Andre Norton and Animal Communication…
Animal Communication: Pet Stories, Whispering, Telepathy & Andre Norton…
Surra’s color was still sand-yellow, her muzzle and ears foxlike, her paws fur sand-shoes. But she was four times the size of her remote forefathers, as large as a puma, and her intelligence was higher even than those who had bred her guessed. Now Storm laid his hand on the cat’s head, a caress she graciously permitted.
To the spectator the ex-Commando might be standing impassively, the meerkats clinging to him, his hand resting lightly on Surra’s round skull, the eagle quiet on his shoulder. But an awareness, which was unuttered, unheard speech, linked him with animals and bird.
The breadth of that communication could not be assessed outside a “team,” but it forged them into a harmonious whole, which was a weapon if need be, a companionship always…
I was 14 when I first read THE BEAST MASTER by Andre Norton
I loved her concept of animal-human telepathic teams. To me, Andre’s character Hosteen Storm took Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan the next step: not just understanding and speaking a common language, but a deeper connection. With deeper possibilities.
In Andre, I had discovered one of the essential creative writers of my life.
I learned that she had first explored the idea of a telepathic bond between animals and humans in her 1952 novel DAYBREAK: 2250 AD (STAR MAN’S SON) and followed up with novels such as STORM OVER WARLOCK and CATSEYE.
I had kind of had such a relationship a few years earlier with my cat Hunter — a gentle and loving (with me) grey Manx tomcat, who fought for his place with other barn cats in the area. He had the scars to prove it. And he brought me home mice and purrs and sandpaper licks.
I’ve never forgotten Hunter. And welcomed and loved other cats since. In my teens I had a picaro cat I called Loki. Since meeting my Mary Lee, we’ve had cats, of course. And dogs. A Husky, our first dog. I named him King, after Sergeant Preston’s lead dog, Yukon King. A one-man dog. There are others… So far, our marriage is four dogs long.
So what are your thoughts on Animal Communication? Writers like Andre Norton?
Here, from “conscious communication” coach and writer Stephanie Rachel Alt, is a Guest Article that gives a fascinating look into Animal-Human Communication…
“Animal Telepathy – Do You Believe Animals Can Understand What We Think and Feel?”
I never get tired reading amazing animal stories; how pets alert their owner’s when there is danger, and act as guides for those who are physically impaired.
The astonishing tales of lost animals who find their way back home after years and miles of trekking. For many of us, our animals are like additional children in the family with whom we share a mutual love and devotion. So when I learn of animals who go to extremes to protect or find their people it affirms these deep connections.
I recently read a very touching and endearing book titled WESLEY THE OWL: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl, by Stacey O’Brien.
Aside from their extraordinary nineteen year relationship I was most taken with was the empathic and telepathic bond that formed between them.
Do you have out of the ordinary animal stories to share?
We’ve had a number of cats, two dogs and three guinea pigs over the years.
When our guinea pigs were alive I’d hear them start squealing as soon as I opened the garage door. They were upstairs in the front bedroom of our house. Somehow they knew we were home, or perhaps their sense of hearing was exquisite.
When my daughter was battling the Shingles virus, I often found her cat sleeping on top of her, directly over the inflamed areas. Isn’t it uncanny how a pet knows when you are distressed? Without beckoning them they often rouse from sleeping to come and settle by your side.
But the most extraordinary pet story I have to share defies logic.
Our cats used to go outside in the backyard. My son’s cat Loki was a great hunter. I have one phobic reaction which is seeing and dealing with dead animals. I’ve worked in a Pediatric I.C.U. and a Burn Unit without upset, but my children will attest to how I “freak” seeing lifeless creatures.
It was actually my daughter’s seventh birthday. I woke up early to set her presents on the table before she came down for breakfast. I let the cats outside and set the table festively. When I opened the slider door to let the cats back inside a beheaded bird lay gorily on the mat.
I shrieked and scolded Loki; killing for sport and not out of necessity. “I just fed you! You didn’t need to kill that beautiful bird. I hate dead birds. If you want to bring me a present, bring me flowers instead”, I scoffed.
The following morning I reminded him, “… just flowers” as I let him out.
When I returned a few minutes later to call him back inside I found a large fern frond on the doormat in place of a mauled bird! I kid you not. Neither of my children was awake, and I am certain no one snuck over the fence during the night.
There is an incredible anecdote in O’Brien’s book about how she successfully used visual imagery and talked to Wesley the barn owl to prepare him for having his overgrown beak filed down and his talons clipped.
I am fascinated by the field of animal whispering. I truly believe animals have the capacity to understand what we are thinking and feeling. What do you think? – Stephanie Rachel Alt
Thanks, Stephanie. I agree. Not only do I believe that our closest animal family members can understand us — we can also understand Them!
What are your thoughts on Animal Communication?
“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe
Favourite Andre Norton Series: Looking back, my fave series was her Witch World Series, both novels and short stories. Must be, because I still take one down from the shelves once in a while and savour her storytelling, her language and her worldscaping.
Andre Norton books in order: See Goodreads. And see Andre Norton Life & Works
Did you like this Animal Stories Post?
IF SO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ WOLFBLOOD — MY MOST POPULAR ANIMAL STORY:
“I JUST READ WOLFBLOOD AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE. ONE FOR ANY WOLF LOVER. ENJOYED IT BUT WISH IT WAS A FULL LENGTH NOVEL.” – Gina Chronowicz @ginachron
“GREAT SHORT STORY! DOES REMIND ME OF CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG…” – Evelyn @evelyn_m_k
A “compelling and compassionate” yarn in the Jack London Tradition of a solitary Grey Wolf and it’s yearning for a place in the far-flung forests of the Northcountry. FREE TO READ ==> WOLFBLOOD: A Wild Wolf, A Half-Wild Husky & A Wily Old Trapper
From the very beginning my heroes have been the great animal story writers. Sir Charles G D Roberts, Grey Owl, Jack London, Ernest Thompson Seton, Edgar Rice Burroughs. Then came our beloved Andre Norton. For more, SEE Edgar Rice Burroughs: A Tribute to Tarzan’s Creator, A Personal Hero.
About Stephanie Rachel Alt…
Stephanie Rachel Alt “holds a Masters degree in Counseling/Human Development from Bank Street College of Education, New York, NY. She’s also Master Certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (N.L.P.) and hypnosis. Stephanie teaches her clients to use ‘intuitive intelligence,’ logic and reason, in daily life and decision making. She created ‘Of 2 Minds’ Coaching and Consulting services, to offer these services; intuitive readings, intuitive coaching, conscious communication &NLP techniques in online sessions. She currently lives in Salinas, California.” Stephanie can be found on Facebook.
Animal Communication: Pet Stories, Whispering, Telepathy & Andre Norton
“Ho, Lura!”
The cat paused at his exultant call and swung the dark brown mask of her face toward him. Then she meowed plaintively, conveying the thought that she was being greatly misused…
She was beautiful indeed.
Animal Communication: Pet Stories, Whispering, Telepathy & Andre Norton
Andre Norton, Alice Mary Norton, Andrew North, Andre Norton books in order, Andre Norton series, Andre Norton best books. Witch World. Animal communication, animal communication book, animal fiction, animal stories, animal telepathy, animal whispering. Book review, cats, dogs, pet stories, Stacey O’Brien, Stephanie Rachel Alt, Tarzan, telepathy, telepathic teams, whisperer.
