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A Walk Between Worlds, Truth is Beauty, The Q’ero by Denise Kinch

by Rose De Dan

In July I conducted a series of three audio interviews with Denise Kinch, Pachamama Healing Center, practitioner and teacher of the Andean Healing Traditions. It is not well known, but Denise is the only western shamanic teacher to have had the privilege of staying at Don Manuel’s village year after year, hosting him in her home with her family, and in the process learning the truth about the Q’ero and this wonderful lineage that we share.

Not long after the interviews, Denise surprised me with an advance proof of A Walk Between Worlds, Truth is Beauty, The Q’ero, a book that took her nearly 18 years to write and which contains 200 full-color professional photographs documenting her time with the Q’ero, and with Don Manuel. A book that was written to honor his dying request — sharing the truth of the Q’ero, their history and their traditions; clearing up the myths and misconceptions that are so prevalent today among students of his tradition.

Eagerly I read her book cover to cover in one sitting, at times moved to tears. When finished, I sat, filled with the warmth of Don Manuel’s energy and words once again. The book brought him, his village, family and traditions to life for me.

In reading I reconnected with the feelings that had inspired “A Shaman’s Legacy,” concerning Don Manuel’s last visit to the U.S., receiving clear validation of the beauty and simplicity of the Q’ero tradition. A tradition that has been complicated and distorted by overlaid Western ideas and practices that often did not resonate with me.

Reading Denise’s book also changed how I taught the last class of four classes to my Spirited Living students, inspiring me to reach deeper during the weekend of teaching that followed, and fueled more of my own personal healing.

While I had been to Peru, I had never visited a Q’ero village. Seeing the stark simplicity of their lives set amongst the breathtaking and harsh reality of life at 17,000 feet put the entire tradition into perspective and placed it in context. Filled with photos of Chua Chua, the village where Don Manuel Quispe and his family lived, and with stories about community and the Peruvian shamanic traditions, Denise takes you into the heart of the village and shows you exactly what daily life entails.

The following is an excerpt from the book’s description:

“The Q’ero people do not ‘have’ a spiritual tradition, they ‘are’ their spiritual tradition. Living at such high altitudes they are completely dependant on their relationship with each other and their environment. They understand that every element is an integral component of the whole picture, a necessity for survival. That to live in balance with their land they must be in ‘ayni’ with all their relations. Ayni is a Quechua word for reciprocity. To come into Ayni with something means to be in an equal exchange of energy. Don Manuel Quispe embodied this tradition, incorporating it into his healing work and his teachings. Reminding us that we are not separate from spirit, that we do not need a ‘go-between’, and that we too are a part of the whole picture.”

Thanks to Denise Kinch’s quest to discover the roots of the healing tradition she was studying in the U.S., readers can walk alongside her on a personal journey that is often physically and emotionally wrenching—a journey guided by faith and Don Manuel.

This book is a gift beyond price—not only is it a window into a world and tradition that is quickly disappearing, it also affords us loving and humorous glimpses of a very special relationship between a determined woman who followed where Spirit led, and Don Manuel Quispe, one of the most respected and revered elders of the Q’ero nation, thought by some to be the last of the great Altomesayoks.

A Walk Between the Worlds, Truth is Beauty, The Q’ero is one book that every student of the Andean Medicine Tradition, indeed of any shamanic tradition, should have in their personal collection.

Note: You can order a signed and personalized hardcover copy of A Walk Between the Worlds, Truth is Beauty, The Q’ero from Denise Kinch at Pachamama Healing Center. The book is also available at Xlibris.

Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is a mesa carrier and Pampamesayoq in the Peruvian Q’ero tradition. In addition she is also a Reiki Master Teacher, animal communicator, artist, and author of Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism.

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A Walk Between Worlds, Truth is Beauty, The Q’ero by Denise Kinch

Truth is Beauty: Peruvian Shamanism, Don Manuel Quispe, and Denise Kinch

by Rose De Dan

This weekend I recorded three interviews with Denise Kinch, Pachamama Healing Center, practitioner and teacher of the Andean Healing Traditions.

Denise has been initiated with the highest rites of passage from Peruvian elder Don Manuel Quispe and Don Martin Pinedo, and in the interviews Denise publicly sets the record straight, uncovering the truths and misconceptions about the tradition, the karpays, Rites of Passage, and about the Q’ero themselves.

I have known Denise for as long as I have been a part of the Q’ero shamanic tradition, since 1998. Over the years we have stayed in touch, and she would always make time to offer insight and support when I would hit a bump in the road along my shamanic journey.

Through our conversations I became aware that she continued to sit with Don Manuel Quispe, learning from him all that she could. Don Manuel was held in high respect as an altomesayoq, a shaman or paq’o that speaks with the apus, the mountain spirits. Indeed, he may well have been one of the last of the Q’ero lineage. I knew him as a humble, but strong teacher dedicated to sharing and planting seeds of transformation among his students; a teacher that profoundly affected me personally and professionally. One such pivotal experience is portrayed in my article A Shaman’s Legacy.

