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PHBlackBear: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at PetHobbyist.com, I am very pleased to welcome Joanne Witzkowski to our Ninth Annual Chat Week.

PHBlackBear: Joanne Witzkowski has been doing readings with the Animal Spirit Cards since 2001, when the Universe "hired" her to do the job. Since then, she has also starting doing readings with the Fairy Oracle cards by Brian Froud, again having been tapped on the shoulder to do that work. A costume designer and artist by day, Joanne has trained in Animal Reiki, Shamballa, and various shamanic and healing curricula. She is in the process of moving to Washington state to found Spiritgrove, a home and healing-place.

JoanneW: Thank you! That about sums it up.

PHBlackBear: Joanne would you like to take a moment to explain what you do?

JoanneW: Sure. I do readings with the cards - for people and for animals. The communication comes from the animal spirits. It's like the over-spirits of the animal species.

PHBlackBear: I know you did a great reading on Harry when I first got him.

JoanneW: Am I clear? It's not always easy to explain what I do - not many people do what I do , I think.

JoanneW: Thanks. I love doing readings for animals

PHCatByte: Joanne, so you use the cards as a medium (so to speak) more than it seems that others do?

JoanneW: Yes, I know people who do tarot cards, and other kinds of cards, but not with these cards. I was given the assignment by the Universe, so to speak.

archie_nr: So is the reading "from" the specific animal or the overspirit?

JoanneW: Good question! The reading comes from the spirits and is about the animal or person. They talk about purpose, mission, strengths.

PHKeeper: Joanne is this an art that anyone can learn to do?

JoanneW: Undoubtedly! I didn't learn it, so to speak. One day I just discovered that the cards were "talking" to me about people in the room.

PHKeeper: What type of cards do you use?

JoanneW: They are Animal Spirit Knowledge cards by the artist Sussan Seddon Boulet. She is rockin' and is an artist that I believe was channeling while she painted.

fireladie: I live in Wa state too! Welcome, its a great, beautiful place! Do you have any indication whether my 3 dogs like the new puppy?

JoanneW: Thank for the welcome! I don't know whether this is the correct forum for readings, although I naturally have my cards here with me. Maybe there will be time at some point...?

fireladie: Oh okay, thank you though.

Skaket: What type of information do the readings provide you? Not sure if you already answered this.

JoanneW: The animal spirits usually talk about who you are, what is going on in your life, what your mission is. They are always full of love, compassion, wisdom. They are a pleasure to work with - awe-inspiring, really.

Skaket: Thank you.

twodogs_nr: Are your readings on deceased animals also?

JoanneW: Oh, yes. One of the first I did, and awesome it was, was for a deceased animal friend of a gentle man. We were both overcome with what they said about their relationship with each other.

PHCatByte: Joanne, could you maybe tell us a little more about that?

JoanneW: Yes, I will try to say things without violating anyone's trust. The dog had died long before, and the man still missed him. The two had had a deep connection that time and death can't erase, as all of us animal people know. The knowledge that the dog's love was still strong and that he was still there in spirit for the man, and that their connection had deep meaning, made us both cry. These things are so strong. That's one of the most important things that they they tell us all the time - that our inter-species connections are meaningful and have cosmic depths.

PHCatByte: Thanks, Joanne, that would be wonderful comfort to a lot of people who are grieving their bridge critters.

archie_nr: If I understand correctly, the animal spirits talk about mission, purpose etc. for both the people and animal. Are the animals ever surprised by what the spirits say or do they already know all this and it's more for their people?

JoanneW: I think the animals are sometimes surprised, but for the most part, they seem to be so much more connected to their missions than we are. So much less baggage around it.

ShibaSushi: What do you normally need to know about an animal before doing a reading? Do you need a picture?

JoanneW: Yes, it helps to have a picture. I can do it without, but it always seems stronger with a picture. But all I really need is their name. When I do it in person, that's all I know.

ShibaSushi: Thank you.

diana_nr: In what ways have you helped people/animals with your readings?

JoanneW: So often people either get corroboration, or insight or deep emotional responses. I'll tell a little about one man, in particular.

He came to one of the fairs that PHBlackBear sponsored. He was a huge, mountain man type. He chose three cards - a bird, a reptile, and a wolf. He did what most people usually do - keep totally silent, not giving any verbal or facial responses. I did the first two cards, which were interesting and good. When I got to the wolf I got an overwhelming sense of brotherhood, and greeting and honor, but no specific message. I almost felt bad, like he wasn't getting his money's worth! I asked him if he knew if he was a member of the wolf clan, or something. He told me that his life was wolves, that he volunteered at a wolf sanctuary in Wisconsin.

