I have always had a deep connection with nature and animals. In early childhood when I awoke from a disturbing nightmare or dream, I would go connect through the window with a birch tree that lived in our front yard until a feeling of calm and peace came over me - now we would call that a form of meditation or centering ourselves.

In 2014, I began bringing my love for animals into the forefront by pet sitting for friends, learning animal Reiki and volunteering at a local Glendale, Arizona no-kill animal shelter. I have learned through observation and interaction that animals can teach us much about where we are at on our journey and ways to help them as well as about life in general. One of the keys is to connect with the messages that are being played out or expressed by the animals as they work to communicate with us. One thing I know for certain is that we are always learning, and our teachers come in many different forms.

Over the past 8 years, my path has led me to alternative methods including Reiki and various forms of energy healing, essential oils and broader thinking around the healing options available to address a personal tremor that began in my early twenties. I believe that harmony exists between traditional and natural medicine techniques. I continue to learn better ways of responding to the constant changes that occur in our lives while working to identify what works to release the thought and emotional patterns that brought forth the tremors.

(Photo of me with my aunt’s dog)