The Manger Angels

A beautiful memory that I will never forget, major lessons from animals and all that is. I hope you enjoy this little journey back in time to 1999-ish.

A feeling of total peace came over me as I sat on the floor of a barn at Spring Farm CARES animal sanctuary in upstate New York on a perfect fall morning.

Spring Farm Cares Clinton, NY

Each year during the holidays, the season of peace and joy, I am taken back to the time that I was shown by some special animals, what it must have been like in the manger the 1st Christmas day.

It was late October and the leaves were painted in beautiful bright oranges, reds, yellows, golds and browns. I was having the most wonderful time driving through the mountains of central New York state. Each small town that I passed through made me smile, and sometime shake my head, as I took in all of the Halloween decorations that adorned each front porch, door and yard. Not just the typical carved pumpkins and the occasional stalk of dried corn, but painted tomb stones, coffins with Dracula popping out, ghosts in trees, spider webs on bushes… a much needed delight and distraction as I was nearing the end of my 12 hour drive from Virginia to Spring Farm CARES.

The long drive allowed me to decompress from my usual day-to-day life as a video editor for a Washington, DC TV news operation, and get me in the energy of nature and the animals.

I was so excited to be going to this magical place that is home to many animal teachers and master teachers, to attend my first advanced animal communication course taught by an amazing animal communicator, Dawn Hayman. I was “called” there by a llama named Gulliver and hoped to learn why he wanted me to be there. I could not wait to meet him.

Gulliver

Our first class assignment was to go have a conversation with an animal. I went to the various horses, donkeys, ducks that were in the barn but I was blocked. Nothing! Crickets? Not even a peep for a cricket! I was blocked. It was a horrible feeling. Kind of feeling defeated. The doubts crept in. I can’t do this! I’m not good enough!

The I remembered why I came all that way. I had to meet Gulliver. Now mind you I have never seen a llama up close. Very exciting thought. My heart was happy again and I headed that way.

I arrived at the door that leads to the area where the llamas, sheep and goats lived. I had to pause and take in what I saw. It was a beautiful sight.

A beam of sunlight was shining on a female student sitting on hay that covered the floor of the barn. She was leaning with her back against a wall. She was facing two horse stalls, and able to see into the area where the llamas and sheep were. Three adorable goats were near her. It was a tender and moving moment. I didn’t want to disturb the scene and began to back away. She motioned me to come in and I did. I quietly sat down on the floor of the barn with my back against the wooden wall of a horse stall.

I had never sat on the floor of a barn before, but here I was, a dream come true.

With my back resting against the wall of a horse stall, and a horse just on the other side, my feet were stretched out straight in front of me. About one foot away from the bottom of my feet was Gulliver. He was lying down on the barn floor with his head erect looking deeply into my eyes. His legs were tucked under his body much like a kitty does.

Just behind him, also sitting on the floor, was his good friend Corrie, a solid white llama.

To my immediate left were 3 black sheep, Angel and her sons, Michael & Gabriel.

To my right stood Simon, a white goat that had long ears and a very long white beard.

Rounding out this group were two black and white goats that were walking back and forth greeting other students that would walk in, sit down for a moment or two, and then leave. There was no way that I was going anywhere! This was magical!

The Manger Angels

The scene seemed to be more like a dream than reality to me. I just could not get over the fact that I was actually sitting on the ground, closely surrounded by so many amazing animals. Each one of them alone is an amazing being. As a group… well let me share my experience with you.

How to begin?

Well that is a silly question. The connection began long before I left my home. It was a deep connection and a calling that I could not ignore. But silly human me did not know at the time that I did not need to ask the unimportant human questions. This group preferred the no-word conversations that I was barely beginning to scratch the surface of, let alone understand. But yes, animals love to teach and show us. All we have to do is be quiet and listen. I did not know that back then so we continue…

Gulliver

I began to ask some questions of this group, especially “my” amazing Gulliver. Answers came to the trivial questions that I asked, as students entered and exited the area. Then I was alone with them.

I took slow, deep breaths filling my lungs with the wonderful clear, cool, fall air along with the aroma of straw, earth and the unique smells of each animal.

