerschoolsandsoforth,whereonlyvegetarianfoodismadeavailable.NowandagainamemberremarksthatHPBherselfwasnotavegetarian,implyingthatTheosophyandvegetarianismareunconnected.
Theosophy,however,istherecognition,followedlaterbyfullrealisation,oflifeasoneindivisiblewhole.Forthesmallestaswellasthegreatestformsoflife,thereexistsonlyoneformofsustenanceandenergy,bywhatevernameitiscalled.Theunitarynatureoflifeisthebasis,notonlyoftheFirstObjectoftheSociety,namelyuniversalbrotherhoodwithoutanydistinctionswhatsoever,butalsooftheotherObjects.Theheartofeverygreatreligionisunitywhichwhenlived,islove.Alltheprofounderperceptionsinthefieldsofphilosophyandsciencearealsoconvergingtowardsthiscentraltruth.AndaseachpersonentersdeeplyintohisorherownconsciousnessandunderstandshowNatureworks,thetruthandbeautyoftheunbreakablewholeillumineshumanconsciousness.
Therefore,whenarrangementsaremadeforconferencesandothereventsonbehalfoftheSociety,inaccordancewiththefoundationalprincipleofthe
onenessandsacrednessofalllife,foodthatcausestheleastinjuryandharmischosen.
InThe Key to Theosophy HPBsays:Whenthefleshofanimalsisassimilatedbymanasfood,itimpartstohimphysiologically,someofthe
characteristicsoftheanimalitcamefrom.Moreover,occultscienceteachesandprovesthistoitsstudentsbyoculardemonstration,showingalsothatthis‘coarsening’or‘animalising’effectonmanisgreatestfromthefleshofthelargeranimals,lessforbirds,stilllessforfishandothercold-bloodedanimals,andleastofallwhenheeatsonlyvegetables.
Theenquirerretorts,“Thenhehadbetternoteatatall?”towhichtheansweroftheTheosophistisstatedbyHPB:
If he could live without eating, of course it would. But as the matter stands, he must eat to live, and so we advise really earnest students to eat such food as will least clog and weight their brains and bodies, and will have
the smallest effect in hampering and retarding their inner faculties andpowers.
ThereisthusgoodreasonwhyatofficiallyorganisedgatheringsoftheSociety,thefoodprovidedisvegetarian.Theminimumharmisdonetoothercreatures;andrespectforlife—thelifewhichisnot‘ours’or‘theirs’,butone—ismaintained.Plantsdonothaveanervoussystemanddonotsufferpaininthesamewayasmoreevolvedcreatureswhichdohaveit.Oneday,ifsomeotherformoffoodderivedfromminerals,orevenair,isathand,thatmaybepreferredatofficiallyorganisedfunctions!Orientaltraditionssuggestthispossibility.
Allthewhile,individualmembersremainfreetofollowtheirowncourseindiet,foralifestylebasedonunitymustbetheresultofintellectualconvictionorintuitiverealisationandnotofdogma.
ConditionswereverydifferentinHPB’sdays.Theenormouscrueltyofintensivefarmingandprofit-orientedgeneticmanipulationdidnotexistthen,nordidthevastandurgentecologicalissueofexpendinggrainandwateronbreedinganimalsasabusiness.Theintellectualreasonsagainstsystematicpracticeofcruelty,ecologicalimprudenceandwrongnotionsabouthealthcarearestrong.ItistobehopedthatincreasinglyTSmembersandotherswillcometointuitiverecognitionoftheunityofalllifeastheonlysurebasisofuniversallybeneficentaction.
—Reprintedfrom“OntheWatchTower” in The Theosophist August1996
RAdHABURNIER
For the Love of Life 5
an inside look at animals By nancy sEcrEst
An interview with Robyn Finseth
D oesyourdoghaveanaura?Whatdoesitlooklike?doesyourcatseemreally
“familiar”?Perhapsthisisn’tyourfirstlifetimetogether.doanimalshavesouls?dotheyreincarnate?Togivereadersamoremetaphysicalviewofanimalsandperhapsanswersomeofthesequestions, For The Love of LifespokewiththeosophistRobynFinseth,whowasbornwiththegiftofclairvoyance,aboutherspecialviewofanimals.WetalkedwithRobynaboutanimals’auras,indicationsofgroup
soulsandsomeideasaboutanimalsandreincarnation.Thefollowingarticleisbasedonthatinterviewandincludesexcerptsfromit.
Robynisasecondgenerationtheosophist.Northwesterners,herparents,KenandBeaLawrence,werePortlandlodgemembersandwenttoCampIndralayaonOrcasIsland,Washington.RobynandhersisterdonnastartedgoingtothecampwhenRobynwaselevenanddonnafourteen,alwaysenjoyingtheatmosphereandthefriendships
theymade.Robynwasfortunateinthatherparentswerebothsensitiveandhelpfulinunderstandinghergifts.OtherPortlandtheosophistsandfamilyfriends,AnnaBerkieandEdithandPerryKarstenhelpedhertounderstandherabilities.AtCampIndralaya,RobynmetdoraKunzwhohelpedherimmeasurablytoclarifyherpathandteachers.dora,aformerpresidentoftheTheosophicalSocietyinAmerica,authoredthebookThe Personal AurapublishedbyQuestBooks.dora’sbrother,HarryvanGelderbecameRobyn’smainmentor,however,andremainedsothroughoutheradultyears.HarryvanGelder,clairvoyantinhisownright,iswellknownamongtheosophists,especiallyinthenorthwesternUnitedStates,CanadaandAustralia,asanoutspokentheosophicalteacherandasahealer.ItwasthroughhisinfluencethatRobynherselfbecameachiropractor,incorporatingsomeofHarry’shealingmethodsintoherpracticeandmakinggooduseofhergiftsonadailybasis.
Robyn,anattractiveblondwithsparklingblueeyes,spokewithaself-assuredquietnessborn,Isuspect,frommanyyearsofmeditationandlifeexperience.Onecouldseestrengthinherstanceandthesetofherjaw,andsensedthegentlenessofherhealingtouchinthegracefulmovementofherhandsasshetalked.Robynleanedforwardwithintentionasshebegan.Whatshesharedwithuswasdrawnfromherlifeexperiencebeginningwithherearlychildhoodwhenshefirstbecameconsciouslyawareofher“realsight.”
“Thiswholearticleisbasedon
myexperiencesandwhatlittleIdrewfromothers.IdonotprofesstobeanexpertonanythingbutwhatIsee.Let’sberealclearonthatbecauseIdon’twantsomeonetobeinsultedbythisandsay‘Oh,no,shedoesn’tknowwhatshe’stalkingabout.’ImayverywellnotknowwhatI’mtalkingabout.However,Idoknowmyownpersonalexperiencesandconsequentlytheyareminetoshare.”
aurasAnauraisafieldofluminousradiationorlightthatsurroundsthehumanbodyanddepictsaperson’sgeneralpersonality,currentemotionalstateandindicateshealth.Besideshumans,otheranimalsandplantshaveauras.Evenrockshaveaslightvibrationalfield.Aurasappearcloud-like,filledwithavarietyofcoloredlightaroundourbodies.Inhumanstheyarequiteintricatewithvariouslayersandcolorsthatcanexpandtotwenty-fourorforty-eightinchesfromourbodies.Comparedtothoseofpeople,animals’aurasareverybasicandusuallydonotexpand.Ifananimal’sauradoesexpand,it’sonlyfromfourtosixinchesfromthebody.Expansionoccurswithanextremeemotionalresponse.
“Wealsohavetheintellectualcapacityofunderstanding[thatananimallacks].”Itcouldbecalledasenseofawareness.Thehumanauraalsoexpandstoconnectwithothers.“Whenyouaregivingloveyourauraisexpandingtowardsthatofanotherperson.Eventhoughadogisveryexcitedandhappytoseehisowner,hisaurajusttendstobefluffierand
ROByNFINSETH
CONTINUEdONPAGE6
Spring 20146
doesnotexpandasmuchtotouchhisowner’saura.Iftheaurastouch,it’stheperson’saurathatisexpandingtotouchthedog’sauraratherthanthereverse.”
Allofusarefascinatedbythecolorsoftheauraandwhattheysayaboutusandothers.Thecolorsinahumanauracanvarythroughoutthecolorwheel.BookssuchasThe Personal Aura,bydoraKunz,givegeneralindicationsofwhatvariouscolorsmean.Heretoo,“Animals’aurasaremorebasic,withthepredominantcolorsusuallybeingeitherapink,green,orbrown,someyellowandoccasionallyblue.Whilethecolorsinhumanaurascansometimesappear“marblely,”[ormuddled]thecolorsinanimalaurasaremoreclear.
“Whenanimalsarehappy,theiraurasareallrosyandfluffy.Thepinkindicateslove.Sometimesthere’salittleredmixedinwithit.Abitof‘Gee,areyougoingtobehappywithmenow?Areyousureyou’reokay,oramIokay?didIdoanythingwrong?’Redinananimal’sauraindicatesagitation.Itcanalsobepresentiftherearejealousiestowardanotherpet,suchas‘soandsohasmorethanIdo.’There’salittlebitofyellowtoo.So,there’salsoabitofthinkingwithananimal.Greenisearthyandindicatesourlife’sworkinthehumanaura.Thisistrueforanimalsaswell.Weallknowthatdifferentbreedsofdogswerebredtoperformdifferent‘jobs’suchasherding,guarding,retrievingorpulling.IfanAlaskanHusky,forexample,ispullingadogsledoraguidedogisleadingavisuallyimpairedperson,theiraurawouldbepredominantlygreenwhileperformingthiswork.Acat’saurais
greenwhenitishunting.Occasionallybluecanbeseeninananimal’sauraaswell.Blueindicatesdevotion.Inthecaseofananimalthedevotionwouldbetowarditsmaster.
“Animals’aurasdon’thavethemuddycolorsthatourscanhavelikewhenwearedepressed.Notthatananimalcan’tbedepressed,it’sjustthatwhentheyaredepressedtheiraurastendtobejustbrown.They’renotso“marblely.”There’salsoacirculationinthehumanaura.Ialwaystalkaboutitaswatergoingdownadrain,butitdoesn’tgodownthedrainneatly.Itgoesdown‘expandedly’,inreverse,acounter-clockwisemotion,anditexpandsorspreadslikemud.Itlookslikemud,kindofoozy.
“Animalsalsohaveanethericbodyjustlikeahuman.”Theethericbodyisseenasthelayeroftheauraclosesttothephysicalbody.Asitmirrorsthephysical,itcanshowindicationsofphysicalillnessordistress.Itiscolorless,andappearsasanarrow
layeroflightaroundthebody.“Ourethericextends[fromthebody]probablythreetofourinches.Inadogoracatitismorelikelytoextendonetothreeinchesmaybe,atthemost.Theethericlookslikefeathers.Mydadalwayscalledthemfeathers.It’snotsmooth,butabitmoreruffled.Animals’[ethericbodies]alsohave‘feathers,’againnotasbigasours,andwhentheyaredepressed,thelittlefeathersareflatandtheylookgloomy.Theyfeelgloomy,andtheiraurasarebrown.”
Onecolor,Robynsaid,thatshehadneverseeninananimal’sauraisblack.Blackinahumanauraindicateshatredorevil.Animalsdonotfeelthisemotionandarenotevil.Theysimplyarewhattheyare,inthemoment,atalltimes.“Evenifananimalisinattackingmode,itsauraisnotblack.Itisactuallyterrifiedsoitsauraisred[indicatingagitation],andgray[indicatingfear].Fearisicy.Fearisgray.I’veneverseenarabidanimal,but
an inside look CONTINUEdFROMPAGE5
WHENINTERACTINGWITHAHUMAN,ITISTHEOWNER’SAURATHATExPANdSTOTHEANIMALS.
For the Love of Life 7
CONTINUEdONPAGE8
eventhen,Idon’tthinkitsaurawouldbeblack.”Arabidanimalissickandpossiblyconfused,notevil.
Beinginthemoment,therearenogrudgeswithanimals.Ananimalthathasbeenabusedmayholdamemorythatmanifestsasfearandalackoftrust.Allofuscanseethatintheireyesorintheircoweringstance.But,“There’snojudgment,dounderstandthat,nojudgmentwithanimals.Animalsdon’tholdgrudges.”
WeaskedRobynifthislackofjudgmentmaybeonereasonwhypeopleareoftenmorecomfortablearoundanimalsthanaroundotherpeople.
“Ohyes,yes,theyfeelaccepted.Weallwantunconditionalacceptance.Weallwantit,andwehavedifficultygivingittoourselves,andifyoucan’tgiveittoyourself,youcertainlycan’tgiveittoanotherhumanbeing.”Sometimeswefinditeasiertoshareanunconditionalacceptancewithourpets.“Adogiseagertoplease.So,adogisemotionallymoresatisfyingtomostpeoplebecausetheyareeagertoplease,andtheirwholeworldcentersaroundiftheyarepleasingyou.Sothere’saneagerness[thatwefindappealing].Theirlittletailwagiscoincidingwiththeirpinkaura.There’snotalotofmiddlegroundintheaurasofanimals.Theyareeitherpink[happy],orbrown[depressed].Evenwithkitties,there’snotalotofmiddleground.
