Su Burnett

Intuition & Animal Communication

Media- The Lonely Planet Six Degrees Hong Kong

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February, 2001, Nova Scotia, Canada.

It’s winter. Very cold, very icy, very snowy, with a frigid wind chill in the air. I have created a warm lair in a cozy warm basement and find myself watching travel programs as I plan an escape to warmer climates. One of my favourite shows in The Lonely Planet Guide. While, I visit interesting cultures and get glimpses of exotic views along with the host, I start to dream of being on Lonely Planet. ‘Here I am, stuck inside because of all this snow and this freezing weather, watching TV, doing my best to remain inspired…’ I mused to myself. ‘ Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a kid, somewhere stuck inside like me, who is lying on the couch, watching TV with his dog, craving something to amuse himself, something to make him curious and think about something interesting and new…Then he saw me on TV, talking to animals, thought maybe he could do it, tried it on his german shepard, and realized it was possible!’

Hong Kong, 2003

And then there I was filming an episode of  Lonely Planet Six Degrees Series 2 Hong Kong. What an excellent experience, the crew was fantastic and although it didn’t make it onto the series, filming at Ocean Park with the dolphins was wonderful!


Immune System Boosting Acupoints for Dogs

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Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 3,000 years ago, using the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension, and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force energy (Qi or chi) to promote health and healing. Using the same points as Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupressure applies a comfortable range of pressure from gentle to firm. Acupressure is safe, non-toxic and definitely habit forming… And dogs absolutely love it!

Be aware that there is no “right” location in acupressure. The exact location of equine, canine, feline and human acupressure points depend on the source. Acupressure drawings offer you a guide, not an exact map. Do your best and trust your intuition. To perform acupressure,  place the ball of your thumb or middle finger on the acupressure point. Gently apply direct pressure to the point while exhaling. Use prolonged pressure directly on the point; gradual, steady, penetrating pressure for approximately three minutes is ideal. Slowly release the point while inhaling.

GV 14- Big Vertebra Location: On the midline of the back, where the neck vertebra meets the vertebra of the back. Lifting the head up and down, find the hinged place just in front of the “big” vertebra. Place your finger into the big hole there. Benefits: Supports immune system.

B 23- Sea of Vitality Location: On the middle of your dog’s side, locate the last rib, then go straight up to the spine. find the point in the indentation beside 2nd lumbar vertebra. Benefits: Fortifies the immune system as well as relieves lower back ache and fatigue.

LI 4- Joining the Valley Location: Inside the first toe, in the web between the dewclaw or where the dewclaw would be. Benefits: Improves immune system, relieves pain in face, foreleg and toothaches.

P6-Inner Gate Location: Find the sole pad behind the wrist on the front leg. Move up the leg to the depression between two tendons that run up the back of the leg.  Benefits: Boosts immune system, relieves nausea, vomiting, balances internal organs and calms the spirit.

TW 5- Outer Gate Location: Run your hand down the outside of a front leg. The point is in the indention between the bones, about a sixth of the distance between the wrist and elbow. Benefits: Improves immune system, ear problems, nausea, vomiting, stiffness in head, shoulders and neck, regulates and relaxes entire body.

LI 11- Crooked Pond Location: Lift the foot, flex the elbow, and you’ll find a crease forms on the outside of the elbow. Feel for the depression at the end of the crease, just in front of the bony prominence. Benefits: Relieves immune system weaknesses, allergies, infections, constipation and fever.

CV 6- Sea of Energy Location: On the midline of the belly.  Benefits: Boosts immune system,  relieves lower back ache, fatigue, constipation, replenishes energy reservoirs.

Liv 3- Bigger Rushing Location: On the inside hind paw, above the innermost toe. Find a slight depression about a third of the way between the top inside toe and the bottom of the ankle joint. Use broad strokes on the side and front paw area. Benefits: Improves immune system, relieves headaches, eye and reproductive disorders, irritability and arthritis.

K 3- Bigger Stream Location: On the inside of the hind leg, just above the ankle in a large pocket. Benefits: Boosts immune system, relieves ear problems.

