until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul...

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.

[email protected]

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


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


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.


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.


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

CONTINUEdONPAGE10

To Ziggy with love By ananya s. ra jan

FROM1972—STANdINGOUTINTHESUNAFTERNEARLy30yEARSINSIdE,zIGGyISRELEASEdFROMHISCONFININGQUARTERS.dESPITEHISNEWFREEdOM,HEISSTILLCHAINEd.

Spring 201410

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.


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.

Spring 201412

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.

©TH

EEL

EPH

ANT

SAN

CTUA

RyIN

TEN

NES

SEE/

ELEP

HAN

TS.C

OM


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.

©TH

EEL

EPH

ANT

SAN

CTUA

RyIN

TEN

NES

SEE/

ELEP

HAN

TS.C

OM

©TH

EEL

EPH

ANT

SAN

CTUA

RyIN

TEN

NES

SEE/

ELEP

HAN

TS.C

OM

Spring 201414

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…


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.

CONTINUEdONPAGE16

ATONETIMETHESTANdARddOGUSEdASAGUIdEdOGWASAGERMANSHEPARd.TOdAyLABRAdORSAREUSEdASWELLASOTHERBREEdS.

Spring 201416

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

service animals CONTINUEdFROMPAGE15

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.


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.

CONTINUEdONPAGE18

AFRICANGREyPARROTSAREHIGHLyINTELLIGENTBIRdSANdCANLEARNANExTENSIvEvOCABULARy.THEIRBEAUTy,GOOdNATURE,ANdINTELLIGENCEMAKETHEMNOTONLyGOOdPETS,BUTAdAPTABLEASSERvICEANIMALS.

WW

W.P

ARRO

TSO

FTH

EWO

RLd.

COM

Spring 201418

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.

service animals CONTINUEdFROMPAGE17

CAPUCHINMONKEySAREOFTENUSEdASSERvICEANIMALSANdKEPTASPETSdESPITEMUCHdEBATE.WHILETRAINABLEACCORdINGTOHELPINGHANdS,WILdLIFEExPERTSdISAGREESAyINGTHEyAREWILdCREATURESTHATCANTURNONTHEIROWNERS.MANyPETOWNERSHAvETHEANIMAL’STEETHREMOvEd.


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.”

CONTINUEdONPAGE20

MORRySECREST

Spring 201420

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

animal rights CONTINUEdFROMPAGE19

WASHOEWASTHEFIRSTNON-HUMANTOLEARNAMERICANSIGNLANGUAGE.THISALLOWEdHERTOCOMMUNICATEWITHHUMANSSHOWINGHERABILITyTOEMPATHIzE.


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.

Spring 201422

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.

CONTINUEdONPAGE24

PHOT

OW

ITH

PER

MIS

SIO

NF

ROM

WW

W.B

EAG

LEFR

EEd

OM

PRO

JECT

.ORG

PHOT

OW

ITH

PER

MIS

SIO

NF

ROM

WW

W.B

EAG

LEFR

EEd

OM

PRO

JECT

.ORG


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

CONTINUEdONPAGE24

JANEGOOdALLSITTINGWITHTHREECHIMPANzEES

PHOT

OB

yM

ICH

AELN

EUG

EBAU

ERW

WW

.WIL

dCH

IMPA

NzE

ES.O

RG

Spring 201424

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.

Jane CONTINUEdFROMPAGE23

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.

Beagle freedom CONTINUEdFROMPAGE22

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)


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.

CONTINUEdONPAGE26

PHOT

O:A

NAN

yAS

.RAJ

AN

Spring 201426

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.

Wild Things CONTINUEdFROMPAGE25

PHOT

O:A

NAN

yAS

.RAJ

AN


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.

PHOT

OF

ROM

WW

W.P

OIN

TBLU

E.O

RG

Spring 201428

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

CHANGESERvICEREQUESTEd

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S.POSTAGE

PaiDCarolSteam,Illinois

PermitNo.2122

A Union of Those Who Love in the Service of All that Suffers

until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul...

Documents