“So,cats,interestingly,aredifferentthandogs.Catsjustbytheirnaturearemoreintelligent.Theiraurasarealittlemoreyellow.They’refiguring,andthey’rethinkingandthey’recunningandsoyoucansaythat[inthisway]acatismoreintelligentthanadog.youcansaythatacatisclairvoyantwhichmakessense,butIthinkdogsaretoo.Ithinkthere’salevelofclairvoyance.
youknow,it’ssortofliketheirsmellerisbetterthanours.Ithinkprobablytheir‘sight’isbetterthanourstoo.Iknewsomeonewhoworkedinanursinghome,andtheyhadanimalsthatlivedinthisnursinghome.Theyhadaparticulardogwhowouldannouncewhowasgettingreadytodie.Itwouldjumponthebedandnotleaveforanyreasonuntilthepersonpassed.Ifindthatfascinating.”
GrOuP sOuLsOurtheosophicalliteratureputsforththepremisethatwhileeachhumanhasanindividualsoul,animalshavegroupsouls.Agroupsoulmeansone
soulforanumberofcats,anotherforanumberofdogs,lions,birds,bees,etc.
dr.RudolfSteiner,thefounderofAnthroposophy,agreedwiththispremiseandrelatedthegroupsoulconcepttofingersthrustthroughascreen.Ononesideofthescreenweseetheindividualfingers.However,theactionsoftheindividualsaredirectedbythehandtowhichtheyarealljoined—thegroupsoul.Whenwewatchindividualanimals,manyofthemappearquiteclever.However,hewentontosay,“Lookatthebirdsinflight,howtheysweepoverthedifferentregions,andhowwell-orderedtheyare;howinautumntheygooff,intheirflocks,tosome
warmerclimate,comingbackagainwiththeSpring…Ifwewatchabeaverbuilding,weseethereismorewisdominwhatitbuildsthaninthegreatestengineeringfeat.Andtheintelligenceshowninthewaythebeesworkhasalsobeentheobjectofstudy...behindthisworkisthespiritofthebeehive.Thesinglebeesallbelongtoonepersonality,inthewaythatourlimbsbelongtous—onlythebeesaremorespreadoutthanourmorecloselyconnected,morecompactlimbs.”Thewisdominthisorderingcomesfromthegroupsoul.(“TheGroupSoulsofAnimals,PlantsandMinerals”,alecturegivenbydr.RudolfSteiner,Frankfurt-on-Main,2ndFebruary,1908,GA98,http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/19080202p01.html).
Robynspokeofbeehivesaswell.HerobservationsconcurredwithSteiner’s.“Beesarefascinatingbecausetheyreallydon’tappeartohaveanyintellectotherthantheintellectofthehive.Antshavethesamefeeltothemandsodocockroachesoranyoftheothernestingtypeinsects.”
Besidesthegroupconnectiononthesoullevel,animalswholiveinherds,hivesorotherkindsofgroupsalsohaveakindofgroupconsciousnesswithintheirherdorhivethatoftenincludesahierarchy.Robyntoldusthat,“WhenIwasayounggirl,Iwasatmygrandma’sranch.Shedidn’thavecows,butlotsofothersdid.Itwasveryobviouswhotheheadcowwasassheappearedtolead.Idon’trememberthecolorsintheirauras.Ijustrememberthem[theirauras]beingmoreliketentacles,likethey’rekindofallrelated.So,IthinkifBessie,theleadcow,feltfear,thenGertrude,intheback,feltfear.I’veseenaherdofdeeraswellandtheyarethesame.
“I’veneverseenaslaughter,soI
However, when we pet our
cat and hear it purr, see
our dog’s tail wag when we
enter a room and see the
trust and love in our pets’
eyes, don’t we wonder who’s
helping whom?
Spring 20148
can’timagine.I’msurethat’sjusthorrible.Harry[vanGelder]alwayssaidthatthereasonwedon’teatmeatisbecauseyoucan’ttaketheterroroutofthemeat.So,youareconsumingthatterror,andthatjustmadesensetome.ThehardestthingformenowiswhenIdrivetowork…whenthetruckscomebywithboxesofchickens…thataregoingtosomeslaughterhouse.The
feelofitisjusthorrible.Theyallknow.Soeventhoughtheyarenotbright…theyknowwhentheyaredying.”
rEincarnatiOnInherarticle,“HaveAnimalsSouls?”(Theosophist,January,FebruaryandMarch,1886)H.P.Blavatskycomparesandcontraststheconceptsofvariousreligions,philosophiesandscientistsregardingtheexistenceofsoulsinanimalsandwhetherornotindividualanimalsreincarnate.Contrarytothegenerallyexpoundedtheosophicalthoughtthatindividualanimals
donotreincarnate,inthisarticleBlavatskybringstoviewandsupportstheideasofanumberofphilosophersandchurchmen,nottheleastofthemSt.Paul,that“Thesoulsofanimalsareimperishable”(Leibnitz)and“Holyscriptureshintinvariouspassagesthatthebrutesshallliveinfuturelives.”(dean,thevicarofMiddleton,1748).
Robyn’sexperiencewithanimalsbearsthisout.“Iknowthateverythingincarnates,andIdon’tunderstand
incarnationwellenoughtoknowifwegofromthisanimal,tothatanimaltothishuman.And,Idon’tthinkthatifwearereallybadpeoplewebecomecockroaches(pleaseexcuseanydisrespecttowardscockroaches).Ithinkthatifwearereally,reallybad
wemightjustblowupandneverincarnateagain.That’stheonlythingthatmakessensetome.WhathappenedtotheHitlersoftheworld?didtheynotjustblowupandthey’rejustgone?”
EvOLutiOnLivingwithpeoplehelpsanimalsintheirevolutionaryjourneys.Theybenefitfromtheloveandaffectionthatwegivethem,andyoumightevensaythatweactas“rolemodels”fortheirfuturelives.“WehadaGermanshepherd,apairofshepherds,
andthemalewasaverydifficultanimal.WhenIdidareadingonhim,Idiscoveredthatforseverallifetimeshehadbeenaguard,anattackdog,andthiswashisfirstincarnationoutofthatworld.Iknewhowimportantitwasthatwewereinhislife.So,theyevolve.Inotherwords,hislineage[i.e.pastexperience]wasthatofatrainedkiller,andsohehadaverydifficultsidetohim,andIknowwehelpedhimthislifetime.Inthedomesticatedanimalworldweareimportant.”
Mostofushavehadpetsinourlivesthatstandoutfromtherest.Eventhoughwelovedallofourpets,onemighthavebeenofspecialimportance.“So,Iwonderalsodowe,ashumanbeings,bringthatpetbackintoourlives?Idon’tknow,butitmakessensetome,especiallyifyou’vehadapetthatyouwereextremelyfondofandyou—justkneweachother.”
TheevidencefromclairvoyantslikeRobynandothersoverwhelminglyagreesthatanimals,aswellasplantsandperhapsevenminerals,dohaveauras.Animals’aurasarelessintricatethanthoseofhumans.Thatcorrespondswiththeirnatureswhicharemore“inthemoment”andlessintellectualandemotionalthanthoseofhumanbeings.Animalsarealsonotasindividualizedashumansandareoverseenbyagroupsoul—awisdomthatguidesspeciesbehavior.Ourpets’evolutionaryjourneysareaffectedbytheirinteractionswithuswhichhelpsthemtolearn,growandevolve.However,whenwepetourcatandhearitpurr,seeourdog’stailwagwhenweenteraroomandseethetrustandloveinourpets’eyes,don’twewonderwho’shelpingwhom?
an inside look CONTINUEdFROMPAGE7
AFLOCKOFBIRdSTAKEOFFATdAWN.ALWAySASOURCEOFFASCINATION,FLOCKSSOMEHOWCOORdINATEINdIvIdUALLyTOWORKASAGROUP.ITISTHEGROUPSOULINACTION.
For the Love of Life 9
M yloveforelephantsstartedwithziggy.ziggy,borninAsiaaround1917,gothisnamefromFlorentzziegfield,avaudevilleproducer.In
1920,ziegfieldhadboughttheelephantfromJohnRingling,founderoftheRinglingCircus,asapresentforhissixyear-olddaughter.Afterziggytrampledthroughziegfield’sgreenhouse,ziggywassoldbacktoRinglingwhothensoldziggytoSinger’sMidgetCircus.ItwasherethatziggybondedwithamannamedCharlesBeckerandwastaughtmanyofthetricksthatanimalsaretaughtinperformancecircles,includingsmokingwhichaudiencesfoundamusing.Itwaswhileworkingwiththisparticularcircusthatziggywasconsidered“difficult.”
By1936,ziggywhowasovertenfeettallandweighedsixtonsaccordingtodifferentreports,wasboughtbytheBrookfieldzooinChicago.AtrainernameSlimLewiswasassignedtoziggy.In1941,whileziggywasgoingthroughamusthperiod(asurgeintestosteronelevelsthatleadtohighlyaggressivebehaviornotnecessarilyformating),heturnedonhistrainer,almostkillinghim.Lewispleadedforziggy’slifeandwon,butLewisleftthezooaftertheincident.Fornearlythirtyyears,ziggywaschainedtoawallinanindoorenclosureawayfromtheotherelephants.Hedidnotseesunlightuntil1970whenhewas“releasedfromhissentence,”asSaraJaneGoodyearfromtheChicagoTribunesorightlystated.Atthetime,acampaignwasstartedbythenewzoodirectortobuildziggyafacilitythatallowedhimfreeaccesstoandfromhisstallwithoutmuchhuman
contact.Itwascompletedin1971.InMarchof1975,ziggyfelleightfeetintoamoatthatseparatedhimfromthezoovisitors.Helaidtherefor31hours,injured,withlittlehumancontactuntilhewasabletolifthimselfup,climbupamakeshiftramp,andwalkbacktohisenclosure.HediedinOctoberthatyear.Hewas58.Almosthalfhislifewasspentchainedtoawall.
Irememberziggyandthechainwell.AndIrememberthinkingasaninnocentchildthatifsomeonecouldjustlovehimasmuchasIdid,hewouldnotneedtobechained.Hisaccidentandeventualdeathwasachildhoodmemorythathasnotleftme.ThestorystillmakesmetearfulbecausewhatIfeltasachild,Icanfinallyputintowordsasanadult.ziggywasachildwhenhewastakenfromhismother,shuffledfromoneplacetoanotherandnotreallywanted
orloved.Madetobehaveinamannerthatwasnotpartofhisnature,hewaseventuallypunishedandputinsolitaryconfinementbecausehewasdeemeda“bad”elephant.
Thankfully,wearelearningmoreaboutelephantswiththehopethatthroughresearchandeducation,wecaninformtheworldaboutthese
incrediblebeingsbeforewelosethejoyofseeingthemroamtheforestsandsavannahsofAfricaorthejunglesofAsia.AccordingtotheWorldWildlifeFund(WWF)therearearound470,000to690,000Africanelephantsand20,000to25,000Asianelephantsleftworldwide.TheWWFstatesthatlessthan20%oftheAfricanelephantpopulationisinprotectedareas,sothereisconstantlytheconcernof
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To Ziggy with love By ananya s. ra jan
FROM1972—STANdINGOUTINTHESUNAFTERNEARLy30yEARSINSIdE,zIGGyISRELEASEdFROMHISCONFININGQUARTERS.dESPITEHISNEWFREEdOM,HEISSTILLCHAINEd.
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poaching.Beforethebanningofivory,8elephantsanhour(70,000ayear)werekilledinAfrica.Between1979and1989theAfricanelephantpopulationwentfrom1.3millionelephantsto600,000.
Asmanypeopleknow,oneofthebiggestproblemsthatelephantsfaceasidefrompoachingisenvironment.Anadultelephantcaneatanywherefrom200to600poundsoffoodanddrinkupto50gallonsofwateraday.Accordingtoonesource,intheUS,itcosts$113,000ayeartofeedanelephant.Thismeansthattheyneedlandwheretheycangrazeandroam.Giventheirsize,foranelephanttobestillorstandinthesameplaceisnothealthy.Theirbody,likeanyanimal’s,needstomove.Whenforagingforfood,awildelephantmaytravelupto50miles.
Whenresearchinginformationforthisarticle,Iwassurprisedatthenumberoforganizationsthat
supporttheconservationofelephants,aswellasthenumberofstoriesaboutelephantsthataremakingnews.Manywebsitesdonotcomefromtheindigenousregionswherethemajorityofelephantslive.Onewebsite,www.elephants.se,isfromSwedenandworkstoprovideasmuchuptodateinformationaspossibleonelephants.Thoughnotparticularlyaesthetic,thewebsitehasadatabasethatkeepstrackofthenumberofbabyelephantsbornintheworld.TheyalsohaveaFacebookpage“ElephantEncyclopedia”whichhasasolidfollowing.AnothergoodwebsiteistheNationalElephantCenter
www.nationalelephantcenter.org,anon-profitinFlorida“managedbyaboardofaccreditedzoodirectors,wildlifeadvocatesandconservationistsnationwide.”TheNationalElephantCenterhousesthreeelephantson225acresoflandwithplanstoincreasetheirpopulationandstaff.Theirwebsitestatesthatnothinglikewhattheyareplanninghasbeencreatedbefore,butTheElephantSanctuary(TES)www.elephants.cominHohenwald,Tennesseeisthelargestnaturalhabitatrefugeforelephantsusing2700acresandhousingtenAsianelephantsandtwoAfricanones.AsageneralruletheElephantSanctuaryhousesonlyfemales.Toprovidesanctuaryformaleelephantswouldmeancreatinganentirelydifferentfacilitytoaccommodatetheirneeds.
