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Time of the Drum

Billie Dean’s Animal Whispers
March 2007

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Stop Press: Seven Days with Seven Dogs Now Available

In this issue:

• Billie Studies Shamanic Teachings
• Path of the Wild Pure Heart: Rustic Rejuvenation Retreat
• Perth Three-Day Animal Communication Intensive
• Small Acts of Kindness
• Update on Mack and Bussa
• Call to Action for “Companion for Life” Campaign
• Rowena and Baxter
• Help with much-loved lost dogs
• Billie in the news
• Spiritual Cinema
• Ballyoncree Animal Sanctuary News
• Gratitudes
• Ballyoncree Wish List

Billie Studies Shamanic Teachings

Hello everyone!

I know this newsletter is early, but it’s a countdown for me before I whizz off this week to study with shaman healer Alberto Villoldo, PhD and the Inka Elders. I feel so incredibly honoured and excited to have this opportunity of a lifetime. I’ll be studying shamanic healing and receiving the Munay-Ki, the luminous codes for the new human. “Munay” means “love”, and , essentially, these new humans shed their fear and walk in love, residing in their transcendent nature. I am so excited!

With the end of the Mayan Calendar (2012) bearing down upon us, I felt the siren song of taking the leap into becoming a new human NOW. The last rite was only given to humanity last year in the Holy Mountains of the Andes, so it is still very, very new.

I have been a 2012 watcher since the 70s, and have observed with fascination how the prophecy is unfolding. Native American prophecy foresees a new era of peace under the ancient feminine principle from around the time of the end of the Mayan calendar – a time when we are once again in touch with nature, living in balance and harmony. This is why I am keen to teach animal communication and the Path of the Wild Pure Heart, both of which promote a deep reverence for nature and animals, and encourage a blossoming of the intuitive or feminine side.

Further, according to Villoldo in his book Shaman, Healer, Sage (Amazon), “The prophecies speak about a tear in the fabric of time itself, a window into the future through which a new human species will emerge – that of Homo Luminus.”

In his book Villoldo says, “Our question no longer is can we make a quantam leap into who we are becoming, but rather dare we do so.”

I look forward to sharing the teachings with my students, and hope to help bring Alberto’s healing school to Australia in 2008.

Path of the Wild Pure Heart: Rustic Rejuvenation Retreat

Wow! Aren’t the energies incredible at the moment. Phew!! Things are happening so fast, it could make your head spin. If you feel like you are spinning out, take time out in nature. I have it on very good authority that it’s great nourishment for the soul. So it is with great pleasure that we are offering an opportunity for people to do just that over Easter, here at Ballyoncree in Braidwood, NSW with our Path of the Wild Pure Heart Rustic Rejuvenation Retreat.

You’ll get to meet and communicate with the Sanctuary animals, and learn the sacred path teachings to help you walk your journey "in beauty", as the Navaho say. I’m teaching this magical and fun four days with my beloved husband and partner Andrew Einspruch, who is an experienced teacher of creative writing and improv comedy, as well as having studied the native way with me under many elders and shamans of different nationalities. Andrew and I met at a relationships course in Hawaii 21 years ago and have been blissfully in love ever since. We’ll also be sharing how we created a perfect loving relationship.

Easter is traditionally a time of restoration and rejuvenation, and we think it is a fabulous time to learn about animal communication and the sacredness, sentience and spirituality of animals and nature! This is also a great way for us to fundraise for the Sanctuary, so not are you only helping yourself, you’re helping the animals. To book and get more info go here.

Perth Three-Day Animal Communication Intensive

It’s official. I’ll be teaching a Three-Day Animal Communication Intensive at "Brellim Grange", Perth on March 24 - 26. And on Friday night, March 23rd, I’m holding a private fund-raising screening of “Seven Days with Seven Dogs”, our funny and heart warming film about seven rescued dogs on a chaotic but wonderful holiday of a lifetime. This is also a fundraiser for the Sanctuary, which is needed right now as the cheapest hay we found recently was $21.50 a bale. Yikes! And we feed out three to five bales a day. So come along and bring the family. I look forward to meeting you in person, and discussing both the film and animal spirituality.

