Animal Heroes of 2022

Animal Heroes of 2022

Animal Heroes of 2022

Animal Heroes of 2022

Let’s celebrate the Animal Heroes of 2022

As we wrap up the year 2022 with reusable gift wrap and a bow, let’s take a moment to reflect on how the lives of non-human animals have been positively impacted by kind and compassionate human animals, aka Animal Heroes.

This Animal Hero article has become a traditional since 2018. And, this year, friends and former Animal Heroes have nominated fellow Animal Heroes which warms my heart even more.

The Animal Heroes of 2021 and those of previous years, will always remain in my heart.

By performing intentional acts of kindness, compassion and respect, and sharing these stories, we have the ability to inspire others to do the same.

Kindness is contagious,
thank you for caring and sharing!

Who are the Animal Heroes of 2022?

  • Empowering Educators : Teachers who guide others on how to respect all animals and connect with nature
  • Wildlife Warriors : Brave humans who help rescue and protect wildlife
  • Pet Protectors : Individuals who help strays or abused pets
  • Creative Champions : Artists, writers, musicians, photographers, etc. who raise awareness and money to help animals
  • Exploitation Eliminators : Humans who help exploited animals used for food, clothing, medicine, testing, entertainment, tourism, etc.
  • Loving Leaders : Representatives in governing and influential positions who are working towards a systems change
  • Energy Elevators : Animal healers and communicators who help animals and their owners in extraordinary ways

If you truly care about animal rights and have a passion for it, take some action. Whether it’s hands-on or political, just go for it. No matter what path you choose in life or what you decide to do, you can use your voice to educate other people and help the cause.

Mac Danzig

Mixed martial artist

Empowering Educators

Amazing are the humans who teach others to respect all animals so that they learn how important it is to connect with nature. So important is the key to human survival on Earth.

Thank you goes out to ALL educators who teach this lesson to Mother Nature’s children of all ages. May your wisdom be spread far and wide.

Susan Hargreaves

For the past 43 years, Susan Hargreaves, founder of Animal Hero Kids, has been educating all grade levels on how to be animal heroes by creating and empowering them with inspiring films and stories from the three books “Animal Hero Kids Voices for the Voiceless“ Vol 2, a Skipping Stones Honor Award winning book for diversity and ecology and Veganza Animal Hero, a children’s picture book and YA novel, Veganza Animal Heroes.

Animal Hero Kids is an all-volunteer kindness education charity empowering youth to compassionate action via free school presentations highlighting stories of animal rescue and advocacy and action for other animals.”

For more information on Animal Hero Kids and how you can support bringing compassion to youth worldwide, please consider making a donation here.

Where there is understanding, there is love : Education is key!

 

Wildlife Warriors

I have a deep amount of respect for humans who physically rescue wildlife. From running into the burning bush in Australia to save charcoaled koalas who are ‘paralyzed’ in such stressful situations to cutting fishing nets to free huge whales rolling around in the middle of the ocean to stopping traffic to transport a turtle crossing the road.

About the word ‘Warrior’

For some, the term warrior is triggering. Many of us don’t like war. We don’t want to fight about anything. We just want peace. I’m no different.

When coming up with these category names last year, Wildlife Warriors was the first category that came to mind because of what rescuers and protectors endure on a daily basis. They are often exposed to warlike situations, and some have even been killed by criminals while actively saving animals.

It’s not only a struggle with other humans, it’s also an internal challenge because learning how not to bring your work home takes time, energy and self awareness. Animal rescue work can be extremely traumatizing and internal work is often necessary to avoid mission burnout, depression, PTSD, etc.

While I understand the importance of language, I want to choose the most fitting words. I brainstormed other terms: Wildlife Wonderers/Whisperers/Wardens, but nothing with a W fit the job description. If you have any suggestions, please drop them in the comments below. Non-W words such as Rescuers/Guardians/Saviors/Bravehearts were more fitting, but still not quite right.

I keep coming back to Warriors. Maybe because I practice yoga every morning and often find myself in the Peaceful Warrior pose which gives me strength, mindfulness, confidence and bravery, the main ingredients needed for this kind of work.

So, maybe it’s just a matter of shifting perspective. If this word triggers you, or even if it doesn’t, I invite you to:

  • Deeply breathe in slowly, hold for 5 seconds, and then breathe out slowly
  • Stand up and move to a more open space
  • Make your way into the peaceful warrior position
  • Feel into it and whisper to yourself, ‘I am strong’, or whatever it is you feel you need at this time.

Here’s an entire 27 min. yoga practice of the Peaceful Warrior to “help you find peace of mind both on and off the mat” as Adriene says. Enjoy.

For those about to rescue wildlife, I salute you!

Chinedu Mogbo with Paula the Pangolin at Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative
Chinedu Mogbo with Paula the Pangolin at Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative

Chinedu Mogbo

I had the pleasure to learn about Chinedu because he was nominated by Carly Åhlén, last year’s Wildlife Warrior. Chinedu is the Director of Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative, a non-profit organization with the mission to “bring people closer to nature, conserve wildlife species and equip the future generation with the skills to wildlife conservation and sustenance”.

Chinedu’s story about Paula, the pangolin he rescued earlier this year. Let’s hear it from him: “Well, I have many Animal Hero stories but the one that speaks so loudly is my encounter with a White Bellied Pangolin.

“I found her at a wet market to be sold for food. She was still alive (barely), but I didn’t have any recovery material/first aid kit so I rushed to the sanctuary (where other rescued animals are kept) and on arrival she just had a few breaths left.

“She was definitely dehydrated and the first thing I did was to force water down her mouth. As I did that, she stretched out her tongue as a sign of relief and maybe gratitude. I followed through with a mixture of formula with protein, fats and some necessary vitamins and to my amazement, she came through – it was like she resurrected from the dead – I was so relieved.

“Keeping pangolins is one of the most difficult tasks due to their special requirement – they eat only termites and ants – and here in Nigeria, we barely get any other sort of supplements or alternatives.

“We named her Paula. She integrated well with the other Pangolins and for the first time, we witnessed her feeding other small pangolins. Her rehabilitation ran smoothly and after six months in mid December 2022, she was released into the wild as she has successfully completed her rehabilitation. She was placed in a protected forest where we hope she will live out the rest of her ant-eating life.

“Paula has been instrumental in raising awareness and teaching children about her species. She has inspired artworks and many writings done by children which will secure the future of pangolins in Nigeria.

“The current fate of pangolins in Nigeria and Africa is glum as they are hunted, killed and trafficked in hundreds of thousands, but with acts like this, we believe there is hope to restore Paula’s species.

“Paula is one of the most exciting and endangered species we’ve rescued and catered for hers is a story of second chances!”

Paula the Pangolin at Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative

Green&Blue Nature Ltd

As Faye Treffry from Team Green&Blue Nature says: “In a world facing a biodiversity crisis, we really believe that any new building created without provision for nature is a missed opportunity to help protect nature.

Green&Blue Nature Ltd is a B-corp certified purpose-driven company based in Perranporth, Cornwall, England.

Their mission is to give nature a home as they “believe passionately that every new house built needs to provide a home for wildlife as well as for us”.

Their entire business focus is about protecting wildlife species and they do this by designing and making a range of wildlife products to create habitat.

Bee Brick for construction implementation

This year they’ve been focussing more and more on working with construction companies to make sure that integrated nesting sites for species like swifts, bats, bees and sparrows are built into new homes, creating nooks and crannies for nature in spaces where otherwise they are are completely closed off.

Green&Blue Nature’s bee bricks and swift houses have been made compulsory to install in new buildings and certain types of extensions in Brighton and Hove. This is a huge win for nature and best part, others are noticing. Over 100 other councils in England are contacting Brighton to discuss how they’ve made these changes! Read more about this here.

They’re also working with Cornwall Wildlife Trust to re-open a nature reserve near their workshop, home to reed warblers, corn bunting, kingfishers and otters!

Well, now that has just inspired me to to ecosia.org reed warblers and corn buntings! Beautiful!

Laura Nelson and an Eastern Cape Vulture

Laura Nelson

Vultures get a bad rap being on ‘that’ side of the food chain and looking kinda ‘rough’. Oh, the prejudices we have about beauty as a human animal species… With their fairly bald heads, they are able to biodegrade food laying around without getting their non-existing feathers all messy. Pretty clever I think. I especially like the scarf around their necks.

While they’re associated with death, they are misunderstood because they also represent transformation and because of their cleansing abilities, rebirth and change. Vultures are not an omen to fear, but a message to listen to, and a symbol to respect.

After my call out for animal heroes on LinkedIn, the CEO of VulPro, Kerri Wolter, was tagged by a mutual connection and this is just one story that was shared by a VulPro volunteer, Laura Nelson: “Doing vulture rescues can be exhilarating, heartbreaking, or hilarious, or really fun and games. It all depends on the day and the bird. Volunteers have to be ready to do anything to get the birds to VulPro alive.

“On 16 August 2022 we had a rescue from a Nature Reserve just outside Vryburg, South Africa. We started early, as usual, in very cold conditions. Temperature of -7C! I collected Peter, another rescue volunteer, from Bryanston, and we went on our merry way.

“My normal rescue vehicle is a Ford Bantam. However, it was in for repairs and Philipp lent me his Opel Corsa for this trip. It has a canopy without side windows, and I was concerned about airflow in this canopy. We also had previously experienced that somehow the exhaust fumes get into it. Because of this, Philipp had taken it in for a modification to the exhaust. He felt sure that the problem was resolved. I was less easily convinced, and told Peter that we have to check whether it would be safe for the bird to travel in the back.

“Peter was the guinea pig while I drove. He hung his head through the connecting window into the canopy and took deep breaths. The verdict – full of exhaust fumes! We then tried a few other alternatives, like driving with the back door partly or fully open, driving with the tail gate open, but none of these options made any difference, the fumes filled the canopy. Driving with the connecting window open put the fumes into the cab. Also not acceptable.

“Fortunately Peter survived the testing procedures. The only alternative was that the vulture will have to travel with us in the cab, but the crate was too big. We had to get hold of a cardboard box. No way was the bird going to be euthanised with exhaust fumes or held on our laps without some protection for us! Luckily Peter managed to source some small boxes and tape in one of the towns on the route. We reached Vryburg with no further delays.

“The AWB vulture was safely secured in a smallish enclosure, and had to be caught. It was quite feisty, and was prepared to put up a fight. It had a broken wing and had obviously been grounded for quite some time, and was very thin, but it was still strong.

“Apparently it was brave enough to walk into a kraal with the cattle on a nearby farm, and could be rescued. The rescuers took it to the Nature Reserve where it was fed and given water by the manager Rikus. Peter fabricated a slightly bigger box by combining two boxes and taping them together, and punched holes into it for ventilation.

“After safely depositing the vulture into the box, Peter held the box on his lap during the first part of the trip. By now it was midday, the sun was shining, the temperature was much higher, and we drove with both windows open to ensure that the bird would have enough airflow.

“It wasn’t long before Peter informed me that the lice was coming out of the box through the holes! We changed places after a couple of hours, and I held the box, with the lice still crawling through the holes. We were both itching and scratching madly! One could only laugh at the situation, and bear up. The bird did not seem to mind its slightly cramped quarters, and finished the trip in good spirits.

“Luckily the Corsa was also getting into the fast driving mode like the Bantam. It just wanted to get the vulture to VulPro as quickly as possible. On reaching VulPro, and after being assessed and carbodusted, it was given food. It could not eat fast enough. It was sooo hungry!

“Although its wing would be amputated, and the vulture would become another permanent resident at VulPro, it was a successful and fun rescue. May its offspring get back into the wild and help save the species”

To those about to protect animals, we salute you!

 

Pet Protectors

Pet protectors are those lovely souls who rescue and protect the non-human animals we call family. Let’s honor the Pet Protectors of 2022!

Lynette Hinshaw-Duford

Lynette Duford, Pet Protector & Rescue Flight Coordinator at Dogcopilot.org
Lynette Duford, Pet Protector & Rescue Flight Coordinator at Dogcopilot.org
Lynette Duford, Pet Protector & Rescue Flight Coordinator at Dogcopilot.org

Click on each photo above and below for a larger view.

Lynette was nominated as a ‘Pet Protector’ from her dear school colleague who so kindly wrote: “Lynette has dedicated her life to rescuing animals. She frequently takes in stray and injured animals from the community and helps them get veterinary care and find a good home. She has taken in very elderly and severely injured animals to show them love and ensure they don’t die alone.

“She is also a foster, board member, and officer of Life Savers Animal Rescue since 2004. They accept animals from high-kill shelters into their small network of foster homes until they can find permanent homes for them.

“Lynette left her job recently and now also works for Dog Is My Copilot, coordinating rescue flights from high-kill shelters to rescue organizations.

“She has several rescues in her private home (which is really well set up) at a time. What I love about Lynette is that she does such a wonderful job sharing the stories of the animals on social media. She inspires others to get involved as well and has helped countless animals find safe and happy homes.”

What fascinates me about Lynette’s story is that she left her job to fully pursue her passion of connecting dogs with loving families. My heart also goes out to all the volunteers at Life Savers Animal Rescue and Dog Is My Copilot, a kind of organization I had no idea existed, but it just goes to show us that there are no limits in animal welfare. The possibilities of how we can help animals are boundless.

We only need to combine our talents and passion, collaborate with others, and just do it!

Lynette Duford, Pet Protector & Rescue Flight Coordinator at Dogcopilot.org
Lynette Duford, Pet Protector & Rescue Flight Coordinator at Dogcopilot.org
Lynette Duford, Pet Protector & Rescue Flight Coordinator at Dogcopilot.org

Animal War Heroes

I can not write about pet protection this year without honoring those who helped rescue pets left behind in the Ukraine or who helped refugees bring their pets across borders.

Not only do pets bring an enormous amount of comfort to us when we’re stressed regardless of the severity, they also experience anxiety as innocent war victims and need a lot of care and love.

Anastasiia Yalanskaya is a true hero who’s name we must never forget. After delivering food to an animal shelter in Bucha, 30 km outside Kyiv, she and two volunteering friends were shot dead by Russian troops. Read more about Anastasiia here.

With organizations such as Paws of War, IFAW, the Ukrainian Pet Rescue Project, Humane Society International and Romanian Red Cross, and many more volunteers help humans and their pet survive wars with providing food, shelter, blankets, etc.

Sending many well wishes to all those affected by war.

May we one day learn as a collective to respect all animals, humans included.

 

Creative Champions

Seeing is believing and what most effectively change people’s behaviors within their own belief system is virtually seeing it.

So when creative people use their talents to show nature’s beauty, people begin to view nature with a new perspective. They begin to understand the impact we, as human animals, are making. Both negative and positive.

Which is why I added this category, so that we can honor these creative humans who have found a way to use their talent for a good cause.

The most important cause in my honest opinion because if we continue to commit ecocide (causing massive destruction to our planet), we will have an extremely hard time surviving as a species.

Who are the Creative Champions of 2022?

Kate on Conservation

Meet Kate, WeNaturalists ‘Nature Storyteller of the Year’ award winner for her book project ‘Connections With Nature‘. Congratulations, Kate!

As a wildlife conservationist, campaigner for animal rights, and author, she has interviewed Dr. Jane Goodall and Sir David Attenborough, attended protests with Chris Packham and does everything in her creative power to help make this world a better place for wildlife. All the while keeping up with her blog and contributing to National Geographic Kids and other nature-related media.

Her Kate on Conservation Blog “is a wildlife blog that gives a voice to the voiceless by highlighting important issues, individuals and organisations in the fight to protect our planet’s wildlife – something that is becoming ever more important in these current times, as we are faced with both a biodiversity and a climate crisis.”

Light and Shadow TV

I had the privilege to narrate the scratch version for a nature documentary last year as a voice talent. A scratch version is a non-finished version that is used to sell to the media, in this case, National Geographic.

It was rewritten and narrated by a British voice talent and I’m happy to announce that Light & Shadow’s Nature’s Magic Moments has been awarded with a GOLDEN DOLPHIN in the Category ‘Nature & Wildlife’ and a BLACK DOLPHIN for ‘Best Camera’ at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2022. Congratulations!

Nature’s Magic Moments is a 50 min. documentary film using super slow motion and time lapses to highlight kingfishers, brown hares, wild horses, bats and more, doing things you normally don’t see with the naked eye. Quite impressive!

Ce-le-brate Creative Champions, come on!

Are you an animal hero, too?

Exploitation Eliminators

Animals have been used and abused for a very long time. Somewhere along the line, we decided we were ‘above nature’ and could do as we please with other souls sharing this place we call home. In doing that, we are affected by diseases and pandemics as well as natural disasters due to climate change.

We’re destroying our own species as well as many others, and until we embrace a deep ecological philosophy in that we humans are not above nature, we will either become extinct or have a very challenging time living on this planet. 

I’m relieved to know there are caring humans who’ve made it their life’s purpose to help exploited animals. Exploited animals are those souls used for entertainment, clothing, medical reasons, food, sport, etc. The list of unnecessary abuse is endless.

Who are this year’s Exploitation Eliminators?

Winners of the Lush Prize 2022

The LUSH Prize is organized and funded by LUSH Cosmetics and Ethical Consumer Research Association and is “the largest prize in the non-animal testing sector rewarding the most effective projects and individuals who have been working towards the goal of replacing animals in product or ingredient safety testing.”

If you’ve read anything I’ve posted this year, you may have noticed that my middle-grade eco fantasy, ‘Lily Bowers and the Uninvited Guest‘, was shortlisted for the Lush Prize 2022 in the category of ‘Public Awareness’.

