Animal Communicator in Portland, Oregon — What to Expect from a Session with Michelle Hawk

Animal Communicator in Portland, Oregon — What to Expect from a Session with Michelle Hawk

If you've been curious about animal communication but aren't sure what actually happens in a session, you're not alone. Most people come to their first session with a mix of hope, curiosity, and at least a little skepticism. That's completely normal — and it doesn't get in the way of the work.

I'm Michelle Hawk, a professional animal communicator and pet psychic based in Portland, Oregon. I've been offering animal communication sessions since 2008, and I've worked with over a thousand clients — from Portland and the Columbia River Gorge to clients across the US and worldwide. Let’s dive in, and I’ll walk you through exactly what you can expect before, during, and after a session, so you feel informed and ready when you decide to book.

What Is Animal Communication, Exactly?

Animal communication — sometimes called a pet psychic reading, animal whispering, or pet medium session — is a form of intuitive mediumship. It's based on the understanding that all living things are connected through a shared consciousness, and that it's possible to form an energetic connection with an animal and receive and translate their thoughts, feelings, and messages.

In practice this means I connect with your pet energetically and act as a translator — conveying what your animal shares with me in as close to their own words as possible. Animals communicate through pictures, words or phrases, body sensations, smells, and a sense of direct knowing. Some animals are more visual, some more verbal, some more feeling-oriented — just like people.

One of the most common questions I get is whether animal communication works at a distance. The answer is yes — completely. Because the connection is energetic rather than physical, I can communicate with your pet whether they're in the same room, across the country, or have passed on. The vast majority of my sessions are virtual, via Zoom, with clients in Portland and worldwide.

I got into animal communication in 2008 after my childhood dog passed away. I loved her and I missed her so much, and I still felt a strong connection to her spirit even through the pain of missing her physical presence. I felt her energy around me, sending me signs and messages.

That strong feeling led me to take an animal communication class because I wanted to stay connected with her. But during the class, I realized how much I had already been communicating not only with my dog, but with many animals throughout my entire life. I realized that animals are communicating with us all the time, and when we learn how to listen, our connection grows that much stronger, more rich and fulfilling. Since then, I have shared my animal communication practice with others who love their animals and want to hear them clearly.

What Can You Bring to an Animal Communication Session?

People come to me for many different reasons. Some are dealing with a specific challenge; others simply want to check in with their pet and make sure they're happy. Here are some of the most common reasons Portland-area and online clients book sessions:

Behavior challenges are one of the most frequent reasons people reach out. Dog reactivity, aggression, cats eliminating outside the litter box, horses clashing with their rider, birds plucking feathers — these are all situations where hearing directly from your animal can reveal what's beneath the behavior in a way that behavioral training alone often can't.

Health concerns are another common reason. I'm not a veterinarian and I can't officially diagnose anything — but I can ask your animal how they're feeling, where in their body they're experiencing discomfort, and tune in energetically for more information. Many clients find this kind of session especially helpful for "mystery maladies" that haven't responded to conventional diagnosis, or for checking in on whether a treatment plan is actually helping.

End-of-life support is some of the most meaningful work I do. If your pet is aging or ill, animal communication can help you understand what they need for comfort, whether they're ready to go, and what they want to tell you before they leave. Many people find these sessions bring profound peace to what is otherwise one of the hardest experiences of loving an animal.

Connecting with pets who have passed on is also possible, and deeply healing for many people. I recommend waiting at least a month after a pet passes before booking, to allow grief to soften and support the clearest possible connection.

Other common reasons include adopting a new pet, moving to a new home, welcoming a new baby or family member, and simple happiness check-ins — because sometimes you just want to know that your beloved animal is living their best life.

What Happens in a Session — Step by Step

Here's exactly what a typical session looks like:

Before Your Session

Once you book, you'll receive an intake form to complete before your appointment. The most important thing you'll submit is a clear, recent photo of your animal — this is the only thing I need to make a connection. Your pet does not need to be present, awake, or even nearby during the session.

Take some time before your appointment to think about your questions. What do you most want to understand? What would you most like to tell your pet? There are no wrong questions.

During Your Session

I begin by connecting with the spirit of your pet and verify with you that I'm speaking with the correct animal. I then invite your animal to share whatever is on their mind — often this relates directly to why you've booked, but sometimes unexpected information comes through that turns out to be the most valuable part of the session.