Withinthelasttwentyyears,theemotionalintelligenceoftheelephanthasbeenatopicofstudy.ContrarytoSimonandGarfunkel’slineaboutelephantsbeing“kindlybuttheirdumb”intheirsong“Atthezoo,”elephantsarefarfromstupid.Interestingly,thistendstobeaWesternbias.ManypeoplewholiveinAsiaandAfricahavealwaysconsideredelephantstobeoneofthemostintelligentcreaturesontheplanet.InIndia,whenapersonhasagoodmemory,theyaresaidtohavethememoryofanelephantbecauseelephantsdonotforget.Elephantshavebeenknowntorememberapersontheyhaven’tseenindecadesaswellaswhethertherelationshipwiththatpersonwasapositiveornegativeexperience.Theyalsorememberotherelephantstheyhadbondedwithasbabiesoradolescentsbutfromwhomtheywereseparated.Oneofthemostheartwarming(andtear-jerking)youTubevideosisthereunionofShirleyandJennyattheElephantSanctuaryafteraseparationofover20years.
Asmanypeopleknow,elephantsarematriarchal.WithAfricanelephants,herdsaremadeupofabout10individuals,butfamilyclanscanform,bringingasmanyas70elephantstogether.This,accordingtoWWF,istypicalforthesavannahelephants.Herdsaresmallerfortheforestelephants.Asianelephantherdsareoftensmallerinsizeaswellwithjust6or7individualelephantstoaherd.Forbothspecies,thebirthofalittleoneisaherdevent.Thebabywillnormallystayclosetoitsmother,butwillbecaredforand
To Ziggy with love CONTINUEdFROMPAGE9
ANAFRICANELEPHANTFAMILyROAMSTHESAvANNA.AFRICANELEPHANTSAREdISTINGUISHEdFROMASIANELEPHANTSByTHEIRTUSKSANdTHEIRLONGEREARS.
Elephants, like humans, have great affection
for their young and one another. They also
grieve the loss of people, elephant friends,
and other animals.
For the Love of Life 11
protectedbyalltheelephantsoftheherd.Itmayevennursefromanothercowelephantifitsmotherisnotavailable.
Malebabyelephantsgenerallystaywiththeirmothersandtheherduntiltheyreachpubertywhich,likeahuman,isanywherebetween12-15yearsofage.Theywillleavetheherdtofindamateandexplorelifeontheirownmakingthetransitionfromtheirherdquitefluid.Malesaregenerallynotbigenoughtocompeteforafemaleuntiltheyareabout20yearsold.
Oneofthebiggestconcernsfacingelephantsincaptivityistheirdecreaseinlifespan.Researchers,commissionedbytheRoyalSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals(RSPCA),wantedtodeterminescientificallyifelephantsincaptivityreallydidnotlivelongerthantheircounterpartswholivedinthewild.Afterasixyearstudy,itwasfoundthatthelifeexpectancyofanelephantinazoowasoftencutinhalfwhenborn,bred,orcapturedandplacedinazoo.Thereasonsstatedwereobesityandstress.Keptinunnaturalsurroundingsandunabletogettheexercisetheyneed,suchcircumstanceswearonthesegentlegiants,emotionallyandphysically.
dr.GayBradshaw,thefounderandexecutivedirectoroftheKerulosCenter,startedthefieldof“trans-speciespsychology”throughherstudyofwildelephantswhosufferfromsymptomssimilartowhatwouldbedeemedpost-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSd)inahuman.In2009,shewrotethebookElephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us about Humanity,comparingtraumaticsituationshumansfacewithtraumaticsituationselephantsface.Thereactionsofthetwospecieswerethesame.PublishersWeekly’sreviewofherbooksumsuptheargumentperfectly,“Intheend,anthropomorphizingisn’ttheissue;Bradshawsaysthatinsteadofgivinganimalshumanfeelings,weshouldobservethattheyhavefeelingsthatcorrelatewithwhatwemayfeelinsimilarcircumstances.Withitsheartbreakingfindingsandirrefutableconclusions,thisbookbearscarefulreadingandconsideration.”
Asresearcherscontinuetostudythesemagnificentcreatures,sciencecontinuestoprovewhatmanyanimalloversknewallalong:elephants,aswellasmanyotheranimals,havefeelings,emotions,andarereallynotallthatdifferentfromhumanbeings.AsachildIknewthisaboutziggybecausetomeheseemedwithdrawnandsad.Tomeitseemedlikehewasnotloved.Elephants,likehumans,havegreataffectionfortheiryoungandoneanother.Theyalsogrievethelossofpeople,elephantfriends,andotheranimals.AwebsitefromSouthAfricacalledElephantsForeverwww.elephantsforever.co.zaprovidesstoriesthat
showthebraveryandcompassionelephantshavedisplayedtohumansaswellasotheranimalsovertheyears:suchasanelephantfightingtosaveababyrhinowhilethemotherrhinocontinuesattackingtheelephant;andaforestelephantrefusingtodropaloginaholewhereasleepingdoglies;andanelephantthatcomestotherescueofarancherwhoisinjuredbythematriarch.Suchstoriesseemincredible,buttheyaretrue.
WhenIwasfirstintroducedtoTheElephantSanctuarywebsite,Icouldnotstopwatchingthevideos.AndIencourageyoutodothesame.TES,throughtheirvideos,caregivers’reports,andEleCamsdoawonderfuljobofallowingthepublictowitnessthecompassionandjoythe“Girls”bringtooneanotherandtheirstaff.Manysanctuariesnownolongerallowthepublicto“visit”theelephants,andrightlyso.Howmanyofuslikebeingondisplay?Fortheelephantsitisnodifferentandafterwhattheyhavegonethrough,itistimeweallowedthemtobewhotheyareandliveinaworldthatisharmonious,safe,andloving.Afterall,isn’tthattheworldweourselvesdesiretolivein?
UNLIKETHEIRAFRICANSISTERSANdTHEIRMALECOUNTERPARTS,FEMALEASIANELEPHANTSdONOTNORMALLyGROWTUSKS.THEyMAyGROW“TUSHES,”WHICHAREONLyvISIBLEWHENTHEMOUTHISOPEN.
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tarraTarraisanAsianelephantwhowasborninBurma(Myanmar)in1974.Attheyoungageofsixmonths,shewastakenfromhermotherandsoldtoananimalbroker.Cratedandflownbycargoplane,shewasimportedtotheUS,whereshewaskeptinthebackofadeliverytruckduringthedayandonaresidentialdrivewayatnight.Eventually,shebecameasourceofentertainmentforthezoosandcircuses,asmanyelephantsare,evenlearningtorollerskate,andspentovertwenty-yearsasanelephantonexhibit.Thiseventuallycametoanendin1995whenshewasretiredfromthepublicandallowedtolivethelifeofanelephantatTheSanctuary.
TarramayringafewbellsforsomeofourreadersassheandherbestfriendBellawerefeaturedonaCBSnewssegmentin2009.Bella,forthosewhodon’tknow,wasamixedbreeddog,whotookrefugeonSanctuarylandandbecameTarra’srighthandpup.WhereverTarrawas,Bellawasnotfarbehind.Thetwowereoftenfoundroamingthelandtogetherorjustenjoyingabeautifuldayinthesun.Watchingvideosofthetwoteachesusthatwedon’tnecessarilyhavetospeakthesamelanguagetohavealovingrelationshipwithsomeone.
In2011,Bellawasattackedbycoyotes.Herbodywasfoundbystaffoutsideoftheiroffice.WhilenoonebutTarraknowswhathappened,itisknownthatwhereBella’sbodylaidwasnotwhereshewasattacked.Tarra,
however,wasfoundwithbloodontheundersideofhertrunk.StaffbelievedshecarriedBellatoaplaceneartheofficesotheywouldfindher.Likeanyonewholosesadearfriend,Tarrashowedsignsofdeepmourning.HerSanctuarysistersprovidedsupportbystayingcloseby,andcomfort,attimessharingtheirfoodwithher,tohelpherthroughherdifficultperiod.
TodayTarra,TheSanctuary’s“FoundingElephant,”continueshermatriarchaldutiesatTheSanctuary,greetingnewlyarrivedelephantsandbeingasourceofcomfortandgentleleadershiptohersisters.
sHirLEyBornin1948,Shirleyturns66yearsoldthisyear.(TheSanctuaryrecognizesherbirthdayinJuly,themonthshearrivedathernewhome.)SheistheoldestelephantatTheSanctuary.This
isquiteremarkableconsideringthedifficultlifeShirleyhashad.BorninSumatra,shewascapturedin1953.In1963,thecircusshipthatShirleywasoncaughtfireandsank.Luckilyshewasrescued,butsufferedburnstoherears,headandback.Afterthefire,sheandthetwootherelephantswhosurvivedtheshipwreck,wereputintrailersandtransportedtoCaliforniawherethecircusownerslived.duringthedrive,thetrailermetwithanaccidentandallthreepachydermswerethoughtdead.Shirleysurvived.Shecontinuedinthecircusesandin1977wasattackedbyabullelephantthatseverelyinjuredher,breakingherhindleg.Shirley’slegneverhealedproperlysoshecontinuestowalkwithalimp.ShirleyeventuallywassoldtotheLouisianazoo,herhomeforthenexttwenty-twoyears.Asshewastheonlyelephantatthezoo,herlife
Meet the girls! By ananya s. ra jan
A hearty thank you goes out to the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee who was kind enough to give permission for us to use photos and stories of some of their family members. The TES is a non-profit organization that provides refuge and individualized care to rescued elephants in the US.
SHIRLEy(L)ANdTARRA(R)AREOFTENFOUNdSHARINGSECRETSORPROvIdINGCOMPANyTOONEANOTHER.
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For the Love of Life 13
wasratherlonely.In1999,shewasretiredtoTheSanctuarywhereshewasgreetedbyheroldfriendJenny.Asmentionedearlier,thereunionisonethatneedstobewatched.CaretakerswereuncertainhowShirleywouldreacttoseeinganotherelephantaftertwenty-twoyears.Towitnessthereunionremindsusthatweallneedcompanionship.
jEnnyJennywasbornin1969inSumatraandcapturedin1973.ItmusthavebeenwhileworkingfortheCarsonandBarnesCircusthatJennymetShirley,whoJennywouldhavelookedtoasamotherfigure.Jenny’sstorymuchlikeShirley’sisoneofabuseandneglect.Shespentmostofherlifeperformingincircusesandwasconsidered“useless”bythetimeshewas24becauseshecouldnotbebred.Inanattempttobreedher,Jenny’slegwasbrokenbyabullelephant.Itwasnottreatedandshewalkedwithalimp.Consideredworthlessbyherowners,shewasdroppedoffatananimalshelterthattookindogsandcats,butpickedupbyanewowner,whosadlywasunabletoproperly
careforher.Thankfully,theownercontactedTheElephantSanctuaryandarescuefundwasstartedtogetJennyhome.ShearrivedinTennesseein1996,underweightwithfootrotandfeelingincrediblytimidandunsure,untilTarraletherknowshewassafeandwelcomed.Jennypassedawayin2006afteralongillnesssurroundedbyTarra,Shirley,andanotherfriendBunnywhoalsoarrivedin1999,thesameyearasShirley.
BunnydespitethebondthatShirleyandJennyhadwithoneanother,theylovinglywelcomedBunnyandformedatrio.Bornin1952inBurma(Myanmar),shewascapturedattheageoftwoandtransported
totheMeskerzooinEvansville,Indiana.Shelivedmostlyaloneinthezooforover40years.Asmentionedearlier,elephantshavesensitivefeetandbeingconfinedtostandingonconcreteunabletomovecreatesotherhealthproblemsforthesebeautifulcreatures.ThezoorealizedtheirloveforBunnymeantsettingherfreeandshearrivedattheSanctuaryinSeptemberof1999.
Bunnywasknownasthe“OutdoorGirl”becauseonceattheSanctuary,shelovedbeingoutsideallthetime.AccordingtothestaffattheSanctuary,Bunnyenjoyedherfreedomsomuchshewassometimesdifficulttofindwhenitwasfeedingtime.Itapparentlydidnottakeherlongtoadjusttohernewfoundfreedomasshewasheardcheerfullytrumpetingthroughthegrounds,statingherjoyandapprovalofhernewlife.
After10yearsofenjoyingherfreedom,Bunnytransitionedtoevenfreergroundsin2009attheageof58.BeingtheOutdoorGirl,shelaiddownoutsideunderthebluesky,surroundedbyhercaretakerandsisterswhokeptvigil.TheSanctuaryhonorsthenaturalcycleofthings,soBunnywaskeptcomfortableandprotectedsonaturecoulddowhatitneeded.Whenhertimecame,shetooktwolongbreathsandquietlyslippedaway.Whilethedeathofanyanimalissad,thebeautyofBunny’sdeathwasthatTheSanctuarygaveherachanceshemaynothavegottenotherwise,thechancetopassawayfromnaturalcauses.
BUNNy,THEOUTdOORGIRL,PICTUREdHEREAdMIRINGTHELAKEATHERTENNESSEEHOME.