Even though being shortlisted is a huge honor for all of us, I only want to honor the winners in this article.

10 years Lush Prize

LOBBYING:

🎉 New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS). Project: Removal of the social license of the notorious Forced Swim Test in NZ.

PUBLIC AWARENESS PRIZE:

🎉 Ms Carlota Saorsa & Dr Carlos Contreras. Project: Undercover investigation at Vivotecnia laboratory. This was the category I was shortlisted in for my book project, btw. 🙏🏼

SCIENCE PRIZE:

🎉 The Acute Systemic Toxicity team within RTI International. Project: Mapping mechanistic pathways of acute oral systemic toxicity using chemical structure and bioactivity measurements.

TRAINING PRIZES:

🎉 Doctors Against Animal Experiments (DAAE). Project: NAT-Database: Raising public awareness for Non-Animal Technologies to promote a human-based research generating human-relevant results.

🎉 Prof.dr. Pamela Bejdic
University of Sarajevo Veterinary Facility. Project: Dual Education System as a New Tool for Improving Practical Skills and Vocational Training of Veterinary Medicine Students.

YOUNG RESEARCHER PRIZES:

🎉 Dr Arthur de Carvalho e Silva. Project: Integrating physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling and ‘omics data to derive health-based guidance values for perfluorinated chemicals.

🎉 Dr Sudeep Joshi, The Francis Crick Institute and King’s College. Project: A robotic process automation system for biomanufacturing animal-free in-vitro 3D tissue and organoid models for drug screening.

🎉 Dr Shagun Krishna, National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Project: Computational Cardiotoxicology: Building an AI-assisted alternative method-based toxicity screening pipeline.

🎉 Prof. Dr. Francesca Grisoni, Eindhoven University of Technology.
Project: Combining artificial intelligence and human organoids for animal-free drug discovery: towards a paradigm shift.

🎉 Mr Artur Silva, Federal University of Goiás. Project: Lung-sens-on-a-chip model for mechanistic assessment of chemically-induced pulmonary sensitization: Providing building blocks for the respiratory allergy AOP.

ANDREW TYLER AWARD:

🎉 Dr Gill Langley

POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS:

🎉 Jytte Guteland MP, Social Democrats, Sweden
🎉 Tilly Metz MEP, Greens, Luxembourg
🎉 In-soon Nam, National Assembly, South Korea

Thank you LUSH and Ethical Consumer Magazine for your support! Thank you for being animal heroes!

Thank you, Exploitation Eliminators, for your continuous action against heinous crimes committed on animals!

I’m reading inspiring stories about the Animal Heroes of 2022!

These individuals who help save and protect animals are true heroes!

Loving Leaders

People in power who care are in big demand so that a systems change can take place. True leaders want to create a better world, so let’s find out who they are!

Tilly Metz, MEP (Member of EU Parliament)

The EU Parliament is lucky to have compassionate members who understand the importance of animal welfare in our society.

Tilly Metz is President of the Parliamentary Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals and Chair of the Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport. She was interviewed on this podcast episode hosted by Eurogroup for Animals.

A fellow worm rescuer, she is highly committed to keeping the pressure on in Europe. They talked about her opinion and vision for animal transport with are as follows. She has never seen an official animal transport where you can say ‘Oh, this transport situation is OK’. Because of this, she dreams of a world where we don’t transport animals outside the EU because many countries don’t have the same standards that we have here in Europe. Unweaned calves are not allowed to be transported more than 50 km, but this does not include other unweaned animals.

So, while there is progress, not everything is perfect, however, they now have strong recommendations on paper that they can work with to be able to develop more effective systematic regulations. Even the most conservative politicians admitted that they have systematic infringements of the regulations set in 2005 and new rules must be set!

Where there’s awareness and an intention, there is action!

Thank you, Loving Leaders, for using your power , intelligence and influence to help animals, humans included, without a voice or a chance.

Energy Elevators

Did you know every human has the ability to communicate with animals? As far fetched as that may sound, it’s true. Our ancestors a very long time ago had this gift and sadly, generation and generation, it was lost. Like a language you learned in school and no longer practice.

Thank goodness there are animal healers and communicators who can work wonders. Sometimes, a simple conversation with a pet with a behavioral problem, will change that behavior. Other times, it’s more complex and the understanding and healing processes take time.

I’m currently learning animal communication from Wynter Worsthorne and have already experienced success. I find it fascinating that we all have this power within us and all we need to do is learn how to unlock it. That is, if we want to. It’s a choice.

We can learn so much from animals. Not only about what they need, but also about ourselves and how nature/life ‘works’.

The more understanding we have about them, the more respect we have for them.

Ute Luppertz

A friend of mine nominated Ute as an Animal Energy Elevator. Ute Luppertz, MA, is a holistic healing coach for pets and a senior pet specialist, Reiki Master, animal communicator and Tellington TTouch practitioner.

Get inspired by these inspiring stories from her clients, compassionate pet ‘owners’ who want the best for their family members.

Penelope Smith

Read this uplifting story about how Penelope first started with animal healing through communication in 1971. She opened up the conversation with an anxious cat who immediately stopped self sabotaging herself due to trauma.

Penelope Smith is a renowned animal communicator, author of Animal Talk, When Animals Speak, Animals in Spirit, many audio recordings. View her educational products here. She is also the editor of Species Link and has built up a growing community of animal communicators worldwide.

Anne Angelo Webb, LCSW

Anne is The Animal Intuitive® who specializes in animal communication, acupressure, massage, energy work and essential oils.

I found her after searching specifically for energy work to help calm PTSD in animals triggered by fireworks because I’ve just had a conversation with a friend about this while walking Nala, my chocolate labrador. Luckily, Nala is not affected by fireworks. She notices but ignores them and just sleeps through the night, but I know many animals who are scared for days. Not to mention the poor quality of air for wildlife in addition to the noise.

Please watch this live video about how Anne approaches the subject, especially recommended for you if your pet gets anxious around New Year’s Eve, July 4th, or whenever your country allows fireworks.

I invite every human to be mindful of pets and wildlife during these traditional celebratory times by making the conscious choice of not purchasing fireworks and if inspired, to instead spread awareness about the harm caused by them.

It’s amazing what we can learn by just listening.

Are you or someone you know an animal hero?

Do you know any animals heroes? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful new year!

Peace and love,

LUSH Prize Shortlist 2022

LUSH Prize Shortlist 2022

LUSH Prize Shortlist 2022

LUSH Prize Shortlist 2022

Blown Away Over the Moon

I have huge news! Are you ready?

I was shortlisted for the LUSH Prize 2022 in the category of ‘Public Awareness’ for my children’s book addressing the topic of animal testing: Lily Bowers and the Uninvited Guest which is currently available in English, German and Polish with hopefully more languages to come in the future.

A special thank you goes out to We Make Change and all the talented people who applied to help me with my project because they believe that all animals deserve respect and know that it makes absolutely no sense to perform hideous and useless experiments on sentient living beings when we can easily, more affordably and with less risk use human cells, mini organs and computer technology.

There’s a reason why there are so many side effects when cosmetics and medications are consumed! It’s because humans are not beagles, bunnies, cats, monkeys, pigs, mice, rats, guinea pigs, fish, etc.

Read more on the truth about animal testing.

Testing on animals makes no sense!

Watch this news announcement

Spreading Awareness

In the category of ‘Public Awareness’, my book is listed with six other projects.

If you’ve heard anything about animal testing in the cosmetic industry last year, you probably saw Save Ralph, a production from Humane Society International featuring the voices of Taika Waititi, Ricky Gervais, Zac Efron, Olivia Munn, Pom Klementieff, Tricia Helfer and more.

A genius stop-motion animation short film that I also featured in my Animal Heroes of 2021 article.

LUSH Prize Shortlist 2022 -- Bunny Award

The other five projects in the ‘Public Awareness’ category are:

  • Phoenix Zones Initiative: Transforming Medical Research
  • Carlota Saorsa: Investigation at Vivotecnia laboratory
  • Beagle Rescue Network: Stopped animal testing on service dogs
  • Dr Costanza Rovida and Jean Knight: A systematic review on the conflicts between REACH and the EU Cosmetic Regulation: from awareness to action
  • Animal Testing: Investigating about households products experiments

As a member, I’m extremely happy to see that my supporting friends at Doctor’s Against Animal Testing (Ärzte gegen Tierversuche e.V.) were also shortlisted in the category of Training for their NAT-Database.

Congratulations to all nominees and thank you for caring and sharing!

I understand that your time is limited, Dr. Schwarz. But, if you completely stop animal testing in your lab, you’ll set an example for others.

~ Ten-year-old Lily tries to convince a laboratory director to stop testing on animals in Lily Bowers and the Uninvited Guest

What is the LUSH Prize?

The LUSH Prize is organized and funded by LUSH Cosmetics and Ethical Consumer Research Association.

With LUSH’s passion and resources and Ethical Consumer’s research and campaigning skills, the LUSH Prize was founded in 2012 and will continue until animal testing has been completely banned worldwide.

It’s “the largest prize in the non-animal testing sector rewarding the most effective projects and individuals who have been working towards the goal of replacing animals in product or ingredient safety testing across six strategic areas:

A total of 65 organisations and individuals from 26 countries were shortlisted for our work toward creating a world that does not involve cruel animal experimentations.

We are researchers, animal rights activists, lobbyists, politicians, investigators, scientists, doctors, educators, creatives (filmmakers, photographers, writers) and it feels wonderful to be on the same page.

While being shortlisted is an incredible honor, I — and everyone else who works in the non-animal testing sector — will continue to dream and work toward creating a world where no such award is necessary!

Read more about the history of the renowned LUSH Prize.

Alone being shortlisted is an honor!

Learn more about the LUSH Prize!

Do you believe there’s a place for animal testing? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Peace and love,
Sharing is Caring

Life Lessons Learned from Betty White

Life Lessons Learned from Betty White

Life Lessons Learned from Betty White

Lessons learned from Betty White

Photo: Jane Duursma on Unsplash

 Enjoying life to its fullest

If there was ever a person who made the most of her life, it was Betty White. She was not only our loving and caring friend, confidant, comic relief and inspiration, she loved animals unconditionally and helped them in various ways.

Her vibrant personality and cheerful, positive attitude are what made her timelessly successful in her career and beloved by literally every human who ‘knew’ her.

So, when the world found out about her soul’s transition on December 31, 2021, we were a bit shocked, and painfully heartbroken.

At 99, death is not shocking, but as her agent and longtime friend, Jeff Witjas, told People Magazine, “Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever.”

We all felt that way.

Betty first aired on television in 1939, which gave her the title: Longest TV career by an entertainer (female) from the Guinness Book of World Records.

She had slowed down because of COVID, but still appeared on screen, for example, to announce her 100th birthday party which will still be celebrated on January 17, 2022 in select theaters across the United States. A huge disappointment for us expats, but I hope to see the documentary soon enough. I am patient!

The Secret to Betty White’s Success

Success doesn’t always or only mean financial. It also means success in your relationships, your health, your lifestyle. We all want to achieve success in all facets of our lives and because of this, at the beginning of each year, we set intentions to help us gain this success.

The key to Betty’s overall success was that she held true to her core beliefs and positive attitude.

While setting my own intentions for this year, I wrote down five main pillars to concentrate on: gratitude, joy, abundance, ease and love and it dawned on me that these are just a few things Betty was — and still is — to us and so, my note to self is to try to live my life like Betty!

So, now I want to take a moment to honor her life so that we can empower our own and inspire others to help create a kinder, more fun world.

What are the life lessons we can learn from Betty White?

She honored her own life and was enormously successful by being:

We need more Betty Whites in this world.

There’s no formula. Keep busy with your work and your life. You can’t become a professional mourner. It doesn’t help you or others. Replay the good times. Be grateful for the years you had.
Betty White

Humbly Grateful and Genuinely Happy

Experts and those who have mastered feeling gratitude will tell you that this IS the elixir to a fulfilling and happy life.

In this article about the connection between gratitude and happiness, they listed many studies, but one result from the Tennen and Afflek (2002) study jumped out at me. They “found when people are faced with adversity or traumas; if they are able to experience gratitude, they are able to push through the adversity or trauma and be more resilient.”

Malala Yousafzai is a perfect example. Despite being shot by the Taliban when she was 15 for speaking out about education rights for girls since she was 11, she survived, continued her work and was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at 17 in 2014. When you see her in interviews, she is kind and extremely grateful for her own education, for her parents who taught her to be strong and determined and for all her supporters and colleagues.

If you’ve watched any interviews or heard Betty White give a speech, she relentlessly expressed her pure gratitude. For her fans, for ‘putting up with her all these years’, for animals, for alcohol, humor, positive thinking, and much, much more.

If you want to practice gratitude to experience more happiness and joy in your life, I invite you to download this free guide provided by Positive Psychology. Just scroll down to the footer and leave your name and email address to receive the .pdf.

I also suggest starting a gratitude journal. Every night (I’ve only just started mine!), I write down one thing I’m grateful for along with five reasons why to truly feel into why I’m grateful.

Let me share my latest entry on Sunday, January 9, 2022:

I am grateful for my partner because:

❥ He continuously asks me how I’m doing, how I feel and if I need anything

❥ He makes me feel important and loves me for who I am

❥ He loves Nala (my labrador) and plays and cuddles with her

❥ He supports my work in remarkable ways

❥ He doesn’t make me feel guilty for not doing as much work around the house — we share responsibilities, but he definitely does more!

Writing it down on paper and getting specific really helps you feel into the emotions. I could have just written or thought: “I am grateful for my partner” and be done with it. I started to do that, thinking that’s how you keep a gratitude journal, but then I took Marie Forleo’s advice to do it this way, and, she’s right! The old way didn’t feel as powerful, but as soon as I started to get specific, it felt amazing!

After writing this in my journal last night, I felt such a wave of unconditional love that my entire evening was beautiful and that feeling still lasts today which is why I recommend to write it in the evening, so that you go to sleep with these loving thoughts in your head and you wake up thinking about them, too.

It’s now your turn:
What are you grateful for and why? List five reasons.

I’m currently reading about the life lessons learned from Betty White and invite you to do the same!

Hilarious and a Joy to be around

Now, being as punchy and witted as Betty White is tough, if not impossible, because there aren’t too many humans who have the timeless and quick humor that gapped over every generation like her, so we shouldn’t knock ourselves down if we can’t be like one of the most talented comedians in the world.

What we could take away from her talent is to not take ourselves too seriously and embrace her positive energy which always filled the room with pure joy. I’m sure she had her days and moments of disgust or aggravation or whatever negative emotion. That’s just a part of being human, but she will always be remembered for her optimism.

Her extra sharp wit had a twist of innocent nautiness and her delivery was timely and spot on.  She added her own personalized feminine charm by throwing a punch line with either keeping a straight face and looking around the room or flashing her listeners with her pearly whites and cheery dimples. Perfected precision.

No wonder why she was asked to host Saturday Night Live three times, but refused because she didn’t want to go to New York and, it was live, but then more than 500,000 fans requested her to host in a Facebook campaign and her agent, Jeff Witjas, convinced her. “How can you refuse?” Good thing she didn’t because she was not only the oldest host ever to host SNL at 88, she won her 8th Emmy for that performance. More importantly, both her, the cast and all of us fans shared an amazing evening together. Thank you for that, Betty!

Try this one on for size: If you’re not genuinely hilarious or funny, then at least laugh at yourself.

I am a positive thinker, a cockeyed optimist. And that is why I have stayed happy all my life. You gotta get through it and you can’t change it so let’s just put one foot in front of the other and get through it.
Betty White

Empathic and Kind

Known as our ‘National Treasure’, Betty will also be remembered for her kind and caring nature.

And boy did she love animals, one of her main passions. She didn’t want to be known as an animal rights activist, saying that activism brings out too much negativity. She had a positive approach in that she showed others how loving and beautiful animals are and how our lives are enriched with them. True that!

I have to disagree with her though because any human who advocates for the welfare of animals is an activist. We really need to redefine that term! And not only that, she personally supported numerous animal-related organizations in the form of donations, volunteering, fundraising and recording public service announcements.

To me, that IS activism.

Her kind approach is by far more effective than radical activism involving shaming, blaming and harming humans, both verbally or physically because you will never inspire others to respect animals, or change their mindsets about anything, if you use these tactics.

During the two seasons of The Pet Set which aired in 1971 and 1972 and was executive produced by her beloved husband, Allen Ludden, she showcased her lifelong devotion to animals, and the people who loved them. This show has recently been re-released as Betty White’s Pet Set. I know what I’m getting myself for my birthday this year!

Her love for animals was not the only thing that made her empathic and kind.

According to a PBS biography, in 1954, during “The Betty White Show,” she was encouraged to remove tap dancer and singer Arthur Duncan from her show. He was the first Black member of a variety show cast. She politely refused and said, “I’m sorry, but, you know, he stays.”

You can’t get more charming than that. She stuck her ground and did it the most elegant fashion.

She also gives female actresses hope for a promising future in an industry which isn’t accepting of older talent.

With empathy and kindness, Betty made history! 

Self-loving and Acceptance

Self-love is not easy for many people to achieve. It doesn’t sound difficult and you may not think about it much, or you may even think it’s an arrogant way of living, but when you take a deeper look, who’s your best critic? It usually is yourself, isn’t it?

And, how is that working out for you?

