Well, NickMom's episode of MFF ("Mom Friends Forever") is online. Personally, I find reality TV ghastly, but my husband says this show is just terrible enough to be a huge hit. My couple hours of filming got cut down to about two seconds (!), but you can see me at 20:34 right here.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Plath's Poem, "The Hanging Man"
If you're interested in Sylvia Plath's poem, "The Hanging Man," and how it not only clearly addresses the Hanged Man tarot card (not a big stretch there), but also her close friend and colleague, the poet Robert Lowell, please take a look at the Sylvia Plath Info Blog, right here.
© Julia Gordon-Bramer 2012
© Julia Gordon-Bramer 2012
Booking Me As A Tarot Reader For Your Party
As we get into the holiday season, I begin to get lots of calls asking questions about parties. I thought I'd attempt to answer some of the most common questions here:
How far in advance do I need to book you to read tarot at my party?
It depends on when your party is. It is always easier to get a party on a Sunday or a week night than to get a Friday or Saturday night party, but even then, sometimes I am free. Afternoon parties are also easier to schedule last-minute than evening ones.
At the time of this writing (Aug. 27, 2012), most but not all September and October weekend dates are full. But please try me in case there has been a cancellation, or in case I can work you in before or after a party already on my calendar. At the moment, November and December is still fairly open.
How far are you willing to travel?
Without charging you extra traveling fees, I will drive within one hour of downtown St. Louis in any direction. Occasionally, I will do a party or event further than that if I am already in their area for another event.
Can you do parties long distance via Skype?
Yes! I do this all the time. However, they must be prepaid to save my time for actual readings and not bothering with numbers.
How does the payment work for parties, in general?
My party rates are $100 an hour, with a two-hour minimum. I require a $100 deposit to hold the date on my calendar, which is applied to the total cost of your party. I take cash, checks, major credit cards and PayPal.
Some party hosts have their guests all contribute to the cost, and sometimes I will charge each guest (typically $25 for 15 minutes). The party host should decide and work this out with me in advance.
Some party hosts prefer to pay up front so as not to be bothered with money the night of the party. This is fine.
Can you stay longer if we want you for more than the agreed upon time?
I often can stay longer, unless I am booked for a later party after yours. My rates are the same for extra time: $50 a half hour, $100 an hour.
How long is a tarot reading, and how many people can you read for in an hour?
Party hosts often don't stop to realize that a tarot reading is a give-and-take conversation between the reader and the party guest. The party guest will usually want to ask some questions, or at least have time to respond. That said, my absolute shortest readings are ten minutes each; my preferred time to read a party guest is fifteen-to-twenty minutes.
Then, there is the problem with down-time in between. Rarely are party guests physically lined up, ready and waiting to be read. The party scenario is more like this: People drift about, and when the tarot reader is finished with the last person, there will be some general asking around.
"Who's next? Do you want to go, or should I go?"
"Let me go, but first I just need to refresh my drink..."
"I'll be there as soon as I use the Ladies' Room,"
...and so on. This down-time in-between guests can really add up. Point being that it may be my goal to read six people in an hour, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. I'm intuitive, but not so magically magnetic that I can physically pull them to me. Number systems work great, as well as sign-up sheets. Be sure your guests know to keep things moving!
Do you record the sessions for us?
No, but I am fine with you recording or videotaping your session. I have had people set up video cameras, and I have had people turn the recorders on their phones. I have no problem with either. Just please respect the short amount of time I have per person, and realize that fiddling with equipment holds things up.
Are you OK with reading for people who are drunk?
No, I am not. What some people don't understand about the tarot is that it is a tool for introspection and personal growth. There is no growth when one is wasted. As a tarot reader, it is rather frustrating to have to repeat oneself over and over because the questioner can't remember what I said, or what they just asked. No one enjoys being yelled at through an amplified drunken conversation. Drunks tend to get over-emotional too (there is a reason they call them 'spirits', after all) and sometimes can get unreasonably angry, abusive, hysterical or weepy. Please know that I reserve the right to leave early from any event in which I feel uncomfortable or threatened. By all means--have fun, but save the heavy drinking until after you've had your tarot reading.
What kind of set-up do you need?
All I need is a table and chairs, a tall glass of water, and to have the room quiet enough to talk normally. Once I was put in a party room with a live band and I had to ask to be moved to the lobby as I could not scream everything all night. Some people want their readings done in privacy, and so I am often sequestered in a bedroom or a private study. Other people love to hear each other's readings, and they gather around together to listen. It's up to you and what everyone is comfortable with.