SHIRLEy(L)ANdJENNyWEREOFTENPLAyFULWITHONEANOTHER.THISPHOTOSHOWSSHIRLEy’SHINdLEGTHATdIdNOTHEALPROPERLy.
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on service animals By nancy sEcrEst
L ionsandtigersandbears?Ohmyno,buthowaboutdogs,cats,horses,birdsandmonkeys?Guidedogsfortheblindusedtobetheonlyserviceanimalswe
eversaw.TheseGermanShepherds,andtheywerealwaysGermanShepherds,seemedtobetherockstarsofthedogworld,sosmart,so“I’vegotitundercontrol,”sointunewiththeirmasters.Thingshavechanged.Guidesarestilldogs,butotherbreeds,mainlyLabs,havebeenaddedtothemixashaveguidehorses.yes,horses.Inrecentyears,miniaturehorseshavebeentrainedasguidesfortheblind.Theyalsopullwheelchairsandactasasourceofstabilityforthosewithmobilityissues.Otherkindsofanimalshavealsobeentrainedtoassistwithvariousdisabilities.WenowhaveHearingEardogs,seizurealertanimals,animalsthatpreventordisruptdestructivebehaviorsandthosethatgiveemotionalsupport.TrainedCapuchinmonkeysnowaidadultswithspinalcordinjuriesandothermobilityimpairmentsbyactingasapairofhelpinghandstoperformtasksthattheindividualscannotdoforthemselves.Otheranimalhelpersincludesmallbreeddogs,cats,andbirds.TheAmericanswithdisabilitiesAct(AdA)suppliestheofficialdefinitionof“serviceanimals”andrecognizesonlydogsinthiscapacity.
Emotionalorpsychiatricsupport,therapyorcompanionanimalsarelabelsthatdescribethetasksperformedbysomeanimalsthat,whilenotrecognizedassuchbytheAdA,areoftencalled“serviceanimals”bythegeneralpublic.Thetitle“companionanimal”doesnotfallunderlegaldefinitions,andisgenerallyacceptedasanothertermforpet.Forthepurposesofthisarticle,theterm“serviceanimal”ismeanttoincludeallsuchanimals,aswellasservicedogs,unlessspecificallynotedotherwise.
Anemotionalsupportanimalprovidesaffectionandcompanionshipforapersonsufferingfromvariousmentalandemotionalconditionssuchasanxiety,depression,panicattacks,PTSd,fears/phobiasandotherconditions.Thereisnorequirementforanemotionalsupportanimaltoperformanyspecifictasksfordisabilityasthereiswithaservicedogandnospecifictrainingisrequired.Theseanimalsaremeantsolelyfortheemotionalstabilityoftheirowners.WhileemotionalsupportanimalsarenotincludedundertheprotectionsoftheAdA,theFairHousingAmendmentsAct(FHAA)givesindividualstherighttolivewiththeiremotionalsupportanimalregardlessofanybuildingorresidence“nopet”policy,andtheAirCarrierAccessAct
(ACAA)allowsemotionalsupportanimalsonairplaneswhendisabledindividualsaretraveling.Sometrains,buses,andtaxisalsoallowserviceanimalsaboard.
Therapyanimalsneedtobecalmandwell-behavedastheyaretakenmanyplaces,includinghospitals,nursinghomes,fosterhomes,homelessshelters,schoolsandplacesstruckbynaturaldisasters,wheretheyworkwiththeirhandlerstoprovideservicestoothers.Therapyanimalsworkwithgroupsratherthanindividualsbringingcomfortandjoytothosewhoareillorlivingunderpoorconditions.Again,theydonotneedanyspecifictrainingandarewelcomedatmanysuchfacilitieswithpermission.
Collectively,alloftheseanimalsarecommonlyreferredtoasserviceanimals,butthedefinitionofaserviceanimalaccordingtotheAdAisrestrictedtodogswhoaretrainedtodoworkorperformtasksdirectlyrelatedtoanindividual’sdisability.Thismeansthatthedogmustbetrainedtorespondtothespecialneedsofaspecificpersoncausedbytheirspecificdisability.Thisshutsoutemotionalsupportandtherapyanimals,eveniftheyaredogs,becausetheseanimalsdonotperformspecifictasksrelatedtospecificdisabilitiesor,inthecaseoftherapyanimals,becausetheyworkwithgroupsofpeopleratherthanindividuals.TheAdAalsorequiresthatserviceanimalsbeallowedintogovernmentandcommercialbuildingsopentothepublic.In2010,theAdAexpandedthisrulingtoincludeminiaturehorses(ataheightof26”to38”tallminiaturehorsesareaboutthesamesizeasalargedog),aswellasdogs.TheselimitsplacedbytheAdAhavecausedproblemsforsomewithdisabilitieswhoneedorpreferanotherkindofserviceanimal.ThroughtheyearsvariouscourtcaseshavebeenfiledinanattempttochangetheAdA’sdefinitionofserviceanimal.Sofar,theonlychangeshavebeenatighteningofthedefinitiontospecificallyexclude“otherspeciesof
The Seeing Eye, the first US guide dog
school opened its doors in 1929 and is now
the oldest existing guide dog school in the
world. In the 1970s, the concept expanded
to the use of “service” dogs…
For the Love of Life 15
animals”andtoaddminiaturehorsestodogsasthosethatmustbeallowedinpublicbuildingsandonpublictransportationfromwhichotheranimalsmaybebarred.AppealstotheAdAfortheexpansionofits“serviceanimal”definitioncontinue,anddebateoverthesuitabilityofcertainspecies,suchasmonkeys,forthisstatushasraisedethicalandhumanitarianissues.
Somestatesandlocalitieshavesettheirownrulesforserviceanimals,expandingthedefinitiontoincludeotherspeciesbesidesdogs,includingemotionalsupportandtherapyanimals,and,insomecases,requiringorsuggestingcertificationoftheseanimals.Toqualifyasaserviceanimal,pertheAdA,adogdoesnothavetobeprofessionallytrainednordoesithavetobecertifiedorlicensed.However,withsomestatesrequiringcertification,certifyingopportunitiesaboundonthewebandelsewhere.Otherstatesandlocalitiesrequirethatthepersonsimplyhaveadoctor’sletterattestingtotheirneedforaserviceanimalinorderfortheanimaltobeallowedintotheirgovernmentofficesandcommercialestablishmentsandontopublictransportation.Insomecases,specificbusinessesfollowpracticesthatallowserviceanimalsotherthandogsontheirpremises.Ofcourse,inallcases,theanimalsmustbeunderthecontroloftheirownersandnotcauseadisturbance.
Justassomepeopleunlawfullyparkinhandicappedspaces,somepetownerswhoarenotdisabled,butsimplywanttoenterbusinessesorrideonpublictransportationwiththeirpetorcompanionanimal,dosounderpretense.PertheU.S.departmentofJustice,CivilRightsdivision’sinstructionstobusinessowners,“Ifyouarenotcertainthatananimalisaserviceanimal,youmayaskthepersonwhohastheanimalifitisaserviceanimalrequiredbecauseofadisability.youmaynotinsistonproofofstatecertificationbeforepermittingtheserviceanimaltoaccompanythepersonwithadisability.”Apetowner,pretendingthattheirpetisaserviceanimal,wholiesinanswertothisquestioncaneasilygetawaywithitsincenoproofisrequired.ThisunscrupulousmanipulationoflawswrittentoprotecttherightsofthedisabledhasthepotentialtohurtthecauseofthosewhoaretryingtogettheiremotionalsupportanimalsrecognizedbytheAdAortheirstate.
GuiDE anD sErvicE DOGs TheconceptofusingdogstohelptheblindreallybeganwhenveteransstartedusingguidedogsafterWorldWarI.Today,America’svetdogs,anonprofitorganization,callsitself“Thepremierorganizationprovidingassistancedogs
todisabledveteransandactiveservicemembers.”TheveryfirstformalschoolforservicedogswasestablishedinGermany.TheSeeingEye,thefirstUSguidedogschool,openeditsdoorsin1929andisnowtheoldestexistingguidedogschoolintheworld.Inthe1970s,theconceptexpandedtotheuseof“service”dogs,ratherthanjust“guide”dogsinordertoassistindividualswithvariousdisabilities.Nowservicedogs,andotheranimals,guidethevisuallyimpaired,alertthehearingimpairedtointrudersorsounds,provideprotectionorrescuework,pullwheelchairsandfetchdroppeditemsfortheirownersamongmanyothertasks.
Aguidedog’strainingbeginsinpuppyhoodaccordingtoServicedogCentral,acommunityofservicedogpartnersandtrainers.Puppiesdestinedtobecomeguidedogsareplacedwithfamilieswholoveandnurturethepuppy,teachitgoodmanners,socializationskillsandbasicobedience.Whenthepuppyisaboutayeartoeighteenmonthsolditgoesofftoschool.Attheguidedogschool,thedoglearnsdirectedguiding,obstacleavoidanceandintelligentdisobedience.directedguidingteachesthedogtheproperresponsestothecommonlyusedcommands.Throughintelligentdisobedienceadoglearnstodisobeythecommandsofitsownerifadangerthattheownercannotseeispresent,suchasamovingcarinhisorherpath.Obstacleavoidanceisthetrickiestandmostimportantlessonthedoghastolearn.Thedogmustlearntorecognizeanobstacle,evenifitisoverhead,anddecidehowbesttogoarounditwhilepreservingitsanditsowner’ssafety.
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Thedisabledpersonmustalsobetrainedhowtocommandandhandlethedog.Thetwoarethenpairedtolearnhowtoworktogether.Itcosts$50,000to$60,000totrainaguidedog.However,America’svetdogsprovidesthedogsfreetodisabledveterans,andTheSeeingEyeguidedogschoolchargesonly$150fortheowner’sfirstdogand$50foreachconsecutiveguidedogthatmaybeneeded.
MiniaturE HOrsEsTheGuideHorseFoundationwasfoundedin1999asanexperimentalprogramtoassesstheabilitiesofminiaturehorsesasassistanceanimals.TheFoundationclaims,“Therearemanycompellingreasonstouseminiaturehorsesasguideanimals.Horsesarenaturalguideanimalsandhavebeenguidinghumansforcenturies.Innature,horseshavebeenshowntopossessanaturalguideinstinct.Whenanotherhorsegoesblindinaherd,asightedhorseacceptsresponsibilityforthewelfareoftheblindhorseandguidesitwiththeherd.Throughouthistory,Cavalryhorseshavebeenknowntoguidetheirinjuredridertosafety.”
Whywouldsomeonepreferaguidehorsetoaguidedog?Well,somepeoplearesimplyhorselovers,othersfeardogsorareallergictothem.Stillotherspreferahorse’scalmnatureorneedtheirstrengthtopulltheirwheelchairorprovidethesupportneededforthemtorisefromtheirchair.Horseslivelongerthandogs.Thelifespanoftheaverageguidedogisfromeighttotwelveyears,whileahorselivesbetweenthirtyandfortyyearsormore.Mostvisuallyimpairedpeoplewilloutlivethreeorfourguidedogs.Therefore,anotherreasongivenforthechoiceofahorseisthatitsavesthepersonfromhavingtorepeatedlysufferthroughthedeathofalovedanimal.Italsosavesthetime,energyandtrainingcostsofreplacementguidedogstherebymakingitlessexpensiveinthelongruntotrain
miniaturehorsesasguidesthantotraindogs.TheGuideHorseFoundationtrainsguidehorses
anddeliversthemfree-of-chargetovisuallyimpairedindividuals.Miniaturehorsesreceivethesametypeoftrainingasguidedogsindirectedguiding,obstacleavoidanceandintelligentdisobedience,and,accordingtotheFoundation,“Guidehorsesalsoundergothesametrainingthatisgiventoriot-controlhorsesmakingthemlesslikelytobedistractedandcalmerinchaoticsituations.”ThetrainingendswiththehorsebeinghousebrokenwhichisnecessarypertheAdAifthehorseistobeallowedintopublicestablishments.
Somefolksobjecttousinghorsesasguidesonthegroundsthattheyrequirespecialcareandhousing.However,inherarticle“MiniaturehorsesgetOKtobeserviceanimals,”SueManningoftheAssociatedPress,quotedMonaRamouniwhosaid,“Asmuchworkassheis—andsheisalotmoreworkthanadog—Iwouldnottradeherfor10dogs.”Ms.Manningtellsusthat“Ramouniwentblindshortlyafterbirth.Growingupindetroit,shecouldnothaveadogbecauseherdevoutMuslimfamilyconsideredthemunclean.”
sErvicE catsAnotheranimalnewtotheofficial“serviceanimal”sceneisthecat.Catshavelongbeenrecognizedasgivingcomforttotheirowners.Pettingtheirsoftfurandlisteningtothempurriscalmingandrelaxing.Catloverswouldagreethattheircatswithouteventryingprovideemotionalsupport.Studieshaveshownthatstrokingacatdecreasesbloodpressure,andthatthecalminginfluenceofacatcanextendthelifeofapersonwithheartproblems.Thisisnotasourceofcontroversy.Butaretheyserviceanimals?TheAdAsaysthatthetasksaserviceanimalperformsmustbespecificandaidwithanindividualperson’sspecificdisability.Somecatshaveshownanaturalabilitytoalerttheirownersofanimpendingseizureortoalertadiabeticownerofadropinhisorherbloodsugarlevelanddosowithouttraining.Thiscertainlyqualifiesasspecificbehaviorforaspecificdisability.Severalstatesdocertifyseizurecatsanddiabeticalertcatsasserviceanimalswhichallowsthecattoaccompanyitsownerintorestaurantsandotherpublicvenuesandontopublictransportation.
