(Photos are my Son's family's 2 Rescues = the Pit mix, Shorty Boy was in 7 previous homes and shelters by age 2. SEVEN. Look at the Old Boy now!)
Cool Youtube Video of BWF in action @ The Gentle Barn helping a slaughterhouse rescue! a 1.450 pound rescue!!
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The Great Dane was “owned” by a woman who’d accepted a date with an attractive, quiet man she’d just met in a bar. (Don’t judge harshly. It was the 1970’s and that’s what we did.) She gave him her address and they agreed he was to arrive at 8:00. Her place was a one-room beach house with sliding glass doors. While prepping for her date, she heard IT. Never before had she heard her sweet Dane growl like THAT. A slow, eery rumble electrifying the room. Immediately, she looked to where the Dane was staring. The glass doors. At first, nothing was there. Then she saw his outline come into sight - then the face of the handsome man who was going to buy her dinner. She punished her dog for growling. The dog never took her eyes off him, but because she’d been yelled at, she slowly backed away still with a low rumble in her throat. The ‘owner’ continued to yell and the dog lowered her head and her voice to the slightest audible vibration. Lest she scare off her date completely, the owner squeezed out the glass door, one knee, thigh, and hip at a time, while verbalizing: “Oh she’d never hurt you!” All the while wagging her finger at the Dane, admonishing: “Bad girl. Shame on you for growling.” At dinner, her date was so reserved and quiet, IT was all a bit creepy. The good night kiss was in the car, not at the Great Dane’s front door. The woman refused the offer of a second date. When she got in the house, her dog was happy to see her.. All was well and within an hour they both climbed onto the bed and fell asleep. The woman woke up to a sound she had heard only once before. The same hair-raising growl. She put her hand on the Dane and could feel the stiffness in her body, almost like the blood had quit flowing. The Dane’s attention was forward, hyper-focused on the front door. Nothing was there. Nothing. Black as pitch. The owner was ready to scold her Dog again when she saw the outline of the man's face just outside the front door. Then his eyes. Before the owner could think straight, the dog lunged at the door. His face disappeared. She never saw him again. She never heard that growl again. Kiss your dogs for me! Growls and all!
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Loukia came up with a great idea -
Mixing her BlackWing Farms 'potion' :: NEW BEGINNINGS with bone broth. Perfect to serve warm, at room temp. OR frozen into ice cubes, slow feeders, and Kongs. Excellent idea for Rescues, Shelters, Daycares, Transports, and hot summer days.
Thank you again for sharing your YOUTUBE video with us!!
YES - OF COURSE - CATS TOO.
]]>Display at least 2 'extra' phone numbers out of the emergency area as cell towers can go down.
Worried about your animals worrying? If they will NOT chew or eat this idea = take a hand towel and gently rub your face, neck, or arms and place this "SCENTED" towel along with them in car, crate, kennel or trailer - Horses appreciate this too.
Don't' be upset if they don't eat or drink as usual but if dehydration is possible: dip your fingers in warm water then slowly and gently massage the upper gums for 5-10 seconds to stimulate drinking reflex. SAFETY FIRST - Don't do this on uber-stressed animals or strangers! Or add lots of water to meat or a broth for dogs and cats. Horses benefit from carrots, tops, apples, or hay that has been soaked in water.
Water Storage: Plastic trash cans or storage containers are perfect for water. Double line with hardy trash bags, fill up with water, twist tie the bags closed, cover tightly with lid. PLEASE, HAVE THEM IN PLACE FIRST! IN CAR, TRUCK OR TRAILER! Yes I have!! Wasting time and water. Secure when needed.
Pottying for Dogs and Cats: Indoors = put sod in a wading pool and use. Away from home = slice open (with that pocket knife!) several trash bags and sprinkle some dirt, sand, shavings, or lay out newspaper. When business is concluded - roll up and discard.
NOT BEING CUTE WITH PHOTO OF THE JRT... In 2007, my son, our Jack Russell Terrier, our 125 pound German Shepherd, AND our huge 14 year old Cat had to evacuate ahead of a wildfire in San Diego County - it was so gnarley - When I arrived at the coast with the animals; TREE BARK HAD MELTED ONTO THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK. Not kidding. The 5 of us stayed aboard a friend's boat in SD Harbor for 3 weeks while the fire burned back and forth near our cabin on Palomar Mountain, California.
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Speaking of humping... While at my Chiropractor’s for my horse-back-riding back, he asked how to get his (neutered) Retriever to stop humping furniture, blankets, and house guests.
I asked if the Dog was causing harm to himself or others. He said: No.
I said: it’s actually good for his back. Or so I was told, by my veterinarian, when I questioned questionable behavior of my (gelded) 1,400 pound oh so happy Clydesdale.
Bear in mind humping can also be the fabulous result of EMOTIONAL ECSTASY! = Like the "Zoomies" = over the top happiness = (another good read).
They just cannot help themselves... it's too much joy! But not always.
Dominance, insecurity, nervousness, jealousy, and confusion about social status are some of the culprits I have seen in my practice and all are fix-able. Dominant yet insecure personalities, too much energy, tension, past trauma, and ecstasy are all valid points to discuss. If the behavior is NOT the result of chemicals or hormones but of emotion – we can talk. Where do we put all that energy?
A better question is: how do we re-channel that energy and improve the patterns of learning already well established?
How to stay HAPPY & just tone down the excitable energy a little?
]]>What if... Memories associated with an activity (for example WALKING ON A LEASH) are unpleasant, possibly painful, exhausting, or habitually bad?
Answer: Dissolve those memories. How? By what process?
First, Flower Essences for positive EMOTIONAL NUTRITION. Especially this set: THINKING AND TRAINING. Second, pay attention to potential causes of discomfort and un-ease: equipment, diet, nutrition, hydration, exercise, gut function, and balance of mental stimulation. Goal is to achieve emotional and mental soundness while thriving in optimal environments suited to the species. Having said all that and meeting their criteria to the best of our abilities. Let's look at one thing that may not be working: GOING FOR A WALK!
1. Walking. PURPOSE: Enjoy your time together, improve your connection (via ropes, leashes, and leads) solidifying your co-operative relationship. Exercising for overall wellbeing.
