Jennifer M. Cameron
Usui Reiki Master/Practitioner
(Lineage - 9 removed from founder, Dr. Usui Mikao)
(Lineage - 9 removed from founder, Dr. Usui Mikao)
"You and Universe are one - you are speaking the same language. The messages are there, you just have to listen."
Jen Cameron -
Lightworker,
Usui Reiki Master/Practitioner, Intuitive.
Honoring my Lokono Arawak and Afro-Caribbean Heritage
Growing up, I wasn't a typical girl, nor did I have a typical upbringing.
I am the youngest of 5 siblings - the eldest of my two sisters, being in her early 60's. My family wasn't a typical one either. My father and his first wife married young and they began their family soon after, raising
3 children. Having separated close to 17 years later made for quite a large age gap in siblings by the time he and my mother married and my brother I came along.
I am of mixed ethnicity, Arawak (South American native), Afro-Caribbean and Scottish. My father is a still very capable burly big chested Scotsman and my mother was a very petite and pretty West Indian from Barbados. The convergence of temperate and tropical makes for quite an interesting cultural environment in many ways from music, to etiquette, to sports, to cuisine. Many meals consisted of a combination of a lot of spices unheard of anywhere north of the equator, papaya dishes, smoked fish, boiled ham dinner and shepherds pie...and very little baked goods or sweets. A bowl of fruit topped with vanilla ice-cream was the sweetest thing in our home for dessert.
There was always a lot of curiosity from the kids in my neighborhood with regard to the cultural differences in my family, the most obvious being the color of my mother's dark brown skin and her thick Caribbean accent. Though there was none more curious than the adults...and the rumors flew! It was later divulged to me that a petition was passed around from home to home by a few "disgruntled" neighbours to prevent us from moving in. It was relatively uncommon for a white man and a woman of color to be married at the time, let alone homeowners in an all white comfortable middle class neighborhood. Interestingly enough, no one ever asked my Mother where she was from nor of her circumstances. But as the years went by, they came to fully embrace her as well as the close and loving relationship my parents shared. It was clear that during her final days before she passed away, this was all that truly mattered.
I suppose it might be difficult for one to believe that cultural differences within a family would be a catalyst for early awareness of childhood loneliness and self introspection to begin, but it can be. Thankfully, times have changed somewhat for the better with attitudes and complacency in this regard, but when it takes root, it has a life of it's own...be it the fallout from both the ignorance and the silence.
Spending a lot of time in solitude whether in childhood or adulthood, whether on purpose or unintended, over time, naturally brings about an awareness that dwells within the quiet. I can recall often times I would have "whisper" conversations with someone who, visibly, wasn't there, yet I "knew" someone was. I'd ask questions and receive answers. I'd be asked questions and I'd give my answers in return. A full on two way conversation with, what seemed to be, only me in the room...I must have been out of my mind. But I definitely wasn't. I was completely aware and very much in the moment. This began at about 8 years of age. In this time, I began to experience an awareness of spirit, namely, "shadow people", all of which were benevolent, perhaps just a little lost or simply wandering about in curiosity. It all became second nature and, being only 8 years old at the time, I thought it must be everyone's experience as well.
In retrospect, I believe what lent to my sensitivity was losing those I was closest to at a very young age. My Grandmother, when I was 6, and my Grandfather, when I was 7. In the less than 10 years that followed, I lost my mother when I was 16. She was only 50. Her name was Monica, she was beautiful in every way imaginable and the most beautiful soul I have ever known.
She was not only my mother, she was also my dearest friend.
Going into friends' homes was always interesting...still is.
Seeing people from the past of whom once lived there, hearing the low chatter and the conversations I could barely decipher, feeling chilly drafts, suddenly feeling depressed and sometimes becoming completely distracted by all the commotion of which no one else was aware. I hid it well as I would never have wanted anyone to think I was out of my mind.
