I grew up in the suburbs of Cape Town, always with animals in the household. I was an awkward, shy, sensitive child, with a strong affinity for animals. But I didn’t grow up “hearing” animals or suddenly knowing exactly what they wanted or needed. I haven’t been doing this all my life. It’s taken a lot to get me here.
In fact, I worked in the corporate world – science-minded and pretty skeptical about things like animal communication and those who professed to be able to talk to animals. Intrigued, but skeptical. (And secretly jealous at the thought they could do something I’d always dreamed of.)
Then, in 2016, my life was turned upside down when our beautiful Jack Russell, Tao, disappeared from our farm. For months I searched. And yes, in desperation contacted animal communicators to help me find her.
We would get information and speed off, hopes sky high, only to arrive home empty-handed and deflated. I was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted by the search, but I refused to give up. One particularly frustrating Sunday afternoon, I was lying face down on my bed asking nobody in particular “whyyyyyyy?”, when suddenly inspiration struck. I was relying far too much on the guidance of other people – so I would learn animal communication and find her myself.
Well, we never did find Tao, but that single-minded decision sparked a remarkable journey, which has delivered many amazing answers to that woe-filled “why”. And learning that was propelled into top gear less than a year later, by the Knysna Fires of 2017. It was a time of extreme trauma and loss, of miracles and gratitude. And I was pushed harder than most to develop my animal communication and tracking skills. But that’s a story for another page…
Fast-forward to now and I’ve worked, as a communicator, with hundreds of animals and their people. I have shared in laughter and tears, pain and joy, celebrations and grief. In adventures, challenges and some very hard decisions. I have been humbled by the wisdom, kindness and understanding of animals. And moved by the exquisite nature of unconditional love that exists between beings.
I am grateful to my many teachers – both human and animal – as well as my family and friends who have wholeheartedly supported me, even though they don’t always understand what it is that I do.
I am grateful to my human clients – many of whom took a leap of faith to connect – and my animal clients, who have always been willing and gracious in their sharing.
And I am especially grateful to Tao – whose name, incidentally, means “way” or “path”, because that she certainly was.