Welcome to the December 2024 Newsletter

On The Farm

As I write this, it’s 2 degrees outside with 30 mph winds. I think winter has arrived. Fresh snow creates a quiet, blanketed nature that seems to listen well to my soul. There is such beauty in that stillness. At sunrise, the little snowflake prisms reflect millions of little rainbow colors, and in the moonlight, the snow shines like crystals. Magical. 

At this time of year, I take time to go within myself to do my inner work with spirit, to acknowledge the gifts I have received in the past year, and to review what I want to take with me into the next year. There is a kind of recalibration that happens—slightly adjusting my actions, my thoughts and my intentions so that everything lines up, so it’s all going the same direction. This is the time I can make corrections, let go of what is no longer needed, and reconcile anything that may be out of sync, including relationships.

This is also a time of gratitude. I have been blessed with the best friends anyone could have; the best students who teach me as much as I teach them; and the best clients who support the work I love. I am surrounded by my animal family—Balthazar (snake), Stitch (dog), and Ernie (cat)—who keep me laughing. I have new neighbors next door, whose horses use my pasture. It’s like being a grandmother. I get to enjoy horses once again, but don’t have to clean up after them or pay the vet bills! And the bonus is little Jerry, a miniature donkey only 6 months old, whom they rescued. What a treasure!

As 2024 comes to an end, I want to thank you all for staying in touch through the newsletter. I wish you many blessings, and a new year full of wonderful adventures. Stay tuned for new developments in 2025!

The Bookshelf

I have long admired author and indigenous scientist, Robin Wall Kimmerer, who wrote Gathering Moss and Braiding Sweetgrass. Her writing is like poetry and has a beautiful rhythm that leads us into nature in a way we may not have taken before. Her latest book is a small gem, THE SERVICEBERRY. Kimmerer harvests serviceberries with the birds, and in this work, considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. She poses the question of how we can learn from indigenous wisdom and from the plant world to reimagine what we value most.

The serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution insures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.”

This is a good snowy day book and one that certainly helps us understand how to walk in the world in right relationship with all that is. A very shamanic point of view.

Eight Ways to Honor a Life

Losing our beloved animal companions is a heart-wrenching experience that no one is ever truly prepared for. We feel helpless to reverse the course, overwhelmed with grief at the loss of a loved one, even if we knew it was coming. Knowing that this beautiful being will always be one of the best parts of your life, creating a tribute to honor their life can bring comfort. Here are some suggestions to try.

  1.  Create a photo album 

               Bring out the photos that remind you of your favorite times together. Write captions or memories of that time, perhaps even from the animal’s point of view.
I keep one photo, a portrait of each animal, and write about what I loved most about them, and times together that stand out to me.

   2.  Set up a memorial garden

             I make a special garden in the spot where they loved to be in the yard or I dedicate a place for the indoor animals. For example, one of my house bunnies chose to be buried underneath a tree he could see from the window. He communed with that tree every day. It grew into what we call now the Bunny Memorial Garden, with bunny statues that represent every house bun that came to us. It is a beautiful place to meditate and remember the joy they brought to us.

  3.  Preserve their pawprint/hoofprint

            This is best done while they are still with you, and can be done with ink, salt dough, paint or clay (Crayola makes a type of clay that hardens in water and is easy to work with). Some veterinary clinics offer this service if they attend to your animal’s end of life needs. The print can be a plaque, a memory item or even a piece of jewelry.

  4.  Host a memorial service

           Gather family, friends and those who loved the animal to share stories and memories. As an animal chaplain, I can help you design a ceremony that honors your beloved animal friend. If you want an animal chaplain in person and you aren’t in SE Michigan, go to https://findanimalchaplain.com for someone in your area.

  5.  Display their favorite items

           If it isn’t too painful for you, displaying their collar, harness, toys or other belongings can be a comforting way to keep their memory alive in your home. 

  6.  Customize art or jewelry

           In Victorian times, an artist would create jewelry from the hair of the deceased person. I took mane and tail hair from my horses to braid into a memory bracelet and to include in artwork. You can also have an artist make a portrait painting from a photo. Some artists can even incorporate a portion of the animal’s ashes into the artwork. Feathers from your bird friend may also be used in jewelry or art.

  7.  Get a tattoo

          This is becoming more popular as a way to honor the animal’s memory. Whether it’s a portrait, their name, or a simple paw print, it’s a lasting reminder of the love you shared.

  8.  Celebrate their birthday or passing anniversary 

          Take time to reflect on their life, visit a place that was important to you both, or celebrate in any way that feels right. It will be a tough day for a few years, but will bring comfort and peace.

Explore Death As a Rite of Passage With Shamanic Wisdom: Spiritual Practices to Help Loved Ones, Pets, and Clients Live Fully, Love Deeply & Fear Less

Those who are familiar with my services know that I assist both people and animals with end-of-life experiences. As a shamanic practitioner and teacher, approved by Sandra Ingerman as one of her instructors, I see death as a rite of passage that is naturally a part of our life cycle. Sandra, a reknown shamanic teacher and an award-winning author, has developed an online program for those who don’t practice shamanism. This course is being offered in January, 2025, by the Shift Network, an online education resource. You do not have to know anything about shamanism or journeying to benefit from this class. 

