Code of Ethics
Why this page exists
Mona follows Penelope Smith's 1990 Code of Ethics for Interspecies Telepathic Communicators. Here are a few highlights, scroll further down to read the entire text.
What the code means in practice
Mona will not diagnose your animal
The code is clear: it is not our job to name and treat diseases. If your animal is unwell, the vet comes first — before Mona, not after her. She may relay what an animal seems to describe, where it hurts or how it feels, and vets often find that useful. It is not a diagnosis and it never replaces one.
Clause 08
Mona goes only where she is asked
No communicating with an animal whose person has not asked for it. Not from a photograph, not at a distance, not because somebody else thought it would help. The invitation belongs to the person responsible for the animal.
Clause 05
What is said stays confidential
Sessions are private. Nothing is published, quoted or used without asking you first — including the testimonials on this site.
Clause 06
Mona will tell you when she has got it wrong
This is the most demanding clause in the code, and the one worth reading twice. A communicator has to be willing to recognise and clear up their own errors in understanding. Someone's own worry, or their hope, can colour what they believe they have heard. Staying clear of that is ongoing work rather than a qualification — and it means Mona may come back to you and correct herself.
Clause 03
Equipping you with independence and understanding
The code asks communicators to cultivate understanding and ability in others, rather than dependence on their own. That is why the mentoring exists at all, and why Mona will often show you what to notice yourself instead of keeping the noticing to herself.
Clause 07
Honour the communication
The code asks for compassion towards everyone involved, which sometimes means saying that a thing cannot be changed, or that the difficulty is not where you thought it was. Honouring someone is not the same as agreeing with them.
Clause 05
None of this makes telepathic communication provable. It makes it accountable, which is a different thing and a more useful one.
The code in full
Code of Ethics for Interspecies Telepathic Communicators
Formulated in 1990 by Penelope Smith
Our motivation is compassion for all beings and a desire to help all species understand each other better, particularly to help restore the lost human ability to freely and directly communicate with other species.
We honor those that come to us for help, not judging, condemning, or invalidating them for their mistakes or misunderstanding but honoring their desire for change and harmony.
We know that to keep this work as pure and harmonious as possible requires that we continually grow spiritually. We realize that telepathic communication can be clouded or overlaid by our own unfulfilled emotions, critical judgments, or lack of love for self and others. We walk in humility, willing to recognize and clear up our own errors in understanding others' communication (human and non-human alike).
We cultivate knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of human, non-human, and interspecies behavior and relationships, to increase the good results of our work. We get whatever education and/or personal help we need to do our work effectively, with compassion, respect, joy, and harmony.
We seek to draw out the best in everyone and increase understanding toward mutual resolution of problems. We go only where we are asked to help, so that others are receptive and we truly can help. We respect the feelings and ideas of others and work for interspecies understanding, not pitting one side against another but walking with compassion for all. We acknowledge the things that we cannot change and continue where our work can be most effective.
We respect the privacy of people and animal companions we work with, and honor their desire for confidentiality.
While doing our best to help, we allow others their own dignity and help them to help their animal companions. We cultivate understanding and ability in others, rather than dependence on our ability. We offer people ways to be involved in understanding and growth with their fellow beings of other species.
We acknowledge our limitations, seeking help from other professionals as needed. It is not our job to name and treat diseases, and we refer people to veterinarians for diagnosis of physical illness. We may relay animals' ideas, feelings, pains, symptoms, as they describe them or as we feel or perceive them, and this may be helpful to veterinary health professionals. We may also assist through handling of stresses, counseling, and other gentle healing methods. We let clients decide for themselves how to work with healing their animal companions' distress, disease, or injury, given all the information available.
The goal of any consultation, lecture, workshop, or interspecies experience is more communication, balance, compassion, understanding, and communion among all beings. We follow our heart, honoring the spirit and life of all beings as One.
That is what Mona works to. What it looks like in practice — what you send her, what comes back, and how long it takes — is on the questions page.