We’ve been taught not to flaunt or show off, but this is not what I mean when I say self-love.

Think about what the airplane crew tells us: We have to put on our masks before trying to help someone else because if you’re trying to help and can’t live long enough to do it or fail because you’re not doing well yourself, then you won’t be able to help anyone.

The same with love. In order to truly love someone else and receive love from others, you have to love yourself.

We all believe Betty was truly happy, especially with her late husband, Allen Ludden. She didn’t go through life with rose-colored glasses on though. No, she embraced all that life gave her with a passion. The good, the bad and the ugly and this requires self-love.

This also requires acceptance of others.

We often read and use the word tolerance when it comes to creating a diverse and inclusive world.

When you think about the definition, it’s extremely negative because it means you are willing to endure an opinion or action you disagree with or dislike. Well, that doesn’t sound too nice, does it?

I never really thought much about it until my client brought it to my attention and so now, I only use the word acceptance in this case because it means embracing a different lifestyle, person or act you aren’t aligned with yourself without adding pressure on anyone to change.

It has a more open and positive feeling that allows others to be themselves which is what we want so that we can create a kinder environment.

With Betty White’s mindset about others and how they live, all I have to do is share her quote: “I don’t know how people get so anti-something. Just mind your own business, take care of your own affairs, and don’t worry about other people so much.”

With her passive attitude, she actively made people think and that’s what we can all learn in our current shaming and blaming social media world.

All that said, I know that being against a broken system has its place in this world. We wouldn’t have as much vegan options in restaurants and stores if it didn’t. As women, we may still not be able to vote or attend the university. Gay couples wouldn’t be able to marry. We may still have slaves even! SO many things!

If activism is carried out in a Betty White way (respectful and determined), we will be more successful.

Want to read more uplifting articles?

How will you celebrate Betty White’s life? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Peace and love,
Sharing is Caring

Animal Heroes of 2021

Animal Heroes of 2021

Animal Heroes of 2021

Animal Heroes of 2021

Photo: Carly Åhlén

Honoring the Animal Heroes of 2021

During these turbulent times, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the positive things.

In 2018, I started a yearly tradition of featuring humans who go out of their way to help save and protect animals.

If you’re interested in reading who was previously featured, read about the Animal Heroes of 2020.

Who are the Animal Heroes of 2021?

  • Wildlife Warriors : Humans who help wildlife
  • Pet Protectors : Humans who help dogs, cats, horses, etc. in need
  • Creative Champions : Artists, writers, musicians, photographers, etc. who raise awareness and money to help animals
  • Exploitation Eliminators : Humans who help exploited animals used for food, clothing, medicine, testing, entertainment, tourism, etc.
  • Loving Leaders : Humans in governing and influential positions who are working towards a systems change for animals
  • Energy Elevators : Energy healers and animal communicators who have healed and helped animals (and their owners) in extraordinary ways

Power to the people who care!

To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.

Mahatma Gandhi

Wildlife Warriors

For me, any human who rescues, saves or protects wild animals is a warrior! It takes knowledge, intuition, bravery and love to be able to rescue those souls who would otherwise die a horrible death. Who are the Wildlife Warriors of 2021? Read their stories below!

Carly Åhlén

I met Carly on LinkedIn and found out that she has always cared for wildlife in need. Whether it’s rescuing, nurturing and releasing foxes, hedgehogs or birds, you will most likely find her out and about lending a helping hand.

On Christmas Eve, she even rescued a swan and took him to get the medical care he needed.

Carly’s profoundly deaf but nothing stops her from being a voice for the voiceless. On top of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife day in and day out, she runs Gabo Wildlife to inspire others to act by showing her voluntary work which is self funded.

Even though Carly has many stories to share, she chose to tell us about Buttercup, the Red Fox. Red foxes are in grave danger in the UK. Only 70% of red foxes in UK make it past their 1st birthday! Big efforts are underway to stop trial hunting for so-called sport, but I’m happy Carly’s not waiting for the law to change!

Buttercup’s Story
“Buttercup was found on the cold streets of London. She was utterly lame, drug her body with two legs, unable to even sit or urinate. Slowly starving to death, she was tiny and only weighed 2 kilos. I didn’t hesitate to take her in. One veterinarian wrongly diagnosed her and advised putting her to sleep!

“I didn’t give up though. Each day I spent with her and gained her trust. I find myself most happy alongside animals due to my disability. They do not judge me for being deaf. I slowly hand fed her, gently moved her legs each and every day and provided her with 24/7 care. Weeks went by and she slowly started to gain weight. One morning whilst we did gentle rehab, she stood up and started to walk!

“We grew such a bond. I spent nearly 3 months rehabilitating her back to health and now she can run and even play. Buttercup recently went to a fox sanctuary were she will be safe and live an enriched life away from man’s harm! Placing her back into an urban setting would put her in danger due to her weakness in the spine.”

At the end of November 2021, she wrote this on LinkedIn: “We are about to start our rehabilitation for the afternoon, her back legs need to gain more strength which could take another 6 weeks to fully heal.”

Click on each photo below for a larger view.

Jessie Irion

“My daughter-in-law and I helped save a baby horned owl when it fell from the tree and was abandoned by his mom. I caught it in a baby blanket and then we put it into a cat carrier and called wildlife rescue and they took it from there. It sure felt good to save that little fellow.”

Sonya Dibbin

“I’ve been feeding and providing shelter for wild hedgehogs in my garden for a few years. This year, sadly, my resident adult female got her foot snapped shut in a rat trap.

“I took her to the veterinarian where sadly she was put out of pain with euthanasia. A few weeks later, I started being visited by a teeny hoglet. The next day there were two, and eventually there were four.

“They were small and going into winter probably needed some extra help to survive so I captured them, weighed them and yes, they were worryingly small.

“They are now safe at a rescue facility and are being treated for ticks and lungworm.”

Thank you, dear Wildlife Warriors, for your keen intuition, bravery and patience!

 

Pet Protectors

Pet protectors are those lovely souls who save, rescue and protect animals we consider our pets. From caring for feral cats to vaccinating stray dogs to volunteering in shelters, etc. Who are the Pet Protectors of 2021?

Animal Rights Activists

Activists rescued 68 dogs from being slaughtered for the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. Read more about this successful rescue here.

An Officer and a Gentleman

Read this story of an elderly man who reported to the authorities that ‘a spot’ on a cliff wasn’t there before and that it was an animal in danger. Indeed, it was a dog who’d gone missing two weeks prior, unable to free himself out of a rocky situation.

Madolline Gourley

What do you do when you can’t travel with your pets but don’t like the idea of boarding? As an expat, I want to visit my family and friends in the USA (I live in Germany) but with my beloved pets, it’s very challenging.

In recent years, we’ve had an enormous amount of luck with the teenaged daughters of our close friends who lived in our home and were more than happy to stay in a house with our dog and cat. Win-win, but it’s not always easy to find a pet sitter in your area, so what do you do?

Madolline has the perfect solution:
“I offer free live-in cat care for owners when they’re away. This kind of arrangement is organised through websites like Aussie House Sitters and TrustedHousesitters.

“Since I started, I’ve cared for over 40 different cats. Of which, about half have been rescues! This year I have cared for only one rescue cat, but that’s because domestic travel within Australia has been VERY difficult because of COVID.

“Owners much prefer this arrangement, even if it means having a stranger live/stay in their home, because their pet’s routine doesn’t get disrupted. It also means the pet doesn’t have to live in an unfamiliar, perhaps scary, environment with other animals (e.g. pet hotels).”

Meet Madolline and Jaspurr:

These pet sitting services are usually free for the owners and offer the sitters a wonderful chance to travel and cuddle. Read more about Madolline’s sitting experience here. I will definitely look into this solution because our previous arrangement is no longer possible. Cats don’t like to be moved around! Dogs are easier to relocate and my Labrador, Nala, LOVES to travel, but if we fly across the ocean, it’s just too difficult and stressful for her. It’s also very expensive to have her stay a pet sitter’s home at 200 EUR per week and boarding is not personal enough!

Thank you, beloved Pet Protectors, for your warm heart and important work!

 

Creative Champions

What would our world be like if we didn’t have creative artwork, films, books, photos, etc.? Pretty darn dull. Well, thankfully there are creative humans who have made it their mission to help save animals through their work. Either by auctioning off their masterpieces, giving back a portion of their sales to an animal rights organization or just raising so much awareness that people start to listen and act.

Who are the Creative Champions of 2021?

Jo-Anne McArthur -- We Animals Media

Miyoko Schinner, founder of Miyoko’s Creamery, spends time with Fred Astaire, a resident rescued turkey at her sanctuary, Rancho Compasión. Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur, We Animals Media

Jo-Anne McArthur

In 2018, I visited the International Nature Photography Festival in Germany and met writer Keith Wilson who was presenting his new book, a collection of photos showing horrific crimes committed by humans on non-human animals: Photographers against Wildlife Crime.

In fact, the conversation I had with Keith inspired me to publish my book about animal testing for preteens: Lily Bowers and the Uninvited Guest. I had finished the first draft in October 2017 and was literally crushed after receiving the developmental editor’s comments. This was my first book, but I learned, optimized, trudged on and published it on April 24, 2019: World Day for Laboratory Animals, so thank you, Keith for that inspiration!

At this festival, I bought a copy of Keith’s book and saw the name Jo-Anne McArthur for the first time and have been a fan all their work ever since!

Jo-Anne’s an award-winning photojournalist, author, speaker, and educator as well as the founder of We Animals Media, the world’s leading animal photojournalism agency which offers 10,000+ royalty-free images and video to raise awareness about animal crimes. Jo-Anne’s also the co-founder of the Unbound Project which “celebrates contemporary and historic women at the forefront of animal advocacy worldwide”.

Her last book published in 2020, HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene, reveals stories and scenes showing “our conflict with non-human animals around the globe”.

Her achievements this year include but are not limited to:

Ralph, the tester

One piece of genius deserves recognition this year and that is Saving Ralph, a short stop-motion animation to spread awareness about animal testing in the cosmetic industry.

Thanks goes out to the Humane Society International, film creators Spencer Susser, Wes Anderson and Tim Burton, set designer and puppet maker Andy Gent, voice actors Taika Waititi, Ricky Gervais, Zac Efron and Olivia Munn and every other caring human who worked on this project.

Johnny Armstrong

Author of Shadowshine: An Animal Adventure and a soon-to-be-published textbook about conservation.

In a recent interview by The Table Read, Johnny admitted that he didn’t have an intention to write a book but from what I gather, his soul told him he must get a very important message out. And that he did with Shadowshine!

In his own words: “Homo sapiens should “feel” connected with nature every waking moment. We should all embrace the nature-human connectedness and kinship so well expressed and celebrated by the Native Americans. They get it.”

I get it too and am proud to present Shadowshine: An Animal Adventure:
On a quest to rescue his community from a fiery demise, possum and poet Zak, seeks assistance from rodents in the North and sets out on a journey into the ancient forest. But separated from his own surroundings and his bobcat companion, Sena, he loses his sense of direction and becomes hopelessly lost in the wilderness. Here, Zak enters a world of self-discovery as he struggles to survive starvation, predation, drowning, illness and ice. Meanwhile, his forest-folk comrades he left behind suffer the menace of drought, wildfire and the malicious deeds of Mungo, an indomitable villain actively ravaging precious ecosystems. As Zak’s feathered and furry friends await such an uncertain future, they formulate the theory that Mungo and the others of his species have lost cognizance of what they are, causing them to become “familiar” and bring havoc upon the forest—all, because they were never taught to use their noses as a reference. But unbeknownst to everyone, the havoc originates inside a dark world whose terrifying resident has, itself, become familiar; and Zak will play a key role in events that ultimately end in a savage showdown.


Thank you, dear Creative Champions, for using your talent to help protect animals!

Are you an animal hero, too?

Exploitation Eliminators

Animals have been used and abused for a very long time. Somewhere along the line, we decided we were ‘above nature’ and could do as we please with other souls sharing this place we call home. In doing that, we are affected by diseases and pandemics as well as natural disasters due to climate change.

We’re destroying our own species as well as our environment and until we embrace a deep ecological philosophy in that we humans are not above nature, we ARE nature and must therefore, protect all life on Earth, we will cause destruction to ourselves, other species and our planet.

I’m relieved to know there are caring humans who’ve made it their life’s purpose to help exploited animals. Exploited animals are those souls used for entertainment, clothing, medical reasons, food, sport, etc. The list of unnecessary abuse is endless.

Who are this year’s Exploitation Eliminators?

Aditya

Aditya is studying Animal Protection Law at the National Legal Studies Research Institute in India and is the wild animal suffering outreach coordinator for Animal Ethics. He works with them about raising awareness against speciesism and how animals are impacted by our attitudes towards them. He also raises concerns for wild animal suffering and how animals in nature suffer terribly due to human cause and natural factors and why it is important to assist them.

Listen to this interview with Aditya:

Markus Barth and Doctors against Animal Experiments

Meet Nelly, a labrador rescue, and Markus Barth, an animal rights activist and the owner of a logistics company in Germany sporting his newly decorated 12-wheeler to spread awareness about the insanity and cruelty of vivisection for Doctors against Animal Experiments.

This isn’t his first truck to help protect animals. In fact, it’s #60 of a total of 70 trailers with an important message!

I had the pleasure to work closely with Doctors against Animal Experiments to design this truck!

Read the full article about this project: Marketing for the Animals : Activism on the Autobahn.

Thank you, Exploitation Eliminators, for your continuous action against heinous crimes committed on animals!

I’ve just read about the Animal Heroes of 2021! Power to the people who care about all life on Earth!

Loving Leaders

Without people in power who care, a systems change is almost impossible. Luckily there are true leaders who want to create a better world! Who are the Loving Leaders of 2021?

European Parliament

In a historical vote on September 15, 2021, the European Parliament almost unanimously called for the complete phase out of animal experiments! 667 voted YES, 4 NO & 16 Undecided.

Although this historical vote is not legally binding, it has set the phase out in motion because now, the European Commission must create an EU-wide action plan by defining milestones and targets to replace lab animals with non-animal human-relevant methods.

A win for both human and non-human animals because let’s face it, we are not monkeys, beagles, cats, rabbits, mice, fruit flies, zebrafish or any other animal they torture and kill in labs across the world.

We are humans and it only makes sense to test on our own cells and our own mini organs created by the incredible technology we have today. It’s useless and risky to our own health to torture any soul for the sake of medicine. If you’re interested in reading more about this topic, read my article on the truth about animal testing.

We only have so many medicinal side effects and still no cures for common diseases because we’ve wasted a ton of money and time on the medieval and cruel methods of animal testing. In Germany alone, over 99% of the funding goes to testing on animals. The psychological tests on animals is incredibly ridiculous and you know what? We taxpayers fund this crap! How stupid! But that will change soon, thank goodness, and I hope it happens fast and other countries will follow suit!

Read more about this historical vote here.

Kathrin Herrmann

Kathrin Herrmann, DipECAWBM (AWSEL), PhD, is a veterinary expert in animal welfare science, ethics and law. She works at CAAT (Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing) at John Hopkins University in the USA and directs their Beyond Classical Refinement Program. Last year, she even took on the position as the Animal Protection Commissioner of Berlin. Her CV is incredible and one day, I hope to meet her in person!

Starting last year and continuing on this year, she collaborated with Charlotte Blattner and Eva Meijer to organize and host a free webinar series about animals, climate change and global health during the COVID-19 crisis.

By the way, all but one photo used on their website for this webinar series were shot by the famous animal rights activist and photographer Jo-Anne McArthur mentioned above.

Read Kathrin’s latest report about why the Forced Swim Test in Rats for Depression Research needs to be abolished.

What I love about Kathrin’s work is that she provides education in a scientific yet understandable fashion which is key to creating change.

Thank you, Loving Leaders, for using your power , intelligence and influence to help animals, humans included, without a voice or a chance.

Energy Elevators

In a world of our lost connection with nature, it’s now relevant to come back to our natural state. With human-induced climate change due to industrialization, mobilization and increased population and greed, we’re easily developing and spreading diseases and pandemics on a global scale while driving our own species into extinction and, taking with us, thousands of other species.

We are currently experiencing WWWIII — a war against humanity declared by humanity.

Indigenous cultures understood our human role on Earth and live with a deep ecological philosophy in that we humans are not above nature, we ARE nature and therefore, must protect it. Every species is important and must be treated with respect and love.

Without trying to be all doomy and gloomy, I’ve added Energy Elevators as a new category this year because I feel these uplifting stories from those who truly understand the souls of animals must also be shared!

Who are the Energy Elevators of 2021?

Wynter Worsthorne

I first heard of Wynter and her business, Animal Talk Africa, last year and immediately fell in love with her work. She’s an animal communicator and helps animals and their human owners understand each other in a more effective way. Her work expands to wild species and she is often called in by rangers and parks to help wild or rescued animals in need.

She tunes into animals in a way that was previously unfamiliar to me, telepathically, soul to soul, either right there in the same room, out in the wild or remotely by just using a photo. This may sound a bit woo-woo to you, but it’s what our ancient ancestors did on a daily basis and it’s what every human is capable of if the right mindset, patience, intentions and love are present.

It’s natural to be able to communicate with other species.

The fact that Wynter speaks with animals isn’t the amazing part though. It’s the messages the animals give her to give us. From the story of her much-need work with sacred white lions to showing us the most effective way to prepare ourselves and our beloved family members to cross the rainbow bridge. Each story is unique and sometimes, quite unexpected.