2. Waiting = Smelling. Reading the daily peemail, find out what is in bloom, who is in estrus, what is new in the neighborhood. PURPOSE: Stimulates brain, guts, primal instincts, and hormones. Super charges the system.
3. Make a request or 2 or 3. Communicate. Co-operate (You are only 1/2 of the co-equation).
Make "IT" mean something - Like: what is in it for them? for me? for the strangers in our lives and OTHER PROBLEM AREAS = ie: the front door, feeding times, traveling, vet visits, snips at the groomer's, storms and thunder.
DOORBELL DRAMA?
WHAT ABOUT IT?
Basically, it is the same difference as leash-pulling. Wait for that nano-moment of quiet, mark it with a new positive word, tone, or sound and immediately reward the heck out of that. If spinning, barking, or jumping continues... WAIT. Recognize that moment of CALM and reward it like crazy! Get that favorite toy you have been hiding IN YOUR BACK POCKET for a moment like this, or those dehydrated fish treats, always adding tons of "Atta-Boys"!
One 18 month old Pit mix pulled soooo hard choking herself, ignoring the tugs and pulls that the owners quit walking her as much - they had to for everyone's safety... the Dog's, the owners, and strangers on the street, even though we all knew she only wanted to PLAY!!!
With 2Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Harness, Flower Essences, and walking 2 hours total - split over a 5 day period of 2-handed handling (= one hand on the steering wheel - front connection and one hand on the brakes = leash attached at top of the shoulders) and this Dog TRANSFORMED to walk happily on a loose leash at my side!! Just praise (no treats) and a few new training words: WAIT, WALK, TURN, WAIT. In my world, WAIT allows for sniffing. Maybe they need a little more CONFIDENCE? Or tone it down too much CONFIDENCE?
]]>“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.”
Written by Rob Siltanen, made famous by Steve Jobs
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Brene' Brown in 2012, responding to social media negativity, wrote:
“If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, I am not interested in or open to your feedback. There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their own lives, but will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgement at those of us trying to dare greatly. Their only contributions are criticism, cynicism, and fear-mongering. If you're criticizing from a place where you're not also putting yourself on the line, I'm not interested in your feedback.”
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Hi Meg,
I thought I should warn you of the unusual side effects of Calm Balm and Brave Balm. Yesterday I hosted Christmas dinner for my family.
I was dreading my brother’s usual antics, stirring the pot, getting everyone bickering at each other and antagonizing the dog.
Then there is my mother who enjoys promoting sibling rivalry. I always end up embarrassed in front of my husband and his children with my family’s terrible behavior. I just wanted them to eat and go home.
It was Bitsy’s (a new rescue) first Christmas; she is very shy and not used to being around a lot of people in our house. When just one person comes to visit, she barks nonstop.
I devised a plan; I had each group text me as they were arriving, we met them outside with Bitsy on a leash. I put Calm Balm and Brave Balm on her harness to help her with greeting each guest.
My husband applied Calm Balm and Brave Balm to each guest’s wrist and gave them a treat to present to Bitsy before we welcomed them into our home.
Worked like a charm! She didn’t bark, we were amazed at how well she accepted everyone.
Here is the unusual side effect, we had a very pleasant evening, no drama, my brother was so well behaved. My mother was a pleasure. When they left, we all hugged. I haven’t hugged my brother in 30 years.
Today, my mom called to say it was the best Christmas she had in many years. So calm and relaxing. Then it hit me. It was the Calm Balm and Brave Balm we applied to every guest. We did it to benefit the dog without realizing it would affect them too!
Thank you, Meg, I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year!
MAKE THIS YOUR BEST HOLIDAY SEASON EVER !!!
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Shorty Boy was the first to leave the line-up, disappearing into the nursery, and returning with one of his plushy toys. Interestingly, it was the toy I had given him on my last visit, months earlier. He just stood there and held it in his mouth.
Nothing escaped my GrandDaughter. She looked at Shorty with the toy. Then at me. And immediately, ran away to the nursery. A few seconds later, she ran back with the plushy Horse I had given her on my last visit. That is when my GrandSon ran away. This 18 month old brought back with him the last gift I had given him - a soft, stuffed Dog.
The three of them just stood and stared at me. I sat down right there on the floor. Shorty picked up his toy, walked over to me, dropped it in my (now available) lap. The 3 year old did the same. The 18 month old came over to me, turned around, and backed up until he plopped down in my lap, toys and all.
DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE TRICKS ON YOUR OWN !!!
THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS (albeit young) WORKING HERE!
]]>Hackles went down.
~ Breathing got calmer.
They quit barking!!
~ Our new Cat came out from hiding.
Our groomer gave us a discount.
~ She immediately made eye contact.
It was like they all forgot they were afraid, all in the same moment.
~ Worked faster than I could have loaded a syringe.
Her coat got shinier. How is THAT possible?
~ Horseshoer was done in record time today.
Our vet was pleasantly surprised at the changes.
~ Yesterday, he was so fearful I could not get him in the arena. Today, after 3 sprays, he calmly and confidently walked in like he had already won the event!
In the blink of an eye... their lives changed, FOREVER.
MORE OF YOUR EVERY DAY FEEDBACK.
Want a laugh? See what "I" missed in the blink of an eye!
One CAT's story complaining about MY "Perceptual Blindness."
Matter of fact: I have always found The Truth to be much more entertaining than the best written fiction.
Matter in point: Colonel Squeeek. Click to laugh.
We have tons, literally TONS of Friends, Allies, and .Orgs.
YES, we are super proud of them all and the work they do.
]]>My husband was a few months into his ‘general anxiety disorder’ diagnosis and NO OFFENSE he was driving us all close to the edge… He would come home on a Friday afternoon worried and upset about Monday morning’s workload and ruin everybody’s weekend. He could not help it! I knew that. I knew he loved us and wanted us to enjoy our time together. I asked if I could try to help. He said 'yes'.
So – I researched, mixed, shook, and sniffed until I got this new concoction to the right fragrance and emotional feeling - where it was very soothing and ‘nice to be around.’ Flower Essences were added for their positive emotional effects on a complicated personality prone to worry, sleep disorders, and bursts of anger.
