Recently, I found myself settling into my old chair by the fire—something I haven’t done much since my heart cat, Manitou, passed. That chair was our shared place. He would stretch across my chest in perfect alignment, and together we would listen to the crackle of the flames and simply be. After his passing, the chair never felt quite the same.

This time, Night Sky quietly joined me. He has been spending more time near me lately, but this may have been the first moment he has come to sit with me in that particular spot. We settled into the silence together. The fire snapped, Night Sky purred, and even in the sweetness, I felt the familiar ache tug at my heart. The second anniversary of Manitou’s passing is approaching—he came into my life shortly before Thanksgiving (see Guess Who Came to Dinner) and left his body ten years later around the same time.

Night Sky rarely speaks to me in words, but in that still moment, I found myself asking, “Do you still miss Manitou?” His yes came through instantly—clear, resonant, and full of shared grief. All I could say was, “Me, too. I guess he suited both of us.”

And that was all that needed to be said.

As we move toward the holidays, memories—sweet or sorrowful—can rise more vividly. Many people find this season challenging for reasons beyond loss: family dynamics, unspoken tensions, expectations, or simply the weight of a year that asked a lot.

One small but powerful practice that can help is smudging. Smudging yourself before going to a gathering, or smudging your home before and after hosting, clears stagnant or heavy energy and creates a calmer, more harmonious space. After guests leave—or after you return home—smudge again to transform whatever may have been left behind or stirred up, transforming hucha (heavy energy) and restoring sami (light energy).

If emotions feel tangled, another gentle practice is to step outside. Greet the natural world. Notice the green of moss and shrubs, the last bright leaves, the call of winter birds, the feel of the air on your skin. Offer gratitude to the Earth beneath your feet and the living beings around you. Even a few minutes can help soften the edges and restore your heart connection. (Sacred Rhythms participants have been deepening this practice all year, and November and December are especially powerful months for reconnecting with the Land and the Light.)

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New Podcast Interview: From Reiki to the Wild

In my newest conversation with Lisa Aston Michael of Enlightened Connections, we explore my path from Reiki practitioner to working with wild animals and the wisdom they generously offer. We share stories—some mine, some community stories—and trace decades of guidance from Spirit and the Animal Teachers.

We also talk about Sacred Rhythms and how reconnecting with the seasons helps us return to balance.

🎧 Listen here on Spotify or your favorite platform.

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Listening to Zoo Animal Ambassadors Begins Soon

December marks the return of one of my most cherished annual offerings. I can’t wait to revisit old animal friends and meet the many new arrivals who have joined the Zoo Animal Ambassador communities this year.

Some highlights:

December – Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
• Mawar, Sumatran tiger
• Pippa, Southern tamandua
• Fender, critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish
• A new underwater exhibit

January – Northwest Trek
• Mountain lion cubs Sullivan & Sienna
• Pine marten Syaʔyaʔ (SEE-yut-yuh)

February – Cougar Mountain Zoo
• Three African lion cubs (two girls, one boy!)

March – Woodland Park Zoo
• Snow leopard cubs Lenny, Phyllis, and Raya

Each month brings ceremony, connection, and the opportunity to receive the prayers and messages these Animal Ambassadors carry for the world.

👉 Register or learn more here.

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Sacred Rhythms for November and December

Claudine and I poured extra love into these two months of Sacred Rhythms. Gratitude, grounding, storytelling, and the return of the Light are woven through all of the practices and experiences. Whether you are in a season of celebration or reflection, we hope these offerings bring you support and nourishment.

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Animal and Nature Gifts Holiday Sale
My photos and art are featured in my store on Fine Art America. They sent me a list of sales promotions they are running in November and December. I don’t want to overwhelm folks with a string of notices, so here are the dates:

November 17th: 25% Off All Greeting Cards
November 18th: 50% Off All Apparel (T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Tank Tops, Onesies, etc.)
November 19th: 25% Off Home Decor (Shower Curtains, Coffee Mugs)
November 20th: 25% Off Puzzles, Tote Bags, Weekender Tote Bags, Zip Pouches, Yoga Mats
November 21st: 25% Off Phone Cases
November 22nd and November 23rd: Free Ground Shipping on All U.S. Orders
November 28th and December 1st: 25% Off Wall Art (Canvas Prints, Framed Prints, Posters, Wood Prints, Metal Prints, Acrylic Prints, and Tapestries)

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A Thanksgiving Blessing

May your home be warmed by kindness,
your heart be held gently—especially where it still remembers,
and may the natural world steady your steps as the season turns.

From my heart, and with purrs from Night Sky and the rest of the feline council,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rose De Dan, Night Sky and Tamerlan, fosters Noctua and Sadiya

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Learn how to walk in harmony with the natural world, connect more deeply with animals, restore balance to your life, increase intuitive skills, and help heal the Earth with my live Reiki and shamanic virtual classes and digital workshops.

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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 of Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism and Out of the Darkness and Other Animal Tails. 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.