Posts tagged as:

wild reiki

Eli, the Harbor Seal in Profile
Rose De Dan©2010

After writing the first article Reiki and the Harbor Seal, I sent a link and emailed copies of the seal photos I had taken for documentation purposes to Janette, the volunteer for Seal Sitters.

Yesterday I received this email in reply, “Thanks so much for your help in documenting Eli. Eli ended up having a rough evening. As the night wore on, we witnessed a couple of rather serious coughing sessions. Eli then returned to sea only to make his way up the next set of stairs to the east. Eli visited several of the old steps that evening and the last time we saw Eli his coughing sessions appeared to be growing worse. We are on the look out for him still and we are all hoping for the best.”

So, it seems that Eli, as he appears to have been named, did indeed have need of Reiki personally. Wishing him well I have sent some more Reiki to him and for the situation. Not knowing when he might have need of it, I sent the Reiki back in time (Reiki Level II teaches that energy is not bounded by time and space). In accordance with the Reiki concept that the energy is always offered for the highest good of the recipient, letting go of attachment to outcome, the intention included the possibility of the energy being needed for assistance during the dying process.

Finally, I built him a Bridge of Light to help ease his passage into Spirit. Whether he will cross this week, or in the distant future, is now between the universe, Reiki and Eli.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think Outside the Cage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is a mesa carrier in the Peruvian Q’ero tradition. In addition she is also a Reiki Master Teacher, animal communicator, author of the acclaimed book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism, and creator of Animal and Reiki Art. As an animal shaman, she views her role as a healer as one of building bridges between people and animals, and of empowering them to reconnect with Pachamama, Mother Earth.

To receive notice of future articles and events, sign up for our newsletter.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Go here to see the original:
Update for Reiki and the Harbor Seal

<b><i>A prayer is blown into the kintu</b> <br />© Rhonda Hanley 2009</i>” width=”246″ height=”300″ /></a>
<p>A prayer is blown into the kintu © Rhonda Hanley 2009</p>
</div>
<p><strong>When</strong>: Friday, January 1, 2010, 6:30pm<br />
<strong>Where</strong>: Alki, Seattle, WA – directions sent at time of registration. For those with allergies please note that there will be animals present.</p>
<p><em>“The despacho ceremony was very powerful, and things are already beginning to heal. Thank you for the shamanic healing service you provide, it is much appreciated!”</em>—C.A., Seattle</p>
<p>An Ayni Despacho is an ancient ceremony that melds the assembling of consensual reality (the world we all agree exists here and now) with offerings and prayers to the Spirit World for the creation of ayni (balance and harmony) in our lives, healing and release of energies that are standing in the way of our fully stepping into who we are becoming–our limitless possibilities. It is also helps reconnect us with, and offer healing for, the earth. When the despacho is completed the paq’o (one trained in the Andean Medicine tradition) gives it to the fire and the spirits to consume, releasing the energies and the prayers.</p>
<p>The ceremony can assist with all aspects of your life: relationship, business, career, family, home, companion animals, spiritual, etc. This ceremony will also include prayers for the healing of the earth and to support All Our Relations as they deal with the challenges of climate change and global warming. The ceremony itself is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours in length.</p>
<p><a rel=Click here to register for the ceremony.

“Thank you for a wonderful experience. This was my first despacho and it was so beautiful!”—Holly H., Seattle, WA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think Outside the Cage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is a mesa carrier in the Peruvian Q’ero tradition. In addition she is also a Reiki Master Teacher, animal communicator, author of the acclaimed book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism, and creator of Animal and Reiki Art. As an animal shaman, she views her role as a healer as one of building bridges between people and animals, and of empowering them to reconnect with Pachamama, Mother Earth.

To receive notice of future articles and events, sign up for our newsletter.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Read more:
New Year’s Peruvian Ayni Despacho Ceremony

Rose Puma twtr sqweb

Rose De Dan and Puma

I became interested in Tellington TTouch, a long time ago, but that interest kind of got sidelined while focusing on my shamanic training.

