An Animal a Day Keeps the Doctor Away: Life Lessons from Our Animal Friends

Spring Forest Qigong

 In recent years, the use of “therapy” and “companion” animals has become commonplace. For those of us who are guardians of an animal, bird or reptile, we know we feel better by spending time with our non-human friends, and research is proving that there are some significant emotional and physical health benefits from spending time with animals. If we sit back and observe, we can learn some valuable lessons from our pets, many of which mirror the practices of Spring Forest Qigong.

A paper published in the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, “Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions,” shares several research findings regarding the positive effects on humans when interacting with animals, especially dogs. Some of the findings include:

• Post heart-attack survivors who had a high social support system and a dog, had a much higher survival rate one year after the heart attack event.
• Interacting with a pet resulted in decreased anxiety and increased immune functioning.
• Within 5-24 minutes of stroking a dog, plasma oxytocin levels were higher. Oxytocin is the “feel happy” hormone, which also helps the body to heal and grow new cells.
• Interacting with a pet also lowered blood pressure, improved circulation, increased pain thresholds, and improved digestive functioning.

What are some of the life lessons we learn from our pets to help us achieve better health and happiness?

I. Unconditional Love:

Spring Forest Qigong teaches us that one of the wellsprings of healing and happiness lies in the boundless power of unconditional love.

Dogs are especially known for their capacity to love freely and fully. They truly listen with no judgement. They do not interrupt or need to have the last word in a conversation, and they have excellent listening skills. 

Dogs epitomize this quality, renowned for their ability to love openly and completely. They excel at listening without prejudice, without the need to interject or dominate conversations, demonstrating remarkable attentiveness.

When a dog inadvertently causes a mess and incurs our anger, its response is telling. It gazes up with apologetic eyes, then gracefully withdraws, granting us the space to temper our emotions.

As humans, amidst emotional turmoil, what we often crave is simply to be heard, not necessarily to receive solutions. We seek acceptance, not judgment.

How wonderful would it be if we could emulate a dog's demeanor when comforting a distressed friend. What if we could silently sit by their side as they express their pain, anger, or fears, offering them a safe space to release negativity while enveloping them in positive energy? 

What if we could respond to their anger by calmly retreating with love in our hearts, giving them space to calm down, with a knowing they will not be challenged or judged?

II. Forgiveness:

Many pets possess a remarkable capacity for forgiveness.

If a dog, a cat, or a bunny is handled unkindly by its owner for some reason, such as getting scolded for having an “accident” in the house or chewing on a favorite shoe, the animal doesn’t seem to hold a grudge.

Most often when an animal is disciplined by its guardian, once the incident is over, the pet will behave as if nothing ever happened, because they do not hold anger in their hearts.

In Spring Forest Qigong, forgiveness emerges as yet another potent source of healing energy.

When someone is unable to forgive, the ongoing anger can block the liver system, potentially causing illness or damage to the liver, the tendons and ligaments, the gallbladder, or even the eyes.

Extreme negative emotions such as hatred can similarly disrupt the heart energy system, causing potential problems in the heart, brain and small intestines.

Heart attacks and gall bladder issues are common in humans... but how many dogs or cats do you know that have had a gallstone or a heart attack?

Forgiveness offers us the opportunity to move forward and break free from emotional stagnation. 

The next time you find yourself upset with your pet, observe how quickly they "shake it off" and extend forgiveness, perhaps offering a valuable lesson in letting go of anger.

III. The Power of Sound and Vibration:

Did you know that cats can help heal bones, tendons and ligaments?

Scientific research indicates that sound vibrations within the range of 20-50 Hertz can be beneficial for these types of injuries. Interestingly, a cat's deep purring generates sound vibrations ranging from 20 to 140 Hertz. While not everyone can readily adopt a cat when faced with a broken bone or damaged tendon, we can still harness the power of sound and vibration for our own healing.

Various cultures have long employed chanting to produce different vibrations aimed at enhancing healing processes. Master Chunyi Lin, the visionary behind Spring Forest Qigong, has even recorded a musical rendition of a six-word chant, continuously played in his healing center to support his clients' recovery journey

IV. Living in the Present Moment:

Our pets, along with other animals, serve as profound teachers of living in the present moment.

Consider the songbird, whose cheerful chirping fills the air as it perches serenely. Or observe the goldfish, gracefully gliding through its bowl until food disrupts its tranquility, prompting focused attention on the nourishment before resuming its tranquil swim.

Reflect on your own daily routine. How much time is spent contemplating the future—tomorrow, next week, or even years ahead?

While setting goals and nurturing dreams is admirable, it's essential to strike a balance between future aspirations and embracing the present moment.

Qigong offers a pathway to achieve this equilibrium, bringing oneself into the present moment with focus and intention, to balance the energy systems within the body for healing and overall improved health and happiness.

A wonderful way to practice getting into the present moment is by spending time with your pet.

Whether it's spending quality time conversing with a bird, peacefully observing fish in their aquatic dance, or quietly bonding with a dog or cat through gentle petting, these moments provide opportunities to immerse oneself fully in the present experience—savoring the tactile sensations and emotional connections that unfold in the here and now.

V. Healing Others is a Gift:

Our beloved pets offer healing benefits that extend beyond what we may initially realize.

Horses, for instance, are utilized in therapy sessions to facilitate relationship-building, aid individuals with autism, promote physical activity, and enhance core strength for those facing various physical and emotional obstacles.

Similarly, dolphins are employed in therapy to bolster speech and motor skills among individuals with developmental, physical, and emotional conditions like Down syndrome and autism.

Through acts of unconditional love, kindness, and forgiveness imbued with compassion, our pets bestow upon us these healing virtues effortlessly, intuitively, and unconditionally.

What's truly remarkable is that we possess the capacity to reciprocate these gifts to our pets just as naturally and freely.

These attributes are inherent to both humans and animals alike, serving as intrinsic facets of our shared existence.

Spring Forest Qigong serves as a conduit for realizing and embracing these inherent qualities within ourselves and fostering a deeper connection with our animal companions.

Learn Qigong for Animal Healing

 

Distance Healing Meditation for Animals Any Level

Download Guided Meditation by Master Jaci Gran

Animals love meditation healing energy! You can practice this healing meditation with your pets. Or, simply play the music in the background for your animals. They can hear the energy vibration from the meditation.

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