Once your animal has shared their opening thoughts, I turn to you for specific questions. You ask one at a time, and I convey what your animal shares as closely to their own words as possible — including words, images, sensations, emotions, and more. At the close of the session, I ask your animal if they have anything else to share before we finish.

If your session is on Zoom, you have the option to record it so you can revisit the conversation later. Many clients tell me they listen to their recording multiple times and notice new things each time.

After Your Session

Depending on what comes up, I may send a follow-up email with recommendations, resources, or referrals — including information on nutrition and supplements, training and behavior support, or connections to other practitioners who might help.

Who I Work With

While most of my sessions are with dogs, cats, and horses, I've successfully communicated with birds, rabbits, snakes, lizards, goats, sheep, rats, squirrels, guinea pigs, and a wide range of exotic pets. All species are welcome.

I offer in-person sessions throughout the greater Portland, Oregon area and the Columbia River Gorge — in your home, at a barn, or wherever your animal is most comfortable. Virtual sessions via Zoom are available for clients anywhere in the world.

One of my most memorable in-person sessions in Portland took place several years ago, with a dog who was in the final stages of her life. Her family reached out to me when her health suddenly took a turn, and they wanted to confirm that it was time to help her go. I was able to squeeze an in-person session in my schedule the following day, so I went to their house and got to share this dog’s final messages for her family. Everyone was crying (myself included) and the dog was simply overflowing with love, gratitude and care for her family. The people told me after we finished our session that they had scheduled an in-home euthanasia for an hour later, and were now feeling clear and peaceful about helping their dog to make her crossing.

I have helped many animals through virtual sessions, but it always feels a little extra special when I’m able to meet with clients in person in Portland, especially for tender moments like that one.

A Note on Skepticism

Some of my clients arrive skeptical. That's fine — animal communication works whether you believe in it or not. What consistently convinces people isn't anything I say about the process; it's the specific, verifiable details that come through. Animals share exact physical symptoms, precise locations in the home, personality quirks, and other details I couldn't have known. The proof, as they say, is in the session.

If you're not sure whether animal communication is right for your situation, I encourage you to read what past clients have shared about their experiences before you book.

How to Book an Animal Communication Session in Portland, OR

Sessions start at $100 for a 20-minute virtual session and $250 for a 60-minute session. In-person sessions in the Portland area are available by arrangement.

Booking is straightforward: choose your session length on the calendar, submit your intake form with a photo of your animal, and take a few minutes to think about your questions. That's all you need to do to prepare.

If your situation is urgent or time sensitive — particularly in the case of a lost or missing pet — please email me directly for priority scheduling.

I've been doing this work for over 20 years, and I still find every session extraordinary. Animals have so much to say. I'd love to help you hear them.

Michelle Hawk is a professional animal communicator, pet psychic, and biologist based in Portland, Oregon. She offers virtual animal communication sessions worldwide and in-person sessions throughout the greater Portland area and Columbia River Gorge.

Intuitive Super Powers

What are some aspects of your intuition that you would like to cultivate?

Seriously, please share :)

A couple of years ago, I came across an old journal of mine from when I was about 13 years old. When I opened it to reminisce, I saw that the first page contained a list I had written, detailing the super powers that I wanted to have. I had organized them into categories and made notes about the possible combinations of these super powers and how they might inform and support each other. Here is the list:
ANIMALS
-Being able to talk to them
-Take on an animal shape
PLANTS
-Making medicine/using them for healing
-Helping them grow
PEOPLE
-Reading minds/telepathy
-Healing
-Giving energy
OTHER
-Flying
-Time travel
-Seeing future (drawings, poems, songs, visions, dreams, other methods of divination)
-Communicating with other worlds

The fact that I wrote this list as a 13 year old (and more importantly, the fact that I now practice most of these, and many more) blows my mind. From a fairly young age, I had a clearly defined idea of the “super powers” that I wanted to cultivate, most of them related to developing my intuition. Over the intervening years, I forgot about this list, but I somehow ended up finding the appropriate circumstances, teachers and guides to help me awaken these intuitive abilities.

So I invite you to consider what super powers you have always wanted to cultivate. What intuitive abilities do you wish you could awaken? Maybe your psychic vision is very clear—would you like to grow your clairaudience as well?

Please share--I am genuinely curious! And if you feel called, please join me on Sunday, March 26, for my workshop on Sensory Intuition. Register here.