St 36- Three Mile Point Location: On the outside hind leg, just below the knee, in a clear depression in the middle of the muscle toward the front of the leg. Benefits: Boosts energy, strengthens the whole body, especially immune system, aids digestion and relieves fatigue.

Acupressure points for Irritability, Frustration and Dealing with Change

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As the weather is shifting in coolness here in Canada, for many of my athletic horse friends, this means the competitive season is slowing down. They requested these acupressure points as they are experiencing frustration, irritability and are dealing with the change in their training routines. These are also super helpful for horses settling into a new environment, working with a new rider, dealing with grief or change of any kind. They are also beneficial for those horses that just have a personality that is Diva-ish! I am sure you’ll know if your horse is one of these types!

Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 3,000 years ago, using the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension, and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force energy (Qi or chi) to promote health and healing. Using the same points as Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupressure applies a comfortable range of pressure from gentle to firm. Acupressure is safe, non-toxic and definitely habit forming… And the horses absolutely love it!

To perform acupressure,  place the ball of your thumb or middle finger on the acupressure point. Gently apply direct pressure (approximately 2-4 pounds of pressure) to the point while exhaling. Use prolonged pressure directly on the point; gradual, steady, penetrating pressure for approximately three minutes is ideal. Slowly release the point while inhaling and move on to the next point. Use and trust your intuition as the horse will often guide you and direct you on the length of time and amount of pressure they desire.

Here are the acupressure points, their traditional names and benefits.

GV 24.5- Third Eye Point Benefits: Good for spiritual and emotional imbalance, use for calming your horse.

 GB 20-Wind Pond Benefits: Relieves irritability, injuries, trauma and shock. Alleviates head and neck tension and pain. Helps with eye problems. Use for arthritis.

GB 21-Shoulder Well Benefits: Relieves irritability, frustration, fatigue and nervousness. Alleviates shoulder pain and arthritis. Use for hock pain, softens tense muscles.

LU 1- Central Palace Benefits: Relieves breathing difficulties, chest tension and congestion, emotional tensions, coughing and skin disorders.

CV 17- Middle of Chest Benefits: Relieves nervousness, anxiety, frustration and irritability. Influential point for energy. Use to improve overall energy of your horse. Use for all lung conditions, especially chronic problems. Stimulation of this point will increase or disperse energy, depending on your horse’s needs.

CV 12- Center of Power Benefits: Harmonizes the stomach, relieves gastrointestinal problems and relieves emotional stress. Colic point.

GB 30-Jumping Circle Benefits: Relieves frustration, irritation, hip pain, sciatica, lower back pain and rheumatism. Relaxes the tendons and restores joint mobility.

Joy to the World

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To continue with our immensely enjoyable theme of singing, today the dogs would like me to share an experience.  A few monthes ago, I had the good fortune to catch up with a female dog named Patches. She and her human share an extraordinary bond.  A year or so ago, her human had asked me if Patches could tell us about her history. Patches came to her human, when she adopted her from the SPCA. She had been found under a little used underpass on an old dirt road, in a condition that indicated that she had been in the wild for quite some time.

Patches had many quirks, her human felt knowing her history would help explain some of these and help her to better understand Patches. So she told us her story, it was quite inspiring and remarkable that she had survived with her spirit intact, still willing to trust us humans, open to love, with only a few odd reactions to her environment. When, I recently got to catch up with her, she was no longer in survival mode, she was much calmer, peaceful and relaxed.

Her human asked about when they traveled together in the car. “Patches makes a yelping sound…it starts low, then it gets louder, it gains intensity and she does it the WHOLE trip!”

“So it makes you uncomfortable?” I asked her.

“YES! I am worried that she’s uncomfortable herself, unhappy, or is in distress and is trying to tell me something… sometimes it drives me crazy…” She answered.

“So it distracts you then?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m afraid she doesn’t like the car. I get so worried that there’s something wrong and I can’t figure out what it is…She has to come in the car…but we don’t go very far anymore, in case there’s something wrong…” She replied.

