Re-enchanting the World: How to Learn From Animals

Rupert Sheldrake

Introduction and Personal History with Animals

Introduction to Mystics and Scientists conference, 43rd edition.

Conference theme: Re-enchanting nature, learning from animals.

Speaker's introduction: Learning from non-human animals.

Similarities and differences between humans and other animals; genetic linkage.

Speaker's childhood affinity with animals and various pets.

Fascination with pigeons and their homing abilities.

Early Biological Studies and Ethical Concerns

Contrast between personal experience and scientific view of animals.

Alienation from direct experience through dissection in biological education.

Gap year experience in a vivisection facility; ethical dilemma.

Comparison of animal treatment in research labs to Nazi death camps.

Shift from animal to plant research; later return to animal research with ethical considerations.

Research on Animal Abilities and Unexplained Phenomena

Research on homing pigeons; refutation of magnetic sense theories.

Research on termites and their mound-building coordination.

Research on dogs knowing when their owners are coming home; experimental design and results.

Database of unexplained animal abilities; examples of telepathic abilities.

Learning from Animals: Humility, Love, and Healing

Learning humility from animals' superior movement abilities.

Learning about animals' superior sensory abilities.

Learning about animals' superior survival abilities.

Learning about unconditional love from animals.

Intuitive Sensitivity, Telepathy, and Animal-Based Warning Systems

Animals' intuitive sensitivity to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Chinese system of earthquake prediction based on animal behavior.

Proposal for animal-based earthquake warning systems.

Telepathic abilities of animals; survey results.

Telepathic communication between bonded animals and humans.

Additional Lessons from Animals: Presence, Beauty, Patience, and Death

Learning about being present from animals.

Learning about death and terminal lucidity from animals.

Learning about joy and bliss from animals.

Summary of key points; emphasis on continuity view of nature.

Discussion of terminal lucidity research.

Discussion of animals anticipating accidents and death of owners.

Discussion of animals' perception of time.

Discussion of whether animals can have spiritual experiences.

Discussion of the need for humans to connect with animals and nature from the heart.