Bridging The Gap

Here’s a dilemma: It’s hard to bridge the gap of being an ethical, authentic person who is willing to stand with animals in a world that denies them their agency. Yet those realities do coexist.

Since I started practicing true kinship, I notice that more often. Not only do I recognize the false expectations our society places on us, I have started following them to their natural conclusions.

For instance:

We have been told places like zoos and aquariums are essential to the long-term survival of many species. We’re told as we learn about them, we are helping to create a better world for them. Yet we are the ones who ignored their agency and took them from their world to be put on display in a new world.

If humans had not originally intervened, these institutions may not have become so prevalent in our society. Yet I am not judging them. In our world they are necessary and care for and help hundreds of thousands of animals. I AM adding a layer of conversation about the integrity of our actions.

How can we coexist with that duality as principled people ?

Here are some ideas you might find helpful:

1. Accept the complexities of being an animal person in today’s society.
2. Ask yourself about context. If you see one of those memes that tells you the animal has a special message for you, I encourage you to dig deeper, as it is often rooted in entitlement and appropriation. The truth of the matter is, unless you and Charlie the Inch Worm already have an established relationship, most probably Charlie has other things on their mind than being your guru.
3. Claim your own agency where you can. Maybe it’s working with a gentle trainer instead of a trainer that uses harsh methods. Maybe it’s exploring your feelings that are evoked whenever you see one of those “poor helpless animals” ads. When you are coming from your own truth and agency you are bridging the gap between those realities.

Here’s an invitation for you to join me on this path. My work is devoted to helping you show up in the world for animals from the fullness of your authentic self. I hope this encourages you to look at your relationship with animals differently so that a new place of understanding begins to open for you.

Until next time, take good care.

Janet Roper is a podcaster, intuitive practitioner and mentor who for 20+ years has helped people restructure their relationship with animals. Two of her most popular resources are her monthly newsletter and her podcast True Kinship With Animals. Visit her website to learn more.