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Sign up for Mary to eMail you her eNewsletter or, phone (360)459-4058 or e-mail MG@rockisland.com Previous eNewsletters:
Happy Holidays – 2011 During the Holidays, there are many new hazards for our pets. Here's a quick reminder to ensure that you and your pets have a safe and joyous time. Mary July, 2011 Greetings everyone, I hope that you are having a wonderful summer and that life is fantastic. I am so happy that we are FINALLY starting to have some warm weather in the Pacific NW. It has been so cold and dreary this spring. Bob and I are back home now and have our house on the market. If you know anyone who would like to buy a spectacular property in Olympia, please give them our MLS listing http://www.nwwf.com/search/detail.cfm?srch=resi&ln=233896. Once the house sells, we are moving to Sarasota, Florida, where we will have warm winters and even warmer summers!! We really loved our time there this winter enjoying the blue waters of the gulf, the white sand beaches, the birds, and the dolphins frolicking nearby. I hope to get involved with marine mammal and turtle rehabilitation at Mote Marine Lab and to volunteer with several local wildlife groups. I thought that I would be able to resume consulting when we returned, but right now we have realtors showing up at a moment’s notice and have to vacate the property. This would not be great if I am on the phone working. I also don’t want to start sessions again and then have to stop to pack the house and move. We are currently putting all of our energy into selling the house and hope that we will be in Florida by this fall, so I expect that I will start consulting again in October. Please hold the vision that the perfect buyer who will be happy here and has the ability to buy now, shows up soon. If we are still in Olympia this fall, I will likely have a long drizzly winter here to devote to my animal clients. At that time I will also resume my previous newsletter style with lots of animal information. I will be teaching a How to Communicate with Animals workshop in Seattle on August 27 & 28. The class will run from noon to five both days and the cost is $150. Just call me at 360-459-4058 to register. Details about the class are on my website, www.marygetten.com or direct at http://www.rockisland.com/~mg/pages/workshops.html We had an unbelievable time in Bimini this year with wild spotted and bottlenose dolphins. There were dolphins to play with EVERY day. I can hardly believe we were so blessed. It was SO wonderful that I already secured a week for next year. Now I can go and do it again. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to swim with dolphins. Come with me to Bimini on May 13-19, 2012. What a way to celebrate being alive! WildQuest won’t have the 2012 information or registration up until September, so call me direct at 360-459-4058 to register. Just a $250 deposit will hold your space until the official registration opens. You can see the itinerary at http://www.rockisland.com/~mg/pages/dolphin.html I am very excited to let you know that my friend Staci Housum, has produced a computer based training (or e-learning) DVD called Whale Communicators, The Dolphin-Human-Whale Connection. I contributed to, and am featured in this exciting and unique new product. Unlike a video or movie, this training disk has layers of information in audio, text and photos that enhances the learner’s experience. When reading a book, people retain 3-5% of the information, but in multimedia learning you will retain 65-75%. It will teach you about the behavioral, biological and spiritual aspects of whales and dolphin and includes a mini course with me, in the theory and practice of animal communication. There are four guided meditations and communications from 6 species of cetaceans: Orcas, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, Atlantic Spotted Dolphins and Ambassador Dolphins.. You will enjoy messages from whales and dolphins through other communicators as well, such as Penelope Smith. You DO need to use this disk in a computer as it is interactive and will not work in a traditional DVD player. I’ll let you know more about it in another email soon. In the meantime, you can read more about it and/or order it at http://www.whalecommunicators.com/store.html I recently saw the movie, I AM, which is a documentary directed by Tom Shadyac. It explores the question of “What’s wrong with the world and how do we fix it?” It was heartwarming, informative and inspirational. I highly recommend it! http://www.iamthedoc.com/ I just discovered a great magazine for dog lovers called City Dog. It is geared toward dogs and their people who live in cities on the West Coast, specifically Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. They also have an on-line version with lots of local resources at www.citydogmagazine.com. Check it out. Again, I hope that you and your family are happy, healthy and well. Have a wonderful summer! Much love, Mary Fall, 2009
You can also find an extensive list of communicators at www.animaltalk.net If you are on my email newsletter list, I will continue to send updates about classes and trips, but I won’t be sending any paper editions until I am ready to resume consultations. If you would like to be on my e-newsletter list, please contact me at mg@rockisland.com. I will also be sending periodic notes from the road about where we’ve been and what we’re doing (separate from the newsletter), so if you would like to get that, let me know as well. June 1, 2009
Death is a process, not an event, so how do you know when your animal is getting ready to die or if it is time to help them leave? Sit quietly and listen to your pet. Look deeply into their eyes. Most people really do know when an animal is ready to go and it’s important to respect their wishes. Each animal is different and who knows your animal better than you? No one! Don’t let well-meaning people try to force you into or out of something that you believe is right for your dear animal friend.
Introducing a new cat to cats or dogs
Introducing a new dog to dogs or cats
Integrating new animals into a home requires some forethought and planning, but it’s worth the time. It’s much easier to avoid aggressive interactions than to repair a bad start. Go slow and steady and keep a positive attitude. Do what you can to alleviate any stress.
