Last week I spoke of the importance and theory behind multispecies empathy. This week I offer a practice that can develop your general sense of empathy, and especially that towards other species.
You can do this as a longer journal exercise that
incorporates introspection and science, or by simply going to the imagination step #5. You can do
this as an individual or with others.
The Practice
1. Think of an individual with
whom you have a relationship. Write here what you know of the being. What is
the species? Individual name? Gender? Age? Life stage (growing, juvenile,
parent, etc). Health status? If you can't think of an individual, choose a
species you would like to get to know better or understand.
2. Observe them over a period of time and write what you see them do.
Explain what you see as if you were a reporter with as little judgment or human
projection as possible. In other words, don’t try to interpret the behavior at
this point. It may be easier to choose just a short period of time or one
behavior for this exercise, although you might find it useful for your
relationship to journal at some point about all behaviors you encounter.
3. Now guess what you imagine they
are thinking and feeling. List your guesses here.
4. To help you understand what you
observed, do some research on the species regarding behavior, communication,
feelings, and thoughts. You may find it difficult to find information about
emotions and thinking in nonhuman species. Did you discover any new feelings or
thoughts that occurred in the individual?
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| What is this plush-crested jay thinking and feeling? |
5. Now imagine that you are the animal. Get into
their paws, scales, fur, or feathers for about 15 minutes. Pick an animal that
is in your yard or along a walk or a hike. You can also watch a video or nature
documentary. You become them and now are doing what you have observed them
doing. As this animal, what are you thinking and feeling? For these 15 minutes,
just be them without analyzing too much why they do what they do. After you are
done, ask yourself if you discovered anything new by pretending to be the
animal? Share what you learned with another person and also invite them into
this journal or imagination exercise.
6. Now looking over the list of
feelings and thoughts, make a list of this individual’s needs. Try to be as
complete as possible as you go through the behaviors observed or if you have
the time, a normal day as this individual. How might these needs be different
from another individual of the same species, or from the average needs of this
species?
7. What feelings and needs arise
in you when you consider the feelings and needs of this individual?
8. What have you discovered about
this individual, this species, yourself, or life through this exercise? If you
have discovered anything, what needs of yours or the individual does what you
have learned meet, or not meet?
9. Go back and spend time
connecting to the energy of the other being by reviewing their feelings and
needs, and then do the same with yourself. Allow this to be a time of being and
connecting to life, without thought of requests or demands.
10. Then consider possible actions or steps you might do, or ask of
others, based on this multispecies empathy exercise.
11. Share what you have learned or experienced with
others and invite them into the exercise.
Please let me know how this exercise was for you, and if you have any suggestions or creative idea on how to use it.
In hope for all beings,
LoraKim Joyner