When I was all done “playing” I told him I needed his help with a new formula and proceeded to lightly spray his clothes, hands, and one spritz over the top of his head. I said: “That’s it.”
I lost track of him for an hour when I saw him stumbling up the path from the barn. His hair was a mess and his shirt untucked. We had 8 Horses below and I feared the worst.
All he said was: “What did you do to me?” UH OH was my only thought.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I just took a nap in the hammock. I've not taken a nap in 30 years.”
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“I feel great - I just took a nap in the hammock.”
This formula now and forever is named: HAMMOCK BLEND = a combination of Cinnamon leaf* and Bergamot leaf* essential oils for clarity of thought; then we blend with Flower Essences of Sweetgrass to welcome change, Tiger Lily to manifest trust and dissolve worry, Purple Monkeyflower melting deep ingrained insecurities, and Angel’s Trumpet to see the best in all situations.
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up with negative, worrisome thoughts are all assuaged with this Remedy. Improvement is often felt on the first night. Does not matter how long ago the upsets began or how long they have lasted: days or decades. Essences are here to help you 'here and now' and move forward with renewed optimism and fresh creative thinking.
Try this 100% natural sleep aid and if it is not for you – no worries – we will immediately refund your money. Just ask!
Have I mentioned lately that I love my job?
Massage Therapists, Trainers, Pet Sitters, Healthcare Admin, Staff and Volunteers nationwide love HAMMOCK BLEND - you will too or get your money back! No questions asked!
* @ BlackWing Farms, we never use roots or bark or the 'heart' of a tree = for the health and sustainability of all our Planet's plants, trees, and critters.
]]>Here is how our encounters went:
10:00am – I arrived to begin 48 hours of pet sitting and she made it clear this was "HER" domain, barking and claiming both ends of the couch by walking from one end to the other marking a 10’ boundary I was told not to cross or she would take her leave.
8:00pm – Ten hours later. Licked my hand. Once. One lick.
Next day @ 2:00pm was the second lick. One. 28 hours later.
4:00pm – Jumped right up on my side of the couch and put her paw on my hand. Briefly. Once. Maybe it was to ask for dinner. I don’t care. It was communication.
5:00pm fed and @ 5:30pm – Came up right in front of me, paused, looked me in the eye as if to say “thanks for dinner” and let me stroke her under the chin and a tiny bit on her chest. 31+ hours later. Who’s counting?
Then I left to join friends for dinner. Gone less than 2 hours, I returned to see everything intact. PHEW.
Wait. Huh?
Is that my pink shoe? One of my Crocs? Don’t remember leaving it out in the living room. Huh? Maybe I did. There is the other one. Hmmm, I must have.
Is that my pillow on the floor? No chew marks on anything. No slobbers. Wait. Is that another pillow from my bed? On the couch? The third blue and white pattern stood out clearly on the brown couch. Her brown couch. The three pillows and my Crocs were all dry. Not chewed. Not dirty. No idea how she could have even dragged them all through the house without getting them dirty or slobbery, finally coming to rest on her couch.
The clear and present evidence assured me our relationship was destined for great things. She loved me. We were not kissy, huggy. Yet. But definitely closer. I did not push anything. Put the pillows back on my bed. Put the Crocs on my feet. Settled in for a few hours of TV.
Later on, told her I was going to bed and I’d see her in the morning. An hour later, she jumped up on my bed and settled snugly at my side. She stayed all night. Next morning, she nudged me awake and let me rest my hand on her shoulder with only the slightest twinge. Then her belly, back, legs, body and face for a full 10 minutes. I stopped before I was asked to.
FROM THIS TO THIS
What an honor. Like I was initiated into a secret world. Maybe I was. What else would we call it? When I see her again; we can pick up where we left off. Maybe I’ll bring her three pillows and a pair of Crocs. Just like she did for me. What a gift.
Progress is guaranteed. May not be on 'your' schedule... so (why not?) let them CHOOSE YOU in their own time!!
- COURAGE & TRUST - is the go-to for any personalities like this! Ferals, 'fraidy Cats, shy Dogs, and flighty Equines TRUST us on this - we have helped 1,000's of these Type A's! B's! & C's! ;-) Ellie Laks from The Gentle Barn re-named this Remedy for us when she saw the progress with her slaughterhouse rescues: Pigs, Turkeys, veal Calves, orphaned Horses and adults rescued from 'pharmaceutical factories'. Tnx Ellie & Jay !
Comment from Judy of PetLovers Publications: Love this blog !! and I have the same findings with my Rescue Snoodle, Chance…. Last year I thought of calling him “Fang.” This year he’s turning into a lovable happy clown with only occasional “pouts."
]]>Contemplative RESPONSES result from, result in increased impulse control.
How?
Choices allow / encourage our 'thinking apparatuses' to control // guide our first impulsive thoughts; resulting in feeling better about most situations and the next and the next and... Yes - like 'do not press send'! Think before you respond, before you send that memo, etc.
So what?
Proof is in the ACTION or the sequence and consequence of actions, reactions, and responses. Important because every single time we do something that feels good; we want to do it again. When we are asked our opinion; we want to participate. We lean in and want to engage. When we are asked our preferences; we feel respected. In my world, the same applies to Dogs, Cats, Birds, Horses and more.
Want your own proof?
Play with this idea. My Rescue Buddy featured here was given a choice. He looks confused at this new idea being introduced = the idea of a human asking him his opinion, his preference, his choice. Developing a new relationship -being asked for his opinion- while the person is actually waiting the Dog to respond first. The hope is that he will choose to be more engaging with the next human. Maybe waiting to see what they wanted to do, how they wanted to engage, and how they view PLAY!!
Respectful, co-operative relationship of give and take is the goal.
Then what?
Play some more.
Offer positive, healthy choices BEFORE they make their own (- like Shelter Boy and Shorty Boy here -) CONSEQUENTIALLY creating happier rescues, facilities, and living rooms worldwide.
]]>It is all a grand display unless you happen to get in the way.