Greetings everyone,
Flower essences are great for helping any type of animal resolve emotional issues. I do custom remedies for animals, or you can choose essences at www.fesflowers.com Dear Friends, Happy New Year! Wishing you and your families all the best in 2008. May you have peace, love, happiness, health and prosperity. It’s not too late to register for the Baja Gray Whale Adventure. If this is something you’ve been thinking about, now is the time. Being with the whales changes you on a very deep level, plus it’s FUN! I won’t be doing this trip in 2009 and I just don’t know if I’ll be able to do it again in later years. I am looking into offering a free teleclass for my students and clients this year. I’d love to hear if this is something you’d like to participate in, and if so, what subjects would you most like to discuss? I’ll be presenting at the 8th Fairy and Human Relations Congress in Twisp, WA, June 27-29. The congress is always a wonderful, informative event. May 15-18, I’ll be part of a symposium on the spiritual landscape of the Pacific NW at Indralaya. This theosophical camp on Orcas Island also holds a silent retreat that I never miss. Join me in silence April 24-27. Details at www.indralaya.org CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOOD FOR YOUR DOG OR CAT The very best thing you can do for your pets is to provide them with the highest quality food that you can afford. Good nutrition combined with a minimum of chemical exposure will keep your pets healthy. How do you know which foods are the best? Here are a few suggestions to help you. 1. Raw food is what cats and dogs were designed to eat in the wild. There are many recipes on the Internet and in books to help you feed a balanced diet with raw foods. If you don’t have the time to make food for your animals, you can now buy frozen raw food direct or through pet supply shops. 2. Read the labels of pet foods carefully. High quality food contains whole, fresh meats or single source meat meal. This meat should be one of the first two ingredients. It should also contain whole unprocessed grains and vegetables and no chemicals. 3. If a food contains the following items, it is poor quality. Animal by-products are not meat. They are skin, feet, beaks, hair, tumors and other bits that can’t be used elsewhere. Generic fats or proteins, like “poultry protein” fall into the same category. Avoid chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT or Ethoxyquin, and artificial colors. Propylene glycol is a chemical added to keep foods moist. We are all suffering from the overload of chemicals in the environment and our food. Sweeteners such as corn syrup, sucrose and sugar are added to low quality foods to make them more appealing. 4. The more processed a food is, the less good nutrition is available. Dry foods are more processed than canned foods, and fresh foods are less processed than canned. Food fragments such as brewers rice and wheat bran should be kept to a minimum. Moist “packet” foods are generally loaded with chemicals. 5. Food allergies are on the rise in dogs and cats. Wheat, other grains, carbohydrates and chemicals are the main culprits. I recently heard that many epileptic dogs are just allergic to wheat and grain. 6. Obesity is a serious issue with our pets. Dry foods with high carbohydrate content contribute, as well as having food available all the time. Overweight can lead to arthritis, diabetes, liver and kidney disease and heart problems, to name just a few. Cut back on the food and treats and you’ll have healthier pets. 7. Cats are carnivores and are designed to eat once or twice a day. They use mainly protein and fat for energy, so carbs in their food provide only calories and little nutrition. Dry foods are usually 30-50% carbohydrates, often make cats fat, and can cause swings in insulin leading to diabetes. Dry food is dehydrating and contributes to (or may even cause) bladder and kidney problems. The new low-carb and no grain dry cat foods are better in some ways, but these high protein dry foods are even MORE dehydrating. Cats on a raw food diet rarely drink water because they are getting the liquid they need in their food. Getting your cat off dry food will make them healthier in the long run. 8. Spend your money on good food, and over time you’ll spend less at the vet. Blessings to you and your animal companions for a HEALTHY and HAPPY 2008! Mary Back to Top of Page Dear Friends During the Holidays, there are many new hazards for our pets. Here's a quick reminder to ensure that you and your pets have a safe and joyous time. * Holiday Food - Fatty foods can cause pancreatitis and gastrointestinal issues. Chocolate, coffee, and onions are toxic to dogs and cats. Rising dough on a counter top is irresistible to some pets, and can cause serious problems. Don't forget that wrapped food gifts under or on the tree can be easily consumed by dogs, cats, birds and small pets. Not only are the food items a problem, but those wrappers are impossible to digest. * Holiday Plants - Many lilies are deadly to cats. Mistletoe, poinsettias and holly cause gastrointestinal upset for all critters. Christmas tree water can be filled with chemicals or bacteria and pine sap is dangerous if ingested. Secure your tree to the wall so your pets can't knock it over. * Decorations - Tinsel, ribbon, ornaments and hooks are attractive play things for many small animals. If swallowed they may cause internal blockages requiring surgery. Broken glass ornaments can cut paws and mouths. If your pet likes to play with things on the tree, decorate the lower third with unbreakable wood or plastic ornaments. * Candles - Put burning candles in places that are inaccessible to your pets. They could set themselves on fire or tip the candle over and start a fire in the house. * Batteries - Don't leave batteries for those Christmas toys lying around. They are fun to play with, but contain corrosives. If ingested, they can cause mouth ulcerations and intestinal issues. Remember to tell your pets about any visitors that will be coming, or if you will be away over the holidays, and if things are going to be stressful, give them Rescue Remedy in their water dish. For any of you looking for last minute gifts, you might consider a gift certificate for a consultation with me, or for a How to Communicate with Animals workshop in 2008. I'll be teaching in Seattle, Jan 19 & 20, and on Vashon Island, April 12 & 13. There are also five spaces still available on my Baja Gray Whale Adventure, Feb. 12-16, 2008. Maybe you should consider that gift for yourself!!! It truly is a once in a lifetime trip and I won't be doing it in 2009. If not now, when? Blessings to each and every one of you humans, cats, dogs, horses, birds, reptiles, fish and small critters. Have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, laughter, friends and good times. I so love having you in my life. Mary October, 2007 WORKSHOPS I will be setting up my 2008 schedule of classes in the next few weeks. I'm always looking for places to hold workshops, so if you have a space at work or at home, and this is something you'd like to do, please call me. For more info, go to the workshop section in my website and scroll to the bottom for the "How to Host" information. Thanks. I really love being able to teach in such lovely homes across the country. www.MaryGetten.com If you've taken my basic How to Communicate with Animals workshop, I would like to invite you to participate in a practice group with other students. This is a great way to increase your skills and connect with others on the path. Karen is the moderator and you can join at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AC_Consult/ EVENTS The Fairy and Human Relations Congress will again be held at the Skalitude Retreat Center in Carlton, WA. (in the Methow Valley between Winthrop and Chelan). June 27-29, 2008 This is the 8th Congress and I will once again be speaking along with a wide variety of presenters. I hope to see you there!!! - www.FairyCongress.com PET FOOD HORSE RESCUE GROUP MY TRIP TO TIBET The best part of this adventure was the monasteries in Tibet. Some of them are so huge, and the interiors are covered in murals and paintings and statues. The smell of yak butter lamps will always be with me (I actually like the smell). We did get to see yaks grazing outside Ganden monastery and enjoyed rituals and ceremonies at many locations. The Tibetan people have real spirit, and in Lhasa we saw pilgrims from many regions of the country. The sky was blue, the air was clean, and everything is so colorful! I would love to go back and spend time in the outer regions as our time was spent in the cities of Xining and Lhasa. China was way more industrial, capitalistic, modern and polluted than I had anticipated. We were mainly in larger cities though, so my perception is based on that. Kentucky Fried Chicken is one of their top restaurants! My favorite part of China was a tea plantation where we saw the harvest and drying process and were treated to a tea tasting. If you are planning a trip to Asia, do your squats. There are very few "Western" toilets. Blessings to you all, Dear Friends, Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work with you and your animal companions in the past year. I hope that you and your pets are having a wonderful summer. Wishing you all the best! Email is great but it’s always quickest and easiest to set up an appointment by calling me. When I’m away, I check my voice mail but can’t check emails, so please phone if you need me. I’ll be out of the country Sept 5-21 (Tibet & China!) but will have a referral on my voice mail for emergencies. I’m proud to announce that my book, Communicating with Orcas; The Whales’ Perspective just won a 2007 Nautilus Book Award. It honors books that promote spiritual growth, conscious living and positive social change. It’s time for me to get serious about promoting it and I could really use your help. If you have any contacts in TV, radio, newspapers, magazines or Internet that might be interested in interviewing me or hearing what the whales have to say, please let me know. I also welcome your ideas on ways to get the word out there and help in doing that. Can we think outside the box? My good friend Shoshana Avree is offering her Animal Communication through the Shamanic Journey class, September 15 & 16 in Olympia, WA. 10am – 4pm, cost is $150. Work with the spirits to understand and heal your animal friends. Details at www.shaman-inspirit.com or 360-376-3945. Litter box problems are quite common in cat households and should be dealt with immediately. If inappropriate elimination or spraying becomes a habit, it is very hard to stop. While this is an extremely complicated and diverse issue, I’d like to address the most common causes and solutions.