AccordingtoItchmo:Newsfordogs&Cats,atwww.itchmo.com,“Thereisnoorganizationthattrainsservicecats.”However,itisfeltbysomeorganizationslikethePetsandPeopleFoundationthattheycanbetrained.“PetsandPeopleprovideshelpforpeoplethatwanttotraintheirown
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We appreciate and applaud these animals
and the services they provide, but there
is controversy. Dogs and cats have been
domesticated for centuries and have long
become used to living with humans.
For the Love of Life 17
cats…startingwithakittenisbest.Usingclickertraining,acatcanbetaughttoalertthearrivalofaseizure.Cats,justlikedogs,haveaninnatesenseofwhenseizuresarecoming.Kittenscanalsobetaughttouseatelephonewhentheownerisunabletocallforhelp.”And,“Toalertyouthecatmaypawatyouorsitonyourchest.”
BirDs as sErvicE aniMaLsAnarticleintheJanuary2009New York Times MagazinebyRebeccaSklootentitled“CreatureComforts”talksaboutamaninSt.Louiswhousesanassistantparrottohelpcontrolhispsychotictendencies.Indescribinghiscondition,hesaid,“It’slikewhentheIncredibleHulkchangesfrommantomonster.Hisvisionblurs,hisbodytinglesandhecanbarelyhear.”Theparrotkeepshimfromsnapping.Sheridesaroundonhisback,andwhenhegetsupsetshecalmshimdownbytalkingtohim.Shesaysthingslike,“It’sOK,calmdown,you’reallright,”and“I’mhere.”Thebird’strainingwasunintentional.Sometimes,whenhegotupsetathome,themanwouldtrytocalmhimselfdownusingthosephrases.Theparrotpickeditup,andthemanbeganrewardinghereachtimeithappened.Hehashadonlyoneincidentsincetheparrotbeganrecognizinghischangeinbehaviorandworkstocalmhimdown.
MOnkEys as sErvicE aniMaLsItiseasytoseewhythehuman-likehandsofamonkeymightmakeitadesirableserviceanimalforpersonswithspinalcordorothermobilityinjuriesthatleavethemwith
limitedornouseoftheirhands.Monkeys,likehumans,canreachforthings,turnonlights,openbottlesorothercontainers,pickupdroppedobjects,learntodial911,operateamicrowaveandmanyothertasksforwhichhandsarehelpfulorevennecessary.Monkeysalsoappearandactsomuchlikelittlepeoplethatthebondoremotionalconnectioncreatedbetweenamonkeyanditshumanownercanbeakintothatwithalittlebrotherorsister.AviralvideobyThe Boston Globeshowsthisconnection.ItfeaturesNedSullivanwhounderwentatraumaticneckandbrainaccident.Hehasrecoveredsomespeechandmovement,butstillneedshelp.Kasey,aCapuchinmonkeyprovidesthehelpinghandsthatNedneedsaswellasemotionalsupport.
KaseywastrainedatHelpingHandsanon-profitorganizationthathastrainedCapuchinmonkeyssince1979toassistadultswithspinalcordinjuries.PerHelpingHandswebsite,ittakesthreetofiveyearstotrainamonkeyatseveraldifferentandincreasinglycomplexlevels.Thetrainingenvironmentalsobecomesmoreandmorehome-likethroughoutthelevelsinordertopreparethemonkeyforlifeintherecipient’shome.Whileintraining,monkeysarealsopottytrained.“Whentheygraduatetheycanaccomplishmanytasks,arecomfortableworkingwithhouseholditemslikerefrigerators,Cdplayersandtelevisions,andarefamiliarwithmanualandelectricwheelchairs.”Upongraduation,themonkeysaregivenfreeofchargetotherecipientswithwhomtheyhavebeenmatched.
Monkeysareamongthemostcontestedassistance-animalspecies.TheAdAdoesnotrecognizemonkeysasserviceanimals,butsomestatesdo.AbillrecentlyintroducedintotheKentuckylegislaturethatwouldrecognizemonkeysasserviceanimalsforin-homeuse,sparkedcontroversy.Criticsofthebill,includingtheNorthAmericanPrimateSanctuaryAlliance,feelthat,asun-domesticatedanimals,monkeysareneithersuitablenordesirabletoworkashumanhelpers.Theysay,“Monkeysdonotbelonginhumanhomes,whetheraspetsorserviceanimals.”
Criticspointoutthatmonkeysareunpredictableandcancausehavocifdistressedandperhapseveninjurytotheirhumanhandlers.Theypointoutthatwhiledogsandhorseshavebeendomesticatedforcenturies,monkeysarestillferal.Calmbehaviorandgoodjudgmentcannotberelieduponfrommonkeysastheyareanimalsthatdonotreactwellinchaoticsituations.
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AFRICANGREyPARROTSAREHIGHLyINTELLIGENTBIRdSANdCANLEARNANExTENSIvEvOCABULARy.THEIRBEAUTy,GOOdNATURE,ANdINTELLIGENCEMAKETHEMNOTONLyGOOdPETS,BUTAdAPTABLEASSERvICEANIMALS.
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detractorsalsosaythatlivinginhumanhomespreventsmonkeysfromthenaturalsocializationwiththeirownkindthattheyneed.PerFox News First Newsletter, January21,2014.“AprilTruitt,founderandexecutivedirectorofthePrimateRescueCenter,basedinNicholasvilleincentralKentucky,saidthebilliswellintentionedbutmisguided.Shesaiditcouldexposebothmonkeysandtheirhumanowners
topotentialharm.‘Monkeysarenotdomesticatedanimals,’shesaid.‘Theycannotbemadesoinonegenerationorin20’.”InanABCNewsinterviewbyGillianMohney,January18,2014,“Truittpointsoutthatthemonkeyshavealltheirteethremovedbeforebeingusedinahome,andthattheycanturnontheirownersviolently.”Thisactionmightservetoprotectpeople,butseemscruelandinhumanetreatmentofmonkeys.Whiletheuseofmonkeysasassistantsmayprovideawonderfulbenefittothosewithspinalcordinjuries,thepracticecausesanethicaldilemmabetweenthebenefittodisabledpersonsandthenaturalneeds,rightsandhumanetreatmentoftheseanimalsthathasyettoberesolved.
Whetherabirdthatalertsitsownertoapendingpsychoticbreak,acatthatsensesanon-comingseizure,a
monkeywhosehelpinghandsassistaparalyzedperson,ahearingearanimaloraguidedogorhorse,theseanimalsarevaluedbythosetheyserveandtheirabilitiesamazetherestofus.Weappreciateandapplaudtheseanimalsandtheservicestheyprovide,butthereiscontroversy.dogsandcatshavebeendomesticatedforcenturiesandhavelongbecomeusedtolivingwithhumans.Whetherserviceanimalsorpets,mostarewelltreated,andfewpeoplewouldregardtheiremploymentasserviceanimalsasbeingdetrimentaltotheirwell-being.
Horsesmayfarebestinaruralenvironment,butsomefeelthatminiaturehorsesusedasguidescanadapttoanurbansettingaslongastheyhaveastalltoretreattoandroomtoroamwhenoff-duty.Others,sometheosophistsamongthem,whoobjecttoeventheridingofhorses,wouldseetheuseofhorsesasconfiningandunnatural.Apparently,theAdAdisagreeswiththisviewasminiaturehorsesaretheonlyanimals,besidesdogs,thattheyrequirebeallowedaccesstogovernmentalandcommercialestablishments.
However,birdslikeparrots,andespeciallymonkeys,arewildanimals.Cantheycopewithlivinginhomes?doestheirservicetousoutweightheirright,andperhapsneed,toliveintheirnaturalenvironments?doesthecomplextrainingofmonkeysandthepullingoftheirteethtoprotecthumansimpingeontheirrightsasfreecreaturesandperhapsevenborderoncruelty?dotheyposeadangertothehumanstheyserve?Thesequestionshaveyettobeanswered.
Asaserviceorganization,theTheosophicalOrderofService(TOS)recognizesandsupportstherightsofdisabledpersonstowhateveraidstheyneedtohelpthemliveasnormallyaspossible,includingserviceanimals.Astheosophists,theTOSsupportstheonenessofalllifeandthuscomesdownheavilyonthesideofanimals’rightstoliveafulllifeintheirnaturalordomesticatedhabitats,freeofhuman-imposedstressesandcruelty.Whenitcomestomonkeys,andperhapsbirds,wewonderifitiswiseandhumanetousetheseanimalsasserviceanimals.
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CAPUCHINMONKEySAREOFTENUSEdASSERvICEANIMALSANdKEPTASPETSdESPITEMUCHdEBATE.WHILETRAINABLEACCORdINGTOHELPINGHANdS,WILdLIFEExPERTSdISAGREESAyINGTHEyAREWILdCREATURESTHATCANTURNONTHEIROWNERS.MANyPETOWNERSHAvETHEANIMAL’STEETHREMOvEd.
For the Love of Life 19
do animals have rights? By MOrry sEcrEst
Alargepercentageoftheworld’spopulationbelievesanimalshaverights.Certainly
mostpetownersthinkso.Manyfolkstreattheirpetsjustastheywouldtheirchildren.Forboth,theywillinglyprovidefood,water,shelter,aswellasattention,love,support,andmedicalcare.
Mostfarmersandranchersalsoagree,toapoint.Aslongasitenhancestheirprofit,theywillinglyprovidethebasicnecessitiesandarerequiredtoprovidemedicalcaretotheirlivestock.
Butwhataboutthegorillasandchimpanzeeswhoresemblehumansmostclosely?
TheUnitedStatesisoneofthefewcivilizedcountriesthatstillallowmedicalresearchonagroupofmammalswhosegeneticmakeupcloselyresemblesthatofhumans,thegreatapes.TheUnitedStatesistheworld’slargestuserofchimpanzeesforbiomedicalresearchandhas937individualsubjectscurrentlyinU.S.labs.This,eventhoughtheInstituteofMedicine(IOM)www.iom.eduhasdeterminedthattheuseofchimpanzeesinmedicalresearchislargelyunnecessary,duetotheadvancementsinalternateresearchtools.
TheInstituteofMedicineisanAmericannon-profit,non-governmentalorganizationfoundedin1970,underthecongressionalcharteroftheNationalAcademyofSciences.ItispartoftheUnitedStatesNationalAcademies,whichalsoincludestheNationalAcademyofSciences(NAS),NationalAcademyofEngineering(NAE),andtheNationalResearchCouncil(NRC).
Itspurposeistoprovidenationaladviceonissuesrelatingtobiomedical
science,medicine,andhealth,anditsmissionistoserveasadvisertothenationtoimprovehealth.ItworksoutsidetheframeworkoftheU.S.federalgovernmenttoprovideindependentguidanceandanalysisandreliesonavolunteerworkforceofscientistsandotherexperts,operatingunderaformalpeer-reviewsystem.
TheInstituteaimstoprovideunbiased,evidence-based,andauthoritativeinformationandadviceconcerninghealthandsciencepolicytopolicy-makers,professionals,leadersineverysectorofsociety,andthepublicatlarge.
EffortsbyIOMandothersareslowlybearingfruit.Officialsaregraduallyrecognizingthatanimalsdeservesomefundamentalrights.Justrecently,ninebaboonspreviouslyusedforscientificexperimentswereretiredfromthatduty.TheyhavebeensenttotheBornFreeUSAPrimateSanctuarywww.bornfreeusa.orgindilley,Texas.Whilethisisastepintherightdirection,theUSstilllagsbehindinanimalrightseffortscomparedtoothercountries.MedicalresearchongreatapeshasbeenbannedinBelgium,
Austria,Sweden,theNetherlandsandNewzealand.SpainandtheBalearicIslandshavegrantedgreatapeslegalrightsandJapan,AustraliaandtheUnitedKingdomhavelawsthatseverelyrestricttheuseofgreatapesinresearch.
IntheUS,agroupofpeoplehavegonetocourt,tryingtogiveacaptivechimpanzeemanyofthesamerightsasahumanbeing,andposingsomeveryinterestingarguments.AcourtcaseinNewyorkStateisarguingthequestionofwhetherachimpanzeehasrightsasaperson--notasahuman;thereisadistinction.Theypointtoaprecedent,setbytheSupremeCourtwhenitruledthatcorporationshaverightsaspersons.
ChimpanzeesentertainthemassesinperformancesliketheIceCapades,serveasmedicalresearchsubjects,andshare98.7percentofdNAincommonwithhumans.Sothequestionariseswhyshouldn’tchimpanzeesbeallowedtohavelawyers?Followingthatlogic,anothereffortisunderway.TheChimpanzeeCollaboratory(www.chimpcollaboratory.org)isaprojectunitingattorneys,scientistsandpublicpolicyexpertsworkingtomakesignificantandmeasurableprogressinprotectingthelivesandestablishingthelegalrightsofchimpanzees.TheChimpanzeeCollaboratorywasestablishedin2000throughagenerousgrantfromtheGlaserProgressFoundation.Thisgrouphasdraftedlegislationthatproposestoallownonprofitgroupstopetitioncourtsinordertoserveasguardiansforanychimpwhois“subjectedtothewillfuluseofforceorviolenceuponitsbody.”