To this, Patches had a delightful response…which still makes me smile. “Oh….I LOVE the car! Everything is okay…” She said.

“Then why do you yelp?” I asked.

“I’m not yelping...” She replied. “I’m singing!” Then with great gusto and glee, I heard her singing…”Joy to the world…We’re in the car… Joy to the people passing by…We’re in the car!”

As I sang this to her human, she burst out laughing. “Oh,” she chuckled, “that’s good! Maybe I’ll sing along with her!”

Valdi- Grief and That Wonderful Song

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Singing is the topic of the week with the horses! They would like me to share some of my experiences of singing. They LOVE when we sing and rue the day that humans became so self conscious of making sounds vocally. To them any singing, whistling, clicking, etc are lovely and are merely us moving energy and air throughout our bodies using sound.  To the horses, these sounds have a calming influence, relax them and they always recommend singing while experiencing grief. They also want us to be aware that crying is merely our body releasing excess water and salt, it is only us humans who let our minds judge ourselves for this release.

So here is an experience that happened in Brentwood, Nova Scotia,  on Boxing day, December 26th, 2010.

Here we are, standing with our friends Sky and Clay. They are Clydesdales, tall, gorgeous and gentle. Sky has gorgeous blue eyes. Clay is rather funny, sometimes goofy, they are both very handsome and polite. They are incredibly sad today. Their fiend and teammate Valdi has died, he has been poorly for years, nature has taken it’s course and he is now buried behind the barn. They miss him very much. Especially, the sounds he made and his magnificent sense of humour. Valdi made them laugh and smile even when he was in pain. They are in a bit of shock and are physically missing their friend and teammate.

Clay is concerned about Sky. Clay understands that he is not clever enough to now be the leader of the heard. Sky seems confused and unable to take charge. “Could you sing that wonderful song please,” he asks. “Singing will cheer Sky up. ” He adds. ‘Mhmmmmm…what is that wonderful song?’I began to wonder to myself.

Years ago, in a workshop I learnt a song. It has been invaluable with animals since. I often sing it to animals who have experienced trauma, illness, injuries or shock. It calms their spirits, soothes them mentally and physically relaxes them. Singing comes naturally to me when I’m with certain animals…Perhaps that would be the wonderful song that Clay wants…

So…I start singing….Blessed are you. Freedom are you. You are the infinite within your soul. You have no beginning and you have no end. All this you are.

Blessed am I, freedom am I, I am the infinite within my soul, I have no beginning, I have no end, all this am I.

Blessed are we, freedom are we, we are the infinite within our souls, we have no beginning, we have no end, all this we are.

After warming up and singing a few rounds, I checked in with Clay… “Make eye contact, as much as possible, with Sky,” he says, “Add some rhythm too the song! Speed it up, move your body, sing louder and sing that wonderful song please!”

Okay, sing it again…feeling a bit self conscious, there are no humans around but am feeling as if the neighbours might possibly be peeking through their drapes, wondering to themselves what IS that women doing in that paddock? Shaking myself and doing my best to let go of self consciousness, I put some life into the song, grooving it up a bit and swaying my hips, singing louder and with some flair. As I sing, I make eye contact with Sky and Clay. They have gotten taller, their postures are finally relaxing, and they are holding eye contact for longer periods. Clay says ” wonderful, wonderful, a great song, would you sing that wonderful song though please! 

Mhmmmm…the current soundtrack in my head is all Christmas music..So….Laughing all the way….hahahahahahah ha ahahahahahahahha! … Over the fields we go….In a two horse open sleigh… Hey! I am pleased with this choice, amused by it actually, after all these two have been in competitions pulling sleighs, hitches, wagons and such. “Yes, Yes good one!” Clay agrees…”Please sing the wonderful song now!”

Mhmmmm…can vaguely hear some distant lyrics…Bluebird…Ahhhhhh…Gone away is the bluebird…here to stay is the new bird…de de de deeee….walking in a winter wonder land…. “Good, good.” Clay applauds us…”Now sing the wonderful song please!”

