Most people think animals are a blessing according to author and animal trend watcher, Diana L Guerrero. The California scribe also says that the fur flies over some ceremonies such as pet mitzvahs and pet weddings. This week the Latina heads to New York for BEA to join the “who’s who” of the book industry and to reveal the secrets behind the timeless traditions of pet blessings and the new wave of pet ceremonies sweeping the nation. Learn more in Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pets & Other Creatures (ISBN 1402729677).

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 25, 2007 — Is your pet a blessing? Local California author Diana L. Guerrero thinks so. She is the author of the newly released “Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pets & Other Creatures (ISBN 1402729677) and both will be found at the biggest book event in the United States May 31-June 4, 2007.

The Book Expo America is attended by the “who’s who” of the book industry. This year the expo will be held at Jacob K. Javitz Center in New York. Over 2,000 exhibitors, 1,200 publishers, 500 authors, and 1,000 media members will attend. In addition, booksellers from all over the United States will converge in New York for previews to new and exciting titles of books just hitting the shelves.

Guerrero will be amidst the weekend jungle of bibliophiles in her newest safari hat covered with animals. Her newest book, Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pets & Other Creatures (ISBN 1402729677) was recently released throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

When asked about it Guerrero said, “Blessing of the Animals is a compendium of stories, prayers, ceremonies, and engaging tidbits. It welcomes all creeds, all breeds, and covers everything from amusing contemporary phenomena–with such chapters about “bark” and other pet mitzvahs, pet pageants such as the Miss Crustacean contest and Lobster Dog competition–to more serious issues of pet illness, loss, and burial.”

Guerrero toured extensively with her last book but is only doing local events before embarking on a virtual tour. So far, she has conducted a couple of pet blessings live on the air and pet parents have already shared that they are using it for their own ceremonies.

She said, “The book is really fun and unlike similar titles, Blessing of the Animals is more than a collection of poems or blessings. Although there are blessings for the furry, feathered, scaled, and finned, there are also ceremonies and prayers for pets, fascinating background on the historical roots of the animal blessing traditions and where to find some of the most popular ones today.”

There are also tales of muttrimony and other pet nuptials–for pets or adding critters to human wedding parties. If you need advice on hosting a purr-fect party or where to participate in a pet pageant you’ll find that included too.

When asked for insider information, Guerrero said, “The fur really flies over pet nuptials and mitzvahs, and believe it or not, during animal blessings most creatures remain calm and cooperative…but some critters need a list of commandments: Thou shall come when called, Thou shall behave in public…”

Guerrero included those commandments in Blessing of the Animals and you can preview excerpts online at www.blessingoftheanimals.com. For a schedule of events visit www.dianalguerrero.com.

If you are attending Book Expo America drop by the Sterling Publishing booth (4138-39) to take a look. Guerrero’s book is available from most major book distributors and local bookstores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Guerrero’s What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality: Inspiring Lessons of Wild & Tame Creatures (ISBN 1893361845) is available at the Skylight Paths Publishing booth (3249) and can be found at most major bookstores in the United States, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Please Join Us on a Live TeleSeminar Interview

April 17th, 2007
5 pm Pacific / 7 pm Central / 8 pm Eastern

On this armchair teleseminar adventure you’ll discover the timeless traditons of animal blessings along with contemporary celebrations such as meow mixers, pet mitzvahs, and wild weddings. The journey also takes you into the pet party craze of beastly beauty pageants, yappy hours, and other seasonal galas. Historical facts, quirky descriptions, heartfelt sentiments, unique prayers, and novel ceremonies celebrating our animal friends, teachers and companions.

Don’t miss this essential celebratory TeleSeminar
for any animal lover, pet enthusiast, or avid reader!

Be sure to join Val Heart, Relationship Coach for Animals & their People, and author, speaker, and animal coach Diana L Guerrero for a dynamic hour that will take you on a journey into the timeless traditions of animal blessings and into the world of contemporary critter ceremonies, and get a glimpse into how to blend the scientific methods of behavior modification with the intuitive.

This Day and Time aren’t good for you? No Problem.

If you aren’t able to attend at this time, go ahead and register anyway.

We’ll send you the audio recording so you can listen later.

I hope you can join us. There is no charge for the program–only your long distance charges from your phone carrier.

To join the program just sign up at http://www.valheart.com/teleseminars/blessinganimals.html

Diana L Guerrero

Need a segment with a different spin?

Pets as News: with the current and distressing news of poison in your pets food or pets left behind during Hurricane Katrina, Blessing of the Animals can bring hope forth (see Prayer for Disaster Recovery and Pet Healing Prayer pgs 82-83.)

Grave Topics at Tails End: Chapter 5 illuminates and eases the rough topic of pet bereavement. Offered are suggestions for eulogy, prayers, cremation and memorial services as well as touching ways to help your pets’ legacy live on.

EXCERPT: Permission given for reprint. Please send two copies of clips to kmargiessterlingpub.com

Pet Eulogy Service
Select meaningful music and form a circle around the burial ground or area the ashes will be scattered. Conduct this service at sunset to represent passing on or at sunrise to symbolize new beginnings.

We respectfully call in the Great Spirit. Essences of the earth and sky, we ask you to receive our beloved (pet’s name).
May his/her remains to contribute to the circle of life.
Enfold us in compassion.
Bond us during this difficult time.
Reveal the lessons needed to assist our understanding.
Shift our perspective over this loss.

All join hands. The officiant directs those gathered to breathe meditatively.

Life begins with a deep breath and ends with an exhale.
Breathe now and inhale love and light.
Allow fond memories of this departed love one to fill any aching or empty space.
Breathe out and release sorrow and grief.
In your mind’s eye witness the light of this bright spirit moving into another realm without pain, without reservation.

Light a candle or acknowledge the sun or moon through gesture or movement.

Let go and send blessings to (pet’s name).
When the sun sets, the moon rises and the reflective glow continues.
So will it be with this being who added luster to this world and who will continue to light our lives through fond contemplation.
As the sun rises, let us remember that after each ending is a new beginning.
Memories of this being will illuminate the darkness.
Allow (pet’s name)’s soft afterglow to engulf us.
May we find peace.

Cast flower petals or place flowers on gravesite.

Through each season there is transition and so it is in life.
Life begins with a seed, grows and blossoms, withers, dies, and cycles again.
Feel free to share a story or memory of (pet’s name).
When finished, cast your flower in memory of the beauty in life and how it continues.

Sprinkle water or symbolically incorporate water in the ceremony.

These tears drop to the earth cleansing our pain, releasing our sorrow, just as the rain douses the earth, quenches the terrain, travels on a journey to the sea, and evaporates.
This passage reminds us again of the circle of life, ever changing, ever present.
Let us be cleansed and allow (pet’s name) to transition to other realms, in another form.

Scatter earth or ashes.

Over time, the rocks, trees, plants, and animals transition, absorbed by the earth.
Dust blows over the desert, mud moves mountainsides, and sand travels great distances to other shores.
As we scatter this earth/these ashes we acknowledge that we shall again feel our feet on solid ground and remember that (pet’s name) has embarked on a new journey to other destinations.
May his/her travels be sanctified.
Keep us centered in faith and grounded as we travel through life from this time forward.

Pet Eulogy Service is excerpted from Blessing of the Animals: A Guide to Prayers & Ceremonies Celebrating Pet & Other Animals (ISBN 1402729677) by Diana L Guerrero. Reprinted here by permission of the author. All rights reserved.