On The Farm
This is my car after attending the ordination of this year’s animal chaplains in New York, driving a whopping 1700+ miles round trip. There are some very unique individuals in this group who will be supporting the world’s relationship with animals, and it was fun getting acquainted. And I got to show off my new license plate.
Cocooning in a car for 1700 miles can be very therapeutic. No phone connection through much of the trip. Beautiful landscapes. AND, snacks—I buy organic cheese snacks only once a year and that is for the road trip. Yum. Plus, I get to see friends and family in person, not just on Zoom. Met two of my students in person, which is always a special connection.
I made a “roadshow” playlist of my favorite music, including everything from classical to folk to blues to 1940’s songs, which I think are just the best for when you’re by yourself. Anything by the Eagles made it on the list.
This year, I allowed spaciousness in the trip, staying overnight after 5-6 hours of driving. Got two days with my son, daughter-in-law and grandson. Spent three days with friends I hadn’t seen since last year’s trip. So good to reach the outer points of my web of relationship.
Keeping tabs on our web of relationship is important for our well-being. Being part of a community of unique individuals helps us stay balanced and appreciative of their unique gifts. I send cards and emails to stay in touch, but seeing them in person lights me up. Locally, I schedule tea for myself and a friend every month at my favorite tea house in Ann Arbor. I’m doing Zoom tea with a couple of friends on either coast and one in Prescott, AZ. I also look forward to interacting with my grandson, who is 9 now, on Zoom once a month to connect with his life and give him an opportunity to get to know a grandmother who lives far away. While I resisted using technology briefly, it has supported my web, and I am grateful for its capabilities.
Is there someone you haven’t seen in awhile that you could connect with? Exchange recipes? Get caught up with your lives? Try it—you’ll like it. Give yourself some light.
WHAT IS AN ANIMAL CHAPLAIN?
Being with the newly ordained chaplains a few weeks ago inspired me to define our role more expansively than I have previously. Also, I am increasingly being called upon for chaplain support within my animal communication sessions. It’s the state of the world right now—urgent. When people have an emotional crisis with their beloved animals, they aren’t sure where to turn for help.
As an animal chaplain, I have found that many are not aware of how often animals appear in the “issues” of their people. Caregivers experience the intensity of worry and grief for ill, injured or dying companion animals to whom they are closely bonded. A person’s shifts in mobility, mental health or financial situation can challenge their ability to care for an animal companion. Frequently, people who are dying have not made arrangements for their beloved animal’s care after they are gone. Family relationships may also affect an animal. Divorce or separation, domestic abuse, children, or hoarding habits affect involved animals seriously. An animal chaplain can be a strong resource in these instances for both animals and people.
What is an animal chaplain anyway? Reverend Sarah Bowen, who founded the training offers an in-depth perspective of the role. Animal chaplains may be found problem solving with people and their pets, doing death doula work for animals, supporting veterinary care within a clinical or shelter setting, being an interspecies chaplain, or focused on ecological issues of wild animals and their intersection with humankind.
Animal chaplains receive comprehensive training to provide pastoral and grief care on a personal level, family, community or organizational level. They support both animals and humans by using the tools of deep listening and caring companionship. In addition to 9 months of chaplain training, I took 6 months of training in theology, learning an animal’s role in different faiths and religions so I could integrate a family’s spiritual perspective into the services I provide for them. Animal chaplains provide emotional support, blessings, end-of-life rites and also help welcome the new puppy into the family. Most are also able to provide advocacy—many are lawyers working in animal rights cases—and education, like resources for end-of-life decisions, economic challenges of pet care, and human-animal conflict mediation.
A growing number of veterinary hospitals, shelters and sanctuaries are inviting chaplains to serve on staff or on-call, similar to how chaplains came into hospitals, hospice centers or extended care facilities for human medicine. These chaplains mediate between staff and animals, offer blessings before surgery, support families in distress onsite, and also provide staff support to veterinarians and their staff who are facing moral distress, compassion fatigue, or burnout.
For the past ten years, veterinarians have been at the top of the national suicide list as the most vulnerable population. Veterinary staff are not less affected by PTSD, compassion fatigue and moral injury, making decisions for life and death daily that may run counter to their personal values and beliefs, not to mention the emotional load that the animals’ people bring. Farm and industrial agricultural workers in slaughter houses, animal advocates, vegetarians and environmental scientists may experience the same stresses. To provide needed support to these populations, a relatively new organization has been founded—the American Association of Veterinary Chaplains. This organization, which I recently joined, is a community dedicated to enriching the lives of all who care for and love animals by providing compassionate, spiritual, and emotional support.
Most chaplain services are free of charge or nominally charged. If I am called to do chaplain work during a communication session, I may fold it into the session charges or use a donation fund that my clients pay into so that others may have the needed service. For in-person service, you can find an animal chaplain near you at https://findanimalchaplain.com. This is the list provided by the Compassion Consortium that provides the training. If you are interested in becoming an animal chaplain, go to https://CompassionConsortium.org to get information on how to apply to the program, which is currently recruiting the 2025-2026 cohort of chaplains.