You can’t make a cat do something it doesn’t want to do. What seems reasonable to you, may not work for your cat, so pay attention to their needs and adjust accordingly. Do whatever it takes to make your cats happy and stress free and they will use the litter box faithfully. Don’t forget - CATS RULE!!! BAJA GRAY WHALE TRIP - February 12-16, 2008 Have you dreamt of meeting a whale face to face? Come with me to San Ignacio Lagoon and meet the amazing and loving gray whales. During our two daily trips on the water, you may get to touch and even KISS a wild whale. These wonderful beings will open your heart and take you to another dimension. Fall asleep to the sound of the whales blowing outside your tent. Our comfortable camp only accommodates 20 fun loving people and this trip will sell out early. Register today with a $200 deposit. The all-inclusive cost of $2375 includes communication instruction. I am not planning on leading this trip in 2009, so do not miss this rare opportunity. Detailed itinerary on my website. Call 360-376-7606. If not now, when?????????? “What an experience! Try as we might to relate it to others who haven't been there, I don't think words can express the magic we felt there. Just so amazing. We can't find a way to adequately express our gratitude to you for luring us there and leading us while there. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” – AC & ED 2007 LATE 2007 WORKSHOPS HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANIMALS WORKSHOP * July 20 Pittsburgh, PA 9-6 $150. ADVANCED COMMUNICATION * July 21-22 Pittsburgh, PA FLOWER ESSENCES * Nov 4 Seattle (Kent), WA SPECIAL EVENTS in 2008 Feb 12-16 Baja Gray Whale Adventure June 27-29 Fairy/Human Relations Congress www.fairycongress.com Blessings for a wonderful summer and I hope to see you at a workshop or event soon. Mary
Happy Spring Everyone! The daffodils are almost gone here and the tulips are starting to pop. I hope that the blossoms are appearing in your neighborhood too. Last year I promised I’d start doing more frequent email newsletters, so here’s a spring edition, packed with links that you can investigate yourself. My upcoming class schedule is at the end. I’m sure you’re all aware of the recent dog and cat deaths caused by toxins in their food. This has been a horrible and scary time for thousands of people and animals around the country. You can get updates about which brands and labels have been affected at http://www.menufoods.com/recall/ or by calling 1-866-895-2708. Since there are so many foods now on that list, here’s a new site listing foods that the manufacturers say are safe http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/ Things are changing moment to moment, but you can check this list for alternate foods you might want to try. There was also a recall on the Berkley & Jensen brand of pig ears due to salmonella. More info on this at http://www.bigpawsonly.com/index.php?topic=16770.msg203355 With all these recalls, you may be thinking about preparing your own dog and cat food. I have been doing this for several years and there are many good recipes around. It’s very important that you get the right balance of protein, vegetables and supplements to create optimal health so please do some research before you change your pet’s diet. Commercial foods have created an intolerance to grain in many cats and dogs, so you may want to eliminate most grains and increase the vegetable content. Here’s a link that you might want to explore http://www.balancedlivingmag.com/2007/March%20-%20April%2007/Is%20Home-Made%20Healthier%20Cooking%20For%20Your%20Pet.htm Many of you have heard me talk about EFT, the meridian tapping therapy for resolving emotional and physical issues. EFT can be done by you for your animals. There is a lot of free information including an 80 page “How To” manual at http://emofree.com and specific instructions for doing it for your animals at http://animal-eft.org Here's another link to a great article about using it with animals. http://www.emofree.com/Animal/housebreaking-dog-peach.htm I just returned from my annual trip to meet with the gray whales in Baja, and once again I was not disappointed. This year the calves were super friendly and we all got to rub, hug and kiss the little guys. What a fantastic time we had. I’m already planning the 2008 trip! I didn’t want to fill up your in- box with photos of this adventure, but here’s a link to a video clip of one encounter. Thanks to Peter Geerlofs for this gem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncejxT-moBU I am very excited about the 7th Annual Fairy and Human Relations Congress. We’ve got a great line-up of international presenters this year for our June 22-24 gathering in Twisp, WA. In addition to the workshops, we have a fantastic time at this event communicating with nature spirits, laughing and sharing together. There is also a concert, parade, vegetarian food and fun all in a beautiful mountain setting. For more info or to register, go to http://fairycongress.com I look forward to seeing you there! Following is my schedule of classes for the rest of the year. There may be a few more additions in the coming months. Call me with any questions or to register. HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANIMALS WORKSHOP 12:00 – 5:00 $125 June 8-9 Pasco, WA ADVANCED COMMUNICATION In this two-day intensive you will increase your skills and learn new techniques. This will also communicating with nature, devas, problem solving and those in spirit. May 19-20 Olympia, WA That’s it for now. I look forward to hearing from you in the weeks and months to come. Wishing you and your pets a healthy and happy year. Mary
Dear Friends, Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work with you and your animal companions in the past year. I am grateful to be on this path with you and appreciate the time we’ve spent together. I am always happy to work with you and your friends. I hope that you and your animals had a very Happy Holiday Season and are now off and running into a prosperous, healthy, peaceful, fun and loving New Year. Wishing you the very best! This year I hope to send short newsletters with tips every two months to my email list. Please send your email address to me at mg@rockisland.com if you’d like to get these. Also if you have a spam filter, add me to your OK list or it won’t go through. If you are not on-line, let me know that you still want a paper edition (twice a year), and I’ll mail you one. A reminder too that it’s always quickest and easiest to set up an appointment by calling me. When I’m away, I check my voice mail, but can’t check emails, so please phone if you need me. I don’t mind calling you back. Are the whales calling you? There still might be a spot open on the Baja Gray Whale trip, March 22-26. Details for this exciting and life changing experience are on my website. I also expect to see humpback whales on the Inner Journey to Alaska cruise, Sept 5-12. I hope you can come! The Fairy and Human Relations Congress is back in Twisp, WA on June 22-24. Loads of fun, workshops, great people, and communing with the nature and fairy realms. www.fairycongress.com Please see my website for the complete 2007 schedule of workshops and events. Here are my two Featured Events for this year. SPECIAL THREE DAY CLASSES IN CONNECTICUT AND PITTSBURG I’m offering lots of choices on the east coast in July. You can attend my beginning and advanced classes in one three-day session, or just the beginning in a one-day format. If you’ve attended my beginning class before, you can register for just the advanced two-day workshop, repeat the beginning at a reduced rate, or attend both. Do as much or as little as you like! Call me for details. * July 14-16 Fairfield, CT INNER JOURNEY & CRUISE ON THE INSIDE PASSAGE TO ALASKA Explore animal communication, shamanism and personal healing while basking in the luxury of a Carnival cruise to Alaska. Enjoy 7 nights, ports of call at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, and choose from 8 workshops on the at sea days. Join Mary J. Getten, Shoshana Avree and Starlyn Nelson for this fun-filled and enlightening cruise, Sept 5-12, 2007, leaving from and returning to Vancouver, BC. Starting at only $1289. Details at www.MaryGetten.com Call 1-866-978-2771 to register. As I head into my 12th year in professional practice, I’m beginning to notice some misconceptions that come up again and again. While each situation and animal is unique (yours may be an exception), I’d like to address some common beliefs. I hope that this list will be helpful to you. TOP TEN DOG AND CAT MYTHS 1. Missing pets have run away – Animals rarely run away from home. Usually they are lost, hurt, stuck somewhere, stolen, or are off on an adventure. Begin searching right away and send out mental pictures of them coming home. Talk to everyone in the area and ask for his or her help. 2. Pets want an animal companion – Many dogs and cats enjoy being an ONLY pet. Don’t assume that they are lonely & want a friend without talking to them. They may need more attention from you. 3. Animals are destructive because they are mad at you – Soiling in the house, chewing and destroying things are signs of stress. This is rarely a show of anger or a way to get back at you. 4. Training is mean and will hurt your relationship – Trained animals know their boundaries and what you expect of them. They are relaxed, confident and get to do more things. Positive training methods will enhance your relationship on every level. 