Denise was present with Don Manuel in his home in Chuachua at the time of his death. At that time he gave her his final, personal and highest rites and his personal Q’ero ceremonial poncho to carry on his traditions. Read about Denise and Don Manuel Quispe here.

Now Denise is preparing to release her book “Walk Between the Worlds, Truth is Beauty, The Q’ero” a book taking nearly 18 years to write and containing 200 full-color professional photographs documenting her time with the Q’ero, and with Don Manuel Quispe. A book written to honor his dying request — sharing the truth of the Q’ero, their history and their traditions.

The first interview with Denise was to acquaint listeners with the foundation work in this shamanic tradition, called Inca Medicine Wheel by Denise, and Spirited Living by me. And for those who are already part of the tradition the interview was also intended to help clear up some misconceptions. Listen to the Inca Medicine Wheel interview.

The second interview concerns the advanced shamanic training, Inca Initiation, which is taught by Denise on the East coast, in Canada, and in late September she will be teaching Inca Initiation in the Seattle area as well. In this interview Denise shares some stories and again helps clear up common misconceptions about the tradition. Listen to the Inca Initiation Interview.

After recording our third interview concerning Denise’s upcoming book, I was moved to tears, for Don Manuel’s spirit and presence shone forth as strongly as if he stood before me once again in physical form. I can’t wait to read “Walk Between the Worlds, Truth is Beauty, The Q’ero,” I’ve a feeling that Don Manuel Quispe, through the dedicated efforts of Denise Kinch, may yet have much to teach every student of shamanism. Listen to book interview.

If you would like to be notified when Denise’s book comes out you can either sign up for my newsletter, or contact Denise Kinch to be placed on her mailing list.

Rose De Dan
Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC
Blog: www.wildreiki.wordpress.com
Website: www.reikishamanic.com
Animal and Reiki Art: www.cafepress.com/reikishamanic

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Truth is Beauty: Peruvian Shamanism, Don Manuel Quispe, and Denise Kinch

Blessing for the Animals, and One for the Shaman

by Rose De Dan

It has been a whirlwind and a roller coaster last two months! In this month’s newsletter we focus on some of the highlights, as well as a preview of current attractions.

First, thanks to Rhonda Hanley who graciously volunteered her photographic eye, I have a pictorial history of my participation in the Blessing for the Animals Day, which took place on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at Heavenly Spa, a therapeutic canine hydrotherapy spa located in Fall City, Washington. My thanks, also to Georgette Mendez and her two new puppies (so cute), and K.C. Anderson, both of whom were kind enough to assist me at the event.

Group blessings began at 2:00pm, offered by a series of people of various backgrounds, Native American, Sufi, Christian, Peruvian shamanism (yours truly), Reiki, crystals, etc.

There were a fair number of people and dogs who showed up, first for the blessings, and then to meet those of us who had booths set up (I got to reconnect briefly with fellow energyworkers/friends Polly Klein and Vicki Draper. There is one photo where I am working with my boxer-type dog client and his person (I am giving an individual blessing), and behind me Rhonda captured the swirl of energy of many excited dogs and their happy people. I was so focused that I had no idea that so many had arrived until I saw the photo, later! I also vaguely recall seeing someone taking photos while I was working (that was not Rhonda), who later turned out to be a photographer for the local paper. One of those photos, in which I was blessing a very happy mini American Eskimo dog named Q-tip, was published in the Snoqualmie Valley Record.

In addition to the fun She Walks and I had interacting with all the dogs and people, I was deeply moved by how well my dog, Puma, played his role. He was my emotional support and held energetic space while I offered the group shamanic blessing. Then, throughout many individual blessings, he stayed quietly by my side, never once needing my attention, staying in a down position, calming the dog clients, and graciously accepting the attention of friendly children. Not once did he get up to greet another dog. At the end of the day, I thanked Puma thoroughly, and let him off leash to explore the grounds, which he did happily, returning straight to me when I called him back so that we could leave. Bless you, Puma, and bless you, Cesar Milan, for all I have learned about transmitting calm, assertive energy!

So, if you would like to see the full story of the Blessing of the Animals in photos, with explanatory captions, click here. If you were present at the event, and your dog is one that appears in a photo, I apologize for not remembering names. If you contact me and tell me your dog’s name I will be happy to include that information, and if you would like a digital copy of that photo I would be happy to send one as well. To everyone who came and visited, thanks, I had a wonderful time meeting all of you and your animals, and I hope all are doing well!

I, however, had been struggling with sinus problems the whole week prior to the Blessing Day, and it finally caught up with me. The day after the event this shaman was the one who needed a blessing, in the form of the very traditional “Gesundheit!” (perhaps I can get a blessing of another type when Puma and I attend the Blessing for the Animals at the Alki United Church of Christ).