All of these sensitivities, I carry to this day, only they are more defined and harnessed now. I'm not one to reach for labels, however, with all of the above it helps to streamline them within one functional word. The term(s) that best describe my abilities in this regard are Clairsentient (clear-knowing) and Clairaudient (clear-hearing) or as I like to simply say, Intuitive.
My working career, thus far, had been as an office professional struggling to advance in the corporate world. After a decade of low energy, lack of ambition and no interest, I kept slogging it out, hopeful that one day I'd somehow just...find my mojo. I knew better than to keep going when I kept coming down with colds, felt unfulfilled, stressed, edgy, anxious and somewhat depressed. Throughout my "desk life", spiritual and holistic healing kept calling to me, but I always brushed it aside, mainly due to a lack of confidence in my abilities. But after many long conversations and quite a bit of prompting and encouragement from my husband and two very dear Intuitive healer friends of mine, I could no longer ignore the call...
So I knew what I had to do...
And here I am.
I am the youngest of 5 siblings - the eldest of my two sisters, being in her early 60's. My family wasn't a typical one either. My father and his first wife married young and they began their family soon after, raising
3 children. Having separated close to 17 years later made for quite a large age gap in siblings by the time he and my mother married and my brother I came along.
I am of mixed ethnicity, Arawak (South American native), Afro-Caribbean and Scottish. My father is a still very capable burly big chested Scotsman and my mother was a very petite and pretty West Indian from Barbados. The convergence of temperate and tropical makes for quite an interesting cultural environment in many ways from music, to etiquette, to sports, to cuisine. Many meals consisted of a combination of a lot of spices unheard of anywhere north of the equator, papaya dishes, smoked fish, boiled ham dinner and shepherds pie...and very little baked goods or sweets. A bowl of fruit topped with vanilla ice-cream was the sweetest thing in our home for dessert.
There was always a lot of curiosity from the kids in my neighborhood with regard to the cultural differences in my family, the most obvious being the color of my mother's dark brown skin and her thick Caribbean accent. Though there was none more curious than the adults...and the rumors flew! It was later divulged to me that a petition was passed around from home to home by a few "disgruntled" neighbours to prevent us from moving in. It was relatively uncommon for a white man and a woman of color to be married at the time, let alone homeowners in an all white comfortable middle class neighborhood. Interestingly enough, no one ever asked my Mother where she was from nor of her circumstances. But as the years went by, they came to fully embrace her as well as the close and loving relationship my parents shared. It was clear that during her final days before she passed away, this was all that truly mattered.
I suppose it might be difficult for one to believe that cultural differences within a family would be a catalyst for early awareness of childhood loneliness and self introspection to begin, but it can be. Thankfully, times have changed somewhat for the better with attitudes and complacency in this regard, but when it takes root, it has a life of it's own...be it the fallout from both the ignorance and the silence.
Spending a lot of time in solitude whether in childhood or adulthood, whether on purpose or unintended, over time, naturally brings about an awareness that dwells within the quiet. I can recall often times I would have "whisper" conversations with someone who, visibly, wasn't there, yet I "knew" someone was. I'd ask questions and receive answers. I'd be asked questions and I'd give my answers in return. A full on two way conversation with, what seemed to be, only me in the room...I must have been out of my mind. But I definitely wasn't. I was completely aware and very much in the moment. This began at about 8 years of age. In this time, I began to experience an awareness of spirit, namely, "shadow people", all of which were benevolent, perhaps just a little lost or simply wandering about in curiosity. It all became second nature and, being only 8 years old at the time, I thought it must be everyone's experience as well.
In retrospect, I believe what lent to my sensitivity was losing those I was closest to at a very young age. My Grandmother, when I was 6, and my Grandfather, when I was 7. In the less than 10 years that followed, I lost my mother when I was 16. She was only 50. Her name was Monica, she was beautiful in every way imaginable and the most beautiful soul I have ever known.
She was not only my mother, she was also my dearest friend.
Going into friends' homes was always interesting...still is.