Recently I read some very impressive stories by a long-time animal communicator that fanned that interest back into action, especially since I have wanted some additional assistance for Puma, my wonderful dog companion, as he enters his senior years. And lo, and behold, Shannon Finch’s name crossed my path. So, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing is now hosting a TTouch class in Seattle for the very first time! (And I believe there will be a live demo with said dog, and perhaps one of my cats who is shy of being handled – I may borrow a video camera for that!)

INTRODUCTION TO TELLINGTON TTOUCH CLASS

• Do you have a shy or aggressive dog?
• A cat who is getting along in years?
• A bird who squawks incessently?
• Are you interested in enhancing the bond with your animals?

Then this hands-on workshop is for you.

You’ll learn how to improve your animal’s health and wellbeing with several TTouch techniques that release the tension, fear and anxiety that lead to behavior problems. You’ll learn how to ease the ailments associated with aging as well as first aid measures that can save your animal’s life. While TTouch can assist the healing of injuries and illness, and help change undesirable behaviors, it also builds a deeper rapport between humans and animals, so your critter doesn’t have to have a problem in order to benefit from this class.

Please do not bring your animal to the workshop, we’ll be practicing on willing stuffies (stuffed animals) this time around!

When: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 9:30am-12:30pm
Where: Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing, Alki, Seattle, WA
Cost: $95 per person

Registration: Class size is limited to a small number of participants. If interested send me an email, and I will provide you with payment information.

TEACHER
Shannon Finch is owner of The AnimalKind Company in Stanwood, focusing on positive training for all species. She is a certified Tellington Touch practitioner for both companion animals and horses. She has worked with of animals of many species, from dogs, cats, and horses, to birds, reptiles, rabbits and pocket pets, and even farm critters such as cows, goats, and chickens.

Shannon has taught TTouch all over the west, including Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and the Hawaii Humane Society, has given presentations for numerous local animal welfare groups, including PAWS, the Alternative Humane Society of Bellingham, Hooterville, (now Homeward Bound), Canines for Citizens’ Independence, Pasado’s Safe Haven, Purrfect Pals, Skagit Humane Society, and the Monroe Pet Expo. She’s also taught animal behavior and TTouch classes for Everett Community College. She is currently working on her thesis for a Master’s Degree in Humane Education.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think Outside the Cage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is a paq’o and mesa carrier in the Peruvian Q’ero Andean Medicine Tradition. In addition she is also a Reiki Master Teacher, animal communicator, author of the acclaimed book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism, and creator of Animal and Reiki Art. As an animal shaman, she views her role as a healer as one of building bridges between people and animals, and of empowering them to reconnect with Pachamama, Mother Earth.

To receive notice of future articles and events, sign up for our newsletter.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Go here to see the original:
Seattle TTouch Intro Class for Healthier, Happier Animals

Sand tiger tailsm

Catch a Tiger by His Toe… Rose De Dan©2009

Welcome to Carnival of Healing #215!

Last week the Carnival was hosted by Janet Dagley Dagley at The Reiki Digest.

This is the second time the Carnival has been hosted here on the Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing Blog, and once again I had a great time exploring new articles, insights, and perspectives from other bloggers around the world. It is kind of like going on a virtual adventure for mind, body and spirit. I hope you find them as inspiring as I did!

>>>>>>>>>>>>

FOR ANIMAL LOVERS

In this issue we are blessed with an abundance of great stories and articles about animals, animal teachers, and animal healing.

Our first post is actually a photo submitted by Maggi at Cottage Reiki of a hen receiving Reiki after being attacked by a buzzard, proving that Reiki is not just for urban animals!

Did you know that what you think can influence your animal? Lena McCullough, DVM of A Path with Paws explores how the power of intention can affect your animal companion, and offers three easy-to-use exercises to improve healing in You Are What You Think.

And animal communicator Danielle Tremblay shares the story of a dog who became ill and how he was able to supply information for the vets that ultimately contributed to his diagnosis and complete recovery in William and the ‘River Rock’: A Health Story.

If you have ever loved and lost an animal companion you will be touched by the experiences that Maureen Burkley of Healing Animal Truths and her dog Lucky share in the final stages of Lucky’s hospice care. Lucky still had something to teach Maureen, and was not leaving until she did. Read Lucky Rose Burkley 7/12/95-10/15/09, and keep the tissues handy.