In this online course, you’ll:

• Uncover why society’s obsession with longevity and youth can actually rob you of living fully today — and discover a powerful mindset shift to reclaim the quality of your life

• Learn how to release the fear of aging and dying, so you can truly embrace each phase of your life with confidence and peace

• Gain fresh insights into death, understanding it not as an end, but as a natural passage that gives depth to life — and get a glimpse into the realms we journey to after we pass on

• See how embracing aging can deepen your self-acceptance and connection to your mortality, so you’re more present, grounded, and ready for each moment

• Experience a transformative shamanic journey with drumming to help you receive a unique message about death from the wisdom of nature itself

If you or someone you love, animal or human, is experiencing end of life, this workshop will provide a different perspective of death that will bring more grace and ease to the process. To register for a free hour of introduction on December 10, 2024, contact the Shift Network. 

Welcome to the November 2024 Newsletter

On The Farm

November is a bittersweet month. It begins with Dias de los Muertos, Days of the Dead, and ends with Thanksgiving, a celebration of gratitude. I spent Days of the Dead with my good, true and beautiful ancestral spirits in shamanic ceremony. Laid out a feast with both Scottish and Chinese goodies, plum wine, whisky, almond cookies and homemade lavender shortbread, dragon eyes, and chocolate, of course. Prepared a bonfire. 

The sky was clear with a new moon, all the stars were out. So beautiful. I could feel the ancestors around me, celebrating with me. I thanked them for my life and acknowledged the gifts I inherited from them. This time of gratitude has become an almost daily practice at my ancestor altar. I find my days are easier when they begin with the ancestors.

             I’ve also been very busy—this time of year, many animals transition, so I support them and their beloved people in my capacity as an animal chaplain and communicator. We remember the gifts the animals gave us while they were with us, and we mourn their loss. Sometimes we can just carry the grief with us. Sometimes the grief carries us, and we have to stop in our tracks because it is too much. When that happens, it is important to acknowledge that a part of us is missing, because we were one with the animal beloved. 

            Oprah Winfrey once said, “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” It takes courage to love, either person or animal, because we know there will eventually be loss. How often do you acknowledge your own courage? your own strength? How often do you acknowledge that you can’t do it alone? The good news is that there is support when you ask. Not only am I available to help you through these times, there are many animal chaplains trained and ordained to support you. Go to their website for grief support groups as well as personal assistance. You can also donate funds on my website to provide chaplain services to someone who is experiencing loss.

           We have a lot to be grateful for. I hope your Thanksgiving holiday brings you much comfort, whether with family, friends, or only your animal family. I am so grateful for all of you and your support of my work. Blessings.

A Mirroring of Minds?

Two tuning forks held near each other will resonate if struck at different times. One tuning fork adjusts to the same frequency as the fork that was struck first. The animals I communicate with have frequently showed me during sessions that they are resonating with the stresses, anxiety, and worry of their beloved people. Recently, on HolisticActions.com, Dr. Richard Pitcairn, a pioneer in homeopathic veterinary medicine, shared insights about how our energy and mindset can directly impact our animal’s healing. 

             Stress happens. We all experience it, and may feel guilty about affecting our beloved animal companions. Feeling bad about ourselves and what’s happening doesn’t serve us or our companions. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed or tired. When recognizing those moments, take a breath or two and be kind to yourself. Slow down, acknowledge you’re doing your best, and when you are ready, make small adjustments (like snuggle time with the horse, cat or other companion) to bring more serenity into everyone’s life.

             This is especially important when your animal companion is ill or preparing to die. Your mindset can help the animal heal through their own natural ability—if you are upset/worried, the animal will often direct their energy to you to help you rather than to their own healing. Here are some tips:

• Cultivate a positive mindset. See the animal in  their divine perfection, happy, healthy and thriving. My horse told me very strongly that she did not want to be seen as disabled, because that is not who she was. Look at the spirit and how beautiful it is. Treasure the bond between you.

• Understand healing as a process. It can sometimes feel like things are worse, but this may be part of deeper recovery. Trust the process, especially if it is holistic—it’s going to take longer, but will also last longer when recovered.

• Try holistic remedies like homeopathy, herbal supplements, and acupuncture to complement traditional care. These approaches work with the animal’s energy to restore balance. 

• Strengthen the bond between you and your animal companion. Your calm, loving presence is powerful. Set aside a few minutes each day for quiet, intentional bonding—massage or just sitting quietly together.

• Feed with intention. A balanced diet is part of holistic healing. Start with small changes like incorporating fresh, whole foods.

• Educate and advocate. Be patient when introducing holistic ideas to your vet. Share your experiences and encourage open conversations.

My Happy Place Update

It was a year ago that I featured My Happy Place equine sanctuary as a “Cause of the Month”, and Julie Sabatine’s (Director) efforts to rescue two Shires. I thought you might like to see the progress, and also the work involved to not only help these horses recover, but to thrive. I thought you would like to see Julie’s report, complete with before/after photos. Care for the largest horses is very different than with others just because of their size, which presents special challenges.

