Guest Blog – Discover Animal Communication: Your Pet Has Something to Say

August 29, 2024 by Allie Phillips

Preface: Denise and I met in an online business class. I recently experienced Denise’s animal communication skills with my 17-year-old cat Dobby. It was amazing and so helpful. So I asked her if she would write a guest blog for my website.

Denise and I are hosting a live virtual event on Wednesday October 2, 2024 at 7:30pm/ET about “Guiding our Pets out of Anxiety”. If you would like to register for the live event or to receive the recording, click here, then scroll down and click the 7:30pm time block to register.

Denise Dunlavy and Animal Communication

Have you ever felt a deep connection with your pet but struggled to understand them? As an animal communicator, I bridge that gap.

Have you ever caught your pet staring at you with an intensity that made you wonder, ‘What on earth are they thinking?’ You’re not alone. Many pet owners feel this way, and as an animal communicator, I’ve learned how to bridge that communication gap.I am Denise Dunlavy and I talk to animals without using words. I use energy and get messages through my senses, like seeing images, hearing words or just knowing what an animal is thinking. I know it is hard to believe but here is an example. I once talked to a dog who showed me an image of a pillow that was green on one side and brown plaid on the other side. Then the guardian sent me a picture of the view from the dog’s crate. There was a green Oregon Ducks blanket on top of a brown blanket. It wasn’t exactly the same but it was so similar that I knew I had connected to the dog to show me this.

Since I discovered that I can understand animals, I have made it my life’s purpose to help people improve their relationships with their pets.

Some of the main reasons people come to me for assistance are:

Behavioral Issues: Animal communication can help with behavioral concerns because it allows me to ask an animal why they are doing a certain behavior. I communicated with a dog one time who was very well behaved but would always go crazy when the family was eating dinner. When I asked why, he said that the cat is the favorite and dinner time is the only time when the cat isn’t around so he wants the attention then. Once I know why they are doing this I can work with them to find a solution. In this case we asked the dog to go to his bed during dinner in exchange for getting extra one-on-one attention before and after dinner. It is not always that simple but I start by asking the animal if there is a reason and then we figure out if they can get their needs met in another way, ask them to change the behavior or try to negotiate and give them a reason to change the behavior. Not all behaviors are “issues” though. Sometimes things that annoy people are perfectly normal and natural for the animal.

Anxiety: Animals get anxiety just like people do and it can be in many different forms. When I communicate with an animal who has anxiety I ask them what it feels like for them. Sometimes it feels like worry or sometimes it feels like a sick feeling in the stomach. It can also feel terrifying like it is in their whole body. Depending on whether it is situational or maybe they have always had it, we can figure out the best way to address it. Sometimes you can address their concerns to make them feel a little better but if they have trauma, they often need a lot more help. Sometimes if they are afraid of the car or something, it is just best not to force them to go in the car. I can ask if they think they will be able to get over it or if they know what will help. Sometimes the animal has suggestions and sometimes they don’t know themselves.

Testimonial of praise for Denise Dunlavy's animal communication skills

Health issues: People often come to me when they know something is wrong with their pet but the vet can’t find anything wrong. I don’t diagnose any health issues but I can try to find out if there is an emotional issue that appears to be manifesting in a physical way. I ask animals how they feel, what hurts and what the level of pain is. A cat once told me that he was vomiting because his dad had a stomach issue and wouldn’t go to the doctor. He was mirroring something back to them and once I passed on the message that dad was making an appointment and taking care of it, the cat stopped vomiting. So it wasn’t actually the cat’s health issue. It was a message to the humans.

End of Life: One of the most difficult things of being a pet parent is when we outlive them. There usually comes a time when guardians need to deal with the passing of a pet. It can be very helpful to communicate and ask them when they are ready to go or what they need when they are in the process of dying.. This way it can be a group effort and decision to remove some of the guesswork and guilt that pet parents often feel.

Connecting with animals who have passed: I also use animal communication with pets who have passed. They are pure energy and love and they always have a lot to say! Some of the things they talk about are:
- What it feels like where they are
- Who they are with, both animal or human
- What signs they are sending
- Why they passed when they did
- What it felt like when they passed (if the person wants to know)
- What are their favorite memories
- What was their purpose in life
- Other messages they want to share with their loved ones

Animal communication may seem a little weird but it can help in a lot of different ways to understand your pet better because you can get to know their thoughts, feelings and emotions.

Ready to unlock the secrets of your pet’s world?

Book a session with Denise today! Denise is offering a 20% discount code to all Allie’s followers. Use coupon code: BLOG20 at checkout.

Animal-related classes

Denise and Allie are hosting a live virtual event on Wednesday October 2, 2024 at 7:30pm/ET about “Guiding our Pets out of Anxiety”. If you would like to register for the live event or to receive the recording, click here, then scroll down and click the 7:30pm time block to register.

Want to learn Crystal Healing for Animals? Advanced Crystal Master Teacher and Animal Protection Attorney Allie Phillips will teach you the science of how crystals really work and specific techniques that are unique for our companion animals wellness & wellbeing. Click here to learn more and join the next class.

Book a session with Denise Dunlavy animal communicator

Denise helps people develop a deeper understanding of their animals, through intuitive guidance and empower individuals on a transformative journey to awaken their spiritual power and create a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Connect with Denise at:

www.intuitivedenise.com

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Essential oils for cats are not safe. This is a lie and here’s why.

August 11, 2024 by Allie Phillips

Spoiler alert … essential oils can be safe for animals, including cats.

When I see definitive statements that “essential oils are not safe for cats,” it really irks me! And when it’s coming from people or organizations with ZERO credentials in this area, that speak up in my loud lawyer voice.

When I teach my essential oils for pet classes (I’ve taught over 100 of them), I recommend to never ever ever Google search for “essential oils for animals.” You will be stunned at what you see, almost all of it is inaccurate, and sadly most people believe what they are seeing.

Not everything on the internet or social media is true about essential oils for cats.

I recently looked on Google to see just how bad the misinformation is about this topic. And what content was coming up first because that’s what people click on. I was STUNNED and ANGRY at the results!

Here are the top results on Google.

Top article = Check out this bold statement below from a PET FOOD COMPANY! The author she labels herself as “a writer, mom, and long-time cat parent.” No offense, but that is not sufficient to make bold statements like you’ll see below. If you have no education, experience or credentials involving essential oils for pets then you should not be writing content on a topic you are not skilled in for a national company that can pay a lot of money to get the article at the top of a Google search. For example, I’m not giving you advice on how to replace a catalytic converter in your car because I don’t know the first thing about them. This article was inaccurate, incomplete and deceptive because it broad brushed all essential oils into the no-no category.