I learned from Wynther that animals are not revengeful or hateful because of our ‘evil ways’. They want us to be present, to love and to understand our important role and responsibility in this world as humans.

Her many stories prove that she has an incredible gift of communicating with all species which is why I signed up for her animal communication course and have started to practice learning this very skill and I must admit, it works! I now have proof that I’ve connected and communicated with a few animals and this is only the beginning.

If you also want to connect more with animals, I highly recommend browsing her website, taking an online course and/or watching her webinars and videos.

Sarah Matthews

“I used an energy modality to change a horse’s fate from euthanasia to living and running freely in a field with his mate. He can no longer be ridden but is alive and happy.”

Julie Mullins

I met both Sarah above and Julie in a FB group, run by one of my valued coaches who is as much of an animal lover as I; the inspirational Jen Thomas. Upon asking if anyone has saved, protected or helped animals this year in her group, Julie told me this amazing story of how she helped a pet rabbit named Chloe.

Julie’s trained in many different energy healing modalities — including Reiki — so she just uses whichever she’s guided to, depending on who and what she’s treating.

Chloe’s Story:
“I have treated a rabbit who has had GI Stasis four times, and also got attacked by another rabbit and severely injured her leg. The veterinarians didn’t think she would survive the shock and weren’t sure if they could operate as it was in such a delicate area. They were considering amputation and expecting complications but the whole leg healed up in weeks and she’s been fine ever since. I treat her once every six weeks now and she’s not had stasis for over six months.

“Chloe’s a therapy rabbit for a little girl who had meningitis twice, and now has adhd and autism. Without any formal training, she just knows when she’s needed for a cuddle, or when to just quietly sit next to the little girl and wait for the tears or the anger to pass. Chloe stays on her bed every night, and it helps her to sleep. It’s really quite amazing to see them together.”

Is your heart melting, too? Animals really are very sensitive to our feelings because they don’t have the many layers of ego we humans do. In normal circumstances, they act on intuition, instinct and pure love!

Read more about Julie’s work on her website.

Thank you, Energy Elevators, for your intuition, positive energy and understanding.

Are you or someone you know an animal hero?

Do you know any animals heroes? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful new year!

Peace and love,
Sharing is Caring

Deer and Spider: Your Animal Guides for the Full Moon in Sagittarius on May 26, 2021

Deer and Spider: Your Animal Guides for the Full Moon in Sagittarius on May 26, 2021

Deer and Spider: Your Animal Guides for the Full Moon in Sagittarius on May 26, 2021

Deer and Spider: Your Animal Spirit Guides

Photos by Rinnie Deer on Unsplash and 12019 on Pixabay

Meet Deer and Spider:
Your Animal Guides

At this Full Moon Eclipse in Sagittarius

Graceful deer and creative spider want to guide you during this particularly thought-provoking super full blood moon eclipse! Yes, all that super, full, shadow energy wrapped up in one!

First of all, we have the largest supermoon of the year. A supermoon occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth at a given time along the axis. This moon will be closer to the Earth and appear larger than any other moon this year.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun and moon are on exact opposite ends of the Earth, causing the moon’s glow from the sun to be shadowed by the Earth.

If you’re in Australia, western USA, western South America, or South-East Asia, you are in for a treat! Try not to miss this! I’m sending you clear sky wishes so that you can witness the total lunar eclipse and then watch the moon turn reddish for about 14 minutes.

The eclipse will peak on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 4:13 am San Francisco, 8:13 pm Tokyo and 9:13 pm Sydney, so if you want to watch the entire eclipse, start watching about 1 ½ hours beforehand. That will be easier said than done in the Americas, but if the skies are clear and you can manage it, set your alarm, grab a cup of tea and warm blanket and enjoy the spectacle!

This moon inspires changes or a shift with something in your life. In fact, it’s one of the most intense transits this year! This is a ‘finding your true life’s purpose’ energy and is a powerful time to cleanse.

Let go of your emotional waters to give space to set intentions that will rejuvenate you over the course of the next few months. This is not an energy that lasts for only a week or two while the new moon energy comes in. No, this powerful energy of a supermoon lunar eclipse extend through the period of the next three months or so.

This means Deer and Spider have chosen to guide you for quite awhile, not just a short ‘here’s your message, bah bye’. They’re here to inspire you and help you through the ups and downs until you don’t need them anymore. And remember, you can always call on any animal guide when you need their gifts for any particular time!

This is a time >for reflection, forgiving, cleansing and letting go!


Looking back: Polar Bear and Dragon: Your Animal Guides at the New Moon in Taurus on May 11, 2021.

Deer and Spider as your Animal Guides

During the New Moon in Taurus two weeks ago, Polar Bear and Dragon were your animal guides. This time while shuffling, I barely started and the Deer flew out of the deck. Quicker than ever before!

So, it’s not a coincidence that I had my very first encounter with two deer just a few hours beforehand in the meadow on my dog walk. I recently moved to a less wooded area (but with more water) and have been mourning their presence a bit because I’ve only seen one deer twice in the past 9 months. Apparently, there are only three in my area.

They were about three meters away, which is pretty close. Luckily, the meadow is super high now and my labrador, Nala, didn’t notice them. They may not have noticed her either. She just patiently waited for me while I stood there, connecting with the deer.

The three of us held eye contact until the one in the back moved closer to me and the other and then they both started to eat again. I felt they already knew me spiritually as I did them. Deer has guided me many times since my mom passed away in 2016 and so I’m proud to share the gifts and challenges of Deer with you during this powerful moon. I couldn’t have wished for a better guide for anyone!

And oh, how I love Spider wisdom! I’m always willing to take anyone’s house spider outside, so please just ask if you have the urge to squash her. Spiders are useful, important and highly creative. They’re a true gift as a guide, so if you’re scared, try to continue reading with an open mind and just embrace her messages.

Deer as your Animal Spirit Guide

Photo by Amee Fairbank-Brown on Unsplash

Spider as your Animal Spirit Guide

Photo by Erik Karits on Pixabay

Deer as your Animal Guide

Deer as your Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Background Painting: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

Deer, oh deer, what big beautiful eyes you have. Who doesn’t melt when looking into the soul of a deer? Their pure beauty and grace light up any dark forest.

Males with majestic antlers are truly the King of the Forest.

In total, there are 43 species in the Cervidae deer family, including Reindeer, Elk, Moose, Caribou. For this reading, I will talk about the spirit of the average deer we think of, not these larger family members. They have their own special meanings and will be featured if and when they show up for you on another day.

Deer has always had a deep spiritual meaning. Being an important companion in the forest, indigenous people, such as the Maya Indians, sometimes called themselves “Deer People”. Deer was considered to be their main blood forefather.

Ancient Celts believed that the deer is a symbol of the sun, fertility, and vitality and that they lead troops of hundreds of fairies as the stag cut through the forest with his antlers. Cherokee folklore tells the tale of a seductive shapeshifting “Deer Woman.”

Species: 43

Subspecies: > 100

Family: Cervidae

Indigenous to: Every continent except Antarctica.

Habitat: Woodlands, prairie, tundra, mountains, swampy areas, even rainforests.

One of a kind: Deer is the only family in the world to have antlers.

Standing proud: Antlers are the fastest growing bone in mammals in the world! They are being studied to produce more efficient and effective therapies for bone diseases and fractures in humans. As long as they use the fallen off pieces, I’m OK with that kind of animal testing.


Conservation Efforts

It may not seem that deer need our help to be able to survive on this planet because they live everywhere, however, there have been a few extinct deer species, such as the Irish Elk who perished about 8 million years ago. Closely related to the Fallow and Red Deer, scientists are currently studying the Irish Elk to find out the reasons for extinction. Was it because of the weight of his enormous antlers which — in this sample they found in 2005 — spanned across 12 feet? Answers will help other deer species to remain stable.

The Pére David’s Deer, aka Milu, indigenous to the river valleys in China, is endangered in the wild and won’t be moved to the lesser but still highly dangerous ‘critically endangered species’ status until their numbers in the wild stabilize. They experienced hunting, floods and war which left them in this state. At one point, there were only 18 left in captivity and due to diligent conservation and breeding efforts, there are 2,000 in China and an estimated 8,000 worldwide, making it one of the most successful reintroduction projects in history.

Many of the endangered or threatened deer species live in tropical forest areas and so are now losing their homes due to deforestation for agricultural development.

Everyone can help save wildlife in the forest. It’s not only the deer who are suffering, Many species of animal, human included, is affected by deforestation. It’s a global human-made problem and so, we all have the ability and responsibility to help curb deforestation.

I wrote about deforestation in the ‘Get Active‘ section where I introduce the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for Nature, namely #13: Climate Action, #14: Life Below Water and #15: Life on Land.

Our own survival on this planet we call home depends on how we treat our environment and animals, so I hope with this mini-series, you’ll feel a calling to take action because we can’t rely on our governments to reach these goals by 2030, which was the plan. We’re seeing that corporations and industries aren’t doing enough to clean up their supply chain. Many are still committing ecocide which is defined as “mass damage and destruction of ecosystems – harm to nature which is widespread, severe or systematic.”

And so, it’s up to each individual to pitch in to help save all life on Earth, including our own. It’s not overwhelming either. I wrote several easy, actionable tasks that will help you save money and species!

Power to the people!

Deer as your Animal Spirit Guide

Original photo by LubosHouska on Pixabay

What we can learn from Deer

  • Innocence, grace & peace: Deer exudes feminine energy of pure goodness and grace. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child — with their ‘doe eyes’. Deer symbolize innocence and with it, invite others into their soul. Sometimes, that’s not good, i.e. when they invite the wrong souls in, but with their highly sensitized instincts and sense of smell as well as their deep intuition, they’re a hard prey to catch for natural predators. That’s why wolves hunt easy prey like sheep first. Use her gifts to draw in the right people!
  • Play & wonder: Deer are teachers of wonder and play. This may be a sign for you to stop being so serious all the time and reactivate the child within you to have some fun! 
  • Creativity & innovation: This full moon brings with it intense life-changing energy. You could have this urge to jump and create something completely new which sounds amazing, but I feel with this moon, reflecting, letting go of something that’s ‘burning inside you’ and forgiving are at the forefront and need to be attended to first. And that’s one reason why Deer showed up right now to help you do this in a creative way with ease and grace, and with lots of heart. This could mean letting go of or mending a relationship or part of one before moving on with starting a new project at home or in your business.
  • Gentleness, love & compassion: With their kind and gentle spirit, their energy is most felt in the heart chakra. Deer help us lead with compassion, even in difficult situations. ‘Kill them with kindness’ comes to mind when dealing with a bully or challenge within a relationship because who can be angry with or harm a deer (excluding hunters)? This is deer energy! With their majestic antlers, the males stand proud and lead with their hearts which makes them the true King of the Forest whom others enjoy following. Be that kind of a leader.
  • Caution & alertness: Deer are always on alert. If you spot one in the woods, they usually freeze and hold eye contact with you. If they sense danger or aren’t used to many humans, they will quickly leap away the moment you cut eye contact with them and within milliseconds, they are out of sight. Just like that. They know every inch of their forest and can navigate it with grace, speed and skill. They are a bit color blind and can’t see reds and oranges which is why tigers go unnoticed. They have to rely more on their sense of smell and sound. This invites you to listen to your intuition and not only rely on what you see. Your intuition will give you the answers, especially when it’s a warning to not get caught in the headlights. If you sense danger or something negative in any situation, move on: don’t sign that contract, start a relationship with that person or make any major changes if it doesn’t feel right. Reflect first. Beware of those predators and listen to your heart and intuition instead.
  • Naive fearfulness: Their cautiousness could also initiate attention focussed on your fears. Are you scared of ‘being in the spotlight’ or becoming someone’s target? Deer warns you this could happen, but reminds you that your internal gifts are so much more powerful and will help you to stand up tall and proud and look at your fear head on.
  • Forgiveness & self-sacrifice: Deer know they may get hunted and killed. But it doesn’t make them hide or revengeful. It is what it is. Simple as that. This is a lesson for you to understand your value and worth and when you do that, you will realize that sacrifice for the greater good is not considered a loss but rather abundance in simplicity. This does not mean you should sacrifice your own worth or forgive to please others. This is inspiring wisdom to view your worth as a gift of incredible power. Forgiveness is one of the first steps to embracing authentic self-love needed to value yourself and for that, you must sacrifice your ego and these old stories telling you to always put others first. Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it’s considerate and more helpful. “Put your mask on first in case of an emergency in the airplane before you can help your child.” Simple rules that when broken, will be more harmful for everyone involved.

Questions to ask yourself

  • Am I blind to the danger of this particular situation or relationship?
  • How can I lead and communicate in a mindful and heartfelt way?
  • What is my intuition telling me about this particular situation?
  • Who do I need to forgive? Myself perhaps?

Final words from Deer

Some people reject Deer energy because they consider themselves to be rough and tough and with ‘innocent’ feminine Deer as a guide, it may seem like a misfit. If you are having thoughts about this too, let this full moon energy help you cut chords with your ego. Stand proud and think of the mighty King of the Forest. Deer is listened to, loved and respected. Gentle-souled Deer is a mighty and powerful guide, not helpless and weak! She reminds you to lead with the most important connection you have, your heart.

Call upon Deer energy to help you lead with vigor.

Spider as your Animal Guide

Spider as your Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Background Painting: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

As with Deer, Spider is a symbol of graceful, feminine energy. Don’t believe me? If you’ve ever watched a spider weave her web, she moves elegantly and is very precise, trying to make the perfect web, even when she knows of its vulnerability and she may have to build a new one the following day.

Before I write any more about arachnids and their spiritual meanings, let me just say that if you are afraid or don’t like spiders, to first remember how relevant to our world they are.

They eat mosquitos and many other harmful insects, however, many people are quick to squash one just because they’re ‘creepy crawly’. I can’t hold them in my hands either like my daughter did a tarantula a few years ago, but I always take them outside if I feel they need to relocate from my home. Please consider this too.

I’d also like to invite you to watch a few episodes of Lucas the Spider, a jumping spider designed by Joshua Slice to help humans overcome their fear. His nephew voiced Lucas. Every episode is incredibly adorable and I guarantee you won’t cringe while watching Lucas crawl. Here’s a video about real jumping spiders in Australia.

After you watch a few episodes and read their messages for you below, I hope you’ll have a different opinion of them. Please comment below about your thoughts, I’d love to hear them.

Species: > 40,000 known

Indigenous to: Spiders are everywhere except Antarctica. Sea spiders are NOT spiders.

Habitat: Where don’t spiders live is the question to ask! Spiders are the 7th most diverse living being on Earth.

We are family: All spiders have 8 legs and 4 eyes. 

Strength in numbers: Spiders are so diverse and abundant that experts believe 1 million spiders live on 1 acre of land (maybe 3 million in the tropics) and that a human is never more than 10 feet away from a spider. That number varies, depending on the source.

Importance: Vital for a healthy ecosystems, spiders eat harmful insects (more than birds and bats combined), pollinate plants and decompose dead animals and plants.

Spinners: All spiders spin silk, but not all spiders spin webs.


Conservation Efforts

Why should we even discuss conservation efforts for spiders? Aren’t they super abundant and just plain everywhere? Well, yes, and no. Or rather, who knows?

Not only do people not want to think about them, neither do scientists. Out of Europe’s 4,154 spider species, only a few species have received national protection. In the United States, 12 spiders have been listed as endangered. Out of a total of 341 spider species (IF I counted correctly) who have been assessed by the IUCN Red List, 8 are extinct (EX) and 31 critically endangered (CR). Being on this list doesn’t grant protection, but it will help conservation groups seek protection. With over 40,000, that’s a lack of representation.

We know so little. All I know is that if we lost spiders, we’d have an insect plague and I’d probably have 500 mosquito bites instead of the 17 on my leg that have been harassing me all week! That’s my prediction, because there’s no real evidence out there to know what would happen because the work has yet to be done to figure this out. We know we need pollinators to survive on this planet and we know how we react around harmful bugs and we know what pesticides do to living beings and our environment, so it’s important that we don’t lose our grip with spiders and allow them to become extinct.

That said, it certainly isn’t easy finding and counting spiders, but I think it comes down to human perception. More funding will go towards a more compassionate-feeling animal as for an arachnid. I get it. But they are amazing and help us so much with more things than we realize.