So many people have asked me when I was coming over to Perth to teach, that I just had to make this happen. The three-day intensive going to be fun, fun, fun! Through storytelling and practical experience you will all learn so much about the sacredness, sentience and spirituality of animals – and learn how to communicate with them telepathically yourselves. Sylvana also has a wild horse herd like we have at Ballyoncree, so you Perth folk are in for a treat!

To book and for more information about this event go here.

Small Acts of Kindness

I believe in miracles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Little acts of kindness make you feel abundant whether you are receiving or giving.

I don’t know about you, but my manifestations are getting so quick right now, and it’s all building on little acts of kindness.

When my next door neighbour mentioned she was renovating her kitchen , I thought, “That’s for me! I would love a new kitchen – with a bench to work on, instead of the kitchen table which is usually covered in so much healing stuff, there’s never anywhere to eat!!”

The next thing I knew my friend, Rebecca (Elementals Equine Therapies) turned up with her husband Darren, with a country style kitchen sideboard somebody didn’t want and a couple of second hand lounges (she knew the puppies had eaten ours!) – plus a whole lot of herbs and horsey things. We moved things around and hey presto – I had a new kitchen – with a bench and a clean kitchen table to have family meals around – and my herbs and homoeopathy, and oils had somewhere to live. I felt grateful and organised and excited and abundant!!!

Small acts of kindness are a bit like tithing. To both give and receive makes you feel abundant, and once people start to feel abundant, they become abundant. And when people feel abundant or become abundant, they’re likely to become more positive and keep raising their vibration still higher and higher and when you’re living in a high vibration, small things don’t get you down and people can let go their scarcity consciousness and become more compassionate and put their service out into the world. And ultimately that’s what we’re here for – to do service – to help others much less okay than ourselves.

For me, that’s the animal kingdom who actually are much more okay than we think they are – or would be without humans who are wounded. So if we heal the wounds of people, animals get a better deal. Make a small act of kindness today!

Update on Mack and Bussa

In an extraordinary turn of events, my little Animal Whispers travelled far and wide last issue and caused a bit of a stir at the RSPCA. Anne Cowling was fired on the spot and Mack and Bussa, who had the offer of a wonderful and caring foster home from someone I know, are still there. I’m told the RSPCA will explain all in the next issue of Animal Whispers. But my take on it, is that it is all PERFECT. Except I have a feeling Mack and Bussa would prefer to be at home with my wonderful colleague, than living in a pound, no matter how much good work the handlers are doing. I look forward to understanding the rationale there. Now read on.

This is Anne’s letter to me.

Dear Billie,

Just a quick note to update you on the news regarding Mack and Bussa down at the Canberra RSPCA Shelter. A colleague of mine has informed me that both dogs are doing well and are being socialised in separate yards during the daytime with different playmates. They still spend their night times together and seem to be fine with this arrangement.

I will endeavour to keep you posted on their progress over the coming weeks, however it is with great sadness that I now need to rely on past colleagues to keep me informed on the status of the dogs. After submitting my plea to your newsletter, management at the shelter decided my services were no longer required by them and my employment was terminated. This was a terrible blow as I have worked in Animal Welfare for 7 years and have never previously incurred any disciplinary action of any kind. I will miss the fantastic animals that I had the blessing of caring for and the great staff that work in cattery and kennels. Love to you all.

I would like to extend a HUGE thanks to yourself and the people who read your newsletter and tried to help save the dogs. I had a fantastic response
and had found a wonderful foster home for the dogs with an experienced, caring lady. however, it seems, this was not to be. I would encourage anyone who is interested in the boys to contact the shelter in Canberra, as I'm sure that they would be more than happy to keep you updated on the dogs progress.