Of course, with clogged sinuses, I now sounded like Donald Duck, just in time for my second internet radio interview, The Wisdom of the Animals and Global Warming. I did my very best to be not only clear in my intent and message, but also voice-wise, and hopefully I succeeded.

The first interview was an amazing success, Liana reported that within the first week afterward there had been 4,000 downloads of it! Of course, she told me this right before we started in on the second interview. I had to put the thought of how many might hear this one right into a closet and slam the door firmly on it so that I did not get more nervous than I already was. That interview and the first, Wisdom of the Animals: Shamanism for Modern Times are available online.

In Ceremony for Healing of Self and the Earth

The despacho ceremonies have been taking an interesting turn, Spirit has been very clear that I am to focus on ceremonies for healing the earth, the animals, and global warming. This focus began with the New Year’s despachos, see New Year’s Revolutions, Part 1, progressed through the fire ceremony for the Woodland Park zoo animals, and continues to evolve in each monthly despacho. Last month Spirit focused on healing the animals affected by mankind’s breaking of our contract with them. This month’s Ayni Despacho Ceremony will focus on personal healing and healing of the waters and ocean dwellers. If you are interested in attending please sign up ASAP as space is limited.

As part of my preparation for the October despacho, last night I traveled up the Duwamish River with representatives of various agencies dedicated to clean-up, and tonight I will be at REI attending a Effects of Climate Change on Puget Sound. In support of the focus on healing the earth I have created another page under Resource Links, Global Warming Resources. I took lots of photos on my trip up the Duwamish, gained more information, both shamanic and factual, and will blog about both experiences soon.

Other features in the October newsletter:

• Will your political candidate help save the environment?
Find out where they stand on environmental issues.

• NEW Peruvian rattles with animal carvings:
Condor, Dolphin Owl, Llama, Hummingbird, Eagle, Serpent, Scorpion, there’s even a monkey and a coatimundi!

• NEW Reiki Pet Bowls for the dog or cat who knows what they want!

• NEW one-of-a kind healing pendulums

• NEW Advanced Shamanic Training: Inca Initiation

And more in the October newsletter:
• Story of the Tortoise Who Went Walkabout
• 2009 Reiki Classes
• Humane choices for farm animals
• NEW Reiki Review and Advanced Training Classes

And finally, Keiko, the darling foster cat who has been with me for over nine months is still looking for her forever home. Do you know where it is?

If you would like to read more musings by Rose De Dan, sign up for our newsletters.

Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC
Website: www.reikishamanic.com
Blog: www.wildreiki.wordpress.com
Animal and Reiki Art: www.cafepress.com/reikishamanic

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Blessing for the Animals, and One for the Shaman

Island Countries May Be Underwater As Global Warming Increases

by Rose De Dan

As a shamanic student my teachers advised me to choose my responsibilities carefully. As an individual and a shaman I am feeling called to work toward reversing the trend of global warming, a trend that threatens all of the inhabitants of Pachamama, Mother Earth. Our so-called advanced civilization created this crisis, it is time for each of us to accept responsibility and to unite to create positive change. The following call for action came from Avaaz.org.

“Imagine the sea rising around you as your country literally disappears beneath your feet, where the food you grow and the water you drink is being destroyed by salt, and your last chance is to seek refuge in other lands where climate refugees have no official status. This is not a dream, it’s the fearful reality for millions of people who live on islands around the world, from the Maldives to Papua New Guinea.

“That is why these small islands are planning the unprecedented step next week, ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting, of calling on the Security Council itself to address climate change as a pressing threat to international peace and security.

“This is a creative move born of desperation, a challenge to global powers to end their complacency and tackle this lethal crisis with the urgency of wars. This effort could help shift the tenor of the world’s debate — from a far-off storm cloud to a life-threatening crisis here and now. But the island states’ campaign will meet fierce opposition from the world’s biggest polluters, so they need our help.

Sign the petition now to raise a worldwide chorus of support for this call — our signatures will be presented to the UN by the islands’ ambassadors as they introduce their resolution next week.”

It is time to step up, how will you answer the call to action?

Photos by Rose De Dan©2008
Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC
Website: www.reikishamanic.com
Blog: www.wildreiki.wordpress.com
Animal and Reiki Art: www.cafepress.com/reikishamanic

When Hope Flies In: The Return of the Purple Martins

by Rose De Dan

This week I attended a networking gathering put on by the Port of Seattle. Attending this sort of event is not my usual style, however I went for three major reasons.

First, I went as a member of the Alki Wildlife Habitat Project (AWHP), and unofficial photographer. Our hard-working leader, Dolly Vinal, was presenting a certificate of certification of Jack Block Park as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat from the National Wildlife Federation along with a sign for display to the public. Our group has been working on community certification of Alki for five years. We will finally achieve that goal this year; certification of Jack Block Park fits into our future vision of certifying all of the West Seattle peninsula and the Duwamish area specifically.

