Saluki Rescue Fundraiser Auction

STOLA Saluki Rescue is about to begin their annual fundraiser auction on Ebay. To visit the auction and keep up with the great items they will be offering for sale, visit their

Ebay AboutMe Page

This year, more than ever before, STOLA needs the funding, due to a huge 39 dog animal cruelty rescue which is currently in the courts. The dogs will be released to STOLA's care shortly, and at an average of $800 to rehabilitate and rehome a single dog, the costs of this rescue are going to be astounding.

Please visit Ebay, bookmark the STOLA rescue page, and bid generously.

special note: Salukis in Need

Hello, friends,

As many of you know, Salukis have been a big part of my life for going
on three decades. Yoda, my first Saluki, is the image at the top of my
gazehound.com website, and still a powerful and positive influence in my
life even though he passed away many years ago. He sparked a love and
respect for this breed that has become part of my core identity. As a
result, I'm led to do what I can, though often "what I can" doesn't seem
to be enough, to aid the breed in various ways.

I have been involved with the organization STOLA (Saluki Tree of Life
Alliance, Inc.), a national Saluki breed rescue group, since its
inception, and am still active as it's web maintainance person and as a
volunteer. As a volunteer of STOLA, I have recently been involved in a
dire situation that is going to need ongoing support in many categories.

While Saluki people on the whole are great folks, in every barrel there
are bound to be one or two bad apples. One of the "most rotten" in the
Saluki barrel is a lady who, among other names, Saluki people know as
Sandy Moss. Her Elektra Salukis have, for decades, been victims of her
mental illness and negligence. She is what modern psychology experts
refer to an "animal hoarder", and since the 1980s she has kept Salukis
in growing squallor, not tending to their needs, and allowing them to
breed indiscriminately. One time in the past she was brought up on
criminal charges, but after she got out, she moved to a new state,
changed her name, and went about collecting her dogs from "friends" who
hid them for her and started over again.

This past week, brave and dedicated volunteers, including STOLA
representatives, and a caring group of officials from her Virginia
county, finally obtained enough evidence to move in on Sandy Moss and
arrest her. Multiple counts of animal cruelty were pressed, and she is
currently in prison. While I cannot reveal any details of what the
rescuers found on her property due to the pending court procedures,
let's suffice to say that you probably don't really want to know
anyway. Many, many tears have been shed over these details.

The dogs are currently divided into two batches. One group of fourteen
was gotten out before the actual raid and are being fostered by a STOLA
representative. The other group of twenty five dogs is in the custody
of animal control, and must stay there for some time, as they are
evidence in the legal procedings. Both groups, however, are in dire
need of support, as a rescue of this magnitude is more than either
STOLA's budget or the budget of the animal care facility used by the
county are able to safely cover.

Due to the non profit nature of the organization, STOLA is not allowed
by the IRS to donate directly to the county run facility, but private
volunteers have put together a separate fund for that purpose. STOLA
has donated web space and an email address to those volunteers to help
out. If reading this message inspires you to learn more and possibly
make a donation to either group of Salukis, please feel free to visit
the STOLA website at http://www.stola.org. You will see links on the
front page to both the private page for the Elektra Saluki Aid Fund, and
to STOLA's main donations page.

I hope this note finds you all well, and that it has not disturbed
anyone. Salukis are a special part of my heart, and I would not be
emailing you this way if there was not a very special cause.

Thank you for your time,
--Gayle

Gazehound's Animal Communication News, August 2005

*GAZEHOUND'S ANIMAL COMMUNICATION NEWS
*August 2005

================================
Keeping in touch with the animals....
and the people who love them
================================

TEACHERS, THE TAUGHT, AND THE UNTEACHABLE

We are all students of life, and the entire universe is our classroom.
As we walk though this life-school, we meet many teachers along the
way. In fact, just about everyone we meet teaches us something, even
when that something is a minor detail. Some teachers, of course, are
profound, having a vast impact in our lives. One thing it's been a true
privilege to witness as an animal communicator, is how so many people
consider their animal friends some of their wisest teachers.

