Holiday Pet Hazards

November 23, 2015

During the Holidays, starting with Thanksgiving, there are many new hazards for our pets. Here's a quick reminder to ensure that you and your pets have a safe and joyous time.

*  Holiday Food - Fatty foods can cause pancreatitis and gastrointestinal issues.  Chocolate, coffee, and onions are toxic to dogs and cats.  Rising dough on a counter top is irresistible to some pets, and can cause serious problems. Don't forget that dogs, cats, birds and small pets can easily consume wrapped food gifts under or on the tree. Not only are the food items a problem, but also the wrappers are impossible to digest.

*  Holiday Plants - Many lilies are deadly to cats. Mistletoe, poinsettias and holly cause gastrointestinal upset for all critters. Christmas tree water can be filled with chemicals or bacteria and pine sap is dangerous if ingested. Secure your tree to the wall so your pets can't knock it over.

*  Decorations - Tinsel, ribbon, ornaments and hooks are attractive play things for many small animals.  If swallowed they may cause internal blockages requiring surgery. Broken glass ornaments can cut paws and mouths. If your pet likes to play with things on the tree, decorate the lower third with unbreakable wood or plastic ornaments.

*  Candles - Put burning candles in places that are inaccessible to your pets. They could set themselves on fire or tip the candle over and start a fire in the house.

*  Batteries - Don't leave batteries for those Christmas toys lying around. They are fun to play with, but contain corrosives. If ingested, they can cause mouth ulcerations and intestinal issues.

Remember to tell your pets about any visitors that will be coming, or if you will be away over the holidays, and if things are going to be stressful, give them Rescue Remedy in their water dish.

Blessings to each and every one of you humans, cats, dogs, horses, birds, reptiles, fish and small critters.  Have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, laughter, friends and good times. I love having you in my life.

                      Mary

Humpback wisdom

November 11, 2015

You know I love all cetaceans, but I have a special fondness for humpback whales. These beauties are very acrobatic, often breaching and jumping high out of the water. They put on a spectacular show!

I spent the winter of 1993 leading humpback whale-watching trips in Maui. It was so special to spend every day on the water observing these gentle giants during the calving season. At that time, the males are also singing, so the water was filled with outrageous songs.

Humpback numbers were greatly reduced worldwide by whaling. Since 2000, humpbacks have been moving back into Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. I only remember seeing one during the previous decade when I was leading whale-watching trips there. Now it is common to have several humpbacks around throughout the whole summer and even south of Seattle. The population is rebounding and the whales are moving back into their old territories.

Spending time with humpbacks is an awesome experience. In 2006, I took a group to swim with humpbacks in Tonga. In January 2017, I will take a lucky group to swim with them at the Silver Bank, near the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. These are the only two places in the world where it is legal to swim with these giants. Very few people get to do this as it is highly regulated and only a few boats are given permits to take people into the water. They book far in advance as well.

Can you imagine floating in the water with a 45-foot long whale, or looking into the eye of a newborn calf? We will also get to observe males chasing and competing for females, but we do that from the boat – not in the water.

Whales have an enlightened consciousness and spending time with them changes you on a deep level. If you are ready to shift and raise your vibration, consider joining me to swim with the humpbacks January 21-28, 2017. You’ll find all the details here – http://www.ajourneyofdiscovery.com/Whaletrip.html. This trip is already half full, so register soon to ensure your spot.

During my Expanding your Consciousness with Whales and Dolphins Teleclass last week, we merged with humpback consciousness. It was a powerful experience and one of the participants got this important message from the whale – “Spend your days projecting love to everyone and everything you encounter. This is what we do.”

I can’t wait to spend a week in this sea of love that the humpbacks create, and I have already started spreading my own wherever I go. Maybe you will too. Blessings.

Happy Halloween

October 28, 2015

Halloween is only a few days away. Are your pets ready?

If your critters are upset by the doorbell ringing, strange noises, or scary people in creepy outfits appearing at the door, now’s the time to come up with a plan.

1. Make sure your pet is in a secure area where it won’t bolt out the door. It may be better to keep them in a quiet room with some nice music playing.
2. Keep your cats inside for the night. Kids can play nasty pranks on kitties on this holiday, especially black cats.
3. Start putting Rescue Remedy into the water dish today to keep those anxiety levels low.
4. Tell them that there is going to be some strange noises and lots of knocks on the door and that they are safe and should just stay calm and relaxed. Send strong mental pictures of them snoozing through the commotion.
5. Candy is very tempting to many pets. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and cats and those wrappers are impossible to digest. Keep that candy dish out of reach.
6. Put all burning candles out of reach. Curious pets can knock them over, start a fire, and seriously burn themselves.
7. Beware of decorations that can be ingested. It’s no fun to have surgery for an intestinal blockage.

 Booooo!!  Now that I’ve scared the heck out of you, go out and have some fun this Halloween. If your pets enjoy dressing up there’s no better day in the year!

Feeny

October 20, 2015

When I was looking for a new warmer home, one of the main reasons I picked the Sarasota area was because of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. This amazing organization is home to all types of marine research and they also rehabilitate dolphins and other small cetaceans as well as sea turtles. I’ve missed working hands on with animals and wanted to get involved with the rehab program at Mote. I attended their animal handling training in 2013, but they had not admitted a stranded dolphin since.