5. Animals don’t understand us – Animals watch the mental pictures we unconsciously create when we say something, so they DO understand, as long as you show them the right picture. Always tell them what you DO want and never use DON’T in your communication. 6. Crates are really jails – Dogs who are properly crate trained absolutely love their crates. It gives them a place of their own where they can feel safe, secure and at home. 7. People food is bad for pets – Real food like meat and veggies are great for cats and dogs. Just stay away from junk food, especially fatty and sugary treats. 8. They’ll grow out of it – If your pet has a behavior that you don’t like, spend time working to change it. Most of the time they don’t grow out of it – it just becomes worse and a permanent habit. 9. Dogs get enough exercise in the yard – Unless you have a pack of small dogs that play all day, dogs need to get out for a good long walk every day. This is a great bonding time for both of you. 10. Animals go off to die – Most animals prefer to be at home with their family when they make their transition. I rarely speak to one that wants to be somewhere strange alone. If your elderly animal is missing, please don't assume it's gone off to die. It most likely needs your help. Blessings to you and yours for a healthy 2007! Mary
Dear Friends, Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work with you and your animal companions in the past year. I am grateful to be on this path with each and every one of you and appreciate the time we’ve spent together. I learn so much from your amazing friends!! I also appreciate the referrals. I hope that you and your animals are having a wonderful summer. Wishing you the very best! I would like to go all electronic with newsletters by 2008. Please send your email address to me at mg@rockisland.com for future newsletters and announcements. I hope to start sending a short newsletter with tips every month. If you will not be on-line in the next few years, let me know that you still want a paper edition, and I’ll be happy to mail you one. It’s always quickest and easiest to set up an appointment by calling me. When I’m away, I check my voice mail, but can’t check emails, so please phone if you need me. Don’t forget that I’ll be swimming with humpbacks in Tonga, Aug 28 – Sept 13. Please schedule your appointments before that. As usual I will have a referral on my voice mail for emergencies. There is a world-wide event happening July 23 & 25 to send love and thanks to the oceans. This work is helping to heal the water and all it’s creatures and requires so little time and effort from us. Please go to HYPERLINK "http://www.thank-water.net/english/" www.thank-water.net/english/ and join with me in creating a healthy planet. I also highly recommend the new movie, An Inconvenient Truth. It is inspiring and a must see. BAJA GRAY WHALE TRIP - MARCH 22-26, 2007 Come with me to San Ignacio Lagoon and meet the gray whales face to face. During our two daily trips on the water, you may get to touch and even KISS a wild whale. These wonderful beings will open your heart and take you to another dimension. Fall asleep to the sound of the whales blowing outside your tent. There is limited space in our comfortable camp so register today. This trip will sell out early. The all inclusive cost is $2325. Do not miss this opportunity. Detailed itinerary on my website. Call 360-459-4058 today. TALKS AND BOOK SIGNINGS IN 2007 The new Hampton Roads edition of my book, Communicating with Orcas; The Whales’ Perspective is now out. Please ask your local bookstore to get a few copies. I’ll be doing talks and book signings on the west coast this fall. Village Books in Bellingham, WA on Sept 27, East West Bookstore in Mt. View, CA on Oct. 21, and Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA sometime in October. Check my website for other dates and locations. I have been a professional communicator for 11 years now, and in that time I’ve talked to thousands of people and their pets. Behavior issues continue to be the most common reason that someone calls me and I find that they are usually due to a lack of two things - exercise and/or training. EXERCISE is vital to the emotional health and physical well-being of every living animal: dogs, cats, horses, birds, snakes – even humans, but most people don’t take the time to provide the proper exercise for their animal companions. What would your animal be doing if it lived in the wild? Most would roam long distances searching for food and their minds would be engaged in the hunt. Expecting an animal to adjust to a sedentary life is unrealistic and it will suffer from frustration and internal stress. This comes out in a variety of ways: excessive barking/vocalizing, aggression, licking, nervousness, destructive digging or clawing, chewing cribbing and plucking. It can also manifest physically with illness. Dogs need to get out and walk for at least an hour a day. Just having access to a yard doesn’t provide the mental and physical stimulation required for a well-balanced animal. Cats also need to use their minds and move their bodies. For ideas for them, see www.indoorcat.org, or google “cat enrichment”. TRAINING is so important to your animal’s mental health and to creating a harmonious relationship with you. There are rules and codes of behavior in every animal society and ours is no exception. Most animals are happy to abide by the rules, if we are clear and consistent in teaching them! Start early and find a positive training method that works for you. Put the time in from the start and it will save you years of frustration. Be clear about what you DO want – don’t focus on what you don’t want. Be consistent and firm, expect the best and hold that vision for your friend. They want to please you but need your help. Remember that behaviors that are cute in a puppy or kitten, can be dangerous in an adult. Always think ahead and extinguish behaviors that will be a problem later. Most people don’t realize that cats are very trainable. Set the rules and enforce them but be sure that you are providing the correct box/litter, scratching post, toys and fun. No matter what type of animal you live with, there are going to be needs that we humans have to fulfill for our animal friends. Research the physical and emotional needs of your particular critter and then find ways to meet them. Cesar’s Way, by Cesar Milan, is an excellent resource for understanding a dog’s mental and physical needs. Think like a Cat, by Pam Johnson-Bennett gives a good overview of feline needs. I highly recommend both. Blessings to you and yours for a healthy and fun summer! Mary
Dear Friends, Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work with you and your animal companions in the past year. I am grateful to be on this path with each and every one of you and appreciate the time we’ve spent together. I learn so much from your amazing friends!! I hope that you and your animals had a very Happy Holiday Season and are now off and running into a prosperous, healthy, peaceful, fun and loving New Year. Wishing you the very best! Hampton Roads has picked up my book, Communicating with Orcas, and the new edition should be out in April. I will be traveling a fair bit this year promoting it and hope that we will meet in person at a bookstore near you! Please check my website this spring for dates and locations. Newsletter costs are soaring, so I would like to go all electronic by 2008. Please send your email address to me at mg@rockisland.com for future newsletters and announcements. If you will not be on-line in the next few years, let me know that you still want a paper edition, and I’m happy to mail you one. A reminder too that it’s always quickest and easiest to set up an appointment by calling me. When I’m away, I check my voice mail, but can’t check emails, so please phone if you need me. Are the whales calling you? There still might be a spot open on the Baja Gray Whale trip, Feb 8-12. I’m also taking waiting list names for the Swim with Humpbacks in Tonga trip in September. Don’t miss my Orca and Wildlife cruise on Orcas Island on June 11th. Details for all events are on my website. The price for a half hour consultation is now $50. If we go over 30 minutes, I prorate the additional time and you pay just for the time used. Flower essences are still only $15 including shipping. I now accept American Express and Discover cards in addition to MasterCard and Visa. The Fairy and Human Relations Congress is back in Twisp, WA on June 23-25. Loads of fun, workshops, great people, and communing with the nature and fairy