             JULIE’S UPDATE: Almost one year ago we embarked on the rescue of two bonded Shire horses.  The Shires nearly went extinct in 1969 and is still an endangered breed.  Thanks to Judy and her animal communication skills, we learned the gelding wanted a strong name to represent his character and spirit.  The mare likes the color purple and wanted a soft, feminine, old-school name.  So we named them Mason and Violet!

             Our Shire pair have received extensive Western medicine and Eastern healing therapies to restore wholeness after a lifetime of neglect including reiki, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic care, Chinese herbs, flower essences, music, and of course, shamanic healing with Judy.  

             At My Happy Place, 100% of every donation dollar goes directly to providing care to the animals, so the more we receive, the more we are able to do for them.  For example, we discovered Mason had not had his teeth done over his whole life, and Violet’s teeth were broken off laterally, probably due to trauma to the head, so they are on a 2-year dental program.  To date, we have spent about $20,000 in medical care for them, including a trip to the hospital, where they gave us their largest stalls, side by side, so Mason could be there as Violet's emotional support animal for about a week.  Then, the other hoof (er, I mean shoe!) dropped.  We discovered Violet had canker in all four hooves, a dangerous, crippling condition. Also, once we were able to gently clear their feathers (long hairs around their feet), we discovered sores under the hair which were extensive.

    Canker, even with extensive research, does not have a definitive cause or cure, but that didn't stop us!  Our treatment plan has been rigorous.  First, we built an oversized shoeing stock for draft horses, because Violet couldn’t stand to be treated. Now,  she can rest her entire body weight on the chains while we work on each hoof.  Her belly girth is 8 feet, 2 inches (2.5 meters)!  We practiced getting her in and out to desensitize her.  

             Catching, haltering, and loading her was the most dangerous part of the first month.  The vet comes once a week to perform cryotherapy and debridement, followed by packing her hoofs with medication and then bandaging her hooves.  Her hooves are so large there is no commercially made draft size hoof boot (size 10 is the max sold) which fits her.  Every other day, it takes a team of 4-5 trained volunteers and a farrier about 3 hours to change the bandages.  Each time, we work to correct the hoof structure. 

Meanwhile, in order to improve Violet’s immune system to support recovery, she is on multiple prescription medicines—about 30 herbs and supplements and high quality hay and forage as well as gastric support and senior feed.  Throughout the day, we bag flakes of hay and spread them around the paddocks to give the horses more exercise.  It also slows down their eating! Finally, we empty, wash and refill two 20-gallon buckets of water every morning and evening. They can drink 5 gallons of water in less than a minute!  Today, I am so pleased to report Violet has conquered “incurable” canker in 3 of 4 hooves! She's more cooperative, she trots around the paddock, and her hair color has changed from dull brown to shiny black!

Mason’s coat has recovered as well. He was the first to trust what we were doing to support them and has been an invaluable coach for Violet to get where she is now.

With a comprehensive wellness plan, an animal can choose to open up their mind, body and spirit to love again.  When this happens, nearly anything is possible.  We invite you to follow the story Mason and Violet are writing by visiting our website: https://myhappyplace.org. Healing prayers are always welcome and donations are gratefully accepted on their behalf so we can get Violet’s 4th hoof healed and continue the Shires’ recovery!  Thank you!

JULIE SABATINE, DIRECTOR, My Happy Place

BEYOND THE MYTHS: EXPLORING THE REAL POWER OF ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

Last month, I was chosen to be part of a group of animal communicators who were interviewed by Chené Murphy to answer questions about animal communication. Here is the link to the article she wrote for MysticMag. I think you will find it interesting and well done. It may even raise some questions of your own. If it does, feel free to contact me at info@JudyRamsey.net.

https://www.mysticmag.com/psychic-reading/experts-animal-communication/

Welcome to the October 2024 Newsletter

On The Farm

 As I write this edition of the newsletter, we are enjoying Indian Summer—that magical, beautiful time with full leaf colors, unseasonable warmth and clear skies for just a little while until the temperatures drop. The animals and plants seem to know it’s time to settle. I’ve prepared the garden for winter and cleared out the  plants that succumbed to the killing frost of last week.

           It’s a good time of year to do clearing and go into transition from summer to winter, for the garden, for myself. For me, this means doing the deep inner work to clear anything from the past that might be determining the quality of my present time. Shamanically, I have to die the shaman’s death, dying to ego, self importance, resentments of the past, traumas. 

           In shamanism, death figures prominently, but not in the way you might expect. A role of traditional shamans was to help people die a good death by helping them to live a good life. If a person reconciles their life as they go, they can have a good death, knowing all the loose ends are tied up. Doing the deep inner work with ourselves is one aspect of the reconciliation needed. Different cultures have certain times of year this is consciously done—Lent, Rosh Hoshana, Ramadan, and others. 

           Having a personal relationship with death, understanding that it could happen at any time, ..”allows one to see the beauty in every vision, every action, and every moment of one’s life,” says Maggie Wahls, shamanic elder. That understanding leads the shamanic practitioner …”to live impeccably, a life that is filled with joy, with wonder and satisfaction that every action, thought and word was the very best effort one could make. This is the core of loving yourself in the highest and truest form.”

           What choices would you make if you knew today was your last day? Play with that.

How Can I Help?

