"Ask the Animals"

Since antiquity, man has wanting to talk with animals. Yet if one says they are able to, as in hearing them, speaking with them, and getting pictures transferred like a motion picture, then one is called a freak, weirdo, liar, new ager or basic lunatic…

So, even though the dolphins called my name at a very early age, I kept this world and “talking” ability almost hidden for over a quarter of a century. Only allowing communication glimpses out in the open for animal-human “emergencies,” such as a sick cat, dying dog, or injured horse.

Yet, after Robin Williams died in August of 2014, I decided to self-published a book on how to communicated with animals, particularly dolphins in October of that year. I had never tried writing out my lifetime of experiences before, yet after being asked by many friends over the years who were wanting to know how they could speak with the animal kingdom, I thought maybe it’s time to be visible. I do believe this “communication” is a built-in ability that many humans are keeping dormant, or what I call a sleepwalking slumber that is stored not in our thinking or feeling brain, yet in our ancient brain. A place where we actually make many of our “life decisions” from, like smoking or sensing whether or not we like someone when we first meet them.

Over my lifetime living in many different states and countries, I’ve come across and listened to a multitude of “personal stories,” and they often are carrying the same threads of: not fitting in, being a misfit, moving to a different beat, feeling alone, or living in a world they don’t understand.

In honor of those individuals who have hidden passions, yet might have felt too afraid to let their hidden world out, I began the opening pages of Dolphin Talk with a Robin Williams quote:

"You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."

~ Robin Williams

And continued with,

“On that beautiful note, this book is dedicated to the misfits, and those who have felt any or all of the following:

Animals are kinder than people. Not from this world. Separated and alone. Wanting to fly, freedom. Heart broken. Raw and overly sensitive. Misunderstood. Disillusioned with life. Overwhelmed and unmotivated. Displaced and awkward with being yourself. Incomprehensible desire to disappear into the seas. Doubting Thomas… trust me, I was one of them. Wanting to die… or essentially transform.

This dedication along with Robin’s quote is expressed because of the last year I experienced. I felt moments of deep loneliness, despair, and an utter sense of not belonging to anything, anyone, or any place. My saving grace was hearing the humpback whales singing in the sea off the coast of Maui. Their enchanting and calming songs helped me hold on, even though I didn’t really want to… I was weary of this earthly existence. Tired of trying my darnest to make something wonderful, be something wonderful, and too often, tossed on mee ‘arse. They say everything happens for a reason. Well, I was full of reasons. My heart longed for more… “

Now, seven years later and discovering many secrets based in the sciences behind “animal communications,” I’m ready to share this knowledge and empirical evidence worldwide… so I may be a rainbow bridge into helping others find healing, happiness, and peace with their lives, and those they encounter. Overall, my porpoise in life is being an explorer, spokesperson, and creative conservationist for the oceans, animals, and humanity in promoting planetary care and love by using various art avenues and multi-media platforms to combine my writings, films, and photography.

Also, what I’ve discovered in that, “talking with dolphins” and the science behind telecommunications could prove we are not alone, especially with our natural and biological connections with Nature and one another, and most importantly, we are loved by just being ourselves. Simply and purely.

Maybe this could be the answers to those universal questions of “Why are we here?”, “Why have hope?”, “Why even Care?”, and “Why Love?”

Across mythology and biblical times, there is the saying floating through time, “Ask the animals and they will teach you.” Is it possible that somewhere in our history, we have ancient memories of our deep connection with the animal kingdom, working and playing alongside them, not in controlling or cruel manners, yet in conscious and symbiotic exchanges. Similar to the “halo” bond featured in the film, Avatar.

I think people are often drawn to me because my life, (most of time) has symbolized a sort of dolphin nature: playful, inquisitive, intelligent, family oriented, community driven, loyal, altruistic, and naturally, wild and free. Captivity, by the way, stripes away the essence of a dolphin and separates these sentient beings from everything they love, their 50 million years of evolving, as well as their waves of communicating and living in the open seas.

Presently, I’m passionate about bringing “The Dolphin Smile” back into people’s lives, that lovely sense of buoyancy and innocence, which many of us had taken away as a child. I understand this because I grew up in a volatile home from one of my parents’ actions and words. The other was doing the best she could with four children and life in the upper class suburbs, attending neighborly BBQs and block parties, meanwhile the rage and unpredictable violence was hidden behind doors and glass walls.

By sharing the secrets of the sea and the magical world of dolphins with you and me, our lives can become more of the “we” factor. Community, family, tribe, and nation.

For a dolphin, it’s always “we” living, and I hope to reawaken this ancient aquatic person living inside of each of you. There’s an interactive lesson I’ve created for “The Dolphin Smile” called Dolphin in the Womb, which is all about our birth, breath, blood, sweat, and tears… how we have more in common with our planet, the ocean, and living species just through the basic biology and chemistry of our bodily make-up. Fascinating, to say the least.

Plus, we as humans develop in a watery womb just like a dolphin, and continue to do so from mirroring the 71% to 29% water to body mass ratio of our Mother Earth… what we’re losing as we are age is the “buoyancy” factor, our water content. So, why not bring that back… that flow, that hope, that buoyancy…

From the tips of our toes to the bottom of my heart, we can return to love.