Take care,
Anne

Call for Action for “Companion for Life” Campaign

Now I must admit as soon as I heard about the trouble Anne’s letter caused, I rang a few Theta Healing practitioners and we prayed for an outcome which was the highest and best for the good of all concerned.. I was initially shocked to hear Anne had been fired after this, but then I realised it was for the greater good. It’s PERFECT!!!

Anne and her husband Andrew have years of experience in running a no kill shelter in Perth. She is the perfect person to work with me in not only raising consciousness and awareness about what we call a “For Life” policy, but to get off the ground and manage our new Canberra Animal Haven, A Commitment for Life Shelter.

It’s going to take a lot of work and we’ll keep you updated, but this, as you all know, is something I am very, very passionate about.

Too many times, a dog, cat or horse is condemned to die just because humanity has failed them. Too often people don’t go the extra mile with the elder or ill animals. They dump them in pounds when they go off on holidays thinking they can get a “new one” when they return. They simply don’t understand that it’s natural for dogs to dig holes, chew up shoes and so on, especially when they are young and bored and under-exercised. These people think a pound is going to solve all their problems.

Not exactly. The pounds do an awesome job – but too many animals are killed in kill (as opposed to no-kill) shelters just because a human might be having a bad hair day, a dog is having a bad hair day, or someone thinks for any reason that the animal is better off dead than in a home.

You might recall I had a personal experience of trying to home a husky who had been surrendered to a Sydney pound only to find when I rang to claim him, he’d been killed before they opened for business that morning because he was deemed aggressive to other dogs. (other observers didn’t think he was) He was there TWO DAYS. As an experienced animal handler, surely that should be my decision – not some over-zealous kennel attendant’s.

Further, as animals are telepathic, they KNOW what their fate is in a pound. I might be a little tense knowing I was about to be killed too. Wouldn’t you?

As an animal communicator and mystic, steeped in the understanding of the sentience of our furry and feathered kin, I believe it is wrong to take the life of an animal just for convenience. And as a society it wounds us on a deep level to know that animals across the world are suffering emotionally and psychically, as they await their death sentence. This is not news. We’ve all seen the horrific numbers. In fact, people are numb to the numbers. There are too many.

If you saw the small film about the moving horse rescue in the Netherlands in the last issue of Animal Whispers, you’ll be appalled to hear that all those 100 horses who swum bravely to shore following those four wonderful women rescue riders were apparently slaughtered in the slaughterhouse two days later. I was when I received that news.

I’ve been in rescue for almost two decades now and I’m not numb. I’m heartsick. I still cry when I see cattle and sheep trucks rattle past me on the highway. I cry for every homeless dog and cat and horse. And that’s why I do the work I do and feel so strongly about it.

It’s sad to me that none of my dogs would pass the stringent assessment tests used in pounds across the country. They’d all be dead. They’re too vital, too mouthy, too frightened, too ill, too, too , too. But Andrew and I and Tamsin love them all deeply and sweetly and they love us and have a wonderful, useful life giving us love. We choose the personal challenge each gives us, and they have a home with us forever. No matter what.

One of the things the kill shelters do, which I think needs to be changed, is make decisions for the rest of humanity. How do they know that a particular person doesn’t need a dog with a particular problem to help them heal on some level? How do they know that a particular dog might not have lessons for someone to learn. Or that a dog might behave in a very different way in a different environment. Like Rupert, one of our horses who was “ballistic” in Sydney — a very difficult horse who’s young person was advised to “put him down” -- sorry, murder him. He was seven. Today, at Ballyoncree, Rupert acts like any other horse — sweet, gentle, one of the herd.

We can disguise it any way we like. “Put to sleep.” “Give him a needle.” “Put him down.” Whatever. It’s all killing. It’s all taking a life that was meant to be lived. It’s not valuing a heart which beats and a soul which sings.

Let’s be clear. I’m not against all euthanasia. I’ve had animals who wanted a helping hand to end their life. Sabastian, our elderly horse, was 44 when his stomach stopped working and he was in terrible pain and needed strong medication. We had a chat and he said goodbye and welcomed the needle like a trooper, more than ready to leave. On the other hand, I’ve honoured the natural transition process of many animals as well, those who were vehemently against human intervention and needed to pass over in their own time. And these were beautiful and significant life passages for all concerned.