Gracious! All I can hear through the insistent, Christmas song soundtrack in my head, sounds vaguely like a Fat Boy Slim song…It’s a wonderful life…but no, even with my eyes scrunched up and humming uneven rhythms, I am unable to catch it…So. I sing a bit more, talk with my friends about their questions and concerns about Valdi’s bones and with their assurances of lifted spirits venture home.

Now, the thing is, that I witnessed the horses lightening up, I could see it in their eyes, hear it in their breathing, feel it as they relaxed and their postures straightened and lengthened…I did my best and could relax and get on with something else. But, throughout the next day, while clearing and organizing post Christmas disarray…My mind was still curious about the wonderful song…What WAS the wonderful song…If I could only hear it a bit clearer…

Two days later, I am visiting with Valdi’s human friend. The horses would like music in the barn, classical music, Valdi. They would like their human friend to release her grief, to dive deep into the pain of it, to cry, instead of swallowing it.  They remind her that tears are merely excess water and salt that the body wants to release. By being in the barn with them and the music, it would benefit them all to have a grieve together. I tell her about singing to them, and how it cheered them up. She mentions that she used to have a song for each horse in the barn, but hasn’t been that aware of music lately. She does play the radio for them though. The horses, point out that they enjoy when the radio plays music, but the in between bits, the advertisements,  are really loud and have a very staccato rythmn that can be quite jarring. They would like continuous music, like a CD, with no people talking in between.

After awhile, we walk out to give the horses some cranberries. Clay has requested that I bring some Vitamin D drops and cranberries and feed them to Sky to lift his depression. He loves the sun, it keeps his spirits buoyant. This is the 9th day without sun in a row. The Vitamin D will help him. As we are feeding Sky…once again, Clay says…”Sing please, sing that wonderful song…” So I sing…Blessed are you… for a few rounds….We notice how the sounds perk up the horses. Then, Clay, thanking me, asks for that Wonderful song please…OH MY….WHAT ARE THE LYRICS TO THE WONDERFUL SONG??????? HELP!!!!!!

I mention it to his human…does she know it….I think maybe Louis Armstrong or somebody sings it…It’s old…..She just shrugs…GOODNESS, I will be glad to find out what these lyrics are…..glad to actually hear the tune in my head…..

So upon arrival at home, I immediately look up Louis Armstrong and voila! Here is the Wonderful song!

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces, of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do
They’re really saying, I love you.

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more, than I’ll never know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
Oh yeah…

Yeah! Upon finding them I emailed them to my friend. I printed off the lyrics for myself and tucked them into my glove compartment in my car.  It was indeed a wonderful song to lift the spirits on those darker, sometimes lengthy grey winter days.  And now when lovely Clay asks for the Wonderful song, I can sing it too him and Sky! After all, those horse’s do have a habit of calling me in without warning as I drive by!

South China Morning Post -2004-04-25

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SCMP-  Chris Oliver,  April, 25, 2004

Some of Hong Kong’s wealthy racehorse owners are using an animal psychic to “talk” to their thoroughbreds- a form of post-career stress counselling as the animals make the transition into retirement.

Self-proclaimed animal communicator Su Burnett said she makes stable calls to retired racehorses at the invitation of their owners, to talk through problems ranging from anger management to cultural dislocation- and sometimes the paltry size of the female thoroughbred community.

In December she met retired horse Smiling Knight at the Fanling stables after the owner contacted her to help resolve its ” mean” disposition.

“These racehorses are like retired rock stars in a way because they are used to being in the limelight,” she said.”Sometimes they don’t understand why they are there in a retirement home. Sometimes they have been worked really hard in training and are feeling stressed out.”

Ms Burnett has discovered many horses suffer mood and temperament problems while trying to acclimatise to the summer heat as well as a lack of grass and open spaces.

By speaking with the horses she said she has been able to relay important information about what may be impeding their career development-issues that can range from diet, undiagnosed racing injuries, cramped and humid stable conditions, or lack of sex.