So much devastation with the last two hurricanes. So many animals displaced, injured or killed. The animal chaplains are available to assist families in grief and despair at https://findanimalchaplain.com. Listed below are organizations who are working hard to help the animals. In Asheville, Furry Friends Ranch was actually destroyed and needs funding immediately to be able to regroup and respond to the enormous need of that area. Any donations are appreciated. All groups listed are 501c3 nonprofits and most have branches in both North Carolina, Asheville area, Florida and other southeast areas that were hit hardest.

Greater Good Charities https://www.greatergood.org

International Fund for Animal Welfare https://www.ifaw.org

Full Circle Farm Sanctuary https://www.fullcirclefarmsanctuary.org

Ziggy’s Refuge https://www.ziggysrefuge.org

Red Feather Equine Sanctuary https://www.redfeatherfarmnc.org

Fairy Tale Farm Sanctuary https://www.fairytalefarm.org

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue https://www.cwrescue.org

Forsythe Humane https://www.forsythehumane.org

Asheville Humane https://www.ashevillehumane.org

Red Dog Farm Rescue https://www.reddogfarm.com

Furry Friends Ranch & Furry Friends Adoption https://www.furryfriendsadoption.org

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue https://www.BWAR.org

              Just in case you might ever be in a catastrophic emergency area, it is important to be prepared, not only for your human family, but also for your animals. Go to https://www.ready.gov/pets for information on how to put together an emergency kit so you are prepared.

The Souls Of Animals

    Have you ever been curious about the souls of animals? Recently, Dr. Genie Joseph and I discussed this subject for one of her podcasts. Genie is a recently ordained animal chaplain and founder/director of the Human Animal Connection, an organization that was reviewed earlier this year. She also wrote Wholesome Canine Cuisine. 

            Genie interviewed me on what I have learned over the years about animal souls from my shamanic experience. It is primarily through the shamanic communication and healing with animals that client animals have shown me their own journeys with people and the effect of trauma on their spirits. From a shamanic point of view, we explored how loss of soul essence results in different behavior patterns and affects how the animal views the world and their person. 

            You can find Interview 50 at https://www.petliferadio.com/hacep50.html. While you’re there, check out the other podcasts—I think you’ll be hooked!

The Bookshelf

Amy Tan is one of my favorite authors. If you read The Joy Luck Club, then you know the quality of her work. In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world. In search of peace, she turned toward the natural world—specifically, the birds visiting her yard. While her desire to find calm brought her to nature, her experience became an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.

            Describing and painting the natural beauty that surrounded her, The Backyard Bird Chronicles shows the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. The sketches alone will help you to center yourself and connect with the nature around you.

            This book has not yet been released, but can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com. I pre-ordered the audible book, which will include a pdf of downloadable images and resources from the book. I also pre-ordered the set of 50 beautiful postcards (2 each of 25 designs) of illustrations from the book. I can hardly wait for it! 

Upcoming Classes

Find full descriptions and costs of the classes and events on the website - https://JudyRamsey.net. Registrations are on the website. Once registered, a Zoom invitation will be sent to register to receive the meeting i.d. and passcode. If you want to attend a journey circle, please contact Judy at info@judyramsey.net. Journey circles are held the first and third Thursday of each month. All classes and journey circles are recorded for your convenience.

November 23-24, 2024

          Basic Journeying: The Art of Shamanism for Practical and Visionary Purposes in Daily Life—The shamanic journey is an easy and powerful tool we can use to access spiritual information. In this class you will meet and begin to develop a relationship with a compassionate spirit or power animal who is coming forward to help you at this time in your life. You will learn techniques to help you develop a self-directed practice of empowerment, allowing you to move safely, intentionally through the world in a balanced way.This class is a prerequisite to ongoing and more advanced shamanic studies. 

          The class will be taught online via ZOOM. 
          $160 per person, $80 for repeating students. 9am-3pm EDT each day

Welcome to the September 2024 Newsletter

On The Farm

 I love fall—my favorite season. I welcome the cooler air, the shifts in color as the leaves turn, the smells of autumn. It’s never officially fall for me until I have had one cup of fresh-pressed cider and a cinnamon sugar donut just out of the fryer. Just one of each to welcome the season and then I’m done, because it’s not good for my body, but just one is good for my soul.

            It’s a time to wrap up the garden, having harvested the last tomatoes, the last beans, the last greens before the killing frost. The earthy smells of the leaves and the soil of empty gardens brings me close to the Earth, which is the support element for this month. If the Air element brought us spaciousness, the Earth element brings us in close, grounds us so we are present and can do what must be done.

           What are you doing to comfort yourself, to bring yourself into self-containment? Into a kind of nurturing joy that gives you energy? Not frenetic mental energy or busy physical energy that accomplishes tasks, but energy that your soul needs to center and ground—the energy of a good book, a soft quilt, a lovely fire, a cup of cocoa, tea with a friend. Energy that helps you to connect with yourself intimately, bringing you into a cocoon of gratitude, solitude and coziness as well as relaxation. Play with this, and allow yourself to shift into a different state of mind as you enjoy your autumn. Determine one thing you will do for your soul that gives you comfort.