Zoomies in the Dog World are considered a state of ecstasy, kinda. As is humping. Ask any super happy Poodle, Lab, or Golden strengthening their back muscles and they will tell you… this is HAPPY made visible. Not talking about the insecure dominance we see all too often on walks as leash-aggression OR IS IT REQUESTS TO PLAY?? and shhhhh… @ dog parks.
Zoomies in the wide open spaces of the prairie or living rooms with non-slip flooring is a grand spectacle. Go for it. Play. Get on the floor with them, roll around, crouch down and smack the ground with flat hands. Spin. Engage. Let them tell you what they like and don’t like. Let them scoot, sprint, and zoom. And maybe if they are so inclined, give you a soft, safe muzzle punch like a gentle bump from a friend acknowledging your connection.
Cats: hunt, freeze, fixate, pounce. Eat, sleep, potty. That about covers their happiness scale. Only advice: carpe the diem before your Cats do.
Horses at play are a gorgeous sight. But Churchill had a point when he reportedly said Horses are uncomfortable in the middle and dangerous at both ends. No one denies their beauty and grace and speed. The precision of where, when, and how they place each hoof is a study in and of itself. Equines have developed accute accuracy over their 55 million years, and we humans are the better for it. Don’t want to hang out with a 1,000 pounds of clumsy.
While ‘playing’ with Horses (big ones) in pastures or fields; several have been within inches and ounces of causing great damage. They were able to control their force and pull back the full impact of a massive set of teeth or a hoof nano-seconds before contact. I feel they just wanted to get my attention… to make a point… to expose the possibilities.
Not to scare me but to remind me we both have something at stake here.
ASIDE: there was one older grey mare who reminded me of Captain Ahab’s giant white Whale… looked me right in the eye as she ran past splashing up dust, purposefully skimming my jacket, just to prove her point. Counting Coup while counting this brush with (my) death a game.
All this brings me to one of my favorite formulas: SETTLE DOWN. Animals and people benefit because these Flowers allow them all to pause and pull back; granting each other a tiny bit more space to assess and do the right thing.
Cats benefit by being able to chill out and re-connect faster with their environment rather than remain on “high alert” anticipating the next and the next and the next thing to hunt. They may twitch, stretch, yawn, roll, vocalize. Learn their individualized signs of ‘re-entry’: then play some more - with new insight and intelligence = EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE!
This formula is also aimed at the uber happy Dog = could call this emotional state: HAPPY-MESS. They are wiggling across the floor disrupting furniture, some drooling, maybe a pee dribble, soft whining, often with a toy in their mouth as an offering = a way to disrupt all this overwhelming, mind-boggling emotional happiness at seeing you again!
We don’t want to discourage this love fest, just tone it down a bit. More like taking a step back, taking a breath, and while exhaling asking for a minute of peace and quiet.
SETTLE DOWN is a Flower Essence blend of:
Make sense? Actually it makes so much sense to me that I think this formula should be mandatory before every car ride, staff meeting, NATO meeting, every shelter, all trips to the groomers and vets, Congressional hearings, and (some) family dinners! Keep all your “HAPPY MESSES” happy!!
Pair with our CONFIDENCE for if and when they are too bold or too shy; thus creating MORE PROBLEMS IN PARADISE.
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Animals allowed me to be me without restrictions of juvenile comparisons and adult expectations.
There was always a place for me in the pack, herd, and colony. My good days were fun and the tough ones were accepted by them. One night, without knowing it, I was crying in my sleep and when I woke up; my Sweet Collie was slowly licking the tears off my cheek. My Horses would buck me off but then circle back and make sure I was OK. Well, most of them, anyways!
Now, my life is dedicated to others and their relationships with their Critters of fur and feathers. Or caring for them before you open your doors, hearts to them. If you ever want or need more insight or another set of eyes on a problem = Call me. I'd love to help you sort stuff out. Together we are guaranteed to find solutions!
My favorite title is: Forensic Behaviorist. Check it out!
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Nik, a shelter volunteer wrote this and videotaped the journey of this WONDER DOG proving that anything is POSSIBLE !
"'Recently, a little 8-year-old Chihuahua girl was taken into a California animal shelter as a stray. My mom saw that she was scared to death, shaking, and on the outside of her cage it said that she was growling and nipping at people.
Since my mom and I are in the kennel enrichment program, we got to work ASAP. My mother ritually sprayed the "Shelter Blend" spray and also rubbed "Calm Balm" on the little girl's bed every day- which are both aromatherapeutic tools that BlackWing Farms manufactures in order to help stressed and scared pets. Find out more about them here: https://www.blackwingfarms.com/collections/all
With the combination of aromatherapy, love, and time, this little girl (that my mom and I call Poppy) made a quick progression from scared little nippy girl to a happy little love bug! By the 5th day, she was coming up to us and nudging us to pet her! When we came two days later, she was ecstatic to see my mother! When we took her on a walk, it was very clear just how much she had progressed in such a short time!
This video hopefully illustrates how easily and effectively the power of LOVE can make such a HUGE difference. Little Poppy went from being a growling, shaking, petrified animal that was biting out of fear, to an amazingly loving, excited, tail-wagging, little girl!
My mom and I would love to thank the kennel enrichment program, which is Carla Naden's wonderful idea that has come into fruition and already changed the lives of many - animals and humans alike. It has definitely changed my mother's life as well as mine; we enrich the animals' lives and they enrich ours. If you would like to participate in this extraordinary program, email Carla at carlanaden@animalsynergy.org"
Video shot and edited by: Nik Peter ** Assisted by: Jacquelyn Rae Peter
Song: "kid for today" by Boards of Canada
]]>Matter of fact, I have always found Truth to be much more entertaining than the best written fiction. Matter in point: Colonel Squeeek. Yes, that is 3 E’s and he earned them, as well as his rank of Colonel but that story is not why we are here.
Today, I want to talk about perceptual blindness and the phenomena known as: “Ships Not Seen.” It is real and in my world of animal and human behavior; I get to see this manifested almost on a daily basis.
Simply explained: Perceptual blindness occurs when someone cannot see something never before seen… like a miracle, an aberration, or the ships of Christopher Columbus. One source offers this explanation: Native Americans could “not see the ships” of Christopher Columbus in the harbor, even though they were in plain sight; because the Native Americans never having seen ships of this magnitude did not have the proper mental slots or receptors to process, let alone, accept such foreign, never before seen views.