Do you dress in costume?
As a rule, no. I do sometimes make an exception for Halloween, as showing up to a costume party without a costume can look weird. Once, I also dressed as Professor Trelawney for a Harry Potter party. I am a serious tarot reader, not an actress or model. It is more important to me to connect with you and reveal your subconscious self and the path that you're on than to look a part.
This is a kids' party/birthday party/wedding/happy occasion. Can you keep the readings all happy?
To a point. If a person has some exceptionally hard times going on, it is likely to show up in the cards. Some cards that we see, like the Tower, or the Nine of Swords, well, there is just no way of getting around that they are bad news. But yes, I can downplay the negative. And the beautiful thing about the tarot is that we can always go toward the positive and ask for advice to prevent a negative outcome.
Will you come to my home/office/restaurant/rented space for my party?
Yes, as long as it is within an hour's of St. Louis. Travel expenses will apply if your event is further away.
What kind of questions do people ask at a tarot party? Do people need to have questions at all?
A party guest does not need to have a specific question, although some like to prepare them written out, so that they do not forget! Typically, I begin a reading with a layout that shows some of the past, present and future. From there, time permitting, we can get into other things.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of people you can read for?
There is no minimum number of people. At my party rates, I will come to your home and read only for you, if you wish. For large events with hundreds of people, you may wish to employ other tarot readers to assist, as I am still limited to my six people an hour. I do know other good tarot readers and am happy to refer you to them.
For large events, I have read as long as seven hours at a time, but I need at least a few ten or fifteen-minute breaks to stretch, refresh and perhaps get a bite to eat.
I hope this helps you. If you have a question I have not covered here, please post it below and I'll answer it promptly. I look forward to meeting you at your next party or special event. To reserve your date, email me at tarot@nighttimes.com, or call 314.517.0158.
© Julia Gordon-Bramer 2012
How far in advance do I need to book you to read tarot at my party?
It depends on when your party is. It is always easier to get a party on a Sunday or a week night than to get a Friday or Saturday night party, but even then, sometimes I am free. Afternoon parties are also easier to schedule last-minute than evening ones.
At the time of this writing (Aug. 27, 2012), most but not all September and October weekend dates are full. But please try me in case there has been a cancellation, or in case I can work you in before or after a party already on my calendar. At the moment, November and December is still fairly open.
How far are you willing to travel?
Without charging you extra traveling fees, I will drive within one hour of downtown St. Louis in any direction. Occasionally, I will do a party or event further than that if I am already in their area for another event.
Can you do parties long distance via Skype?
Yes! I do this all the time. However, they must be prepaid to save my time for actual readings and not bothering with numbers.
How does the payment work for parties, in general?
My party rates are $100 an hour, with a two-hour minimum. I require a $100 deposit to hold the date on my calendar, which is applied to the total cost of your party. I take cash, checks, major credit cards and PayPal.
Some party hosts have their guests all contribute to the cost, and sometimes I will charge each guest (typically $25 for 15 minutes). The party host should decide and work this out with me in advance.
Some party hosts prefer to pay up front so as not to be bothered with money the night of the party. This is fine.
Can you stay longer if we want you for more than the agreed upon time?
I often can stay longer, unless I am booked for a later party after yours. My rates are the same for extra time: $50 a half hour, $100 an hour.
How long is a tarot reading, and how many people can you read for in an hour?
Party hosts often don't stop to realize that a tarot reading is a give-and-take conversation between the reader and the party guest. The party guest will usually want to ask some questions, or at least have time to respond. That said, my absolute shortest readings are ten minutes each; my preferred time to read a party guest is fifteen-to-twenty minutes.
Then, there is the problem with down-time in between. Rarely are party guests physically lined up, ready and waiting to be read. The party scenario is more like this: People drift about, and when the tarot reader is finished with the last person, there will be some general asking around.
"Who's next? Do you want to go, or should I go?"
"Let me go, but first I just need to refresh my drink..."
"I'll be there as soon as I use the Ladies' Room,"
...and so on. This down-time in-between guests can really add up. Point being that it may be my goal to read six people in an hour, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. I'm intuitive, but not so magically magnetic that I can physically pull them to me. Number systems work great, as well as sign-up sheets. Be sure your guests know to keep things moving!