Honoring Ten Years of Reiki and My First Teacher

This week marks the 10 year anniversary of when I began officially studying Reiki, though my lessons in energy healing began years earlier. My first teacher was my dog, Ginger. She was a beautiful yellow lab—a great family dog and my wonderful companion. We spent long hours playing together outside and rolling in the grass. Nothing comes close to the contagious goofiness of a puppy.

When Ginger was six years old, she was diagnosed with diabetes. This event marked a significant shift in the nature of our relationship: Ginger and I were no longer the springy young puppy and giggling child. She was an adult dog experiencing a health challenge and I was her big sister who wanted to take care of her. I was desperate to help her feel better. Twelve years old at the time, I was mature and capable enough to learn how to help monitor her diet and energy levels, test her blood sugar and give her insulin injections. While my attention to Ginger’s needs increased on the medical front, her illness also deepened our energetic relationship and loving connection. I would sit with her while she lay in her bed and put my hands on her, not petting her, but holding my hands in place on her body. I remember visualizing colored light flowing from my body, down my arms, through my hands and into her. No one had ever told me to do that or taught me about energy healing—it just seemed like a good idea. Ginger herself seemed to request that I place my hands on her when she looked at me dolefully. After 10 or 15 minutes, she would twitch her skin under my hands and I would understand that she had had enough.

Over the next few years, my connection with Ginger deepened as we both matured and I continued to offer her colored light through my hands. Then, when I was 15, my mom made friends with some women who had recently opened a massage and Reiki clinic in the area. I was interested to speak with these “energy workers” based on her description. My mom brought me and Ginger into the clinic to meet them and have a look around. When they began speaking with me about energy healing work, I felt completely mesmerized. They told me about Reiki and it was as though something deep within me awoke with the validation that this was a practice that existed in the world, not just in my relationship with my dog. I told them what I had been doing with Ginger and they said to me, “That’s Reiki. You should go take a class and be trained in that.”

I didn’t begin studying Reiki immediately—the timing didn’t feel quite right to start formally learning an established discipline. Instead I began intuitively exploring my Shamanic practice around that time, and it wasn’t until 2006 (at 19 years of age) when I began studying under a human teacher. A local Reiki Master attuned me to Reiki I on August 13, 2006 and I took Reiki II with her two months later. My mom began studying Reiki with another Master soon after that, then after completing her studies, she later attuned me as a Reiki Master in December of 2008. Learning from human teachers, combined with the fact that my investigation of Reiki overlapped with my time studying biology in university, gave my previously intuitive exploration a scientific, academic flavor. I’ll save that story for another time.

Suffice it to say that my practice has grown and changed significantly in the intervening years, but some things remain the same as they were when my dear Ginger first pulled healing energy from me almost 20 years ago. She was my first, most patient teacher who spoke to me through subtle cues that demanded my complete presence and attention if I was to receive them. From her I learned how to open to my intuition and allow it to inform my actions. I learned how to be present as a vessel for healing to take place, and later I learned that I was capable of animal communication. (As I processed my devastating grief over her passing I became consciously aware of the intimate psychic connection we had enjoyed throughout her life.) Laying my hands on Ginger and allowing healing energy to flow through me set the stage for me to meet my wonderful human teachers and receive the conscious training and direction I needed to deepen my awareness. The strength of the intuitive practice that Ginger instilled in me allowed me to easily step into the teachings of Reiki and integrate the energy seamlessly with my own on the conscious level.

As I reflect on my 10 years of working with Reiki, I know that no other practice has done more for me, personally and professionally, to promote my health, well-being and happiness. Yes, my practice now includes other modalities, especially a deep connection working with Shamanism, but it all began with me as a young girl loving my dog, wanting to help her feel better and doing the best thing I could imagine: offering her light and love. Ginger opened the door for me to connect deeply with her, and in doing so, I discovered Reiki, which in turn led me to grow in my purpose, my empowerment, my health and how I work in service to the world. And for all of that, I can only ever be eternally humble and enormously grateful to Ginger, my first teacher.

An Offering for Elephant

Originally published on Eagle Song September 14th, 2015.

Elephant

Wise mother, North-holder, tribe guardian.

Thank you for blessing me with the wisdom of your medicine. I am so happy and grateful to feel your thick-skinned feet teach my small human form what it means to pulse with deep Earth vibration. The rhythm of your walk and swaying of your head echoes in my own heartbeat, and I feel my dance slow to match your deliberate strength.

Feminine sage, keeper of knowledge, partner of accountability.