IN MEMORIAM
Umerah Mujahid is a client of my communication and chaplain services. After the death of her beloved rabbit, Mune (pronounced Moon), she wrote a beautiful poem commemorating his spirit. A musician as well, Umerah also composed an exquisite song using the poem as lyrics. I have her permission to share both of these artworks with you, to bring you your own comfort.
Thank you, Umerah, for putting into song what many people cannot say.
Mune's Way
A Rememberance of Gentle Greatness
In the hush of morning dew
Where footsteps slowand skies turn blue
A whisper rises from the ground
Munie's spirit speaks without a sound
Move softly through the storm and rain
Let joy come not from chasing pain
Sit with me beneath the tree
Let rabbits teach what eyes can't see
So if you're tired of striving wide
Of fixing wounds, you aren't meant to hide
Sit a while, let the land speak true
Let rabbit medicine find you
Gentle isn't weak, it's wise
Stillness opens inner skies
Feel the storm, don't run away
Let Munie's breath guide you today
Move softly through the storm and rain
Let joy come not from chasing pain
Sit with me beneath the tree
Let rabbits teach what eyes can't see
Porch-lit dusk and loving grace
Fuzzy bunnies, a warm embrace
Greatness lives in softness too
Munie lives on-in me, in you
хохо
mom
JUST FOR YOU
Asparagus in early morning dew.
Nearly everyone I know is having challenges with time. For most people, there seems to be a scarcity of it for doing what needs to be done. Never mind time for yourself—does such a thing exist? We all have lists, piles, calendars full of important dates and deadlines for DOING. We also have obligations and relationships to nurture, maintain and connect with. We have become HUMAN DOINGS!
SOUND OF BRAKES SCREECHING TO A HALT! What about human BEING? What would time for yourself mean to you? What would that mean FOR you? How long would it take to breathe fresh air, or just breathe, period. What would happen if your brain wasn’t full, for just a few moments? for an hour? for a day? “Oh, I can’t do that,” you say, “I have too much to do.” How many times a day do we tell that to ourselves? “Oh, these other ______ (fill in the blank: people, events, tasks, etc.) are more important right now.”
Take inventory. Could you use more rest? better sleep? improved health? good digestion? better mood? Taking the time to just BE can help you achieve these states of BEING.
Make an intention for a period of time that you will not think, do or talk about anything outside of yourself. Then, write down your intention and schedule the time for yourself in your calendar. If you feel pressured by the outside world, start with 15 minutes and just sit and breathe. Make a playlist if music will keep your mind from wandering to your lists. The Omega Institute recommends that when you begin mediation practice, you do it for only 5 minutes. At least you started.
BEING is best done in nature or with your animal companion, but if you have a special place in your home that is quiet, that works, too. Be aware of all your senses and what they feel like. Notice what it’s like to breathe deeply and slowly. It may take a few minutes to let go of the world you just came from, so just allow this.
When you are in the midst of BEING and breathing, memorize that feeling and focus on it. Feel how it feels to your body and just witness what challenges come up for you when you are still. DOING is a really good distraction from doing our own inner work or dealing with difficult issues within. Just notice and then go back to being. If you feel anxious about being still, set an alarm to bring you back on time.
From that few minutes, practice every day to empty yourself until you can expand the time. End the BEING with something that you like about yourself and return to the world slowly, more your true self than before you began. Reclaim your energy and your vision by BEING. Notice how time expands when you slow down.
THE BOOKSHELF
ORNITHOGRAPHY, by Jessica Roux
Birds have inspired us since the dawn of time: their elegance in flight, captivating colors, and delicate mannerisms spark hope, joy, and delight. Cultures around the world have historically looked to birds as sacred messengers, intermediaries between earth and sky, including them in myths and legends and using them to teach moral lessons and historical truths.
Besides doing the illustrations of this beautiful book, the author has provided the lore, myth and history of 100 birds. While this isn’t a scientific work, I think even birdwatchers will enjoy playing with the concepts the author gives us. I loved the artwork, and it is fun to know little facts and myths about even common sparrows and finches. There are some birds that surprised me—we haven’t met yet.
When you take time to BE, pick up this book to delight your senses.
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 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.
AUGUST 2-3, 2025
Basic Telepathic Animal Communication—Isn’t it time you knew what your animals are thinking? 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
AUGUST 7 & 21, 2025
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.
AUGUST 5-26, 2025
Shamanic Healing for Animals II— Deepen your shamanic techniques working with animals’ ancestors and the elements for conditions like dementia. Psychopomp and grief/loss for animals will be covered in depth. Pre-requisite: Shamanic Healing for Animals I.
The class will be taught online via ZOOM.
$280/$140 for repeating students
SEPTEMBER 4 & 18, 2025
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.
SEPTEMBER 27-28, 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.
$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)