Ms Burnett, who moved to Hong Kong in 1980, says she recently worked with an American-bred horse that was undergoing culture shock, largely because he could not understand the trainers’ Chinese commands.

She said the animals were usually happy to see her, but that did not always guarantee an ill-tempered horse would behave. While meeting Smiling Knight, the horse reared and bit her forearm-although Ms Burnett said the animal had been polite enough to forewarn her.

“Every time I walked past that horse he said, ‘Come here, I want to tell you something, I want to talk to you’, “Ms Burnett said. “I was leaning forward to get away from him, it was so quick, he said, ‘You are slow today’, and I said, ‘I know’.”

Ms Burnett said she first discovered her ability to psychically communicate with animals as a child growing up in Canada.

She credited her grandmother- also a psychic healer- with recognising and supporting her ability, something which she said most children were born with but tended to lose as they faced the scepticism of adulthood.

She said she tends to hear the animals speaking in English but the process does not necessarily entail linguistic communication. Sometimes she understands what what they are saying through a form of telepathy-either by seeing pictures or, if an animal is injured, by physically feeling the pain in her own body.

“It is not like Dr Dolittle where their mouths move or anything like that,: she said.

Last week she made a house call to meet a nervous for-year-old golden retriever. The owners contacted her after the dog began refusing to go outside, a problem that slowly manifested during the past three months.

By speaking with the dog she discovered the animal had suffered a blown eardrum caused by a way-ward firecracker while the family watched Lunar New year celebrations.

The animal was also distressed by the family’s financial problems.

“Dogs understand everything you say to them,” Ms Burnett said. ” A lot of people in the household were very worried about money, so he wasn’t eating enough because he was trying to leave food behind for them.”

Apart from house calls, Ms Burnett said she can also communicate with animals by speaking over the telephone and has chatted with hundreds of pets in the past few months.

Aspirin Acupressure Point for Dogs

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My lovely little friend Holly has put in a request for dogs today. ‘What about us? About us dogs? It’s important to let dog lovers know about the aspirin acupressure spot on us too!’  Holly is very funny. Five years ago, she’s the reason I returned to Canada, from working with elephants in Thailand. She had surgery and had both hind knees replaced and had requested my return to give her Reiki and acupressure to speed up her recovery. She’s a trooper, she went from slow hobble to chasing her squeaky toys in no time flat. She has aged and slowed some since,  but still loves playing everyday. Every few days, she’ll sit at my feet and want some healing. So, I blend Reiki and acupressure together into a treatment. She loosens, stretches out, relaxes and soaks it up.

BL60 for Canines

The benefit of being able to hear Holly,  is that she often asks me to work a particular point, she will guide me through a session. She has often requested BL60, which is the Aspirin Acupressure Point. It’s a natural pain reliever, relaxes muscles, eases headaches, is great for pain in the back, hind limbs and ankles, and can assist in labor. All right at your fingertips!

If you are curious about dog acupressure, a great starting off point is http://www.luckydoghealth.com/dogacupressurechart.htm . I absolutely love the drawing of the dog and it’s been very helpful in my practice with dogs.

Aspirin Acupressure Point

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‘Tis the season to be competing, some injuries, stiffness or general muscle fatigue may have set in. Acupressure point, BL 60, known as the Aspirin point, is just the ticket to relieve any soreness, stiffness or strain that may be occurring. A natural pain reliever, this point relaxes muscles, relieves stiffness in the neck, releases pain in the lower and upper back, in hind limbs and the ankles. In humans it also can be used for headaches, dizziness and convulsions. As the horse’s have lengthened my hours of physical training this past week, I have been holding this point on an hourly basis and enjoying it’s natural pain releasing benefits! It’s a very easy, simple yet incredibly effective tool.

Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 3,000 years ago, using the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension, and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force energy (Qi or chi) to promote health and healing. Using the same points as Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupressure applies a comfortable range of pressure from gentle to firm. Acupressure is safe, non-toxic and definitely habit forming… And the horses absolutely love it!

