On The Farm (sort of)
An introvert at heart, I am sometimes challenged with visibility with regard to doing my work as a communicator and as a shamanic practitioner. I mean, how does one explain those actions without sounding weird? They used to burn people at the stake for things like that!
I approach my work very practically and in a down-to-earth manner without a lot of drama or woo woo. My clients can trust my authentic communication with their beloved animals or with their own spirits, and miracles happen all the time that no one else knows about.
It takes a lot to run the business end of things. This year, I’ve had some great support in becoming more visible to the world. I’d like to give a shout out to some of this support, and recommend it to those of you who are in ventures where you would like to become more visible, and you need some ideas from patient, compassionate, good people.
Mary Bortmas is a photographer extraordinaire. She is so personable that she made me feel immediately comfortable having my photo taken. She did the photo above, and a series with Stitch, Charlie and me that I could easily use for promotion or to give my kid. She sent me the photos digitally in formats that I could use for both website or for digital/print ads. We both built tiny houses as offices during the pandemic—her tiny house studio is in Manchester, MI where she lives. Check out www.unforgettablephotos.biz or www.facebook.com/unforgettablephotos.
Being in community with like-minded people is important. Shannon Cutts is also an animal communicator, and one who is NOT challenged with being visible. She is also a very generous soul who reaches out to the rest of us so that we can be in community. Animal communication is not really a team sport. Shannon asked me to interview with her for her podcast, so we had a conversation. Her cockatiel companion, Pearl, is a devoted co-host, and SO cute! Go to https://animallovelanguages.com/podcast/ to hear the interview and also to check out Shannon’s website, which is very creative.
Crazy Wisdom Journal is the go-to print journal that has supported alternative health and wisdom for 40 years. In southeastern Michigan, it is the directory for services and events in the area and is printed three times a year. Online, the Crazy Wisdom e-zine comes out every other week with beautiful layouts, articles and announcements of more immediate interest, as well as spotlight on the people and companies that serve the area. There is no cost to the subscription online for either version. If you have an event or product to announce, staff couldn’t be easier to work with for either community calendar events which can be listed free of charge, or paid ads (reasonably priced) which they will help you design. Their influence can be felt across the entire state and into Ohio and Illinois close to the Michigan border. See https://crazywisdomjournal.squarespace.com.
Finally, I have a virtual assistant, without whom I couldn’t pull off as much as I do. I learned a LOT about technology in the past two years, as the necessity to have an online presence grew with online teaching and digital visibility. At age 75, I didn’t have a clue. I found Cerian Scriven through VA (Virtual Assistant) VIXEN. She can do things digitally in minutes that take me hours to figure out, and at a reasonable price. All virtual assistants are trained and vetted before being posted. Cerian is Welsh and lives in Spain, so the time difference has to be considered when we meet. She has freed up my time for creativity and class development—two passions that have made me very happy in my service. Check out https://www.vavixen.com whether you need an assistant or training for possible work for yourself!
THE BOOKSHELF
“..the fire of longing is what confers life. This longing brings one beyond every safe frontier. It is in the giving of oneself to the fire that ultimate transfiguration and renewal comes.”
I love reading or hearing anything that John O’Donohue did in his life of service as a poet, shaman and wise man. His poetry speaks to the core of my heart and my life. Krista Tippett’s interview with him years ago is in a podcast that I listen to again and again and always get something new. Go to https://onbeing.org/series/ and look for John O’Donohue, The Inner Landscape.
O’Donohue’s book, FOUR ELEMENTS: Reflections on Nature, is a treasure of his poetry on the elements, as well as his reflections on how the elements have infused our lives and our living, our connection with this planet. At a time when global warming and natural disasters take the headlines, O’Donohue writes about the soul and spirit of the Earth and our connection with it through the elements. His Celtic origins come through clearly as passionate love for the teachings of the Earth and its elements. FOUR ELEMENTS is a beautiful way to reconnect with wonder and awe.
Shamanic Stress Reduction
In shamanism, everything has energy, including our emotions and thoughts. We can divest ourselves of worries, anxieties and blocking habits by transferring that energy from our minds and hearts to an object that can carry it for us. The object is then burned to dissipate the energy. Blessings and prayers can also be made and dispersed.
Trip of a Lifetime
In 2000, my husband and I went to Peru. It was the most amazing trip ever, what I thought was a trip of a lifetime. It turned out to be a lifetime trip! Every year since that first time, I have taken a small group of passionate people to experience magic and wonder.