Do you record the sessions for us?
No, but I am fine with you recording or videotaping your session. I have had people set up video cameras, and I have had people turn the recorders on their phones. I have no problem with either. Just please respect the short amount of time I have per person, and realize that fiddling with equipment holds things up.
Are you OK with reading for people who are drunk?
No, I am not. What some people don't understand about the tarot is that it is a tool for introspection and personal growth. There is no growth when one is wasted. As a tarot reader, it is rather frustrating to have to repeat oneself over and over because the questioner can't remember what I said, or what they just asked. No one enjoys being yelled at through an amplified drunken conversation. Drunks tend to get over-emotional too (there is a reason they call them 'spirits', after all) and sometimes can get unreasonably angry, abusive, hysterical or weepy. Please know that I reserve the right to leave early from any event in which I feel uncomfortable or threatened. By all means--have fun, but save the heavy drinking until after you've had your tarot reading.
What kind of set-up do you need?
All I need is a table and chairs, a tall glass of water, and to have the room quiet enough to talk normally. Once I was put in a party room with a live band and I had to ask to be moved to the lobby as I could not scream everything all night. Some people want their readings done in privacy, and so I am often sequestered in a bedroom or a private study. Other people love to hear each other's readings, and they gather around together to listen. It's up to you and what everyone is comfortable with.
Do you dress in costume?
As a rule, no. I do sometimes make an exception for Halloween, as showing up to a costume party without a costume can look weird. Once, I also dressed as Professor Trelawney for a Harry Potter party. I am a serious tarot reader, not an actress or model. It is more important to me to connect with you and reveal your subconscious self and the path that you're on than to look a part.
This is a kids' party/birthday party/wedding/happy occasion. Can you keep the readings all happy?
To a point. If a person has some exceptionally hard times going on, it is likely to show up in the cards. Some cards that we see, like the Tower, or the Nine of Swords, well, there is just no way of getting around that they are bad news. But yes, I can downplay the negative. And the beautiful thing about the tarot is that we can always go toward the positive and ask for advice to prevent a negative outcome.
Will you come to my home/office/restaurant/rented space for my party?
Yes, as long as it is within an hour's of St. Louis. Travel expenses will apply if your event is further away.
What kind of questions do people ask at a tarot party? Do people need to have questions at all?
A party guest does not need to have a specific question, although some like to prepare them written out, so that they do not forget! Typically, I begin a reading with a layout that shows some of the past, present and future. From there, time permitting, we can get into other things.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of people you can read for?
There is no minimum number of people. At my party rates, I will come to your home and read only for you, if you wish. For large events with hundreds of people, you may wish to employ other tarot readers to assist, as I am still limited to my six people an hour. I do know other good tarot readers and am happy to refer you to them.
For large events, I have read as long as seven hours at a time, but I need at least a few ten or fifteen-minute breaks to stretch, refresh and perhaps get a bite to eat.
I hope this helps you. If you have a question I have not covered here, please post it below and I'll answer it promptly. I look forward to meeting you at your next party or special event. To reserve your date, email me at tarot@nighttimes.com, or call 314.517.0158.
© Julia Gordon-Bramer 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
The Terror of Perfection
Sometimes people ask me, "Since you can see the future, your life must be perfect!"
Ha ha. It doesn't quite work that way. Most tarot readers and psychics will tell you, first of all, that they don't read for themselves (and often not for loved ones, either). We are too invested in the outcome, and we can't approach something like, say, if our kids will graduate college, with non-bias. We will look to see what we want, or sometimes we'll freak ourselves out about what we most fear. I'll read cards for myself only if I can truthfully ask: does it matter to me what the answer is? If I can be open and easy about however it goes, I can safely put down some cards on the subject.
The truth is that tarot readers and psychics are all too human. I am forever sharing the Mother Teresa story of putting one's energy in what you want, and not in what you don't want. And then, I catch myself feeding the Worry Monster myself, actually attracting the negative. Sometimes I know what my path is, the universe has laid the plan wide open out before me, and yet I cannot seem to act accordingly. There are those very human moods when one would rather waste a bit of time on Facebook, or go out to eat, than to get a job done.
There is a really wonderful little book called God Wears Lipstick: Kabbalah for Women, by Karen Berg. She has a funny little story to explain the perfect life. If I'm remembering it right, it goes a little something like this:
Bonnie Parker, of Bonnie and Clyde fame, dies and faces St. Peter.