          I hope you enjoy the photos of fungi. My friend, Dennis Hamm, took these with his photographer’s eye and contributed them for this newsletter. Thanks, Dennis. Nothing closer to the earth and more grounding than fungi, unless it’s cleaning horse stalls. :)

Elemental Support - Earth

Late summer is a natural time for us to begin to slow down. Nature itself is in transition, moving from summer into fall. The Earth element is associated with late summer and governs the spleen and stomach organs. Digestive issues are related to the Earth element. The emotions associated with Earth are sympathy, thoughtfulness and reflection. Just as we assimilate nutrients through the stomach, we assimilate life experiences through the element Earth. The taste associated with Earth is sweet. Sweet foods that strengthen the Earth element include whole grains like rice or millet, and root vegetables like yams, carrots or sweet potatoes, and sweet fruits and vegetables that are in season and available in late summer. When a person’s Earth element is in balance, they are grounded, centered, stable, and consistent. Digestion is good, sleep is good quality.

             When a person’s Earth is unbalanced, diet is the first thing to look at. The person may not be able to regulate their temperature, and digestion is “off”, with diarrhea, and they may crave sweets. Warm food with aromatic spices like ginger, fennel, coriander, caraway, and cardamom support the spleen Qi and resolve dampness in the body (allergies/phlegm, water retention, inflammation, sluggishness). The color of Earth is yellow/orange, so wearing this color and eating yellow/orange foods will also support the spleen.

            Ayurveda states that the Kapha dosha contains both Earth and Water. The Earth lends heaviness, structure and grounding, while water provides coolness and fluidity. In ayurveda, the Earth element is related to growth of tissues, muscles, bones, teeth and fats. When Earth is balanced, a person feels stable, at peace with life, and not much impacted by events.

           When Earth is unbalanced, one can have too much or too little. Earth is in excess when we overeat or don’t fully utilize what we eat for development of the body. It might manifest energetically as loss of interest in life, aversion to change or dullness and despair. When the Earth element is deficient, it manifests as weak bones/teeth, low muscle mass, and energetically as feeling unstable, insecure, unable to take on challenges, struggling to stay in relationships for long periods, jittery and unable to manage stress.

          Consultations with your local TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner or acupuncturist, and/or with your local ayurvedic practitioner will support your goals for Earth balance and health in both body and spirit. All rebalancing is best done in the season that it manifests. Your practitioner will advise you.

To come into balance with Earth, here are some suggestions:

*Grounding practices like earthing. Stand, walk or lie on the ground and connect to the Earth below you for at least 15 minutes.

*Sit against a tree and feel connected through your heart. With your heart, feel how its roots go into the ground.

*Meditate with awareness

*Wear earthy colors like red, yellow or orange

*Eat foods rich in Earth element, especially root vegetables, or chickpeas, grains or nuts

*Cook and eat seasonal vegetables/fruits. Warm your food.

*Garden, touch the Earth

*Make a list to keep your mind from scattering

*Drink more water to balance the Earth in your body

*Do yoga poses that increase stability or the basic form of tai chi, which embodies the Earth element

*Sing and dance

September is World Animal Remembrance Month

    While we honor our animal companions nearly all the time, the month of September is set aside not only for our beloveds who have passed, but also for those who passed in war zones, natural disasters, are lost on the streets, or are endangered or extinct because of habitat loss. 

            A simple way to honor animals this month is to offer a blessing in nature to all the animals who live there. I give a blessing, just thanking those in my natural setting for being there and contributing to its beauty and sweetness. I usually leave an offering like peanuts (unsalted roasted in the shell), dried corn on the cob, apples from my tree. Your local farm supply will carry some choices.

           Another way to honor the animals is to write a letter/card of appreciation for your veterinarian and clinical staff for helping so many animals pass peacefully. This aspect is one of the most difficult of their profession.

           You can also donate to a wild animal sanctuary. These organizations take in animals in all conditions, and a percentage of them must be euthanized. Look locally for wildlife rescue sanctuaries.

            Finally, honor your own animal family members who have passed by recalling the blessings they gave you while you were together. Maybe you will visit a grave, or walk on a familiar path you did together, or go through their baby pictures and, with gratitude, remember the joy they brought you.

The Bookshelf

From Elder to Ancestor: Nature Kinship for All Seasons of Life by S. Kelley Harrell
 

For millennia, people connected with their ancestors as part of regular spiritual practice, seeking wisdom and inspired vitality to guide their aging process to become wise elders themselves and eventually, good ancestors. Dying a good death means that one lived a good life. 

Harrell explores the spiritual, cultural, and ancestral aspects of aging well. She reveals how to restore the path of creating a direct, personal connection with Nature and of respecting the spirits around us. She also examines the obstacles to dying well, and how to honor past traumas and dysfunctional patterns. She lays out practices to help heal family lines through intimate work with oneself. 

Harrell’s book emphasizes animism, which is at the heart of shamanic practice. Shamanism and animism recognize that humans ARE nature, along with everything that is alive. We are part of the sacred order and can rewild ourselves. Initiation into elderhood is the work of our lives. Through introspection and engagement with the living world, we can craft our own way to being an elder.