If you’re interested in finding out more about these amazing and vital animals and want to help in some way, please look at these websites: 

Spider as your Animal Spirit Guide

Original photo by Dev Leigh on Unsplash

What we can learn from Spider

  • Creativity: The main symbol of Spider is creativity. Call upon this intricate design-maker when you’re in a creative rut. The next time you spot a spider’s web, look at it closely. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch her in the act. Just watch her mastery, it’ll be meditative and maybe you’ll get a sign while watching.
  • Connection to the natural world: Spiders are crucial for the chain of life and therefore, play a very important role for Mother Earth. I picture them guarding her cave, like in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Follow the spiders and you will find the answers. Sorry, Ron, butterflies will appear another time! Use Spider’s position to help ground you and connect with Mother Earth.
  • Weave your own reality & truth: Spider gives you the power to create your own destiny. Your truth may be different than the norm. Spiders are also seen as ‘different’ which makes others fear them. Spider is telling you to own your uniqueness and design your own story. She does this by giving you the gift of effective communication and shows you how to find solutions to your challenges in a mindful way.
  • Mindfulness: While weaving your truth, there is possibility of thinking too much about what others may think or say. This is not about them, your life is about you. Who are you? Why are you here, right now? No matter what the answer, it’s YOUR answer, however, Spider is also telling you to be mindful and smart when weaving your life. Spider has 8 legs and the number 8 symbolizes infinity. The possibilities are endless. This gives you many choices and many paths, so take the time now to explore those choices and once you’ve chosen one that feeds your soul, then take responsibility for it.
  • Patience: Just like Alligator, Spider waits for her prey to either fly into her web or finish walking past so that they have the perfect opportunity to eat lunch without much effort. Often, they prepare their prey for later. There’s not always a need to devour lunch right away, you can enjoy it for dinner. There’s even a species called Common Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) who changes her color to blend in with a flower so that she can attack pollinators. This teaches you to wait for the right moment to strike, be it start that project, buy that new house, get married, have a child, etc. This full moon especially will send off ‘LET’S GO NOW!’ vibes and this may just be a message to make sure you know what you’re doing before making any crazy decisions you may regret later. Always keep mindfulness and patience at the forefront in your web weaving activities.
  • Loneliness: Of the 40,000 some odd species, only about 24 of them live in groups and share communal responsibilities. Otherwise, they are solitary animals. With their fear-inducing aura in many humans, this could mean that you may be considered intimidating for others. Spider people — those with Spider as their power or totem animal — are challenged with being in big crowds and feel more comfortable in their own element. This could be a problem when you crave interaction, especially during this pandemic. Learn to lure in the right people who will raise your vibration with your spidery seduction skills.
  • Freedom & ease: A spider lets the wind carry her, from tree to tree, or window sill inside the house to the ground safely below. Take their gift of free-falling and ease and let things happen as they come.
  • Self-sacrifice: As with Deer, Spider also symbolizes self-sacrifice as a tool used for the better good. The female Stegodyphus dumicola, native to South Africa, allows babies to eat her alive. This species live in a large community and share nests and childcare. Since only 40% of the females are able to reproduce because of their slow maturing process, the virgins will allow her sisters’ babies to eat them! Wow. And we all know about the male Black Widows, who by the way, don’t ALWAYS get eaten. In fact, there’s only one species of the many black widow genus Latrodectus who always indulges in male cannibalism and she lives in the Southern Hemisphere. Many times, the males are allowed to mate again. To bring this self-sacrifice symbolism into real terms, no, this does not mean you need to sacrifice yourself to make someone else happy. It means that the entire collective will be better off if you change something you may feel is a sacrifice. In our world today, this could just mean riding your bike instead of driving, eating more vegan meals, making your own soap or deodorant instead of buying these products in plastic. These things may ‘sound’ like a sacrifice to you (‘where’s the beef?’), but Spider doesn’t see it that way. She knows that it will benefit everyone and so is more than willing to do her part. Mother Earth needs every individual to do their part as well.

Questions to ask yourself

  • Am I designing the most effective life for myself?
  • What can I do for the greater good without giving up too much?
  • Who can I lure into my web to nourish my soul and help others?
  • What is my truth? What makes me unique?
  • Am I ready to create this new thing or do I need to tick a few more boxes first?

Final words from Spider

Fear not the Spider. She is an extremely beautiful and powerful guide. Spider is the master ingenious creator of prosperity and intricate design. Use her gifts to find the right moment to start creating your masterpiece and find those who will support you during every step of the way. 

Call upon Spider energy when you need a boost in creativity.

Want to learn more?

Do you feel close to Deer or Spider? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you an exciting super full blood moon eclipse experience. WOW!

Peace and love,

Sharing is Caring

Polar Bear and Dragon: Your Animal Guides for the New Moon in Taurus on May 11, 2021

Polar Bear and Dragon: Your Animal Guides for the New Moon in Taurus on May 11, 2021

Polar Bear and Dragon: Your Animal Guides for the New Moon in Taurus on May 11, 2021

Polar Bear and Dragon: Your Animal Spirit Guides

Photos by TheDigitalArtist on Pixabay and Peter Neumann on Unsplash

Meet Polar Bear and Dragon:
Your Animal Guides

At this New Moon in Taurus

I’m not surprised Polar Bear and Dragon presented themselves to be our animal guides during this new moon in Taurus.

This new moon brings with it energy for setting intentions, getting things done and the need to feel more secure.

Taurus is a sign of pleasure, joy, abundance, contentment, comfort and the pure enjoyment and luxuries of life. The luxuries of life don’t always mean an expanded amount of wealth, it’s about life’s simple and physical pleasures. These are to be seen as luxuries. Also, the Taurus teaches us the beauty of the divine mother.

New moons give us an opportunity start something new or recommit to an abandoned or procrastinated goal or project.

It brings amazing opportunities aligned with abundance and happiness, that is, if you surrender to what’s showing up for you.

Embrace the gifts of confidence and surrender to achieve empowerment, uncover the truth and accept transformation.


Looking back: Bear and Ouroboros were your animal guides during the full moon in Scorpio on April 26, 2021.

Polar Bear and Dragon as your Animal Guides

I never ‘pull’ cards because animal guides want to step forward on their own will to help.

As I was thinking about this new moon in Taurus with its gifts of confidence and surrender, abundance, luxury, etc. and asked who wanted to guide us during this time, Polar Bear and Dragon flew out of the deck together.

Polar Bear: Your Animal Spirit Guide

Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash

Dragon: Your Animal Spirit Guide

Original illustration by OpenClipart-Vectors on Pixabay

Polar Bear as your Animal Guide

Polar Bear: Your Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

The largest of the eight bear species, polar bears were only recognized as a specific species in the late 1700s.

As mentioned during the full moon in Scorpio two weeks ago, Bear has a highly important spiritual meaning. Even though scientifically, Polar Bear is a Bear species, the great white bear has his very own spiritual realm and is not considered when tuning into Bear energy. He’s only present when activating Polar Bear energy. This differentiation is important.

The Inuits believe Polar Bear accompanies souls into their next destination and is an incredible valuable guide in times of massive transitional change, especially when starting your spiritual journey.

They defined Polar Bear as the God Tornaurssuk, the master of whales and seals and the most powerful supernatural being in Greenland.

Scientific name: Ursus maritimus

Indigenous to: Arctic

Habitat: Ice, water

Hibernation: Only pregnant bears hibernate. The rest weather the harsh Arctic winters.

Hunting skill: Polar bears spend over 50% of their time hunting for food.

Eye protection: The polar bear’s third eyelid offer protection from the extreme elements.

Insulation: With their four inches of fat below the skin, polar bears are able to handle the cold.


Conservation Efforts

The poster child who inspires climate action is Polar Bear!

He’s not only losing his habitat due to global warming though. That is the biggest threat, yes, but other threats and concerns include toxic pollution, disturbance of maternal dens, oil spills and overhunting of subpopulations.

There are many different kinds of conservation projects to help save polar bears, from monitoring populations, reducing conflict with humans as they are forced to migrate inland to engaging in climate action activities, etc.

If you would like to help save the polar bears, please search for an organization who works locally and has a track record of good work and communicates in a transparent way so that you know exactly where your money is going. Get to know the organization before investing money.

If you are able, consider volunteering your time. This will give you valuable experience in a new field of work which could open many opportunities as well as give you much joy, something that money can’t buy.

Polar Bear: Your Animal Spirit Guide

Original photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash

What we can learn from Polar Bear

With Polar Bear being the main poster child to inspire climate action in the human world, he wants to share his many lessons with you to help you keep your focus on what’s most important.

What can Polar Bear teach us?

  • Endurance, perseverance, adaptation and energy conservation: As the ice melts in the Arctic, polar bears are forced to swim longer distances. In January 2011, it was reported that a polar bear swam 426 miles in nine days in search of food. When you watch them swim, they do it very slowly, often only using their front paws to tread the waters while letting their back legs drag. This helps them utilize their energy to the max. Since polar bears are solitary animals, cubs are being left to forage on their own at an earlier age than decades ago. Let this be a reminder to stay the course for your chosen path in life. Even though your situation may not be a matter of life and death as it is for the polar bear, embrace his energy and attitude of ‘die trying’ to help you endure extreme situations and conditions.
  • Call on your resources and camouflage: The skin of a polar bear is a dark bluish/black with hallow white/yellowish fur which keeps him warm and invisible to prey, specifically seals. Use what nature gave you to your best ability to survive and live your best life. They also lie on ice to reduce their shadows.
  • Transformation and introspection: While the typical bear hibernates, only pregnant polar bears hibernate. This is a symbol of going within during the transformation of becoming a mother. This inspires you to look within yourself during your own period of transformation.
  • Patience and peace: Seals are polar bear’s favorite meal. With his camouflage body, polar bears remain still and quiet until they’re ready to appear out of nowhere to catch dinner. Just like Alligator who waits until the moment is right, the message is to not rush into things. Success is not something that can be rushed. Although seals are getting harder to hunt as the ice depletes, Polar Bear does not blame humans. This is life and they know they have to adjust. Polar Bear is forgiving and nurturing, the perfect symbol for finding peace within your own soul while giving you the knowledge to embrace acceptance and self-love.
  • Self-reliance and independence: As solitary animals, except during breeding times, polar bears are fiercely independent. Living against all odds, let Polar Bear energy help you to take care of yourself.
  • Surrender: Another message from Polar Bear energy is to not resist the conditions you have to live under. Conserve your energy and make the most of each situation because what you face today will not be your last quest. Let things flow as they were meant to be.
  • Grounding magnetic energies: The magnetic north pole is massively migrating towards Russia. Before the turn of the century, this was a gradual shift, but in the past 21 years, the speed of the north magnetic pole has increased from 10 km/year to 50 km. Although not fully understood in this scientific field, the Earth’s magnetic field constantly moves and its poles are not stationary and move independently of each other. Polar bears ground these energies so that all beings on Earth are able to prepare for this shift of a higher consciousness. They are not concerned with the climate per se, they will endure until they can’t anymore. This is their harsh reality and they accept it as such. They are more concerned about soul awakenings for the benefit of all life on Earth.

Questions to ask yourself

  • How can I become more independent?
  • What do I need to focus on to allow myself to move into a higher consciousness?
  • What do I need to accept about myself?

Final words from Polar Bear

Polar Bear is the perfect guide when respectfully approached if you’re facing a dramatic transition in your life, especially when entering the next level of your soul.

He is guiding you to adapt and surrender so that you can find peace and joy within chaos and catastrophe.

Call upon Polar Bear energy to receive the gift of encouragement to find peace and calmness in this intense world.

Swim as cool as Polar Bear in the sea of serenity.

 

Dragon as your Animal Guide

Dragon: Your Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

One of the most legendary creatures and powerful totems showing up in films, books, artwork, etc., Dragon, with her many emotions and qualities, is well respected and honored, and equally feared and misunderstood.

As with other mythical creatures such as Griffin, Unicorn, Phoenix and Ouroboros, Dragon exists in the spirit world just like Gorilla, Tiger and Bear.

As with all mythical creatures, if you believe in their spirit and messages, you have an advantage over others who are skeptical. You know that nothing’s impossible, especially when it comes to your own abilities and strengths, regardless of what anyone else says or believes.

Dragon is not an easy animal guide. She offers challenges and confrontations every step of the way. It’s up to you to use your strength and disrupt the inner voices that enable doubt to come into your life. If you’re in a state where self-sabotage, doubt or lack of love are blocking you, Dragon may not be a pleasant guide to help you through this time. It’s only when you’re ‘ready to slay that dragon’ are you able to benefit to the fullest.

This does not mean that when Dragon shows up in your life, you should try to kill her. No, this is a message telling you that when you are ready to stand in front of the fearless Dragon with courage, you will be able to face your fears in order to move forward.

And if you purposely call upon Dragon energy, make sure you’re prepared for obstacles.

Just remember though that Dragon chose to guide you during this new moon in Taurus, not the other way around. She did so for very good reasons, which you will discover below. 

Dragon: Your Animal Spirit Guide

Photo by Artie_Navarre on Pixabay

What we can learn from Dragon

  • Magic: When Dragon shows up for you at any given time, this is a sign to tune into your psychic nature so that you can view the world with wonder and mystery.
  • Peace: Dragon invites you to look deep within your soul so that you can unearth your true powers. When you are able to do this, you will find peace. 
  • Strength: Dragon is not only physically strong, Dragon is fearless which adds more to her strength than physical strength. Confidence is strength. Knowing you have the ability to conquer your enemies is strength. Tap into this energy when you are preparing for a difficult challenge without wanting fear or doubt to get into your way.
  • Wisdom: The Dragon sees all and knows all. Firey Dragon energy is like a light igniting within us which gives us the insight and knowledge to tackle something big. 
  • Mastery and balance: Dragon is the master of Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Balancing all four elements to the point of perfection. This lesson is to master the physical realm in order to experience life to its fullest. Avoid avoidance, face your fears head on. Invite them in but don’t let them drive.
  • Transformation: As with Polar Bear, Dragon is a symbol of transformation, however related to physical and emotional shifting. This could mean for you that you’re changing jobs, moving to a new location or shifting your mindset. Understand the misunderstood and look at things from a different perspective.
  • Richness: When thinking of dragons, you may have this image of Smaug in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Smaug was a fire dragon who hoarded the treasures earned by the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. This does mean you are to hoard your pennies and become unapproachable like Smaug. This means to appreciate the wealth that you have, a balance between financial and emotional. Smaug had financial wealth, but he was lonely and misunderstood. His ‘treasure’ wasn’t his and so corruption led to his aggressive behavior. Take this time to observe your relationship with money and what power and abundance really means for you. Money itself is not ‘dirty’ or ‘corrupt’. If you’re avoiding stepping up into your own power for fear of becoming corrupt, let Dragon remind you that you can only inspire others and become successful if you stand your ground and look at your fears. Let Dragon help you bring true wealth into your life.

“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”.

~ John Lennon


Questions to ask yourself

  • What are my hidden fears I need to work through?
  • What is the magic inside me and how can I truly unlock it?
  • What it is I’m truly grateful for?
  • How can I communicate more effectively so that I’m not misunderstood?

Final words from Dragon

When the essence of Dragon energy is awakened, you are courageous, strong and visionary. With Dragon as your guide, you have the ability to manifest a higher dignity and intellect. That is, IF you surrender and truly let her in.

If your totem or power animal is Dragon, you will be awarded with brilliance and enlightenment.

Listen to the teachings of Dragon so that you can find the courage to express your views to be heard and understood. 

 

Take Advantage of this New Moon in Taurus

The new moon peaks on Tuesday, May 11 at 2:59pm EST and 8:59pm CET and with it comes inspiration to just do it.

With Polar Bear and Dragon on our side during this new moon in Taurus we can find the strength to stick to it and not give up!

Tap into this beautiful energy to help you stick to your plan and unfold your destiny!

Want to learn more?

Do you feel close to Polar Bear or Dragon? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you a lovely new moon experience.

Peace and love,

The Truth about Animal Testing

The Truth about Animal Testing

The Truth about Animal Testing

Ban Animal Testing

Photo by tiburi on Pixabay

The Real Reasons Why We Test on Animals
The Sad Truth

Let me start by saying, I am many things, but one thing I am not is a scientist. So to find out the truth about animal testing, I have to ask those working in this industry.

For me, the truth means collecting facts and figures and combine them with common sense, empathy and the willingness and action made to create a better solution for the good of all beings on this planet.

What I’m about to say may not please everyone, especially those earning money from torturing and killing animals, however, I feel that the truth about animal testing needs to be told because many misconceptions are being spread.

On April 24, 2021: World Day for Laboratory Animals, I spent the day in Cologne with Doctors Against Animal Experiments, a German-based organization with the sole purpose of banning animal testing in Germany and worldwide. I’ve been a supporting member since September 2018 and had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. rer. nat. Dilyana Filipova, Geneticist and Scientist at Doctors Against Animal Experiments.

Some things I already knew while researching for my book which addresses the topic of animal testing in a child-friendly way: Lily Bowers and the Uninvited Guest. And yet, some things shocked me even though I know what motivates many humans.

Dr. Filipova explained why animal testing is more than 99% funded in Germany while the safer, more efficient, cheaper, quicker and obviously kinder methods using human cells are not.

Not only that, 95% of all experiments on meds that are tested on animals are unsuitable for humans.

So, why on Earth do we still perform horrific tests on hundreds of millions of innocent animals?

Because animal testing is an old tradition with a big lobby behind it.

Animal testing is big business! Ka-ching!

Interview with Dr. rer. nat. Dilyana Filipova, Geneticist and Scientist at Doctors Against Animal Experiments.
 

Animal Testing has No Future

According to Cruelty-Free International, an estimate of at least 192.1 million animals were used for scientific purposes worldwide in 2015. Scientific purposes include biology lessons, medical training, curiosity-driven experimentation and safety testing in the chemicals, meds, food, and cosmetics we consume.

Animal testers are cats, dogs (mostly beagles), mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, cows, monkeys and other mammals as well as various species of birds, amphibians and fish.

Let’s face it, we are not mice or beagles. We share a lot of the same DNA, however, we are so very different. Many tests on animals are performed over and over again with no increase in effectiveness. Tests are also done on animals to explain human psychology. Why not just ask us and put probes on our head or pay humans to do repetitive activities? These psychological ‘curiosity-driven’ experiments make no sense!

There are humane, safer and more efficient methods using human cells and computers to perform necessary experiments and produce medicine. Fact is, if animal testing was successful, we would have cures for all diseases already. This is not my opinion by the way, this was a statement from Dr. Filipova and the view of Doctors Against Animal Experiments.

