Thursday, March 12, 2009

Theme Thursday...Animal (To Speak or Not to Speak)

To Speak or Not to Speak, That is the Question



Somehow, because we have opposable thumbs and large brains, we homo sapiens believe we are the dominant species. In our egocentric folly, we exalt our status in the animal kingdom for our superior communication and language abilities. We think that since we can talk, we are special. Just us. The chosen species. I often wonder if our bravado is misplaced.

All of the animals of the world have unspoken systems of sophisticated, inter-species expression. These systems have served them for eons. Conversation among animals takes many forms: posturing, a glance, a swag of the tail, a prick of the ear, a yawn, a sniff, a bark, high pitched sounds, low ultrasonic vibrations, and scents. They employ energetic exchanges that telegraph their intentions and warnings clearly. Very clearly. There is no mistaking, at the watering hole, who is on the prowl for a meal and who is just thirsty. Instant, telepathic articulation to the entire community of animals is routine and elementary.

We are the ones who are retarded in our communication skills. The animals, who we consider a lower life form, know with certainty that their messages will be understood among their kingdom. They are clear, concise and blunt. No apologies. Their senses of vision and hearing are sharply developed and keen. And when one dog sniffs another dogs behind, it is a whole conversation. They can tell where the other has been, what has been eaten, who they have been around, and the state of their physical and emotional health. No lies. No subterfuge. No miscommunication.

They make our interchanges look clumsy, cumbersome and archaic. We pride ourselves on our vocabularies and verbal skills. But we muck up relationships and interactions daily. We tend to go through life talking over everyone else. Even in the pauses of our speaking, our internal chatter keeps us missing a large part of what the other person is saying. We spend so much time trying to explain ourselves that we miss much due to inattentive listening and observation. We are busy, busy, busy...jacking our jaw... farting our brain...congratulating ourselves, in the essence of our very being, on our self-important Big Brain Theory.

I have truly wished to know, for just five minutes, what it would be like to hear or smell like a dog. Oh, stop! I don't mean I want to be stinky. What I do mean is that I want to experience the sensory gluttony of the animal kingdom. I know this is weird but, I have spent a lot of time trying to imagine myself in my dog's body. I have attended a couple of animal communication workshops instructed by famed animal communicator, Amelia Kinkade. I have had some success with her intuitive techniques. But for me, this requires a lot of practice and I am not always compliant.

My quest? One moment, or even one second, of total immersion in a zoological auditory and olfactory experience. I want exclusive, backstage VIP access to the entire universe of expression to which we are not privy. We, the youngest species on planet Earth, have a lot to learn from our animal counterparts. They have been communing far longer than we have. Sometimes I think a good ol' sniff up the bum would do much to eradicate human calamity and error.














This butt's for you!

34 comments:

Baino said...

It's true isn't it, we clutter with chatter. I've often wondered what my dog means with that deep breathing when everyone's eating or the chin on the side of the couch and the doleful look . . .not sure I'd like their sense of hearing or smell . .they seem to tell little difference between burglars and friens, horse poo or filet steak!

Megan said...

But can they write like this????

Mrsupole said...

Farting our brain, oh my goodness, I am gonna have to remember that one. And that is one of the cuttest butts out there.

Great post. I have also wondered, but have not tried. Maybe I will sometime. Can't wait to see what you come up with for a ghost story tomorrow. Yup, can't wait.

Ronda Laveen said...

Baino: Yes, I'm sure that if we were to experience their sense of smell or hearing, we'd be overwhelmed. My sister has a schnoz on her that won't quit. Mine? Not so good.

Megan: Yes, they can write like this. See Miss B.B. La La's post from Tuesday, 3/10.

Mrsupole: She does have a cute butt, doesn't she? I don't think I have a ghost story. I will have to think. I have a couple of"I didn't go to the light" stories but don't think they are what you are talking about. I will try.

Mary said...

Great post - thanks for waking up my brain.

Jaime said...

great post. i don't think i'd want to have a dog's sense of smell though. too overwhelming. i had abnormally sensitive sence of smell the first trimester of my pregnancy and was MISERABLE

Patrice said...

Yes your beautiful title bar doggie has my Freda's eyes and that mournful, yet plaintive expression... sweet.

I'm enjoying your blog very much - and I'll be back! Gotta go post my theme Thursday bit. I'm a newbie at this theme thing...

Tess Kincaid said...

No, I definitely wouldn't want that keen a sense of smell. Far too many stinky things out there in the wide, wide world~!

Anonymous said...

I've often wondered why humans evolved to the level they have. And animals have not. I mean, they've been round for millions of years longer than man. #million years of evoulution is man and still, he does not have all the answers. And we used the term "brain fart" in the Army. Every body has them!

Brian Miller said...

great post...it is amazing how we limit ourselves in how we communicate... i will have to watch the brain farts today and try to relish the things people are telling me.

