When Your Own Worlds Collide

When dog grooming and animal communication collide

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Author’s note: This is not a post about writing, but it is a look into a writer’s life. I think the two are interconnected. I know this part of my life has definitely lent itself to my writing inspiration. Let me know what you think!

Hi, my name is Terri and I’m writer. And a dog trainer. And a Reiki master. And an animal communicator. And the list goes on.

It’s no surprise that my list of credentials contains a lot. I’m going to be fifty this year (yikes!) and I’ve had a lifelong love of learning. At this point in a person’s life one has done and learned a lot! However, I feel like my life has been a curious split between science and spirituality. And by spirituality, I mean new-age woo-woo type stuff. I’ve had a hard time reconciling the two things. I can own the fact that I am a talented dog groomer, and I am starting to feel like I hold my own as a trainer. But when it comes to the energetic side of my animal expertise, I tend to downplay it a lot.

I grew up interested in life after death and anything paranormal. I also have a strong love of animals and nature. I knew from a young age (like, 3?) what I wanted. When asked what I wanted to do with my life, the answer was always, “Animals!”

I went to college for Animal Medical Technology, then worked first on a goat farm caring for five barns full of goats, burros and rabbits. Then I became a vet tech at a family vet hospital for a few years, followed by grooming school.

It was here that things took a bit of a turn. A handsome feral cat I adopted got out of our apartment and disappeared. I was heartbroken, because I felt that once gone, Raven would be too scared to come back and show himself for me. In my despair I turned to someone I had never really considered before: an Animal Communicator (aka animal psychic). I had heard of people who claimed to be able to talk to animals, but never considered it to be real. 

My experience with this particular lady changed that. But that is a story for another time. I will say, though, that what followed was my own journey into animal communication, which was both fascinating and life-changing.