On The Farm
There’s nothing like a power outage to tell you, “Be still.” I woke about 2am to the sound of a freight train wind—in this area, that’s tornado language. Got all the critters away from the windows and soothed them through the lightening light show and thunder sounds. This morning, walking the fences, saw our transformer broken with lines down. In a straight line down our road, many neighbors experiencing the same, so we suspect a tornado that didn’t touch down but was close enough to damage the trees. No one has power today and the sound of generators fills the air. The grass is a radiant, nuclear green.
Until things came to a screeching halt with the storm, April was galloping at full speed in every area of life—perhaps you felt that in your life also. Although this will be an inconvenience, at least i can get water and flush the toilet. I’m grabbing this still time while I have it, not questioning or complaining. This is a GIFT. Even if it lasts a few days, which I’m sure it will as transformers are not easy to replace and this one is sitting in a pool of water, I welcome the opportunity to be off the computer, to have time for creativity, to be still. Who knows how long it will last? AND, I’m sure I’ll head back into full gallop as soon as the electricity and wifi are restored.
I took inspiration from my tea practice (LivingTea.com). In five element theory, wood is the spring element. Wood has two natures: wood can be rigid—strong and steady like an oak tree; and wood can be flexible—strong and bending like bamboo. The key is balance.
When Wood is out of balance, rigidity will show up as tension in the body, frustration, irritability and feeling stuck in the emotions, repeating thought loops in the mind or indecision, and in your plans, the vision that can’t shift or evolve.
When Wood flows freely, there's flexibility. A responsiveness to what's actually happening: in the body, in the plan, in the relationship. The ability to adjust, to bend, and to return to center. In a storm, bamboo yields and then rights itself. The strength is in the responsiveness, not the resistance.
In spring, when wood energy naturally rises on its own, it amplifies what is already present. A flexible system expands. A rigid one feels more pressure. The rigidity may be subtle and simply mean you’ve stopped questioning the way things are.
Have you been responding or reacting to your life lately? Just notice. Notice when you ask, “Where is your resistance?”, how that lands in your body and mind. Wherever the resistance is felt, that is an area where energy needs to flow. This year’s momentum challenges us not to put a drag on what is happening—respond and rebalance.
PLEASE NOTE
I WILL BE TRAVELING DURING THE MONTH OF MAY
AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE
FOR ANIMAL COMMUNICATION OR
SHAMANIC HEALING/CONSULTATONS.
PLEASE CONSULT MY WEBSITE, HTTPS://JUDYRAMSEY.NET
THE HOMEPAGE HAS A LIST OF
VERY QUALIFIED INTERSPECIES COUNSELORS WHO CAN HELP YOU.
ENJOY YOUR MONTH!
THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
Fielding, our itinerary developer for the trips to Peru, will have a gorgeous brochure describing the entire trip for the June newsletter, so you can see the exciting places and experiences you will have. We are still researching the reservation prices and will have a total with expenses breakout by June 2026. Each place on the itinerary has to be negotiated and confirmed to assure the best experiences. Take a look and begin to prepare for an amazing experience. The trip will be in 2027, from October 18-November 4, with an extension in Lima that is optional.
Our landing and takeoff occur from Lima, which is the capital city of Peru. Expedition participants fly to Lima from their home locations, and, depending on how much they would like to experience before the official Andean adventure, arrive 2-4 days before we leave for Cusco. Regardless of the hour of arrival, I make sure everyone is met by a driver who assures their safe passage to the inn where we stay in Miraflores.
Miraflores is a beautiful district of Lima, with an extensive native market, Parque Kennedy which hosts the cats of Lima, a reknown textile museum, and amazing food, including the world’s best ice cream. Our inn is small, clean and convenient—only one block from the ocean. You can take a bike ride tour of Miraflores, learn how to surf at oceanside, or just walk along the 40 mile parkway at the top of the cliff. Lima sits about 200 feet above the ocean. If you are inclined and the wind is favorable, you can jump off the cliff with an experienced paraglider. My favorite cafe for coffee looks out over the ocean and is a serene, lovely place to just sit and stare. From Miraflores, you can also attend performances of the horses, Peruvian pasos with their dancing and incredible formations.
Next to Miraflores is an art district, Baranco, which has beautiful murals painted on the buildings. Galleries and restaurants line the narrow streets leading down to the ocean. Victor Delphine is a renown sculptor, now in his 90’s but still painting. His home is open for tours and is spectacularly situated against the cliff. He personally designed the entire structure, from faucets to roof tiles. He is best known in Miraflores for the statue that oversees Lover’s Park, Parque d’Amor. Outdoor dining and flower vendors add an environment of joy and beauty throughout Baranco.
