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Hi Julie!
As I connected with Manolo, I felt a very easygoing, peaceful presence coming through. His energy feels slow and steady — not in a sluggish way, but in a grounded, mindful way. There’s a sweetness about him — a loving, gentle, and docile energy that radiates calm.
He showed me how much he enjoys affection, especially being petted and receiving scratches behind his ears. I also got the sense that he loves being brushed along his back — it feels soothing and comforting to him. He shared a joyful visual of himself trotting toward his person with excitement.
When I invited him to lead the conversation, he immediately brought up how much he loves grazing under the warmth of the sun. He expressed a fondness for springtime — when the flowers are blooming, the air feels warm, and everything feels alive again. He mentioned that now, as the weather turns colder, he spends more time inside his shelter, resting and sleeping. I also received a visual of him walking beside you along a trail.
I sensed that he hasn’t always been with you — it feels as though you took him in. I got the impression that he had a good life before coming to you as well. I was shown an older man, possibly his previous caretaker, who seemed kind and caring. The feeling was that this man had to relocate or make a life change, which led him to find a new home for Manolo. When I asked about his age, I received the number eight.
I also sensed that there are other animals on the property, though Manolo doesn’t seem to interact with them much. I was seeing smaller animals nearby, but he appears content in his own quiet space.
When it comes to food and nutrition, he seems very happy and content. He showed me that he enjoys a lot of variety — grazing on flowers, nibbling on grasses, and occasionally indulging in something sweet. I was shown a yellow-colored fruit, and then got the impression of watermelon. He also shared an image of a dark-colored treat that he licks or chews, something that feels like a special indulgence for him.
I didn’t detect any pain or discomfort in his body — his energy felt balanced and at ease. However, he did make a gentle request for a few extra blankets at night to stay warm and cozy during the colder season.
For his message, Manolo shared that this is a time of rest and restoration — a period to “rest and digest,” much like the natural rhythm of hibernation. He encourages you to take care of your own needs right now, to nurture your body, and to slow down. He reminds you to savor life’s simple moments — to breathe, to pause, to smell the flowers, and to be fully present in the here and now.
Hope some of this resonates! I haven’t connected to many donkeys!
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Hi Julie, Thank you for sharing Monolo. He is a sweet guy. He told me that you rescued him from a crowded place where they could not care for him. He says he’s now in a safe loving home with plenty to eat and space to move. He likes to hand out with his family, he says they; make him feel loved and welcome. He shows me a child that tells him jokes and he loves that. He says he also enjoys carrots. He also says he is a little older with some aches and pains but generally feels pretty good and gets around well. He appears to be very friendly guy who really likes being around people. He likes his ears scratched and he likes it when someone says they love him. He says love is the best thing really. I hope some of this resonates as I’m newer to this. He did seem like a really nice guy.
Denise
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Hi Tatiana
Thank you so very much for connecting with Manolo.
You’re absolutely right, Manolo excudes calm and love wherever he goes – he really is a sweet donkey with a big heart. And yes, he is slow, not in a sluggish way, but he likes to process everything before making a decision, which, I think is good and something that I am getting better at, thanks to Manolo!
Manolo loves to be fussed, petted behind the ears and generally stroked, in particular his back left side – I have no idea what’s so special about this area, but he likes to swivel around so his back end is facing me! He loves being brushed and stands so still as I make my way around him – thank you for the heads up about his back, I’ll pay special attention to this!
Manolo has a love for spring flowers – it’s his favourite time of the year. We are in Portugal, so for most of the year, Manolo grazes on the brown grasses. As the weather is changing, Manolo spends more time in his shelter – he has a particular dislike to wind. Manolo loves to go hiking with me. Last month we had a three day, 60km hiking adventure together – he was the perfect companion!
You’re right, Manolo hasn’t always been with me. I think that he’s had several guardians before me judging by his passport! How he came to be in Portugal, I don’t know. The elderly man you mentioned was probably the father of the son that I bought my farm from – the father died and the son inherited the farm. Manolo is a very young 16.
