On The Farm
Each year begins with celebration and acknowledgement of new intentions, and the cold and darkness of January create an ideal time to work with those intentions. This year, our intentions have extra support in the form of Snake, the Chinese zodiac spirit known for its wisdom - an ability to see the bigger picture and have a deeper understanding of the world that allows thoughtful decisions. Snake is also known for its intuition - a remarkable ability to sense what others are feeling or thinking, making them excellent judges of character. Snakes are also strategic and resourceful - skilled at finding creative solutions and patient in achieving their goals with careful planning. Methodical planning means no energy wasted in a slower, more careful process.
Snakes are also revered for ability to shed their skin and renew themselves, symbolizing transformation and rebirth. For centuries, snakes have been a symbol for health and healing.
When my little snake, Balthazar, sheds his skin, it’s a fascinating process. He begins by retreating into seclusion under his water dish. I won’t see him for 3-6 days, depending on the season. During this time, he doesn’t eat, drink or move. The outer skin becomes like damp paper and has an imprint of scales, eyes, nose and mouth. When he is ready, he emerges from under the dish, and turns the skin inside out, using the rough edges of his landscape to assist him. Like taking off a knee sock from the top. The sloughed skin is beautiful, but useless to him, so I remove it from his landscape. Once he has done his work, it only takes a few minutes to remove his skin.
When we have spent time truly integrating our intentions and planning for their implementation, letting go of old habits can be quick, rewarding and beautiful. Manifestation of new habits takes more than words. One must slow down and feel them first, and give the body, mind and spirit a taste of what is desired. At the same time, one must spend time with the old, discerning what needs to go, and thanking the old habits for bringing us this far. If there is gratitude, there will be grace and ease. Wishing you a slower, graceful and easeful new year.
Paying it Forward
Each year, many of you donate funds that will help others to be trained in service to animals, to receive needed communication or shamanic services, or to have chaplain support in their time of need. It is through your generosity that I am able to provide services to those who cannot pay.
If you have had a good experience with a communication or service, or I have provided chaplain support to you that was helpful, would you consider donating funds to pay it forward? It’s easy to do. Just go to the website, scroll to the bottom of the home page, and click on GIVE TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND. You can also send checks to Judy Ramsey, 818 S. Freer Rd., Chelsea, MI 48118. Any amount is appreciated to offset the costs for a person or animal in need.
THANK YOU
The Bookshelf
THE SACRED BALANCE; Rediscovering Our Place in Nature, by David Suzuki
David Suzuki is a Canadian scientist, environmental activist and expert. For 25 years, Suzuki’s book, The Sacred Balance, has been informing people of the ecological harmony and balance that is possible through right relationship with nature. The anniversary edition has been extensively updated, with a foreword from Robin Wall Kimmerer. Suzuki invites readers to see themselves as part of nature, not separate from it. He reflects on the teachings of indigenous leaders around the world, combining science, philosophy, spirituality and indigenous knowledge to offer concrete suggestions for an ecologically sustainable future by rediscovering and addressing humanity’s basic needs.
This is a good book to read after you’ve read The Serviceberry, from last month’s bookshelf feature. The two go well together.
Just For You
In 2025, the Year of the Snake, a really important focus is self-care at all levels. I’m adding this newsletter section to inspire you to try new things, but mostly to help you do your self care. I’ll have something every month for you to try. Let me know how it goes.
One of the things that completely nourishes me is tea. Tea has been an important ally my entire life—my grandmother and mother used teas for healing, comfort, energizing and fun. One of my fondest memories is of having a cup of jasmine tea brewed in the cup, so I could watch the flowers unfold into a cup garden, smell the fragrance, taste the gentleness of the leaves, and feel the warmth and comfort of the liquid as I drank it.
In my older age, nothing has changed in my close relationship with tea, except it has become deeper and broader to include a world of flavors. I treat myself several times a month to our local Tea Haus in Ann Arbor, MI, inviting friends to join me for conversation and tea. Sometimes we even take advantage of the beautiful scones and pastries.
Every morning, I start my day with the tea that sets the tone of my day. Do I need more energy? Do I need to slow down? Do I need to go inward or will I be with a lot of clients and people today? Where do I need support to be my best self? My inventory of needs will determine which tea I choose. Sometimes, I just enjoy the moment of stillness and that is my only intention—enjoy the tea and the quiet moment.
I also do tea meditation to ground myself. My meditation is a mindful ceremony, done slowly with an intention. I make sure it’s slow by brewing the tea as hot as I can tolerate, so I can’t gulp it. It may take up to 1/2 hour to do this, doing several steepings with the same leaves. Each steeping tastes a bit different-sweeter. For the ceremony, I use a special cup with a lid, for brewing in the cup Chinese style, but because intention is the most important element in the ceremony, any favorite tea cup or mug will support your process.