Can I address the national animal protection organization cited in the article? They are known for their pet poison control hotline and combating animal cruelty and I respect them for that. As an internationally-recognized award winning animal protection attorney & former prosecutor, I spent years collaborating with this organization and I am unaware of any expertise they have with essential oils. They may have veterinarians on staff, but almost all veterinarians are untrained in essential oils. The DVM should not give them license to form opinions on which they have no knowledge. And this organization puts ALL essential oils into the no-no category which is categorically wrong.

2^nd article = The screenshot below is from WebMD. What does WebMD have to do with animal health? The veterinarian who reviewed the article lists no essential oil expertise in her bio. And while the article gives a few good cautions, it broadly paints essential oils in a bad light. Just because you work with animals and have letters behind your name does not make you an animal essential oil expert. This is one snippet from the article.

5^th article = Finally, someone who is an expert in essential oils. Robert Tisserand has been researching and teaching about essential oils since the 1970’s. He wrote a thoughtful article explaining how essential oils can be safely used with cats. He cites to a 1988 article called “Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil poisoning in three purebred cats“ that declared Tea Tree essential oils as deadly to cats. People generally read a title or believe other people’s interpretations of this article and then stop doing further research. The article discussed 3 cats who received a topical application of Tea Tree (brand unknown) for flea treatment. The article says. “The product contained 100% oil of Melaleuca alternifolia. The oil was applied directly to the cats’ skin, and 2 1-oz (approximately 60 ml) bottles were used on the 3 cats. *** The cats were bathed in warm water and a mild detergent to remove any remaining oil from the skin.”

If you have no education in essential oils that article would no doubt cause you to never want to use essential oils with your cats. However, I started my essential oil education in the science, biology and chemistry back in 2013 and here are just 2 problems with this article:

60ml of a straight (neat) essential oil of ANY type is WAY TOO MUCH for a human and especially a cat. We use 1 drop at a time. Do you know how many drops are in 60ml? About 1100!!! I and other expert educators recommend using 5-8 drops of a carrier oil to 1 drop of essential oil when topically applying on cats. Less is more! So hence, common sense was seriously lacking and this article failed to recognize that. The article failed to mention the brand of the essential oil and I can guarantee that there was no information on the essential oil bottle about use with cat. So this was human error now blamed on Tea Tree.
Water drives essential oils deeper into the body which is why I teach everyone to dilute a topical application with a carrier (nut) oil which acts like a time release for slower absorption. So rinsing the cats with water made this situation worse.

Two of the cats survived and one sadly passed. Articles like this caused a broad condemnation of ALL essential oils for cats in particular. And rather than become educated about safe use of essential oils with cats, people just keep misrepresenting and regurgitating articles like this. It is particularly shameful when animal professionals (like veterinarians, vet techs, animal protection organizations) make bold statements without proper education.

So what’s the concern about cats?

Let’s look at the science first. The concern is primarily because cats are deficient (not missing) in the cytochrome p450 liver metabolism pathway that helps the liver to metabolize to excrete compounds, including medications, toxins and essential oils. This is unique to felines and it’s why people are nervous to use essential oils with cats.

Some people think cats cannot excrete oils but a study found that they excrete differently (more in line with how plants excrete) but they do it. Slower elimination can result in build up. We give our cats medications and they can pass that thru their liver. Some cats are surrounded by toxic cleaners, plugins, candles and aerosols and are able to excrete those. Even some of the adulterated essential oil brands out there are not hurting cats in mass quantities.

It is also because of online and social media content that continues to spread inaccurate, misleading and deceptive information, like the 1988 article listed above, without doing their research. They rely on scary (and sometimes untrue) social media stories about how a pet was harmed or killed due to an essential oil. And when I see these, I think:

We don’t know the backstory on these posts
We don’t know if or how many health issues these pets already had
We don’t know what food they were eating
We don’t know if they had toxic pet toys that created toxic overload in their body
We don’t know if or how many toxins are present in the home (candles, plug ins, sprays, aerosols, cleaners) to create toxic overload
We don’t know which essential oils were used with those pets/animals
We don’t know how the essential oils were used or how much was used

What essential oils are safe for cats?

In my personal and legal opinion, it depends on the brand. Let me explain.

A company either has safe and pure processing of growing and harvesting plant-material to become essential oils, or they don’t. Period! If a brand grows lavender with pesticides and harmful chemicals like glyphosate, those chemicals will be in the essential oil and should never be used around animals. If the essential oil company does not have their own farms, do they know safe practices are in place? They don’t. The brand I work with has their own farms and a very strict Seed to Seal® process that is the highest industry standard.
Distillation of the plant material is also important to make sure that all constituents (the plant compounds) are drawn out so that the essential oil is balanced. When distillers take short cuts to sell cheaper oils, they are not getting all the compounds out. When distillation is done fully and properly, it is bioavailable (fully active and balanced) and that is another factor that makes it safe for pets. The brand I work with has their own distilleries with onsite testing every 15 minutes and 3^rd party testing for purity. No other essential oil company tests at this level.
What is the essential oil company saying about animals? Most essential oil BRANDS have no mention of animals or pets on their websites. Most brands do not promote or label their essential oils to be used with animals. By that omission they are telling you to NOT use their products with or around pets. So please do not diffuse or topically apply these brands on your pet. The absence of information on a label is as important as what IS on the label. For example, a popular fiber laxative product is not appropriate for a newborn baby because that product is not labeled to be used with newborns. It is marketed for older people. Common sense, right? The brand I use promotes their essential oils for animals on their website, they have articles on their website about safe practices, they host an Essential Oils for Animals conference, and have an animal-specific line of products. This company is putting their name behind their products for animals. If a company does not do that, they will not have your back if something goes wrong.
In The Oily Pet book I provide a test so that you can figure out whether your essential oil brand is safe. I have looked at other brands for years and only one brand passes the test. Too often I hear people say “you cannot use Tea Tree with cats” or “you cannot diffuse citrus oils around cats.” With a brand that is not labeled to be used with pets, that would be accurate.

With the brand that I use, I have diffused citrus oils almost daily for over a decade and my 3 cats liver values are healthy. I have annual testing done and it amazes me that as my cats age their liver values get healthier. Interesting, eh? The brand I use also puts Tea Tree essential oil in one of their topical animal-specific ointment. How is this possible? It’s because of their Seed to Seal® process of growing, harvesting & distilling the plant-matter to fully extract all of the constituents so that the essential oil is truly pure, balanced, bioavailable, and not just a word on a label.