So often, I talk with an animal and their human, and find that the
relationship between them is many-fold. Yes, they are human and pet ...
but I don't think I have yet to meet any human who feels that it ends
there. There is often a parent-child relationship involved, and believe
me when I say that the human is not always the parent in the deal.
There is of course a deep and faithful friendship. And almost always, I
find that the pair have learned so many things from one another. Very
frequently the human considers themselves a humble student of the
animals in their life, and often the animal will share with me the same
emotion ... that their human friend has taught them a great deal as well.

After have enjoyed this observation over time, I've come to the
conclusion that many humans take an enormous step forward in not only
their relationship with animals, but their own soul evolution, when
they accept the lessons that the animals (and all of nature) around
them have come to teach.

What do our animals teach us? The answer to that question is as
many-fold as there are human-animal partnerships on the earth. It
certainly is not for me to know, though occasionally I've been able to
aid the exploration, what lessons you and your animal are learning
together (though "patience" seems to be a common one ::smile:: ). To be
honest, I think it might count as cheating if someone were able to
reveal the answer to that question for you. Searching for that answer
is often part of the learning process, and sometimes one of its greatest
joys.

The animal companions I've known in life have been some of my greatest
teachers (although there have also been many human teachers that
certainly deserve a lot of credit, don't get me wrong). Each animal who
has passed through my life, however briefly, has taught me something.
The lessons have ranged from minor to life-altering, and I try always to
remember, and to give thanks for them. There have been times that some
of the most difficult moments have taught me the most beautiful
lessons. For instance, I've learned more from the death of a dear
animal companion than all the books in all the libraries in the world
could hope to teach me.

Life-altering.

The primary event leading me to the topic of this newsletter, however,
is a disturbing glimpse through the eyes of those who are too
closed-minded to admit to the lessons that can be taught by (in their
minds) "lesser beings". Last night, the National Geographic Channel ran
a travesty of a program called "Psychic Animals". I came away from
watching it so incredibly sad ... not sorry for the content of the show,
which was a joke, but sorry for the souls of the individuals who,
calling themselves "researchers", put the show together. It was
obvious that they began with the premise of "debunking telepathy", had
made up their minds long before they set up their experiments, and that
they jaded and shaded every experiment and every result to prove their
own preconceived point. By including only a very biased and basic
fragment of the communication session they chose to film, they
deliberately made all animal communicators and those who use them appear
to be naive fools. They completely discredited any claims of
intelligence in the animals they featured. Saddest of all, they
closed their own lives, as well as (unfortunately) the lives of the more
gullible of their viewers, off from receiving one of the greatest joys a
human can experience ... the chance of having an equal and intelligent
relationship with a member of another species.

As the saying goes, "There are none so blind as those who will not see."

However, as disturbing as this so called "scientific" show was, it left
me not angry, but thankful. I'm thankful that I've known animals who
have left me with a complete assurance that the skeptics who filmed that
program are wrong. I'm thankful for all the lessons, and all the beings
who taught them, that have blessed my life. And I'm thankful for all of
you -- knowing that there are many people out there who know what I
know, and feel what I feel, and will, despite the critics and the blind,
continue to teach others that we are not alone on this planet, but share
it with many other highly intelligent ... and communicative ...
individuals.

================================

FYI NOTES

Please remember that there have been some changes in amounts and
policies regarding the various discounts I give. Details can be found
on the Rates page of my website. In a nutshell, though, all discounts
will be standardized at 20% of the usual half-hour rate. For referral
credits, it is now required that the person who has referred someone to
me let me know that they might have a credit available when they call or
email to make their next appointment. This is something that has always
been suggested, but I've tried to keep track as well ... recent events
have made that a rather difficult task. Also, if you are kind enough to
refer someone to me, please also suggest /strongly/ that they subscribe
to this newsletter. It's the easiest way for me to keep up with my
clients on such issues, thanks!