It’s convenience euthanasia I abhor. A life is a life. I’ve had to counsel many animals in spirit who have been killed before their time, and wondered what they did wrong.

In the pounds and knackers yards are cats who’ve had the misfortune to be with people who didn’t care enough, horses who have been misunderstood, mishandled and mistreated,, starved, or become a “something” somebody has grown tired of, and dogs who’s only crime was to be bored and lonely, over fed the wrong things, under-exercised, under socialised. They’ve dug holes in precious gardens, chewed, barked - one dog was in because he pulled the washing off the line. Another was in because his people had to move. Others because they have itchy skin because of the diet they’ve been fed. That’s it, death for you. They are not all automatically re-homed.

I’m OVER IT!!!!

And I have to ask, why is this still going on? Why is humanity allowing the death march of the poor, unfortunate homeless beings who are unlucky enough to end up at the pound.

The mission of “For Life” is simple and I urge you to support this new movement. Let’s ban convenience euthanasia from the thinking of ordinary people. Too many people think it’s the “only way out”. It’s not. Instead it is the lazy, uncommitted person’s way out. How many vets and vet nurses end up with a dozen dogs because they can’t kill the ones who are brought to them for killing? Healthy, young, vital – unwanted. Because their people lack compassion and commitment. How many cats are killed because we need subsidised de-sexing programs?

How many people don’t know you can travel with animals, you can heal allergies with homoeopathy, that a simple morning walk saves hours of destruction, that horses are so incredibly sensitive, and form deep bonds with other horses and people, that there is an enormous range of holistic therapies which can heal any health or emotional problem – if you only search for it? Easy – Google the problem with “natural cures.” And moving? Would you leave behind your son or daughter? I can’t go away and teach without my puppies getting stressed, so I can only imagine what goes through the mind of an animal who is being dumped.

So let’s educate people to understanding that furry beings have souls and spirits and do have a language that we can all hear if only we take the time to listen. Let’s jump up and down and urge people to take responsibility for their animal friends. Let’s show people there are more tools out there to help all kinds of problems. Let’s urge kill shelters to lead the way and become no-kill or “Commitment For Life” shelters.

I honestly believe that if we all make a commitment to animal life as a life that is important, then the rest of society will eventually follow suit. But we have to make a song and dance about it.

Let’s make compassion for animals a cool thing to do. Let’s encourage people to think that an animal is a “companion for life”.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We’re just starting this, so everything is needed. We need songs, media coverage, financial donations for Canberra Animal Haven and Ballyoncree Animal Sanctuary, bumper sticker ideas, finances for the “For Life” movement. We need your thoughts and ideas. We need other shelters, havens and people with the same philosophy to band together with us, so we can all stand together for positive change.

Let’s do it!!

To support the movement, put “Companion for Life” in the subject and email me.

Roweena and Baxter

This gorgeous and very smart boy is Baxter, who in foster care in Sydney.

Janine is absolutely dotty about him, but she’s a foster mum not a forever home. Here’s what she says on his behalf:

Hi, my name’s Baxter.

I love cuddles and pats, lying on my back, watching TV - McLeod’s Daughters is a favourite - and, of course, going for walks. I enjoy meeting other dogs when we’re out and about and get on great with all of them - well except for the grumpy ones which I just ignore. The girls flirt with me but that’s understandable as I’m a good looking boy. I don’t like thunder and lightening much or the vacuum cleaner but nobody’s perfect!

I’m looking for a forever home with people who will love me and welcome me into their family. It would be really great if they’ve already got another older dog for company. I’m at a great age - I’ve still got the energy to go for walks morning and night but I like to chill out the rest of the time.
The other good things about me are I’m housetrained, I don’t bark much and I’m excellent at sitting and staying. I would love to be a part of your family.

Pick me!

If you think Baxter might be for you, email Janine.