Since 2013, this is why I only promote one brand, Young Living Essential Oils, because it’s about safety for you and your 4-legged family. This is not a sales pitch … it’s an education pitch because I want you to spend your money wisely and use the best wellness products for your pets.

And this is why I get frustrated when I see the ignorant definitive statements that essential oils cannot be used with cats because I have daily essential oil use with my cats since February 2013 and have helped them through several health issues with the essential oils.

Who should you learn from about essential oils for pets?

Be very cautious in who you learn from (on any topic) and always check their credentials. If someone has the education, certifications, and experience in a particular area they will tell you. Look for these qualifications:

(Important) Someone who works or volunteers with animals = this is someone who will have broad experience with animals and not just offering essential oils to their family pet.
(Important) Someone who is trained in essential oils specifically for animals = just because a veterinarian, animal worker or animal organization posts an article about essential oils for pets does not mean that person/organization is properly educated. Look for how long they have been working with essential oils and the education they received. If the author has the proper credentials, they will tell you. If they don’t, they will be silent. Avoid learning from those who list NO credentials.
(Important) Someone who has hands-on experience with essential oils for animals = you want someone who not only has the education but has the hands-on experience because that is where the real learning happens. I have extensive hands-on oily experience with my cats and pet clients after diligent research and have never had a negative reaction.
(Bonus) Someone with credentials who teaches classes and/or publishes online content and/or books about essential oils for animals = this person is bold enough to share accurate information that flies in the face of the majority of inaccurate online information.

I have been an animal protection attorney since 1994, I have volunteered with shelter and rescue animals (primarily cats) since 2000, I have been highly educated in essential oils biology, chemistry and working with animals since 2013, I wrote The Oily Pet book and have sold thousands of copies, I have been invited by Young Living corporate and other essential oil leaders to present on essential oils for pets, shelter pets & rescue pets, and I have hands-on experience with my own felines and pet clients.

Where can you find accurate information?

First – Watch this class that I taught online about safe essential oil practices for cats and dogs.

Second – Grab a copy of The Oily Pet book so that you have a handy reference.

Third – Like my social media pages (listed below) where I post content on how to safely use essential oils with your cats, dogs and other animals.

Fourth – Check out a few of my favorite animal essential oil experts who happen to be veterinarians, who teach at national conferences, are highly respected in this field, and use Young Living essential oils in their veterinary practices:

Be well,

Woo woo, says who? As a Chief Master Catalyst blending 10 coaching & energy certifications with my lawyer brain, my passion is helping people understand the science and logic behind crystals, energy healing, essential oils, Universal Laws and more. Once you logically understand how they work, you will understand the metaphysical and spiritual benefits and have your ah-ha moment. I am the author of The Oily Pet and The Oily Crystaland creator of The Sacred Shift community, The Oily Crystal Master Class and The Crystal Cluster community. As a former prosecuting attorney & animal protection expert, I love helping people understand their animal companions at a deeper level, while helping abused, neglected & shelter pets heal. For those of us who have them grace our worlds, they are our soul mates.

Why are essential oils for pets so controversial?

August 10, 2023April 13, 2025 by Allie Phillips

Learn how to safely use essential oils with your cat — **My kitty Stella**

When I decided to specialize in essential oils for pets I KNEW that I would be swimming in a hornets nest. I have no problem with that because the foundation of my business is helping animals (and the people who have animals), especially abused, neglected and shelter pets. And that means being innovative and changing the paradigm of how we help our animal companions. I made that decision over 10 years ago and this topic is still a hornets nest.

Why is this so controversial? I have a few theories.

1 – There are essential oil brands on the market that are SO adulterated with chemicals (from the growing and distillation process) that they are unsafe for animals (and honestly for us, too). So the blanket response is to not use oils with pets.

2 – There are essential oil brands that distill the oils improperly to not allow for ALL of the constituents to be released which is what balances the oil for safe use with animals (even the controversial oils). Most people don’t know that.

3 – There are essential oil brands that never ever mention usage with animals (on their website or bottles) yet people think they can be used with pets. When their pet is then harmed they blast it all over social media perpetuating the MYTH that essential oils cannot be used with animals. This spreads fear.

4 – There are animal care professionals and organizations who are untrained in essential oils yet have a platform where they pronounce that ALL essential oils are harmful for pets. I would rather have people be safe than sorry with their pets, but this is ill-informed misinformation that continues to be spread.

5 – There are essential oil studies that people cite that proclaim that certain essential oils are unsafe for animals yet they do not disclose the brand that was tested. My cats ingest citrus essential oils everyday (gasp!) and I diffuse citrus oils all day long. Their lab tests show that they are healthy and thriving.

I could go on and on and on …..

Essential oils can be safe for your cats and dogs — *My kitty Dobby*

Here’s what I know from 10+ years of intensive studying AND usage of essential oils with pets …

…. it absolutely comes down to the safety of the brand. When I only teach about using pet-safe oils, I only mention Young Living. Some people think it’s a sales ploy.

You know what? IT IS! I only want people buying pet-safe esssential oils AND learning from people like me who are trained and skilled in how to use them.

As an attorney who specialized in animal protection cases, I look to what a company says about their products. If an essential oil company has ZERO information on their website about animals, they are telling you by omission to not use the oils on or around your pets. That includes diffusing.

Young Living has information on their website about essential oils for pets, they have a pet-specific essential oil line called Animal Scents, and they host educational events on oils for pets.

Thank you for reading this far (you get a gold star for that!).

Learn how to safely use essential oils with your cats and dogs in The Oily Pet book — *My kitty Rudy*

4 ways to learn about safe essential oils for pets.

First – Be sure to like my Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube pages for education on safe essential oil techniques for pets.

Second – Grab The Oily Pet book, now in it’s 2nd edition. This book will give you the foundation to be confident in offering essential oils to your cats and dogs.

Third – Watch my Oily Pet online class to understand some of my favorite ways I use essential oils with my cats and pet clients.

Fourth – Get the oils that I have been using since 2013 and are safe to use with your pets. You can start with the Animal Scents kit or the Pet Premium Bundle. With your purchase I will send you a FREE copy of The Oily Pet book and add you to our private education pages where we talk about animal wellness.

And if you’re interested in other animal wellness education? Check out upcoming class dates for my Crystal Healing for Animals classes (in-person and online). You will love the science and the practical tips specific to animals!