Ed & Jeanne said...

Yeah, we did have similar posts! As humans, we can't smell a damn thing, can we?

New Yorker wannabes said...

Nice post and...butt! I can't believe it...I mentioned oppisable thumbs in my post as well lol

Take care
xoxo

Colette Amelia said...

How do they do it though? it almost seems like telepathy. Then there was Emma who flopped her ears when she wanted to wake me up to be let outside.

Leah said...

This is wonderful. Something I often think about myself.

Candie said...

Great post and very true!
And their sense is amazing it's true.
Also we humans are the worst species,we all know that.And love the conclusion of your post too!Lol.
:)

Anonymous said...

Very well communicated...for a hairless two-leg. ;-)

Ronda Laveen said...

Mary: Thanks. Nice to hear from u.

Jaime: I am sure that having a super-sniffer during your first trimester really made you ill.

Patrice: Yes, they do have the same feel to them don't they? I am new too. This is only my 3rd TT. Welcome.

Willow: Yes, there are many times that I am also thankful that my smeller isn't so good. Like when I have to work on people who have stinky feet. Everyone else is passing out and I am saying, "What, I don't smell anything?" Needles to say, I get all of those clients passed off to me.

subtrop77: Evolution is a mystery. The only one bigger is "why are we here." But they are probably closely related. We do all have brain farts.

VE: Yes, our posts are eerily similar in context. Very different paths getting there were chosen. It alternately thrills and scares me that we kind of think alike.

Marianna: B.B. does have a cute booty, doesn't she? And we both were hitting the opposable thumb thing.

Amelia: For not having a speaking language, they sure get their point across.

Leah: Yes, it is intriguing to think about what it would be like.

Candie: As a species, we seem far more confused and unsure.

Ronda Laveen said...

A. Decker: Thanks. We hairless two-leggeds have our moments.

Anonymous said...

Thoughtful post! I'm gonna go read it to my dogs...

Kris McCracken said...

As a species, we do have a tendency to underutilise scent.

Anonymous said...

So very true, all this that you say. Did you know they are training dogs to smell cancer cells?

And very eloquently put!

Ronda Laveen said...

DW: I'm sure your pooches will appreciate the sentiment.

Kris: Yes, we tend to put a lot of attention on all of the senses but scent.

Cinnamon: I knew that many animals can detect siezures, diabetes, and some melanomas but I didn't know they could train for it.

Dakota Bear said...

Isn't it amazing how sighted humans must be blindfolded or even loose their sight before they become attuned to sounds and smells. Superior, we are fooling ourselves.

Reya Mellicker said...

Fantastic post! I think we are great communicators and very clever, and have a lot of hubris.

The more we study animals, the more we conclude that we're not that different. DUH!

That old idea that animals don't have souls? Who believes that?? For heaven's sake.

LOVE the butt and the banner at the top.

Dakota Bear, my sense of smell is my strongest sense. It is a blessing and a curse!

Ronda Laveen said...

Dakota Bear: True. We rely so much on sight.

Reya: Yes, we have far more similarities than appear on the surface. And, of course, they have souls. Even our organs have souls. I couldn't stop myself with the butt but almost didn't do it because maybe to over the top. But that is my sense of humor.

Megan said...

Over the top? No way! Now, if you were talking about bottoms...

Off to read the 3/10 post!

CocoDivaDog said...

Hullo Dragon Girl,
That giant photo at the top of your blog is amazing.
Thanks for sharing your pics!

Cuppa Jo said...

Just think of all the missed miscommunication if we just smelled each others butts.

Ronda Laveen said...

Megan: Would that be "under the bottom" rather than over the top?

Hi Auntie: Thanks. His eyes are so clear...not to mention the eye cheese.

Cuppa: Yes. Kinda gives a whole new meaning to butt sniffin' dog doesn't it.

Evening Light Writer said...

I've learned so much about love just from being around my dog and watching her. I wish I could understand what each bark means, I just know her I gotta go potty sound and I guess that's good enough. I don't think she likes my dad though, she always acts a bit indifferent when he is around! Loved the picture, ha!

Ronda Laveen said...

If you have to understand anything, I think the potty bark is the most important. And indifferenc in the dog world is not all bad.

tony said...

..posturing, a glance, a swag of the tail, a prick of the ear, a yawn, a sniff, a bark, high pitched sounds, low ultrasonic vibrations, and scents. They employ energetic exchanges that telegraph their intentions and warnings clearly. .......... Yorkshire Men do this Also!

Reyjr said...

But if animals can communicate with us... what will we eat? hehe.

- Non-vegetarian

Ronda Laveen said...

Tony: Bahhh, Thanks for the Man-Lesson!

Reyir: Never thought about it that way. I guess some people wouldn't care, like Jeffery Dahmer.