You may also remember Roweena from December. Back then, she was starving. Now she’s thriving. Here are the before and after shots:

Like Janine, Katharine is a foster mum, and is looking for a forever home for Roweena, whom she has renamed Holly. Katharine reports that Holly is easily trained and vital, loves playing with her other dogs, and is a far cry from the skinny, starving, growling dog who turned up at her place on Christmas Day. Isn’t it amazing what a little food, love and shelter — a little love and compassion will do for an animal in need. If this dog is for you, please email Katharine.

Help for Much-Loved Lost Dogs

John is desperately looking for his three-year-old companion Dasher, a Ridgeback-Staffi male. Dasher was stolen from a supermarket in Carlisle (Perth) just before Christmas, and we thing he might be in the Kalamunda/High Wycombe vicinity. Maybe. If you see him, please call 0418 92 822. Here are photos:

And this from Helen McDougall:

My two most loyal German shepherd dogs I have had since they were 8 weeks old went missing on 26 June 2006 from home in Byford, Western Australia while they were cared for by a house sitter when my husband and I were overseas. The male dog named Bommer, d.o.b. 15/06/2000 and the female dog named Bijou, d.o.b. 30/01/2001. Both dogs are microchipped and tattoo numbered for positive identifications. The microchip records are kept in the Central Animal Records in Melbourne (03) 9706 3187.

I have advertised extensively in The West Australian, Sunday Times and the local community papers during the period of July - October, 2006. I have put out a lot of flyers in shopping centres and gas stations in various areas, offering a reward of $2000 (no questions asked) for any information resulting in the return of both dogs. I have notified almost every shire office which I can think of and the dog pounds, Vet clinics and security firms in a hope of finding my dogs but to no avail.

During the period of July and August I have received phone calls from people advising me that there were two German shepherd dogs roaming around in Canning Road. On another occasion two dogs were seen chasing after kangaroo in the bush area of Pickering Brook and then the following day two dogs were seen again outside the Rifle Range in Canning Road. The last phone call I received in September was that the dogs were seen in Canning Mills Road in the mid August. Since then I have not received any more reports on the sightings of my dogs.

As they had survived for such a long time after they had been missing from home it is unlikely that they have vanished into thin air. I believe that someone may have taken them with the intention of keeping them. I take this opportunity of asking anyone who has seen or known the whereabouts of my two German shepherd dogs contacts me at neil.helenmac@bigpond.com or call 0417 969 838. A huge reward will be offered in gratitude for the kind assistance.

Billie in the News

See the article on me in the March ( I hope) edition of Bark! And also, there’s an article I wrote in the current (Issue 75) Conscious Living called Animals as Teachers, Healers and Sentient Beings.

I was also delighted to be invited by the Canberra Spiritualists, to give a talk on Animal Spirituality earlier this month.

Spiritual Cinema

Oh fabulous NEWS!! Seven Days with Seven Dogs is at the printer and we’ll have them in hand the first week of March. That’s the PAL version. Andrew has worked so hard and for so long at this little puppy of a heart-warming, heart-opening movie that when he sent it to the printer, we both sat down and practically cried. We’ve started entering it into major film festivals and begun sending it to networks. It will be sent out to all those who supported us by pre-buying as soon as we’ve got them. Seven Days with Seven Dogs has special guest appearances by holistic vet Bruce Syme and the wonderful late holistic animal healer Jackie Fitzgerald, whose work lives on with Jane and Christine at Pet Power. It details our chaotic but fun-filled journey staying in dog-friendly accommodation with our seven rescued dogs – who by the way – LOVED it.

Audiences are responding so positively to this movie which was suggested by my dog Suki, who sadly passed away last April. But she got an awesome holiday, and is the star with “lots of fans” that she whispered to me about when we were walking behind the horse drawn gypsy caravans together. She was thrilled that we were doing this film – and I don’t know about you – but I believe in honouring my animals – because you just don’t know what’s going to happen or where its going to lead you in this great adventure called life.