"How do you want to spend the afterlife?" he asks. She asks to be put on a lavish cruise in the Mediterranean. Alas! Soon she is bored.
"St. Peter, I can't take it. Give me some action! I want to rob some banks again!"
Soon, she is back robbing banks. Except that the vault doors are open, and the tellers are happily smiling and handing her the money.
"What?!" she exclaims. "There is no challenge! No fun! What kind of heaven is this, anyway?"
"Who said it was heaven?" St. Peter asks.
Life is not meant to be all perfect. If it were, what would we have to look forward to? Where would be the challenge? What would we strive for, and why would we bother to become better people?
Some of my favorite tarot clients are twenty-something women. They crack me up, in part because I used to be exactly the same way. Simply put, they want it all, and they want it yesterday: the great house; the cool car; the perfect, handsome, successful man; the adorable babies; the high-powered career; the fabulous figure and great clothes. Some even want fame and fortune on top of that. They think there is something fundamentally wrong with them if it doesn't happen at once. They delude themselves that their peers (or at least people they know) seem to have it all figured out.
I always chuckle and say, "And even if you could possibly do all this at once, what would you do with the rest of your life?" We need to prioritize our dreams, just like anything else on our To-Do List.
Ambition can be relentless. Yes, sometimes it is the catalyst to propel us onward to the next great thing. However, ambition can also keep us continually finding fault in ourselves, never giving ourselves a break.
And then, there is a flip side: There are some of us who never get far, who give up on their own ambition. They don't believe in their own success or the possibility to rise above current circumstances. It's a cop-out, of course. Believing in one's worthlessness or inability is ultimately an excuse not to try or do anything. It's denying any inner power or value, and keeping your gifts and purpose from the world.
Qabalah (or Kabbalah, or Cabala, it is all the same message however you spell it) teaches us that we are all connected, just by being alive. That this life is a spirit and that spirit is God. So we are all a part of God, and perfect already. What we see in this body is just our stories.
I have screwed my story up plenty of times, and I am continually rewriting and revising how I think the ending might go. Truth is, even a tarot card reader doesn't know exactly how it will end. I just have to trust that I am on this path, learning the things I need to learn. I will make the choices necessary to bring me to the next place, whether I see that as a blessing, or as an obstacle. As Buddha teaches us, it is all perfect. It is all necessary and exactly as it is supposed to be.
Isn't that both terrifying and wonderful?
© Julia Gordon-Bramer 2012
Ha ha. It doesn't quite work that way. Most tarot readers and psychics will tell you, first of all, that they don't read for themselves (and often not for loved ones, either). We are too invested in the outcome, and we can't approach something like, say, if our kids will graduate college, with non-bias. We will look to see what we want, or sometimes we'll freak ourselves out about what we most fear. I'll read cards for myself only if I can truthfully ask: does it matter to me what the answer is? If I can be open and easy about however it goes, I can safely put down some cards on the subject.
The truth is that tarot readers and psychics are all too human. I am forever sharing the Mother Teresa story of putting one's energy in what you want, and not in what you don't want. And then, I catch myself feeding the Worry Monster myself, actually attracting the negative. Sometimes I know what my path is, the universe has laid the plan wide open out before me, and yet I cannot seem to act accordingly. There are those very human moods when one would rather waste a bit of time on Facebook, or go out to eat, than to get a job done.
There is a really wonderful little book called God Wears Lipstick: Kabbalah for Women, by Karen Berg. She has a funny little story to explain the perfect life. If I'm remembering it right, it goes a little something like this:
Bonnie Parker, of Bonnie and Clyde fame, dies and faces St. Peter.
"How do you want to spend the afterlife?" he asks. She asks to be put on a lavish cruise in the Mediterranean. Alas! Soon she is bored.
"St. Peter, I can't take it. Give me some action! I want to rob some banks again!"
Soon, she is back robbing banks. Except that the vault doors are open, and the tellers are happily smiling and handing her the money.
"What?!" she exclaims. "There is no challenge! No fun! What kind of heaven is this, anyway?"
"Who said it was heaven?" St. Peter asks.
Life is not meant to be all perfect. If it were, what would we have to look forward to? Where would be the challenge? What would we strive for, and why would we bother to become better people?