Second, I went as a shaman. My recent experiences conducting the monthly public Peruvian shamanic despacho ceremonies have raised my awareness of the need for me to begin seriously applying everything I have learned about shamanism toward the goal of reversing global warming and reconnecting people, animals and the natural world. Sometimes that role takes the form of simply showing up with the intention of being available to Spirit and seeing what happens.

Third, I went because I love Jack Block Park, and any excuse to hang out by Puget Sound and watch the marine wildlife is good.

Jack Block Park is perhaps one of the least well-known of the Seattle parks, even in Alki. Located on 15 acres next to Salty’s Restaurant on Harbor Avenue, Jack Block Park contains a walking path, 45 foot high observation tower, a walking pier, and a kicking view of the Seattle skyline and Mt. Rainier (on a good day). And something else few know about, a breeding colony of Purple Martins.

The following information is extracted from the beautiful handout for the presentation at Jack Block Park, designed and written, respectively, by fellow AWHP members Wilda Boyd and Kara Whittaker.

“Purple Martins are a migratory swallow species that breeds in North America and winters in the Amazon basin of South America.

“In Washington, Purple Martins were once locally common near marine shorelines, but their populations have declined steeply over the past 50 years. They are now a Washington State Candidate species, meaning the species may meet the criteria for listing as State Endangered, Threatened, or Sensitive. The primary reasons for their decline are the removal of natural snags and nest cavities and increased competition with exotic bird species for nest cavities…”

“Purple Martin boxes were first erected in West Seattle at Jack Block Park by local volunteers in 1996. The lower Duwamish waterway is home to three nesting colonies which together make up one of the most productive sites in Seattle. A fourth colony site was established this spring with six new gourds at the Seacrest Park Pier, but no new nesting activity has yet occurred there. It is expected that Martin ‘scouts’ will locate these new gourds late this summer and return to nest in them next spring.

“The Seacrest gourds were installed by members of the Alki Wildlife Habitat Project, whose goal is to promote neighborhood involvement in restoring the natural legacy of our community.”

After the certification presentation and some truly mouth-watering food prepared by Blue Willow Catering (so maybe I had a fourth reason for attending!), I decided to break away from the networking and go off and explore the scenery. The hour was getting close to sunset, and the light was perfect for taking some photographs.

I checked out the purple martin gourds, hanging from the walking pier, but they all seemed pretty quiet, no one in attendance. Suddenly, at the end, I spotted a lone martin just sitting on the pole. The angle for the shot was perfect, straight geometric lines of the pier framed the graceful steely curves of artificial lampposts and the natural curves of the gourd houses, and in the background, the one lone purple martin. To me the shot captured the essence of urban conservation—finding ways to balance the wants of our society with the needs of nature.

I returned to the networking group wishing I had been able to see more of the martins. As the sun sank lower I was alerted by Greg Whittaker of Alki Kayak Tours that some purple martins were congregating at the gourds closest to the end of the pier.

I hurried to see, and arrived in time to take some amazing photos of a purple martin family in full feeding swing. With two babies to feed, the parents were quite busy; one would land on the gourd, stuffing the insect it carried into one gaping mouth, while the other parent waited on the sidelines with the next mouthful. I just kept clicking away, hoping to be able to capture some sense of the beauty and grace of the parents as they swept in and out.

Finally satisfied that I had done my best, and with the light fading, I made my way back toward the group.

Along the way I paused for a moment to take in the cloudy sunset illuminating the shorelines of Alki and Seattle, the passing ferry, and the barge moored nearby, and noticed a flying Caspian tern carrying a fish in its beak. Largest tern in the world, its clean, aerodynamic lines enable it to drop like an arrow into the water to catch its dinner, and as it made its way past our urban skyline I felt hope.

Hope that through places like Jack Block Park we will be able to watch future generations of purple martins, as well as other wildlife, raise their families. Hope that we can not only preserve the beauty of the natural world by creating more oasis and corridors for wildlife within our urban landscapes, but that we can increase the presence of wildlife in our neighborhoods and in our hearts. Hope flies.

For more information on how to get your backyard or community certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat visit the National Wildlife Foundation website.

Photos by Rose De Dan©2008
Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC
Website: www.reikishamanic.com
Blog: www.wildreiki.wordpress.com
Animal and Reiki Art: www.cafepress.com/reikishamanic

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When Hope Flies In: The Return of the Purple Martins

Blessing for the Animals Day

by Rose De Dan

Blessing for the Animals Day
Sunday, September 14, 2008
12 noon – 4:00 p.m.

Blessing Ceremonies to Honor the Animals Begins at 2:00 p.m.

Rose De Dan, a Pampamesayoq (Earth Steward) and mesa carrier in the Peruvian Q’ero shamanic tradition and owner of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, will offer blessings to animals on Sunday, September 14, 2008, during the Blessings for the Animals Day at Heavenly Spa, a therapeutic canine hydrotherapy spa located in Fall City, Washington.

