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Book Reviews |
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HEALING Homeopathic First Aid for Animals
~ Tales and Techniques from a Country
Animal Healing and Vibrational
Medicine
The Daisy Sutra ~ Conversations
with My Dog
Dear Kilroy: A Dog to Guide Us
Polar Dream ~ The First Solo Expedition
by a Woman and Her Dog to the Magnetic North Pole
Animal Wisdom: The Definitive Guidebook
to the Myth, Folklore and Medicine Power of Animals
Tarot of the Animal Lords
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This
is a well-organized, well-written and very useful manual for anyone
who loves or lives with animals. Not only that, author Kaetheryn Walker
has done a first-rate job of including many real-life stories that teach
by example. The book thus serves in two ways: one, as a book about animals
and the experiences a homeopathic animal-care provider encounters in
her daily life, and two, as an A to Z reference manual for treating
almost any emergency (and many different types of animals) with both
first-aid techniques and homeopathic remedies. Overall, this is a comprehensive,
informative and reader-friendly book – definitely an excellent
resource to have on hand.
Another
excellent resource for healing many different species of animals, this
book looks at a variety of essences and vibrational remedies. These
are elixirs of water infused with the therapeutic properties of gems,
flowers, minerals, etc. When chosen correctly, the unique frequencies
of the remedies help the animal (or person) attune to and resonate at
higher vibrations, thus balancing and healing the energy system of the
body. This book has some fascinating chapters on the energetic systems
of animals (including chakra diagrams) and offers valuable information
on communing with animals as conscious beings. Other topics include
aromatherapy, crystal grids, kinesiology, pendulum dowsing and magnetic
healing. Another great reference book to have on hand!
Not
long after her mother died, author Helen Weaver’s dog Daisy became
ill. Was she ready to die too? Did she need assistance? Fraught with
grief, Weaver followed the advice of a friend and called an animal communicator
to telepathically connect with Daisy and act as “translator”
between dog and human. The daughter of a scientist, Weaver was initially
skeptical. As sessions with different communicators and Daisy ensued,
however, Weaver opened not only to a larger view of the world, but a
deeper relationship with her beloved dog. Sutra is a Sanskrit word meaning
“a thread on which jewels are strung,” and the word often
refers to a collection of teachings. The Daisy Sutra is thus an apt
title, for it shares the precious teachings of a wise, loving dog and
a woman, ready and willing to listen.
This
great little book offers a great many things: part diary, part photo
album, part letter exchange between two canine correspondents, and part
true-life adventures of both the four-legged and two-legged variety.
The author, a longtime puppy raiser and volunteer for Guide Dogs for
the Blind (an organization that trains and matches guide dogs with visually
impaired humans) has done a lovely job of interweaving all of these
elements to create an engaging, educational, inspiring and deeply moving
book. Readers will quickly learn not only what is involved in becoming
a puppy raiser but why working with animals who are dedicated to work
with humans is so magically transforming. As Nora Van Harrison so aptly
notes, dogs make us feel good. They help us through our grief and tragedies;
they remind us to enjoy life. “They walk beside us as our buddies,
partners, and teachers. They are our guides through life.”
In
1988, at age 50, Helen Thayer became the first woman to travel on foot
to the magnetic North Pole. Her adventure included 27 days of walking
and skiing over 364 miles of frozen, barren terrain, while surviving
seven confrontations with polar bears. Could she have made it without
Charlie, the big, black husky dog trained by the Inuit to warn against
the mighty “Lords of the Arctic”? There’s no doubt
this is a well-written and wholly engaging account of Thayer’s
journey, nicely supplemented with the author’s photos of fantastic
ice formations and resident wildlife. More than that, however, it’s
a testimony of Thayer’s unexpected love and friendship for Charlie,
whom she met only a few days before her journey began. Thus is it also
a tribute to Charlie, and his affection, assistance and loyalty to a
woman he barely knew.
This
helpful guidebook looks at power animals, spirit animals, totems and
some of the deeper meanings that particular animals bring to our lives,
whether through dreams, unusual meetings or in a shamanic capacity.
The author explores 70 animals from the Northern Hemisphere in a variety
of ways—from physical descriptions and biological characteristics
to the varied cultural legends and stories told about each animal; from
traditional views of the animal’s “medicine” and power
to a more modern take on the gifts each animal presents. This is yet
another very handy reference, especially for those who work on deeper
levels with animal guidance.
One
of my favorite new tarot decks, Giannini’s version combines animal
heads and humanly-attired animal bodies with traditional tarot symbols.
Unlike some decks that have good ideas but mediocre artwork, these cards
are beautifully done and reveal both sensitivity and insight regarding
the animals chosen to represent major and minor arcana. Overall colors
and background designs are pleasing, and there is obvious appreciation
to detail in each card. Besides all that, this is a fun deck to use.
Some of the cards hold great humor and playfulness – for example,
the two rabbits clad in tarragon-colored jackets and bright jester pants
dancing with joy under the sun (card XIX, The Sun). Traditional minor
arcana suit are replaced by butterflies for swords; beetles for pentacles;
crabs for cups; and salamanders for wands. Each card, however, has its
own animal representative. There is a storybook quality to these cards
and so, while fully functional as a tarot deck, they can also be appreciated
simply for their engaging illustrations.