Human lives are at risk and millions of animals die every year for no good reason! Filling the pockets of those in the cruel animal testing business is NOT a good reason.

And guess who’s filling their pockets? You and I. Taxes fund these experiments.

It’s also very sad to find out that that there are organizations and initiatives out there who advocate for animal testing instead of spending their time, energy and money on better methods.

If we look at how COVID-19 started, either at the wet market in Wuhan or in a laboratory in China (we’ll probably never be told the truth) animals were exploited, specifically the bat. So, if we learn anything from this deadly pandemic, it should be to respect all animals.

More and more people understand this concept and I have faith that nature will win in the end because Mother Earth is resilient. Humans? Not so much.

The change I’d like to see in this world today is for all humanity to embrace a deep ecological philosophy in that we are not above nature, nor are we the most important species.

Scientists and labticians should spend their time, energy and money on better methods that are safer, less expensive, more efficient and humane.

 

Do you want to help?

Because animal testing doesn’t have a viable future for all the reasons mentioned above, we still have the problem of money and big business that is prohibiting progress on the better methods.

However, if we work together, we can speed up the process to get animal testing banned. There are a few easy things each and every one of us can do to help spare the lives of lab animals and make it very clear to companies and the government that you do not support this cruelty. Some ideas can be done together with or solely by your children, so please involve them because they are our future and have a strong voice.

Here are a few tips:

  • Only purchase cruelty-free products. If you don’t see a cruelty-free label such as the leaping bunny from Cruelty-free International, then write or call the company and ask them if they test. The more demand they hear from customers, the more they will listen.
  • Pursue an animal testing-free career. If you’re interested in the medical research field, you can think about a career in a laboratory that uses NAMs (New Approach Methodologies that use human cells) and become an advocate for humane methods.
  • Call and write your city government officials to take a stand on banning animal testing.
  • Donate to or volunteer at an animal rights organization with a focus against animal testing.
  • Spread awareness on social media.
  • Organize or participate in a protest and/or a petition.
  • Follow cruelty-free influencers, such as bloggers and YouTubers. A few of my favorites are:
    Cruelty-Free ModelsLogical HarmonyEthical Elephant | Cruelty-Free Kitty | Phyrra | My Beauty Bunny
  • Join cruelty-free groups on Facebook or other platforms to stay informed and engage with others.
  • Donate your organs to science. This may sound morbid, but we all will move on once we can no longer live in our physical bodies. Donating to science is a wonderful gift to humanity.
  • Just say no to experiments on dead animals in biology class. I didn’t have this privilege in the 70s when I was forced to cut open a dead frog marinated in formaldehyde, but times have changed and as a student, you now have the right to just say no and still pass your class!
  • Watch and shareSave Ralph‘ and this panel discussion about the project of banning testing in the cosmetic industry.
  • Read or gift my book: Lily Bowers and the Uninvited Guest because it addresses this topic in a child-friendly, yet realistic way. This is the 1st book in a planned series in which each book addresses a different animal rights issue. Why did I choose this heavy topic as the first one? Because laboratory animals are ‘invisible’. They’re not on everyone’s minds. Many people don’t agree with animal testing in the cosmetic industry but feel it’s necessary in order to help humans in the medical field. This is, however, just not true.

Who does Lily Bowers want to save?

How do you personally feel about testing on animals? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Peace and love,

Bear and Ouroboros: Your Animal Guides at the Full Moon in Scorpio on April 26, 2021

Bear and Ouroboros: Your Animal Guides at the Full Moon in Scorpio on April 26, 2021

Bear and Ouroboros: Your Animal Guides at the Full Moon in Scorpio on April 26, 2021

Bear as your Animal Spirit Guide

Photo by Daniel Diesenreither on Unsplash

Meet Bear and Ouroboros:
Your Animal Guides

At this Full Moon in Scorpio

Bear and Ouroboros showed up to help you during this full moon in Scorpio which is a good thing because this one’s going to be intense!

This full moon opposes Uranus and is in the sign of Scorpio which brings fiery energy, rebellion, unexpected events, sudden changes and impulsiveness. Not only that, two highly personal planets, Mercury, and Venus, as well as the Sun and the Moon, are all square Saturn (at 90% in alignment).

This full moon in Scorpio is a supermoon, meaning, it’s closer to the Earth than normal at the same time it’s full. That’s even more energy causing a stronger pull and more influence on all of us.

With these planetary alignments during this full moon, you may be feeling an energy pull in one direction and are being asked by external forces to make life-changing decisions. The key here is to look within to find the answers as well as know your worth. You may be challenged to speak up for what you think is right. Effective communication plays a huge factor during this time.

With this intense energy, there may be a lot of movement and so take a look at how Bear and Ouroboos can guide you during this particular moon phase.


Next up: Polar Bear and Dragon were your animal guides during the new moon in Taurus on May 11, 2021.

Looking back: Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla were your animal guides during the new moon in Aries on April 11, 2021.

Bear and Ouroboros as your Animal Guides

I never ‘pull’ cards because animal guides have shown me that they want to make their own decision and will step forward to help when they feel called upon to. Unlike in the real world where they normally have no say in the matter.

Animal guides will always show up to help you when you call upon them, but for this general reading, I asked who wanted to help us as a collective during this full moon and Bear flew out of the deck and then I asked if there was anyone else and that’s when Ouroboros flipped over.

Bear as your Animal Spirit Guide

Photo by Becca on Unsplash

Ouroboros as your animal spirit guide

Original illustration by 13smok on Pixabay

Bear as your Animal Guide

Bear as your Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

Bears are amazing animals. When we think of the Bear, we usually think of a grizzly, black or brown bear, not necessarily the Giant Panda or the Polar Bear because those species are special in their own right.

However, scientifically speaking, there are eight species of the Bear and the Giant Panda and the Polar Bear belong to this big family. The Koala Bear, however, does not belong to the Bear family because a Koala is a marsupial, not a mammal. 

Oddly enough, the closest relative to bears are seals! Bears descended from Miacids, mammals that lived with dinosaurs 27 million years ago.

Not all bears hibernate, only American and Asian Black Bears, some Brown Bears and pregnant Polar Bears.

Bears are feared, respected and/or spiritually honored in all cultures in this world. As one of the most recognized symbols of introspection, intuition and instinct in the shamanic realm, the spirit of Bear is used to restore harmony and balance.

Species: Eight

Indigenous to: Europe, North & South America, Asia, Japan, Northwest Africa, Arctic

Habitat: Depends on the species. Polar bears need cold and snow while Giant Panda bears need to live where bamboo grows. Black bears need extensive wooded areas, lowlands and wetlands while grizzly bears need the prairie, foothills, grasslands or thick rainforests.

Thick coat: Bears have two layers of fur: a short layer to keep them warm and a long layer on top to keep them dry.

Swimming skill: Bears can swim up to 100 miles without a break. 


Conservation Efforts

Of eight bear species, six are listed as vulnerable or endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Many bears are victims of horrific wildlife crimes such as having to live on bear bile farms where their bile, a liquid stored in their gallbladders, is continuously extracted for false medical healing purposes. They are used to entertain us, are imprisoned in small spaces or hunted to be displayed as trophies while their habitats in the wild are being depleted due to deforestation and climate change. The mascot for climate action is the Polar Bear!

There are many different kinds of conservation projects to help save the bears, from educating the public to tracking efforts, restoring native habitats to exposing bear bile farms in Asia, etc. If you would like to help save the bears, please search for an organization who works locally and has a track record of good work. Get to know the organization before investing money or time in volunteering. 

Bear Animal Spirit Guide

Photo by Francesco De Tommaso on Unsplash

 What we can learn from Bear

For spiritual purposes, these lessons from Bear below come from the Grizzly, Black and Brown Bears. As I mentioned earlier, Polar Bear and Giant Panda are special in their own right and because of this, they offer different lessons and messages for us.

So, what can Bear teach us?

  • Nature’s Manager: Balance between gentleness and ferocity. Bear plays a major role in keeping nature in balance. They spread seeds, keep pests under control and maintain order in nature’s daily life. They do this with the right mix of nurturing care and ferocity. For the most part, bears are gentle, especially with their young, however, when threatened, they will turn into a beast in a heartbeat. Many animals carry this protective trait, but it’s ferocious Bear energy that truly paints this picture. For the most part, use your gentle side, but bring on Mama Bear energy when truly needed.
  • Personal transformation. Hibernation is a symbol for rebirth, spiritual re-alignment and emerging in the spring as changed and balanced. Coming out of hibernation is a somewhat clumsy process with fogginess, weakness and obstacles. At first. Bear’s message tells you the beginning of your spiritual journey will be tough, but each step will get better and it’s worth the struggle. When your time arrives, like spring does for Bear, you have no choice but to embrace it and begin your journey. If, however, you miss this chance and stay in hibernation forever, you will not grow. Your action will turn into numbness.
  • Take a break and only do what’s necessary. Listen to Baloo in Jungle Book right before he sings ‘Bare Necessities’: “Lemme tell you some’m, Li’l Britches: if you act like that bee acts, uh-uh. You’re working too hard. And don’t spend your time just looking around…. for something you want that can’t be found.” Bear is telling you to only spend time on what’s important and don’t overwork yourself. Of course, what Baloo didn’t say is that bees are very important and their work is needed for all of us to survive, so if your work is helpful and needed, work smart, not hard.
  • Introspection. Look within yourself for answers. Bear always knows to trust her intuition and instinct because both are important. Bear is a solitude animal, except when raising young and that’s what helps her strengthen her intuition. Spend time with yourself in your own personal bear cave to find the answers you are looking for.
  • Do your thing. Bear is Bear and doesn’t listen to anyone telling him what to do. Just be you.

Questions to ask yourself

  • How can I make it a habit to spend time with myself?
  • What is my intuition telling me?
  • How can I relax more?
  • What skill do I need to strengthen to grow?
  • What do I need to lay to rest in order to balance my Self?

Final words from Bear

With this intense full moon energy, Bear just wants you to chill, look inside and find the answers within yourself. You can listen to others, but it’s your own intuition that knows best. You may feel this sudden urge to make a life-changing decision with this supermoon energy. Tune into Bear energy and take the time to really listen to your Self, your intuition before making such a decision.

If, however, you have been preparing for this change and you just need a final push, then this could be the right time to go for it!

Use his spiritual hibernation energy to realign your own energy and bring balance to your body, mind and soul.

Call upon Bear energy to listen to your intuition and find your inner balance.

 

Ouroboros as your Animal Guide

Ouroboros as your Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

Ouroboros is one of the oldest symbols of all time and originated in ancient Egyptian mythology. The first appearance being found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb from 1323 BC.

As a mythical creature, Ouroboros appears as a snake or dragon consuming her own tail. As with other mythical creatures such as Griffin, Unicorn, Phoenix and Dragon, Ouroboros exists in the spirit world just like Lion, Tiger and Bear.

This goes for all mythical creatures, if you believe in their spirit and messages, you have an advantage over others who are sceptical. You know that nothing’s impossible, especially when it comes to your own abilities and strengths, regardless of what anyone else says or believes.

Leopard Animal Spirit Guide Art by JL G from Pixabay

Illustration by Banjo on Commons Wikipedia

What we can learn from Ouroboros

  • Infinity. The head and tail of Ouroboros are connected, just like beginning and end, good and bad. Neither is better or stronger or competing with or overpowering another. The two sides meet and are joined together, both important for existence of the whole. Ouroboros isn’t cutting of her tail because she does not like this part of herself. She is eating it, consuming it, becoming one with it to continue the cycle of life. To continue moving.
  • Regeneration. A symbol of infinity, rebirth and regeneration, she is a master of destruction and creation by continuously devouring herself in order to be reborn from herself. The Greek name, Ouroboros literally means: ‘devouring its own tail’.
  • Endless circle of life. Ouroboros also symbolizes the permanent fusion of sulphur and mercury which creates the Philosopher’s Stone in order to make the elixir of life.
  • Integrating the dualities of existence. Ouroboros is also a symbol of the duality of existence: Yin + Yang, light + shadow, masculine + feminine where, in each case, neither is superior or inferior or good or bad. This is not light consuming dark otherwise dark will consume light because it’s never-ending. You need both light and dark in order to survive. Ouroboros supports you in the unity and healthy integration of your own dualities and teaches you to understand and accept your own light and shadow sides, your masculine and feminine, all dualities that lie within you.
  • Not knowing when it’s time to end, going around in circles and never moving forward. Challenging times with working with Ouroboros spirit is to know when to end. Be aware of this in you and know when to stop, whether it’s with a project, or a relationship, or an idea. Know when something no longer serves you. Not everything circles back around to something positive. Sometimes you just need to end something in order to start something new.

“The ouroboros is a dramatic symbol for the integration and assimilation of the opposite, i.e. of the shadow. This ‘feed-back’ process is at the same time a symbol of immortality since it is said of the Ouroboros that he slays himself and brings himself to life, fertilizes himself and gives birth to himself. He symbolises the One, who proceeds from the clash of opposites, and he therefore constitutes the secret of the prima materia which unquestionably stems from man’s unconscious”.

~ Carl Jung (Collected Works, Vol. 14 para.513)

Final words from Ouroboros

The perfect guide when fear comes into play because her message is that everything is an endless cycle of life and if you accept this, fear is unnecessary.

As a purifying symbol, call upon Ouroboros to help you prepare for a spiritual journey of release, liberation and the unification of the conscious and unconscious realms.

Call upon Ouroboros energy to understand your shadow side .

 

Prepare and Learn from this Full Moon in Scorpio

The full moon peaks on Monday April 26, 2021 at 11:33pm EST and Tuesday April 27, 2021 at 5:33am CET and with it comes sudden changing energy.

Use the gifts of Bear and Ouroboros to help you through this intense energy during your spiritual journey so that you can find the answers you need.

Sending you much peace and the sense of powerful inner strength.

Want to learn more?

Do you feel close to Bear or Ouroboros? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you a lovely full moon experience.

Peace and love,

Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla: Your Animal Guides at the New Moon in Aries on April 11, 2021

Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla: Your Animal Guides at the New Moon in Aries on April 11, 2021

Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla: Your Animal Guides at the New Moon in Aries on April 11, 2021

Zebra Animal Spirit Guide

Photo by Successful4 on Pixabay

Meet Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla:
Your Animal Guides

At this New Moon in Aries

Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla want to share their important messages with you as your animal guides this week!

Oh wow, what a whirlwind! Aries : The Ram, is bringing charging energy this week. He knows what he wants and will do anything to get it. I’m not an astrologer but what I’ve learned about this New Moon is that Pluto is squaring Venus (a square happens when two planets are 90° apart) on the day of the New Moon and Venus is also in Aries during this time. This is intense energy, folks!

What does it mean exactly? It not only means intensity, but also obsession and compulsion. It will help you push forward to work on something with all your might. Aries does what Aries sets out to do. Without a doubt!

Aries is the first sign in the Zodiac and not only is a New Moon all about new beginnings, a New Moon in Aries is a real fresh start and the added alignment of the planets in this sign will undoubtedly give you the strength, encouragement and willpower to start something new and be successful.

This whirlwind of energy is like a tornado that may not wreak complete havoc but will definitely stir things up and make an impact wherever it lands.

This is the best time to Go For It and don’t look back!


Next up: Bear and Ouroboros: Your Animal Guides at the Full Moon in Scorpio on April 26, 2021.

Looking back: Leopard and Tiger: Your Animal Guides at the Full Moon in Libra on March 28, 2021.

Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla as your Animal Guides

During the Full Moon in Libra two weeks ago, Leopard and Tiger were your animal guides. This time while shuffling, I barely started and the Zebra flew out of the deck. I wanted to see if any more guides wanted to help and then Seagull and Gorilla presented themselves. Oh, what a ride this will be!

Zebra as your Animal Guide

Zebra Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

Zebras are only found throughout Africa and a small group of one subspecies, Burchell’s Zebra, was recorded to have made the longest known migration of any mammal in Africa. A total of 300 miles from the Chobe River in Namibia to the Nxai Pan, Botswana and back.

Zebras are social and hierarchical animals and enjoy resting their heads on each other’s necks to keep an eye out in both directions.

They love to roll around in the dust to get cooled off and rid themselves of parasites and dry, itchy skin, turning them a bit reddish from the savanna Earth.

Even though their stripes ward off more flies than with horses, their black stripes attract them more than the white areas. Zebras who’ve lost their tales in dominant male fights suffer more from bites than their counterparts.

Species: 3 (Plains, Grévy’s and Mountain)

Subspecies: 8 (1, Quagga, is extinct)

Indigenous to: Africa

Habitat: Woodlands, savannahs, grasslands, mountains, coastal hills, and more

Born free: Unlike their close relatives (horse, donkeys), zebras have never been domesticated.

Stripes tell all: Unique like our fingerprints, the 3 species are easily recognizable by their stripe pattern.

Dazed and confused: Their stripes have an important purpose: to ward off annoying and painful horse flies.


Conservation Efforts

Zebras are in danger! Only 3,000 Grevy’s Zebra are living in the wild and therefore, are listed in the Appendix I in CITES meaning, they are threatened with extinction and trade must be subject to particularly strict regulation. The most endangered species of plants and animals are listed under
Appendix I. This listing does not save them from illegal trade.

Zebras are killed for their beautiful skin, meat and trophies. They are also threatened with habitat loss due to expanded farming and increased domestic animal herding as well as civil unrest and war. Community conservation efforts are underway to help keep them alive and well.

