Customer Reviews

Shapeshifting with Our Animal Companions: Connecting with the Spiritual Awareness of All Life

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Brunke details with tender honesty her journey to more deeply understand, and interconnect, with animals. She begins by narrating her special relationship with her pet dog, and how he guides her to experience a different realm where she can tap into not only the thoughts of animals, but her own past lives. With dogs Barney and Zac as her guides, Brunke learns the fine art of shapeshifting which enables her to communicate not only with dogs, but wildlife and even plant forms. Some readers may be skeptical of Brunke's experiences, but her writing is so honest, straight forward and raw that it is easy to understand and believe in the experiences that she describes. Her story is not only original, interesting, and compelling but dives into spiritual issues that lie at the core of our lives. Readers who are fans of Conversations with God will definitely enjoy Brunke's spiritual conversations with animals. This is not only a beautiful nature narrative (much of the book takes place in Alaska), but will shift the way you relate to all non human life forms. The lessons in this book will help readers to connect with animals, and all life forms, on a deeper and more profound level.

SHAPESHIFTING WITH OUR ANIMAL COMPANIONS takes readers deeper into Dawn Baumann Brunkes world of animal communications to the realm of conversations and merged consciousness with other living beings. The shapeshifting Brunke describes in this book is that of sharing consciousness with others, and thereby gaining newfound appreciation for other lifeforms as we let go of our old ideas and habitual patterns, experience life the way other animals live it, and gain a tremendously expanded knowledge and understanding of the significance and spirit of all that is.

The idea that our animal companions in everyday life can also be spirit guides is at the heart and soul of this book, as Brunke shares insights she has obtained from her pet dog Barney that assist her in learning to blend consciousness with others. Brunke's journaling of a variety of plant and animal communications that ensue bring us along on her journey, which ends up illustrating how we are all interconnected -- how we are all One.

The plants and animals who communicate with Brunke share wise messages which sound much like the perennial teachings from long-established spiritual faiths and traditions, which is what gives this Brunke's third book on animal communication a much more spiritual tone than its predecessors. As Brunke's dog, Barney, transitions from life to death, a deep sense of eternal connectedness comes through the messages that Brunke continues to receive from Barney, even after his passing. Many of Barney's messages to Brunke remind us of simple truths which we so often tend to forget, and can greatly benefit from taking time to remember... such as everything you need is right here, right now.

I highly recommend SHAPESHIFTING as a book that can help you transcend boundaries between yourself and others... even those who cannot speak, and those who have passed on. This is one of those rare books that leaves readers feeling a "reader's high" long after the last pages are read and the book is placed back on the shelf, as it continues to work its special magic in our hearts.

How very pleased I am to be reviewing Shapeshifting with Our Animal Companions, by extraordinary author and intuitive mystic, Dawn Baumann Brunke. This is her third book exploring the deep, spiritual nature of animals. Previously, Animal Voices and Awakening to Animal Voices demonstrated the power and wisdom gained through animal communication, an ability Dawn possesses to the highest degree, using that ability to interact with animals in the most honorable and insightful way. Her newest offering excels in the field of metaphysics, an essential manual for discovering who we truly are in our expanded selves, as we allow the supposed borders between ourselves and others to dissolve through the process of shapeshifting.
I would easily categorize this volume as a textbook, one that should be carefully studied and kept close for personal reference, so rich is the material presented by the author. And in this age of rapidly shifting and expanding awareness regarding all forms of life, we need all the help we can get. But don't be fooled by the term textbook, because once you start reading, you will find it virtually impossible to put it down. Skillfully written, words and sentences, ideas and concepts flow beautifully one to the other.
For much of the book her dog, Barney, is her companion, guide, and teacher, initially while alive in his physical body, but then after his death, in his spirit consciousness. Barney leads Dawn - and us, their readers, into realms that may seem improbable on first glance. Eventually, however, as one reads on, we realize all the possibilities and probabilities Barney and other beings (in a variety of form and consciousness) offer for consideration, and personal practices well worth adopting.
Dawn Baumann Brunke has been well-known and respected in her field of healing, metaphysics and animal communication for many years. Her work with animals and spirituality is a gift to all, and in my opinion, there is no one finer to turn to for the guidance and assistance we all yearn for, consciously or subconsciously, as the world around us and within us changes and evolves. Shapeshifting with Our Animal Companions is a grand book, well-crafted by the publisher, with comfortable print and generous-sized pages. I could not recommend it more highly. Visit her excellent website at www.animalvoices.net. ~

It could as well at the beginning of this book be "The Teachings of Barney", Dawn's dog at the end of his life and beyond...

But very soon it became the teachings of Zak and Max,her other dogs and then those of other animals and all kind of spiritual beings or groups... all about spaceshifting and the astounding exploration of the multidimensional aspect of spiritual life....

It compells you to see all the living beings on Earth as spirits incarnated, with a lot of wisdom instead of just animals without souls or plants without feelings...

By writing that book Dawn did a great service to all animals,and all life on the whole planet.

Shapeshifting with Our Animal Companions, by Dawn Baumann Brunke, explores the spiritual connections and awareness of all life. Brunke is known and respected in her field and her book takes readers beyond the basics of animal communication and into spiritual awareness through a merging of consciousness with other life forms. The idea is that humans can expand their perception and release their fear of death by experiencing the world as other species see it.

