On The Farm
Suri Alpaca
This morning, I woke up to -9 degrees. The saving grace is that the sun shone so beautifully all day. I always say that I don’t care how cold it gets as long as the sun is shining. There is such beauty in that crispness, with mini sparkles across the snow as the crystals reflect the light.
These mini-moments of peace and stillness have to be harvested as they appear. Next month, the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse will begin on February 17. This is a positive fire, so think fireworks, volcanoes erupting, cannons shot—not the slow burning coals of a negative fire quality. Experiences will be intense this year and those who are not present, grounded and willing to move quickly will likely find themselves overwhelmed.
I’m usually ahead of my time, and this year is no exception. Things are already moving at light speed, so I had to consider my relationship with MOMENTUM. I’m one of those who like to take their time and have the spaciousness to do things well in my own way. I journeyed, I meditated, I walked in nature. My spirit guides gave me some good advice that I’d like to share with you.
*The choices you make must align with YOUR values, ethics and priorities, not with someone else’s
*Self-care is really important, especially getting enough sleep and eating for energy, well-being and clear thinking
*One step at a time, one focus at a time—what needs doing will be done
*Choose joy, look at where things come together
When I follow these four ‘simple’ advisories, I can flow as fast as I need to in any direction. I’ve set my foundation for the year by putting these directives into action, and they are working! I returned to my tai chi practice. I’m eliminating sugar from my diet and joined an exercise class. I organized my work schedule, setting up a folder for each aspect so I can track my progress step-by-step and be mindful, but also pay my bills on time.
What is your relationship with momentum in your life? It might be worth looking at what delays your ability to move forward or makes you feel overwhelmed. Is it time in this life cycle to reboot? to purge and clean? to get some movement? to make some space? to do something differently? I wish resilience and peace for you in 2026.
SACRED NATURE
My best friend, Rachel, sent me a podcast that is the beginning of an amazing series, Our Common Nature, with Yo Yo Ma and Ana Gonzalez, exploring how different cultures across the country celebrate their land in music. A long time fan of Yo Yo Ma’s work, I drank this up as a nourishing time with the cello, and some unique and beautiful native music that celebrates and acknowledges a special relationship with nature. The first episode is a native American welcome to the sunrise. I look forward to the whole series. Find it in your podcast app, at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-common-nature/id1839323732?i=1000730736840
NEED A PLANTING RESOURCE?
I realize that we haven’t even reached mid-winter, but now is a perfect time to consider what we want to plant in the spring. When searching for sacred tobacco seeds to grow this beautiful plant, I came across a really good nursery that specializes in native plants and seeds, PRAIRIE MOON NURSERY. This farm started in Minnesota in 1982, founded by self-described hippies. It’s principles for stewarding the land and restoring native plants to the planet are based on Aldo Leopold’s environmental work.
This nursery is dedicated to high quality roots, seeds and plants, and also to educating the people who buy from them. Their 2026 catalog is out and has so much information about native plants and how to successfully cultivate the seeds. Prairie Moon offers many varieties for all light and soil conditions, including kits that combine compatible plants, such as their pollinator kit. Everything you need for the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
For a catalog or introduction to the farm, go to:
THE BOOKSHELF
BE LIKE WATER, by Joseph Cardillo
This month’s BOOKSHELF offers a gem of a book that has been one of my guides for decades: BE LIKE WATER. That is a perspective that Bruce Lee, martial arts master, offered as the key to resilience and peace of mind. Each chapter describes a quality of water with an example from Cardillo’s experience as a teacher of martial arts. Each chapter has wonderful meditations that are related to the quality of water described in the chapter, as well as affirmations.
The book is small, only 155 pages. Each chapter is like a separate jewel, and doesn’t have to be read in order. I like to let the book just fall open to what I need. In the Year of the Fire Horse, being like water is the perfect balance.
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.
FEBRUARY 5 & 19, 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.
JANUARY 24-25, 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)
FEBRUARY 7, 2026
Shamanic Personal Safety: Creating Sacred Protected Space— Learn techniques for creating sacred space and why energy hygiene is critical in shamanic practice. Prerequisite: journeying skills. This class is taught online via ZOOM.
$90 per person
9am-4pm EST (consideration may be made for west coast students with starting time at 10am-5pm)
FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 1, 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)
Please note: “Repeat Student” means that you have already taken a particular class once, or you have spoken with me and I have given you permission to do this based on my evaluation of your experience. If repeating a class, you will be eligible for reduced tuition in most cases.