Admission is free and all animals are welcome to the event, which runs from 12pm to 4pm. The series of group Blessing Ceremonies begin at 2pm and will also include representatives from Native American, Christian, Buddhist, and Hindi faiths. For everyone’s safety, dogs should be on leash, cats and other small animals should be in carriers. If your animal companion is unable to attend please bring a photograph.

De Dan says, “Animals who share in our lives also share in the energy of all of the sorrows, frustrations, and challenges that we face and can be knocked off balance mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, resulting in less quality of life. A blessing for the animals promotes wellness and helps to reconnect animals to the natural world, reuniting them with the larger circle of life.”

Learn How to Keep Your Pet Healthy
There will also be booths offering presentations by holistic healing modalities: practitioner, tools, products, and information all day, from 12 noon – 4:00 p.m. From her booth, De Dan will also be offering free individual blessings to animal companions. Copies of her popular new book, Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism, will also be available for sale. Come meet the practitioners and learn more about how to help your pets achieve their perfect wellness!

For Event Information:
Teri Sahm, All Pets Go To Heaven, 35022 SE Fall City Snoqualmie Road, Fall City, WA 98024, 425-222-7221, www.allpetsgotoheaven.com

About Rose De Dan:
Founding her practice, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing in 1996, Rose De Dan was an early pioneer in promoting the need for alternative healing for animals. De Dan received her Karpays (transmissions of power) directly from Don Manual Quispe, Q’ero elder, master shaman, and Altomesayoq trained in an unbroken shamanic lineage. She maintains a private healing and teaching practice in Alki, Seattle, WA. For more information about Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, visit her website.

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Blessing for the Animals Day

Inviting A Tiger Home to Play: Unleashing A Shamanic Book

by Rose De Dan

Shamanically speaking, everything has a spirit. In which case, you could say that my new book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki & Shamanism is evidencing wild and spirited behavior just like the image on its front cover.

Initially my book managed to make itself invisible online at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble, much to the puzzlement of my publisher. For quite some time no one could figure out why that was happening. It is now fully visible and searchable at Amazon, apparently having learned to trust the user-friendly atmosphere there; but it is still in hiding at the Barnes and Noble jungle. Unless you search for the title exactly you will not find it, it does not appear in any keyword search, apparently due to the book’s title being only partially listed as “Tails of a Healer.” I guess I would not want to come out of hiding either if I did not feel fully accepted.

There were many rejected drafts and numerous scratches for those who tried to define the book’s spirit and purpose within the confining limits of a one-page press release. When the final press release heralding it’s publication was sent out to the news media it, too, quietly disappeared for more than 24 hours, to the amazement of the press release service who, like the publisher, could not figure out what had happened. During that time both the book cover image and the company logo fought being posted in my online newsroom, only appearing after several phone calls and much head-scratching by the techies.

While the book seems determined to play a form of hunter/prey, stalking around the internet and pouncing at unexpected moments, it appears as a kinder, gentler feline spirit to the people who read its tales and their companion animals.

Throughout the manuscript-reading process and soon after publication I began receiving reports of cats sleeping on it. If the book was moved to a different location the cat would simply take up residence on it again. One cat client, in the last stages of his life, seemed to use the book as a sort of energetic heating pad which appeared to be plugged into my household. He was able to tell his person via the book telegraph exactly when my elderly cat Shaman crossed over into spirit.

And like any curious cat the book began to seek out new homes on its own. An autographed copy, intended for one of my wonderful friends who had helped with the final stages of the book, somehow mysteriously got accidentally addressed and mailed to a client of mine (who had not ordered a copy herself). My client called to say that she had received it, and I suggested that she simply tape it up and mark it “Return to Sender.” She called back to say that before she could do that her dog, who had never done anything like this before, actually ate a part of the envelope, making it impossible to mail it back! She ended up physically giving me back the autographed copy (which did finally complete its intended journey) and ordering a copy for herself since the book seemed determined to stay.

Finally, and happily, I am also receiving feedback from people who have found the book so enticing they tell me it is difficult for them to put it down, and they have shared with me their thanks for its energy which has inspired them to deeper levels of healing and change in their lives.

So, here’s to the spirit of my book, a true original. May you continue to seek out and inspire people and animals, and if I place a particularly tasty bit out on the internet as an offering, could you please stop fighting with the technology?

Got a story of your own to share about the book? I’d love to hear it, send me an email.
Want to invite this tiger to your home? Click here to order a copy or to read Reader Reviews and an Excerpt from “Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki & Shamanism.”

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Inviting A Tiger Home to Play: Unleashing A Shamanic Book

The True Joy of the Season

by Rose De Dan

I have just spent the last half hour playing animated Jacquie Lawson Christmas cards for my cat, Kiya!

It started with Jacquie’s latest card, “A Christmas Story,” a lovely animated tale of a kitten’s gift to Santa Claus. I was playing it while Kiya was sitting in my lap. Suddenly she tensed, watching the end of the kitten’s tail twitch on screen. Kiya moved closer, tromping on the keyboard in the process, which is why the screen image seems a bit dim in the photo.

