Day: June 21, 2015

Of all the animal I have lived with, dogs are the most literal, cats the most mystical. They are close, but also far, they seek community but are fiercely independent. They please, but are not eager to please, they love on their own terms, there is a space beyond them that is not penetrable by human consciousness.

They live in a time and space in between our frantic human lives and the unknowable and mysterious corners of the animal world. In the morning, Flo and Minnie come together, receive the morning sun, then part for the rest of the day and night. Close, but never too close. They share an understanding I will never grasp or know.

For some years now, Maria has inspired me and informed my work on my 15-year project, “Talking To Animals,” now a book nearing completion. I have seen her talk to the donkeys, listen to them, come to understand them in a wiser and mystical way. Now, Chloe, the pony. I see the same thing, an understanding of one another, an exchange of emotions, a trust and a connection. This has long been my experience with dogs, it seems to deepen with each new dog that comes to live here – Lenore, Red, now Fate. The photos speak for themselves, you can see them speaking to one another, Maria and I have learned so much about communicating with animals, I can’t wait to write more about it – emotions, visualizations, respect and acceptance. And yes, food and attention.