================================

PREE'S TALK-TO-ME TIPS
... "Simple" Isn't Necessarily "Wrong" ....

Today's thoughts are my thoughts (though running them by Pree received a
"good idea"), and are sparked by events on the aforementioned TV show,
in particular the animal communication session ... or portion of one ...
that was featured. The communicator was talking with a horse, relaying
the owner's questions, and the horse was responding. The horse's
answers were not earth-shattering or complicated, they were simple
answers that a horse would give. The "researcher's" conclusion,
therefore, was that the communicator was simply relaying common sense
information that she would have known about horses anyway, and not
receiving anything telepathically from the horse.

Just because the answers were common sense answers, it doesn't mean the
common sense didn't come from the horse. ("Horse Sense!" -- Pree) The
owner asked general questions of the horse, so naturally the horse would
give general answers. When you ask a human being "How are you?" what
will the answer usually be? "Fine." No one would deem the "Fine" to be
an assumed response on the part of the asker, of course. So why should
"--more grass, please", in reply to a question about how a horse likes
her environment, not be a valid response from the horse?

Animal communicators do sometimes, even often, receive very specific
information from their animal clients. I've had many humans verify the
accuracy of such details. However, we also, often, receive general
answers to more general questions. This does not in any way invalidate
the fact that the animal is responding to the question, nor that the
person practicing animal communication is hearing them correctly. As
you practice talking to your own animals, and sometimes receive very
general answers, please don't let that cause you to doubt what you
hear. Sometimes the answers are, simply, simple!

(By the way, to all of you who will, as a result of this email, wonder
how Pree is doing...? She says to let you all know she's "Fine.")

================================
THE BLOG-WAGON

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by my Creature Thoughts blog. Please
feel free to interact by leaving comments and suggestions, asking
questions, or making requests for future posts. Remember, too, that
issues of this e-news will be archived there. In addition to Creature
Thoughts, I've started a couple of other blogs you might wish to take a
look at, which occasionally have related topics in them.

The original "Creature Thoughts" Blog: http://gazehound.blogspot.com
<http://gazehound.blogspot.com/>"Stream of (Sub)Consciousness":
http://stream-subconscious.blogspot.com
<http://stream-subconscious.blogspot.com/> is a place where I ramble on
about the esoteric, the philosphical, and probably even the ridiculous
at times.
"Point and Viewpoint": http://pointandviewpoint.blogspot.com
<http://pointandviewpoint.blogspot.com/> is a "reviews" site where I've
been posting thoughts on books, movies, television shows, etc.

--------------------

Gayle Nastasi
Animal Communication Consultant
http://www.gazehound.com/pets
Free bi-monthly newsletter:
http://www.gazehound.com/pets/acnewslist.html
Creature Thoughts Blog:
http://gazehound.blogspot.com
<http://gazehound.blogspot.com/>

Just a note to the blog, in case anyone goes looking for gazehound.com and can't find it.... The domain is off line for several days, until the dns servers catch up with my tardy renewal. Life In General has had me more than usually distracted lately and I managed to let the domain lapse. How embarrassing is that? :-) People can email me for now at gayze@yahoo.com or gayze@spirit-path.com and/or post here in any of my blogs to keep in touch. Gazehound.com should be back within a couple of days. 

The Follow-Up to Pree's Moon Journey

Traci asked, in a comment to the most recent e-news issue, if Pree has shared any thoughts on her Moon Journey of years ago. Her story had been published in a 2004 issue of Penelope Smith's "Species Link" newsletter (which can be subscribed to through her website, http://www.animaltalk.net). For that article, I did ask Pree to comment on her journey. I'll post the entire text of the conversation here.

Pree's original Moon Journey story can be read on my website, http://www.gazehound.com. Go to the Personal pages and then to the Essays. Her story is entitled "Moon Journey", and can be accessed through the drop-down menu at the bottom of the screen.