Truly, I do see this as I watch people who cannot accept what they just witnessed in their own animals right in front of them after using a Flower Essence blend even though they actually see their Dog who has been spinning for years suddenly stop. A Cat who howls 24/7 stops. The Horse who is an angry head tosser, calms himself and stops. A shy Dog makes eye contact for the first time EVER.
People cannot see the new event; they cannot believe it. They will not accept it.
Back to The Squeeek Phenomena. This amazingly smart albeit clever Siamese had not been around for a while and trouble usually followed his silence in the manner of faucets being turned on, dresser drawers rifled, doors opened… so I went to check.
There he was but I did not seee him. Yes, 3 E’s. He was on the toilet. Front paws at 10:00 and 2:00. Hindquarters squatting down dead center over the water. He had a dreamy gaze as he stared forward at the bathroom cabinetry.
I saw it all and yet, truthfully, did not see a thing. Nothing. Nothing registered. My brain and body were frozen as I stared at my Cat taking a dump in the toilet.
What did I do? I did what most people would do. I yelled, breaking his blissful trance. And why did I do this? No clue. There was not a thought in my brain. None. Regrets? Tons. What fun I missed out on. The stories of how the fantastic Cat Whisperer, Meg, talked her Cat into using the toilet. Flush and all. What a fool for caving (even though it was without my mental permission) to my initial re-action of dis-counting, doubting, not believing what I was actually seeing!
I apologized profusely but it was too late for him. He had been shocked by my insolence. My punishment was swift and severe because forever after this moment, he ignored the toilet, and often the litter box.
Thinking back, I believe Colonel Squeeek had 3 possible reasons for performing this never-before-seen phenomena. First, to show off his supreme intellect. Second, to avoid the indignity of the litter box. Third and most likely the truth – to exact his revenge on the Dogs by purposefully and forever corrupting their favorite watering hole.
A very true story by a very sad Meg Harrison
]]>BACK COVER:
Every visit to my friend’s house was crazy with 3 dogs jumping, barking, and acting wild.
“All I have to do is spray them with these Flower Essences and they will settle down” I said.
She burst out laughing at me, the little bottle, and my big promise.
“Wait 3 minutes.” I said while spraying.
She checked her watch.
In 2 ½ minutes, the German Shepherd and the Border Collie were lying down and the unruly Jack Russell-Chihuahua was quietly chewing on one of his toys.
“I’ll give you half-a-million dollars for the rest of that bottle," she whispered. What would you pay for Peace and Quiet?
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]]>Stand up for what is right and you will never be wrong.
I’m blogging a letter I wrote today in response to 3 emails querying about Cats and Essential Oils – guess I am not one to stick my head in the sand, huh? But as you’ll readily tell upon reading my letter to the zoo vet – I sure did put my foot in ‘it’ this time.
MY EMAIL OF 1/22/18:
This dialogue concerning essential oils, fragrances and chemicals and their use on animals is paramount to the future longterm safety of our animals. Dogs are also being overexposed and humans are doing possible longterm damage to those olfactory systems. But you did not ask about canines - you asked about felines.
I have attached an excerpt from my book: HELPING HUMANS ONE ANIMAL AT A TIME about being approached by a huge zoo in 2011 to participate in an experiment of essential oils and certain manufactured perfumes changing behavior in large cats - I refused and this PDF explains some of the why. I have never ever recommended EOs for cats or birds or reptiles which has made me unpopular with a lot of people, certain companies, corporations and MLMs = multi-level marketers... and as you will read... with the vets as well.
There is not enough research available about safety, damaging effects, and harm from exposure to oils and fragrances - trust me I have been looking for many years. We also fail to recognize the domestic animals being exposed to these chemicals, fragrances, and harmful EOs in diffusers 24/7, cleaning products, creams, lotions, shampoos - human and animal - dryer sheets, and on and on and on. END OF 1/22/18 EMAIL
HELPING HUMANS ONE ANIMAL AT A TIME:
On the Wrong Right Track
Don’t be intimidated by anyone’s credentials or sophistication or bank balance or public image or the magnitude of their industry. Here is one example of a David and a Goliath. I had been asked to participate in a research study at a prestigious zoo aimed at increasing activity of their Lions, Tigers, and Cheetahs for the entertainment of the public. I wanted the zoo to use my Flower Essences but they wanted to use my products containing medicinal-grade Lavender essential oil. The doctor told me these big Cats were physiologically the same as domestic Cats after I told him exposure to Lavender oil was a detriment to their health. He then told me they had poured Lavender oil on some plants – near the public viewing area - and the big Cats loved rolling in and sleeping in it. Here is my follow-up letter.
Dr. Zoo, (not his real name) March 14, 2011
Thank you for the conversation on Friday. Sorry to be the bearer of the bad news concerning cats and oils but, with the onslaught of oils into the animal world touted as “natural and safe” hard evidence does exist of related illnesses and death. As I understand, cats do not have the enzymes (enzyme glucuronyl tranferases) necessary to eliminate build up of toxic metabolites caused by fragrances and certain oils like Tea Tree and Lavender. At the end is a short research article.**
Additionally, essential oils are a severe drain on the planet’s resources. Rose essential oil from Bulgaria (which I believe to be the best available in the world for uses in aromatherapy) requires 1,000 pounds of Rose petals to make 1 ounce of oil or 450 drops. Turkish Rose oil requires 250 pounds of petals for 1 ounce of oil. Either way, not economical or ecologically judicious while also considering the documented inhumane and deceitful practices in the perfume/fragrance industry.
Flower Essences and homeopathic Remedies I use:
Problems such as shyness, aggression, marking, obsessive licking, and anxious behaviors are all remedied by the exact same formulas successfully used on the Katrina victims and thousands since 2005.
In my experience, shy and reticent behaviors are the result of either:
I rarely advise changing the environment since, as in the case of Katrina rescue efforts, it was impossible to alter the situation nonetheless, the animals did adjust, overcome fears, insecurities, accept their new surroundings, new schedules, food, and new caretakers. These same blends are used in shelters, sanctuaries, and hospital settings where situations are not optimum yet the animals overcome negative behaviors.