June 2023, I will be taking the first group to Peru since the pandemic hit. Peru is open now, and tourism, which is the primary income for over 50% of the native population, is back and welcome. When I was there last February, I checked out safety and health risks, as well as new venues that are so wonderful.
I will only be taking 12 persons max. Nearly all of my groups are small and intimate, between 8-12 persons. That number gives us flexibility to accommodate individual interests, as well as keep the costs reasonable. Our guides are among the best in the country, native and knowledgeable, and tend to charge about half of what other outfitters charge.
Each year, I choose a theme to explore. Our theme this year is JOY. Why not? Magical events will include a hummingbird sanctuary, dancing on the mountain, visits to sacred places at Lake Titicaca as well as in the Sacred Valley, including an overnight at Machu Picchu, and, hopefully if the weather holds, a visit to a vicuña preserve to be with these beautiful animals. You also get a native perspective of Peru, the good and the social justice end of it.
You get to know the people intimately by eating with them and/or staying in their homes. You will be a week in the Sacred Valley, doing day trips so you don’t have to live from your suitcase. In the next week, we will stay on various islands in Lake Titicaca, experiencing the sacred places where humanity came from according to Amara cosmology.
I suggest strongly that fellow travelers sign up by October 31, 2022, because airfare to South America typically goes on sale in November. Fingers crossed that will still be the case.
Everything is covered by your trip fee except airfare, both international and domestic, a handful of meals, Bolivian visa, and your Lima expenses which depend upon the amount of time you want to be in Lima. I purchase our group domestic airline tickets to get the lowest price, and I also give you a ‘heads up’ on cheap fares to Lima. The trip cost includes all ground transportation, all accommodations except Lima, most meals, all park/museum entry fees, full time guides and interpreters, and a special event—a wedding.
In the 22 years I have been going to Peru, I have become a member of three families. Those coming with me will get the family welcome, which is really special. You will be my extended family as far as the people we visit are concerned, and be able to experience things that the usual tourist groups can’t. There will be private ceremonies and courtesies extended to you that you will remember the rest of your life.
I would love to show you my favorite places and introduce you to my families and favorite people. Don’t even start about the FOOD! Amazing, beautiful, organic, home cooked, healthy. People take pictures of it, it’s so beautiful.
Contact me at info@judyramsey.net to inquire about the details. Put PERU TRIP 2023 on the subject line. Hope you will join me.
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 have difficulty with either registration, please contact Judy at info@judyramsey.net. All classes and journey circles are recorded for your convenience.
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
August 21-26, 9am-9pm EDT, 2022
This is an advanced residential class limited to 8 practitioners. In this training, deepen your connection to your helping spirits and learn to work with them to restore a soul’s essence. Learn practical tools to help a client integrate a soul retrieval session, and experience as well, soul retrieval of body parts and of places in nature / landscape.
Prerequisites: Courses - Medicine for the Earth / Healing with Spiritual Light and Extraction. Suggested reading - Soul Retrieval and Welcome Home by Sandra Ingerman.
The training will be held at the Rudolph Steiner House in Ann Arbor, MI. Please contact Judy Ramsey if you need airport transportation.
Cost is $800 which includes room & board. $500 deposit by July 1 will reserve your place.
In-person residential training. Exceptions may be made through Judy. Please contact her at info@judyramsey.net if you need special consideration.
August 18, September 1 & 15 7pm-8.30pm, EDT, via Zoom
If you know how to do shamanic journeying, you know that it is a path of direct revelation. Come join us as we explore different aspects of our life’s path, doing healing for ourselves as well as for the world. Zoom registration required—contact Judy at info@JudyRamsey.net
Cost is $25 per session or $40 per month to attend.
OCTOBER
October 22-23, 2022, 9am-3pm, EDT, via Zoom
The shamanic journey is an easy and powerful tool used to access spiritual information. 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. The techniques will 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.
Cost is $160, $75 for repeating students
October 28-30, 2022, 7pm-9pm Friday, 9am-9pm Saturday, 9am-noon Sunday, EDT, via Zoom
A Shamanic View of Death and Dying
This is a residential class with a limit of 8 students. 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 provide opportunities to learn 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. Prior approval by instructor.
Cost is $250 tuition, $250 residence fee including meals.