Since the card was at an end I replayed it to see how she would respond to the rest. She adored the movement of the image loading bar, and with her paw she chased the toys moving behind Santa. With every page turn she took in all the action, swatting at Santa’s clothes as he reached from behind a screen to prepare for his Christmas Eve journey, and when the card finished waited for more. So I replayed it for her, and again she enjoyed it immensely.

Since my eldest cat Shaman’s diagnosis of cancer a lot of my attention has been on him, taking time away from the rest of my animal family, so I felt moved to try another card on her and then another. She sat raptly through all of them, occasionally raising a paw to chase the images across the screen. I don’t think I realized until this moment how many birds and animals are in Jacquie’s cards—must be why I love them so much!

Besides “A Christmas Story” Kiya’s favorites were “The Olive Tree,” “A Winter Waltz,” and the unseasonable Halloween “Feline Fright” where two mice take revenge on a black cat. Kiya chased the black cat the whole time it played.

I’m really glad I took time from my day to share with Kiya; it was time well spent. The true joy of the season can be found in togetherness and playfulness with the ones you love.

To see more of Kiya, check her out on the front cover of our new book, Tails of a Healer. Kiya was born to be a diva, she really does think she is a tiger inside. I joke with her that she reminds me of Miss Piggy, it’s all about moi!

If you would like to read more musings by Rose De Dan visit Articles.

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The True Joy of the Season

It Takes A Cat to Create A Village

by Rose De Dan

It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of a truly great personality and personal friend, Gracie the cat.

Last night, at about midnight, there came a knock on my door. It was my neighbor Casey, and she was obviously in distress. Apparently Gracie had been found in a neighbor’s yard after having been missing for several days, and she was not looking good. Casey said she did not think Gracie would last the night and asked if I would come and see her. In my official capacity as an animal energy healer I would have done this anyway, but as Gracie and I had shared special moments as friends I immediately replied that I would be there.

While I gathered my mesa and other healing tools together I reflected on our friendship. Gracie had the most open and trusting heart of anyone I had ever met. Everyone, friend or stranger, was greeted with joy by Gracie. Apparently she had never met someone she did not want to know, and in conversation with the neighbors I discovered that she literally knew more people on the block than any of us did (see Gracie the Cat Star). She would run down the sidewalk or cross the street to greet you, meowing in welcome, and when she reached you there would be purring and great affectionate gestures. If you were really open to her, and willing to crouch down a bit to her level, she would make her way into your lap, eventually placing herself across your shoulder, rumbling purr vibrating in your ear. A little kneading to soften you up further, and when you were putty in her capable feline paws, she would drape herself, like a boa, around your neck.

When she was in need of healing she would instigate a variation on this theme (see Gracie the Cat and Fireworks); she would lie in wait outside my house, and when she had my attention she would curl herself up in my arms, tuck her head under my chin, and get as close to my heart chakra as possible. At those times I could feel how open she was; Gracie was 8 lbs. of unconditional love, and my feelings of affection for her would just well up.

As I recalled her energy, her sunny disposition, and the many memories I had of her including my recent pajama-clad photo shoot of Gracie (see Gracie by Morning Light) I felt fear that she might be lost to us. What would we all do without her?

As I entered Casey’s house to see if there was anything I could do to help Gracie I made a deliberate effort to put those fears and memories aside so that I could best be a hollow bone for the healing energy that she would need. At my first sight of her my heart sank into my feet, she could barely raise her head, and she seemed very out of touch with her surroundings. As I knelt by the chair I acknowledged that we might lose her and put that feeling aside.

And then it happened—Gracie broke through my hard-won professional balance. She heard my voice; the voice of the person who had always helped her when she had been sick in the past, and although she was very weak, she began to crawl toward my heart chakra which was level with her on the chair. As I leaned forward to meet her Gracie shoved her face into my chest and wrapped her right paw around my bare arm, claws digging into my skin and leaving marks, and she hung on for dear life like someone drowning, I could feel the tension and the fear in her and there was no purring this time. At her demonstration of complete trust in me I felt my heart break into little pieces, and I had to put that aside, too. Gracie needed me.

As I began to assess her energetically I could feel some strange kind of disturbance in her upper energy field, something like disconnected signals. I dimly registered that information and continued looking for what might be causing the problem. She did not appear to have any external injuries, there was some evidence of what was probably arthritis (Gracie was 13), but nothing jumped out at me for what could cause these symptoms, and it became clear to me that Gracie was not going to be able to tell me, Whatever was going on was causing her ability to communicate to break down.

At this point I needed to open my mesa and turn the session over to the universe. When in doubt my philosophy has always been to get out of the way and let the energy and the client dialogue. It is then that miracles can occur.