In households using Flower Essences, shy cats quit running away when company arrives, cats emerge from under beds or inside closets to explore the house as never before – even in broad daylight - even when there are people in the house! Even if the chronic behavior has been ongoing for years. As they feel less vulnerable and become more self-assured; they begin to explore and interact with family members and strangers alike. These changes are permanent and quick: 3 - 14 days unless in-bred or similarly damaged which could take 3-6 weeks.
I did begin researching a new formula for your Lions, Tigers, and Cheetahs but, want to make sure I have pinpointed your exact needs. One more conversation would be greatly appreciated.
My best,
Meg
** “Tea Tree Oil>>> Melaleuca Oil: derived from the leaves of the Australia tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia); often referred to as tea tree oil. The oil contains terpenes, sesquiterpenes, and hydrocarbons. A variety of commercially available products contain the oil and shampoos and the pure oil have been sold for use on dogs, cats, ferrets and horses. Tea tree oil toxicosis has been reported in dogs and cats.5,6 A recent case report describes the illness of three cats exposed dermally to pure melaleuca oil for flea control.5 Clinical signs in one or more of the cats included hypothermia, ataxia, dehydration, nervousness, trembling and coma. There were moderate increases in serum ALT and AST (liver enzymes) concentrations. Two cats recovered within 48 hours following decontamination and supportive care. However, one cat died ~ 3 days following exposure. The primary constituent of the oil, terpinen-4-ol, was detected in the urine of the cats."
"Lavender oil: Many have used as aroma therapy, protecting the cat from direct exposure by putting on cloth and in another type container like plastic perforated, direct contact (and long term exposure) has led to hepatic failure and death.” Mark Grossman DVM MS
FOLLOW-UP ON THE FOLLOW-UP – Never heard from him again after he asked for more “peer reviewed studies” – which I did supply to him. Good news is that all traces of this “study of oils to increase the zoo’s big cats activity during public visiting hours” was removed from their official website and never mentioned again.
Indulge me one more chance to get in trouble - What I am saying here is err on the side of caution when it comes to conflicting information. Many will argue for the benefits of oils for cats and to them, I say: re-read my letter to Dr. Zoo.
]]>A FLOWER ESSENCE is 3-5 flowers, petals, leaves, or needles (Pine) placed in water, in a glass container, in the sun for a period of time, usually 20-60 minutes. Then strain the organic material, cover, and shake well. If you want to save some; mix with 60% carmalized brandy or organic apple cider vinegar as a preservative. Use 4 spoonfuls of Flower Water and add 6 spoonfuls preservative. Cover and shake again. Label it with the date and use within 3-6 months. Longer preservation - mix 10% Essence and 90% preservative. Voila! Nada mas! Not complicated. Not a secret. The essence of the flower is in the water. For more information: Our FAQs.
A HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY according to Dr. Hahnemann’s Laboratories in an article written by Michael Quinn:
“The entire process of making a Homeopathic medicine consists of the following steps:
Source: http://www.wholehealthnow.com/homeopathy_info/hahnemann_labs_preparation.html
Psssst… in other words: homeopathic remedies are Flower Essences sprayed onto pellets. Dilution and succession are fabulous topics we will address in another article.
Fun Notes: Urban legend has it that Dr. Hahnemann (born in 1775) discovered the benefits of succession (rigorous shaking) as he delivered his ‘liquid medicine’ in a buckboard. The discovery was made when he noticed his afternoon patients recovered faster from their illnesses than his early morning patients. The difference, he correctly surmised, was the shaking (succession) of the vials in the buckboard.
Indulge me one more uncorroborated event. Once, on his rounds to his patients, he saw a man had fallen off his horse and lay unconscious on the road. Hahnemann jumped down and grabbed a vial of Aconite or Star of Bethlehem or Yarrow or Rock Rose or some other decoction. So as not to disturb him at all, the Doctor waved the vial under the man’s nose a few times. The man woke up almost immediately.
Assessing his injuries and locating his horse took a few minutes. He thanked Hahnemann and asked what precisely had the good Doctor done for him. How could he re-pay him for his help? Hahnemann explained he merely waved one of his liquid concoction under the man’s nose. The man then took out $20, waved it under Hahnemann’s nose, put it back in his billfold, remounted his horse, and rode off.
AN ESSENTAIL OIL is: A few of you know I could go politically sideways on this one; so I am taking myself out of this answer and offering this excellent explanation of the various ways to make essential oils. These people, New Directions Aromatics, say it much better than I could and it is illustrated too!
https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/articles/how-essential-oils-are-made.html
Question: What’s my -personal and political- problem with the manufacturing and marketing and consuming essential oils (EOs) in 2020?
Short Answer:
Why does BlackWing Farms use EOs?
Because we have done the research, we err on the side of caution, plus we have created AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE products, and when used according to our directions, the formulas we have chosen for you, your family, your Dogs, and Horses are better than anything else out there = OUR OPINE ONLY!
All that to say this:
Do what YOU feel is right. Research. Experiment. Trust you gut. Ask questions. Look for honesty, transparency, and availability in any company (literally do they pick up the phone when you call, answering your questions, not reading off a marketing script). You choose who to share your money with. Thank you for your ongoing trust in BWF and our Team. We are here for you. Call anytime! 760-728-9900 or email: Meg@BlackWingFarms.com
]]>This precious 4 year old Girl already loved all animals deeply. Horses were hands-down favorites. On Easter Sunday, she got the news that her favorite Horse, Athena, had become suddenly ill and passed away. Our young girl got the sad news just before Easter services and had little time to recover.
In church, the preaching grew louder and louder. Previously lost in thought about Athena, she started to pay attention to the words from the pulpit. Now she heard the message about the death of her well-loved Jesus.
Her startled response was much louder than expected:
"What? Jesus is dead?"
The congregation grew quiet with her words. Then, with a huge exasperated exhale, she blurted out:
"Oh sheeeeesh! What a day. First Athena. And now Jesus."