Of course I love Reiki stories about animals, and this one comes from John Sawyer of Critter Reiki, animal shelter volunteer. Learn how Reiki can facilitate trust and relaxation for one sweet little Pomeranian with neurological issues in Reiki At AID: Allie.

Finally, a well-written article from Beth Lowell at Mysterious Beautiful entitled Algae – Why I recommend this superfood for every pet…and every pet owner. After reading the information that Beth shared, I am inspired to obtain some and try it on my cat, Kiya, who has suffered for years from chronic sinus issues. As someone who also works holistically with animals clients, I like the fact that the four algae work with the body’s master glands to encourage self-healing, and am interested in the possible benefits for other clients with autoimmune issues, seizures, etc.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT

Elizabeth Harper creates a weekly video “ColorScope” blog, essentially an intuitive oracle. Each week she offers three colors with imaginative names, and then invites people to intuitively select one of them using their intuition. Once selected they listen to the message she has created for that color. For the week of November 9 she was inspired by the animals in her life and the messages they bring, perfect for Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing! So, are you “Golden Retriever Orange, “Tabby Cat Calico” or “Barred Owl Brown”? Visit Sealed with Love to find out.

Daylle Deanna Schwartz (from the well-named blog Lessons from A Recovering DoorMat) explores the ways in which your perspective on a situation can make a difference in whether you attract positive or negative things into your life, and offers examples of how to shift negative thoughts in Law of Attraction in Action: Perspective.

I truly enjoyed reading Sacred Sounds by Anne McCrady of InSpiritry, and no wonder, she is a poet and storyteller as well as an inspirational speaker. She vividly invokes a rich landscape, weaving a lovely tapestry from the autumn season and the dance of the winds and wind chimes; taking the reader on an inspirational journey.

The flu, or influenza as it is formally known, is all the news these days. But did you know that it is also old news? Rheanni Lightwater of Emotional Healing Circle poses a truly interesting question, “What does the flu and religious intolerance have in common?” Read Under the Influenza and explore how you can learn to neutralize the negative energy of paranoia and intolerance through intuitive learning.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

MIND BODY SPIRIT

Want to decrease your stress levels, keep your immune system supported, and feel like you have a balanced life? Jenny Shih of Rising Sun Coaching Blog gives you four clues for when It’s Time to Play Hooky.

Jennifer Manion of Heal Pain Naturally writes movingly of her four-year struggle to prove the doctors wrong, and of the insights and tools that finally made all the difference in Don’t Give Up — Surrender Instead to Heal and Move Forward.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN A HEALTHY WAY

We all know how healing laughter is, and it is even better when we can laugh at ourselves. As the holidays approach, Madeleine Begun Kane has some humorous suggestions for making life easier for couples in her Mad Gift Giving Guide.

At Healthy Hearts with Heartstrong, Shauna Johnson, Culinary Instructor at Wellspring Weight Loss Camps, shares her tips on how to get to where you need to be without putting on those extra pounds in Healthy Holiday Travel.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

WELLNESS

Sometimes we need a reminder of the basics in our busy lives, and John’s Healthy Lifestyle does just that with Some Simple Golden Rules for Nutrition and Health.

WP Ho of The Conscious Life presents a through and well written article exploring How to Get the Most Out of Omega-3 Fats. Learn how to tilt the omega fats balance in your favor and turn your body into a powerful anti-inflammatory machine.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

HOLISTIC HEALING

Anyone suffering from fibromyalgia will appreciate this first in a four-part series by Sherrie Sisk of The Tramadol Diaries on beating “fibro fog” – that diminished mental capacity that sometimes accompanies it. How To Beat Fibro-Fog and Get Your Brain Back in Gear examines its various manifestations and some possible causes. It also provides an overview of a three-phased approach to combating it.

