Meet my Friends
Special Friends
Through my books, I have been able to meet and spend time with people whose work has profoundly altered my life. These gifted healers and thinkers have amazed me— and continue to amaze me— with their insight, their hearts, their wisdom. I've also discovered some wonderful organizations doing beautiful work on behalf of animals. It is my honor to share all these special friends with you.
The RiverWind Foundation
I am very proud to be a board member for this small organization that offers programs on creating and manifesting personal visions and life dreams that are supported by a centerpole of reverence. This is my organizational "home" in the greatest sense, and my work and ideas flow from this foundation.
EcoPsych
I cannot recommend Dr. Mike Cohen's online degree programs in ecopsychology strongly enough. Please visit this site! I am currently enrolled in the doctoral degree program, and loving it. More than any other practice, Mike Cohen's Natural Systems Thinking Process has transformed the way I live my daily life. His work is brilliant, empowering, simple, and life-changing.
Frank MacEowen
Author, Poet, Facilitator
Frank is a brother friend of mine whose work with Celtic spirituality and other indigenous traditions is magic. His books have been transformative for me, and he is even more amazing in person. Read him, and go see him if you have the opportunity. He is a gifted facilitator of workshops and retreats, and his work is deep and healing.
Anaflora Flower Essence Therapy for Animals
Sharon Callahan, Animal Intuitive
Sharon Callahan is the only angel I have ever met here on Earth. No, I mean real angel. The kind with wings. This woman fairly floats. Transformed by several near-death experiences years ago, Sharon understood that her life was to be devoted to healing animals. She does this by communicating with them, and by creating her very own healing flower essences. Sharon exudes peace and compassion. She is one of the greatest comfort and joys in my life, and I encourage you to get to know her and her work.
Ishmael
Daniel Quinn, author of Ishmael, The Story of B, Providence, My Ishmael, and Beyond Civilization.
On the road with my first book, I stumbled upon Ishmael by Dan Quinn. My life has not been the same since. At bookstores around the country, I was encouraging people to buy his book instead of mine.
Dan's writings changed the way I perceived life on earth completely and irreversibly. It has since been my honor to get to know Dan, his delightful wife Rennie, and to sit face to face with one of the greatest minds in this or any century. Please, read this man's books. NOW!
Jeffrey Masson
Author of When Elephants Weep, Dogs Never Lie About Love, and The Emperors' Embrace.
Jeff, his wife Leila, and tiny son Ilan set up a tent and camped at Brightstar Farm one magical summer several years ago. With him came his three dogs—City dogs who had never seen a country chicken. Jeff let his dogs loose, and, of course, they exploded after my screaming hens. I remember Jeff's horrified voice booming across the yard, "Girls!! I'm so ashamed of you! How could you chase those poor, sweet birds!!"
The dogs—all three—froze in their tracks, dropped their heads in shame, and slunk back to Jeff's side, begging forgiveness as only a dog can do. They never approached the chickens again. Needless to say, I was impressed. This man knows what he is talking about, whether it is about elephants, dogs, or penguins.
Best Friends
World's largest no-kill animal sanctuary, located in the redrock country of Kanab, Utah.
Nestled in a redrock canyon beautiful beyond imagination, Best Friends is where I go when I need healing. I don't think of Best Friends so much as an animal sanctuary (which, housing more than 1,800 animals, it definitely is) as an intentional spiritual community with lots of animals around.
No one has achieved what these people have. This is place of safety, spirit, healing, and compassion. Go there. Or at the very least become a member.
New Sage Press
Small, independent press that first published "Animals as Teachers and Healers," and continues to publish cutting-edge animal books of all kinds. Publisher Maureen Michelson is a great lady, and a true friend.
Animals as Teachers and Healers was born on the evening of my 41st birthday party. Because we were living in a new neighborhood, my husband had invited all the neighbors we didn't know to my party as a way for us to get to know each other.
One of them was publisher Maureen Michelson. Over a cup of bad coffee, and a piece of what I like to call "lard cake" (Those big Price Club cakes that you know are frosted with some petroleum product), I told Maureen about my idea for a book about the truth of animals and humans together. A week later, we were business partners. She has been my champion ever since. Her press has gone on to produce many provocative animal books on topics no one else will touch. Check out her site!
Gloria Dodd, holistic vet pet care
The woman who healed my cat from feline leukemia fourteen years ago. Great products, great vision, great heart!
Gloria Dodd responded to my desperate plea fourteen years ago to take on the daunting task of helping a kitten that had been given a death sentence by two other vets. Flora had been diagnosed with feline leukemia at the age of 6-weeks. I never met Gloria.
She treated Flora with products she sent me through the mail, asking for photos of her to help her with her diagnosis, which she did energetically. Three months later, Gloria called and said, "Get her rechecked. I think she is clear now." She was, and Flora has been healthy for the past fourteen years.
Earth Vision
The Earth Vision project attends natural and environmental issues in the light of spiritual ecology.
In the information age, where so often the focus is confined to the intellect, the natural world is at hand for healing consciouness. The Earth Vision books by Josef Graf are not merely informative, but present an arena where feeling finds a forum, where sentience colors the fabric of incarnation.
Promoting wholesome communion with nature on a foundational level, the EV project focuses on the wealth of positive attributes in nature, instead of its demise, turning the assail of nature inside out.