]]>Being honest, I just wanted to use the word piloerection in a sentence to see if I could grab your attention. I will talk about it because it is something we look for when looking for signs to predict negative behavior.
OK, backing up here to explain the nature of this piece: Signs of Less Stress. There are plenty of discussions about observing the ears, eyes, mouth, posture, and movement to define the emotional state.
There SHOULD be more discussions on the nature of what is happening IN that animal = namely, the involuntary contractions of muscles controlled OR MORE ACCURATELY STATED: UNCONTROLLED by the sympathetic nervous system. Oh, don't get me going about the PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM - we'd be late for supper!
As my girlfriend in the photo displays - she has no control when looking at her ex-boyfriend or ex-co-worker walking into a room. She cannot help herself any more than the Dog sharing the picture with her has control wherein both are exposing their canine teeth, FYI = on the side facing the person of concern... according to Charles Darwin.
What I am trying to say is that these unscripted physical responses are as close as we will get to the truth of their thoughts, feelings and emotional states and therefore should NEVER BE PUNISHED, SCOLDED, SHAMED, RE-SHAPED, OR IGNORED. (Look at my un-Valentine's day story of The Great Dane's Growl and his warnings that were scolded then ignored until it was almost too late. True story.)
These expressions are as genuine as it gets! So says Charles Darwin in his book: “The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals,” first published in 1872, and long regarded as a seminal work in psychology. Here, Darwin makes the case for the instinctual or inherited nature of the facial expressions and body language that accompany our simple or primary emotions = anger and fear, surprise and disgust, joy and sadness, and other more complex emotions, too. Darwin terms these facial expressions and body language “the language of the emotions,” and deems them a product of natural selection, a process of evolution.
Getting back to piloerection in a dog and raising the hair on the back of our (human) necks, the cause is the same: involuntary contraction of muscles at the base of hair follicles. BTW, you're invited down any of these Rabbit holes I go down to find this fascinating yet ego-deflating information for the anthropocentric** thinker.
** Anthropocentric: #1: considering human beings as the most significant entity of the universe. #2: interpreting or regarding the world in terms of human values and experiences.
]]>Physically I can recall the relief when my vet said: NOT TODAY. Most of us have been there. We have thought the worst, expected it, braced for it with a short contingency plan = 2 days on the couch with a gallon of Haggen Daas.
If the worst is imminent, where do we go with the shock and dis-belief? Does it overwhelm us? For how long? To what deep effect? Asking the hardest questions: How are THE OTHERS going to be impacted? The kids? The other animals? What will I do with the handmade Christmas stocking – replete with matching hat for at least one photo a year? What will I do with that? That loss. That forever… that nothing can replace.
Even when it is 100% the right decision, then and now – doubt creeps in. But here’s the deal = don’t let it stay. Don’t hang on to it. Don’t give in. Don’t give it power. Look for someone else to love.
Because the truest #1 definition of GRIEF is "Love with no place to go."
]]>He was not a popular horse. He bucked off a lot of people. He just exploded and dumped them. I rode him a few times but he was nervous, short tempered, barely tolerating leg pressure. Unmistakably, he was ready to explode. He vet-checked sound so it was up to me to work the emotional kinks out of him. I needed to find out where the previous training had de-railed.
My first impression was he was either started too young or had an overall immature personality. Flower Essences I tried on him were Impatiens for more patience with himself, his surroundings, and others; Passion Flower for comfortable correction allowing him to see the opportunity in the moment; Clematis to sharpen up his focus when I was asking something of him; and Chestnut Bud for sorting through the requests. However, within the following days, none of these made any difference to his comfort level. He was still edgy, uncomfortable, and unpredictable. This never happened to me. I was disappointed, dismayed, and nervous, asking myself, “Now what do I do?”
I gave him Flower Essences and homeopathic remedies for post-trauma and help his body to relax: Arnica essence and homeopathic 30x increasing to 200c when no bodily changes were evident. Then, the relaxation throughout the body was more apparent. Additionally, I used Echinacea and Yarrow essences for negative memories associated with a particular environment, also used for horses who don’t like arena riding or riding on the trail away from the herd. These are the same Essences and remedies I used for horses trapped and injured after a weeklong firestorm in southern California 7 years ago and also rescuing post-Katrina in Louisiana.
I continued giving him lots of Impatiens Essence as this was his biggest personality deficiency: patience with himself and others. Homeopathic Chamomila 6x was given and added to his bath water. Star Tulip for grounding was another important Essence used at this time, since nothing seemed to be immediately helping this difficult (and dangerous) personality.
I quit riding him until I had a definitive answer to the erratic and dangerous behavior, working him at liberty in a large 80’ round pen. The new training goal was #1) to maintain a good attitude,#2) focus his attention on me, #3) wait for my signals and #4) meet my requests in a timely manner.
My requests were simple: Don’t break gait – if trotting, stay trotting; and Don’t reverse without being asked. He rebelled at my requests by striking the air several times in my direction. He picked up the pace, so I encouraged it. He did have stamina equal to his determination.
As he worked himself on the rail, I began to hear the sound of distant gunfire. He twitched his ears, slowed his pace, and looked a bit concerned. The sound got louder, more consistent. He started galloping with his hindquarters drifting just to the inside, off the rail. When the gunfire erupted again, he spooked, bucked, and kicked out a few times. This is when I realized that the gunfire was coming from him. It was gas emissions!
He went 10 more minutes and rifled out gas the entire time. Finally, he started to move more relaxed, head bowed, throat latch untroubled, belly soft and pliant, all 4 legs hitting the ground equally. His ears were actively twitching, flicking in all directions. His eyes were now more expressive, active, and blinking more often. He had been working hard but his comfortable posture was much more than post-exercise.
He was darn near a puppy dog after that. I worked him several more days at liberty, let him roll as much and as often as he needed (which was a lot), made sure there was no sugar in his feed, and one day re-saddled him. His behavior improved when the gas (which had been continually replacing itself either from stress or diet) was at last eliminated. I put 2 weeks on him in the arena and on the trail riding up to 4 hours daily, without incident.
Always more to the story...