Be aware that there is no “right” location in acupressure. The exact location of equine, canine, feline and human acupressure points depend on the source. Acupressure drawings offer you a guide, not an exact map. To perform acupressure,  place the ball of your thumb or middle finger on the acupressure point. Gently apply direct pressure to the point while exhaling. Use prolonged pressure directly on the point; gradual, steady, penetrating pressure for approximately three minutes is ideal. Slowly release the point while inhaling.

For horses press whenever you sense your horse could use an aspirin! For yourself, you’ll know when you need it!

 

Laugh Out Loud

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One of the benefits of my job is experiencing a horse’s sense of humour. Today, this youtube video is their request. It was send to me on my birthday from my cousin Paul, it made me laugh out loud all day! So go ahead Laugh Out Loud for no reason whatsoever today, especially if you have the good fortune to be standing beside a horse!

Allergy Acupressure Points for Us Humans

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First off, a very BIG THANK YOU from the horses in Alberta. They wish to thank their human friends who did some acupressure on them after reading the blog yesterday. The CFR is back in sight! These very same horses would like to remind their humans that the damp conditions may be effecting them too. The effects they recognize in us are fatigue, moodiness, cluelessness, befuddlement, moving like we are wading through water, depression, sighing, irritable, frustration, outlook of everything just keeps going wrong and a why bother attitude. These are all symptoms of exposure to mildew or mold. So at their request I am putting up the acupressure points to clear allergies and exposure to mold or mildew for humans.

Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 3,000 years ago, using the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension, and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force energy (Qi or chi) to promote health and healing. Using the same points as Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupressure applies a comfortable range of pressure from gentle to firm. Acupressure is safe, non-toxic and definitely habit forming… And the horses absolutely love it!

To perform acupressure,  place the ball of your thumb or middle finger on the acupressure point. Gently apply direct pressure to the point while exhaling. Use prolonged pressure directly on the point; gradual, steady, penetrating pressure for approximately three minutes is ideal. Slowly release the point while inhaling and move on to the next point.

Here are the acupressure points, their traditional names, location and benefits, which came from my super helpful book, Acupressure’s Potent Points, by Michael Reed Gach.Trust yourself, relax, breath deeply,  go with the flow of energy and enjoy!.

B 10 Heavenly Pillar Location: One-half inch below the base of the skull, on the ropy muscles one-half inch outward from either side of the spine. Benefits:Relieves allergic reactions such as exhaustion, headache and itchy eyes.

K 27 Elegant Mansion Location: In the hollow below the collarbone next to the breastbone. Benefits: Relieves allergies associated with chest congestion, breathing difficulties, asthma, coughing and sore throats.

CV 6 Sea of Energy Location: Two finger widths directly below belly button. Benefits: Relieves allergies that accompany constipation, gas, fatigue, general weakness, tiredness, lethargy and insomnia.

LI 11 Crooked Pond Location: On the top, outer end of the elbow crease. Benefits: Relieves allergies, particularly inflamed skin disorders (such as hives and rashes), itching and fevers.

TW 5 Outer Gate Location: On the top of the forearm between the two armbones, two and one-half finger widths above wrist crease. Benefits: Relieves allergic reactions by strengthening the immune system.

LI 4  Joining Valley ( Caution avoid this point if you are pregnant as it could cause premature contractions in the uterus. ) Location: In the webbing between your thumb and index finger. On the outside of the hand, find the highest spot of the muscle when the thumb and index fingers are brought close together. Benefits: Relieves all kinds of allergies,  such as headaches, hay fever, sneezing, and itching.

St 36 Three Mile Point Location: Four finger widths below the kneecap on the outside of the leg. Benefits: Strengthens the whole body to prevent as well as relieve allergies. Use to relieve fatigue. Stimulation of this point benefits digestion and helps restore the immune system.

LV 3 Bigger Rushing Location: On the top of the foot in the valley between the big toe and the second toe. Benefits: Relieves all kinds of reactions, especially bloodshot eyes and neuromuscular disorders. Invigorates and clears energy systems. Calming point.