Here is our follow up talk:

06 February 04: Talking with Pree
Pree came to me this morning, as I was in the kitchen and about to head in to do a session with a client’s kitty (who is also currently “gone walkabout”). She jumped to my lap and said she was aware that I wanted to talk about her journey, and she was ready to do so. I let her know that as soon as I was done with my scheduled session, we’d talk. She was pleased. After my session was done, I came out to the living room and sat on the sofa, and had no sooner settled than Pree rounded the corner and hopped into my lap.

I asked what she could remember about her journey.

She said she remembers that the moon was out there, bright, beckoning. She thought she saw creatures of moonlight in the woods ... She showed me an image of a unicorn. Surprised, I asked if she’d actually seen a unicorn, and she said no, she didn’t think so, but that is how it felt. The shapes and images the moon was creating felt that magical, and she knew that the moon was calling to her, to teach her something important. So she tore through the screen and followed.

Once out in the wild, though, most of the time her thoughts were taken up by survival. One of the first things that happened was that she was chased by -- or at least thought it was chasing her -- a large owl. The storm that came the following day was terrifying, she wanted to go back, but couldn’t. She was hopelessly lost, turned about, and had no idea which direction was home; the storm had washed away any lingering traces of the path she had taken. She also somehow knew there was more “out there” that she needed to see, do, and experience.

I reminded her of how the one lady had been so sure she was dead on the road, and asked her if she thinks she had actually died.

She told me she wasn’t sure specifically about “death”, but does remember a sense of being “separated” from herself, of drifting out of conscious thought the awareness of a great, vast sense of being. She said she thought there was an eagle watching her, high, high above her, too high to approach. Her sense is that the eagle was keeping her from wandering too far from her body, but she could never get close enough to really see or talk to the eagle.

She remembers the dog that was there to chase her under the porch, and how he agreed to draw as much attention to her as he could. Once her body woke up, she knew it was time to get back home, and that was all she could think of. She wanted her Mom. The dog helped, he did a good job, and together they made sure her Mom came to get her.

I asked her what she learned while she was out wandering, what she thought the purpose of the journey was.

Her first response, with a chuckle: “That there’s no place like home.” (We laughed together.)

She said, though, that that really was part of it, and it’s why she’s never so much as looked at an open door or been tempted to go through the window again since. Some animals come into this world to fully and entirely experience the bond with other species’. Wild creatures, those who struggle daily to survive, move in celebration of their own species bonds, and those arrangements and love relationships they make with the predators and prey that interact with them. Other animals come to be farm animals or service animals and explore those specific incredible bonds with humanity as a part of their earthly walk. And some come to be household companions, friends, teachers, and spiritual guides for the people they are destined to love. Since she has come home, the depth of that relationship with the humans and other species within her household has grown to incredible depths and heights, and she believes that she needed to wander, experience danger, and starve to the doorstep of depth (“Bugs don’t taste very good! I’m not a very good hunter -- [laughing] -- so much for the myth that all cats are the ultimate predator!”) to fully understand and experience that bond. She has become a better teacher, better friend, better healer.... She has been privileged to work with me, as well as with other humans, in helping people and animals to strengthen the bond and understanding between them. She has done healing work and been an anchor and support for me, as well as doing much work on her own, in a way that she doesn’t think would have been possible without having experienced her journey.

I ask if she thinks that part of the reason for her journey was to help me along on my path as an animal communicator.

She says, “Of course. We all come together to help one another along our paths. Some of us just do it more dramatically than others.” [laughing] As far as how her journey affected me, Pree believes that perhaps, in part, I needed a true, inarguable miracle in my life at that moment to prove beyond doubt those things my heart hoped and tried very hard to trust were true.

Pree is and shall always be my true, inarguable miracle.

Gazehound's Animal Communication News, June 2005

GAZEHOUND'S ANIMAL COMMUNICATION NEWS
June 2005

================================
Keeping in touch with the animals....
and the people who love them
================================

OVERSOULS AND INTER-CONNECTEDNESS


In the year 1997 there was a short-lived television series on the Fox network called “The Visitor”. The show starred John Corbett (“Northern Exposure”, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, et. al.), and was a tale of a 50-year-long alien abductee who returned to earth with the wisdom gained from his extraterrestrial teachers. It was actually quite a good show; I can recall being disappointed that it only lasted one season.