realms. www.fairycongress.com There are many natural and man-made substances that can be toxic to animals and even fatal. I would like to make you aware of some common ones that affect dogs and cats. If you think that your animal has eaten something toxic see a vet immediately or call the ASPCA Poison control hotline at 888-426-4435 ($50 charge). Toxic foods - Chocolate in large amounts will affect dogs, especially semi-sweet and baker’s chocolate. They can also get sick from eating cocoa bark mulch used in landscaping. Xylitol, which is found in some sugarless candies, is also a risk to dogs. Onions, raw or cooked, are toxic to both dogs and cats. Garlic in large quantities is too. Too many grapes or raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. If your dog finds a dead salmon on the beach, do not let him eat it. Raw salmon poisoning is deadly. Toxic chemicals – I think it’s safe to say, that most chemicals that are toxic to humans will also harm our pets, but there are some that cats and dogs are more likely to encounter. Antifreeze or ethylene glycol causes central nervous system impairment and kidney failure. If not treated quickly, permanent damage or death results. Rat and mouse poison is most deadly when eaten directly, but cats and dogs can also get secondary poisoning from rodents that have ingested poison. Birds of prey, such as owls and eagles, are also prone to secondary poisoning. There is mounting evidence that lawn chemicals with herbicides and pesticides are increasing the cancer rates in our animals and humans. Cats are especially sensitive to pesticides. Remember that our pets walk and roll on the grass, then lick their feet and coats clean, so they ingest this stuff orally as well as through their skin. City parks are notorious for their use of strong chemicals, so stick to the woods when you can. Chemical household cleaners can also cause problems, especially Lysol spray with cats. Acetaminophen or Tylenol is toxic to dogs and cats. Aspirin stays in a cat’s body for 72 hours, so they can easily overdose on this common medication. Never give pain relievers or human drugs to your pet without consulting a vet. Other toxins – Essential oils are great for healing. Dogs do well with them, but many oils are too strong for cats. Cats are also more sensitive to many common toxic plants inside the house and out. Go to www.aspca.org for a list of toxic or poisonous plants. Blessings to you and yours for a healthy 2006! Mary
Dear Friends, I hope that you and your animal companions are happy and healthy and have a great summer. I’ve already had a very busy year with many terrific classes and events. It has been wonderful to connect with so many of you in person. There are still several more classes scheduled in 2005. The Gray whale trip to San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico, this February, was so spectacular, that I’m going to do it again in 2006. The dates are February 8-12, and the 2006 pricing will be the same. We were SO lucky this year with friendly whales on 4 out of 6 boat trips!!!! You never know what each trip will bring, but I hugged, petted and kissed more whales than I could count. None of us stopped smiling for at least two weeks after the trip. Campbell will co-facilitate with me this year combining shamanic practice with telepathic communication. Our joint event with the buffalos in May was absolutely astounding and very deep. We’re planning to do the same with the Gray whales. Contact me TODAY to get on the list. Detailed itinerary and pricing on my website. Gina Palmer and I are leading our first swim with humpbacks trip in Tonga, September 5-12, 2006. What an adventure, to snorkel in crystal clear South Pacific water next to 45 foot whales and their calves. Being so close, in their vibration hearing and feeling their songs, is life changing. We notified our email lists last month and it almost filled up! There are only a few spaces still available. Please call me ASAP for details if you’d like to share this trip of a lifetime with us. I’d like to address the subject of LOST PETS in this issue. I get calls every week from people who have lost their beloved and usually they are not thinking clearly. I hope the following tips will give you some ideas of what to do now, prevent a loss in the future, or help you in an emergency situation. Prevention is one key to keeping your pet safe. Pet-proof your yard and check your fence and gates frequently for escape routes. Train dogs and cats to come on command, maybe with a whistle that carries some distance. Keep a collar on your pet with its name, a license and your current phone number. If you are moving, get new ID made and on the animal before you move. This is a common time to lose pets. Crate or buckle your dog in the car so they don’t escape after an accident. Always transport your cat or bird in a carrier. Leash your dog and be vigilant in unfamiliar situations, such as on vacation. Permanent ID with tattoos or microchips may be helpful but they are often missed. Take good close-up photos of your pets every year and keep them in a handy place in case you need them for flyers. Finding a lost pet can be difficult but I’ve been seen dogs and cats reunite with their people sometimes months later. It’s important to stay calm and enlist a friend to help in your search. Don’t assume that the animal has run away, is dead, found another home or is mad at you. If you think your pet was stolen, call the police immediately and make a report. Starting your search right away saves valuable time. Search your property inside and out, thoroughly looking into every nook and cranny and under and behind everything with a good flashlight. Cats often crawl into little spaces high and low. Walk your neighborhood and talk to everyone asking them to check sheds, garages and areas around and under their homes. Offer a reward to the local children. Make a noise as you walk that your pet will recognize. Frightened cats will often NOT respond to your call. Make a flyer with a good photo that says LOST with the date, location and your phone number. Put REWARD on the flyer, but don’t specify an amount. Flyers produce more returned animals than anything else. Post them at stores, bulletin boards, telephone poles, restaurants, schools, everywhere you can. Give flyers to vets, groomers, neighbors, animal shelters, mail carriers, delivery personnel, local and state road crews, and animal control. Visit the shelter and call vets each day. They are too busy to remember. Place ads in the newspapers and call local radio and cable TV stations. Sit quietly at home in a meditative state and picture doors opening on your heart. See a golden cord going out of your heart connecting to your pet. Call them mentally and tell them to follow the cord home. Keep calling and picturing them walking in the door. If they are lost or off on an adventure, making this energy connection will help them find their way back. Don’t give up and keep expanding your search further from home. Dogs and cats can travel many miles when lost. Post photos on Internet sites and go to www.pet-detective.com or www.petrescue.com for more info. Blessings to you and your animals and I hope you never have to use this information. Mary
Dear Friends, I hope that you have a wonderful holiday season and that this New Year brings you and your animals joy, peace, contentment, health, prosperity, love and anything else that your heart desires. I am very excited about all the terrific classes and events I have scheduled in 2005. In addition to the Animal Communication workshops, and Reconnecting with Nature, I’m offering a Flower Essences for Animals class and a NEW Animal Death and Spirituality workshop. Also, my dear friend Shoshana Avree has agreed to teach a class on Communicating with Animals through the Shamanic Journey. This alternative technique will deepen your skills and open new avenues to awareness. In May, I will be co-leading a fantastic workshop retreat with Cindy Campbell at the Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve in Fremont, Indiana. This unique three-day event will focus on communicating with buffaloes, dolphins and whales, and all life. Wild Winds has over 200 buffaloes and calves that we can commune with while you learn various techniques for making the connection. See my website or call for details on workshops. I can hardly wait to get back to San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico, to connect with the gray whales. Last years trip was superb and I expect nothing less this year. If you can possibly join me – DO IT!!! Being in their presence is timeless, and many allowed us to touch and even kiss them! There may still be a few spots available, so call me if you want to come. This trip will not be offered in 2006. Don’t miss this year’s Orca and Wildlife adventure on Sunday, June 5th. If you haven’t experienced orcas in the wild, don’t miss this trip! These whales open your heart and take you to a place of childlike wonder. I hope that Granny and Ruffles both make it through the winter and meet with us again