Be well, Allie

Woo woo, says who? As a Chief Master Catalyst blending 7 health & energy certifications with my lawyer brain, my passion is helping people understand the science and logic behind crystals, energy healing, essential oils, Universal Laws and more. Once you logically understand how they work, you will understand the metaphysical and spiritual benefits and have your ah-ha moment. I am the author of The Oily Pet and The Oily Crystal and creator of The Oily Crystal Master Class and The Crystal Cluster. As a former prosecuting attorney & animal protection expert, I love helping people understand their animal companions at a deeper level, while helping abused, neglected & shelter pets heal. For those of us who have them grace our worlds, they are our soul mates.

If your pet could talk

July 10, 2021 by Allie Phillips

If your pet could talk, what would s/he say to you?

I’m nervous
I’m anxious
I’m afraid
I’m stressed by the new baby/new pet/new person in our home
I’m having digestive issues
I’m having itchy skin
I’m having problems with my food
I’m not happy with my litter box
Thank you for giving me a home … I love you so much

We want the best for our 4-legged (and feathered) family, right? We would do anything for them. We do our best to feed them the healthiest species-appropriate food. We hire pet sitters, doggy day care facilities, groomers, trainers, behaviorists. We buy them birthday gifts, holiday gifts, celebrate their adoption anniversary.

Sometimes we do not realize that the loving home we provide for our pet is not the healthiest environment. The air in our homes can be up to 5 times more polluted than the air outside. And the emotional energy can be toxic as well.

There are some easy things that you can do to create a healthy non-toxic environment for your pet.

Use a plant-based all-natural cleaner in your home. Pets walk all over everything, right? And then they lick their paws. So if you’re not willing to lick your cleaners, then a change is needed. This is what I use.
Remove chemically-filled toxic candles, plug-ins, sprays and aerosols and switch them out to diffuse pet-safe essential oils. I only recommend Young Living essential oils because other brands do not promote their oils to be used with pets.

*Stella enjoys her naturally cleaned blanket.*

Clean bedding and toys in a plant-based all-natural laundry soap. Most “green” laundry products contain harmful ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This is what I use because my cats sleep face down on their blankets.
Buy organic hand-made toys since too pet toys are made of toxic materials. Our pets put toys in their mouth so any toxins can soak in through the mucous membranes.
And other recommendations are detailed in my book The Oily Pet.

But what do you do when your dog is constantly anxious, over-reacting to the door bell, barking excessively, or the cat is vomiting or not using the litter box for no medical reason?

We instinctively know that something emotional or energetically is wrong. But we run up the veterinary bills and walk out with no answers. It’s frustrating, right?

These are the questions that I get the most. This is the focus of what I do.

I have loved animals ever since I could walk. As an attorney for the past 26 years (and former prosecuting attorney) I have dedicated my legal career to helping animal victims. I have spent over 20 years volunteering and fostering for animal shelters and rescues. And for a decade my healing business has been focused on helping people and pets transform to an energetically healthier lifestyle.

*Marni welcomes Reiki at the shelter and in a twist of fate 15 months later* *she became a burn victim and came into foster care with me to heal.*

I understand animals at an intuitive and energetic level. Pets are sensitive to human’s emotions and are highly sensitive to the changes happening to our planet.

This is what I help you understand and empower you with the tools to help your pet.

Reiki helps your pet relax because a relaxed body can repair and release blocks
Integrated Energy Therapy releases the emotional issues stored at the cellular level
Crystals work energetically at the cellular and DNA level and all energy layers
Essential oils can work rapidly on physical and behavioral imbalances so long as they are pet-safe

If you have a beloved 4-legged family member that is physically or behaviorally struggling, empower yourself by checking out my pet classes below. Your pet will thank you with snuggles and kisses!

About Allie Phillips:

My name is Allie Phillips and I like proof, not fluff! I am a Certified Health Coach, Life/Law of Attraction Mindset Coach, Usui Reiki Master-Teacher, Integrated Energy Therapy Master-Instructor, Advanced Crystal Master, Universal energy educator, Young Living Essential Oil Brand Partner Leader (#1414338), and an Attorney. I believe in empowering people with education that is well-researched, easy to understand and implement with many options for success, and with experience that it works. My passion is blending all of my expertise together as a Holistic Wellness Coach to help people and pets stay well and thrive in our changing world. I am the author of The Oily Pet and The Oily Crystal and have written several award-winning animal protection books and publications. As an animal & family protection attorney who is an internationally recognized educator on prosecuting family violence and animal abuse cases, and the Founder/CEO of Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T)®, I love helping animal companions live safely and with wellness because for those of us who have them grace our worlds, they are our soul mates.

Be sure to check out my wellness workshops happening every month!

Check out my energy healing certification classes!

Join in on the fun!

Essential Oils for Summer

May 23, 2019June 16, 2019 by Allie Phillips

Summer is the time when our minds are on playtime, vacation time, and relaxation time rather than work or school. It’s a time of travel, kids asking are we there yet, and being so wound up with excitement that sleep can be challenging. You’re eating cotton candy and elephant ears at festivals and questioning that decision afterward. It’s a time of rollercoasters, long car rides and plane rides that our stomach may not enjoy. You’re loving the sun and sometimes too much of it. And essential oils can be part of Summer survival kit!

Young Living’s Premium Starter Kit is your Summer survival kit!

It comes with 12 essential oils and a diffuser which every home should honestly have. It also comes with a Thieves Hand Purifier (for bathroom rest stops), a Thieves Spray (for restaurant tables), and samples of Ningxia Red (my daily energy drink).

What’s even better? I will send you two essential oil books to jumpstart your oily journey, and offer you a wellness assessment so that you get the most out of your experience with Young Living. And when you get the starter kit, you also get a wholesale account with Young Living so that all of your orders are at a 24% discounted rate.

So if you LOVE LOVE LOVE Summer and want to enjoy all that you can, this kit is for you. Click here to get started!

Seriously … I use these oils pretty much every day and they will help you have the best summer!

Not all essential oils are made the same

May 22, 2019May 23, 2019 by Allie Phillips

I recently finished “Spring Expo Season” where I had booths at women’s expos and pet expos to share information about safe and effective essential oils. I met a lot of great people and pets. And I realized that not all essential oils are made the same.

I found myself saying the same thing over and over and over again because essential oils are suddenly the hot new commodity. #theresanoilforthat But it also showed me that there’s a lot of confusion about essential oils (you can’t believe everything you read online), stores will not teach you how the use the oils, and it’s really important that you align yourself with an essential oil educator that you trust. #pickme

Here’s the thing … essential oils may be a hot topic, but they are not new, they have been around for 5,000+ years. But now they are EVERYWHERE! Seriously …. I now see essential oils at the gas stations. #saynotogasstationoils They are in stores that sell everything from food to gerbils and gun licenses, to the discount store chains, and everywhere online. #justsayno

OILS OILS OILS EVERYWHERE!