I told Gulliver that I loved him and thanked him for the blessings that he sent me at the first workshop in Virginia and I told him that I would never forget him. I told him that I was honored to be so close to him. He looked at me with his large deep dark eyes, gave recognition, but nothing more.

(I now know there was so much more in the silence…the meaning behind translations into human words)

Gabriel (one of the black sheep) walked up to greet me, as I sat on the floor of their barn, and looked deeply into my eyes. As our hearts and souls came together in that moment. Tears filled my eyes as more emotion poured into my heart and soul. He wanted to see my pen and paper. He kept pushing my hand that held a pen to take notes. I told him that I wanted to make some notes so that I would never forget. He didn’t see the point in that! (What I would give for a photo or video. It was so funny)

Gabriel seemed unsure when other students would come and go from their area. He would go over to Gulliver, touching him and nuzzling him. Gulliver reassured him that all was well and that the humans were all students that were there to learn from them.

I heard Simon the goat say, “I can fly with the angels!” I thought I was hearing things, but he said it again. Not out loud like Mr Ed, but in the silence. He had a sparkle in his eyes. A little impish if you ask me. I had to giggle and yet what did he mean by that? Fly with angels.

At that sam moment Gabriel came over to me and sniffed my shoes. I asked him what he learned by doing that. He replied, “To know where you have been and if you are an ok being.” That made sense to me.

Celeste, another goat, said, “Can’t you see the angels? They are all around us! Can’t you feel them?”

I looked in the air and saw tiny sparks of light that seemed to be floating in the air and then I closed my eyes. I could “feel” the angels that Celeste mentioned. There were many of them, all around us filling the space that we occupied as well as outside. All I could do was smile and wonder.

I opened my eyes and as I did I felt the deepest peace that I have ever known.

Gulliver and the others told me that what I was feeling is the peace that was felt in the Manger at the moment that Jesus was born. I looked into each of their eyes, one at a time, and thanked them. There was so much more communicated in the silence of the moment. This is my best translation.

Gulliver said to me, “Now you are beginning to learn what we are all about. Each of us are teachers, and you have so much to learn. Be patient and open.”

I asked, “What do you have to teach me and what do I have to learn from you?”

Gulliver and the group replied, “When we are all together, peace and joy is all around. Can’t you feel it? Let it flow. Let it fill you and send it back to the Universe for all to enjoy.”

I felt as if I was in another place, not on this earth but closer to heaven, as if I was in the Manger Scene, surrounded by white light and angels. (my translation but just imagine the most beautiful peaceful feeling that you have ever hand and triple it!)

I stayed in that moment with my “Manger Angels” until the group was called back inside. I did not want to leave.

When it was my turn to share my experience with the group of animal communication students, I did my best to put into words what I experienced with Gulliver & friends. Our teacher Dawn, told us that there actually are angels there!

I had no idea at that time, that the place in the barn where I was sitting with Gulliver and the Manger Angels was very close to the site of a horrible fire that had taken place almost to that very day of the year, several years before. The Manger Angels had witnessed not only the barn burning to the ground, but also the loss of many of their animal friends. There was a big snow storm that Halloween night and the fire trucks could not get to them. ANGELS!

The angels that Simon and Celeste wanted me to see were the many animals that had lived at Spring Farm that are now in spirit.

At the time I did not know what kind of impact my experience with the Manger Angels would have on me, but it was life changing. That moment in time was a fork in the road on my path of life that has taken me to the present moment and will stay with me for the rest of my life. I often return to that moment where I am surrounded by Gulliver, Simon and the Manger Angels. I sit with them in the silence and live the experience once again. The feeling of peace and unconditional love between all species. The deepest soul connecting silent communication of simply BEING with yourself or others in a moment where time stands still.

The message from Gulliver and the Manger Angels to we humans is to BE the peace on earth and BE hope and unconditional love and BE the light. Connect every day with animals and allow your bright inner light to shine for the world to see.

This is the YOU that animals see.

My wish for you is that you too find this kind of deep connection, love and peace with your animal companions and all animals. Just “BE” with them in silence and allow them to teach you and show you the way.