That's what the connection was - the wolf spirits had so much honor and respect for him, and that's all they wanted to convey. When he told me that, I put my head down on my hands, I was so overcome. He, of course, felt so moved by that greeting. It was corroboration for both of us, and very beautiful.

diana_nr: Wow...thanks.

fireladie: What would you say to skeptics? What are your words of wisdom so speak?

JoanneW: Skeptics are perfectly all right. Everyone has their right to question. Once upon a time, I was a total skeptic myself - hard-nosed about it. But I know what I know, and people may believe or not at their own discretion.

fireladie: Thank you.

PHKeeper: When you read the card do you see a picture in your mind?

JoanneW: You know, that's the hardest thing to answer - I look at the card, and some of it is visual, and some aural, and some is sensing. I have a hard time explaining the exact process. I think it's because it's not explainable necessarily in the physical world! How would anyone explain it? It just works!

spidermom_nr: Joanne, at what age did you realize you had psychic abilities w/ animals? Did it frighten you?

JoanneW: I was quite old! It hasn't been that long! As I said, I used to be a skeptic myself. Actually, when I was quite young, I had a strong connection with Nature in general. But then I became a teenager, and kind of logged out, so to speak.

PHCatByte: blackbear, you had a comment?

PHBlackBear: Yes Cat - on the subject of how the readings work

PHBlackBear: Joanne read Harry for me when he was a pup - it really helped me understand how special he is and how, as his human, I could help him.

PHCatByte: want to tell us more?

PHBlackBear: LOL Harry was a mess when I first got him. He had been abused, starved, abandoned. Harry's purpose here is to teach gentleness and this he has done an abundance of. He just needed to learn how big he was.

JoanneW: Blessings to him - his gentleness stayed with him through everything.

thedoc617: Do you believe that each of us has a spirit animal that guides us on our path of life? (similar to the story of what you said with the young man and the wolves)- that we see frequently in our dreams.

JoanneW: Do you mean a totem, or a specific animal, like our dogs?

thedoc617: a specific animal- like our dogs. I've had many dogs in my life, and each one has taught me something different.

JoanneW: Oh, yes. They have so much spirit, and often come to us in this life for a specific purpose, like helping us discover something about ourselves that we didn't know, or to break through to a new level. Bless you for your many dogs and their gifts.

thedoc617: Thank you.

ShibaSushi: If someone wanted to know if a deceased friend or relative has found their deceased pet, can you find that out? have they been reunited? Would they be taking care of each other?

JoanneW: I would if they wanted to relay that information. It's not always a two-way conversation. Sometimes I'm receiving information and it's whatever they want to say.

borzoid: In regards to blackbear's comments. With Harry, were you able to let him know how big he was and if not how do you suggest that be communicated.

JoanneW: Sometimes it goes directly to the animal and sometimes it's information that is actually for the human. I have to trust that the information gets to the right being at the right time. They usually hear at the level it's needed. Sometimes the animal is bouncing all over the room, but their higher self is connected.

archie_nr: Do you ever use the fairy cards for animals or just for the people? Do the readings differ depending on which cards you use or does the same info seem to come through regardless?

JoanneW: I haven't yet been asked to do the fairy cards for an animal. Maybe you could! The fairy cards are completely different in feeling; They are actually connected to the earth, where the animal spirit cards are coming from a different realm. The fairies have personalities that are quite amusing, sometimes!

archie_nr: Very cool. Thanks.

PHKeeper: Joanne the home and healing place. Will that be somewhat like a school?

PHBlackBear: Joanne, would you like to send your info to the room, so those who wish to contact you about readings can?

JoanneW: That's still in development and I'll be as interested as anyone to find out! I envision it, yes, as a school and also as place where others can come and do work. In answer to Bear's question, I will give you my email address -- wtizkow@cod.edu -- if you want to contact me for a reading which we can do by phone or email.

PHBlackBear: On behalf of PetHobbyist.com, Jeff Barringer, and all of us at PetHobbyist.com, I want to take a moment to thank Joanne Witzkowski for being part of our chat week. Joanne, thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on animal communication.

PHBlackBear: Joanne, thank you so much for spending time with us tonight. This has been very interesting. Blessings to you and your new home and healing place.

JoanneW: Thank you so much for asking me. I know I speak for the animal spirits when I say you are all loved and beautiful.

PHKeeper: Joanne Thank you so much you are very interesting and informative.