A year or two ago I was reading an email request from the Woodland Park Zoo for donations for their Malayan Tiger exhibit, which was in the planning stages.

Donations would help with building, conservation efforts (there are fewer than 500 in the wild) and education.

Donors would be honored with a name and paw print in the pathway—which sounded cool—but that level of donation was pricey. It was also money that I did not really have.

I went to hit “delete” and Spirit said, “Make the donation.”

What, seriously?

“Yes, seriously.”

I was told that doing so would not only honor and support tiger conservation, but would also honor my power animal allies (one of whom happens to be a tiger) who work very hard assisting me in my personal and professional shamanic work.

In addition I was told it was one more energetic ceke line of connection for the very important work of building bridges between people and animals. And finally Spirit pointed out that the Zoo offered a payment plan.

So, with my power animal at my side, and in trust that it would all work out, I made the commitment. And dutifully put my company name down as instructed when I asked about attribution.

This year I finally got to see the tiled path and was very surprised to see that whoever was in charge of design had been guided to place Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing’s tile next to one simply inscribed, “Live Gently on this Earth.”

Beautiful. Humbling, Validating. Priceless.

Finding the Tiles: On your next visit to the Woodland Park Zoo take a look just outside the Asian small-clawed otter exbibit. The two tiles pictured are on the far left.

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A WILD WAY TO HEAL
In private practice since 1996, Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing, is an animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic practitioner, author and artist. As an animal shaman she views her mission as one of building bridges between people and animals through healing sessions, classes, ceremonies and events such as A Walk on the Wild Side: Answering the Call of the Wild.

Her book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism features heartwarming stories about animals and their role in her evolution as an energy worker and shamanic healer.

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