One detail that made a great impression on me, and stays in my mind today, was the line often spoken by the protagonist, Adam MacArthur, that “all life is connected”. (More accurately: “Living things give off a specific energy.... All life is connected, you just have to open your eyes.”)


The concept of the connected nature of all life is not a new one, nor was it isolated to an obscure '90s sci-fi series. It is, in fact, a realization that is ancient, and one that is growing exponentially in this age we currently find ourselves in. There is an increasing acceptance throughout the world of phenomena such as the psychic sciences and animal communication, and with that a blossoming certainty that we are not isolated individuals, species, or even life-kingdoms on this planet. Nor, in fact, are we an isolated planet, according to many who expand upon the thought. We are all a part, each special in his own way, of a huge interlinked family; members of one vast body of life.


Spring Farm CARES, in upstate New York ( http://www.springfarmcares.org), puts out a periodic magazine that is aptly entitled “All That Is”. The animals at Spring Farm, and their caretakers, have been celebrating this connection to all life for quite a few years now. Many animal communicators, in fact, are growing in this realization. I think most, in time, will reach a point that, no matter where they started, they will know in their hearts that we are all part of one another, part of the vast unity that is Life. It is this connection, in fact, that facilitates the telepathic communication between species that so many are growing to enjoy.


An aspect of this inter-connectedness that has amazed me at times, and been a help and a tool to my communication work, is the concept of Oversouls. Penelope Smith, in her book WHEN ANIMALS SPEAK, introduces the concept of the group soul or oversoul:


“I have found that all species and groups that operate in harmony for a common task have leaders who coordinate activity and keep a link, telepathic or otherwise, with the rest of the group. They may have a physically present leader and/or a discarnate, spiritual leader – sometimes referred to as an oversoul. You can address any animals, from elephants to snakes to termites as individuals and experience communication with them. You may also address the oversoul or group or species leader, through communicating with an individual of the group or with the oversoul directly.”

When Animals Speak, pg. 20

The first time I read this part of Penelope's book, the concept fascinated me. The more I think about life's interconnection, the more sense the idea of Oversouls makes. If in fact all life is connected, and my own experiences certainly bear this concept out in practicality, then having a being or individual that can “tap you in” to a species consciousness, or being able to communicate directly with that species consciousness itself, is a logical extension of the idea.


The most obvious, and fascinating (although it was a bit startling when it first began) application I've enjoyed along these lines was when working with wild deer. Everyone who is on the highways in many remote areas of the North America is familiar with the unsettling sight of “road kill deer” -- those beautiful souls who don't make it across the road in time. When I was pet sitting regularly, and on the road nearly every evening, the frequent sight of carcasses and the worry that I might myself be involved in a deer accident was always in the back of my mind. The fact that we had actually hit a deer many years ago added experiential sadness to the concern.


I decided to give the idea of the Oversoul a try. It surprised me at how easy it was to contact the Deer Consciousness. I am not sure whether I was speaking with a particular species leader, or the collected consciousness of all deer, but I came to refer to the “voice” which greeted me as “Mother Deer”. I began speaking to “her” before heading out on the road, and while driving, during peak deer running seasons, and asked her to keep her children safe while I traveled, and out of danger of being hit by my car (or other cars around me). Soon after I began having these conversations, I was met by a rather unsettling phenomenon!


As I'd drive along, wherever there were deer in the field, they would come racing toward the road and stop short just before running out in front of my car. They'd then stand and stare at me as I drove past. It was quite heart-stopping, and not entirely in a pleasant way! I had to contact “Mother Deer” again to ask that her kids please not do that. As much as I appreciated the acknowledgement, it was impossible to quell the moment of panic as I saw them rush out of the twilight toward me!


