About Silvia

I have been fascinated by animals ever since I remember. My grandfather Felix, gifted me with a volume of Wonders and Mysteries of the Animal World when I was three years old, way before I could read it, but its images kept me mesmerized forever. As my grandparents realized the profound effect of this book, they continued bringing me collections of books about animals from all over the world, throughout my childhood.

My grandfather, a delightful storyteller, also used to take me for long walks. We had great conversations, as he would encourage me to pay attention to native flora, ‘weeds’, insects, and every single life form around. Now I realize what a privileged childhood I had! I also realize that these early experiences sculpted the foundations of my life.

My journey with animals has been in constant evolution since then. My companion animals: turtles, birds, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, pigs, horses, donkeys... have taught me so much, and somehow they have always been the strongest motivators for expressing the best versions of myself. Because they could put me in touch with my soul in such a powerful way, there has never been any doubt for me that they do have souls and that they are highly intelligent beings, in their own right.

Animals challenged me intellectually and emotionally to find better ways to relate to them and to confront status quo beliefs and assumptions

I have been involved in wildlife conservation, especially related to carnivores; I have also created and supported groups and campaigns against wild animals in captivity. I volunteer for rescue and animal rights organizations.

I have taken training on animal-assisted therapy and education in the search for ways of healing for humans and animals.

In parallel, my spiritual quest for over thirty years has been an exploration of meditation, esoteric subjects, and non-conventional (for Westerners) healing modalities.

A few years ago I realized that these were not separated paths. These were really the same path. Recognizing the spiritual dimension of my relationship with animals has been very liberating and enriching. All the puzzle pieces fell into place!

I do firmly believe that if we humans want to survive on this planet we need to change the way we relate to it. We need to recover our sense of sacredness and respect for all life. Change our anthropocentric paradigm and look at our surroundings with new eyes and an open heart. Our beloved animal companions are here to show us the way.