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Oneofthereasonsthatconcernaboutchimprightshasgrownisbecauseofthegrowingnumberofchimpsincaptivity.Theanimalswerebredaggressivelyinthe1980sforAIdSresearch.Amongthosechampioningthechimps’causeisconstitutionalscholarLaurenceTribe,aHarvardLawSchoolprofessor.Heandothershavearguedthatchimpsareabletousetools,interactsocially,andteachtheiroffspring.Theypointoutthatsomechimpshavelearnedsignlanguage,
andareabletocommunicateatthesamelevelasathreeorfouryearoldchild.
Bylaw,animalsare“property,”or“things”thatdonothaverightsontheirown.Butsomelegalreformers,includingTribe,wouldliketoseethelegaldefinitionof“persons”expandedtoincludechimpanzees.Chimpanzeesareourclosestgeneticrelatives.Ofcourse,chimpanzeescannotfilelawsuitsontheirown,butanimal-rightsadvocatesareproposing
thatjudgescouldappointahuman“guardian-at-law,”torepresentthemincourt,similartothewaylegalguardiansmayrepresentchildren.Withlegalrights,chimpscouldseekinjunctionstoblockresearchers,animaltrainersonmoviesets,andoperatorsofroadsideattractionswhomightharmtheanimalseitherphysicallyorpsychologically.Theycouldalsoseekdamagesformedicalexpenses,andtheirguardianscouldseekpunitivedamagesagainstanyonewhodeniesthemtheirrights.
Theconceptof“animalrights”springsfromtheideathatsome,orall,
nonhumanbeingsareentitledtothepossessionoftheirownlives,andthattheirmostbasicinterests--suchasaninterestinnotsuffering--shouldbeaffordedthesameconsiderationashumanbeings.Advocatesopposetheassignmentofmoralvalueandfundamentalprotectionsonthebasisofspeciesmembershipalone--anideaknownsince1970as“speciesism,”whenthetermwascoinedbyRichardd.Ryder--arguingthatitisaprejudiceas
irrationalasanyother.Theyagreeforthemostpartthatanimalsshouldnolongerbeviewedasproperty,orusedasfood,clothing,researchsubjects,entertainment,orbeastsofburden.
Howcanonedecidewhatrightsananimalshouldhave?Somepeoplemightsay,“Animalsshouldn’thavetherightsofahumanbeing,becausetheycannotbehaveresponsiblylikeahumanbeing.”Now,theremightbesomemerittothis.Anadulthastherighttovote,therighttodrinkalcohol
(responsibly),therighttoownpropertyandtherighttodriveacar,andsoon.
Theserightsaredeniedtooneclassofhumans,withoutexception,andthatischildren.Childrenaredeniedtherighttovote,therighttodrinkalcohol,therighttoownpropertyandtherighttodriveacar,allforgoodreasons.Astheygrow,andlearn,theybecomecapableofassumingtheresponsibilitiesofanadultandareallowedthoserights.However,despitenothavingthoserights,theyarestillentitledtothebasicnecessitiesoffood,water,shelter,clothing,andadecentlifewithoutcruelty,suffering,orexploitation.
Thequestionthenarises,onwhatbasisdowedecidewhichanimalshavecertainrightsandwhichdonot?Petswillalwayshavethetoprungoftheladder,becausepetownerschoosetotreattheirpetswell.Whenconsideringallanimals,criteriasuchasthesizeofthebrain,theirmemoryabilities,theirsocialactivities,theirlanguageskills,eventheirconsciousnessseemtofallshortofavalidreasonastowhyanimalsshouldnothaverights.
Withregardtoconsciousness,acommontheoryofconsciousnessisthatitisdefinedastheactionofthebrain.Consciousness,itissaid,issimplywhatthebraindoes.Further,weknowthatourbrainisanoutgrowthoftheanimalbrain.Anatomiststellusthatthehumanbrain,withtheneo-cortexcarefullyliftedaway,isidenticalinsizeandinfunctiontothebrainofcommondomesticatedanimalssuchasthepig.Psychologicaltestinghasshownthatmanyofthefunctionsusedonadailyorhourlybasisbyhumans,suchasattention,objectrecognition,andevenemotion,arefullyfunctionalinanimals.Itisnotimpropertothinkofhumansasbeingfirstofallsimilartootheranimals,justwithasomewhatlarger
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WASHOEWASTHEFIRSTNON-HUMANTOLEARNAMERICANSIGNLANGUAGE.THISALLOWEdHERTOCOMMUNICATEWITHHUMANSSHOWINGHERABILITyTOEMPATHIzE.
For the Love of Life 21
neo-cortexandwithalargeculturalcomponentwhichmustbelearnedduringchildhood.
Oftentimesitisbelievedthatanimalsarenotself-aware.Self-awarenesscanbedemonstratedthroughtheuseofanumberoftests.Forexample,themirrortestwillputamirrorbeforeatestsubject.Achildovertheageof,say,fiveyearswillquicklyrealizethattheimageinthemirrorishimself.Hisbehaviorwillbeexploratoryinnature,inwhichhemakesfacesinthemirror;andactivelylooksathisownmouthandnose.Thechildshowsself-awareness.Thesametestwithachimpanzeewillshowthatthechimpwillalsomakefacesandevenexplorehisownmouthandnoseinthemirror.
Manypeopleagreethathigheranimalshaveconsciousnessanddemonstratetherudimentsofsocialstructure,problem-solvingability,andmusicalability(inbirds).Language,definedastransmissionofinformationbysound,isdonenotonlybyhumansbutalsobyelephants,cetaceansand
birds.Somechimpanzeeshavebeentaughttherudimentsoflanguage.Someparrotsareexcellentmimics.Alex,thegreyparrot,constructedhisownsentencestoissuecommandstohisowner.
TempleGrandinhaswrittenextensivelyinherbooksaboutanimals,inawaywhichisbothveryscientificandveryinsightful.Shedescribes,inherbooks,manyinsightsintothewaythatanimalsperceive,andthink.Grandinhasdonemuchtoimproveconditionsinslaughterhousesforcattle.Thisisverypragmaticwork.Shedoesnotthinkslaughterhousescanbeeliminated,buttheycanbeimproved.AnditistothisthatGrandinhasdevotedherenergies.AprofessoratColoradoStateUniversity,sheholdsadoctorateofanimalscience,isanengineer,abest-sellingauthor,anautisticactivist,andservesasaconsultanttothelivestockindustryonanimalbehavior.Asapersonwhogrewupwithautism,sheusedanimalsandhersensitivitytowardthemasawaytocopewithherdisorder.ShewroteAnimals in Translationin2005,andAnimals Make Us Humanin2009.
Thetheosophicalperspectiveonanimalsisbasedontheconceptoftheonenessofalllife.OftensubsumedunderthewordBrotherhood,itstemsfromtheideathatalllifeonearthspringsfromasinglesource.AcloserlookattheBuddhistsourceofthisbeliefshowsanintimateawarenessofourownroots.WewouldnotbeherewithouttheGreatApes.Inthatsense,then,theyareourcousins,anditisreasonabletotreatthemaswewouldourowndistantrelatives.Weshouldenjoytheircompanyforbriefvisits,helpthemoutduringtheirtimesofneed,butoverall,justexpectthemtolivetheirownlivesastheychoose,andletthembe.Liveandletlive.Certainly,
wewouldn’tstealfromthemorexterminatethem.
Theosophytellsusthatlifelivesinastream.Justastherearethosegreatbeingswholongagowentthroughthehumanstage,therearealsothose“lessevolved”beingswhoarelookingforwardtogoingthroughthehumanstageinthefuture.Thosebeingsarecurrentlyintheanimalstage.Iflifeislikeaschool,wemightsaythatthefifth-graderswilllookforwardtoonedaybeingsixth-gradersandrecalltheirowndaysasfourth-graders.Theremightbesomecondescensiontowardthethird-andfourthgraders,buttherewillalsobesomefondness.Itisthisattitudethatthetheosophicalviewencourages.
TheBuddhasaidinoneofhislecturesthathedesiredtoteachtoallwhoareteachable.Someofhisstudentsinterpretedthattomeananimalsaswellashumans.Certainlythehighermammalsmaybeincludedinthatcategory.SomeBuddhiststhinkthatanaspectoftheindividualhumancan,afterdeath,reincarnateintoanotherhumanbabybody,butalsocouldreincarnateintoananimalbody.Likewise,someanimalscouldreincarnateintohumans.Giventheexplosivegrowthofthenumberofhumansaliveontheearthinrecentgenerations,Ithinkitwouldbeentirelylikelythatmanypeoplewalkingaroundtodayareinahumanbodyforthefirsttime.Theymay,accordingtosomeBuddhists,haverecentlybeenoneoranotheranimal.Apragmaticattitudemightbealongthelinesof,“ThereisapossibilitythatImightreincarnateasananimal.Justincasethatmightbetrue,thenIwouldthinkitprudenttoassurethatanimalsarewell-treated,justincase.”
dR.TEMPLEGRANdINISAPROFESSORATCOLORAdOSTATEUNIvERSITy.BORNWITHAUTISM,SHEHASALWAySHAdASENSITIvITyOFANIMALS’EMOTIONS.
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Beagle freedom project: a new lease on life for laboratory animals By katHy Gan n
T heTheosophicalOrderofServiceispleasedtooffersupporttotheBeagleFreedomProject,anorganizationthatrescuesresearchanimals
beingreleasedfromlaboratories.TheoperatingmethodsandethicsdemonstratedbythisgroupexemplifythetheosophicalidealofrecognizingtheOneLifeinall.
In2012,nearly70,000dogswereusedinlaboratoryexperiments,andabout96%ofthemwerebeagles.Whybeagles?Becausebeaglesaredocile,forgivingandpeople-pleasingtoafault.Recentlysomelaboratorieshaveshownawillingnesstoreleaseanimalstheynolongerneedorwantforfurtherexperiments,ratherthaneuthanizingthemasiscustomaryintheindustry.Thisgivesthedogsachancetohealandfindahappy,lovinghome.
EnteranimalrightsattorneyShannonKeithandasmallnetworkofrescuevolunteers.In2010,Shannonheardaboutagroupofdogsbeingreleasedfromaresearchlab,andtheBeagleFreedomProject(www.BeaglefreedomProject.org)wasborn.Sincethen,Shannonandvolunteershave
performedatleast25rescues,freeing171dogs,10ponies,9rabbits,3pigs,7catsand2goldfishfromanimaltestinglaboratories…andthenumberofrescueescontinuestorise.
Rescuedanimalsarehousedwithfosterfamiliesandreceivebadly-neededveterinariancaresotheycanregainphysicalhealth.Fosterfamilieshelptoinitiateemotionalandpsychologicalhealingwhilethe
animalswaittobeadoptedintotheirforeverhomes.Overthepastthreeyears,theBeagleFreedomProject
hasperformedrescueafterrescue,andhashadgreatsuccessinfindinghomesforthesespecial-needsanimals(laboratoryanimalsarenothousetrained,areunfamiliarwithhowtobeatreasuredpet,andmanysufferfromPTSdandintensefear).TheBeagleFreedomProject’ssuccess,Ibelieve,isdueinlargeparttothewayinwhichtheyapproachlaboratories.TheyhavewrittenrespectfulletterstolaboratoriesintheUnitedStates,offeringtoacceptanyanimalsthelabiswillingtorelease.Theofferismadewithnojudgment,noaccusations,andwithnodangerofthelaboratorybeing“exposed”orpublicized.Ifanyotherapproachwereused,thelaboratorywouldlikelynotbewillingtoreleasetheanimals.
Inmid-december2013,Kevinparticipatedinhis25threscueoperation,freeingninebeaglesfromaMinnesotaresearchlab.Raymondwasoneofthenine,andKevintookRaymondhomeforthenight.Raymondpacedincessantly,stressedfromnotunderstandinghisnewenvironment,fearfulaboutwhatmightbecomingnext.Exhaustedhimself,KevinwrappedRaymondinablanket,heldhimonhischest,andtheybothsettleddownforarest.
Kevinrecalls,“Theday’sfulleventscombinedwith
FRIENdSFORLIFE—KEvINCHASEWITHRAyMONd.KEvINISTHEdIRECTOROFOPERATIONSFORBEAGLEFREEdOMPROJECT.
THISTHREEyEAROLdBEAGLEWASONEOFSIxdOGSFREEdFROMALABINCOLORAdO.
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For the Love of Life 23
happy 80th Birthday Jane goodall
JaneGoodallwasbornApril3,1934.Herworkobservingchimpanzeesinthewildhaschangedmanyfacetsofhowscientistscollectdataon
wildlife.Asasecretaryforhermentorandfrienddr.LouisLeaky,JanewassentouttostudychimpsinTanzaniainthe1950s.Leakyhopedthatbystudyingchimpsinthewild,hecouldobtainabetterunderstandingofhumanevolution.Hewasright.Throughpatienceandpersistence,JaneobservedherchimpfrienddavidGreybeardusingaprobetoretrievetermitesfromamound.Toolmakingwasconsideredtobesomethingthathappenedduringhumanevolution.ButtheresatJane,watchingintentlyasdavidandanotherchimpshenamedGoliath,torelargeleavesintostripsandturnedthemintoprobestoplacedowninthetermiteholes.Thetwochimpspatientlywaitedandeventuallypulleduptheprobeandsnackedontermites.
