Articles

Our community in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota) is blessed with two excellent holistic magazines and I have been fortunate enough to write for both of them. I invite you to take a look and enjoy!

-Lena

 

Help Your Pet Deal With Death, Like Life, Naturally

in
Published In: 
Essential Wellness, www.esswellness.com
Date: 
March 2009

OF ALL THE DECISIONS people are forced to make there are few as wrenching as those involving the end of life for our beloved animal companions. Whatever the circumstance, the process of making decisions regarding a sick, injured, or elderly animal can be one of the most difficult and confusing times in our lives.

Shamanism- Healing Beyond the Boundaries: Taking a Trip- Shamanically, That Is!

in
Published In: 
Essential Wellness, www.esswellness.com
Date: 
March 2009

SHAMANISM IS THE OLDEST spiritual practice known to humankind. Estimates place it from 40,000 to 100,000 years old. Shamanic healing techniques are still practiced world wide by both indigenous peoples and others who are called to this work. Sometimes known as spirit doctors or medicine men, shamans view illness as disharmony in a person's life on the spiritual level. This disharmony can lead to mental, emotional, and/or physical illness if left unresolved.

Shamanic Healing and Animals

in
Published In: 

The Edge

Date: 
March 2009

Shamanism is the oldest spiritual practice known to humankind with estimates placing it anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 years old. Shamanic healing techniques are still practiced world wide by both indigenous peoples and others who are called to this work. Sometimes known as spirit doctors or medicine men, shamans view illness as disharmony in a person's life on the spiritual level. This disharmony can lead to mental, emotional, and/or physical illness if left unresolved.

Adding to the Dog Pack: Karmic Destiny

Published In: 

The Edge

Date: 
July 2008

by Lena Swanson

I had always looked at people with three dogs (or more) and thought they were nuts! Especially if they had three large dogs! "Too much commotion, one more dog than I have hands, not enough attention for each one..." On and on and on.

Health, Wellness, And Life Tips From The Animals Themselves

Published In: 

The Edge

Date: 
May 2007

As a professional animal communicator, I am privy to a plethora of information, opinions, complaints, musings and commentaries from a wide variety of animal companions including dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, fish, iguanas, hedgehogs, chinchillas, etc. You get the picture! Interestingly enough I have found the animals themselves to be the best providers of information concerning their needs, both physical and emotional. Therefore, I have chosen to interview some of my animal clients and friends to get tips from them directly on how best to keep them healthy and happy. (Of course I needed to begin with commentary from my own cats or I would be paying the price for that transgression for many days to come!)

A Journey to Forever

Published In: 

The Edge

Date: 
June 2006

One Dog’s Roadmap to Her Forever Home

By Lena Swanson

I was sitting in the kitchen minding my own business when out of the blue I heard my dog address me. The message was clear and concise: "My companion is ready. She's a puppy mill dog. Go find her." I knew exactly what my Golden Retriever Zalee meant because she herself was a puppy mill rescue. I had found her on the Golden Retriever rescue web site a year before and when she directed me to "Go find her." I knew it meant I should look for her new companion on that same web page.

Animals as Guides to a Healing and Spiritual Path

Published In: 

The Edge, soulofthecities.net (formerly Edge Life Magazine)

Date: 
June 2004

To a true animal lover, the contributions animals make in our lives are innumerable and often cause us to appreciate them even more than many of our human companions! Unconditional love, forgiveness, sincerity, loyalty and a strong connection to nature and the important things in life typify reasons many of us hold animals in such high regard. How many human animals can boast of such honest and consistent character traits? Several scientific studies have shown that animals actually have quantifiable healing effects on people, including an increased survival rate for heart attack victims, less frequent use of medical services than those who have no animal companions and a reduction in blood pressure in people when stroking and talking to dogs.