Melissa a.k.a. The Cellulite Analyst, struggled with adult acne for years until her lymph drainage specialist, also a trained psychotherapist, helped her uncover a healing insight in The Mind-Body Connection in Action: How a Single Psychotherapy Session Healed My Cystic Acne.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

YOGA FOR CHILDREN

Yoga is for all stages of life, and what better time to lay the foundations of a healthy lifestyle than during childhood? Adam Pedley of Natural Parenting Tips explains the benefits of Yoga for Children, promoting positive family time, and offers a tip on where to find a DVD that teaches the ABCs through yoga poses!

>>>>>>>>>>>>

And that concludes this issue of Carnival of Healing #215, I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I did presenting it. Next week’s host for Carnival of Healing #216 is Cari Cambell at Your Joyous Life, and I invite you to submit an article.

I hope you enjoyed the many articles by inspiring writers featured here!

>>>>>>>>>>>>

For past editions of the Carnival of Healing visit Archives.

Attention Bloggers: If you think you might be interested in hosting an edition of The Carnival of Healing on your blog please review the basic hosting guidelines.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think Outside the Cage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is a paq’o and mesa carrier in the Peruvian Q’ero Andean Medicine Tradition. In addition she is also a Reiki Master Teacher, animal communicator, author of the acclaimed book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism, and creator of Animal and Reiki Art. As an animal shaman, she views her role as a healer as one of building bridges between people and animals, and of empowering them to reconnect with Pachamama, Mother Earth.

To receive notice of future articles and events, sign up for our newsletter.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

More:
Carnival of Healing #215: Explorations

<b><i>Panther Prowl</b><br /> ©Rose De Dan 2009</i>” title=”Cat Halloween card” width=”504″ height=”360″ class=”size-full wp-image-955″ /></a>
<p><b><i>Panther Prowl</b><br /> ©Rose De Dan 2009</i></p>
</div>
<p>Looking for some unusual <a rel=Halloween Greeting Cards or 2010 Wall Calendars?

Panther Prowl greeting card shows the true primal nature of the housecat as reflected in her shadow (card is available in single or 10-pack.). Photography model is Jewell, a neighbor-cat of mine who is a lot more friendly than she looks in this image. Jewell adores my dog, Puma, and rushes to greet him whenever we walk by, throwing herself at his feet and rolling in ecstasy. Most of the time Puma politely ignores her, but occasionally (I think when he thinks other dogs aren’t looking) he will give her a hello sniff. Panther Prowl also appears in the calendar series Cats: Urban Tigers. Shadow art was done by artist Alex Guillotte.

Adorable Yorkie Witch Dog is portrayed by Yorkshire Terrier Cody, who has a complete closet of outfits which he was patient enough to model for in A Yorkie for All Seasons Calendar, and for the greeting cards (available in single or 10-pack). For this sitting Cody gave the cow skull a nervous glance at first, but after that he sat like a pro for his portrait.

Ghosts at the Movies greeting card combines a photo that I took many years ago in a Boston cemetery with a really humorous poem inside by Dean Blehert. Cards are available in single or 10-pack. Another of Dean’s short poems appears on Lucy Cat from the calendar series Cats: Urban Tigers.

Happy Halloween!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think Outside the Cage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is a mesa carrier in the Peruvian Q’ero tradition. In addition she is also a Reiki Master Teacher, animal communicator, author of the acclaimed book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism, and creator of Animal and Reiki Art. As an animal shaman, she views her role as a healer as one of building bridges between people and animals, and of empowering them to reconnect with Pachamama, Mother Earth.

To receive notice of future articles and events, sign up for our newsletter.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Go here to see the original:
Halloween Fun: Ghosts at the Movies, Witch Dogs and Panther Cats

<b><i>A Maple Seed, Some Sun, and Thou</b><br />©Rose De Dan 2009</i>” width=”300″ height=”199″ /></a>
<p>A Maple Seed, Some Sun, and Thou©Rose De Dan 2009</p>
</div>
<p>My kitchen window affords some fine photo opportunities, and this sunny day was especially fun.</p>
<p>Two young sibling squirrels found themselves a great place to catch some rays—my garage roof. Covered in black asphalt tiles it soaks up warmth, and with a huge maple tree within easy jumping distance they could let down their guard and kick back for a bit.</p>
<p>I just loved watching the sequence of events (you can see all the <a rel=photos on Flickr). Squirrel 1, on the left, was more cautious about lying down, waiting a bit, and making sure that the crazy papparazi woman (me) was just curious. Squirrel 2 was comfy, but needed something to nibble and play with. A nearby maple seed appeared to work just fine and then, of course, Squirrel 1 had to see what Squirrel 2 had.