But as with everything, there are quality essential oils and inferior essential oils. There are essential oils that can improve your wellness physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually and there are oils that simply scent a room. There are essential oils that are safe around pets and those that are not. There are essential oils that are safe for babies and children, and those that are not.

I don’t know about you, but if I’m spending money on essential oils, I want to feel better physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually and I want them to be safe for me and my cats. I want them to actually DO something to help me feel better. #yougetwhatyoupayfor

So what’s a curious essential oiler to do when you’re surrounded by those little bottles but you don’t know which ones are good for you? #askallie

Here’s some of the most popular questions and my answers:

Question: Can I ingest this essential oil (especially if it’s a product that you can also eat, like lemon or peppermint)?

Answer: If the label says “do not ingest”, then the label is telling you that there is something else in the bottle other than the oil. If the label says yes, then you have a quality essential oil that can be safely used in a variety of ways and with your entire family. But be aware that the FDA does not allow an essential oil to be labeled both topical and for ingestion on the same bottle. Different labels are required for each. This is why Young Living has the Vitality line of oils (for ingesting) and all of those same oils are labeled differently for topical use. Same oil, different label. This is why it’s important to know the company.

Question: Can I topically apply the essential oil?

Answer: If the label says no, then once again the label is telling you that there is something else in the bottle. This is likely just a fragrance oil and fragrance oils tend to contain synthetic oils, too.

Question: Is it safe for me to smell the oil (directly from the bottle or through diffusing)?

Answer: Whatever you smell, topically apply or ingest goes into your bloodstream. So if you cannot ingest it or topically apply it, you should think twice about smelling it.

Question: Is it safe to use with my pets?

Answer: The #1 answer to this question is to go to the company’s website, type pet or animal in the search bar, and if the company does not promote their oils for pets, then you should not use them in that way. Here is a blog that I wrote that outlines a lot of information specifically on this hot social media topic.

Question: Is it safe to use on babies or pregnant women?

Answer: Labeling laws require cautions on products that are used in homes that have children or pregnant/nursing women. So again, go to the company website and if the company promotes their oils to be used with babies, children, and pregnant/nursing women, then you have a quality essential oil.

Question: What do you really know about the company?

Answer: When the essential oil company has their own process from having their own farms, to the seed of the plant, to growing without the use of pesticides/herbicides, to harvesting at the proper time for that plant, to distilling their own oils using only low pressure and water (no solvents or chemicals) or cold pressing citrus without solvents or chemicals, then you can safely use those essential oils with your family. And does the company specialize in essential oils?

There’s a few quality essential oil companies on the market, but most essential oils have been compromised to sell cheaply. The company that can answer YES to all of these questions is Young Living (especially when it comes to pets).

It’s why I ditched dozens or oils from other brands and moved to Young Living in 2013. I did that because I have cats, I work with animals and shelter pets, and my lawyer brain wants to keep me legally safe in what I do by making sure that the company backs how I use the products. And it’s why I teach about Young Living because, now more than ever, people want quality and they want answers.

What questions do you have about essential oils?

About Allie Phillips:

Allie is a multi-careered energy therapist (Usui Reiki Master-Teacher, Fairy Reiki Master, Integrated Energy Therapy Master-Instructor, and Advanced Crystal Master), essential oil educator, award-winning book author, attorney and internationally-recognized animal advocate, and Founder/CEO of Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T)™. She travels the globe to teach about essential oils, healing, and keeping pets & people safe from harm. She helps people create a natural non-toxic lifestyle, find financial freedom, and help animals live with comfort in our hectic world. She particularly loves helping our animal companions and those temporarily in animal shelters because for those of us who have them grace our worlds, they are our soul mates.

Join in on the fun!

Be sure to check out my workshops happening every month!

Check out my energy therapy certification classes!

Tools for Crisis, Trauma and Stress

September 15, 2018 by Allie Phillips

A tree down in my yard after Hurricane Irene in August 2011.

I am writing this as Hurricane Florence is decimating the Carolina coastline and creating life threatening circumstances for too many people and animals. No matter where you live, each area has its share of natural disasters …. from hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, earthquakes, and more.

Often we have warning and can prepare for these natural disasters, but sometimes we cannot. A weather disaster can shake us to the core of our survival instincts because it often involves having to flee our home and can even result in the physical and emotional loss of our homes.

Once our survival instincts kick into high gear, it can be weeks, months and sometimes a lifetime before our physical and emotional body can get back to normal. When we go into survival mode, our adrenals begin to produce excess cortisol and it can quickly drain our endocrine system and impact our entire body.

In 2003, I was in a situation where I had very little choice but to move away from my home and family for employment reason. It was traumatic and it pretty much destroyed my adrenals (which are still working to fully rejuvenate). And when I lived in Alexandria, VA, there were several times when remnants of hurricanes and tropical storms required me to get prepared to evacuate. It was all very stressful. Crisis, trauma and stress will absolutely take a toll on the body.

For some people, knowing that others (especially helpless animals) are suffering during a weather event can bring on vicarious trauma and empathetic stress as if you are too experiencing the event. I know … I’ve been there in my animal protection legal work and when I volunteered in Jackson, Mississippi to help animals after Hurricane Katrina. I returned home a complete stressed-out and traumatized mess. And watching 24/7 news coverage also does not help (which is why I recommend heavy doses of The Hallmark Channel and Harry Potter movies during stressful times).

So what can you do when you are in the middle of a crisis, traumatic or stressful situation, whether it’s weather-related or not? These are a few simple tools that I have used for myself and my kitties to keep us calm and well.

For a weather-related event, be prepared by having a Grab-N-Go bag ready for every member of the family, including pets. Being prepared will give you great peace of mind and help you move quickly to get everyone to safety with less stress.
If you are attuned to an energy healing modality, give yourself, your children and/or your pets healing energy frequently. If you are not, simply rub your hands together and place them on your heart, on your children’s back and on your pets. Once you can calm your heart, you will be able to share that with others.
Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a great way to start moving the crisis energy out of your system. Here is a great video on relief for people in crisis from Brad Yates (my EFT guru). Tap frequently until you feel relief.
If you are calm, those around you will be calm. The most effective and fast-acting calming tool that I use are my Young Living essential oils. My favorites are Lavender, Stress Away, Peace & Calming, Valor, and Sacred Mountain. Diffuse these therapeutic-grade essential oils so that everyone can benefit, including pets. And topically apply for added benefit. And if you are fleeing a disaster zone by car, having a car diffuser with calming essential oils may help to cut the energy of the crisis.

Preparing is the key for when a weather-related disaster occurs; Self-care is the key to a speedy recovery.

