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How Animals Honor Boundaries

April 20, 2026 · 41 min

Show notes

In this episode, Karen, Meredith, and Julie explore one of the most quietly powerful lessons our animals offer us: how to honor boundaries - our own, theirs, and each other's. Animals set boundaries without guilt, without over-explaining, and without second-guessing themselves, and in doing so, they hold up a mirror to the places where we humans struggle most. From India's pack-disrupting behavior that first awakened Julie to her peacekeeper patterns, to Meredith's unforgettable nose-to-nose encounter with Pedro Pascal Possum, to the nipping little dog who was simply trying to wake his human up to her own unmet needs - the animals in our lives are constantly communicating. The question is whether we're paying attention. Together, the hosts reflect on throat chakras and self-expression, reactive dogs and energy management, lost animals refusing to come home until their humans learn surrender, and the beautiful truth that the stronger our own boundaries, the more fully we can show up for community, co-creation, and the ones we love most.

RESOURCES:

Medicine Cards - Julie references looking up opossum in it after Meredith's Pedro Pascal Possum story -

https://bookshop.org/p/books/medicine-cards-the-discovery-of-power-through-the-ways-of-animals-david-carson/a159e15cfb37631c?ean=9780312204914&next=t

Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.

YOUR HOSTS

Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her and her monthly Pet Loss Grief Circles at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our website (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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