Upcoming Classes

Find full descriptions and costs of the classes and events on the website - https://JudyRamsey.net. Registrations are on the website. Once registered, a Zoom invitation will be sent to register to receive the meeting i.d. and passcode. If you want to attend a journey circle, please contact Judy at info@judyramsey.net. Journey circles are held the first and third Thursday of each month. All classes and journey circles are recorded for your convenience.

October 19-20, November 16-17, and December 21-22, 2024

            Soul Retrieval—This is an advanced class limited to 6 persons. When a person experiences trauma, there is a loss of soul essence. The person’s spirit is fragmented, causing disease, mental illness, or personality and behavioral shifts. In this training, deepen your connection to your helping spirits and learn to work with them to restore a soul’s essence. Expand your ‘tool chest’ of ways to help a client integrate a soul retrieval session, and experience as well, soul retrieval of body parts and of places in nature/landscape. Initiation and ceremony will anchor your learning. Prerequisites: Medicine For the Earth/Healing With Spiritual Light, and Extraction: A Shamanic View of Illness & Healing. Suggested reading: Soul Retrieval and Welcome Home by Sandra Ingerman. 

            Class will be taught via ZOOM with careful monitoring of
            techniques and practice.
            $600 per person, $300 for repeating students. 9am-4pm each day est.
            Attendance at all sessions is required.
            Optional mentoring sessions will be held November 4 and
            December 2, 2024.

            Deadline for registration is September 15, 2024.
            Please contact Judy at  info@judyramsey.net to apply.

October 5-6, 2024

            Ancestors: The Power Within—Ancestors can be powerful allies in your practice, and healing our ancestral lines can help us heal ourselves and our families. Explore your heritage, deepen your connection with the grandmothers and grandfathers in ceremony, in initiation and in the shamanic journey. Prerequisite: basic journeying skills. 

            The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
            $180 per person, $90 for repeating students. 9am-4pm each day.

November 23-24, 2024

          Basic Journeying: The Art of Shamanism for Practical and Visionary Purposes in Daily Life—The shamanic journey is an easy and powerful tool we can use to access spiritual information. In this class you will meet and begin to develop a relationship with a compassionate spirit or power animal who is coming forward to help you at this time in your life. You will learn techniques to help you develop a self-directed practice of empowerment, allowing you to move safely, intentionally through the world in a balanced way.This class is a prerequisite to ongoing and more advanced shamanic studies. 

          The class will be taught online via ZOOM. 
          $160 per person, $80 for repeating students. 9am-3pm EDT each day

January 11-12 and February 8-9, 2024

        A Shamanic View of Death & Dying—This is an advanced class limited to 6 persons. One of the traditional roles of a shaman was to prepare the dying person for a good death, escort the souls of the deceased to their ancestors, and to help those grieving left behind. By doing psychopomp work, a shamanic practitioner can heal those who have passed and help suffering souls to be at peace. This workshop will teach about helping people in the dying process, connecting with compassionate spirits to do psychopomp, helping spirits of the departed after death, and experiencing your own beautiful death. Individual, as well as group psychopomp will be presented. Initiation and ceremony will anchor your learning. Prerequisite: Soul Retrieval. Suggested Reading: Walking In Light by Sandra Ingerman.

        The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
        $250 per person, $150 for repeating students. 9am-4pm each day.
        Attendance at all sessions is required.

Welcome to the August 2024 Newsletter

On The Farm

When I heard about 32 cats being rescued from a hoarding situation, I felt called to adopt one from the Huron Valley Humane Society. (Our country’s oldest no-kill shelter). Meet sweet Ernie, 4 years old, the newest addition to the family. He’s the tallest cat I’ve ever seen—long legs, very athletic. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a cat who could jump up on countertops, shelves and over dog gates. He and Stitch are gradually getting acquainted. At first greeting, Ernie asserted himself when Stitch wanted to say ‘hi’, so Stitch is being very cautious. Ernie is bringing a new energy to our home and keeping us on our toes. I’ll have to practice what I preach about adjusting to change.

              Change is good. Change gives us opportunities to learn, to grow and to move forward. We learn from change how to be resilient, whether the change is gradual, like in aging, or sudden, like cats needing a home NOW. This month’s element is Air, one of my favorites. It’s all about movement. How do you work with change? What part of your ability to be resilient needs a little shoring up or a shift in attitude for what’s coming down the path of your life? 

              When we resist change, especially change over which we have no control, we set up our body, mind and spirit to expend a lot of energy, decreasing our immune system’s ability to ward off disease, reducing our strength physically and mentally. In shamanic terms, we’re ‘leaking power’, especially when we complain or express strong negative emotions like fear, anger or frustration. 

               The solutions may seem counterintuitive—finding stillness is the best way to move forward, and being curious about what’s happening can remove the emotional charge. Caring for ourselves, especially during stressful times, means bringing mind, body and spirit into balance. What do you need to balance in this moment? I think I’ll go sit with the cat. Ernie is certainly raising my awareness of the family dynamics. I’ll keep you posted.

Elemental Support - Air

I have had asthma and allergies that affect my breathing since I was a child, so Air is in my awareness a lot when it comes to self-care. I also play with Air—I have an enormous butterfly kite that I love to fly, I keep bubbles on hand for windy days, and chimes are hanging on nearly every tree and overhang.

