Animal Lessons


Book Description

Philosophy reads humanity against animality, arguing that "man" is man because he is separate from beast. Deftly challenging this position, Kelly Oliver proves that, in fact, it is the animal that teaches us to be human. Through their sex, their habits, and our perception of their purpose, animals show us how not to be them. This kinship plays out in a number of ways. We sacrifice animals to establish human kinship, but without the animal, the bonds of "brotherhood" fall apart. Either kinship with animals is possible or kinship with humans is impossible. Philosophy holds that humans and animals are distinct, but in defending this position, the discipline depends on a discourse that relies on the animal for its very definition of the human. Through these and other examples, Oliver does more than just establish an animal ethics. She transforms ethics by showing how its very origin is dependent upon the animal. Examining for the first time the treatment of the animal in the work of Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Derrida, Agamben, Freud, Lacan, and Kristeva, among others, Animal Lessons argues that the animal bites back, thereby reopening the question of the animal for philosophy.




Lessons We Can Learn From The Animals


Book Description

This book brings busy pastors and teachers more children's sermons and activity pages from the popular pen of Julia Bland. They're intended to help children learn that Jesus is their Lord and develop Christian character through attention-getting pictures and rhyming words. Like all of her other CSS works, these lessons come with 2-sided activity pages that are appropriate both for younger and older children.




What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage


Book Description

While observing exotic animal trainers for her acclaimed book Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched, journalist Amy Sutherland had an epiphany: What if she used these training techniques with the human animals in her own life–namely her dear husband, Scott? In this lively and perceptive book, Sutherland tells how she took the trainers’ lessons home. The next time her forgetful husband stomped through the house in search of his mislaid car keys, she asked herself, “What would a dolphin trainer do?” The answer was: nothing. Trainers reward the behavior they want and, just as important, ignore the behavior they don’t. Rather than appease her mate’s rising temper by joining in the search, or fuel his temper by nagging him to keep better track of his things in the first place, Sutherland kept her mouth shut and her eyes on the dishes she was washing. In short order, Scott found his keys and regained his cool. “I felt like I should throw him a mackerel,” she writes. In time, as she put more training principles into action, she noticed that she became more optimistic and less judgmental, and their twelve-year marriage was better than ever. What started as a goofy experiment had such good results that Sutherland began using the training techniques with all the people in her life, including her mother, her friends, her students, even the clerk at the post office. In the end, the biggest lesson she learned is that the only animal you can truly change is yourself. Full of fun facts, fascinating insights, hilarious anecdotes, and practical tips, What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage describes Sutherland’s Alice-in-Wonderland experience of stumbling into a world where cheetahs walk nicely on leashes and elephants paint with watercolors, and of leaving a new, improved Homo sapiens.




Animal Lessons


Book Description

Develop a deeper, more positive relationship with the animals in your life and become a better person using Animal Lessons. All around you, animals are acting as therapists, trainers, mentors, and gurus—if you pay attention. They want to guide you toward the next step in your personal evolution, and this first-of-its-kind book shows you how to understand and benefit from them. Having worked deeply and intuitively with animals for nearly twenty years, Danielle MacKinnon has a wealth of wisdom that she shares through helpful tools and techniques, client stories, and her step-by-step process for personal growth through animal guidance. With an open heart and mind, you'll develop a new awareness and stronger love of yourself as well as the wise creatures in your life. Praise: "MacKinnon, a psychic medium, blends personal stories with tips and tools aimed at helping readers discover a deeper relationship with their pets. Animals, she writes, often act as therapists, trainers, mentors, and gurus, and can offer lessons on love, patience, happiness, and gratitude."—Publishers Weekly