While I don’t usually go into Lima proper, the city does have some unique sites. Lima has a large Chinatown, catacombs below the main cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, historical museums, the gold museum and markets. One of the largest cities in the world, common sense precautions must be taken to stay safe. Our inn staff help to arrange reservations and transportation to any sight you want to explore.
At the end of the trip, I reserve rooms at the inn just to ‘land in’, for naps, showers, meals and refreshing before each of us takes the long flight home. We all share the rooms, and we share the expense, so it’s a good convenience and makes a big difference for our trip home.
All transportation back to the airport is arranged. Just a note, none of the Lima expenses is included in your trip. However, in the 25 years I’ve been taking groups, I have found wonderful, inexpensive places to eat, play, shop, explore and sit, and will be passing those onto participants. Total expenses in Lima have averaged $300 for 2 days. I arrive about 3-4 days early to help people settle in and begin their adventure.
THE BOOKSHELF
READY, SET, SLOW by Lee Holden
I was first introduced to Lee Holden through the QiGong instruction that he does online, and I like his approach to teaching. This book is exactly what we need in the Year of the Fire Horse. Drawing from the philosophical wisdom of Eastern meditation, Holden shares the Slow Method, principles of slow mind, body, and relationships.
Ironically, by slowing down, we can get more done if that’s our goal. AND, we can more deeply appreciate ourselves, our relationships and our world, embracing life’s rhythms to replenish your energy organically. The author provides simple, easy to do exercises and straightforward information to ease the reader into beautiful balance. Definitely a book worth reading.
SEPARATION ANXIETY IN DOGS AND CATS
Our friends at ADOREDBEAST.COM recently interviewed Malena DeMartini and Homeopath Julie Anne Lee for their blog. Malena DeMartini wrote the book, Separation Anxiety in Dogs and Cats, and summarizes key points in the interview for helping your animal companion gradually shift from this clinical panic disorder, which can be serious enough to keep you from ever leaving home. See the full blog for cats and dogs.
THE GREAT LAKES RETREAT
From June 22-26, 2026, the Great Lakes Retreat will be held at Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Michigan. This annual retreat offers a wide selection of week long seminars and trainings, as well as one-day lectures for spiritual growth, healing, exploration, activities and restoration.
I will be teaching telepathic animal communication in person in a week-long class, which will be ideal for developing your intuition and receptive skills. It would be great to meet some of you in person, after providing phone sessions for so many years.
I’m really looking forward to meeting some of the fascinating staff that will be presenting. Their approaches to healing and spirituality are unique and grounded in years of experience. I have posted the conference brochure on my website so that you can browse and see what interests you—for a week or a day.
Treat yourself to supportive learning and experience. Hope to see you there!
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 receive the meeting link. 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. All class times listed are eastern time.
APRIL 25-26, 2026
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. 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.
$220 per person, $110 for repeating students
9am-4pm eastern time
(consideration may be made for west coast students with starting time at 10am-4pm)
JUNE 4 & 18, 2026
Journey Circle—Journey circle meets on the first and third Thursday of each month, exploring themes that support your inner work. Your first circle is free. Pre-requisite: shamanic journeying skills.
Held online via ZOOM
$25 per session or $40 per month
7pm-8:30pm est
Contact Judy for registration and payment.
JUNE 13-14, 2026
Basic Shamanic Journeying— 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 each day
(consideration may be made for west coast students with starting time at 10am-4pm)
JULY 1-AUGUST 26, 2026
Shamanic Healing for Animals Level I - Explore unique perspectives for animal healing that draw upon core shamanic practices. Students will develop a toolkit of techniques within a supportive, interactive, and experiential learning framework of instruction from a professional animal communicator who also practices shamanism. Prerequisite: journeying basics. Knowledge of animal communication not necessary. The class is taught via ZOOM.
$425 per person, $225 for repeating students
7pm-9pm Wednesdays for 9 weeks, eastern time
JULY 2 & 16, 2026
Journey Circle—Journey circle meets on the first and third Thursday of each month, exploring themes that support your inner work. Your first circle is free. Pre-requisite: shamanic journeying skills.
Held online via ZOOM
$25 per session or $40 per month
7pm-8:30pm est
Contact Judy for registration and payment.
JULY 11-12, 2026
Extraction: A Shamanic View of Illness - 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. From a shamanic perspective, there are three causes of illness: loss of power, loss of soul essence, and intrusions. 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.
9am-5pm EDT each day
$300 per person, $150 for repeat students
Attendance at all sessions is required
JULY 25-26, 2026
Basic Telepathic Animal Communication - Learn to communicate with animals the way they communicate with each other. Using all your senses, open to your intuitive, playful perceptions through exercises that will support your opening safely and comfortably. Pre-requisite: Animal Talk, by Penelope Smith. The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
$180 per person, $90 for repeating students
9am-4pm each day
(consideration may be made for west coast students with starting time at 10am-4pm)