This book probably should have been subtitled “Animal Communication for the Slightly Skeptical.” Unlike some animal communicators, author Marta Williams takes less an evangelical or mystical approach, and more one favoring common sense and developing your own powers of observation and intuition.

I included the “slightly” because, of course, the true skeptic will have no time for any sort of intuitive communication with animals or nature, and nothing in Williams’ book will change that mindset. But for those, like me, who tend to shy away from “animal pyschics” but still have at least some belief in the ability of humans and animals to communicate with each other, Williams’ approach will be a breath of fresh air.

In Learning Their Language, Williams’ focus is primarily on teaching pet owners to understand their animals by using their intuition. She takes the reader step-by-step through how to quiet the rational mind and open up to intuition.

I first read Learning Their Language after losing a young dog to a sudden illness. The chapter on talking to dead animals was very comforting to me, and doing the exercises in it gave me a lot of peace. It’s easy to believe that the exercises could bring someone comfort, though, regardless of whether or not there is genuine communication going on. But I shortly afterward used another of her techniques to understand what was going on with Doughal, a dog of my mother’s who was sick. We had been taking him to the vet, where he was getting regular acupuncture treatments as well as a number of tests that required we draw blood, and also daily injections. I was sitting with him quietly in the vet office waiting area, and I focused on him in the way Williams teaches and asked him if there was anything he could tell me about his somewhat mysterious health problem. I then let my mind empty out and was very shocked to hear the words “I don’t want any more NEEDLES!” as clearly as if they were being shouted in my ear. It was so clear and strong that my eyes flew open and I gasped. While this is not proof of any kind, it convinced me, and there were no more needles for Doughal, who did go on to recover without them. I had no previous belief that he didn’t like the needles, particularly acupuncture, which I assumed he enjoyed.

A no-nonsense approach comes naturally for Williams, whose background is in the sciences. She has a degree in Resource Conservation from the University of California at Berkeley, and a MS in Biology and Systematic Ecology from San Francisco State University. According to Williams, “I spent many years studying wildlife in the field, rehabilitating ill and injured animals, and working as an environmental scientist.

“An academic background made learning animal communication somewhat difficult. Although I hoped animal communication was real, it was hard to accept it and even harder to believe that I could do it. Also, when I started out animal communication was much less accepted than it is today and I found it uncomfortable to discuss the subject with uninformed people or to be very public about my interest in it. The process I had to go through to trust my ability and accept myself was instructive. It helped me become a good teacher and be understanding of others who are just learning.”

Because of Williams’ sensitivity to the skeptic within each of us, she designs her practices to leave room for a certain amount of disbelief. For example, while she discusses communicating with animals who are now dead, she acknowledges that some of her readers will not believe in a life after death, and simply suggests they skip that particular exercise. Instead of wasting time on a pointless argument about things no one can prove or disprove, she just moves on. Although I do believe in an existence beyond physical death, the book worked better for me knowing that the author was not so entrenched in dogma that she couldn’t put herself in the shoes of a reader who didn’t share her world view.

Even the (slightly) skeptical can improve their relationship with the animals in their life by using the exercises in Williams’ book. Perhaps you will simply have the quiet time and attention necessary to put subliminal awareness and unconscious observations together. Perhaps your dog or cat or horse or other pet really is trying to tell you something. Or maybe you just need to focus your attention on your relationship with your pet. Whatever your beliefs about animal communication, Williams’ approach is simple to learn and effective to use.

Whether you do or do not believe your animals can communicate with you, your relationship with your pets can be improved with the techniques Williams teaches.

Copyright 2005 by Christie Keith. Used with permission. All rights reserved.