Thisdiscoverywouldnothavehappenedwithoutthecuriosityandpatienceofawomanwhoseloveforanimalsdidnotsurpassherowncomfortandsafety.Jane’sworkhasopenednewavenuesforanimalsnotonlyintheobservationofanimalbehavior,butalsoinanimalconservation,theemotionalintelligenceofanimals,andtheneedforsustainability.Herprogram“RootsandShoots”runthroughtheJaneGoodallInstitutewww.janegoodall.orgisayouth-ledorganizationthatallows“youngpeoplemaptheircommunitytoidentifyspecificchallengestheirneighborhoodsface.Fromthere,theyprioritizetheproblems,developaplanforasolution,andtakeaction.”Thisnotonlyempowersyoungpeople,butitalsokeepsthemawareofchallengesintheircommunitiesandmakesthemunderstandtheneedtotakeresponsibilitytocreatechange.
WhatisextraordinaryaboutJaneisherkeeninsightasascientist,butalsoherimmenseheart.Whatdriveshertocontinueherwork,isherunderstandingoflife’sdeeperaspects.
InherbookA Reason for Hope:A Spiritual Journeypublishedin1999,Janewritesaboutaspiritualmomentofawakeningsheexperienced,onerarelyadmittedbyscientistsofherstature,
Allatoncethecathedralwasfilledwithahugevolumeofsound:anorganplayingmagnificentlyforaweddingtakingplaceinadistantcorner.Bach’s
ToccataandFugueindMinor.Ihadalwayslovedtheopeningtheme;butinthecathedral,fillingthevastness,itseemedtoenterandpossessmywholeself.Itwasasthoughthemusicitselfwasalive.
Thatmoment,asuddenlycapturedmomentofeternity,wasperhapstheclosestIhaveevercometoexperiencingecstasy,theecstasyofthemystic.HowcouldIbelieveitwasthechancegyrationsofbitsofprimevaldustthathadleduptothatmomentintime—thecathedralsoaringtothesky;thecollectiveinspirationandfaithofthosewhocausedittobebuilt;theadventofBachhimself;thebrain,hisbrain,thattranslatedtruthintomusic;andthemindthatcouldasminedidthen,comprehendthewholeinexorableprogressionofevolution?SinceIcannotbelievethiswastheresultofchance,Ihatetoadmitanti-chance.AndsoImustbelieveinaguidingpowerintheuniverse—inotherwords,ImustbelieveinGod…
Ibelievedinthespiritualpowerthat,asaChristian,IcalledGod.ButasIgrewolderandlearnedaboutdifferentfaithsIcametobelievethattherewas,afterall,butOneGodwithdifferentnames:Allah,Tao,theCreator,andsoon.God,forme,wastheGreatSpiritinWhomweliveandmoveand
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haveourbeing.Understandingtheunityofalllifeandthebeliefina
guidingpower,hasunderlinedmuchofJane’swork.Asachildshewasalwaysfascinatedbyanimals.Onestoryfromherwebsitestatesthatshewentmissingformanyhours.Herparentsactuallycalledthepolicebecausetheywereunabletofindher.Janehadtuckedherselfawayinthechickencoop,quietlyobservinghowchickenslayeggs.Shewassoexcitedwiththediscoverythathermotherdidn’tscoldherwhenshefinallyfoundher.InsteadsheletJanetellherallaboutherdiscovery.
OneofJane’schildhoodcompanionswasherdogRusty.InherbookMy Life with Chimpanzees,Janewritesaboutthepersonalities,theminds,andtheemotionsofanimals,aswellstoriesofRustyandherfriendshipwithhim.Itseemsfromthestoriestold,Janedidnotfeelanimalswereanydifferentthanpeople.ItisnowonderthatshewasatonetimeinterestedinTheosophy.Theteachingsmusthaveprovidedhersomekindofvalidationtowhatshewasdiscoveringforherself.
Attheageof80,Janeisstillactivelytravellingaroundtheworld.Onherwebsiteitstatesthatshetravels300daysoutoftheyearconstantlytalkingtopeopleabouttheneedtotakeactionsowecansavethechimpsinAfricaaswellastheenvironmentthatsustainsus.Wewishdr.Goodallmanymoreactivedaysaheadandthankandhonorherfortheextraordinaryexampleshehasgivensomanyofusandhertirelessefforttomaketheworldabetterplace.
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thesenewcomfortsofasoftcushionandawarmembracetriggeredaninstantsleep.Forthehourhesleptonmychesttherealityofhistraumasetin.Iwantedsomuchtojustmakehimbetter,tofeelsafe,butsadlyknowthatwecannotundotheyearsoftormenthehassufferedinacouplehoursorevendays.Hisroadtorecoverywouldbealongoneandhewasjuststarting...butatleasthe’sgotthischancethough.”
Sadly,thevastmajorityoflaboratoryresearchanimalswillneverhaveachanceatfreedomandhappiness.Recently,theBeagleFreedomProjectintroducedlegislation
inMinnesota,Michigan,andCaliforniawhichwouldrequirethatalltaxpayerfundedlabsmustoffertheirdogsandcatsupforadoptionthroughanimalrescueorganizationsinsteadofsummarilyeuthanizingthemasisthecurrentstandardpractice.
Here’s something we can all do:“votewithyourwallet”bybuyingproductscertifiedascrueltyfree.AlthoughtheFdAstillmandatesanimaltestingonsomeproducts,itdoesnotrequireanimaltestingoncosmetics.yet,somecompaniesstilltestcosmeticproductsonanimals.Pleasemakeamonetarystatementbypurchasingonlycruelty-freeproducts.Thecrueltyofanimalresearchstops…whenitstopsturningaprofit.
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recommended reading
BOOks By janE GOODaLL
In the Shadow of Man(withHughvanLawickanddavidA.Hamburg)
Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating(withGailHudsonandGaryMcAvoy)
Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe
Hope for Animals and their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink(withThaneMaynardandGailHudson)
The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for the Animals We Love(withMarcBekoff)
Africa in My Blood: An Autobiography in Letters
Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants (GailHudson,MichaelPollan)
For the Love of Life 25
Where the Wild Things are By ananya s. ra jan
T hewildlifefoundinourbackyardcansometimesbeourgreatestteacher.When
wearefortunateenoughtohaverabbits,squirrels,chipmunks,andvarioustypesofbirdsinouryard,westepintoaworldthatisdifferentfromourown.Aswesoonfindout,theenergyofawildanimalisverydifferentfromthatofadomesticatedone.Wildcreaturestendtohaveatypeofnervousnessduetotheneedtobeawareofpredators.Theydon’trelax
whileeatingorforagingandoftenanoisewillalarmthem,sendingthemscamperingorflyingoff.Theyalsohavetheirownwayofcommunicatingwitheachotherthatweoftenarenotprivytounlesswespendagreatdealoftimeobservingthem.
Itissaidthatbywatchingnatureandtrulyobservingit,wecanlearnmoreaboutourselvesthananybookcantellus.Naturecanbeagreatteacherifweallowit.Whathindersus,howeverisourreluctancetogivewhatwefeelarehumanemotionsand
qualitiestotheanimalsweseearoundus.Butaswehavediscoveredfromthevariousarticlesinthisissue,animalsarefarmorelikeusthandifferent.Whiletherearemanyexamplesofwildanimalsdisplayingimmensecompassionandempathyfortheirownandotherspecies,theoppositeisalsotrue.Certainspeciesmayseemtocarelessfortheiryoungthanwedo,mayseemabitmorecunningthanwewouldliketobelieveourselvestobe,mayseemtobemoreaggressive,
fearful,andsoon.Whenweseethesebehaviors,wedistanceourselvesfromthewildlifearoundus,believingourselvestobemore“cultured”or“refined”thanthem.Butsometimesatraitinaparticularanimalwecomeacrossinour
backyardcanbeawake-upcallforourinnergrowth.
WhenIbeganworkingwithaNativeAmericanelderwhowasamedicineman,oneofthefirstthingsIwasencouragedtodowastorenewmyrelationshipwithnatureandthewildlifearoundme.Atthetime,Iwasastayathomemomandmymindwasalwaysfocusedonmychildren.AsmuchIwantedtogivemyattentiontootherthings,mychildren’sschedulesalwayscamefirst.ItbecameapatterninmythinkingthatIwasnotaware
ofuntilIstartedsittinginthewoodsataforestpreservenearby.despitemeditatingeveryday,Ifoundmyselfinitiallyunabletoquietmymindwhileinthewoods.Iwouldbringablanket,findasecludedplaceunderabigpinetreeandjustsit.Iremembereddoingthesamethingasachild.Sensitivetodifferentenergies,Ifoundthewoodsasoothingprotectiveplacetobe.Butlifewasnowdifferent.Iwasnolongerachild.Mymindwasbusywithschedules,homework,schoolprogressnotes,doctor’sappointments,andsoon.HoweverthemoreIsat,thelongerIsat;thelongerIsat,thequietermymindbecame.MyrewardcameintheformofadeerthatcrossedmypathunafraidthatIwasthere.Iwaselated.
Aboutaweeklater,IsharedthestorywithmyteacherwhosmiledandrecommendedthebookAnimal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small.byTedAndrews.“youwillbesurprisedtofindoutwhatthatanimalhastoteachyou.”Iwastakenaback.HereIwasfeelinghappythatIhadbeenquietenoughtohaveawildanimalgetclosetome,buttherewasmore.IboughtacopyofAnimal Speakandreaduponwhatthedeer“medicine”hadtoteachme.Inoneofthelastparagraphs,Andrewswrites,“Thedeerleadsusbacktotheprimalwisdomofthoseoldteachings...Itmayindicate,ifthedeerhasshownupinyourlifethatyouhavegottentoofarawayfromtherolethatwouldbemostbeneficialforyouatthistime.”Formepersonally,thisremindedmeofthesensitivityIhadasachild,myloveofthewoods,andaneedformetoreturntonaturewhichIhadunknowingly
MEOWMEOW,ONEOFTHEFERALCATS,SUNSHIMSELFONTHEHOOdOFACAR.
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movedawayfrom.Sincethebookwaspublished,
Animal Speak hassoldoverahalfamillioncopiesandthosewhouseitregularlysaythattheyfeelithelpsthembecomemoreawareofinnerissuestheymaynotbeseeingandgivingattentionto.Weliveinaworldofenergythatconnectsustoeachotherandoursurroundings.Animalshavebeenteacherstomanyindigenouspopulationsforcenturiesbecauseoftheircloserelationshipwiththeearthandthenaturalsurroundingstheylivein.Byquietlyunderstandingthevariousstrengthsandqualitiesofanimals,wemayfindacloserconnectiontonatureand,inturn,ourselves.Itissaidthatwhenweareabletocreatethisstrongconnectionwithnature,certainanimalswillbeourguidesortotems.Throughtheseparticularguidesweareabletounderstandourownstrengthsaswellthepartsofusthat
needimprovement.Manyyearshavepassedsincethat
incidentwiththedeer.Inowliveinahousesurroundedbywoods.EverydayIamvisitedbydeerwhocontinuallyremindmetobegentleandnevertakeanythingforgranted,eventhem.However,IamalsohumbledbythemanyotherexchangesIhavewiththevariouscreaturesaroundme.WhenImovedintomyhouse,Iwasadoptedbythreeferalcatsthathavenowbecomeapartofmylife.Catenergy,accordingtoAndrews,dealswith“mystery,magic,andindependence.”IfoundthisinterestingasIwaslivingalone(independence),whichallowedmetothrowmyselfdeeperintomyspirituallife(mystery/unseen),andhaveabetterunderstandingofmyownlatentpowerswithin,whichcanbemagical.
IthasbecomeapparentthatwhereIliveiswhereIammeanttobe.OnthedayofmyclosingaswellaseverytimeIhavehadagatheringofpeopleatmyhouse,sevendeerhavemadetheirappearanceontheland.Ifirstthoughtitwascoincidencebutthenrealizedthattheyappearedatrandomtimes,notjustmorningandevening.Ifelttheywerelettingothersknowthelandwasblessed.Thisfeelingwasvalidatedbyaseerwhovisitedthepropertyandsaidrathercasually,“Thisahealingplace.yourlandisblessed.ButIamsureyouknowthisalready.”Igiggledandtoldherthestoryofthedeer.Sherespondedthoughtfully,“Hmmm…yes,yourtotem.”
Everymorningandevening,oncethecatsaredoneeating,araccoonmakesherwayfromundermydeckandwalksrightuptome.Iwaswaryofheratfirst,butwehavesincebecomegoodfriends.InfactwhenIcallthecatsforfood,shewilloftencomerunningaswell.SometimesIwillfindherlookingthroughthewindowofthedoorpatientlywaitingforfood.AccordingtoAndrews,raccoonsteachus“dexterityanddisguise.”Asahomeowner,onemustlearntocareforthingsandmaintainthem.dexterityisamust,evenifitisthedexterityofpickingupthephonetocallahandyman!Butdexterityisalsoaboutnavigatingormovingwithgrace.Inlife,areweabletomovegracefullyfromonesituationtoanother,orarewestompingourfeetanddiggingourheelsinthesand?Weareoftentheonlyobstacletoourownhappiness.
ATEACHEROFdISGUISEANddExTERITy,“RACCOONIE”WAITSPATIENTLy(ANdGRACEFULLy)FORHERdINNER.