Once we worked out our balance of emotions and needs, driving during “peak deer times” became a much more relaxed situation. Even though I'm no longer pet sitting, I will still send love and respect to the deer through “Mother”, and ask her to reinforce my request with them, to help keep all of us safe.


Animal communicators have relayed stories about working with the “Oversoul” concept in other ways, too. It can be helpful in communicating with herd animals, sending peace-making requests swarms of insects, pouring healing upon the creatures of the oceans ... the applications are numerous and wonderful.


All life is connected ... and it's an honor and privilege to celebrate the connection with you.



================================

FYI NOTES

There will be some changes in amounts and policies regarding the various discounts I give.  Some have already gone into effect, some begin July first.  Details can be found on the Rates page of my website.  In a nutshell, though, all discounts will be standardized at 20% of the usual half-hour rate.  For referral credits, it is now required that the person who has referred someone to me let me know that they might have a credit available when they call or email to make their next appointment.  This is something that has always been suggested, but I've tried to keep track as well ... recent events have made that a rather difficult task.  Also, if you are kind enough to refer someone to me, please also suggest strongly that they subscribe to this newsletter.  It's the easiest way for me to keep up with my clients on such issues, thanks!

Hope everyone has a glorious summer!

================================

PREE'S TALK-TO-ME TIPS

Pree's thoughts this month are sparked by her own recent minor difficulties ... an infection that made it necessary to confine her in a part of the house away from her mother and brother.  When a human begins to communicate more closely with their animal friends, there are bound to be times when disagreements arise.  At first, when I told Pree it would be necessary to isolate her, she wasn't at all pleased at the prospect.  After a day or two, though, considering how yucky she was feeling, she was glad to have the quiet time ... plus she was in an area that humans regularly occupied, so it wasn't like she was  devoid of company.  She tells me both in thought and action that her little spot became a haven for her, and she is happy to admit that I was right ... "this time".  (In fact, now that she's been "released", she frequently goes back into her spot on her own, just to enjoy the fact that it's still "hers".)

Sometimes it's necessary to do things to and for our animals that they would not choose for themselves.  This often involves some sort of health necessity.  Pree's suggestion is to try to talk it over with your friend as clearly as possible, and be sure to explain to them why your choices are necessary.  Include visual thoughts about what the new routine will be, and how it will benefit them in the long-run.  Sometimes a little telepathic preparation makes a "bitter pill" ("Ha ha, get it?") easier to swallow.

Before we close, Pree is nudging me to ask everyone to send out a HAPPY BIRTHDAY thought to her mother, Sachet!  Sachet is 15 years old today (and doesn't look a day over seven, I might add).  You can see photos of Sachet in the "4-Leggeds" section of the http://www.gazehound.com web space.

 ================================
THE BLOG-WAGON

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by my Creature Thoughts blog.  Please feel free to interact by leaving comments and suggestions, asking questions, or making requests for future posts.  Remember, too, that issues of this e-news will be archived there.  In addition to Creature Thoughts, I've started a couple of other blogs you might wish to take a look at, which occasionally have  related topics in them.

The original "Creature Thoughts" Blog: http://gazehound.blogspot.com
"Stream of (Sub)Consciousness":  http://stream-subconscious.blogspot.com is a place where I ramble on about the esoteric, the philosphical, and probably even the ridiculous at times.
"Point and Viewpoint":  http://pointandviewpoint.blogspot.com is a "reviews" site where I've been posting thoughts on books, movies, television shows, etc.

--------------------

Gayle Nastasi
Animal Communication Consultant
    http://www.gazehound.com/pets
Free bi-monthly newsletter:
    http://www.gazehound.com/pets/acnewslist.html
Creature Thoughts Blog:
    http://gazehound.blogspot.com

Excellent Lost Dog Help site

Lost Dog Search | Home

The above site is a really good resource site for people who have a missing dog. The site owner, Debbie Hall, has really put together a fabulous resource system. Much of the information may also be adapted for missing cats.