Turning Up the AC

There is something I do that most people don't know about. I don't advertise it on my website (yet) because, though I have got nothing but favorable feedback, and a large contingent of my clients approach me  specifically for this by word of mouth alone, it has been an area where I feel the least confident. The area I'm talking about is Animal Communication (AC -- get it?). Yes, Doctor Doolittle stuff.

At one point I was in a program where I was training to be an Animal Communicator, but I ended up leaving because I was being pulled in more shamanic directions (he says as if Animal Communication isn't shamanic). But even as I was deepening my shamanic skills, the animals kept communicating.

People kept finding me in dribs and drabs, usually referred by a friend of theirs I'd helped, and I would agree to help them, even though inside I questioned my skills and whether I was really helping. Afterwards I'd always feel exhilarated, a sure sign that I really was doing what I thought I was doing, and my clients would be so grateful, to the point of insisting on sending me money even if at the time I wasn't charging for my services. 

So this has been going on for years as just something I did on the side while building my shamanic business. Then a couple months ago a psychic friend of mine invited me to this weekly Psychic Showcase she goes to, and not having seen my friend for a very long time, I went mostly for the purpose of reconnecting with her, and just to see what this showcase was about. At least that's what I thought I was going for. 

Shortly after arriving, my friend introduced me to the woman who hosts these evenings, and after hugging me, she turned to my friend and said something along the lines of, "So when I cue you, you will introduce him and let him talk about what he does for about 5 minutes or so." 

*GULP!*

So much for just relaxing and observing -- It was showtime! So I found myself standing in front of a room full of strangers, including a panel of professional psychics, talking about Shamanism and Soul Retrievals and such. I'm always surprised at such times by how much I really do know, and the confidence with which the words come out of my mouth. 

"But you talk to animals too, right?" Inquired the hostess. Crap! How did she kn...? Oh!... Yeah... Psychic duh!... 

"Yes I do," I answered in a decidedly more sheepish voice than the one that had previously been speaking from my lips. 

So for a few more minutes I talked about Animal Communication, almost apologetically, before finally getting to sit down and relax again. "Phew!" I sighed with relief. Showtime was over -- Or so I thought. 

The showcase ended and people began to disperse, so I went up to the front table, where the psychics sit, to hang out with my friend. We'd been sitting there talking for maybe five minutes when, from out of nowhere, the hostess just sort of materialized, took my hand, and dragging me behind her said, "C'mon, you have a couple of readings." Show time was not over. 

She steered me to a table where she said, "You can do them here." Then slipping some cash into my hand said, "This one is ten minutes, and the second is fifteen."

So I did two readings, out of the blue, and made a little extra money on the side. I was pleased with myself for rising to the occasion, but boy, did I ever breathe a sigh of relief when it was done! 

A few weeks later I returned. Again I was going mostly to see my friend, but thought if I could do a couple more readings, that would be great too. As it turns out, my friend couldn't make it, but encouraged me to go anyway because she had a sense that something important was going to happen for me there. 

I'd been a little anxious lately and thought, if nothing else, I'd get a mini reading that might give me some insights on why. When you arrive at the showcase, you pay a few dollars and in return receive an envelope, upon whose corner you write your date of birth, then place something with your energy inside it.  These envelopes are given randomly to the various psychics at the front of the room who then, while eating their dinner and such, write mini readings on the envelopes based on what they pick up from the date and contents. 

My envelope handed in, I found a seat near some friends of my friend, that I'd met the first time I'd come.  They both prompted me to tell the hostess of the event I was there so I could do readings.  At first the hostess didn't remember me, but then said, "Well, why don't you sit up there then?" Indicating an empty chair at one of the psychics' tables. 

*Gulp!*

I took my seat, reassuring myself that I did have my Medicine Cards along, as I always do, and I could always just pull a card or two for each envelope, giving each one a mini card reading.  So that is exactly what I did for the first couple envelopes I was handed. Phew! I got this!  Then came the announcement that made me shrink down in my chair -- "And Patrick does Animal Communication so anyone who has pets you'd like him to talk to, make sure you let me know when you give me your envelope."

Because I need a photo to tune into a particular animal, people were going to have to bring their cellphones up to me when I called out the birthdate on each envelope, so I could see a picture and then read live on the spot. There was absolutely nothing I could do to prepare. There was nothing for me to write without a photo to connect with. I sat there helplessly watching my stack of envelopes grow ever higher, while those of my peers steadily and casually diminished to nothing.

I was pretty close to the tipping point into full unbridled panic. I thought about getting up and whispering to the hostess that I was sorry but I just couldn't do this, then just walking out. I also thought of running screaming from the room. Still I sat. THIS must be the 'something important' my friend had predicted so, as anxious as I was, I had to see it through. 

The dreaded moment came and it was my turn to stand up. I read the first envelope's date and a woman walked up to present me with her phone. Deep breath. I looked at the cat in the photo, surrendering to whatever the process is in my mind that lets me connect to another soul.  I paused. I broke out into hysterical laughter. Laughter broke out sporadically through the room. The hostess looked at me with a nervous smile and asked out loud what we were laughing about. Suppressing another giggle, I took another breath and announced, "He said, 'Who the hell are you?!'" The woman next to me got a big grin on her face as she nodded saying, "Yep! That's him!"

With each envelope my anxiety decreased and my confidence increased. Again I felt the authority rising into my voice as over and over people signaled the authenticity of what I said, some with laughter and nods, others by breaking into tears. So much in the flow was I that it didn't even bother me when one or two of my fellow psychics made comments to make me think they were feeling displaced and jealous by the time and attention I was giving and receiving, which was but a result of the nature of the readings. 

Once it was all done, alot of people came up to me to thank me in person and hug me, a couple of them still wiping away tears. I found my way to the hostess and thanked her profusely for letting me sit at the big kid's table and do readings. Then I headed home, thinking to myself, "I probably should list Animal Communication on my website."