It became very clear to me that I could not disengage Gracie to open my mesa in order to open sacred space, thereby create a place for healing between the worlds (consensual reality and the spirit world; this is the realm of the shaman). Gracie made it very clear that physical contact was emotionally important to her, and she wanted to be able to draw on the Reiki energy freely. I had to ask Casey to open my mesa and to distribute the stones in a circle around Gracie and I. It is a tribute to my mesa that it allowed this, as the general rule is that no one handles the mesa except the shaman.

As Casey distributed the stones, and the rest of her family watched quietly, the energy began to build. Search as I might I could not see a thread of possibility that led to Gracie surviving this, but neither could I find certainty that she would not. I set my intention for her highest healing good, allowing the shamanic energy to enfold both of us, opening my feelings, feeding the energy with my love for her, and at the same time attempting to put aside my fear of loss.

I performed a Reiki attunement for her, re-connecting her fully to Source for her highest mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being, and I could gradually feel the tension in her body ease, her fear subside. She entered a trance-like stage of healing where I sensed her soul journeying through the universe. Her breathing slowed, and I wondered if possibly she might choose to use the energy to leave her body permanently. As I had no idea of the outcome I clearly set intent for her to receive whatever she needed. I built a Bridge of Light for her so that whenever it was her time to leave she might do so in as joyful and a painless a fashion as possible, and then be met and guided to wherever she was to go next.

When we finished Gracie was calm, but still clearly not right. Realizing that we had done all that was possible, it was now time to get her to a vet.

As Gracie drove off with her family my heart was heavy with the sense that I might never see her in body again. When I re-entered my house my animals clearly picked up on how I was feeling and decided that it was time to lighten me up. So, at 1:00 a.m. we had a silly play session, re-affirming our connection to one another and joy in life. When I finally crashed for the night all the cats snuggled up with me, blanketing me in care and concern.

I woke up once during the night with the sense that something had happened, but it was not until after noontime that I learned that Gracie had passed. All tests at the Burien emergency clinic showed no elevated levels of anything, however her behaviors indicated neurological compromise, and the conclusion was that Gracie had a brain tumor. With great difficulty her family made the decision to humanely euthanize her.

When Casey called me the next day I heard in her voice that my worst fear was confirmed—Gracie was gone. A part of me was glad that she would not continue to suffer as she clearly had been; another part keened in grief at the thought that she would never wrap her paws around me again. It was as though for me a light had gone out in the world.

Casey shared with me some of Gracie’s early life. Apparently Casey and her then-husband had been looking to adopt from the shelter. Casey said she did not see Gracie because she is short, and Gracie was in a top cage, but her tall husband saw this paw reaching out at them, and suggested they check out the eager cat.

In the petting room Gracie leapt from one lap to the next in a frenzy of affection. She had been found behind a building with her kittens and was about one year-old. The kittens were weaned and Gracie needed some more beings to love. Casey and her husband complied and adopted her.

So, how did an unwanted stray with no place to raise a family maintain an unlimited amount of trust in the goodness of the universe and the kindness of mankind? I have no idea, I only know that Gracie is my hero. As the neighbors and I carried the news of her passing from one house to the next, and stories were shared, I realized that Gracie, a small gray and white tabby of unknown origins, had woven a thread of friendly connection through a block of disconnected people simply through the power of her unconditional love. One little cat created a village.

Good-night, Gracie, may your legacy of love live on.

In memory of Gracie I invite you to post your comments and share your memories of Gracie here, or perhaps you have stories of other animals who have inspired or blessed your life like Gracie blessed ours.

There will be a Peruvian despacho ceremony held at Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC for all friends of Gracie once her ashes are returned. A death despacho is a beautiful celebration of the life of the individual and all participants get to share in the ceremony and add their prayers and memories. A notice will be sent out at that time.

Continue reading here:
It Takes A Cat to Create A Village

After the Pet Food Recall: Why natural is the way to go

by Rose De Dan

For years I thought I fed my companion animals a good compromise diet. Neither expensive and “boutique” or bargain basement “supermarket.” A good quality, middle of the road compromise. I resisted any efforts or education to examine higher quality foods or raw food diets, which I thought excessive, costly, and time consuming. And one of my cats paid the price for that decision. He threw up daily, and had never really did well from the time I brought him home as a little black and white kitten. He was always very slender and almost frail looking. I thought it was his breeding, part Siamese, or just a weak stomach. Boy, was I wrong.

When I moved from the East coast to Seattle I was no longer able to obtain the same brand I had been feeding, and was forced to consider other options. So, I changed the diet of all my animals, and was stunned by the results for EVERYONE. Shaman stopped throwing up as soon as I changed the food. Within a month all of my animals’ (dog and cats) coats became silky and glossy, and Shaman finally filled out to average rather than skeletal. All because I changed their food. That simple. (Shaman, now 15 years young, appears in the photo.)