this summer. Space is limited, so call me for reservations right away. Cost is $75 per person. The Fairy Congress will again be held in Hood River, Oregon, June 24-26, and we’re expecting the biggest crowd yet. Details are at www.fairycongress.com or call Michael at 360-927-1274. I now have an unlimited long distance phone plan and am happy to call you at your consultation time if it will save you some money. Just ask me to call. My animal consulting rates will remain the same at $40 per half hour for San Juan County residents. Flower essences are still $15. Emotional issues are a large part of my animal consulting business. Animals develop emotional problems due to many factors including trauma, abuse, chemical imbalances, toxicity and life experiences. Some animals come into this world with fear or anxiety and others can take on emotions from their people. Telepathic communication is excellent for gaining a better understanding of the issues, but talk doesn’t always change or solve the problem. Fortunately there are several modalities you can use to help your animal work through these difficult emotions. Flower essences are nontoxic, gentle, and easy to use. They do not directly impact the body’s biochemistry and encourage rather than compel change. I often create custom remedies for my clients that help them shift out of their patterns. There are thousands of flower essences available today and each one works on a specific emotional or spiritual issue. People benefit from them too! Tellington Touch is a type of bodywork for animals that can speed healing, enhance an animal’s ability to learn, and release emotions stored in the body. This work can change undesirable habits and behaviors. There are practitioners certified in Ttouch or you can learn it yourself by video or the book Getting in Ttouch with your Dog (or Cat). More info at www.tellingtontouch.com EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique is a type of meridian therapy that involves holding an intention while tapping on specific points on your body. You can do this for your animal, by Proxy tapping on yourself. This simple technique can be used to change emotional, behavioral or physical problems. I’m starting to investigate EFT in my own life. Please let me know how it works for you. Complete instructions are at www.animal-eft.org or www.emofree.com Energy work in any form is also helpful for animals. Try healing modalities such as Reiki, holding positive visualizations, prayer, entity clearings, therapeutic touch, homeopathy or cranio sacral. Call me (8am-6pm) for further suggestions or information. I’m happy to bounce ideas around with you. Blessings to you and your animals and I hope to meet you at a workshop or event this year! Mary
Dear Friends, This February, I took a group of people to San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico, to experience the gray whales that calve and winter there. It was beyond anything I could have imagined. Although I've worked with whales for two decades, I have never encountered the love and generosity these whales gave us. If you can possibly visit them ? DO IT!!! Being in their presence was timeless, and they allowed us to touch and even kiss them! These were WILD whales weighing 40 tons and we had absolutely no fear around them. I am so grateful for my time spent with them and hope to go back in February 2005. Please let me know if you would like details about that trip when they are available. This year's orca and wildlife adventure is on Sunday, June 6th. I have a bigger, faster boat that will leave from Orcas Island at 1:30 pm and return around 5:00. Granny and Ruffles were both seen recently and I have high hopes that we'll be able to meet up with them. If you haven't experienced orcas in the wild, don't miss this trip! These whales open your heart and take you to a place of childlike wonder. Space is limited, so call me for reservations right away. Cost is $75 per person. Are you ready to spend a weekend on Orcas Island? You can attend the Reconnecting with Nature class on Sat., June 5th, stay over and enjoy the whale trip on Sunday. Classes and events for the balance of 2004 are listed at the end of this letter. The Fairy Congress will be held in Hood River, Oregon, June 25-27, and we're expecting the biggest crowd yet. I will be speaking about Animal Spirituality and Consciousness. Details are at www.fairycongress.com or call Michael at 509-997-9200. My animal consulting rate will be $50 per half hour in 2005. The current rate of $45 will be in effect through December. Just wanted to give you a little advance notice. Flower essences are still $15. There are many reasons people have me communicate with their animals, but most often it's to increase the harmony and understanding between them. Here are a few tips to help you develop an even better relationship with your animal friends. Respect. Animals are thinking, feeling, spiritual beings just like us. Take the time to recognize and acknowledge their special qualities like joy, service, patience, love and wisdom. Don't put limits on your animal's abilities. Respect them as capable, whole and growing, not dependent or emotionally crippled. The more you treat your animal companions as intelligent competent beings, the more they will live up to that expectation. Hold the highest vision you can for them and they will respond. Clarity. It's very important to tell your animal what's going on or what you want from them. Don't assume that they won't understand - most of them will. Animals read our mental pictures and we often confuse them by talking about what we don't want. Since we picture what we say, they see the unwanted behavior you're showing them and think that's what you want. You can't picture don't, so always say and visualize exactly what you DO want, like "Keep your feet on the ground." The clearer the picture the easier it is for them to understand. Telepathy. Try to communicate with your animal telepathically. Sit quietly, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and center yourself. Firmly set your intention to communicate with your pet. See doors opening at your heart center and a golden cord coming out of your heart, connecting you to your animal friend. Ask a question or tell them something mentally, then wait and see what comes back. It might be a picture, words, a knowing or a feeling. Acknowledge what you get and if you don't understand, ask for more information. This ability is opening rapidly in people. Six years ago students struggled in my classes. Now almost everyone gets it right away. I hope that you are enjoying wonderful health, happiness and joy. To schedule a consultation, please call me between 8AM and 6PM Pacific time. I hope to meet you at a workshop or event soon. Mary
Dear Friends, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you and your animal companions a fantastic 2004 filled with health, peace, prosperity and love. May your lives be filled with grace and ease. I'm looking ahead to a very busy year as you'll see on my workshop schedule for the first half of the year that is at the end of this letter. Classes are filling quickly, so register soon. If you would like to host a class in the Seattle area this summer, please contact me. When I am away and unable to check messages daily, I always leave referrals to other communicators on my voice mail. I'll be in Texas Jan 23-Feb 2, and then in Baja Feb.15-23 so plan your conversations accordingly. You still might be able to get into the Baja Whale Adventure (the numbers keep changing), so if you wanted to go and thought it was too late, give me a call. 360-376-7606. Don't put off your dreams - we have less time than we think and this unique opportunity may never come again. Besides, we are going to have a fantastic time! Please remember that I work from my home and when the phone rings at 3AM, it wakes me up. Phone hours are 8AM-6PM Pacific Time, seven days a week. The Fairy Congress will be held June 25-27 in Hood River, Oregon, about 60 miles east of Portland. This wonderful event will take you deeper into the realm of devas and nature spirits. For more information see www.fairycongress.com. I hope to see you there! Clients often call me with issues that can and should be solved by training. Animal communication is not a substitute. Training your dog is THE most important thing you can do for him next to good nutrition. A well-trained dog is able to go more places, experience new things, and have fun while remaining safe. People often think that training is mean, or inhibits the animal's freedom. Nonsense! An untrained dog gets into trouble and eventually lives in a very small world since he can't be trusted. Training should be a fun daily activity. When things cannot be solved through training, it becomes a management issue. Some dogs do not consciously choose to chase cats or deer. They react from their prey drive or instinct. In this case, you are the only one who can manage the behavior. The dog may want to do as you wish, but when that deer runs by, he cannot help himself. There are many