We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Ankele and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am a Native Californian born and raised in Los Angeles County. I am a registered member of a California Federally Recognized Tribe called Chemehuevi. I feel that my background of being part Native American has influenced my relationship with animals and how I connect to all of nature. I believe that animals, humans, the plants, the rivers and oceans, all of nature and the Universe has a Divine Spirit. My earliest memories of seeing and connecting to Spirits were at the age of 2 or 3. At that age, I did not know they were Spirits. I just thought they were people or animals in my home. However, by the age of 11, I knew I was seeing Spirit and was hosting seance slumber parties and using Tarot cards to give readings to my friends on the school lunch benches. My ability to see and communicate to Spirit never ceased and I continued to utilize this skill into adulthood but only with close family and friends.

Since I have always seen Spirit and know there is no true death, I have always felt comfortable with the topic of death and dying. In 2004 I graduated from USC with my master’s in social work and got my LCSW so that I could specialize in giving therapy to people who were dying or to people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. I have worked in the ICU, ER, Palliative Care, Hospice and as a licensed grief and trauma therapist. After about 10 years of working as a therapist, I felt a strong nudge to become a professional medium. Although, I was already a medium, I wanted to learn the history and foundation of mediumship and to sharpen my skills. I trained extensively for 6 years. I studied at the Arthur Findlay College in the UK and mentored for years under the best mediums of the World. I am a life-long student. I now study with a team of guides and my ancestors in Spirit.

In 2018 my beloved soul dog named Angel, crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Her passing was devastating to me. I decided to create meaning and a legacy of her life. Angel’s passing was the catalyst that shifted my focus from human mediumship to include animal mediumship so people who have lost a pet can know their beloved pets are at peace and able to visit them. Our beloved pets never leave us and want us to know they are still by our side. Angel’s passing also inspired me to write a book on grief called; “Deathless: A Guide through Grief”.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In 2001, I had a vision that I was drawing Spirit. Spirit Art is a form of mediumship in which a medium connects to Spirit and as part of the evidence draws the Spirit along with providing factual evidence so that their loved ones here on the earthly plane can know that their loved ones in Heaven are at peace and still able to visit them. I have absolutely no training as an artist but 6 months after my vision, I was able to draw Spirits (human and pets) and provide their evidence. I specialize in Pet Spirit Art. When I do Spirit Art, I draw the pet, describe the pet, and give some evidential facts about the pet. I do not know anything about the pet that I draw, nor do I see a photo of the pets I draw until after I draw the pets and provide their evidence to their pet parents. I believe pet spirit art is a powerful way to let people know that their beloved pets in spirit love them and are still able to visit them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love spending time in nature and in the Southern California sun. When I am in nature, I feel peaceful and connected to the earth and the Universe. I truly believe that nature is medicine. I love spending time with animals, sitting under trees, gardening, connecting with all of nature, or going for walks. You can find me at Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, or the Mohave Desert, any beaches (I love going to the dog beach in Long Beach), and Big Bear. This is why I love Southern California so much; we have so many various and beautiful places to spend in nature. I have traveled the world extensively and still believe there is no place like Southern California.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe animals deserve a shout out in my life. I grew up with and have had dogs my whole life. The unconditional love and companionship animals have given me provide me the support and motivation through every aspect of my life. I currently am a dog mom of 4 rescued dogs and my soul dog, Angel, is Over the Rainbow Bridge. Angel is the reason I decided to focus on Pet Mediumship and animal communication. I believe that animals are truly angels without wings. Since I am able to communicate to all animals; whether they are alive in their physical body or after they have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge; one of my goals in life is to share how all animals are intelligent and loving sentient beings and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. I have communicated to dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, horses, chickens, iguanas, parrots, swans, geese, sheep, and cows. All animals: small or large, with legs, feathers, or fins have a soul. I look forward to communicating to all breeds of animals someday.

My other goal in life is to help people who are grieving the loss of their beloved pets. Pet loss can be just as painful as losing a human yet there still is a stigma attached to pet grief and society does not recognize how traumatic it can be. I combine my skills as a licensed grief and trauma therapist and as a pet medium to help people in their pet loss journey. I run an online pet loss grief support group on zoom and host pet loss healing retreats to help people in their pet loss journey.

Website: https://www.Jenniferankele.com

Instagram: @Jenniferankelemedium

Yelp: Jennifer Ankele Medium

Youtube: @Jenniferankelemedium

Image Credits
All drawings and photos are property of Jennifer Ankele Medium

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSoCal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.