The Beauty and Intelligence of Four Leggeds
Nonhuman Animals Have Their Own Language and Council
This essay is Part Two of a Three Part Series on Sentience
B is for Beautiful Bear Brethren
A wildlife sanctuary and retreat center provides occasions to learn from wildlife emissaries. They all arrived at the sanctuary through a variety of circumstances. Some were kept as pets, some came from fur or meat farms, and others were surrendered to Earth Fire Institute. Domesticated wildlife cannot survive in the wild. All of them are cared for throughout their lifetimes. The animals serve as messengers for their species, for species individuality, for all of us to see ourselves and nature through eyes that recognize and embrace our inter-connectedness with all of Earth’s ecosystems.
It was an honor and a treasured gift to spend time with each one of the four legged teachers at Earth Fire Institute. One experience was particularly endearing that I would like to share with you today.
As a brown bear and I sat “together”, his obvious enclosure started to fade. Compassion and empathy go beyond borders and barriers. Love knows no bounds. It wasn’t long before I heard the bear ask me to sing to him.
I wondered, “What shall I sing to a bear?” Trained in Healing Touch for Animals, Reiki, and as an Animal Communicator, I had heard other nonhumans “speak”, yet, this was my first time being up close with a bear. No stranger to nature, healing and the arts, in an attosecond, I trusted and “let it flow”- songs of the ancients felt familiar, connected, intent-full. At first, I sang very gentle tones with “ah-eh-oh-uh-ee”. A melody progressed from toning to a harmonic rhythm and a pattern, then songs flowed. As I sang, the bear tapped the ground with engagement and care. Then, he rocked gently, relaxed and closed his eyes- sleepy and content. A “bridge” was built by love, with melody. Music is magic and goes beyond barriers, language, and heals. Our connection felt as ancient as the songs of the wild.
As I sang, the bear tapped the ground with engagement and care. Then, he rocked gently, relaxed and closed his eyes- sleepy and content. Our connection felt as ancient as the songs of the wild.
Sharing the sublime experience afterwards with Susan B. Eirich, PhD, the Executive Director of Earth Fire Institute, I asked whether “she or someone had sung to him because he had asked me to sing to him.” She explained to me that he was forced to inhabit a very unnatural habitat as a cub. He arrived traumatized at the Wildlife Sanctuary, and “to calm him and let him know that he was safe and loved, she sang to him, and sometimes rocked him until he fell asleep.” She confirmed that I had “heard the bear”, and was grateful that I had an open mind and heart for nonhumans- they have intelligence and needs, too.
When we re-member, we know...
Know Thyself.
Born with a love of nature, connection with the wild is innate with me. Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli and Baloo dancing and singing to "The Bare Necessities" in the 1967 Disney animated film, The Jungle Book, came to life at Earth Fire Institute’s Sanctuary. I dreamed of being Mowgli living in nature with wildlife since I was a very young child. A bear and I had seen and heard one another- we were Mowgli and Baloo, and yes, Robin sings. It is essential to love and to bond with those who are different than ourselves, with other species, and it is much needed. Respect, reverence and intention follow actions. What we do to others is a reflection of ourselves.
Wildlife are sentient beings connected with something greater, connected with you, who are part of the ecosystem made for all of us and made from all of us. When we live with compassion and empathy, we transform ourselves, which transforms the world. Love is the way.
E is for Exquisite, Elegant, Elephant Equality
Elephants are intelligent, ancient sentient beings. Have you ever looked into the eyes of an elephant, and spent time with them? Personally, I would love to spend more time with elephants- they are truly exquisite, as are bears and other four leggeds. For the elephants, progress towards freedom is great news.
Courtney Fern, Director of Government Relations, of the Nonhuman Rights Project, shared via email, “Ojai (CA) became the first legislative body in the country to pass legislation that defines and protects the legal right of a nonhuman animal–specifically, elephants’ right to liberty. The enactment of this ordinance is a huge milestone in the nonhuman animal rights movement. Humanity’s capacity for empathy and compassion—as well as the fundamental principles of justice, liberty, and equality—can and should be extended beyond humans.”
May paradigms shift with awareness and awakening of humans’ compassion and empathy so that nonhumans are rights-holders with justice, liberty and equality.