Grevy’s Zebra Trust works with Samburu warriors, especially young men coming of age, to teach them about conservation, habitat and water management, rebuilding, education for the youth, etc. to sustainably preserve the zebra’s environment and existence.

Zebra Animal Spirit Guide

Original photo by Geran de Klerk on Unsplash

What we can learn from Zebra

  • Discernment. Be cautious, be on the lookout and conscious of your moves.
  • Individuality within the herd. The stripes on a Zebra are like our fingerprints and even though there are hundreds of similar looking Marty’s in Madagascar, each Zebra is unique. While blending in provides you with safety, it also gives you the challenge of blending in too much and losing your Self in the herd. The lesson here is to keep your own identity and individuality. Appreciate your own uniqueness, even your flaws.
  • Perfect harmony of opposites. Humans with Zebra energy have lots of friends, are highly sociable and loveable, yet reserved and quiet at the same time. Visible stripes of opposites.
  • Cutting through illusions. Zebras all look the same, you say? From a distance perhaps. This illusion is how they survive in a herd, blending together.
  • Freedom seeker. Unlike horses and donkeys, zebras are not domesticated and there’s a good reason for this. They can be unruly and fight to the death for their freedom. They have killed humans, not as many as humans have killed zebras, but the fact remains, they have a killer instinct when being threatened. It’s said that since both human and zebra species originated in Africa, they ‘knew’ us and our ways. Humans hunted zebras and therefore, zebra lost all trust! With Zebra energy, you value freedom and are encouraged to be true to your wild side. No need to be ‘broken’ or back down to appease someone. This will neither benefit you nor anyone else and could possibly end up causing more harm than good, especially to yourself.
  • Determination. Zebra energy brings with it a sense of adventure, youth, beauty and joy. As one of the many herbivores who migrate in search of food each year, they travel with wildebeests and many other animals together from the Serengeti to Africa (about 500 miles), moving clockwise from the southeast. If you need inspiration for the long haul to finish a project, then call on Zebra energy to give you this strength. Zebra is showing you to stick with it through the long haul, not matter how challenging the journey may be because at the end of the trip, you will get your reward. For Zebra, it’s food, for you, it may be abundance, or love. Working hard always precedes a reward.
  • Maintain balance. Zebra teaches you to maintain a balance in your life, even during crazy times. Yes, you should work hard, but rewards are extremely important, so don’t forget that.
  • Agility. With Zebra on your side, you will not need to be the strongest, biggest, fastest out there, your gift of agility overrides all of those features. This surefootedness and confidence will help you along your journey and aid you in avoiding pitfalls and dangers along the way as well as recognizing life-changing opportunities.
  • Creativity and Eccentricity. Zebra is a beautiful piece of art. Each of the three Zebra species have a different stripe pattern and therefore, easily recognizable. Tap into Zebra energy to create something extraordinary this week and whenever you want to feel creative.
  • Visionary. Zebras have excellent eyesight and, in the savanna, where there are many predators, they’re a good ally to warn you of possible danger. That’s why you often see Zebra and Wildebeest together because Wildebeest has poor eyesight and rely on Zebra for early warnings. Excellent eyesight has a setback though. Relying too much on one sense will keep you from paying attention to another sense. In this case, your intuition, your gut feeling or the intuition of others. See with all your senses. Call on your Zebra guide to help you cut through illusion and connect with your inner wisdom.

Questions to ask yourself

  • What is my intuition telling me about this particular situation?
  • What creative endeavor can I take on?
  • Does my self-confidence need a boost?
  • What is my truth? What makes me unique?
  • How can I accept this difficult period to be able to continue?

Final words from Zebra

With Zebra as your animal guide during this New Moon in Aries, you have the perfect guide to help you create something creative, no matter if you start a short-term or long-term project. She will give you the determination and energy for the long haul.

Call upon Zebra energy to give you the confidence and endurance along your journey.

Seagull as your Animal Guide

Seagull Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

Gulls, commonly and mistakenly called seagulls, are sociable, resourceful, highly intelligent and monogamous animals. Among many other things. Protectors of their young and community, their complex communication skills are known to ward off harassing predators.

They have learned to live and thrive off living with humans. Not all bread crumbs land in their mouth though! They sometimes use those bread crumbs to bait goldfish which is a good thing because birds are healthier when they eat their own food, not human food. Their human connection isn’t always welcome as they often congregate to feast on the free abundant buffet offered at fisheries.

The waste of gulls and other seabirds (pelicans and penguins) offer vital nutrients of highly concentrated nitrogen and phosphorus for the marine ecosystem which is why scientists have valued seabird poop at $1 billion per year!

Species: 50

Indigenous to: Every continent, less common intropical areas

Habitat:Coastal regions and fresh water areas

Lifespan: 10 – 15 years

Existence on Earth: 30 – 33 million years

Learning ability: Gulls learn, remember and pass on behaviors such as stamping on the ground to imitate rain which motivates the worms to surface.

Flexibility: They’re better at walking on land than most seabirds.

Guano value: Estimated at $1 billion / year. 10% of coral reef fish stocks depend on seabird nutrients. For profit-driven humans,
this is a huge motivator to keep gulls and other seabirds safe and sound.


Conservation Efforts

Because gulls help maintain a healthy marine ecosystem from their own waste, it would be a major disadvantage to all life on Earth not to protect them.

And even though you may not view gulls as being an endangered species, or even threatened because all coastal areas seem to be flooded with them, they are in danger, sadly enough. They received endangered species protection in North America and Europe after their populations drastically decreased to dangerous levels.

The River-Dwelling Black-Billed Gull lives in New Zealand and, of all the 50 gull species, is one of the most endangered.

Because gulls can become a nuisance in residential and urban areas, some licensed governmental officials use culling practices, both lethal and non-lethal, to control their population as they deem necessary.

According to the RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), the number of urban roof-nesting gulls, such as the Lesser Black-Backed Gulls are increasing while the population of the Herring Gulls, for instance, is plummeting, putting them on the IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature ) Red List of Threatened Species which was founded in 1964 and provides the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.

Seagull Animal Spirit Guide

Original photo by Luís Cardoso on Unsplash

What we can learn from Seagull

  • Intelligence and problem solving. Seagull is highly intelligent and has the ability to learn new behaviors and pass them along to their young such as dropping mollusks on rocks so that they break open and are ready to eat, or following ploughs which upturn the earth, exposing many delicacies. Never stop learning! It’s only tragic when you don’t use or share what you learn.
  • Communication, persistence. The communication skills amongst seagulls are highly complex. They use a range of vocalizations and body movements. You know what a flock of seagulls sound like, right? And I don’t mean the band. They are LOUD! What are they trying to tell you? Or are they just hangry?
  • Versatility, adaptability. Being found on every continent on Earth, in urban as well as coastal areas, with humans or isolated from them, Seagull is a true symbol of versatility and adaptability. When you feel stuck and don’t know how to move forward, call on Seagull to give you the energy of being able to create the changes you need in your life to become successful and thrive.
  • Laughter, joy. Allow Seagull to nourish you with joy and laughter with her carefree attitude while having enough intelligence to come back down and use your communication skills to help solve problems that will help you move forward.
  • Perspective. Her graceful gliding above and beyond the horizon provides you with a new perspective and confidence to help you find freedom of mind and in doing so, release your fears and judgements while offering you alternative paths and creative solutions.
  • Freedom, Carefree Lifestyle, Lighthearted Altitude and Ungroundedness. She will also gift you with the sense of freedom to not be bogged down by rules which can also cause fear and keep you from progressing. Beware of Seagull energy when you have the urge to soar all day though. This will only cause you to fly around in circles and not want to come back down to Earth. You won’t be able to nourish your body or soul that way. Seagull needs air, water and earth in order to survive and thrive.
  • Resourcefulness. A Gull’s waste is used to keep valuable marine life intact. Gulls find food in human garbage cans. Your Seagull guide is telling you to be resourceful, not wasteful and to find and appreciate your hidden treasure within you as it’s more valuable than you or anyone may think at first glance.

Questions to ask yourself

  • What new skill will benefit me when learned?
  • What rules can I break or bend to move forward more easily?
  • What is wasting my time?
  • What is my truth? What makes me unique?
  • What things can I reuse, recycle or repurpose?

Final words from Seagull

Working with Seagull energy will give you the freedom to put new ideas to fruition without wasting time or resources and being able to get your message across to be heard.

Call upon Seagull energy to aid you in communicating effectively and persistently to get what you want.

Gorilla as your Animal Guide

Gorilla Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

Gorillas are the largest of all primates and although their size and strength can be intimidating, they are gentle and extremely compassionate animals.

When threatened, the leader, an experienced adult male Silverback, will protect his troop and either ward off or attack any intruders.

They rarely have the need to drink water since their hydration comes from succulent vegetation that holds morning dew.

Gorillas are highly emotional and intelligent beings. They feel grief, can laugh, develop strong family bonds, use tools and think about the past and future.

What they can’t do, unlike other apes and humans, is swim. Their body shape mainly keeps them on land and any large body of water or river will deter them.

Just like stripes on a Zebra, spots on a Leopard or prints on our fingers, no two noses on a gorilla are the same.

Species: 2 (Eastern and Western)

Subspecies: 4

Indigenous to: Central Africa

Habitat: Dense forests, lowland swamps

Lifespan: 35 – 40 years

Community Life: Gorillas are non-territorial and live in troops consisting of groups of 5 – 30 members lead by the one strong, experienced adult male (Silverback) who makes all decisions; when and where they travel to eat, take breaks and sleep.

Wanderlust: No troop stays in one place for long as they’re constantly in search of food.

Nest Builders: Adult gorillas gather leaves, twigs and branches to build day nests for a good night’s sleep.

DNA: Gorilla hands resemble human hands more so than other apes.


Conservation Efforts

All four Gorilla subspecies are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and on Appendix I of CITES.

Gorilla’s only natural predator is human who hunt them for bushmeat and cause considerable damage by depleting their territory from mining, deforestation, disease (Ebola) and war. Their reproduction rate is extremely slow, meaning, every gorilla lost takes ten years to ‘replace’.

The World Conservation Society is working together with the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group and other NGOs, national and local authorities to:

  • Develop action plans for all large ape species
  • Monitor populations
  • Help protect them from poachers
  • Implement educational programs for children and adults
  • Improve land use
  • Set up a surveillance network and laboratory in Brazzaville, the capital city of Republic of the Congo, to help combat Ebola
Gorilla Animal Spirit Guide

Original photo by Mike Arney on Unsplash

What we can learn from Gorilla

  • Conscious leadership. Gorilla is the true ‘King of the Jungle’, not Lion as Lion does not live in the jungle, but the savanna. A natural born leader, Gorilla notices the inner beauty of each individual, displays acts of kindness, patience and compassion and allows others to play while he protects. He is sharing his gift of nobility and inspires you, in times when you feel powerless, to hold your head up high, breathe in deep and stick out your chest and if it feels right, pound your fists to really feel his energy! You are a leader in your own right. Own it!
  • Sophisticated communication. Gorilla energy knows that leading doesn’t mean hostility and as a strong communicator with the ability to learn 2,000 English words in sign language, he is teaching you to carry out your message in a gentle, fair, yet assertive way as this will inspire others to change more than aggression ever will, or common in our social media society today, with shaming and blaming. This approach inspires no one to follow, let alone listen. Beloved Dr. Jane Goodall and Sir David Attenborough didn’t achieve their respectful world leadership status from engaging in hostile confrontations with authorities. No, they lead with compassion and understanding as much as determination and firmness. Respectful in all ways. Gorilla sends you the valuable gift of conscious parenting and leadership.
  • Experience. Gorilla is a kindred spirit who thinks and makes us think. I’m not sure if there are many species who actually reflect on the past and think about the future in a way that doesn’t only mean getting food and carrying on your legacy via reproduction but to also be happy and thrive. He wants his troop to do just that which is why the huge silverback leader allows the babies to crawl all over him and pull his hair. He knows they just want to have fun and understands that happiness in a vulnerable and depleting environment is crucial for his community. This is his gift to his family and with this gift, comes loyalty, respect and love.
  • Wisdom. The wise Gorilla who’s been around for at least over 20 years understand what’s happening to the world today. They know how abundant life of Earth used to be and now, they fear the future for their children, just like we do. You can see this in their worrisome eyes and if they’re stuck in a zoo, you can easily sense their depression. They know what’s going on.
  • Just Aggression. That said, Gorilla will fight and use all his might and power when threatened by another Gorilla. He only protects when he needs to protect, but it is not in his nature to be aggressive. Sometimes, you need to fight for what’s right and the key is to know when to choose your battles. Sometimes just pounding on your chest will ward off those who want to claim your throne. Other times, you may need to battle it out to the end.
  • Arrogance. Gorilla loves attention and when he doesn’t get it, he can become egotistical. This is a message to remind you that you don’t have to always be in the limelight to make an impact. Just sitting there in your power is sometimes enough. So, let others have their day too.
  • Moving too much, not being able to settle down. Usually on a daily basis, the Silverback leads his troop to a new place to get well-nourished and rest. If there’s enough food, he will stay until the supply reaches its limit. Gorilla’s nomadic ways allow him and his family to survive but this may also be a sign to not always be on the move to slip away from your responsibilities. Know when it’s time to move. Staying just a little longer may prove more beneficial than moving right away. He reminds you to remain grounded even when moving. Focus on what’s important. Use Gorilla energy to solve difficult problems with your analytical mind.

Questions to ask yourself

  • What can I give others that will make them happy?
  • What is my message to the world and how can I communicate this with compassion?
  • How can you inspire others to follow me?
  • Do I need to move to another place or project in order to get what I need?

Final words from Gorilla

As I was writing this, Gorilla asked me to send humanity an important message: Do something, please! His message was clear as day. If anyone else knows what’s really going on, it’s our closest relatives, the large primates.

Mature gorillas know how life was 20+ years ago and they mourn the environment’s abundance and beauty. With all the destruction we humans have done on Earth and continue to do at such an exponential rate, they fear the future for their children, just like we do.

If you look deep into the eyes of a gorilla at a zoo, you see depression and frustration. If you look deep into the eyes of a wild gorilla — you may not have this chance, but you can still do it by watching videos and documentaries — you see fear and worry. I do anyway. I can look straight into the soul of Gorilla and feel his emotions. It’s painful and very sad.

A powerful guide when you need to slip into the role of a leader who wants to make a positive impact in this world, Gorilla has the experience, wisdom, patience, gentleness and assertiveness to get the job done with ease, pleasure and success.

He wishes with all his might that we will step up and save life on Earth because we must never forget; we are not above nature. We need plants and animals to survive on this planet. Mother Earth is resilient. Humans and many other species? Not so much.

Call upon Gorilla energy to help you lead with compassion and do what needs to be done for your community.

 

Make this most out of this New Moon in Aries

The new moon peaks on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 10:32 pm in New York and on April 12th at 4:32 am in Paris and with it, gives you the boost of intense energy you may just need to create something new.

Leave behind any hidden fears, doubts or self-sabotage going on in your brain and just tap into the energy of Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla. Listen to their powerful messages.

Where there is compassionate leadership, there is much-needed change.

Want to learn more?

Do you feel close to either Zebra, Seagull or Gorilla? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you an exciting new moon experience.

Peace and love,

Leopard and Tiger: Your Animal Guides at the Full Moon in Libra on March 28, 2021

Leopard and Tiger: Your Animal Guides at the Full Moon in Libra on March 28, 2021

Leopard and Tiger: Your Animal Guides at the Full Moon in Libra on March 28, 2021

Tiger & Leopard: Animal Spirit Guide

Meet Leopard and Tiger: Your Animal Guides

At this Full Moon in Libra

Leopard and Tiger want to share their gifts and challenges as your animal guides during this time! Why?

Spring has sprung! Or at least it’s trying to! This full moon in Libra is also known as the Worm Moon since the earth is warming, allowing the worms to soften and ‘worm’ their way to the surface while inviting the birds to feed after a long winter. A true sign of spring!

Spring is a sign for new beginnings and opportunities, birth, light, movement and creative endeavors.

Libra is ruled by Venus and is a sign of relationships, love and balance. This full moon will help us with our relationship struggles in a peaceful way without surrendering our feelings. We are guided to express what we feel to others in a respectful manner to enable understanding.

Where there is understanding, there is love.

Full moons represent closures and when in Libra, this could mean with someone you have a relationship with, privately or in your business. Either you are closing a past chapter and moving on or ending a relationship that no longer serves you. In a peaceful manner. This closure will help you grow and be able to open yourself up for the opportunities that are currently being shown to you.

So, it’s no surprise that your animal guides, Leopard and Tiger, have a few important messages during this time is. Let’s explore this a little further.

Next up: Zebra, Seagull and Gorilla are your animal guides during the New Moon in Aries on April 11, 2021.

Leopard and Tiger as your Animal Guides

I never ‘pull’ cards, especially animal guide cards because I feel they want to step forward to help us, so to allow them to show themselves, I shuffle until a card flies out of the deck. This time, two flipped over. Watch the video below to see how Leopard and Tiger showed up and how they want to help you.

Leopard as your Animal Guide

Leopard as your Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

Leopards are the smallest of the big cats and the most spread out and diverse. They are super fast and springy.

As solitary animals, they have their own territory and warn other leopards with their markings to stay away. Males and females only come together to mate. Females can give birth at any time and have 2-3 cubs at a time who stay with them for about two years.

They’re nocturnal, skilled climbers and like to rest in trees which is why I never saw any on my 3-week trip to Africa in 2016.

