On The Farm
Whew! With all the rain and hot weather, we are being overcome with plant life, not all of it where we want it. We never knew how much grass three horses ate until we had to mow the pastures in their absence! The good news is that flowers, herbs and veggies are bursting at the seams. We set up our outdoor “room” in the vine house for dining and chilling at end of day, so we can enjoy the peace of the farm.
At a nearby lake where I walk daily, I’ve been watching some swans since last month, from nest building to bringing cygnets into the lake. Nest building was fascinating - the female took old cattail stalks and made a HUGE mound in the shallow water. She was big and strong - it was amazing to see her shape that nest in about two days. She sat on the eggs for about 2-3 weeks through storms and unpredictable spring weather, only taking breaks when the sun was very warm. The eggs hatched about two weeks ago, with three out of four cygnets surviving. The lake is full of algae, so they are growing really fast. Really cool to be able to monitor their progress.
The animals have so much to teach us when we let them. Stitch turns 2 this month. He is so good at bringing us into play - we need those interruptions and his persistence to remind us there are other things besides chores that need to be done. I hope you get to play daily. It’s good for the soul.
The Bookshelf
About 80% of my business as a shamanic animal healer and communicator is death, dying and grief. Sacred Sendoffs by Rev. Sarah Bowen, is the first book I’ve read which really addresses some core issues of the special relationship between humans and non-humans when it comes to end of life. She shares insights for honoring deaths, and managing the emotions that arise when we lose an animal we love. While many books focus exclusively on pet loss, animal welfare or environmental issues, Bowen takes on all three in a way that makes you want to go with her into deep discussion that considers all aspects with full revelation and without judgement. The book offers research as well as perspective and suggests practical actions and everyday opportunities for helping the more-than-human world thrive.
”Bowen covers a great deal of ground here, creating a new paradigm for thinking about the way we treat our closest companions and fellow beings. And she offers hope for the future, reminding us that learning to value animals in life and death may be the first step toward saving our beloved planet.” - Book Review, Spirituality & Health Magazine.
Rev. Sarah Bowen, along with other spiritual leaders, many of them ordained in human religions, helped to found the Compassion Consortium, which is preparing to train animal chaplains who will work with both humans and animals to provide spiritual support for loss, awareness and interspecies relationships. I have enrolled in the full program, but you may find interest in one of the three levels of training that begin in September 2022. I’m excited about the training, especially after reading the book, and looking forward to working with Rev. Bowen. Maybe I’ll see you there!
Bless you!
One of the things that people enjoy most from my course, MEDICINE FOR THE EARTH, is retrieving a blessing for themselves. Easier to do it for someone else, but don’t we deserve our own blessing energy?
See the video for making your own blessing for yourself or as a unique gift for someone else.
Learn Shamanic Journeying for Life Balance
I will be teaching a basic journeying class in July (see the Upcoming Classes below) or you can contact me for personal instruction. It’s an easy process that most people can pick up on in about 3 hours of guided practice. The possibilities are endless and the work is so rewarding. Think of it as active meditation.
Once you know how to journey, you can join us for Journey Circle on the first and third Thursdays of each month. For the next several months, we will be exploring the process of TRANSITION and the critical aspects of ourselves that need to be balanced to experience a transition with grace and ease. In the journeys so far, we have explored transition itself, and two of its components - HOPE and PRESENCE. In the journeys, we have received tools and gifts that will help us navigate the transitions in our lives.
If you already know how to journey, just let me know of your interest and I will catch you up and help you into the journey circle, answering any questions or concerns you may have about participating in group journeying. One person’s journey is everyone’s journey. We learn so much about ourselves and our life paths each circle.
Come join us!
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.
JULY
July 9 & 10, 2022, 9am-3pm each day, 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 $150 for first time students, $75 for returning students
AUGUST
August 12-14, 2022, 9am-5pm each day, EDT, via Zoom
Advanced I Animal Communication: The Deepening
This is a fun, magical training for those who have taken the basic animal communication class, have practiced with animals, and want more knowledge, direction and inspiration to deepen their experience. One-on-one coaching daily. This is the class that will remove any remaining blocks to receiving communication from animals and other nature spirits. This is an in-person class that will bring you into communion with all kingdoms of nature, including domestic and wild animals, plants, minerals and the hidden folk.
Cost is $440 for first time students, $125 for returning students.
In-person instruction in Chelsea, Michigan at my home.
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.