Manitou photobombs the Christmas Tree

It is Christmastime and like many people I live far away from my human family. It is a tough time of year to be separated from loved ones, and some days are more challenging than others.

I was standing in line at the market waiting to buy a celebratory gingerbread man when I saw Bob from the neighborhood in Alki where I used to live.

It was the third time in two weeks that we had bumped into each other. I laughed, and said, “I don’t see you for five years and suddenly I see you almost every day.” He laughingly agreed that it was odd, “Maybe there is something we are supposed to share.” He thought for a moment, remembered that I was originally from New Jersey (where my family lives) and proceeded to share the following story:

“I was living in a boy’s home and they kicked me out. I had nowhere to go, I was homeless—and I wanted to graduate from school. A friend of mine drove his ’49 Ford truck all the way from New Jersey to Seattle. I slept in it until I graduated, and then he and I drove it all the way back to New Jersey. We were stopped 16 times along the way by police. Today that ’49 Ford sits abandoned in Cherry Hill overlooking a freeway.”

Those few words evoked strong images (fitting since Bob is a painter). I could see the faithful old truck partially obscured by vegetation, and wondered if it was glad to have offered shelter and a temporary home to someone who needed one so much.

I asked Bob, “How did you happen to be friends with someone who lived 3000 miles away?

He answered, “We had been homeless together.”

His simply told story had so much heart and meaning. Feeling emotional I said, “THAT is the true spirit of Christmas.”

What a wonderful gift I received that day.

And I would like to pass those good feelings along through the gift of some stories of my own and a puzzle.

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The Night Before Christmas as Read to Dog and Cat and Riggin’ Up the Lights

“The Night Before Christmas” was written by Clement C. Moore in 1823, and became a children’s Christmas classic. In 2009 I created a video of my reading it for my niece and nephew who had not yet met their Aunt Rose in person. Two of my animal companions—dog Puma and cat Saqqara (both now in spirit)—were my assistants.
Click here to watch.

“Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Aunt Rose” is the funny back story of how this video and my dog and cat helped one determined aunt save Christmas.
Click here to read.

Or perhaps you would prefer some holiday humor featuring cats. Riggin’ Up the Lights was written in 2010 when I was still living on Alki and features my former kitten Bagheera. He wanted to be an only cat, and we made it so. Last I heard he and his new family were very happy together.

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Sumatran Tiger Puzzle Gift

This past weekend I was at the Point Defiance Zoo talking to the animals and doing ceremony with them for Listening to Zoo Animal Ambassadors. The male Sumatran tiger had a lot to say, and I took lots of photos, and made one into a Tiger jigsaw puzzle that you can play online. You can change the number of puzzle pieces to make it more or less challenging. Enjoy!

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Holiday blessings to you and your family—furry or otherwise!

Rose De Dan, Sand and Manitou
Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing

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Learn how to connect more deeply with animals, restore balance to your life, increase intuitive skills, and help heal the Earth with live Reiki and shamanic teleclasses, available worldwide.

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A WILD WAY TO HEAL
Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is an animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic energy healer, and author. Her classes, sessions and ceremonial work are inspired by wild and domestic animals who have issued a call to action for personal and global healing.

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.