Having the grace ‘to accept that which we cannot change
and the wisdom to know the difference’ is dexterity of
the soul.
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Havingthegrace“toacceptthatwhichwecannotchangeandthewisdomtoknowthedifference”isdexterityofthesoul.
disguiseisoftenthoughtofinanegativeway.Granteditiswhenusedasameanstotrickordeceiveothers.Butthemaskoftheraccooncanteachustransformationaswellwhichisnecessaryforourownspiritualprogress.Sometimesweneedtomaskorhidethatwhichissacredfromtheprofanesoitstayssacred.Atthesametime,themaskcanremindusthattoprogressspiritualityweneedtobewhoweareandnotcarewhattheworldthinks.Inotherwords,tobeauthenticandnotmaskwhowetrulyare.
Aboutayearago,mysistersandIdecidedtobuildasweatlodgeontheproperty.Forthosewhomaynotknow,asweatlodgeisastructurelikeawigwamusedforprayer,healing,andpurification.Wehadallworkedwithindigenouseldersandwantedtocontinueourworknowthatwehadthelandtodoso.Asweallcame
fromdifferentteachings,wedecidedthatwewouldbuildthelodgeinonefashion,buttheceremonywouldbeeclectic,takingfromvarioustraditions,butrespectfulofeachone.Thisdoesnotholdwellforsometeacherswhoareveryrigidororthodoxintheirways,sowewerealittleconcernedaboutthebacklashitmightproducefromothercommunities.despitehavingtheblessingsfromdifferenteldersfromvarioustraditions,whoactuallyencouragedustostartourcommunity,mysistersandIfelttrepidationaboutournewendeavor.Wequestionedwhetherwewereknowledgeableenoughtostartacommunity,whetherwewerepreparedtoplaytheroleoffacilitators,andwhetherwehonestlyknewwhatweweregettingourselvesinto.Oncealodgeisbuiltandopened,itbreathsitsownenergyandneedstobecaredfor.Asitisaplaceofhealing,thelandarounditneedstocontinuallybesanctifiedthroughsmudgingandprayers.Thisresponsibilitylieswiththepersonwhohasthelodgeontheir
propertyoradesignatedcaretaker.Thespotwechoseforthelodge
wasunderabigoaktreenexttoacreek.Onthemorningofourfirstsweat,wedecidedtomeditateforafewminutesbythewater.Thereinthecreekwadedablueheronwhoseteachingis“aggressiveself-determinationandself-reliance.”Icouldhavewept.Hereweweresounsureaboutwhatweweredoingandquestioningourselvesdespitethenodsweweregettingfromelders,andtherewasablueheronlettingusknowtostopquestioningitall,relyonourowninnerknowing,andpaveourownpath.Needlesstosay,ourcommunityhasdonequitewellandeveryonewhoattendsseemstogetwhattheyareinneedof.Wehavediscoveredthatwhatmostpeoplearelookingforisnottraditionbutunconditionalacceptanceandlove,twoqualitiesourcommunityimbibes.
WhileIcannotexplaintheoccurrencesmentionedabove,Irefusetobelievetheyarecoincidences.Tome,itwouldbelikesayingtheworldisblackandwhite.Whenwehaveaconnectiontonature,thereismorecolorandjoytolifethatonlythosewhoexperienceitknow.Ifwebelievethatthereisaunityofalllife,theneventhesmallestcreatureholdssomesignificancetoourhumanexistence.Itisuptoustounderstandthatsignificancesowecanunderstandourrelationshiptonatureandthenourrelationshiptoourselves.Agoodplacetostartiswherethewildthingsare.
dEER“MEdICINE”CANTEACHUSGENTLENESSANdTHEWISdOMTONEvERTAKEANyTHINGFORGRANTEd.EvENOURSELvES.
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M ynameisNicoleGriffin.IamamemberoftheSpiritLakeSiouxTribeofNorth
dakota.IwasraisedinMinneapolis,MNandlivedtherewithbothofmyparentsandtwoyoungerbrothers.IhavebeenaresidentofSouthdakotaforthelastsixyears,raisingmychildrenandworkingonmyeducationalgoalofbecominganRN.Ihaveafiancéof13yearswithwhomIcurrentlyresideandtogetherwehavefivebeautifulchildren(3girlsand2boys,ages1to12).Igraduatedfromhighschoolin2002inMinneapolis,MN.IalsograduatedfromWdTIhereinRapidCity,Sdin2009withadiplomaasaHealthUnitCoordinator/Patientcaretechnician.Iamcurrentlyinmy2ndyearofnursingschoolhereatOglalaLakotaCollegeofNursinginhopesofgraduatingthiscomingJune2014withanAAinNursing.IplanonworkingonmyBachelor’sdegreeafterIgraduatetofurthermyeducation.
Iamcurrentlyworkingpart-timeasanursingassistantwhile
attendingschoolinPineRidge,Southdakotafull-time.(Idriveabout200milesadayfromRapidCity,SdjusttoattendclassesweeklyinPineRidge.)LifehasnotbeeneasyformealthoughIhavemanagedtomakeitthisfarandhavenocurrentplansongivingup.ToobtainadegreeinNursingislikeadreamcometrueformeandmyfamily.Ihavestruggledandstruggled,butcontinuedtostaystrongwithmanyhopesanddreamsalongtheway.IhavehitroadblocksandshedmanyoftearsalongthisjourneyofmineandnowIcanfinallyseethelightattheendofthetunnel.Ihaveahugesupportteambehindmeincludingmybiggestfanswhoaremychildren.WhenIreceivedthisletterstatingIwasarecipientofyourwonderfulscholarship,Iwasamazedandshocked.Ismiledandgottearyeyedonmywayhome.Ijustcouldn’tbelieveitandwassoanxioustoletmyfamilyknowofthegreatnews.
Thisscholarshipmeansalottomeandmyfamily.Weareverythankful
toyourcommitteeforchoosingmeasyour2014scholarshiprecipient.Ialsowanttothankyourcommitteeforworkinghardtomakesomethinglikethispossibleforallthehardworkingstudentsoutthere,yourworkandthisgiftisverymuchappreciated,againThankyousomuch.
Pilamiya-Thankyou.NicoleGriffin
from our scholarship recipients
NICOLEGRIFFIN
M ynameisAmyWilson.IamamemberoftheOglalaLakotaTribe.IamthegranddaughterofChiefOliverRedCloud,whowastheChairman
fortheBlackHillsTreatyCounciloftheeightbandsoftheTetonnation.Hewasalsoaculturalteacherandspokeofeducationasimportanttoourpeople’sfuture.IamalsothesixgenerationdescendantoftheItacanMahpiyaLuta(ChiefRedCloud;whoduringhiscareerasWarchiefandStatesman,foundedtheRedCloudIndianSchoolthathaseducatedourLakotapeopleforover100years.)Iam43yearsold.Ihavetwosons,RomanandMarcus.Roman25,graduatedfromRedCloudIndianSchoolasalifecareerstudentin2008.MysecondsonMarcusis20yearsoldandgraduatedfromFlandreauIndianSchoolin2011.MyonlydaughterJorganais17yearsoldandiscurrentlyajunioratRedCloudIndianSchool.Ihavebeenblessedwithtwograndsons,KobeKing
James,fouryearsoldandMarcusvincentJameswhojustturnedtwoyearsold.IamalsoproudtosayIhavetwobeautifuldaughters-in-lawaddedtomyfamily.MymotherisNancyRedCloudPerezandmyfatherisRicharddickOrinWilsonSr.Ihave10sistersandfivebrothers.IamasinglemotherandlivedhereonthePineRidgeReservationallmylife.IplanonstayingheretoworkasaRegisteredNurseonceIgraduateandobtainmylicense.
IreceivedmyG.E.d.fromOglalaLakotaCollege(O.L.C.)inSeptember1990.MyfirstjobwasatSiouxNationShoppingCenterin1989.IworkedthereforacoupleofyearsuntilIlandedajobattheOglalaLakotaHousingAuthorityin1992asaResidentialTrainerCounselor.IexcelledinthatpositionandwasselectedtoattendOccupancySpecialisttraininginChicago,Illinois.IreceivedacertificationandstartedworkingasanOccupancySpecialistfortheHousing
29For the Love of Life
Authority.AfterfiveyearsItookmymother’sadviceandstartedcollegeatO.L.C.in1997.IfoundthatIlikedgoingtocollege,theatmosphere,thefeelingofbeingproductive,learning,andgettinganeducationthatwouldhelpmetobettermylifeandmylittlefamily.IreceivedmyAssociatesofArtsdegreeinGeneralBusinessinJune2000,withaG.P.A.of3.75.IcontinuedmyeducationtoobtainmyBSinBusinessAdministrationinthefollowingthreesemesters.
AlmosttwoyearsafterIgraduatedmyyoungercousinwasinacaraccidentandbecameaquadriplegic.IreceivedonthejobtrainingasaC.N.A.andstartedworkingasherpersonalattendantthroughaprogramcalledPrairieFreedomCenterforIndependentLivinglocatedinPierre,Southdakota.Iworkedfortwoyears.AtthistimemymotherhadfallenillandwasdiagnosedwithESRd(EndStageRenaldisease)andhadtobeputondialysis.Ireceivedtrainingtohelpassistherwithhertreatments,medicationadministrations,anddailyliving.In2002Ineededtofindwork,sowiththeskillsandexperiencesIhadacquiredfromhelpingmymotherandcousinIwashiredattheBlackHillsdialysisinPineRidgeasaPatientCareTechnicianandduringthistimeIbecameaCertifiedHemodialysisTechnician.Iwasgratefulforthisjobwhichallowedmetohelpmymotherandsupportmyfamily.Towardstheendof2006mymotherhadamassiveheartattackandhadtohaveaquadruplebypass.Theseeventsbroughtalotofchangesformeandmyfamily.Foronething,IneverthoughtIwouldwanttoworkinthehealthcarefieldandyetfoundmyselfwithadeepsatisfactionI’veneverfeltwithanyotherjob,butafterfiveyearswiththedialysisImadeachoicetoquitworkinginearly2007sothatIcouldhelphertransitionfromtherehabilitationcentertoherhome.ShepassedawayinAprilof2007.Ilearnedalotfromworkingwiththedialysis--thediseaseprocess,thestrugglestheclientandfamilyendure,andtheeffectsonthefamily,financiallyandemotionally.Ifeltthelossofapatientbutalsothejoysofatransplant.ButmostimportantIrealizedthatcompassionislikeamedicinetopeoplewhoareillandadrivingforceforpeoplewhohelpothers.
TheselifechangingeventshaddeterredmyearliergoalsasIdecidedtostayinthehealthcarefield.duringmymothers’illness,shewasalwaysurgingmetogobacktoschoolMymotherwasmybiggestadvocateforeducationatthattimeandIcouldstillhearhersaying“Amy,youcoulddoandbeanythingyouwanttobebecauseyouaresmart.”IbelieveeverythinghappensforareasonandIknowthatithurtherthatIputmyeducationonholdbecauseofherillnesses.Icanstillhearherencouragingmetogobacktoschoolasshehasalwaysdone.
In2009IstartedworkingfortheIndianHealthServices(I.H.S.)asaMedicalSupportAssistant(M.S.A.).Ireallyenjoyedtheinteractionwiththeclientele.ItwassatisfyingtohelpothersandIfoundmyselfwantingtodomore.I
wasintriguedbytherolesofthenursesandthethoughtofhelpingotherswasinstilledinmefromlongago.Asmymotherpursuedhereducation,mygrandparentshelpedraiseme.Iwasraisedinthetraditionalways.Iwastaughtthemostimportantvaluesofbeinghuman;respect,generosity,courage,fortitude,andwisdom;bywatchingandlisteningtotheirwordsandactionsgrowingup.Ilearnedavaluablelesson:alwayshelpothersinneedevenifyouarehavingahardtimeyourself.Thefeelingofsharingandcaringisimmenselycalming.AgainImadealifechangingdecisionanddecidedtogobacktoschoolandbecomeanR.N.
IwanttobeinaprofessionthatIcanhelpmycommunitywhileIwillstillbeabletosupportmyimmediateandextendedfamilies.Iseesomuchsufferingandtheneedforhealthcareprofessionalsrighthereonthereservation.IamdeterminedtogetmyR.N.degree.IknowIwillbeagoodnurse.Iamolderandwiserinmydecisionsanddefinitelyhavenoregretstohowmylifehaschanged.IbelieveIwillbeanexcellentnursebecauseofmyexperiencesaswellasmyaccomplishments.
IamhonoredtohavebeenselectedtoreceivethismostprestigiousscholarshipforIdolovehelpingothersandwholeheartedlybelievein“Servicetoourfellowhumansandalloflifeonourplanet.”AndIwillproudlyjointhehealthcareteamsandbe“aunionofthosewholove,intheserviceofallthatsuffers.”
IamhonoredtoacceptthisscholarshipthatwillhelpmeduringmylastfewmonthsbeforeIcanproudlysayIamanR.N.
Pila Maya ye!(Thankyou).
AmyWilson
AMyWILSON
For the Love of LifeTheosophical order of service, Usa
1926N.MainStWheaton,IL60187www.theoservice.org
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PaiDCarolSteam,Illinois
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A Union of Those Who Love in the Service of All that Suffers