About Allie Phillips:

Allie is a multi-careered energy therapist (Usui Reiki Master-Teacher, Fairy Reiki Master, Integrated Energy Therapy Master-Instructor, and Advanced Crystal Master), Young Living essential oil Silver Leader educator, instructor at Young Living’s annual Animal Essential Oil Conference, award-winning book author, attorney and internationally-recognized animal advocate, and Founder/CEO of Sheltering Animals & Families Together (SAF-T)™. She helps people create a natural non-toxic lifestyle, find financial freedom, and help animals live with comfort in our hectic world. She particularly loves helping our animal companions and those temporarily in animal shelters because for those of us who have them grace our worlds, they are our soul mates.

Join in on the fun!

Be sure to check out my workshops happening every month!

Check out my energy therapy certification classes!

Lucy … Signs from our cat angels

May 12, 2018 by Allie Phillips

Companion Animals provide unconditional love and support … it’s one of the most true forms of love we can experience.

If you love animals, you have likely suffered the loss of one or more. When we lose a companion animal, we can grieve as much (if not more) than when we lose a person.

I have blogged about the passing of my kitties Sammy and Oscar (in 2012) and Jacob (in 2017). For me, it’s part of the healing process and I always find something heart-opening during the grieving process because pets really do teach us a lot.

With Sammy, I wrote about what pets teach us because if you listen to your pet, you will learn amazing things.

With Oscar, I wrote about some interesting number similarities between Oscar and Sammy’s passings and being tuned in to those signs.

With Jacob, I wrote about different energy methods to help deal with the sudden loss of a loved one and processing grief.

My sweet Lucy passed away on May 3rd at the age of 19 years and 9 months. I had her in my life for 19 years and 2 months which is an incredible long life we had together. My heart is broken into countless little pieces because she was truly my best friend and was with me through some very terrible times and very happy times. While people have let me down, Lucy never did. She was a very vocal Bombay (black Siamese) and could actually verbalize about 20 words including Uh oh or Oh no (when she saw her brother Rudy), I don’t know (when I asked her a question and she wanted me to figure it out) and should could even say my name. Seriously!!!!

Lucy was MY cat … she didn’t need anyone else and would have been content as an only cat (although she had 4 brothers in her lifetime). One of my fondest memories of Lucy was taking Lucy on a Cat-cation in August 2016 to celebrate her 18th birthday and my birthday. We went to a friend’s home on the shore of Lake Huron in Cheboygan, Michigan. Although Lucy was not fond of the 3+ hour car ride, she loved spending time on the beach (the world’s largest litter box for her) and it being just the two of us for a few days.

Lucy was also truly the spokes cat for Manifested Harmony because she let me test out all of the wonderful healing modalities I have learned over the years with her. She taught me how to properly offer Energy Healing and crystals to cats (click on the links to see videos of Lucy demonstrating). Cats are not little people so there is a method of offering energy healing to our pets and Lucy taught me that.

And then Lucy helped me understand that safe, quality, pet-friendly essential oils can provide an amazing physical and emotional benefits. Many people are concerned about using essential oils with cats because of a cat’s difficulty in eliminating essential oils through the liver. Read this blog if you’re still concerned. For 5 years, Lucy was surrounded by Young Living essential oils. I diffused essential oils everyday and she loved them. And for 4 years she drank an essential oil-infused drink called Ningxia Red in her food. Six days before she passed her lab work showed that her liver was in good condition for a 19+ year old cat … it was her kidneys that had been declining over the past 3 years that finally took her.

With Lucy, she was very clear in her messages to me when she was alive. When she did not want me to work past 8pm, she would sit on my laptop to prevent me from typing. When I did too many video classes in a row, she would sit in my lap to keep me balanced and to let me know when it was time to stop. When it was time to put down a book, she sat on me and stared at me. She was a great teacher.

Since her passing, I have received some beautiful signs from Lucy. Lucy is guiding me to write about the signs that you may receive from your pets when they are ready to pass and after they have passed. These are the signs that Lucy gave to me before she passed:

Lucy had no interest in food for 7 days and did not eat at all for 3 days. When your pet stops eating, they are letting you know that they are ready … they are just waiting for you to be ready and to say it’s okay for them to pass.
Lucy was walking around the house (even the morning before passing) as if to take in everything and say goodbye.
When I looked in her eyes, I could tell that she was starting to leave. The life, spark and energy that had always been in her eyes was dwindling and mostly gone.
Many pets like to go into hiding when they are ready to pass. Lucy walked downstairs in the middle of her last night and I found her sitting on a dining room chair cloaked by the table cloth.
And because our pets cannot verbalize that they are ready to go, we need to put down the busyness in our life and really focus on them because the signs will be obvious. Then you will feel at peace when it’s time to let them go.

In the 2 hours after Lucy passed, these are the signs that she sent to me:

I felt her kiss my nose. Every day should would give me nose smears, which is how she picked me when I found her at the animal control shelter in 1999 in a room full of black cats.
When I was driving her to the crematorium, these songs came on the radio: You’ll never find another love like mine (Lou Rawls) and Hey Nineteen (Steeley Dan). I laughed when Hey Nineteen played because Lucy was 19 at her passing. Lucy was anything but subtle.
I have table chimes on my dining room buffet table and all of my angel kitties will move the chimes whenever I talk to them. Seriously, people who have been at my house have seen it!!! As soon as I walked into my house after leaving her at the crematorium, the chimes belled.

And in the days since then, I have seen a lot of feathers …. every where (that’s a sign from the angels)! Many friends who are gifted communicators have connected with Lucy and shared information with me that gives me comfort that she is with loved ones, in a good place, and happy. I have also seen her out of the corner of my eye and have heard her meow. Am I losing my mind, no. If we take the time to connect, we can sense those who have passed. And that sensing can give great comfort during grief.

When we lose a loved one (whether human or pet), it can suck the energy out of us. Rudy (her cat brother) and I are definitely not the high energy beings that we were before Lucy passed. But with a lot of support from family and friends, and using a daily protocol from the Feelings Kit, we are regaining our energy and getting back to our new normal. And I’m learning that it’s good to be happy, even though I miss Lucy greatly, because one thing that she continuously taught me was to be happy … no matter what is going on.

So when you lose a pet, be sure to give yourself the time and space to properly grieve and to notice the signs that your pet is not far … they are just in different form. And take comfort in the time that you had with your pet, although we know it is always too little.