If you’d like to buy a copy of the Seven Days with Seven Dogs DVD, please go here.

More wonderful manifesting: I was wondering how to get a copy of “The Secret on Oprah” when Simon Rose sent me this link: http://www.myspace.com/thesecretonoprah.

Next, and I know this isn’t spiritual, but it’s fun and uplifting and although I haven’t seen the film yet, the trailer made me smile. I admit to being a romantic comedy and Hugh Grant fan. And Andrew is taking me out for a date to see it this week, before I head off on my trip as it’s the first time in 20 years that we’ve been apart for two whole weeks, And I come back on his birthday. Shucks, I’m missing everyone already! Anyway, here’s the trailer for “Music and Lyrics”.

And if you’re a Dr Who fan like my daughter, this is a beautiful compilation of pure love between the Doctor and Rose. Get the tissues.

Finally, so many people sent me this, I had to include it:

The Seeing Eye Cat

Here's an extraordinary photo & message by Terry Burns of Middleburg, Pennsylvania, about love and dedication. It shows a cat that helps a blind and deaf dog. Very moving.

Cashew, my 14 year old yellow Lab, is blind and deaf. Her best friend is Libby, 7, her seeing eye cat. Libby steers Cashew away from obstacles and leads her to her food. Every night she sleeps next to her. The only time they're apart is when we take Cashew out for a walk. Without this cat, we know Cashew would be lost and very, very lonely indeed. It's amazing but true: This is one animal who knows what needs to be done and does it day in and day out for her friend.

See the photo here.

Ballyoncree Animal Sanctuary News

Oh I have so much to say about Ballyoncree – it’s rained and it’s green and gorgeous and grass is growing and everyone is well (well, Gypsy the horse has an abscess we’re treating) and I found awesome, awesome animal sitters through Rebecca of Elemental Equine Therapies – THANK YOU BEC!

And we have a new goat, who Totem (our baby goat) is scared of because Totem thinks he’s a dog, doesn’t he? Hmn. Totem dashes into the house every night after grazing all day with the brumbies, walking with the dogs, hanging with the alpacas and avoiding Poppy the (new) goat. He tells me he wants to “watch TV.” And that he will be more house trained once he is weaned – but he’s not ready to be weaned – yet.

And I know I promised more brumby news – but – arrgh running out of time. The alpacas are hanging out with the girl brumbies and here’s Tamsin and Andrew having a play with these once wild and still very sensitive ones.

Andrew uses his horseman’s string to gently prep the foal to receive a halter and Magick the filly just decided that if Tamsin thought a halter was a fun thing to do, she’d do it. The horse gear courtesy of Natural Equipment. They also have a great newsletter called Neva Say Neva.

Gratitudes

• Rebecca and Darren – Elementals Equine Therapies - Lounges, a kitchen cabinet, buckets, healing books, lunch, scoops, herbs… THANK-YOU for a wonderful day for Ballyoncree!! And a big thanks to you for introducing us to Jo and Steph, our new animal sitters, and all the work you do behind the scenes for Ballyoncree.
• Rebecca also organised a donation of 10 feed bins from Lou of Capricorn Feed Bins – THANK YOU. Here’s a photo of some of the brumbies enjoying a meal from one of these bins, which are cleverly made from recycled tyres.

• Alison for dog blankets and jumpers.
• Cheryl for dog blankets and jumpers.
• Rebecca and Jeremy – homeopathic worming from Pet Power.
• And a huge Thank-You to our regular animal angel sponsors.

• More animal angels. Even as little as $2 a week or $5 a month makes a difference to our ability to do what we do. Please see here for details. It’s an easy and inexpensive way of being part of the sanctuary.
• People who can fundraise
• People who can market
• Someone to help with web design
• Hay!!!
• Kelp
• Garlic
• Fulhealth colloidal minerals, colloidal magnesium, and silver colloid
• Rescue remedy
• Herbal worming
• Garlic
• Slippery Elm Powder
• People who can fence and help us build stables
• A tipi
• Metal dog bowls.

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