Having read Rita Reynolds, Marta Williams, and others, I feel that it's increasingly obvious that humans have a lot to learn. It's also apparent that the field of interspecies communication now attracts well-educated people, who take their discoveries and research seriously. Since indigenous peoples around the world consider it an honor to have animals as their companions and guides, the idea is far from new.

Brunke's book defines shapeshifting as moving in and out of shared awareness with others, specifically animals, in this case. Barney, Brunke's dog, shares his wisdom and leads her through a variety of lessons. With Barney's guidance, she attempts to share "an image of the web of life." It makes one wonder in a new way about Walt Whitman's reference to "a sharing of atoms" in the Leaves of Grass. Readers who are open to a variety of belief systems will enjoy pondering the ideas that don't click immediately. Others with a background in this subject will find new ideas that go beyond the more common beliefs.

Barney takes the reader along on journeys into many realms of science, spirituality, and religion. So many philosophies blend that some people may have difficulty reconciling all of them. However, the book is worth reading to the end to see where it's going. In fact, it's the only way to give this deluge of new material fair consideration. Brunke includes a wonderful list of related books to facilitate exploring this subject further.

From forms of consciousness to expanding our perception and to death as a transformation, there's a lot to digest. Brunke could have elaborated or footnoted more of the history and origins for those readers who aren't already well versed in a variety of spiritual beliefs. However, readers with an inquiring mind will still be able to dive in and continue the exploration. This isn't the typical animal communication how-to book.

While some people may question the information in this book, it's a fact that a growing number of animals prove to be self-aware. In addition, medical schools now teach at least one form of energy healing. How can we be sure what we have yet to learn? If you enjoy broadening your thinking, love animals, and reach eagerly into new realms, this is the book for you. The lessons are a bit like peeling off layers of an onion and gently moving deeper toward the core, one ring at a time.

by Penny Leisch
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

This is truly a great book. I have numerous books on animal communication and I was really torn on whether to buy another one (this one) that could end up similar to the others I already own. I am truly grateful that I followed my intuition and ordered not only this book but all of her others too. I got this book in first and dove right in - since I'd read other animal communication books before, I knew that I didn't need another basics review before starting this one.

This book is much more than just an animal communication book. This is also a great work concerning shamanic shapeshifting. This book shares how you can completely open yourself to all life around us, animals, plants, rocks, etc. This is a very deep book that if you allow yourself to open up to these things as she does, it can be truly lifechanging and you'll never look at anything around you the same way again. This explains the techniques and possibilities of shamanic shapeshifting better than I have found in other shamanic books.

I love how she shares that there's a natural flow among all plants and animals. That there's a flow of eating, being eaten, and returning to the earth to start all over again. The thought I had while reading about animal communication is that once you learn to communicate with animals, would you feel the need to become a vegetarian? Maybe, but this opens up to a broader aspect that animals understand the natural flow so that this may not be necessary. This book allows you to communicate more deeply to explore this decision for yourself.

I am so grateful to Dawn for sharing the deeper conversations with her animals. So much more than "what do you do at your house?" "what do you want to tell your owner about why you're acting this way?" All the other books I've read on animal communication seem like a "30 minute TV show" compared to the vastness of this book and its material. Barney's conversations and teachings to Dawn concerning spiritual lessons, explorations, and the physical possibilities are truly mind blowing. Not what you would think to be hearing from an animal when reading some of the other authors' books (or they hint at these possible conversations without any explanation of what they mean). Other books give you the impression that animals are very 'simple' in their thoughts and how they communicate, this book dispels that notion completely.

One of the other reviewers remarked that this is a workbook. I completely agree. I can see rereading this book many times and noticing things I didn't remember reading before. I truly expect to be doing the exercises/journeys over and over again to deepen my connection to all life.

Don't get me wrong - this isn't a step by step exercise type of book. That is great for basic learning but this book is for deepening your connections by following along with Dawn on her journey, finding your own daily journeys like what she goes through in this book.

I've found myself repeatedly having to set it aside to absorb the messages here, knowing that I'll have to return again later to see what I'm missing now. I look forward to reading her other books that I received and posting a review for each of them. I love how each book is thick, so I feel that there is substance there - and I trust that there will be true substance, not just fluff stories to just take up pages as it seems in other books I've read.

If you have an interest in animal communication and how to deepen your connection with all life - not just in people and animals - but also plants, rocks, the planet, etc, then please check out this book and see what can be possible. Her sincerity and honesty in truly wanting to share her story with others is so tangible, you can see how another might have these experiences but end up too afraid of being called 'crazy' and not brave enough to write this book. I highly recommend this book to all who have an interest in animal communication and also shamanic techniques and shapeshifting.

Who knows, maybe Barney will visit you to help you on this journey as you read along with Dawn's journey.

I was introduced to this book by a friend. The last dog I had was very sensitive and I could feel she was communicating with me. I just wish I had understood and knew more about animal communication, I could have worked with her more and learned from her as well as her learning from me. The book is very well written and communicates what the author has learned by communicating with her little
"Barney" who communicates with the authors other dogs. Barney teaches and encourages the author how to start communicating with all species in nature. Barney leads the author through his death process and continues teaching from the other side bringing other groups into the teaching process. All the creatures that are brought into this process emphasize the fact that all is part of Shapeshifting from one aspect to another. It has opened a doorway in my consciousness to allow me to understand my connection to many areas which I have questioned in my life. A truly incredible book.