Is your dog or cat’s fur dry or dull looking?
Do they have dandruff?
Need to be bathed frequently?
Does your cat or dog scratch constantly? Groom excessively?
Have they created “hot spots,” (open wounds from licking)?
Does an area of their body feel hot to the touch?
Are they hyperactive/have difficulty relaxing?
Do they have seizures?
Do they exhibit strange behaviors, such as dirt eating or ingestion of foreign objects?
Are they obsessed with food?
Will they only eat one brand of food?

If the answer to any one of these is “yes,” you need to consider changing their diet because chances are food may be causing the behavior. Even if they are not exhibiting any of the above you should still read up on pet foods because what you learn could not only lengthen the lifespan of your companion, but lower your vet bills and give your pet a brand new healthy look.

If you buy your food at the supermarket, discount outlet, or even your vet (most vets receive no training on nutrition in school, and base their food recommendations on the reps of the pet food companies) there is a good chance that you are not giving your loved companion a diet that will help them stay physically healthy and emotionally balanced. The reality and bottom line are that not all pet foods are created even remotely equal. It is true that you get what you pay for. Think about it, how can a food contain plump, juicy chicken and prime cuts of beef and still cost only $4 for a 5 lb. bag? Our companions are carnivores and there is no way that you can buy a prime cut of meat for less than $1 a pound.

So, what else is in a bag of dog or cat food that makes up the rest of that weight? Fillers. Wheat, soy, corn, peanut hulls, and possibly even the sweepings off of the factory floor. Little of which would ever be in your pet’s diet in the wild. Think wholesome and natural and choose accordingly. Think, “What do wolves eat? Cougars?” Do either of these animals eat grains? No. Many companion animals who exhibit itchy, scratchy behaviors have allergies to ingredients they would not normally encounter in nature. Our dogs and cats do best on diets that use high quality animal sources for protein, not plants.

Then there are the additives and chemical preservatives, some of which can be addictive, resulting in the animal desiring only that one food brand—other agents, such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin, are potential carcinogens.

Now for the stunner, unlike human food there are no regulations governing where the protein sources in your pet’s food come from. This means that the meat in your food can come from downer animals (which can have any number of health problems) and that have been euthanized by lethal injection. Those drugs are NOT destroyed during the processing and hence go directly into your pet’s body. It also means that all the leftover parts that we don’t eat, such as hooves, feathers, beaks, horn, etc. can legally be added to your pet’s food, and are included in the label under “Chicken By-Products, Poultry By-Product Meal, or Meat and Bone Meal.” There’s nothing wrong with these animal parts, they just do not constitute a good, high quality protein source. The manufacturers are required to gauge the percentage of protein in the food, but are not required to disclose or consider the protein sources.

A little known fact is that three of the five major pet food companies in the U.S. are subsidiaries of major multinational companies, for example Nestle (Alpo, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Mighty Dog, and Ralston Purina products such as Dog Chow, ProPlan, and Purina One). What this means is that multinational companies that create human food products have a secondary market for all of their waste products; those by-products that are deemed not fit for human consumption.

What can you do? Research on the internet is a very good place to begin. One excellent site is maintained by the Animal Protection Institute. In addition to clear information about what is in your pet foods they also have a list of suggestions and further reading lists.

Seek out non-chain, natural pet food stores and ask questions. Most of the time the staff are quite well educated as to what is in the food they sell and which one might best fit your dog or cat’s individual needs. Evaluate raw, natural food diets, or consider adding some natural foods to a high quality kibble (dry food) diet. There are many excellent options to fit your lifestyle and comfort zone.

If you are changing over to a new food what you are looking for is one that contains human grade quality ingredients, with whole chicken or chicken meal (for example) listed first on the label. Also note that while higher quality food will cost more per pound than a lesser quality food you will actually have to feed less of the quality food because it contains more nutrition per pound.

If you do decide to change your animal’s food do so gradually, say over the course of a week. Add more and more of the new food and less of the old. Because of the addictive nature of some foods your companion may resist the change at first and will undergo a gradual detoxification process which is what happened with my own dog when I first adopted him. He had been used to a very cheap, poor quality “supermarket” brand and would not eat the higher quality food at first. Be persistent, your companion will not allow themselves to starve to death no matter how much they may dramatize! Please note that not every food, no matter how high the quality, is right for every animal. Some do better on one food than another. If diarrhea results from the changeover, it may be due to the detoxification process or your companion may do better on another food with a different protein source—chicken, lamb, turkey, buffalo, salmon, etc.

Here are a few quality foods to research: Canidae, Merrick, Solid Gold, Wellness, Wysong, Precise, Newman’s Own, Pet Guard, Innova, Origen, Timberwolf Organics (see Nutrition Resources on my Wild Reiki & Shamanic Healing website for listings and sources). (Addition: please note that due to the massive and tragic pet food recall it would be wise to check out sites such as Little Big Cat for the latest information before buying.)

So, let what you feed your animal be the first line of defense in helping your companion lead a long and happy life. You’ll be amazed at the difference and they’ll love you for it.