Some of my favorite tarot clients are twenty-something women. They crack me up, in part because I used to be exactly the same way. Simply put, they want it all, and they want it yesterday: the great house; the cool car; the perfect, handsome, successful man; the adorable babies; the high-powered career; the fabulous figure and great clothes. Some even want fame and fortune on top of that. They think there is something fundamentally wrong with them if it doesn't happen at once. They delude themselves that their peers (or at least people they know) seem to have it all figured out.
I always chuckle and say, "And even if you could possibly do all this at once, what would you do with the rest of your life?" We need to prioritize our dreams, just like anything else on our To-Do List.
Ambition can be relentless. Yes, sometimes it is the catalyst to propel us onward to the next great thing. However, ambition can also keep us continually finding fault in ourselves, never giving ourselves a break.
And then, there is a flip side: There are some of us who never get far, who give up on their own ambition. They don't believe in their own success or the possibility to rise above current circumstances. It's a cop-out, of course. Believing in one's worthlessness or inability is ultimately an excuse not to try or do anything. It's denying any inner power or value, and keeping your gifts and purpose from the world.
Qabalah (or Kabbalah, or Cabala, it is all the same message however you spell it) teaches us that we are all connected, just by being alive. That this life is a spirit and that spirit is God. So we are all a part of God, and perfect already. What we see in this body is just our stories.
I have screwed my story up plenty of times, and I am continually rewriting and revising how I think the ending might go. Truth is, even a tarot card reader doesn't know exactly how it will end. I just have to trust that I am on this path, learning the things I need to learn. I will make the choices necessary to bring me to the next place, whether I see that as a blessing, or as an obstacle. As Buddha teaches us, it is all perfect. It is all necessary and exactly as it is supposed to be.
Isn't that both terrifying and wonderful?
© Julia Gordon-Bramer 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The Secret Behind Plath's Poem "A Secret"
Click here to learn how Sylvia Plath's poem "A Secret" gives a nod to mystic writer/poet Lawrence Durrell's great work, The Alexandria Quartet. This is a Guest Blog on the Sylvia Plath Info Blog site, with a link directly to the PowerPoint presentation I gave this past June at Goodenough College in London, England for the Lawrence Durrell Centenary.
Because the focus is on Durrell, I do not go into great detail on the first five facets of Plath's poem, but I have included the briefest overview to give you an understanding as to how the pieces fit within the mystical system.
Because the focus is on Durrell, I do not go into great detail on the first five facets of Plath's poem, but I have included the briefest overview to give you an understanding as to how the pieces fit within the mystical system.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Latest Plath & Mysticism Publication
I'm really happy to announce that Plath Profiles 5, out of Indiana University, has published my latest article, As We Like It: Ariel's Forewords, Plath, and Hughes Pay A Mystic Debt to the Bard.
You can read the content page to Plath Profiles 5 here.
You can read the content page to Plath Profiles 5 here.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Tarot Reading for Pets
I've had a lot of fun press lately, being on St. Louis TV's Channel 2, 11, and on Show Me St. Louis--all programs titled as reading tarot cards for dogs. Because the segments are short, not all the details of my work are covered, and there are always some things that could be clarified or explained:
First off, please know that I read for ALL animals--not just dogs, which have garnered most of the news attention. Dogs might be the easiest for tarot because they travel well, attend things like Pet Expos and arts fairs, and they are often good in groups (dog parties!). But please know that I am happy to read for most any kind of animal (although to be honest, I don't know how successful I'd be with a fish!). Higher up on the evolutionary chain, I have read for turtles, rabbits, chinchillas, cats, birds, and of course, dogs. I'm up to try reading for any species you'd like to present me--but mammals will likely have the best result.
I do not work from one fixed location, and usually meet my clients at their residence or special event for parties, or at coffee shops and places like that for individual readings. This presents challenges to people wanting an hour-long individual pet reading outside of an organized party. Weather depending, I am happy to meet you and your animal on the outside patio of a Starbucks or elsewhere in the St. Louis area at my $60 an hour rate, versus the $100 party rate. And yes, I am happy to give people readings in this same hour for the owner too.
Cats do not usually travel comfortably, and I don't wish to stress out any pets. I would encourage you to set up a reading with me where I come for a home visit, or to do the reading by Skype or even telephone. No, your cat does not need to meow into the speaker or anything like that. It is your bond with the animal that helps me to read it as much as the animal being there.