In sorting through the many photos I took it was tough to choose favorites, one is a later photo (shown left) where Squirrel 2 is propped on his elbows while Squirrel 1 relaxes. Reminded me of squirrel bedtime reading.

Squirrel 1 finally settled down for a bit, until he got too warm and headed for shade, but Squirrel 2 stayed, chasing the maple seed down the roof on his belly in very slow motion. The photo where he stretches out one front paw is just too cute for words.

Original post:
What Do Squirrels Do on Sunny Days?

Simon's cat
While I fully intend to get a copy of Simon Tofield’s new book, Simon’s Cat, it is actually his videos that I wanted to share here.

I can recall being sent a link to Simon’s first animated film, “Cat Man Do” a while back by a cat-loving client, and it is truly funny. I forgot to bookmark his site, however, and was reminded of its existence by a wonderful blog on A Path with Paws concerning his latest effort, Fly Guy, which was laugh-out-loud hilarious. Oh, and my cat, Kiya, tried to chase Simon’s cat on screen. She found the human perception of cats humorous.

Check out all of the Simon’s Cat videos, and if you buy the book before I do, let me know how you like it!

To receive notice of future articles and offerings, sign up for our newsletter.

Rose De Dan
Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC
building bridges between people and animals
Website: www.reikishamanic.com
Animal and Reiki Art: www.cafepress.com/reikishamanic

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Read the original:
Simon’s Cat is Hilarious

It must be amazing dog story month, previously it was the internet story of Jasmine the Rescued Greyhound. Now Sophie Tucker, a cattle dog named after the famous singer-comedian, has been reunited with her family after falling overboard from her family’s sailboat four months earlier.

She managed to swim five miles to an island off the coast of Australia, and adapted from life as a house dog to that of a Survivor-type wilderness lifestyle. Who says man is the superior species, how many of us could do the same? Click here to read her full story.

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

Go here to see the original:
Lost cattle dog Sophie Tucker survives four months alone on island

Just received this notice from another animal person and felt it warranted inclusion in the blog. The more people that know about this, the better.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers of a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats. FDA continues to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products. The chicken jerky products are imported to the U.S. from China. FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.

Australian news organizations report the University of Sydney is also investigating an association between illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky in Australia. At least one firm in Australia has recalled their chicken jerky product and the recall notification stated the chicken jerky product was manufactured in China.

FDA believes the continued trend of consumer complaints coupled with the information obtained from Australia warrants an additional reminder and animal health notification.

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be
used occasionally and in small quantities. Owners of small dogs must be especially careful to limit the amount of these products.

FDA, in addition to several veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S, is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA has conducted extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified any contaminant.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs which may occur within hours to days of feeding the product: decreased appetite, although some may continue to consume the treats to the exclusion of other foods; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html in their state.

Click here for direct link to article.

Here’s hoping that you and your animal companions enjoy a healthy and prosperous New Year!

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

Read more:
FDA Re-Issues Cautionary Warning About Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs

This morning when I woke up I knew, even without my contact lenses in, that something was different. There was a kind of glow coming from the window. I did not have to squint, there was snow on the rooftops! Having lived in Massachusetts for 22 years before moving here you would think that snow would not be such a big deal, but in the eight years that I have lived on Alki here in West Seattle we have not had a major snowstorm.

While engaging in my morning routine of feeding the animals and preparing to walk my dog, Puma, it became clear that I was going to have a snow day for the first time in a long time, as all of my clients made the decision to reschedule.

While making lists in my head of all the things I could get caught up on, such as laundry and holiday party prep, I realized that I had perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get out in the snow, have some fun, and take some photographs. Time to play a little hooky from chores!