When we acknowledge our relationship with other beings, we celebrate the magic and the miraculous awe of what is means to be alive. When we hear the languages of other beings we are able to understand the generosity of the earth. We learn to give our own gifts in return for her teachings. The land is our connection to our ancestors, it is our pharmacy, our teachers, the home of our nonhuman brethren and is the source that sustains us. Nature belongs to itself and is a gift. Take care of nature, and you will be taken care of, too.
Connection with a nonhuman being is an important experience that impacts us and transforms us. Knowing there is something greater than ourselves strengthens us to include the well-being of other humans, as well as fauna, flora, or funga- all part of the biota. Compassion, empathy, and love communicate powerful emotions, energies in motion.
Scientific objectivity used alone can disconnect us from the wisdom and passion of our emotions. One-sided perceptions create distortions. With connection, instinctive knowing create decisions and actions that enhance the long-term vitality of ourselves and Earth. Our inter-connectedness is essential and ancient. Inner knowing is information that forms healthy outward actions that serve, such as ones that conserve and preserve nature for beings that need natural habitats to survive.
Both scientific objectivity and wisdom allow broader perspectives of how nature works. Connection with nonhuman beings transports us to a purposeful, joyful coexistence with nature. Without compassion and empathy, we do not know that what we do to others, we do to ourselves. Intelligence knows the difference.
Connection with nonhuman beings teaches and guides us to a purpose-full, joy-full coexistence with nature. Do you want to be bliss-full?
If you said yes, welcome the exquisite essence of life in which we are rooted. Magic and miracles happen on a regular basis with connection. When we shift our paradigms, and disengage from the agendas of others, we grow and know truth. An expanded awareness allows our inner fortunes. When we do good, we create beauty, we are truth-full and vital.
Remember, dear friends, plants and animals are our oldest teachers. We come from stardust and return to the soils. We are the core of our mother earth. Be kind to other species, they are our brethren. Human disconnection causes harm. What we do to others, we do to ourselves.
We are all on the wings of change! Let’s “paws” in gratitude and create a better world for all beings. Imagine a world where our lands are sacred grounds and humans are responsible and honored for how they treat nature, for we are nature!
ACTIONS YOU CAN DO TO HELP WILDLIFE
What can YOU do to be a part of justice, liberty and equality? What Action Steps can you take to help wildlife?
Visit and support the mission of Earth Fire Institute: The experience brought tears to my eyes and a deep re-membering to my mind-body-spirit. It was a soul-full re-connection.
Support the work of Nonhuman Rights Project.
Pledge your support, subscribe and share Wildlands stories and mission to connect people and nature.
Learn about the Senate Bill, which needs to include a cost of the plan and how to pay for the plan introduced on March 30, 2023. S.1149 - Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2023. Get involved to evolve this plan and give feedback on this bill.
Sign a petition to protect the largest land mammals on Earth: African Elephants need protection from trophy hunting.
It’s time for Alaska to change its law to true conservation and say good riddance to the law that requires the slaughter of bears, wolves and other carnivores. Take action for bears, wolves and Alaskan wildlife. Learn more about how to help wildlife and their habitats at Center for Biological Diversity.
For more about trophy hunting, read the views of Jared Kukura at Wild Things Initiative.
Observe wildlife and other animals. Spend time in nature and explore the wild.
Share the “hair raising true story” in The Beauty and Intelligence of Winged Ones: Grey Hawk and Robin: The Raptor and The Hair- and Stories of Other Winged Beings.
Tune in next week part three of this series on sentience- it will “finscinate” you!
Thank you to those who have pledged their financial support for Wildlands, which helps keep me energized and motivated for you and the wild!
Please share your comments and story ideas, too! What would you find intriguing about health and our connection with nature? In gratitude for you, from Wildlands!
You go Robin! That is true they certainly do, buffalo four leggeds are amazing! Would love to share stories about every day communication with animals.
Love the picture....Where can we buy the bear art?
Excited to be finscinated:+)
Ps another great website https://www.allspirithealing.com/
Beautiful, Robin - would be happy to share my story of the supportive elk when I was alone in the wilderness in the Northwest...