They are hunted for their fur and meat and for fear of killing farm animals. As human population grows, their territory declines.

The work of  Wildlife Act focuses on endangered and priority species including the Leopard, African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Rhino, Lion, Elephant and Vulture. They also offer volunteer programs.

IF you plan to volunteer in Africa, please, for the love of all animals on this Earth, read the first post in this list to warn volunteers of hidden animal cruelty so that you choose an ethical organization.

Scientific Name: Panthera pardus

Subspecies: Nine

Indigenous to: Sub-Saharan Africa, northeast Africa, Central Asia, India, China

Habitat: Grasslands, savannah, rainforests and snowy mountains

Speed & agility: They can run up to 58 km/h and leap up to 6 meters high

Conservation: Appendix I on CITES list = Endangered!

 What we can learn from Leopard

  • Finding peace with solidarity. During the COVID lockdown and the image of leopards resting in trees, the message to ‘hang in there’ gives us a little inspiration.
  • Live with ease and simplicity. Sleek, poise and casual, look at how Leopard walks, jumps and ‘hangs out’. Take things with stride and pride.
  • Take back your power. Leopard usually comes to you after tremendous suffering. She comes as a healer and counselor and when you think there’s no way out. When you feel you’ve hit rock bottom. She sends the message to look at your skills and appreciate them. And, to USE them. A Leopard can’t change her spots! They are hers! A leopard’s spots are unique, similar to our fingerprints. She is teaching you to show off your uniqueness and be proud! There is no more need to hide.
  • Respect and love yourself and others. With this newly felt pride, you can view yourself in a more loving way which will give you the ability to view others in a similar way. Leopard is a power guide during your spiritual transformation.
  • Protect what’s yours. Living alone may automatically give you a sense of protection and so use this to your advantage, however, there are warnings with this gift when abused, so read on…
  • High adaptability in various situations and surroundings. You are ready for any situation that comes your way. Acknowledge your fears, but don’t let them take the driver’s seat.
  • Balance speed and strength. Almost as fast as Cheetah, Leopard can help you cover a lot of territory in a short amount of time without burning out. They reserve enough energy for the destination – in their case, the kill. They know that sprinting is not sustainable for the long haul, so this is a lesson for you to make sure you have enough energy to finish a project, or possibly with this Full Moon in Libra, a relationship or a chapter of a relationship because toxic relationships are not sustainable.
  • Wise Competition. Leopard competes for food with Tiger, Hyena and Lion. Both Leopard and Tiger want to show up to help guide us during this full moon means for me that it’s also important to look for collaboration opportunities with your competition. Leopard protects what is hers, rightly so and that should never change. However, there is enough abundance to go around and since this Full Moon is much about relationships, I believe Leopard is saying to notice your competition and see where you can work together successfully to share the same goal. Especially if you’re a purpose-driven social entrepreneur, you’re on a mission and you’ll have more success if you work with others who have that same mission.
  • Being aware of Leopard’s challenges. If you’re too alone, beware of isolation paranoia (Gollum syndrome) as well as being too competitive and greedy, so during this full moon, seeking closure on those characteristics will open up new opportunities.

Final words from Leopard

With Leopard as your animal guide now or in the future, you have a powerful teacher for personal transformation. Working with Leopard energy will help you raise your consciousness and you will surely feel yourself growing in unexpected ways.

You will learn to move along your spiritual path in a more confident and independent way, in your way, guided by your own magic.

Take control of your life and your path and you will be shown incredible opportunities.

Her question for you is: What lights up your life?

Call upon Leopard energy to open up opportunities.

 

Tiger as your Animal Guide

Tiger as your Animal Spirit Guide

Card deck used: What’s your Spirit Animal? by Kelly Eckert. Illustration: Animal Spirit Design. Painting background: ‘Unless’, Jess Lohmann.

Tiger is the largest cat species and one of the largest land predators.

They like water and are often found swimming.

Similar to Leopard and our fingerprints, their stripes only belong to them.

There are approx. 3,890 wild tigers left on Earth. 100 years ago, there were 100,000. All parts of the tiger are used for superstition and religious beliefs and traditions. They are thought to heal every type of disease and are use to be a pain killer or aphrodisiac, even a cure for laziness or prevent demon possession.

Thousands of Tigers are imprisoned and used for tourist attractions as well as sold on the black markets.

There are more tigers kept in captivity in Texas (2,000 – 5,000) than living in the wild! I’m still searching for an ethical tiger conservation organization and when I find one, I will add it here!

Scientific Name: Panthera tigris

Subspecies: Six after three subspecies were driven into extinction

Indigenous to: 13 countries in Asia and Far-east Russia

Habitat: Rainforests, mangrove swamps, evergreen forests, grasslands, savannahs, and rocky areas

Speed & nose leven: They can run up to 65 km/h and their roar can be heard as far as 3km

Conservation: Appendix I on CITES list = Endangered!

What we can learn from Tiger

  • Strength. The mighty Tiger is the largest of the felines and one of the largest land predators. He knows his strength and offers it to you when you feel weak, exhausted and ready to give up. His bursts of energy can give you the boost you need after a long struggle, such as to complete a long-term project or heal a toxic relationship.
  • Patience. Tiger will show you when the right time is to make your move. Similar to Alligator, during the hunt, Tiger remains still and only strikes when he can almost guarantee success. With this gift, he teaches you strategy and will frown upon procrastination when the path is clear and all the signs point to ‘GO!’
  • Willpower and adventure. Tiger gets what Tiger wants. With his ambition and sense of adventure, there is nothing that will get in his way. Proceed with this lesson with caution because even though you may be ready to take that leap, you must think of what’s at stake. Any selfish agendas may come with difficulties.
  • Power and Passion. An ally to Leopard, Tiger’s stripes are unique and so in combination, this is a huge message to take back your power and show the world who you really are. Tiger encourages you to follow your passion because this IS who you are and when you accept that and communicate it loudly and proudly, you will gain your power back.
  • See clearly. Tigers, as with most cats, can see in the dark, or rather, in spaces with little light. They are unable to see in complete darkness. With their sharpened sight, Tiger energy helps you see the truth, see through obstacles and blocks that are stopping you from moving forward. With his patience, heightened senses and deep intuition, he helps you make better decisions faster and with confidence.
  • Blending in.Tigers see and want to be seen clearly, however, he is challenged with blending in to his environment. His identity and his stripes help camouflage him, which is good for the hunt, but not when he wants to mate. Also, with his vulnerability of becoming extinct, he is saying that he does not want to disappear completely.

Final words from Tiger

Working with Tiger energy will help you understand your raw feelings and be able to put these in perspective so that you can find the courage to work through difficult and emotional situations, now and in the future. He will also help you act fast when you need to avoid missing opportunities.

Call upon the Tiger when you feel like you are hiding or when you feel aggression towards a situation or someone.

His question for you is: In what aspect of your life do you need strength?

Call upon Tiger energy to help take back your power.

 

Enjoy this Full Moon in Libra

The full moon peaks on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 2:48 pm in New York (8:48 pm in Paris) and on March 29th at 2:48 am in Hong Kong (5:48 am Sydney) and with it, exposes an extraordinary wishful dose of balance and harmony, especially in our relationships.

Libra is often seen as being ‘in balance’ when in reality, Libra seeks balance, so use the big cats’ heightened sense of sight to see those imbalances in your life and relationships and bring in Leopard energy to heal them and Tiger’s strength and courage to carry out those difficult conversations so that you can move forward with love and in peace with everyone around you. 

Where there is respectful communication and understanding, there is love.

Want to learn more?

Do you feel close to Leopard or Tiger? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you a lovely full moon experience.

Peace and love,

How Mister Rogers Helps Us Unite a Divided World

How Mister Rogers Helps Us Unite a Divided World

How Mister Rogers Helps Us Unite a Divided World

Love one another: Message from Mister Rogers

Well, hello there, dear Neighbor!

Uniting a divided world by Mister Rogers’ example

I was very lucky to have been born and raised in the United States. I say this for several reasons, but maybe not the reasons that first come to people’s minds. Nothing to do with the myth of living in a ‘free world’ or the ‘land of opportunities’.

No, one of the main reasons is that I grew up in Mister Rogers’ neighborhood. Like millions of other children and parents across the country. Seven million viewers tuned in each week from February 19, 1968 – August 31, 2001 to learn valuable lessons. Thirty-three years of him touching our lives in a miraculous way. I’m truly grateful for what he still teaches me.

His main intention for every show was to “strengthen a child’s sense of self-esteem“, providing me with a safe place from the hardships I personally faced as a child.

His important messages live on to help people of all ages deal with the struggles of life at The Fred Rogers Center and in film.

This past Sunday, I was transported back in time of good childhood memories while watching Tom Hanks portray him in the must-see film: ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood‘.

Mr. Nice Guy plays the King of Kindness. An obvious choice.

Since my non-US American friends have never heard of Mister Rogers, I felt the calling to introduce them to one of the most respectable and kind humans who walked on this Earth.

Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered, as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person.

Fred McFeely Rogers, March 20, 1928 - February 27, 2003

Television host, writer, producer, musician, puppeteer and Presbyterian minister

What can we Learn from Mister Rogers?

Oh, a whole lot! Let’s unwrap the enormous gift he gave to us. Just being around him made everyone feel safe and understood.
Mister Rogers sends you these messages:

  • You are special, valued and accepted, just the way you are. You have an enormous uniqueness about you. And because we are human, nobody is perfect.
  • It’s also OK to have feelings. There are no ‘shoulds’ or ‘should nots’ when it comes to feelings. He encouraged kids to talk about their feelings so that they could manage them better because “Whatever is mentionable can be more manageable.” He also showed kids healthy ways to handle their feelings, such as playing the lower keys on the piano.
  • You can make a difference. Little things can also make a big impact. 
  • Be present and make each moment the most important moment in your life at that particular time. Whenever Fred Rogers was engaging with people, he made it a point to be fully engaged with them. His mind wasn’t racing on what happened earlier that day or what else he needed to do. His time was spent most wisely concentrating on the present and the company he was with.
  • Treat everyone around you with respect. Everyone is valued and has a voice, just like you. This philosophy was broadened to include animals. He became a vegetarian in the early 70s and often said: “I don’t want to eat anything that has a mother.” He also told the Vegetarian Times in a 1983 interview the reason why he didn’t eat meat: “Part of it has to do with the animals — it’s hard to eat something you’ve seen walking around.” Amen.
  • Make each day special. No matter what happens, it’s the little things that make your day wonderful.
  • Enjoy mealtime together to share experiences of the day with your family. This was most important for my parents as well. We were lucky to have a dad who, despite working in New York City, was still able to be home in time for dinner every single evening.
  • Keep your imagination alive. Mister Rogers gave us a sense of curiosity and wonder, important values that are needed now more than ever as children are becoming ‘adults’ too soon in our world today.
  • Be ready for change and new experiences. He helped us prepare for the unexpected by showing us that change is a normal part of growing up and life in general. What seem to be non-traumatic events for adults like getting a haircut or going to the dentist may not be so in the eyes of children.

    I’ll never forget bringing my 1 year old daughter with me to get my haircut. She cried when the hairdresser snipped the first piece of my hair off because (I believe anyway), she either thought it was painful or she felt grief for the first time. She loved it when I waved my hair over her face and she may have thought I wouldn’t be able to do that anymore. Hard to say. I comforted her during that visit and I still had enough hair to brush her face with, so future visits weren’t traumatic, but that moment sure made me wonder what goes on in their minds.

  • Heavy topics are a part of life. He introduced difficult subjects such as divorce and death, even assassination, and taught us how to deal with them better. Also that it’s ok when you just don’t understand something. I find it soothing to know that I don’t have to waste my time and energy anymore trying to understand certain topics that just don’t make any sense to my empathic mind. What’s more important is to understand that others don’t feel the same way and I have to accept that.
 

Important Message for Our Divided World

With his calm demeanor and talent of inspiring others on May 1, 1969, Fred Rogers was able to convince the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications to continue funding PBS (Public Broadcasting System) to provide children a platform for quality education such as his show. By the way, Sesame Street was and still is shown on PBS.

He advocated for the need for social and emotional education that only public television provided, saying that the “inner drama of childhood” is far more fascinating and important to unravel than the violence shown on public channels.

I don’t know about you, but I also was raised with an unintelligent hunter who didn’t know whether it was duck or rabbit season. And with a chaotic coyote blowing himself up every time he tried to kill a speedy bird. Of course I loved these shows too, but I never had the safe or understood feeling while watching them as I did watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

The committee ended up funding PBS $22 million. I’ve just teared up again after watching his plea in front of the court. Let me know if you did too!

Fred Rogers is the kind of man who could bring peace to a riot just by talking to people and understanding human emotions. He is truly missed but his legacy lives on. Rest in Peace.

Learning from his example would help us all to unite our undivided world.

Do you also love animals like Mister Rogers?

Did you grow up with Mister Rogers too? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you enjoyable memories today.

Thank you for being my neighbor,

Sharing is Caring

Eleven Benefits of Meditation : Connect with Mother Earth (Gaia)

Eleven Benefits of Meditation : Connect with Mother Earth (Gaia)

Eleven Benefits of Meditation : Connect with Mother Earth (Gaia)

Benefits of meditation

Elevating to a Higher Consciousness with Meditation

Meditation on a regular basis is good for the mind, body and soul. There are many benefits of meditation. However, many humans still don’t do it. And I’ll be honest with you, I have to be very conscious about committing the time for it myself, even though I know its many benefits.

Since last year was a huge challenge for all humans on Earth and this year seems to be no different, we could all benefit from meditation so that we can bring a higher consciousness to the world.

The benefits of meditation:

  1. Reduces stress. Even just breathing will help you calm down when your emotions flare up. One known method of not reacting in an aggressive manner when you get triggered is to slowly and consciously breathe before speaking or acting.
  2. Boosts your immune system. Studies show that when we’re wired and stressed, our immune system is more susceptible to illness. Since meditation helps us reduce stress, it will also benefit our immune system.
  3. Enriches sleep. I don’t know about you, but when my brain is fried and going all over the place and I lie down to calm it down with a long meditation, I fall asleep and am able to have a good night’s sleep. That said, please don’t meditate while driving or handling dangerous machinery. Common sense clause.
  4. Improves self-confidence and acceptance. Did you know that the typical human has anywhere between 12,000-60,000 thoughts a day and 80% of them are negative and 95% are repetitive? That’s a lot of doom and gloom! Source: TLEX.

    During meditation, we have the ability to curb our crazy thoughts during meditation. We can actually control the self-sabotage we constantly expose ourselves to every single day. Meditation teaches us to concentrate on our breathing, our set intention or the soft voice guiding us and when our minds drift off into one of those 12-60,000 thoughts, we learn to circle back to full concentration again.

  5. Improves brain stimuli. Meditation generally helps enhance your focus, memory and concentration. It can also help you to process information more efficiently.
  6. Relieves pain. If you suffer from pain, either chronic or just an acute headache, it’s time to meditate on a regular basis. This will give your mind such much-needed time to relax and when it does that, it heals, relieving you of pain. Please still visit your doctor if you suffer from pain.
  7. Reduces blood pressure. Because of its calming effect, regular meditation has been known to improve circulation, which in turn opens up blood vessels to help the blood flow more easily. Some people no longer have to take medicine because they’ve made meditation a daily habit. As with any medical illness, listen to your doctors if you have high blood pressure.
  8. Improves relationships. When we regularly meditate, we become less reactive to the things that trigger us because we’re becoming more conscious of our own behavior patterns. When we’re more conscious, we listen and learn more as opposed to reacting.
  9. Improves creativity. Ever have a writing block? Or not know what to draw or how to inspire your children to clean their rooms? Meditate. I often hear people say, ‘I’ll meditate on it’, meaning, they’ll meditate with a specific goal or intention in mind to see if the answer just pops in their brain during these quiet times. It’s why we often have incredibly creative ideas in the shower or while walking in nature. Our minds are clear of all those crazy thoughts, allowing for such ideas to easily flow in.
  10. Helps curb addiction. Substance abusers have had success with meditation to combat stress and improve their control over their addiction because it helps them become more conscious of how their addiction affects them and their loved ones.
  11. Helps you listen to your intuition. You know, that gut feeling you keep talking about? Regular meditation helps you connect with your inner soul and gives you the space to receive messages that you may not hear if you’re always on the go.

I’m sure there are more benefits of meditation, but these are enough to say YES to making it a daily habit.

Regularly meditating, even just for a short time every day, will help calm your mind and increase your emotional intelligence.

Benefits of Meditation
Benefits of Meditation

This is my meditation/yoga/reading room. I love this room, but you don’t need one to be able to meditate. You can lie on your bed or couch or sit in a chair, whatever makes you feel more comfortable.

 I’ve just learned the benefits of meditation and connected with Mother Earth and my inner soul with this guided meditation. 

Connect to Mother Earth (Gaia) with my guided meditation

Because there are so many benefits to meditation and I feel we need to help raise a higher consciousness to our world right now, I created this guided meditation below.

My intention with this was to help you and your loved ones connect with Mother Earth. To feel her embrace and her gratitude. And to help you find gratitude, another important pillar that helps us raise our consciousness.

Your kids can and should join in too! The earlier children learn how to meditate, the more they will reap the benefits, now and in the future. This is why schools are starting to add it to their curriculums.

 

Connect with Mother Earth

 

Do you know of any more benefits of meditation? Please comment below and let’s talk!

Wishing you and your family a relaxing and peaceful new year!

Namaste,

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