My dog, Puma, was adopted from a shelter in Montana, and has not really seen snow since. With his snowshoe like feet and thick winter coat (I think his parentage is Anatolian Shepherd/Alaskan Malamute but will never know for sure), he was ideally equipped for the weather, and after donning a coat I have not been able to wear since living in Massachusetts because it is so heavy, furry boots, leg warmers, scarf, hat, and fingerless gloves (for camera operation), so was I.

I also packed some all-natural beef dog treats. Today I was going to let Puma off-leash so that he could fully enjoy his time in the snow. Normally I do not do this as Puma has a tendency to not listen to me off-leash, forging ahead and leaving me behind. I think it is the sled-dog heritage, very helpful when he helps you drag out the trash, which he does with tail held high and waving, not so good otherwise.

Arriving at Schmitz Park, we had it all to ourselves, although there was evidence in the snow that others had been there before us.

Saying a prayer to Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, for all that I have learned and was now about to apply, I had Puma sit, and when he did I rewarded him with a treat. He is a smart dog, having seen me prepare the treats he could see that there were more where that one came from, and that I was the purveyor. It was my hope that that piece of knowledge would enable me to call him back when needed.

I unleashed Puma, and he was off like a shot. Charging down the path, diving off into the underbrush, he was a wild man, and then he disappeared from sight. I called his name—no response. Sigh, maybe this would not work. Taking a deep breath, I grounded and centered myself and called again. No response.

Placing my faith in Puma’s innate intelligence, I decided to simply move forward and trust that he would return. Sure enough, here he came, at top speed. I whipped out my camera and managed to get a shot before he arrived, panting and smiling. When he sat I rewarded him with a treat. From that point on, every time he would return to me I would reward him. He did not always respond immediately to my calls (and then he did not get rewarded), but he did a decent job of not making me wait too long. Long enough, I guess, to establish that I still need some work on being alpha, but not long enough that he was demonstrating that he had no respect for me. A delicate balance in dog protocol.

I got some lovely shots of him in the falling snow, my favorites are the one of him catching snowflakes on his tongue, and another where he is running down the path under the arches of snow covered branches. (You can see all the photos from our Alki adventures at my Flickr site.)

We had so much fun that we decided to check out Alki Beach and see what it was like there. By now Puma was back on leash, and back to being his usual well-behaved self. He is truly amazing. He will always stop while I am taking pictures, and if I take a moment he will sit and wait patiently until we move on.

We made a stop along the way to watch people standing around in groups talking while dogs played tag in the snow. The funniest was one golden retriever, who I swear was making snow angels while his person talked on his cell phone!

Down by Alki Beach, on the shore of Puget Sound, the wind was quite brisk, and the snow was still falling heavily. I watched pigeons struggle to make headway against it, finally managing to stay in one place while airborne, and then simply giving in, and resting as a flock, on the ground. Seagulls made hovering in gusts of wind look easy, spreading their wings wide and staying motionless, I have no idea how you do that when the wind keeps changing direction.

Watching them made me wonder how difficult it must be to find food in such weather. One seagull had it handled, however. He waited by the seawall for a crashing wave to dump whatever it carried at his feet, where he could look it over and beat any other contenders to a tasty morsel.

By this time the wind had picked up even more, and my legs were starting to feel frozen. But I kept taking pictures, trying to capture the right moment where the waves crashed against the seawall. Now my fingers were getting numb. Still, I needed to take one more set of shots, of Lady Liberty, the Statue of Liberty that was recently restored and dedicated on Alki Beach. Looking at her from her right side, her figure and garments were dusted with a blanket of snow from the midline to the front, making her appear as though she walked forward into the teeth of the snowstorm holding her torch aloft and not faltering. Unfortunately that angle also included a backdrop of trees, wires, and stores, which ruined the effect. I had to content myself with a shot of her from the front—she still looks resolute.

Puma had been really patient through all of this, and my fingers were now definitely getting harder to move, and I wondered at one point does a camera get too cold? Time to head home. We’d had our walk in our Winter Wonderland, and like any child who has been playing in the snow on a day off from school I suddenly yearned for comfort food. Calling it a day, Puma and I made our way back, and I decided that after downloading the photos, I would kick back with a cup of hot cream of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. My day off would be a day of memories to treasure—the chores could wait.

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

See the article here:
Dog Walking in A Winter Wonderland