I surrender to your teachings. I trust that my embodiment of your energy works in highest service to Self and Spirit. I thank you for your guidance in returning to the wisdom of the Mother, creating the Sister Tribe, building community based in vibrational and emotional intelligence. I hold in my cells the memory of safe passage to water and the oasis of the Divine.

Delicate strength, discerning pleasure, fine detail.

I embrace the sensitivity and dexterity of your complex trunk! I spin and whirl in perfect precision, savoring soft strokes and sweet, sparkling sensation. I am safe. Thank you for teaching me that, even in great expansiveness, no detail is lost. Your luxuriant eyelashes offer their evidence.

Earth ambassador, beloved teacher, honored guide.

I am grateful to remember the infinity of connection, even in the empty moments.

View fullsize

Animal Guides: Spider

Originally published on Eagle Song September 3, 2015

About a month ago, Spider announced herself in my life in a somewhat startling, then very beautiful way.

On the night of the last Super Moon at the end of July, I brought all my crystals outside to soak in the moonlight. I joined them on an air mattress and was sleeping relatively peacefully, until sometime in the middle of the night when I awoke to feel a spider bite my top lip, right in the center. In my half-asleep, bewildered state, I announced to the spider, “That hurts! Who does that?!?” I rolled over, already feeling my lip swell under my fingertips. I managed to fall back asleep fairly quickly, thinking that the spider had some nerve biting me (on my lip, no less) while I was minding my own business, sleeping.

The next morning, my upper lip was swollen to several times its normal size. I endured a few hours of talking strangely and drooling a little bit, but with my magic natural detox, my lip looked pretty much normal by midday. I filed the incident under “Unusual, but not significant,” and moved on.

Two days later, I participated in a traditional Native American dance ceremony. At some point in the late morning, I noticed some very tiny spiders appear on me. I escorted them down to the safety of the grass, only to discover more and more baby spiders show up throughout the next several hours. They appeared as if out of nowhere to crawl on my body and my clothes, and I gently transported them to the grass and nearby plants where I wouldn’t accidentally smoosh them with my movements. I asked both of my dance neighbors on either side (about 5 or 6 feet away) if they had any tiny spider visitors, and I felt surprised when each of them told me that they were completely spider-free. Apparently there had just been a hatching immediately over my head. The rain of baby spiders continued through the early afternoon, and while I thanked Grandmother Spider for sending me her grandchildren and tried asking her what I was supposed to learn, I was sufficiently distracted by the dance ceremony itself (read about it here) and did not have enough attention for an answer.

When I eventually did get to meditate with Spider energy a few days later, the information that came through resonated deeply with me:

Spiders are the weavers of life. Through their weaving, everything is connected. They help form the bridge between the past and future, the subconscious and conscious, male and female, waking and dreaming life, physical and spiritual realms. They embody infinity, and their webs’ spiral shape represents the First Cosmic Key of the Universe, from which all other forms manifest.

Research from outside sources revealed that Spider is the keeper of ancient languages and alphabets, and that the geometric shapes found in a spider’s web became the first symbols of written language. Spiders are storytellers! How cool is that?

It blows my mind that I could be so deeply connected to Spider without consciously knowing that I work with her energy. Maybe that’s why she sent one of her children to bite me in my sleep, on my lip, infusing me with a strong dose of Spider medicine to aid in my own storytelling of weaving the bridge between human and Divine realms. (I even use the term “Thought Spiral” when I’m describing the long, multidimensional path an idea takes when it pulls together many seemingly unrelated concepts that ultimately connect to form a complete and cohesive picture. Thank you, Spider.)

All that said, working directly with Spider medicine has not felt completely intuitive to me. Some animals (generally mammals and birds) are so much easier for me to jump right into a very embodied understanding of what it means to access their energy. Maybe it’s partially due to cultural conditioning, maybe it’s because their movement and body shape are so unlike my own, but I definitely need to sink deep in order to fully honor this guide and do her justice.

That’s partly why I’m so excited to teach my Animal Dance workshop next weekend in Portland, OR. While I guide others through the process of discovering their Animal Totems and moving into a place of embodied understanding, I plan to do the same with Spider. I am so grateful for the opportunity to facilitate this journey! Working with my own Animal Guides has been a rich, truly educational experience that helps me discover more and more layers of my own consciousness and personal evolution. I can’t wait to help others access the wealth of knowledge and powerful wisdom available to them from their Animal Guides.

If you would like to register for the workshop, please do so here.

Workshop information here.

To sign up for my newsletter and receive notifications about future events and workshops, do so here.

View fullsize