About Allie Phillips:

Allie is a unique combination of self-empowerment coach (Certified Law of Attraction Counselor and Life Coach), energy therapist (Usui Reiki Master-Teacher, Fairy Reiki Master, Integrated Energy Therapy Master-Instructor, and Advanced Crystal Master), Certified Fairyologist, Young Living essential oil Silver Leader educator, award-winning book author, attorney and nationally-recognized animal advocate. Whether it’s wanting more freedom, creativity, loving relationships, financial security, wellbeing, relaxation, or adjusting to the energy of our new world … she looks at each person and animal holistically and creates a well-being plan. She combines methods to help people gain control of their lives and to help animals live with comfort in our hectic world. And she particularly loves helping our animal companions because for those of us who have them grace our worlds, they are our soul mates.

Join in on the fun!

Be sure to check out my workshops happening every month!

Check out my energy therapy certification classes!

Essential Oils for Cats … safe practices!

February 10, 2018 by Allie Phillips

I’m going to go out on a limb and talk about a controversial hot topic that has gone viral on social media in the past month … and it does not seem to be slowing down.

Essential Oils for Cats and Pets.

It all started last month when a friend notified me about a Facebook post from a lady who has an 18-year-old cat who was very sick because she had been diffusing essential oils purchased on Amazon since Christmas. I created this video below to help calm the fear and clarify the confusion. I’m not sure how her cat is doing but I hope he will be okay.

I received over 100 messages from concerned friends, fellow oilers and strangers about that post so it really touched a nerve with people. For those of us with fur family member, of course we want them to be safe.

Here’s the video I did on my Facebook page.

Then I’ve seen this graphic and loads of stories circulating on social media almost every day for the past month. When it rains it pours, right? So I want to give you some clarity and relief from concern about what essential oils are safe to use with cats (and any pets).

I am NOT a veterinarian, I’m a former prosecutor, an attorney specializing in animal abuse cases and animal protection, and an essential oil educator for people AND pets. Because of my life-long and career-long love of animals, I have studied with the best of the best for 5 years and I talk from my personal experiences with my own cats, pet clients, and shelter pets I’ve helped. And I have the pleasure of being friends with and learning with some amazing veterinarians who actively use Young Living essential oils in their practice.

So let’s start with this graphic. First, it’s deceptive. There’s no ownership on the graphic which concerns me about who created it. While it’s raising the discussion about safe and unsafe use of essential oils with cats and I’m sure this person created it out of concern, it’s creating confusion and fear by giving partially true and partially untrue information. This graphic is deceptive because it’s partially accurate and partially not. The concern is NOT be about the type of oil (Lemon, Eucalyptus, etc.). The focus must be on the BRAND of oil and whether the brand is intended to be used with animals.

Most brands (about 98%) have essential oils that have been adulterated during the distillation process (by using solvents and alcohols to get the oils out quicker and cheaper). Adulteration could simply be that something else is in the bottle (such as a carrier oil, a solvent, synthetic essential oil, etc). Most essential oils are simply to fragrance a room and are not intended to be used around animals. This is what is dangerous to cats and ANY animal.

Essential oils are very popular right now (because of the success of Young Living) and you can find them anywhere. Seriously, I found them at a gas station this past week. One rule of thumb is that you get what you pay for in essential oils. Essential oils are NOT cheap. When they are grown and processed properly and safely, you will pay for that. So when you find a bottle of Lavender at the local discount store for $3.99, it’s not really Lavender and it should not be used in any way around pets (topically, diffused or ingesting).

So how do you know what’s safe for cats?

Go to the company website to see if there is any mention on the website about animals or pets (use the search function). If a company does not mention that their oils can be used with animals, don’t use them with animals! If something goes wrong, you will have no recourse because you used the essential oils in a way that was not promoted.
Look to the process that the company uses to grow, harvest, and distill their essential oils. Does the company handle everything from start to finish, do they disclose the process? If not, I would not recommend those oils to be used with pets. Transparency is important.
If the label has too many cautions on it, especially cautions against ingesting or topical application, the label is telling you that something else is in the bottle.
And please use common sense. No rational person would pour an entire bottle of essential oil on themselves, so don’t go to the extreme with your cat. And while some constituents in essential oils may be difficult for cats to process, when you use an essential oil that is safe and use it in a responsible manner, your cat will be safe.

Let’s go back to the label. I always ask people to do their own research since federal labeling laws do not require much on a label. Just because an essential oil is labeled “pure” or “organic” does not mean that it is pure. And there are no labeling laws for essential oils to be listed as natural or organic.

For example, I have a bottle (for teaching purposes) of an organic lemon oil. On the label it says “dilute properly, not for ingestion.” Since when can’t you ingest a lemon or its oil? I don’t like to call out companies by name so I blocked that out. But the label is accurate and is telling you that while the lemon may have been grown organically, the process of getting the oil into the bottle did something to make it unsafe to topically apply or ingest. These are the details that make most essential oil brands unsafe for pets. Yet this label says nothing about pets (and it’s legal).

Every few months I research the top essential oils companies to see which ones mention animals on their website. When I searched the top 10 last month, only 1 mentions pets on their website … Young Living. Only Young Living has a Veterinary Advisory Council, puts on the only national Animal Essential Oil Conference (which I’ve had the honor to teach at), and a vast majority of books on oils for animals have been written about Young Living oils. It’s not something recent, it’s been part of Young Living’s foundation since it was started in 1994. One product created by Young Living early on was the Animal Scents Ointment (an amazing ointment for skin support). There is TEA TREE in the ointment, yet it is safe to use with cats. Other Tea Tree oils can harm/kill a cat. This is because Young Living has their own farms and they grow, harvest and distill their own oils with simply low pressure and steam/water (no solvents). This one example shows you how the purity of an oil can be safely used.

What did I do?

I ditched all the other oils brands I had used for 15 years and now only use Young Living oils with shelter pets and my cats successfully and safely. I’m not saying that to sell you oils, I’m saying that because I’ve spent years researching this and it’s true. This is why I have a 2nd career educating people about oils because other brands of oils can/will be toxic to cats and other pets because those oil brands were not intended to be used around or on pets. And while I do make money from my Young Living business, anyone who is providing value and a service to others should be paid, right? You wouldn’t go to your dentist or auto mechanic and criticize them for charging you, would you? So whether you like, loathe or are indifferent to Young Living, let’s just put that to rest right now because I want to educate you.

