For Animals, For Earth

Pollutants and the disappearance of our beautiful earth’s resources can leave us feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. The question of what to give up in the first place, how to give it up, and what to replace it with – all this confusion leads us to retreat to our comfortable, but potentially planet-threatening ways. Thankfully, there are committed people out there to help guide us into a more earth-friendly tomorrow.  

Brandy Montague is one of these people. She created “For Animals, For Earth” (FAFE), a cruelty free clothing line and blog-centered community, after acknowledging the difficulty and overwhelming feelings of a well-meaning person trying to figure out how to make eco-friendly changes. She has made it her mission to: “create a space where we can inspire each other to take small, simple actions each day, to live a more conscious life – helping animals, and the planet, while we do it”. 

When speaking with Brandy, I asked her what inspired the creation of this organization. She told me that for years she looked for ways to help and felt as though she should be doing more. She knew that if she gave into the feeling of overwhelm, nothing would change, and instead started to see a different approach: “if we each try to take simple actions each day, we’ll see change happen”. 

Knowing there were other people out there like her, Brandy was inspired to start FAFE. Believing in the power of the people, she was confident that sometimes all someone needs is guidance, and it is because of this empowering leadership that FAFE is able to help make positive changes. Brandy was able to take her platform and build a community of earth-loving individuals, from whom she continues to learn from as well. She also admits that, “I’m on a journey with everyone who follows us, to learn from people who are doing things around the world, and to help and support each other as we discover new ways to make a difference”. 

Brandy’s first eco-conscious clothing line was a project to save whales. Her goal was to provide a product that would inspire kids to grow up with compassion for animals, while simultaneously helping smaller groups with funding. But she quickly understood the large, problematic role the fashion industry plays in animal rights issues – in this case, water waste and marine animal harm. It was then that she realized the irony of her project: while making clothes to help whales, she might end up further endangering them. So began the extensive research into different fabrics and factories, and finally found ones that focused on sustainability and emphasized fair labor. An important first step in her journey, Brandy continues to build off of this moment and invests time into places that have the same values as she does. FAFE is an inspiring brand, with clothing items made in eco-conscious, earth friendly, recycled, and ethical work conditions, but it is the minority in this fast-fashion world. When I asked why she thinks this is the case, Brandy said, “I honestly think it’s a lack of knowledge… No one wants to see people, animals, or the earth suffer.  I just don’t think people know how bad it really is.”

Speaking to Brandy allowed me to learn more about FAFE, but it also allowed me to understand her personal journey as well. Brandy opened up to me about a difficult experience she had in January of 2018 that led her to finding reiki. After what started out as flu-like symptoms, Brandy discovered she had an autoimmune disease called Graves Disease. Right away, the doctors put her on medication that she would have to take for the rest of her life. Confused, shocked, and still sick, Brandy was baffled as to how this had happened to her – she had always considered herself a healthy person. A month of taking the medication later, Brandy still did not feel like herself. As doctors began to run some more tests to determine the cause of her illness, her close friend and reiki practitioner, Tara Reynolds, recommended that Brandy try reiki. She began taking reiki lessons with Tara and slowly transitioned into more self-healing lessons on her own. From there, Tara introduced Brandy to Kathleen Prasad, who practiced the Let Animals Lead method of animal reiki. “She [Tara] found Kathleen’s animal reiki training for me, and when I began that training, I knew I was home.  I can’t imagine a philosophy and style of life better aligning with mine.  I’ve always felt more comfortable with animals than I have with people, and practicing and teaching this form of meditation, with another species, never ceases to blow my mind.”

As someone new to reiki, I was unsure as to what the practice of animal reiki entailed. Brandy enthusiastically explained to me that animal reiki was very different from the traditional reiki practice; “…people lay their hands on an animal with the intent of healing that animal.  The Let Animals Lead practice is really more of a spiritual meditation in which an animal and I share a space (if the animal chooses to join).  And we ask that the life force energy that connects us with everything else in the universe flow into and through our space, to raise our vibration, and to bring the peace and serenity that comes from being grounded in that higher power, together.” 

She explained to me how her passion for animal reiki comes from seeing the impact it has had in grounding her life, and her mission to make a difference for every tiny little thing on this planet. She said that when practicing reiki, she felt connected to every little soul, helping her understand the importance of nurturing that connection. “ I’ve seen it generate a calm space for animals and people who are struggling numerous times.  I think if everyone practiced this meditation for just 10 minutes daily, the world would change drastically.”

To start FAFE, it took Brandy the same feelings of overwhelm we all have. Through her negative emotions, she was able to create something hopeful and positive, and helped guide many through her same ordeal and onto a pathway for change.  She recommends to “Choose one area of your life that you feel drawn to make a difference, whether it’s from a story you read, or something you’ve seen or heard, or just a gut instinct. To me, it’s important not to feel like you have to change the world, but to just try something.  And if that one thing feels good, it will lead you to another. ”

Brandy leaves us with some small last tips that will help us get started and contribute to the bigger picture. Three different ways to refresh our own energy, alongside the animals we hold so dear to our hearts: our pets!

Tip 1: Instead of hurrying their business on walks, roam with them.

More specific to dogs, Brandy says, “with this extra time, we can go slow and take in nature and allow them to sniff.  And we too can turn off the phone and take in all five senses, what we see, what we smell, what we hear, feel and taste as we walk.  That’s a really great way to let our dog lead us to connect with tiny corners of the earth that we may not have noticed before.”

Tip 2: Listen to music meditations with your pets.

“One of my dogs loves it and stays close.  And one of my dogs usually gets up and leaves the room!  But I highly recommend Ada and Nathan from [their website] wakes.life.  They provide sound baths that are truly incredible.” You can listen to them for free to listen on their website and youtube page, Wakes.

Tip 3: Consider fostering rescue pets, if you’re responsibly able to care for them.

 “A lot of shelters have closed to the public and volunteers, and can really use the help.”

Brandy makes us hopeful that together, we can create a positive change and save the planet!

Now, let’s get started!