Manolo isn’t the only donkey – he has a wife, two daughters and a son! He’s the oldest and wisest. I have sheep, a dog and a cat too. The donkeys have their own separate area otherwise the female donkeys will chase the sheep – not all donkeys are good livestock guardians!
I’m so happy that he likes his food. As I said, for most of the year, he doesn’t have much choice of forage and he tends to lose weight in the summer which worries me…. Manolo has a very sweet tooth – he loves all fruit! He adores lemons, so maybe this is the yellow fruit? Or it could be cantaloupe melon or a banana skin! When we go hiking, Manolo remembers where all the fig trees, grape vines,chumbos (prickly pears) plum and apple trees are on our route! Every morning he has a bucket of beetroot pulp with linseed oil and some fruit treats, so this is his indulgent treat – I always prepare it with love too!
Manolo does have some health issues, so I am really relieved that you found his energy to be balanced and that he doesn’t have any pain or discomfort. Mmm, not sure about blankets as Manolo roams the land at night….
Thank you for the message from Manolo. He says many things that I can identify with in my life at this moment in time. I know that he is wise and I will take heed of all he says.
Tatiana, your communication with Manolo was spot on – I’m blown away with everything that you have said. Thank you for connecting with Manolo and for spending so much time to write in such detail.With much love and blessings
Julie
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Hi Tatiana
I have been thinking about everything that you said… I was wondering if you would consider asking Manolo two questions for me please – one he should be able to answer whilst he will probably need to consider the other. If I know what he thinks /wants, then it really would help me to be able to take care of my own needs as he wants me to.
I fully understand if you would rather not.🙏 -
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Thank you so much Tatiana, I really appreciate your kind offer.
Here goes…
Blood tests over several years show that Manolo has chronic anemia. His veterinarian thinks that it’s because he eats ferns, particularly in the summer when there isn’t much forage to choose from. Ferns are toxic and can lead to anemia. Does Manolo think that the ferns are the cause of his anemia? If yes, how can I help him to stop eating them?The second question is for Manolo to contemplate. I would like him to know that I will be moving to Ireland – the summers are getting too hot for me and I need to return to an English speaking country (looking after me!). I would like to know if Manolo would like to come too or would he prefer to stay in Portugal. He needs to understand that the climate in Ireland is colder and wetter – there isn’t the extreme heat in the summer and the winter is much the same as here. The other difference is that there is green grass all year round… I don’t know when I will leave exactly, but I hope next year sometime. I feel that I owe it to Manolo to be consulted given our relationship. I also appreciate that this might be difficult for Manolo as he is very much in the present, not the future. If he doesn’t want to come, can he tell me a sign to make when I leave, so he knows please.
I hope that I don’t ask too much. Thank you in advance for any information you might be able to glean🙏❤
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I connected back in with Manolo and asked him about the ferns he’s been eating and whether he feels they might be linked to his anemia. He immediately made it clear that he doesn’t really understand the science or the technical side of things, but he said he can absolutely share how he feels in his body. He showed me that at times he does feel a bit weak or drained — almost like his energy levels switch on and off. Some days he feels like he has plenty of energy, and then other times he feels more depleted, without much stamina.
He did confirm that it’s harder for him to find enough to eat during the summertime. He said he does occasionally eat the ferns simply because they satisfy him — almost like a filler food. But he didn’t seem to have any awareness that eating the ferns could be connected to the symptoms he experiences.
I asked him if there’s anything that might help him avoid the ferns, since they are toxic. He mentioned the idea of having more plants or more summer-growing foods available for him to eat. He also gave me the impression of going somewhere else during the summer months — somewhere with more variety for him to forage or choose from. He repeated again that he eats the ferns primarily because they fill him up, so if he had access to other food options or another grazing area during the summer, he wouldn’t feel compelled to rely on the ferns.