Seeing people from the past of whom once lived there, hearing the low chatter and the conversations I could barely decipher, feeling chilly drafts, suddenly feeling depressed and sometimes becoming completely distracted by all the commotion of which no one else was aware. I hid it well as I would never have wanted anyone to think I was out of my mind.
All of these sensitivities, I carry to this day, only they are more defined and harnessed now. I'm not one to reach for labels, however, with all of the above it helps to streamline them within one functional word. The term(s) that best describe my abilities in this regard are Clairsentient (clear-knowing) and Clairaudient (clear-hearing) or as I like to simply say, Intuitive.
My working career, thus far, had been as an office professional struggling to advance in the corporate world. After a decade of low energy, lack of ambition and no interest, I kept slogging it out, hopeful that one day I'd somehow just...find my mojo. I knew better than to keep going when I kept coming down with colds, felt unfulfilled, stressed, edgy, anxious and somewhat depressed. Throughout my "desk life", spiritual and holistic healing kept calling to me, but I always brushed it aside, mainly due to a lack of confidence in my abilities. But after many long conversations and quite a bit of prompting and encouragement from my husband and two very dear Intuitive healer friends of mine, I could no longer ignore the call...
So I knew what I had to do...
And here I am.
"I never understood the concept of time, being rushed or frantic.
I was never good at human doing, but I have been good at human be-ing.
I am eternally grateful to Universe to BE."
I was never good at human doing, but I have been good at human be-ing.
I am eternally grateful to Universe to BE."
Dialing in.
|
You are light. You are consciousness.
|
Sun gazing - best and safest done during sunrise or sunset and barefoot, thereby taking in the earth’s energy as well. Otherwise known as "Earthing".
|
Our Crow Family
My Inspiration - My Backyard Classroom
Proud patriarch and matriarch - Evan and his mate, Evelyn.
Waiting for lunch - affectionately named "The Two Coreys". Right from hatching, it was easier identifying them this way. (fledglings at 3.5 weeks)
|
From the moment of his first touchdown thud on our patio, Corey Feldman was a chatter box. He's now 4 years old and has two fledglings of his own that are 5 months old.
|
Stumbling across our cozy little home just on the outskirts of the bustling city wasn't an opportunity we expected. Nor was the blessing of the beautiful little animal sanctuary that came with it in the backyard. It was bustling with birds of many species, deer, raccoons, skunks (which we could only smell but never catch a glimpse of), field mice, a few neighboring cats, and...our crow family.
Right from the off, it was apparent that the family of crows either perching comfortably in the apple trees or flying about to and fro had taken residence for quite a while. In fact, a couple of years later when speaking with the original owners of the property, we were told that about 30 years ago, an injured fledgling was taken in and hand reared by their youngest son until it was completely healed and subsequently set free. For the 7 years or so that followed, the crow would make daily return visits. It's also the prior family's belief that the crows of whom reside in the yard are descendants from the injured and released fledgling from way back in 1988.
Both my husband and I have been blessed with the ability to work from home, so observing the lay of the land and how things ran in our new neighborhood was fairly easy. It wasn't too long before I became keenly aware of the dynamic of our feathered friends and their family life.
The very first thing I learned about crow life was that their family construct was exactly like ours. Crows mate for life and have a hierarchy relative to age. The male and female (parents) share duties while constructing the nest in early spring (mid March). At times, there can be too many hands on deck, so to speak, as brothers and sisters of years prior and siblings as young at last years fledglings help to gather nesting tools, building materials and food. So much so, that at times, the female has more sticks and materials than what she knows what to do with...causing a surprisingly disorganized mess. Eventually, she somehow communicates that it is time to halt the stick deliveries.
Immediately after the chicks are hatched, the parents are spoiled by aunts, uncles and siblings bringing food to the nest. What really fascinated me was the fact that all members of the family either bring food, snippets of stray nesting materials or visit just to watch the babies simply out of curiosity. The parents oblige by jumping out of the nest for minutes at a time so eager onlookers can have a peek. I couldn't help but share in their curiosity too!