methods of training available today - in fact so many that it can be confusing. Look for trainers who work with positive or reward methods. A good resource is the Association of Pet Dog Trainers - www.apdt.org then go to their Trainer search section. Clicker training is a reward-based method that is very effective. See www.clickertraining.com. Check references when looking for a trainer and if anything happens during a session that makes you uncomfortable, find someone else. Cats also need training. They don't instinctively know that they should use that funny box for their bathroom, or that they should scratch on the post in the corner. You need to show them and gently teach them. Cats can be trained with the same reward methods as dogs to come when called, ride in cars, sit quietly for nail clipping, get baths, take pills, or just about anything. Positive or aversion training is important with cats as discipline rarely works. And never declaw a cat. This barbaric practice removes part of the cat's finger bones and often leads to biting, life-long emotional and physical pain, and inappropriate soiling around the house. There is a new clicker program for cats and helpful information in Twisted Whiskers by Pam Johnson. I hope that you and your animal companions have a wonderful year and if there is anything I can do to help or enhance your relationship, please call. And consider attending a workshop and developing your own communication skills. Your animals will love it! Mary
Dear Friends, I hope that this spring finds you and your animal companions all happy and healthy. Please check my web site for the workshop/event schedule for the rest of this year. There may be some last minute additions, so feel free to check it anytime. I'm very excited about the two special whale trips I will be leading. There has been so much interest from clients and students after reading my new book, that I just had to make an opportunity for everyone to meet these wonderful orca friends of mine while they still can. To reserve your place on a trip, call me at 360-376-7606. These trips WILL sell out! If you still haven't read Communicating with Orcas: The Whales' Perspective, it is available through Amazon.com and directly from me (quicker). There is an order form on my web site, or just give me a call. I would also like to announce a special trip/workshop that I will be leading with another communicator, Gina Palmer, in late February, 2004. We will be taking a small group of people to San Ignacio Lagoon, in Baja, Mexico, where the Gray whales calve. The 5-day trip leaves from San Diego, includes all transportation, camping, food and instruction. Cost is approx. $2250. We will communicate with the whales at a very deep level and learn from them directly. Space is extremely limited, so let me know ASAP if you would like the full details. Don't forget the Fairy Congress! June 27-29. Three fun-filled days of communing with the nature realms and free workshops. See www.fairycongress.com or call 509-997-9200. The high stress in the world has taken a toll on many people and in turn is affecting their loving animal companions. Did you know that many critters take on our emotional and physical ailments, just because they love us and want to help? It's very common for an animal to have the same physical problems as their people. You can help your pets in these ways. * Take care of yourself. If you reduce your stress, you will reduce your animal's stress. I hope that you are feeling calm and content in your world and don't need any of these suggestions. Best wishes to you and your animal friends and I hope to see you at a workshop or event soon. Have a terrific summer and be healthy. Call me if you need any help. Blessings to you. Mary
Orca and Wildlife Adventure Join Mary J. Getten, naturalist, animal communicator and author of Communicating with Orcas: The Whales' Perspective, for a very special day. Climb aboard the Western Prince and journey into the beautiful waters of the San Juan Islands in search of wildlife and whales. Mary brings her 10 years as a naturalist in this region and eight years of telepathic research and interviews with the whales, to give you a unique perspective on the orcas' world. We might even see Granny! June 1, 2003 1:30 ? 5:30 pm Orcas Island, WA Cost $75. Call Mary at 360-459-4058 to reserve your spot. Space is limited.
Dear Friends, Let me be the first to wish you and your animal companions a wonderful Holiday Season and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2003! Blessings to you and yours. Wow ? this has been an incredibly busy year and it looks like things will not slow down in 2003. My workshop schedule is enclosed. Check my website or call me for updates on additional classes. My consultation rate in 2003 will be $45 for 30 minutes. The old rate is in effect through December. I plan to be in Australia for about 3 weeks, beginning in mid-February, to teach and catch a few rays, so please book your sessions before that. My voice mail will refer you to other communicators for emergencies. Custom flower essences will remain at $15 including shipping. I do the essence work as a service because I really want people use them. They create profound changes in a gentle easy way. My long awaited book Communicating with Orcas: The Whales' Perspective is finally out! Please tell your whale loving friends that they can read an excerpt on my website and order direct from me (also available through bookstores and Amazon.com). I spent ten years on the water with orcas and then several more interviewing them. Find out what the whales think about life, love, people, death and spirituality. A great holiday gift for animal lovers! Better food and medical care has increased our animal friends' life spans considerably, so there are now geriatric issues to deal with. If your pet is limping, or getting stiff, it's time for a trip to the vet. There are a variety of medical conditions that may be causing pain. If you find that it is arthritis, there are many things you can do without resorting to drug therapy (stay away from Rimadyl). Overweight animals tend to have more problems with their joints. If your animal has arthritis, help him to lose a few pounds. Some exercise every day helps to keep the joints moving, but don't overdo it. Make certain that you have a nice soft bed and perhaps a warm area for him to lie. Massage will also make him feel better. A technique like Tellington Touch will draw healing energy to those areas while you release the tension. Energy healing techniques like Reiki work well on animals. If you lack formal training, all you really need to do is hold your hands on the affected area and ask that healing energy flow through you to your animal friend. Ask for help and it appears. Most holistic vets say that acupuncture is excellent for arthritis. It relieves pain and keeps the energy flowing. They may also recommend the homeopathic remedy Rhus tox. Daily doses of vitamin C (500-2000mg depending on size) helps reduce inflammation and additional A & E builds healthy tissue. Omega 3 fatty acids are useful in aiding the immune system. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates lubricate the joints, bringing relief and even some repair. A good combination product is Cosequin. The natural supplement MSM reduces inflammation. Look for a single source of this supplement as combination products generally have too little MSM to do much good. I have a client who swears by an aloe vera supplement called Pet Crumbles from pharmaloe.com. I have also had reports of success with Super Blue Green Animal Algae from celltech.com. Dogs can tolerate low doses of buffered aspirin when necessary, but never give aspirin to a cat unless supervised by a vet. I encourage you to work with a good holistic vet to keep your aging animal mobile and pain free, but remember that there are many things you can do yourself. Do your homework and investigate the options yourself. You'll be glad you did. Wishing you and your animal companions a Happy Holiday Season and a terrific New Year! Mary