Imagine my delight and surprise when I discovered Living Tea. Here’s the introduction that founder Colin Hudon sent for you:
Starting in 2012, founder Colin Hudon developed Living Tea through his lifelong immersion in Tea and Tao. As an herbalist, acupuncturist, and practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, he shares tea as a moving meditation and living art. Inspired by the positive transformation in this community through the plan medicine of tea, Living Tea is honored to share this path with you.
The website, https://livingtea.net, is a great place to begin your exploration. Living Tea provides education about tea, its preparation, its history and its role within a regimen of self-care. Hudon has oriented the organization to a Daoist perspective, which, like shamanism, is very close to nature and a natural flow, a natural way of doing things. I like that the business promotes community with retreats, events and seasonal tea clubs. While the site offers high quality teas in good variety, my favorite tea is Puerh with its earthy flavor that tastes like a forest path smells after rain. I subscribed right away to the monthly Puerh club to experience the range of flavors from this beautiful, healthful tea. I’m hoping at some point to join others in a trip to China with a tea focus.
I hope you’ll check out Living Tea. It will be an adventure in a cup! They have offered a special coupon for you. Go to their website, and get 15% off your first order by entering the code TEAPRACTICE15.
MAKE 2025 THE YEAR OF YOUR ADVENTURE!
From October 24-November 10, 2025, I will be doing an expedition to Peru. While I have been doing this since 2020, this year is special because we will be going to Lake Titicaca, a beautiful, sacred place that we only visit every 5-6 years. The group will consist of 8-12 persons—small enough to be flexible with our exploration, so we’ll fit easily into places that larger groups can’t go.
The trip is mostly native immersion. We will be welcomed in the Sacred Valley in homes and communities by Quechua people and stay in homes and guest centers on the islands of Taquile and Amantaní at Lake Titicaca. We’ll see Peru through the eyes of my family - I have been a member of two families through my goddaughters and a sister to our hosts, Fielding and Roman Vizcarra—and those who travel with me are welcomed like family. We’ll have work days at a farm in the Sacred Valley and at the high Andean community of Amaru. We’ll also be guests at the Dias de los Muertos celebration in Pisaq. That is an amazing experience!
This is a very spiritual trip. The Quechua and Amaru people live from their hearts and extend that to us as we visit. There is no separation of spirit and normal life and nature. We’ll be doing ceremony and celebrations with them throughout the trip. My friend, Roman, will be our guide and interpreter in the Sacred Valley, where you will see Machu Picchu and other heritage sites, including Cusco. At Lake Titicaca, we will be guided by local native leaders, and visit a vicuña preserve, as well as sacred sites near the lake.
25 years ago, I went to Peru for the first time and thought it would be the trip of a lifetime. It has turned out to be a lifetime trip. I love Peru and its people—their generosity, their caring, their hearts. Not to mention some of the most beautiful scenery in the world! Over the years, I have discovered some sure fire remedies for altitude sickness, dissentery and other ailments one experiences in Peru. I’ll keep you healthy and safe, and happy you came.
Fielding and I are developing the itinerary now, so more details and costs will be coming in February’s newsletter. Stay tuned.
Upcoming Classes
Find full descriptions and costs of the classes and events on the website - https://JudyRamsey.net. Registrations are on the website. Please note: “Repeat Student” means that you have already taken a particular class once. If repeating a class, you will be eligible for reduced tuition in most cases. 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. All class times listed are eastern time.
2025 CLASSES FOR JANUARY-JUNE ARE NOW ON THE WEBSITE. I WILL BE STARTING A NEW YEAR OF SHAMANIC TRAINING IN FEBRUARY. I HOPE YOU CAN JOIN ME.
January 25-26, 2025
Basic Animal Communication—Learn to communicate with animals telepathically, the way they communicate with each other. Get step-by-step gentle support to open your natural telepathic skills. Experience a fun exploration of communication with both live animals and photos of the group’s pets.
The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
$160 per person, $80 for repeating students. 9am-5pm each day
February 1-2, 2025
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.
The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
$160 per person, $80 for repeating students. 10am-4pm each day
February 4-March 11, 2025
Shamanic Animal Communication— Learn the difference between telepathic and shamanic animal communication and how to apply the best of both in an integrated way. Join us for this deeply spiritual exploration of communication. Knowledge of telepathic communication not required. Shamanic journeying skills are required. Optional mentoring sessions are offered with this class on Mondays following. The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
$300 per person, $150 for repeating students. 7pm-9pm each Tuesday
March 15, 2025
Shamanic Personal Safety: Creating Sacred Protected Space—Learn techniques for creating sacred space, and why energy hygiene is critical in shamanic work.
The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
$90 per person. 9am-4pm each day