On the Show Me St. Louis video, it was noted that I rub the cards on the dog. Yes, I do that when the animal is there in person, just to make more of a connection. This is not essential, and I should be (and am) able to read for your pets, even long-distance, through Skype or by seeing a photo with a name and some basic facts (male or female, if there is a problem you're looking to resolve, etc.).
Here are some of the issues we can explore with your pet:
* behavioral problems and causes
* litter box/housebreaking issues
* physical problems or questions
* unknown histories (for strays)
* repercussions of abuse and neglect
* relationships with other pets and with people
* the pet's wants and needs
* the pet's general quality of happiness
Please keep in mind that I don't have the tools to talk back to the animal! I'm just getting basic understandings of what is going on with your little (or big) friend and what might be done to prevent future misbehavior, etc. Sometimes, it's as easy as changing a brand of cat litter. In the reading I did for the news host this weekend, I saw a bored dog who needed something to occupy his time (he had apparently chewed up and destroyed a dog bed recently!). I can usually identify jealousies, dogs who insist upon being the leader of the pack, fears and peculiar habits. What you as the pet owner decide to do with this knowledge is up to you, and I cannot promise anything but information.
Finally, please keep in mind that anyone who loves their pet enough to care about correcting problems is a good pet owner already. Don't beat yourself up if I see something you might be able to improve upon. Just as our human lives are not entirely perfect and there may be some things we want and need on occasion, so it is with our animals. It does not make you a bad person if your pet is not fully content at all times. Are you? What pets need more than anything is food, shelter, occasional vet care, and love and attention. If you're doing that, the rest is gravy.
© Julia Gordon-Bramer 2012
First off, please know that I read for ALL animals--not just dogs, which have garnered most of the news attention. Dogs might be the easiest for tarot because they travel well, attend things like Pet Expos and arts fairs, and they are often good in groups (dog parties!). But please know that I am happy to read for most any kind of animal (although to be honest, I don't know how successful I'd be with a fish!). Higher up on the evolutionary chain, I have read for turtles, rabbits, chinchillas, cats, birds, and of course, dogs. I'm up to try reading for any species you'd like to present me--but mammals will likely have the best result.
I do not work from one fixed location, and usually meet my clients at their residence or special event for parties, or at coffee shops and places like that for individual readings. This presents challenges to people wanting an hour-long individual pet reading outside of an organized party. Weather depending, I am happy to meet you and your animal on the outside patio of a Starbucks or elsewhere in the St. Louis area at my $60 an hour rate, versus the $100 party rate. And yes, I am happy to give people readings in this same hour for the owner too.
Cats do not usually travel comfortably, and I don't wish to stress out any pets. I would encourage you to set up a reading with me where I come for a home visit, or to do the reading by Skype or even telephone. No, your cat does not need to meow into the speaker or anything like that. It is your bond with the animal that helps me to read it as much as the animal being there.
On the Show Me St. Louis video, it was noted that I rub the cards on the dog. Yes, I do that when the animal is there in person, just to make more of a connection. This is not essential, and I should be (and am) able to read for your pets, even long-distance, through Skype or by seeing a photo with a name and some basic facts (male or female, if there is a problem you're looking to resolve, etc.).
Here are some of the issues we can explore with your pet:
* behavioral problems and causes
* litter box/housebreaking issues
* physical problems or questions
* unknown histories (for strays)
* repercussions of abuse and neglect
* relationships with other pets and with people
* the pet's wants and needs
* the pet's general quality of happiness
Please keep in mind that I don't have the tools to talk back to the animal! I'm just getting basic understandings of what is going on with your little (or big) friend and what might be done to prevent future misbehavior, etc. Sometimes, it's as easy as changing a brand of cat litter. In the reading I did for the news host this weekend, I saw a bored dog who needed something to occupy his time (he had apparently chewed up and destroyed a dog bed recently!). I can usually identify jealousies, dogs who insist upon being the leader of the pack, fears and peculiar habits. What you as the pet owner decide to do with this knowledge is up to you, and I cannot promise anything but information.
Finally, please keep in mind that anyone who loves their pet enough to care about correcting problems is a good pet owner already. Don't beat yourself up if I see something you might be able to improve upon. Just as our human lives are not entirely perfect and there may be some things we want and need on occasion, so it is with our animals. It does not make you a bad person if your pet is not fully content at all times. Are you? What pets need more than anything is food, shelter, occasional vet care, and love and attention. If you're doing that, the rest is gravy.
© Julia Gordon-Bramer 2012
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