Dear Friends, I hope that you and your animal companions are all happy, healthy and enjoying the spring weather. It's great to see the end of my dreary Pacific Northwest winter. Bring on the sun! Enclosed is my schedule of workshops and events for the rest of 2002. If you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area next year, please let me know. I'll start scheduling them soon so that I can get my 2003 calendar out by December. If you have any questions about hosting, please call me anytime. I'd love to teach a workshop in your town soon! As the weather gets warmer, fleas are reappearing. I just saw an alarming news report about Hartz Advanced Care Plus, a flea preparation for cats. The two pesticides in this product are extremely toxic. There have been 35 deaths, 64 life-threatening conditions and thousands of affected cats. Do not use this product! Avoid all chemical flea killers if possible. Fleas are attracted to animals that are ill or in poor health. Your best defense against fleas is to boost your pet's immune system. This means good food and possibly supplements. Garlic and brewers yeast help ward off fleas and there are many "natural" internal and external products you can use. Just read the labels carefully. It is also important to vacuum your house and furniture daily and wash all blankets or bedding often to remove flea eggs. Borax or diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled on the carpet or in your yard to kill fleas. You can also use diatomaceous earth directly on your pet as a flea powder. Bathe your animal frequently keeping the suds on for 10 minutes. This will kill the fleas. Finish with a light lemon rinse or use lemon grass essential oil on your dog's collar. Cats are super sensitive to oils, so don't use them without professional help. The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs and Cats by Diane Stein, has lots of good information about fighting fleas. The following flower essence anti-flea remedy has shown some promise. To one cup of distilled or spring water add 3 drops Cerato, 4 drops Gentian, and 5 drops Olive. Pour into a mister and spray around the house. Use it anywhere that fleas might be, including on your animal. Don't leave it in a plastic bottle for more than an hour and refrigerate any unused portion in glass for later use. Please let me know how this works for you. Something new that was discovered recently, is that raisins and some grapes are toxic to dogs. There have been several incidents where a dog ate 8-16 ounces of raisins and was dead within 48 hours. Large quantities cause the kidneys to shut down. Keep raisins and grapes away from your dogs and if they eat a large amount, take them to a vet immediately. My friend, Donna Harris, is now making gorgeous ID tags for your critters from a photo you send her. She cuts their image out of sterling silver, mounts a stone that your animal chooses (telepathically) and engraves what you want on the back. Total cost is $49 including tax and shipping. Call her at 360-659-7355 or email donna.harris31@verizon.net. Wishing you and your animal friends all the best. Have a terrific summer and stay healthy. I hope to see you at a workshop or event soon. Call me if you need any help. Mary
Dear Friends, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season and will enjoy a year filled with unlimited light, love, health and prosperity. May all your dreams come true in 2002. Enclosed is my schedule of workshops and appearances for the next six months. It's a bit overwhelming, but I really love teaching. I'll be making four trips to eastern Washington this spring, so I hope to meet those of you on that side of the mountains. I'll be teaching in Colville, just north of Spokane, and in Carlton, just south of Twisp. If you can't make either of those, try to catch me at the Body Mind Spirit Expo in Spokane or the Fairy Congress in Carlton. I thoroughly enjoyed the Fairy Congress last year and am REALLY looking forward to it again, July 5-7. Don't miss it! I'm planning a two-day Advanced Animal Communication class for later this year, probably in September. It will take place in Seattle and at least one day will be spent at the zoo. The beginning class is a prerequisite for this exciting class, so get to a workshop soon. I probably won't be teaching many classes in the second half of the year, as I'll be busy moving into my new house. I'm sad to report that cancer in our companion animals is on the rise. Veterinarians are now finding cancer in 35-40% of their patients. What can you do to keep your pets happy and healthy? The most important step you can take to protect your animals from disease is to feed them a good quality diet. For dogs and cats, this means raw meat and vegetables with a little cooked grain. If you don't have the time to make food, choose the best quality prepared food you can find. There are many premium brands now available with human grade ingredients. Add a little flax seed oil to increase overall health. Avoid foods that contain by-products, preservatives like BHA or BHT, artificial colors or flavors. Cheap foods are made from diseased animal parts, by-products like beaks, feathers, hair, and some even contain rendered dogs and cats. Good food now saves on vet bills later. Chemicals are also contributing to the rise in cancer and auto immune diseases. Pesticides, weed and feed and quick-release lawn fertilizers all contain cancer-causing ingredients. Using these on your lawn affects your animals more than you realize. Toxic chemicals absorbed through the pads of their feet, fur grooming or ingestion can make your pets ill and even cause death. Household chemicals can also be dangerous. For example, Lysol disinfectant spray is very toxic to cats and can cause liver damage. The overuse of flea and tick solutions can compromise your pets' health. Only use these products when absolutely necessary, not as directed. I used Advantage on my cats two years ago, once, and they have never had a flea since! That's strong stuff. Monthly doses are way too much. Toxins accumulate in the body and eventually damage the immune system allowing disease to take over. Finally, do not over vaccinate your pets. Holistic and even some conventional vets are no longer recommending annual boosters. Frequent vaccinations may be causing behavioral problems and physical ailments. You can now have your animal checked (titering) for immunity before you vaccinate. For more information about animal health, I recommend The Nature of Animal Healing by Martin Goldstein, D.V.M., and Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard Pitcairn, D.V.M. Let's do everything we can this year to keep our animals happy and healthy. Wishing you and your animals all the best. Call me anytime. Mary
Dear Friends, I hope that you're having a wonderful summer and taking time to smell the roses while they last! I'm happy to announce that I can now process MasterCard and Visa for consultations and workshops. This is proving to be very convenient for many of my clients. I wish I'd done this sooner! As an existing client you can use your credit card or send a check after the consultation. All new clients must use a card or send payment in advance. As of September 15th, 2001, my rate will be $40 per half hour. This is my first increase in four years and still way under the average of $45-$50 for 30 minutes. Custom flower essence remedies will remain at $15 including postage, materials, research and prep time. Flower essences are so effective that I really want people to use them. Ask and I shall send! My fall workshop schedule is enclosed. Although I have set dates, I still need places in the greater Seattle area to hold these workshops. If you would like to host, call me for details (hosts attend free). If you know of an inexpensive place for rent, please call me. I appreciate any help you can give. I am very excited about a special new workshop being held on September 29th. This day will be devoted entirely to flowers. My good friend Angie Metts will teach a 3-hour class in the morning about essential oil use for animals (or yourself), and I will spend the afternoon teaching you about flower essences. You can attend, just one or both! Learn about two flower therapies in just one day! I am also holding a special Refresher/Practice day for anyone who has completed the basic How to Communicate with Animals Workshop. This is a great opportunity to stretch those telepathic muscles, meet with supportive friends and get back on track. Have you been practicing? Bring your questions, photos and challenges. This day will help prepare you for the Advanced course next spring. I'm hoping that a practice group will form out of this gathering. I'll be speaking at the Greyhound PetFest on October 14th at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. See www.macca-l.org/petfest/ or call Bob at 425-483-7998 for details. There will be other presentations about pet nutrition, obedience, Ttouch and alternative medicine. Vendors and booths galore, silent auction, raffle and greyhounds ? all for $2! This holiday season, if you just can't decide what to get for that man or woman who has everything, consider an animal communication gift certificate. I can send the certificate to you for wrapping, or mail direct with a note. Easy, unusual and very helpful. Remember that many holiday plants and berries used in floral arrangements and decorations are poisonous to animals. Keep them out of reach. Several members of the lily family are deadly to cats, so if your felines like to nibble, keep lilies out of the yard and house. Cocoa mulch, sold by garden supply stores, contains theobromine, which is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and really attracts animals. It could also be harmful to wildlife. Stay away from this product and if you suspect that your animal has been exposed to something toxic, call this new 24-hour hot line 1-888-426-4435 and speak to a specially trained ASPCA vet. Wishing you and your animals all the best. Call me anytime.
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