I then asked him how he feels about staying where he is in Portugal versus potentially moving to Ireland. He responded right away that he didn’t like the idea of colder, wetter weather. He much prefers warmth and sunshine. The one thing that did catch his interest about Ireland was the green grass being available all year round. That seemed to genuinely appeal to him.
Still, it feels like he’s weighing the pros and cons. He said there are aspects he likes — the year-round green grass, the idea of having a new place to graze, and of course being with you. But at the same time, he really doesn’t like the idea of colder, wetter weather. He also doesn’t seem to enjoy the idea of traveling a far distance. He prefers being settled, grounded in one place, and he’s not very fond of big changes. So right now, it feels like he’s leaning more toward staying where he is, even though he’s still thinking it through.
Even if he stays in Portugal, he’s still emphasizing that he would appreciate either having access to a different place to forage in the summertime or having more summer plants available for him to eat where he already is.
I also asked him if he could offer you a sign — something to show whether he wants to stay or to go with you. For wanting to go, he showed me a visual of him gently nudging his head or his nose against your body — that affectionate, intentional nudge as an indicator of “yes, I want to go.” For wanting to stay, he showed me an image of him lying down on the grass and refusing to get up, even if you do something that would normally make him jump up right away. Almost like a stubborn, grounded “I’m staying right here.”
Overall, while he’s still contemplating everything, the feeling at this point is that he’s leaning toward staying where he is.
Hope this helps!
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Hi Tatiana
You are truly amazing! Thank you for checking back in with Manolo and gleaning so much information – I am still digesting everything you have told me hence my late reply….
Summer really worries me as it’s so hot and everything stops growing, even on the trails, everything is brown. I did give extra food in the summer, but clearly not enough! It’s really helpful to know that Manolo doesn’t correlate eating ferns with having less energy. Manolo does have a heart defect and I think that this is the real underlying cause of the anemia…
I have taken on board Manolo’s desire to leave here for the summer – I have been pondering this and might very well have a solution – it’s not far, less than 10km so we could hike there🙂 This place is cooler (still way over 30 degrees!), but there are more grasses which will appeal to Manolo. I have several months to formulate a plan 😉
I feel at peace now knowing that Manolo is contemplating where he lives in the future. I wanted to give him the choice as I fully appreciate that the Irish climate is the exact opposite of here – I want him to be happy and content. If he stays, I will do everything that I can to find him a caring guardian, who understands his needs.
Thanks to you, Tatiana, I feel that a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. I have a direction to follow for Manolo and that means I can slow down and take better care of myself. Thank you so very much for connecting with Manolo ❤ -
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Hi Denise
Thank you for connecting with Manolo and sharing your conversation with me.
Manolo is a chilled and gentle donkey – he is sweet! So spot on.
I didn’t rescue Manolo – he was one of the resident donkeys on the farm that I bought, so I bought him and his friends too! I don’t know about his past life, but from his passport, he’s had several guardians before me. I don’t know where the crowded place might be.
Yes, Manolo has a lot of space to run around in. Manolo tends to lose weight in the summer as there isn’t so much food to forage on so all the donkeys get extra straw. I always worry and get stressed about his weight loss… I feel so happy knowing that he feels he’s in a safe and loving home. All the donkeys like to hang out together, especially to take a dustbath and lounge in the sun after a wet period, or hide in their shelter in the heat of the summer.
I don’t know who the child might be as I don’t have any children – perhaps this is from a previous guardian?
Manolo has a sweet tooth and loves fruit. I don’t actually give him carrots.
Yes, Manolo is an older donkey – he’s 16. He likes hiking – last month we went on a 3 day, 60km adventure together! So he gets around very well. Manolo does have some health issues.
Manolo is really friendly and likes to be around people. He likes to be stroked behind his ears and on his withers. And yes, he likes it when I tell him that I love him. Love really is the best.
Denise, you picked up on so many of Manolo’s traits – I really hope that this gives you so much confidence as you continue your journey.With much love and blessings
Julie
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