World Parrot Trust's Fly Free Campaign

There is a sad video with footage of wild parrots being trapped for the pet trade. It breaks my heart to see these amazing beautiful creatures removed from their homes to be crated, and if they are the lucky ones, survive to be "pets".

The images of Patagonian conures in a crate is particularly difficult for me, as my Rodney is a Patagonian. He is quite possibly wild-caught.

I cannot even imagine the fear, sadness, and powerlessness these birds must feel. Here in the U.S., I think we forget that trapping wild birds still goes on. But it does.

Even in L.A., I remember in the past a coworker bought 2 Amazon parrots from a "breeder". When he showed me pictures of the two birds who were supposedly clutchmates, I could see that they were two different species. I told him something was not right. If the breeder was untruthful about this, what else had he been hiding? I advised him to immediately bring the birds to a vet, get checked for Psittacosis, and look into the activities of this breeder a little more deeply. It is not uncommon for wild-caught birds to be smuggled in through Mexico.

He had never asked to see the breeding facility or parents, and in retrospect, thought the behavior of the breeder was very odd. He had chosen this "breeder" because the cost of the birds was so low. He was afraid to lose his birds, so he never followed up, which is so sad, for all parties involved. How many people bought birds from this person, knowing something wasn't right? How many suspected they were buying wild-caught parrots yet kept their mouths shut because the price was too good to pass up?

We are all in this boat together. Every person who keeps parrots has a responsibility to do what they can. For some, it may be to donate a few dollars to a good cause. For others, it may be to dedicate their lives to improving the lives of parrots everywhere. If we all did just one thing, then I think huge advances could be made.

The point of all this is not to feel guilty about having these beautiful beings in our home, but to take any emotions that rise up, regarding these issues, and direct them towards an area where they can actually do some good.

The parrots deserve it. After all, look at all the gifts they bring to us. We should focus more on giving our gifts back to them, in return.

My Animal Communication Journey

I woke up at 4:45 this morning thinking "It's time." It's time to start talking about the animal communication part of myself and stop leaving it out of conversation as if it's a separate part of me.

Learning animal communication has been quite a journey so far. It's been a spiritual awakening, really. I don't know how anyone can learn something like this without opening up on a spiritual level.

It hasn't been easy, that's for sure. I come from a family that doesn't believe much in anything that can't be seen. I have a degree in Biology from UCLA, and that strong scientific background doesn't support belief in things of this sort. Both of these contribute to blocks I have had to work through as I develop my skills.

As I learn more and prepare to work professionally, I am beginning to tell people about what I am doing. This is a very scary process. Many people are not open to these ideas. Some have strong religious beliefs and feel this conflicts with them. Some are just like me- coming from a very scientific background, eyeing suspiciously anyone who claims to be able to do work of this nature.

Some of my friends do not know what to say when I tell them I can talk to animals now. I haven't had any response from several people. Others just go on as if I never mentioned it at all. It's hard when this happens. I have no idea what they think of me or what I am doing. Yeah, I know. I claim to be able to telepath with animals, yet I can't read people's minds. I understand the skeptic's viewpoint. I was one, once. It's not that I can't read people's minds. I'm sure it's a skill some people practice and develop. I simply don't believe it's right to go poking around where I have no business. I have the same philosophy regarding animals, too. I don't speak with every animal I meet, only the ones that specifically come to me for help.

In order to improve one's skills in telepathy, it is vital to "clean out the closet" of our minds. This can be upsetting and painful at times, but in the end is more than worth it. Pulling experiences and painful memories from the dark recesses of our mind, working through the accompanying emotions, and finally letting them go is quite transformational. The entire process results in emotional stability, deep inner peace and an opening up to the universe which allows that inflow of information. Some develop this inflow to talk with angels and light beings, some talk with dead people, some access the collective consciousness. And some talk to animals. The most surprising thing about this journey is that I now receive information from many sources. Not just animals.

Despite the hardships, this journey into animal communication has been an incredibly beautiful one. So beautiful that I highly recommend that every animal lover go through it themselves, if at all possible. The animals have such profound insight. They are leading me down the most spectacular road. I just can't escape the feeling that I am "home" now. I am right where I belong. The feeling of wholeness and oneness permeates my being. I don't ever remember feeling so connected; to the world, myself, animals, nature, and other people.

This beautiful journey into Animal Communication is my church. It's my path. It's my joy.

Quiet Day

Today has been a pretty quiet day. It's snowing outside and the temperature is dropping fast. The high tomorrow is supposed to be 14 degrees. Ouch! The heating company dropped by and fixed the furnace for us. Thank goodness!

We feel so grateful to have gotten this new furnace. I really do appreciate that the state offers Weatherization Grants to help us out. We don't qualify for assistance paying the heating bills or food stamps, thanks to the unemployment check and Walter working part-time. Thankfully, the income limit is a little higher for the Weatherization Grant. I think it is probably meant to help people just like us. The contractors have all been amazing and I am so grateful for everything we are receiving, as well as the wonderful people who have been helping us along the way.

I know we won't be in this position long, however! I can feel all of the amazing goodness right on the horizon for us. Well, it's here now, actually! And it's only getting better.

The birds keep telling me to hang in there and that incredible things are coming for us. I really hope so. They have been waiting so patiently for me to have my babies and raise them up past babyhood and into childhood. Just when Ella got to the age where she could really get involved with them, I went and had another baby! Sorry, birds. We'll get there! Luckily Max is so easy-going and it should happen a lot sooner this time around.

They have been so well behaved lately. Maggie has been getting out with us more and more these days. It's hard because Max cries when he sees her- he worries that she might scream at any moment. But we had a great session the other day where I got him smiling and laughing with her. Then I made sure to put her away while we were in the moment and ended it on a positive note.

I keep promising Rodney that he will get to live with us out in the dining room as soon as Walter gets a full-time job. I think he really gets it because he has been doing very well up there. He has not been too nesty and even has a lovely yellow feather trying to poke through the bald skin on his back!

I'm very excited to be doing my first animal communication case study this Friday!!!! Even though I have been getting lots of practice, this feels like the "official" start of my new career path. It feels like how I would imagine it would to jump off a cliff into the ocean. Scary and frightening, yet fun and exhilirating at the same time. I really want to do a great job. It's very important that I develop my skills as much as possible, so that I may serve the birds that have served me all these years. I want to make them proud.