My Pet, My Companion

He suggests sitting on the floor with crossed legs, on a pillow or folded blanket, or on a chair, sofa or the edge of your bed. Staying upright helps you concentrate and avoids falling asleep. Before closing your eyes you stretch your back, roll your shoulders and open your chest without forcing anything.

You look into its eyes and ask what you feel, then stay open to whatever arises: a word, a quality, a judgment or a memory you share. From there you try to take an objective view and ask why it behaves and moves the way it does, and whether it might be sick or sad.

Gabriel suggests that pets can act out because of an emotional conflict they don't understand or know how to express, such as separation anxiety. He invites you to meet this with love and compassion, and to see it as your pet trying to communicate, which you only notice if you are watching and listening.

He asks you to notice what you dislike in your pet's behaviour and consider that it may mirror something in yourself that you could work through or learn from. His view is that as you grow, your pet can settle too.

The meditation says pets absorb energy from their owners each day and need to release it by connecting with the earth. This also applies to an adopted pet who may still carry the energy of a previous owner. Gabriel suggests time outdoors and says you'll start to notice a change.

You bring the face to mind again and feel thankful for what your pet teaches you and for its company and love. Then you quietly promise to be more aware of its behaviour and what it wants to say. Finally you move your fingers or toes, breathe deeply and open your eyes.