What Animals Teach Us


Book Description

Love, Loyalty, Heroism, and Other Life Lessons from Our Pets Within the kind heart of the family pet lies an ability to help us stay in touch with our inner selves, our true instincts, and our healing power. A companion animal's love for life and for its human companions can inspire us to live each day to the fullest, treat others with kindness, and nurture those around us. In "What Animals Teach Us, author Mary Hessler-Key uncovers how the animals we share our homes with can teach us valuable lessons about living and loving. Inside are touching stories and beautiful examples of how the day-to-day companionship of an animal can teach you how to enrich your life, enhance your physical and emotional well-being, and soothe your soul in moments of grief. From animals who help us through life's everyday trials and tribulations to those who commit miraculous and heroic acts, you'll read about: -A dog who helps a couple fill the "empty nest" syndrome when their children leave for college -A cat who serves as an agressive alarm clock so his owner makes an important meeting -A hamster who brightens his seven-year-old owner's world when he survives accidentally being flushed down the toilet -Two ferrets who help an autistic child cope with everyday life -And many others When we open our hearts and accept what our companion animals have to teach us, we gain not only the secrets to a more fulfilling life but also a greater sense of peace and compassion. As we learn to love others unconditionally, be emotionally available during times of need, act heroically in everyday situations, and discover the joy in simple play, we raise our own consciousness to the world aroundus. It's simple: Our companion animals give us the best gift of all. "An outstanding and unforgettable celebration of the special friendship of animals." --Marty Becker, D.V.M., coauthor of "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul "Reading "What Animals Teach Us is the next-best thing to sharing your life with an animal companion. Numerous stories of loyalty, trust, respect, compassion, and love fill its pages, and they will fill your heart. Read it, be mindful, and be sure to play more and more." --Marc Bekoff, professor of biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, author of "Strolling with Our Kin and coauthor of "Nature's Life Lessons "This wonderful book chronicles how hard and well our pets are working to teach us lifesaving lessons about love." --Margaret Wheatley, author of "Leadership and the New Science ""What Animals Teach Us combines wonderfully told stories of animals' spiritual qualities with inspiring and practical applications to humans' daily lives." --Allen and Linda Anderson, authors of "Angel Animals




The Let Animals Lead(R) Method of Animal Reiki Meditation Journal


Book Description

"Beautiful and insightful!" --David Michie, author of The Dalai Lama's Cat From the creator of Animal Reiki Source and President of the Shelter Animal Reiki Association, this is an indispensable journal for becoming a healing force in the world...for animals. While most Reiki books share history, information and/or anecdotes, The Let Animals Lead(R) Animal Reiki Journal offers writing prompts and real-life exercises that will retrain your mind to focus on compassion, gratitude and positivity, even in difficult circumstances. If you're an animal lover or Reiki practitioner who wants to connect more deeply with animals in your life, this book is for you! If you find worry creeping in when supporting sick animals, the problem isn't with your emotions. It's that you haven't yet realized the deepest strength of your meditation practice. Whether you want to rediscover the sacred nature of the human/animal relationship, become a rock of stability for animals in your life or find joy and ease in your meditation practice, The Let Animals Lead(R) Animal Reiki Journal will show you the way. You'll learn: - Meditation techniques that will help you connect to animals more easily. - How to radiate peace and calm even in the most stressful situations. - How to let animals guide you towards living with more balance and harmony. This is more than just a personal diary. It's a transformative journey towards living in alignment with your truth, with compassion for animals and with connection to our world.




What Pets Teach Us


Book Description

Photographs of many kinds of pets pair with advice about sharing, caring, friendship, kindness and other aspects of positive living written especially for children.




God of All Creation


Book Description

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” —MATTHEW 6:26 God of All Creation recounts how a miniature dachshund taught her owner, James Robison, profound insights about life, faith, and God’s care for all of His creation. A devoted dog lover and co-host of the television program Life Today, James shares how the antics of his own dog, Princess, as well as observations from all animals in creation, reveal “expressions of God’s love, lessons of His grace, warnings about sin, and other eternal truths.” Heart-warming stories and winsome line drawings bring to life the lessons James has learned from his pets and creatures living in the wild. And through his inspiration and spiritual insights, you, too, will learn to know God’s voice, to submit to Him, and to trust Him with your every need. “I love that James did this book!” —BETH MOORE “You are about to read some poignant lessons we can learn from pets and all creatures—a clear revelation of the love God has for each of us. I share what I’ve learned as I’ve watched, held, and loved our little Princess and as I’ve watched wild animals in nature. Only a God who truly loves us as individuals could bless us with such treasured moments with our pets and wildlife, if we will just take notice… “A friend once said, ‘If you can’t see God in everything, you won’t see God in anything.’ In this book we will explore…eternal truths as we consider our pets and other awesome residents of God’s vast creation.” —JAMES ROBISON




Connecting with Horses


Book Description

Margrit Coates is internationally acclaimed for her work as an animal healer and communicator, and is the author of Healing with Horses and Horses Talking. Now, for the first time, she explains how horses can offer healing and guidance to us, the people in their lives. Connecting with Horses explores the key lessons that we can learn from these magnificent animals. When we really understand how to interact with horses and how to interpret their roles in our lives, we will learn how to improve our relationships with others and much more. This extraordinary book draws upon powerful true stories and practical experience to explore themes and offer profound insights ranging from creativity through to potential and success. As you will discover, even your own horse or pony is an incredible animal that has much to teach you...




What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality


Book Description

What makes humans open up when animals are involved? Strangers will smile and approach an owner walking a puppy without hesitation. Through anecdotal examples, this book explores how and why animals have the ability to inspire and impact humans. Included is a chapter that examines the different levels of spiritual development vividly embodied by animal models.