Bottlenose dolphin - not Feeny

That changed on Sept. 17, when Feeny, an adult male bottlenose dolphin, stranded in Tampa Bay. He was rescued and transported to Mote in critical condition. He was underweight and showed signs of infection, anemia, dehydration and pneumonia as well as other metabolic abnormalities.

  

Feeny had first been identified as an adult in 1988 by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, which is a collaboration between Mote Marine Laboratory and the Chicago Zoological Society. This means that he was at least in his 30s when he stranded. There are a few female bottlenose in Sarasota Bay that are in their early 60s.

When Feeny first arrived, people had to hold him up in the water, but soon he was swimming on his own and eating the fish that were thrown to him. Mote staff and volunteers provided round the clock supportive care with antibiotics, other medication and food, and his conditioned was constantly monitored with diagnostic tests.

I was privileged to spend three four-hour shifts with Feeny over two weeks. I recorded his movements, respiration, play with devices in the water, vocalizations, urine or feces and anything else of note. He was swimming strong and eating all the fish he was offered. I sent him healing energy and encouraged him to eat and build up his strength so he could be released in a month or so.

Unfortunately, Feeny took a sudden turn and died on October 11^th. Ultrasound examinations and blood tests revealed that his blood cells were not regenerating. The medical staff will do a full necropsy to see what else contributed to his death.

I am so happy to have the opportunity to help in these situations and support this organization. The hospitals at Mote have treated 72 dolphins and whales since 1992 and more than 450 sea turtles since 1995, always with the goal of releasing rehabilitated animals to the wild. This critical care means much more than helping an animal in need — it also supports a better understanding of marine animal health, helping to inform both veterinary care and conservation of these animals in the wild. If you are interested in reading about this wonderful place, go to www.mote.org.

We were not allowed to take any photos of Feeny while he was in rehab, but here’s two short videos that you may enjoy.  Blessings dear Feeny – swim free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7WaEOJl2qc&feature=youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noneXnk3XCk

Past Lives

September 28, 2015

Animals are spiritual beings just like humans. I didn’t grow up with this perspective, but after almost 20 years of talking to animals I know this to be true. We all come from the spirit realm and we return there, again and again. We ARE spirit and when we are embodied on the earth we often wear different “clothes”.

I attended a wonderful class on Reincarnation a few years ago that put forth a theory I really like. As our spirit leaves this world, we drop off our attributes, characteristics, challenges, and all those things and situations that made us unique, in a big repository. As a spirit is preparing to enter the earth, it stops there and picks up the things it wants, to create this next adventure. So, you might pick up the handicapped, smart, rich characteristics, or the murderous, poor, trumpet playing lonely ones.

You can also pick up the clothes of another species – tiger, bird, tree or dog. I have spoken to many animals that told me they have been human in another life. Sometimes they have even been together with the same people they enjoy today. I remember a dog that told me he and his people had shared another life when they were both black labs. His person did not like hearing that he had been a dog! I’m certain he didn’t believe it, but that’s fine, we all have our personal beliefs and I don’t try to convince anyone that mine are any more correct than theirs. I just report what I get.

I have vivid memories of my spirit in the body of a female silver wolf. I also remember a time as a

black panther or jaguar. Both of those energies were very present with me in my twenties, long before I became an animal communicator. I am always excited when I encounter wolves or big cats because I have that energy running through me.

Granny, my orca friend, confirmed many years ago that I have spent numerous lifetimes in the sea in various forms. She expressed that while she has always chosen to be a whale or dolphin, that she has tried almost every kind. Other whales have told me they have been human and even stars!

I love teaching my Animal Death and Spirituality workshop. In it we explore all these possibilities and connect with our pets that have passed on. The information we get about where they are what they are doing is always fascinating. Think about joining me in a Teleclass next year. It’s an enlightening and fun workshop.

Doubt - Your biggest barrier

September 14, 2015

I love teaching workshops and seeing people open their hearts and minds to true clear communication with animals. It still thrills me after teaching for 16 years.

Telepathic communication is an ability we are all born with. We have the neural pathways in our brain that facilitate telepathy, but once we acquire speech, we are told to put our telepathy away and ‘use our words’. Over time, these pathways weaken from disuse.

Animal communication isn’t really something you learn, it’s something you allow. Information is always coming at us, we just aren’t opening up and listening. The more you practice, the stronger those pathways in the brain become and the easier it is to hear what other beings are saying to you. It just takes a little instruction and a lot of practice.

There is one thing though that gets in the way for most people – doubt. Yes, we all doubt ourselves and listen to that critical left brain saying that you can’t do something, or that you’re not doing it right. Since telepathy is about allowing the information to flow in, if you doubt your abilities or the information you get, you are blocking the flow.

So, how to get past this? Do some emotional release work to let go of those beliefs, or any technique to build new beliefs. You can try EFT (emotional freedom technique also known as tapping), or affirmations, or work with guides, shamanism – whatever calls to you. It really doesn’t matter what you do, just do it!

Once you change those beliefs and start practicing, the information will flow…….

I still have a few open spaces in the How to Communicate with Animals Workshop that will be held in Los Angeles on Sept 26 & 27. I’d love to have you attend. All the info is on my website, www.MaryGetten.com If you can’t make it there, stay tuned for a series of teleclasses next year.

Enjoy the final days of summer! I’m off to California.