A quick lesson in how to use essential oils with cats

Topically: Even with the purity of Young Living oils, you have to know HOW to use the oils with cats. I can only recommend topical application of Young Living oils with cats and pets. A Young Living essential oil must be diluted in a carrier oil for TOPICAL application due to a cat’s slower ability to process the oil due to a missing enzyme in their liver. The ratio I use is 9 drops of carrier oil to 1 drop of Young Living oil (no matter what the type of oils is … Lemon, Eucalyptus, etc.). A carrier oil simply is a time release for the essential oil so that it goes in slower for the cat to eliminate properly. This helps with a cat’s enzyme deficiency in their liver for excreting essential oils (and medicine and toxins). And the same is true for small dogs under 25 pounds and pocket pets. This is why I teach classes in-person and online because there’s things you need to know and a store or a website isn’t going to educate you.

Diffusing/Smelling: I can only recommend diffusing Young Living essential oils. Why? Whatever you topically apply, ingest or smell is going into the bloodstream. Diffusing Young Living essential oils in a cold water diffuser (not one that heats water and never a burner) is safe. And yes, you can safely diffuse citrus oils … I do almost every day. Diffusing is very gentle and your pet can go into another room if they have taken in enough. The photo at the beginning of this newsletter is my 5-year-old Rudy. He’s been exposed to Young Living oils since he came to me at 5 months of age. He loves to stick his face over the diffuser and it’s totally safe!

And just a few weeks ago I helped a friend who is fostering a young cat who was taken to a vet for euthanasia because the family was unable to pay for medical care. The cat is safe and in foster care, but is heartbroken. Cats know, they are very intuitive when they are not wanted. The foster mom is in my Young Living team so she let him smell the Forgiveness oil and within minutes his outward demeanor and personality dramatically improved from shut down to engaging and eating. Check out the photos below.

Ingesting: Again, I can only recommend Young Living. Rudy and Lucy who is 19-1/2 year old ingest a Young Living essential oil product daily to help them maintain well body systems! My veterinarian tests their liver values frequently and is amazed at how healthy they are.

If you’re concerned, have your cat’s lab work done before using Young Living oils in any way, then get re-tested in 3-6 months. When a cat is subjected to UNSAFE essential oils over years, it can harm or kill them (it can do so even in a matter of weeks). And if you want to watch a veterinarian talk about blood tests of a cat who was given extensive Young Living essential oils over a 10 day period, check out this video.

Remember … It’s the brand and purity that is important, along with a company that promotes their oils for animals … it’s not the type of oil.

If you want more information, click here to access an online class I recently did specifically on Essential Oils for Cats.

And while I cannot answer specific medical questions about your pets (that’s in violation of federal regulations), I encourage you to stay connected with me to educate yourself. And if you want to learn more and partner with a team of oilers who are doing the same, join me and my team!

Here’s the bottom line … you cannot believe everything that’s on the internet. I would encourage you to research what I’ve said here. Go to Young Living’s website and in the search bar type in animal and pet. Go to Amazon or Life Science Publishers and get some educational materials specifically about Young Living essential oils for pets.

And if you see people talking about this graphic or oils for cats, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send them this blog post. Education is where we can advance this important field of wellness for pets (and people, too)! So I hope to see you in one of my upcoming in-person or online classes!

About Allie Phillips:

Join in on the fun!

Be sure to check out my workshops happening every month!

Check out my energy therapy certification classes!

Processing the Energy of Grief and Loss

May 24, 2017 by Allie Phillips

Sadly, this topic close to my heart right now.

My sweet Jacob suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on April 3rd. He was fine a few days earlier, then acted a little sluggish and wasn’t eating as much for a day, and the next thing I know we are in the ICU at the Michigan State University Veterinary School. He was crashing and all I was told was that it was a very fast moving cancer, but they didn’t know what the cancer was. Two weeks earlier, he had full lab work-ups done and there were no problems. So after a lot of questions, little answers, and veterinarians who were baffled by what caused the sudden crash, it was clear that Jacob was passing before my eyes so I held him as we let him go.

Jacob is not the only pet who passed away in the past 3 months. An unusually large number of pets and people have passed on (many unexpectedly) …. and the number is well over 30 just for who I know. I’m searching to find the meaning in all of it. I believe that everyone decides at the soul level when it’s their time to pass on. But why so many in the past 3 months? It’s like they are going in clusters. Do they feel they will be of more service to us in spirit? Do they know something we humans don’t know? It has prompted a lot of discussions but little answers.

What I’ve done in the past month to process the grief, cope with the loss and missing the pitter patter of Jacob’s feet, and to keep my multi-businesses afloat, I have turned to a couple of tools to help me process grief.

The first thing I did was reach for my essential oils. The oils that have truly helped me through this difficult time have been Acceptance (to accept what has happened), Frankincense (which comes in the starter kit and it works on the lung meridian where we store the energy of grief), Gratitude (to be grateful for the time that we had with our loved one) and Joy (because our loved one would want us moving forward in joy and happiness). I was in shock, angry and then numb for about 3 weeks. I used my oily religiously and then it all lifted. By diffusing these oils, I know they have also helped my cat Rudy who deeply loved Jacob.

My favorite ways to utilize the oils for emotional help is to smell them. The oils go into the limbic region of the brain where we store emotions. So diffusing the oils or placing the oils in your hand and inhaling are two powerful techniques to process the energy of difficult emotions.

Next, I placed a ginormous Rose Quartz and Selenite on my bedroom nightstand so that the loving and soothing energy of those crystals would surround me at night.

And then I simply kept talking to Jacob. Just because a person or pet has passed on does not mean that their spirit is not nearby. In the past 6 weeks there have been so many Jacob “sightings” based on Rudy’s reactions. Rudy will start to spontaneously play in a location where he and Jacob would rumble. Rudy will jump up and start to chase something that I cannot see. And Rudy will stare down a hallway as if Jacob is there. I also “see” Jacob out of the corner of my eye. So keep talking to your loved one because they have not left your side.

And if you’re still struggling with overwhelming grief and feel that you cannot move on, please talk with a professional and combine that therapy with an energy healing session. Together, it can be a powerful combination of transformation.

I am sharing this because we all have lost someone and if we do not process the grief, it can cause a host of emotional, mental and physical problems (because grief stores in the lungs). Essential oils, crystals and continued connection to your loved one can help you through it. Even if you have grief from long ago, give these techniques a try.

So while we grapple with the why, the what if’s, and retracing steps to try to identify signs or ways that a different road could have been taken, at some point we all have to grieve and release it. So I wanted to share my story that even in the midst of grief, there is hope and happiness.

Jacob and Rudy, very bonded brothers and best friends

I am so grateful and happy that I had my floppy-eared blue-eyed Jacob in my life, even just for less than 5 years. Everyone who came to my homes in Virginia and Michigan met him because he was a big part of every energy healing and essential oil class. I now can look at his photos and smile and I truly feel his presence still in our home.

About Allie Phillips: