gry of all ages: the silence for something larger gifts Eirich with an ability to
Healthy Snacks give words to thoughts and ideas that come from a deep in-
for Hungry Kids, ner place. “The directive that comes from the silence within
Souper Douper is different and evolves in a way that I wouldn’t plan for if I
Soup Circles and was only working from the intellect,” she explains.
a local chapter of One of the best stories that poign-
Empty Bowls, a antly conveys the sacred animal/human interaction experi-
national initia- enced at Earthfire involves Thunder, a 17-year-old wolf that
tive. “We’re all laid for several days unconscious in the wildlife garden, be-
about addressing yond the sight of other wolves, ready to slip away to the spirit
McCabe Coolidge
problems when world. The vet knelt beside Thunder and stroked his fur as he
they are small, so gave a merciful injection. In the second that the once strong
that only small, manageable solutions are necessary.” and regal wolf died, as his soul passed from his body, all 30
McCabe cites Dorothy Day (1897-1980), who started a wolves at Earthfire gave up their grieving howl.
soup kitchen in New York City in the 1930s as his inspiration, “The vet
as well as Catholic Workers Communities, where he was was shocked to
active in the 1980s. Day’s activism began with an internship feel the sound
at Faithful Fools Street Ministry in San Francisco, inspired and resonate within
co-founded by Rev. Kay Jorgensen, a Unitarian minister. his body,” recalls
Eirich. “Even
Contact Portable Produce, Wildfire Pots, Winter Sun-302, S. though Thun-
Locust St., Floyd, VA; 540-357-5657; PlentyLocal.org. der’s pack was
nowhere near
the garden, they
Susan Eirich, Animal-Human Interaction Activist felt his passing
Susan Eirich, Ph.D., has been in love with animals for as
and wanted to
long as she can remember. Her motivation for rescuing
say goodbye and
them, however, arrived unexpectedly. First, an unforgettable,
wish him well on
scrawny kitten was dropped off at a farm she was renting in
his passage. This
Kentucky; then, she made friends with a wolf-hybrid dog that
is what it’s like
Susan Eirich
led her to Jean Simpson, a wild-animal trainer who shares
for humans and
her deep connection with animals.
animals to live in a quiet, meditative space where, undis-
Together, the two women established Earthfire Institute,
turbed, we can feel their essence and they can feel ours.”
a 40-acre wildlife sanctuary and retreat center on the west-
ern slope of Grand Teton National Park, near Driggs, Idaho.
Contact Susan Eirich, Earthfire Institute, P.O. Box 368, Driggs,
“Earthfire was built to expand our sense of connection with
ID; 208-456-0926; EarthfireInstitute.org.
all living beings,” says Eirich, “and to contribute to what we
believe is the unfolding story of the transformation in human-
ity’s relationship to the community of life.” Debbe Magnusen, Activist for Abandoned Babies
Grounded by her daily interaction with foxes, bears,
Debbe Magnusen felt bereft after hearing about an abandoned
wolves, lynx, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, buffalo, badgers
baby found suffocated in a trash bag close to her Costa Mesa
and other animals cared for at the Institute, Eirich seeks to
home in California. As a compassionate woman who had al-
help her own species share in the indescribable beauty of the
ready fostered more than 30 drug-exposed babies while raising
human/animal eye-to-eye and heart-to-heart connection that
two biological children, Magnusen chose to channel her anger
she and her small staff experience. A moment-to-moment
and frustration into constructive action.
spiritual practice of communing with nature and listening in
“As a foster mother, I had always hoped that unwanted
20 www.VOFLnatural.com
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