It's incredible to witness these beautiful sentient beings growing bigger and stronger by the day from the loyalty, organization and respect the family display toward one another.
One of my biggest lessons, whether human or crow...we're sentient and nurturing beings.
It takes a village to raise our precious young.
Right from the off, it was apparent that the family of crows either perching comfortably in the apple trees or flying about to and fro had taken residence for quite a while. In fact, a couple of years later when speaking with the original owners of the property, we were told that about 30 years ago, an injured fledgling was taken in and hand reared by their youngest son until it was completely healed and subsequently set free. For the 7 years or so that followed, the crow would make daily return visits. It's also the prior family's belief that the crows of whom reside in the yard are descendants from the injured and released fledgling from way back in 1988.
Both my husband and I have been blessed with the ability to work from home, so observing the lay of the land and how things ran in our new neighborhood was fairly easy. It wasn't too long before I became keenly aware of the dynamic of our feathered friends and their family life.
The very first thing I learned about crow life was that their family construct was exactly like ours. Crows mate for life and have a hierarchy relative to age. The male and female (parents) share duties while constructing the nest in early spring (mid March). At times, there can be too many hands on deck, so to speak, as brothers and sisters of years prior and siblings as young at last years fledglings help to gather nesting tools, building materials and food. So much so, that at times, the female has more sticks and materials than what she knows what to do with...causing a surprisingly disorganized mess. Eventually, she somehow communicates that it is time to halt the stick deliveries.
Immediately after the chicks are hatched, the parents are spoiled by aunts, uncles and siblings bringing food to the nest. What really fascinated me was the fact that all members of the family either bring food, snippets of stray nesting materials or visit just to watch the babies simply out of curiosity. The parents oblige by jumping out of the nest for minutes at a time so eager onlookers can have a peek. I couldn't help but share in their curiosity too!
It's incredible to witness these beautiful sentient beings growing bigger and stronger by the day from the loyalty, organization and respect the family display toward one another.
One of my biggest lessons, whether human or crow...we're sentient and nurturing beings.
It takes a village to raise our precious young.
Crow Feather Animal Haven
Tony is our delightful 3 year old Chipit (Chihuahua/American Pitbull Terrier) rescue from Texas, USA. For his medium size, he's very robust and surprisingly quite agile. Four words firmly and very accurately sum him up - cuddly, endearing and incredibly gentle. He just loves to be close by at all times. We couldn't have been more blessed to have him join our family. His loves are squeaky toys, re-arranging and flopping on fluffy pillows, hanging out with the Guinea Pigs, snuggling up with any of his human family members, cheesies and snow.
|
|
Charlie is our 10 year old Maine Coon rescue from Greenhill, Pictou County, NS. He's a handsome and mighty 22 lbs of goofiness, cuddles, intelligence, playfulness and love. All who know Charlie describe him as a dog in a cats body. As the self-appointed patriarch of the Crow Feather Animal Haven, he's always patrolling and ensuring all is well and in order. Charlie's great loves are food, playing with his toy mice, playing Kibble Hockey, water (yup, that's right...water!), bird watching (aka. cat TV), cuddling, butter treats and playing ambushing games with Tony.
|
For the exception of the Crows, White Tailed Deer and Cedar Waxwings, all of our animals are adopted from both Canadian and American Animal Shelters.
We have daily fresh free range eggs.
All of our livestock is purchased from local free-range Nova Scotian farmers.
Our fruits and veggies are home-grown and are herbicide/pesticide free.
All of our livestock is purchased from local free-range Nova Scotian farmers.
Our fruits and veggies are home-grown and are herbicide/pesticide free.
Fresh daily free-range eggs.
Beautiful red apple blossoms of our Astrid apple tree. Astrid apples can be eaten, however, they're generally utilized for decorative purposes. They're sour tasting but make for lovely décor.
|
Our potatoes and other veggies are well on their way.
