My Animal Friends Are My Teachers

By Nancy Louise Taylor PhD

After a group of boys mistreated him, a young kitten ran and hid. He sat under a bush until he calmed down. He did not know what to do. As he started to nap, he realized there was a human who would help him. He looked around until he found her house. The young girl sat in her backyard. He cautiously walked up to the girl and climbed in her lap. The kitten needed her help, so he could learn to trust humans again and heal his wounds. He knew, as cats knew, that she needed his help to gain confidence in her ability to help animals, and he was to teach her how to trust herself. She named the cat Blackie. He helped her save some of the birds and other animals when they were injured. She helped Blackie recover from the injuries he received when he was in cat fights. The cat remained to be her support and companion during these adventures. When Blackie realized his time was finished, he waited until he knew the next cat was on the way. That cat became Natasha, and she changed everything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Mar 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781504397391

Nancy Louise Taylor PhD

Nancy learned to love animals as a child. When she was in elementary school, she rescued and healed many animals. She now helps both people and animals with her skills of massage and Reiki. She started writing to document and to share what she learned working with all living creatures. She lives in Southern California.

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Copyright © 2018 Nancy Louise Taylor, PhD

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-9738-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-9739-1 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 03/21/2018

CONTENTS

Introduction

When I Was Very Young

My Adventures With Blackie

After I Started To Grow Up

Sammy

Natasha

Mikado

After I Got Married

Mom Moved To San Diego

What I Learned From My Teachers

INTRODUCTION

When I was four or five years old, I decided animals were safer to be close to than the people who were in my life at that time. I still spend time with both people and animals. Here is how I explain my relationships: I spend time with people, and I live with a cat.

In 1996, after my second marriage ended, I decided I had to find a different way to live. I started searching for a new way to express myself. What my parents taught me as a child, especially my early religious training, no longer worked for me. I found Louise Hay’s book You Can Heal Your Life. I read it and started to heal my life. I began to study New Thought in 1986, when my second husband’s mother gave me a copy of the Daily Word. This publication, from the Unity Church, is based on the teachings of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. Next, I studied the work of Ernest Holmes. That teaching is now Centers for Spiritual Living.

Throughout my book, glimpses of these teaching occur. I believe I always knew this information. I believe we all know Truth. Unfortunately, we cover it over with what we were taught by those who loved us. Now, I live with these Truths.

What follows is my path. The search for finding my path was worth the effort.

WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG

From my earliest days, animals were a big part of my life. When I was a baby, my dad had a cat named Snookims. While I do not remember him, I grew up hearing stories about his special friend. During those early years, life was good. While my parents were busy and distracted, my maternal grandmother and I shared a bedroom. She taught me about love and about the Divine. My paternal grandmother lived next door. She loved plants, birds and animals. She taught me how to be around birds and animals and how to grow almost any plant. What I learned from her continues to be a big part of my life today. I still love plants, birds and animals. And, I especially love cats.

My parents seemed to be involved with the drama of their lives. Mom liked to go window shopping. She visited her favorite stores every day which meant she was not home when I returned from school. Dad work in a factory located several miles from where we lived. He left for work early in the morning and returned about dinner time. When I was young, I loved to spend time with Dad. When I grew up, our relationship changed. My dad’s behavior became unpredictable, even scary sometimes. Mom never seemed to be present. She was always busy doing something or going somewhere. My maternal grandmother lived with us. My first word was Dagon, the word I used for her. Soon, everyone called her by that name. We shared a bedroom and she cared for me. I felt safe when I was with my Grandma Dagon. My memories of her continue to bless my life.

From my birth until I was six years old, we lived in the rented house in East Los Angeles. Then we moved to the City of Commerce. Grandma Dagon and I continued to share a bedroom for the next two or three years after we moved. Every night we talked about things, really important things. She taught me to love and respect all living creatures. More importantly, she taught me to have faith in the Divine.

While I found my parents to be unpredictable and scary, animals were different. For example, Dad got angry over small things. I did not know what made him angry. Mom blamed me for everything that went wrong, even if I was not at fault. When I was very young, I knew I could trust animals. They were always honest and their love was unconditional. From infancy, I had animal friends that gave me acceptance, love and honesty. I communicated with animals for as long as I remember. When I was with an animal, I intuitively knew what they wanted or needed. If I asked a question, the answer came to my mind as a picture or as a knowing. Unfortunately, I lost most of this ability when I became an adult.

SNOOKIMS

My Dad had a gray cat named Snookims when I was an infant. I do not remember that cat. He lived with Dad for several years before I was born. He followed Dad around the house and sat in his lap whenever possible. Snookims liked to ride in the car. He sat on the back of the seat, wrapped around Dad’s neck. He liked to look out the car window and see what was going on. Dad really loved Snookims, and he loved to share stories about his special cat. I decided someday I wanted a special cat, just like Snookims.

LADDIE

When I turned three, my parents got me a puppy, a collie and chow mix. He looked like a collie, only smaller, with a black tongue. We named him Laddie since I loved the story of Lassie. The dog was very protective of me. We lived in the rental house in East Los Angeles, which sat back from the street and had a huge front yard. There was no garage and there was a long driveway on the east side of the yard, where Dad parked the car.

Even though Laddie was