Interview With Pet Talker Eileen Garfinkel
Floppycats.com asked Eileen Garfinkel, a pet talker, to answer some questions we had about animal communication as well as questions about her services. Thank you, Eileen for the interview.
Eileen Garfinkel is located in New York City can be reached through her website: www.dreamsofamelia.com
Answers are Copyright of Eileen Garfinkel.
1. How long have you been communicating with animals?
I’ve felt connected to nature and a divine power for as long as I can remember. When I was no more than 5 or 6 years old, one of my greatest joys was to lie in the grass, look up into the nighttime sky and allow my spirit to soar, to feel the connection that unites all of life – human and non-human in all of its forms. I began communicating with animals professionally about 3 years ago (2007), but I’d been communicating with my own animals and the companion animals of friends for over 20 years.
2. How does one communicate with animals?
The actual communication is intuitive. Communicators will explain this in different ways. I begin by creating a sacred space. I do this by burning sage leaves to cleanse the atmosphere, lighting one or two candles, lifting my heart and centering myself in meditation and prayer. Animal communication is about relaxing and receiving. I visualize light from the Source of All Being flowing through my crown chakra and into my body, filling me with love and light, which I then send out to the animal. I make the connection in this way. Then, I listen. The information comes to me in words, feelings, sensations, images, and scents.
3. Can you share with us one of your favorite animal communication stories? How it impacted the owner or the animal or both?
It’s difficult to pick a favorite. Every session enlightens and uplifts me. But to answer your question, I had a call from a lovely young woman, Taylor, who was concerned because her dog, Koda, was having difficulty with a cat named Coco. The session turned out to be so much more than understanding why Koda and Coco were not getting along. We understood why Koda and Taylor were together in this lifetime and what lessons Koda came to teach Taylor. As we continued the session, I could sense Taylor’s intuitive nature and encouraged her to open up to her own gifts. Taylor and I began a mentoring relationship and in a very short time, Taylor was volunteering at her local SPCA and working with the dogs as an “unofficial” animal communicator, helping the adopters find the right kind of homes for the dogs and helping the animals adjust to the shelter environment. So, from one session with one human and one dog, many animals and humans have benefitted. That is my intention always, to bring healing and light.
4. Do you prefer to communicate with younger or older animals?
Each animal is unique. I’ve never met an animal I didn’t enjoy communicating with! I have no preference, although connecting with an animal that is ready to transition is a sacred honor. Generally, these are older animals, although not always so.
5. Do you prefer to communicate with a certain type of animal? I mean, do you do better with cats, dogs, horses? Do you even talk to reptiles?
I have no preference. I love talking to the animals, whatever their species. Living in New York City, most of the animals I am asked to contact are dogs and cats; sometimes birds, fish. hamsters and gerbils. But I have spoken with turtles, insects, and plants. I love connecting with trees and mountains.
6. How do your services work? Do you come to my home? Do I bring my pet to you? Do you communicate LIVE over the phone or in person?
I generally communicate live over the phone. I ask the client to email a picture of his/her companion animal and before our session, I connect with the animal to introduce myself and get a feeling about the animal. Many times I get a good amount of information before I speak to the client. I then call the client and record the session on a digital recorder so that I can email the session to the client at the end of our appointment. During the session, the client can ask me questions, which I put to the animal. I do not change behavior or give medical advice, although many times behaviors do change after the session. I may suggest to the animal and the person an alternative behavior. For example, I was called to assist in the case of a depressed dog. She and four other dogs belonged to a couple and when the husband passed on, the dog, K, was depressed, not eating, listless, not interested in going out, etc. When I connected with K I found out that the husband had treated her as a spoiled child rather than a precious and well cared for dog. She, in fact, no longer knew her dog-nature. She had been carried around and hand fed. She was not part of the pack. I encouraged K to reclaim her dog nature and sent her visualizations of her running in the dog park with the others, playing like a dog, fetching, walking on a leash, etc. There was an immediate change in K’s behavior and she became a happy and well-adjusted pooch. Of course, a good part of the session also had to do with allowing K the space to grieve and giving her the respect of listening as she mourned her loss. Also, I encourage my clients to make sure the animal is not physically ill before they book a session. For example, if a cat is not using the litter box, I encourage my client to check with a vet to make sure the cat is not in distress from a bladder infection or any other illness, which could contribute to the behavior. I also may do some energy balancing for the animal before or during our call. Depending on the location, I will do in-person sessions if I feel it would be best for all concerned.
7. What do you charge for your services? Do you have a package deal?
I charge $65 for 30 minutes. I find a 30-minute session is generally all that is needed for 1 – 3 animals. $110 for 60 minutes. My fees are higher for in person sessions, depending on the location. As for packages, I will work out a package for the client, which would be discussed with the client at the time of scheduling.
8. Why do you think animal communication is valuable?
I believe that animal communication is one path, one way of sending light out into the world, to heal the earth and her inhabitants. My desire is to heal the wounds created by the illusion that we are separate from nature. By communicating with animals and helping other humans to open up to their intuitive natures, we rediscover the wholeness of life. It is the beginning of the end of all the “isms” that separate us (racism, sexism, specism, etc.).
9. Do you think if a vet would incorporate animal communication into their practice it would be helpful?
Yes! So very helpful! Imagine being able to ask, “Where does it hurt?” and getting an answer! It would also be helpful to the person to be able to communicate to the animal what is about to happen and to assure the animal that everything is being done for the good of the animal. Further, how helpful it would be to know that the animal is ready to transition out of its body rather than do certain surgeries and treatments. And, on the other hand, to know that it’s not time and to go ahead with treatment. I believe most people know this already, but most of us are too emotionally involved at the time our animals are ill to trust our own intuition. It is always helpful to have our feelings confirmed.
10. Are you able to communicate with an animal in the after life? How does that work?
Yes. It works the same way that communicating with live animals works. It is all energy work. Energy has no time or boundary constraints. Soul work is instantaneous. When we connect with an animal that is presently in its body, we are actually connecting with the soul or spirit or divine center (whatever you wish to call that indefinable part of all of ourselves). That center never dies. It is always vital. The only time I cannot connect with an animal that has passed is when that animal is not ready to connect. The animal may be still be transitioning.
Bio for Eileen Garfinkel
Eileen has B.A. in Humanities with a minor in Religious Studies from the College of New Rochelle and over 20 years experience studying things of the spirit both privately and in classes and workshops at institutes such as the AnimalSpirit Network, Kripalu, the Open Center, the New Age Health Spa and Rio Caliente in Mexico. Eileen has been on a spiritual quest from her earliest conscious memory.
Contact Information: eileen@dreamsofamelia.com
www.dreamsofamelia.com
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