And more beautiful apple blossoms from our Honey Crisp apple tree. By late July, full grown apples will appear. By mid September, they'll be fully ripened and ready to be harvested.
|
Bovan Brown & Bovan Black Hens (free range)
Blanche, Dorothy, Sophia and Veronica proudly sit atop their roosting frame while surveying, chatting and daily preening.
This is Rose aka. "Rose Bud"., one of our Bovan Browns...and yes, she actually has jett black eyebrows! She is the most quiet and independent of the flock but when it comes to a good trout worm hunt, be on the ready, she'll get 'em all!
|
Meet Dorothy. This is the only intro she'll ever need. We hope you're not too shy as she will most definitely break you out of your shell with her funny antics, charm and sweet curiosity.
|
Bovan brown chickens are very docile, hardy and gentle. Well known as a “robust” bird, the Bovan brown hen is a pretty bird with light and dark brown feathers and yellow feet. Bovan browns can lay up to 330 large top-quality brown eggs per year. They're very friendly and they love to greet their human family members. These chickens are also gentle with children and they love sitting and roosting on their owner's knees. We've certainly lucked out on may facets, our flock are great with being picked up for their wing clipping or even just a little cuddle.
White Tailed Deer
Also in our backyard sanctuary, we have a herd of 11 White Tailed Deer that visit. This is Diamond, a now six year old herd Matriarch. She enjoys bird seed mix, apples, grapes and strawberries. She also enjoys sifting her nose through your hair and having her neck, snout and ears rubbed.
|
|
Ivan, a now three year old, eight point buck, takes his daily siestas in our back yard. As a permanently injured male, he safely keeps his distance from other males, especially during the thick of rutting season.
Diamond with her 4 month old fawn, Maven, in the 3rd week of September of this year. Since it's now rutting season, the herd will "disappear" into the deeper wooded areas then return to roam and graze together anywhere between late November and mid-December, bulking up for the Winter season ahead.
|
Maven stops for a refreshing cool drink in 30 degree heat.
|
Diamond gets a bit of relief from the hot summer sun underneath our young Walnut tree.
|
Long Haired Syrian Hamsters
This is Fonzie, our Long Haired Syrian Hamster. He's a champion snacker and mighty sleeper. His loves are cheese, carrots, walnuts and dandelion leaves. He's naturally a tad bit shy but very inquisitive, sweet natured and cute as a button!
|
Fast asleep! Little Fonzie got settled in his natural habitat aquarium with ease. At just 5 weeks old, he made himself quite at home with a fast first meal of baby cereal, walnuts, some fresh boiled corn and egg whites.
|
Hey, look who just woke up! Fonzie sports the classic "fur skirt", a characteristic that only male Long Haired Syrians have. And all the better to hear you, he's also finally grown into his ears.
|
Fonzie's favorite hamster hidey - a coconut shell which he's long since outgrown and which only his little fanny will fit.
Inspecting the camera - he's not shy!
|
Mastering the the art of blending in with the scenery...sort of. Fonzie is not so little anymore, he is quite large compared to the average Syrian hamster at a length of a little over 6 inches.
|
♥
This is our beloved little Archie when he was 11 months old, chomping on his favorite snack - raw pumpkin seeds. Archie was a beautifully skirted long haired Syrian hamster. He passed away in September at the ripe old age of 2 and a half. Quite a long life for a hamster as their average lifespan is 1.5 - 2 years old. He was the most gentle, adorable, delightful and chilled out little guy. He lived a very enriched life full of love and cuddles. We'll miss ya very much little man.
Guinea Pigs
Rhubie is our 2.5 year old Himalayan Guinea Pig. On any given time of the day, she can be seen doing her zoomies - when piggies are happy and have the adequate space, they happily run as fast as they can in large circles. She has a mind of her own, is extremely inquisitive, enjoys hanging out with her human family and absolutely loves her snacks and veggies.
|
Jett is our American Short Hair Guinea Pig. This photo was taken when she was just shy of her first birthday (10 months old). She's just as curious of any and all goings-on as her big sister Rhubie as well as enjoying hanging out with us. She has a ton of energy, with her air twists, zoomies and jumps. She loves playing with her Timothy Hay ball and veggies!
