Every species and every breed within a species and every individual within a breed has unique possibilities in the world. Every individual is unique. To feel, to give form, to learn, to have relationships and to be spontaneous. They can bend and they can stretch. Animals intuitively “know” or can feel when they are in harmony, in balance with their nature, what their nature is. They are healthy when they are allowed to develop with safety, and they become what is possible for them; to feel (themselves and the outside world), to move in a natural way (what is natural for them as an individual), to have healthy relationships, to experience satisfaction and to show themselves to the world as they are.
Rob Erteman
PSYCHOMOTOR THERAPY FOR COMPANION ANIMALS, METHOD NIEK BROUW
TO FEEL
To receive input without knowing what it is, to feel themselves and to feel their surroundings. To express feelings. To have emotional contact with themselves and the outside world. For example to feel happiness and express happiness.
TO BE SPONTANEOUS
To move- to walk, to run, to gallop, to jump. To play. To pull a cart. To jump over a fence. To chase a ball. To wrestle and chase each other.
TO GIVE FORM
The form of an animal. To have knowledge and boundaries for the self and for the outside world. To show the self, as an introvert or an extrovert.
ANIMALS COME TO US TO GIVE US FOOD FOR GROWING AND TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DEVELOP WHAT IS NOT DEVELOPED IN OURSELVES
Animals have unique possibilities in life, and, in a very basic way, for feeling, for movement and for giving form. Animals are unique in their possibilities. A Dauchshund cannot move like a Greyhound. A Greyhound moves with emotional expression and vertical power. A Dauchshund has a natural capacity to feel its surroundings. Standard Poodles are strong in their natural form and have boundaries for themselves. These differences in what an animal is and what an animal can do is reflected in their body structure, skull shape and posture.
Some people say “my animal came to me so that I could learn from them”. As human beings, we also have unique possibilities to feel, to be spontaneous and to give form. As individuals, we all have different possibilities and we can learn from our pets. Sometimes we can learn from our dogs how to play, to be spontaneous and become free in ways that we have not had an opportunity to experience, or where we might otherwise feel judged in our spontaneous expression. Maybe we are suppressed as a natural extrovert-we act shy when we are naturally not shy. We may have a dog (for example an Australian Shepherd) who is naturally extroverted and is free to show it-they can be “ice breakers”. Dauchsunds tend to be emotional introverts and are happy to feel their surroundings. Sometimes, as people, we act in a socially appropriate way, behaving in an extroverted way as might be expected of us in certain circumstances instead of feeling free to just quietly feel our surroundings. Many cats can feel everything around them, remaining quiet and patient until they have a feeling to do something else.
Horses can teach us about patience and power. Horses have beautiful sensitivity for their surroundings. They have a very acute awareness for spontanneous energy, for movement around them. Horses are powerful. Horses can use their power to move-to run, trot, jump and gallop, and to play. They give us an opportunity to experience or connect to our power, in a pure and healthy way, free from our thinking, and free from boundaries and rules. Freedom of spirit. They are also very sensitive and require patience, consideration and recognition of their nature as highly spirited animals. When we recognize their nature and what they need then they can feel safe (and we can be safe).