              In Chinese traditional medicine, the Air element is referred to as Metal and is the key to maintaining immune system health. It governs the energy channels of the Lungs and Large Intestines. It is associated with the autumn season, representing letting go of things we don’t need, like the trees letting go of their leaves. The taste associated with metal is pungent and aromatic, like garlic, ginger and basil. In its positive aspect, Metal/Air brings connection and courage. In its negative or deficient aspect, Metal/Air displays sorrow and attachment (not letting go). When Metal/Air is out of balance, a person might easily catch colds and flu, be short of breath, have congestion, constipation, dry skin, tiredness and grief chronically.

              To come into balance, strengthening the lungs is important with breathing exercises or Qi Gong, an Asian practice for balancing the body’s energy systems. An active social life or participating in community activities is a good way to balance the sadness that is frequently found with Metal. Eating more pungent foods such as onions, chives, garlic, fresh ginger, chili peppers, cinnamon and wasabi will help. Because the color of metal is white, eating naturally white foods also will help to balance the Metal/Air energy—radishes, turnips, cauliflower, potatoes, and mushrooms (does not include white bread or sugar). It is also important to avoid mucus-producing foods such as dairy, sweets, and fried foods.

              Ayurveda states that the Vata dosha contains both Air and Ether. The element of Air in this dosha represents the capacity for motion. The skin is considered the sense organ of the Air element, which is the source of life that allows blood to circulate, breath to move, thoughts to flow, and joints to propel us through the world. Air is the force behind all motion. 

             Vata is healthy when motion is controlled, but able to flow without obstruction. Control prevents excess flow while freedom prevents stagnation. Balance is the key to healthy Vata. Control of Air is done by having steady routines. A diet that is heavier will stabilize and balance the light quality of the Air element. Emotionally, surrender leads to the highest manifestations of motion (Air) and this requires faith. Air flows freely through a body and mind that has cultivated an attitude of surrender and faith in both self and the divine.

            Good Air type foods to have in your diet are beans, lentils, and green leafy vegetables. These foods have bitter and astringent tastes which create lightness and movement in the body and clarity in the mind.

            Consultations with your local TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner or acupuncturist, and/or with your local ayurvedic practitioner will support your goals for Air balance and health in both body and spirit.

A few breathing practices to balance and strengthen the Air element are:

*Ocean’s breath - breathe in through your nose and out with an open 

mouth, making sounds like the ocean.

*Humming Bee Breath - breathe in through your nose and out with nearly 

closed lips, humming and feeling the vibration.

*Box breath - breathe in to a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, breathe 

out for a count of 4, hold out for a count of 4.

*Bubbles - when strong emotions can’t be expressed without hurting others or yourself, blow them into a bubble wand until they are expended. (Environmentally safe bubbles may be found on Amazon - Bubble Tree and Giant Gazillion are two brands of non-toxic solution.)

The Bookshelf

    I’m of an age when friends and family are approaching older years and end of life. As I navigate this time of life for them and for myself, I find that there are few resources to tell a person how to age from this point. The world assumes that if you reached old age, you must know how to do it. But this is the first time I’ve been elderly, so what now?

              Being Mortal, a New York Times bestseller, is beautifully written. Gawande, a practicing surgeon, addresses the questions of quality of life, which he acknowledges the medical profession is ill-equipped to manage on a whole-person level. Written in 2014, the first sections of the book describe the state of affairs that still exist in many hospitals and nursing homes. It’s pretty depressing and demeaning, but raises questions that everyone should raise who has an aging loved one.

              Gawande makes the case that the goal of elder care for patients and families should be QUALITY of life, all the way to the end. He offers examples of freer, socially fulfilling models of care and explores varieties of hospice care that support a rich and dignified end of life. 

              As I discover the instruction manuals along the way, I’ll share them with you. This is a must-read.

So that’s the CAUSE OF THE MONTH, now to the book. For this month’s newsletter, I reviewed/read several books on how to provide home-cooked meals for canines, because I want to transition Stitch to healthier meals. He was showing signs of deteriorating health—weight gain, sluggishness, flaky skin, cranky temperament. We changed to The Farmer’s Dog, which is quite good, but pricey for the long term—Stitch is only 4 years old. Since making the investment (it’s been about 3 weeks) in small batch cooked food, there has been weight loss, glossy fur, no flakes, more calm and higher energy. I wanted to see if I could reach a balance between quality and cost by cooking Stitch’s meals myself.

             Genie’s book is very well done. Different from the other books I read, hers is organized in a way that I can look up what I need when I need it. Even the research is presented in a way that I can understand. I do have a post-graduate degree, but I just don’t want to wade through studies—tell me the important things I need to know. What’s the bottom line?

             There are 11 principles that take you through the essentials of holistic, natural care of your dog, from understanding digestion and nutrition basics to play and stimulation to relationships and alternative healthcare for animals. Genie helps us to understand why certain foods are beneficial and how to use them, and also why others are not. Finally, there are 111 really good recipes that cover a full range of main courses, diets for sensitive systems, weight loss, skin allergies, and special needs. Don’t forget the treats and celebratory goodies! 

            This book is only one of several that Genie has written, and every copy purchased helps to support the Human-Animal Connection. Go get yours now!