Factoid: as with her namesake, Jett is jett black but has one snow white foot.
|
Rhubie and Jett play and graze about in their 9'x10' all natural indoor Guinea Pig enclosure. Guinea Pigs are incredibly social, very intelligent and are capable of forming strong bonds with their human family members.
This is Maisie, our second latest addition to the Crow Feather Animal Haven. She is a now 7 month old Long Haired Abyssinian Guinea Pig. It was a fantastic introduction as she was easily welcomed into the herd by her big sisters Rhubie and Jett. Within 30 minutes, they were playing tag, doing zoomies and dining together. Maisie is right at home and we couldn't happier to have her with us!
|
Rhubie, Maisie and Jett doing their favorite activity...munching on fresh veggies.
|
This is Baby Kenzie, our short haired Abyssinian Guinea Pig and is the very latest addition to our piggie herd. At only a mere 3 weeks old, she fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. Her fur is silky soft and looks as though she has about 10 cow licks (which actually doesn't seem to be that far off). Since she is only a baby, she is carefully watched, guarded and taught proper piggy ediquette by her siblings, especially Jett. She's one delightful, social, curious and absolutely adorable little piggie - we love her to bits! Her loves are food, following Jett and her other big sisters everywhere they go, chilling with her human family members and...did we mention food?!
Our amazing little Guinea Pig herd: Baby Kenzie, Maisie, Rhubie and Jett enjoying a beautiful mid-Spring afternoon with a fresh Dandelion salad.
The importance of adequate space: ample area to live and exercise means that both guinea pigs and hamsters alike are much less likely to develop medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, bumblefoot, skin issues etc. They will thrive and live a life of greater enrichment, balance and happiness.
Cedar Waxwings
Every late Spring, at least 100 beautiful Cedar Waxwings fill our apple trees feeding on the sweet blossoms. They also indulge on raspberries, blueberries, dried banana, strawberries and other fruits we put out for them to enjoy. They're very social birds and are a much welcomed visitor.
|
After a long flight, Cedar Waxwings hang out at the Haven and snack in the apple trees.
|
Common Eastern Bumblebee
A Rest and a Drink: the common eastern bumble bee is a pollinator of flowers and numerous fruit and vegetable crops, including tomatoes, blueberries, and cucumbers. Like other species of bumblebees, they are large fuzzy or hairy bees. Bumblebees always have some fuzz on their abdomen. Females have pollen baskets on the last pair of legs. Should you ever come across a bumblebee slowly crawling in foliage or on the ground, it's a good chance that he or she is simply in need of a rest and a revival drink which is a simple solution of 2 tsp. of water mixed with 1 tsp. of sugar. Bumblebees typically only need 30-60 minutes rest before they set off once again to their daily job as the world's leading pollinator!
 The Common Earwig
*Interesting fact worth mentioning*
Many species of earwig are particularly partial to pollen and are important to the ecosystem. They can be commonly seen at night moving from flower to flower to feed, playing an important role as pollinator alongside bees, (albeit doing the night shift). Despite their rather creepy appearance and menacing reputation, earwigs are not harmful to humans. In fact, they are quite beneficial, acting as scavengers of decaying matter and predators of insect larvae, slug eggs, aphids, and other garden pests. I have come to both respect and admire earwigs...from a very comfortable distance ;-) |
Should you ever come across a bumble bee with their little fuzzy bum sticking out of a flower or rolled up leaf, he or she is having a peaceful snooze.
Out!
|
CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Acrylic and Oil Pastel
by J. Cameron
Sacred Cherry Blossoms
Day & Night Chakras Over the Plane
Life
|
Love
|
Grateful to Universe
The Good Lemon Tree
Beyond Lavender Trees
Constellations over the Cordilleras
Mind's Eye in Japan at 7
When I Close My Eyes at Night