A year later, leaning over my new neighbor’s fence talking horses, he questioned me about the markings on this bucking black Morgan Horse - clearly doubting it could be the famous Widow Maker that had bucked off some of the best Cowboys in North County - including several at his ranch.
“Yes, he was black with a white snip on his forehead. Yes, he had a piece of white above one front hoof. Yes, he was short.” I answered all his questions. My neighbor was now clearly convinced that I had, indeed, put 30 days on The Widow Maker.
His parting comment to me was:
“Yah, maybe you did ride him 30 days.
But, you didn’t ride him 31...
Now, did you?”
]]>I kissed Shorty Boy on the top of his head and whispered: "Take good care of my family."
He whispered back: "I always do,"
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After years of working with rescued and “damaged” horses headed to their end because of bad behavior, I came to believe these horses were, to varying degrees, in a state of shock. Many were so surprised by their inhumane and confusing treatment that they either shut down or became enraged, making them unpredictable and dangerous.
Thanks to Flower Essences, various dramatic behavior improvements took place that seemed impossible, given the history of the animal or the circumstances. Circumstances included hurricanes, weeklong firestorms, tornadoes and court ordered animal seizures. Flower Essences address current crises and, equally as important, the past – replacing old, negative memories with healthy, positive thoughts. Effects on the animals’ future behavior include giving them the opportunity to learn, and to accept, co-operate with, and trust human intervention and companionship.
Starr
Starr was a horse who taught me the true power of Flower Essences. This mare arrived at my farm filthy, angry, tense, restless and hating to be touched. I had 30 days to “fix” this horse without knowing how traumatized she was. The owner simply said: “We leave the halter on.” He bragged that this gorgeous mare cost only $100 at the monthly auction. He failed to mention that this ½ ton horse had hospitalized 2 people since then.
Warning - graphic details of abuse. After he left that first day, I went to take the halter off (The owner said: “We leave the halter on.”) and saw that the 2-inch buckle was rusted shut. Then I saw the deformed, indented bone on her nose. Her facial bones, as she grew, could not grow where the non-giving nylon yearling halter was, so there were deep indentations in the bones and muscles of her head. How she could have chewed and eaten, I don’t know. The cheekbone near the eye was deformed as well, and her poll bones and muscle were indented. Imagine a yearling halter on a grown horse’s face… There were many misshapen bones. This halter had been on for years and the bone and flesh grew abnormally to fit the halter. I had a choice as to how to proceed and I chose Flower Essences. No outside help, no surgery, and no more trauma.
To start, Flower Essences were added to her water, her hay and sprinkled in her new corral: Rock Rose for steadfastness and follow-through, Clematis for learning and focus, Cherry Plum for composure, Impatiens for patience, double doses of Star of Bethlehem for shock and restoration, and Star Tulip for renewed grounding and comfort.
After 3 days of Flower Essences, she trusted me enough to cut the halter off her face. I used the sharpest kitchen knife and it still took more than 5 minutes. Then the halter hung upside down, the noseband wedged within the bone it shaped, for a full 10 minutes before she moved enough for it to fall out. When she freed herself, I left it there on the ground for the next few days. She urinated on it, struck at it, flung it in the air and urinated on it some more.
During Week 2 I added Crab Apple for improving self-image, Red Clover for control, and Sweet Pea for grounding, to some bath water. She still had a hard time being touched or with fast movements, so she got sponge baths with these essences. I also made a bucket of essences to dip my hands in for light massage and stretches. I had to ease her into moving parts of her body that were stoved up from years of tension.
During Week 3, the essences Gentian for courage and optimism and Mustard for lingering depression were added to her water and feed. The vet said she could never be ridden due to an old injury to the shoulder, probably from a trailering incident. The farrier trimmed her, and even though she cooperated, he doubted she had ever been trimmed, and there was permanent damage as a result of improper feed and exercise. Armed with this information, we intensified the massages, gave her hydrotherapy, added carrot stretches to the routine, started teaching her tricks to help her become more supple, and put Flower Essences on her treats. She learned to bow, follow her tail in tight circles, reach back onto her rump to get a treat, paw the air, and to bob and weave.
When it was time for her to go home, her family was taught her tricks in order to keep her supple and comfortable. They also got a 90-day supply of Mimulus for known fears, Gorse for hope, and Impatiens for patience with the humans.
3 Years Later
I saw Starr’s family and asked how she was doing. They said she was wonderful. Even though she was never ridden; she entertained with her tricks at every family BBQ. They also said she was helpful during a wild fire demanding a mandatory evacuation. The family stopped and picked up neighbors’ horses, some never trailered before, while Starr kept all of them calm.
DIFFERENT DAY, SAME ESSENCES, SAME TRAUMA, DIFFERENT SPECIES !! Link to Permission to Enjoy blog
]]>"...collective behaviors are found across the animal kingdom — and regardless of our penchant for Shakespeare and beer helmets, humans are animals, too.
Some scientists think the essential components of flocking behavior, an instinctive tendency to join with others... remains alive inside us." (Brandon Keim in WIRED magazine.)
FIGHT * FLIGHT * FREEZE * FAWN * FAINT * FLOP * FLOCK are overactive parasympathetic nervous system symptoms = responses to stress and so often misunderstood, evident in emergencies = both real and imagined (as in worry and ruminating on past negative experiences). Do not judge yourself too harshly = it is how we are wired!
This illustration by Amy Hwang (for me) perfectly depicts FLOP.
]]>With certain plants, flowers, weeds, and trees; magic takes place unacknowledged and without conscious awareness. And definitely without waiting for our egocentric permission! This is another favor that the plants give us. They work... because they can. They help us, because they can. They help others and we get to witness. We get to be satiated with the feeling of wonder and awe because we see relief in someone else's life without our intrusive assistance.
We have created all-natural, non-harming, carefully formulated blends from the goodness that flowering plants and trees have to offer. Thanks to our stick-to-it-iveness = you benefit during your life's trials and challenges. We know what you need because, at some time in the past, it is exactly what we needed for ourselves or someone else in need.
Welcome to our World! Trust us for just a few minutes. We promise we will try our best to help, no matter what, no matter how long ago your emotions were jarred.
Here is a shortcut to a lifetime of relief: Surviving Trauma.
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