REQUIEM FOR OZZIE, by Ali Abruzzi

One of my clients sent me the most beautiful requiem poem she wrote for her beloved animal companion, Ozzie. I asked her permission to share it with you, as I know many of you share her sentiments about your own beloveds who have passed. Thank you, Ali.

Ozzie ate up my tears
On the tissues
I stopped him before the third
His salty dessert
After a salami & cheese sub
The last supper

Byron dug a mighty hole for you
Stood on the bottom
up to his neck
Cutting through rocks
Determined and digging
Like you loved to do
Grave expanding wide
The final embrace of the earth

Under the heart-shaped leaves
of the Redbud tree
You lay your heavy bones
Your ears tall, white pyramids
Soft like lamb’s ear
Listening to the love whispers
of you family
Oh, how you kept us safe
Led the way
Maple brown eyes
Discerning and wise
Sweet & dark like syrup
I’m still by your side

I hear you now in your Burl Ives’ voice
Humming along
with a rock between your teeth
Fur like a polar bear, strength of a horse
So smart, so brave
My Good Boy
Blanketed by Eva’s heartthrob
As we held on
And you let go

—Ali Abruzzi

Upcoming Classes

Find full descriptions and costs of the classes and events on the website - https://JudyRamsey.net. Registrations are on the website. Once registered, a Zoom invitation will be sent to register to receive the meeting i.d. and passcode. If you want to attend a journey circle, please contact Judy at info@judyramsey.net. Journey circles are held the first and third Thursday of each month. All classes and journey circles are recorded for your convenience.

August 24-25, 2024

Extraction: Illness & Healing From a Shamanic Perspective—This is an advanced  class with a limit of 6 persons. Deepen your understanding of illness and how one’s spirit can help the physical body thrive or not. We will focus on power loss and extraction of intrusions. Explore different ways to “diagnose” an illness as well as to address its healing. Working with partners, deepen your understanding of spiritual intrusions and learn ways to extract them. Prerequisites: Basic Journeying, Medicine For the Earth/Healing With Spiritual Light. Suggested Reading: Walking In Light by Sandra Ingerman. 

Class will be taught via ZOOM with careful monitoring of techniques and practice.

$220 per person, $100 for repeating students. 9am-5pm each day

October 19-20, November 16-17, and December 21-22, 2024

Soul Retrieval—This is an advanced class limited to 6 persons. When a person experiences trauma, there is a loss of soul essence. The person’s spirit is fragmented, causing disease, mental illness, or personality and behavioral shifts. In this training, deepen your connection to your helping spirits and learn to work with them to restore a soul’s essence. Expand your ‘tool chest’ of ways to help a client integrate a soul retrieval session, and experience as well, soul retrieval of body parts and of places in nature/landscape. Initiation and ceremony will anchor your learning. Prerequisites: Medicine For the Earth/Healing With Spiritual Light, and Extraction: A Shamanic View of Illness & Healing. Suggested reading: Soul Retrieval and Welcome Home by Sandra Ingerman. 

Class will be taught via ZOOM with careful monitoring of techniques and practice.

$600 per person, $300 for repeating students. 9am-4pm each day est. Attendance at all 

sessions is required. Optional mentoring sessions will be held November 4 and December 2, 2024.

Deadline for registration is September 15, 2024. Please contact Judy at info@judyramsey.net to apply.

October 5-6, 2024

Ancestors: The Power Within—Ancestors can be powerful allies in your practice, and healing our ancestral lines can help us heal ourselves and our families. Explore your heritage, deepen your connection with the grandmothers and grandfathers in ceremony, in initiation and in the shamanic journey. Prerequisite: basic journeying skills. 

The class will be taught online via ZOOM.

$180 per person, $90 for repeating students. 9am-4pm each day.

November 23-24, 2024

Basic Journeying: The Art of Shamanism for Practical and Visionary Purposes in Daily Life—The shamanic journey is an easy and powerful tool we can use to access spiritual information. In this class you will meet and begin to develop a relationship with a compassionate spirit or power animal who is coming forward to help you at this time in your life. You will learn techniques to help you develop a self-directed practice of empowerment, allowing you to move safely, intentionally through the world in a balanced way.This class is a prerequisite to ongoing and more advanced shamanic studies. 

The class will be taught online via ZOOM. 

$160 per person, $80 for repeating students. 9am-3pm EDT each day

January 11-12 and February 8-9, 2025

A Shamanic View of Death & Dying—This is an advanced class limited to 6 persons. One of the traditional roles of a shaman was to prepare the dying person for a good death, escort the souls of the deceased to their ancestors, and to help those grieving left behind. By doing psychopomp work, a shamanic practitioner can heal those who have passed and help suffering souls to be at peace. This workshop will teach about helping people in the dying process, connecting with compassionate spirits to do psychopomp, helping spirits of the departed after death, and experiencing your own beautiful death. Individual, as well as group psychopomp will be presented. Initiation and ceremony will anchor your learning. Prerequisite: Soul Retrieval. Suggested Reading: Walking In Light by Sandra Ingerman.

The class will be taught online via ZOOM.

$250 per person, $150 for repeating students. 9am-4pm each day. Attendance at all sessions is required.