SA’s animal whisperer

Wynter Worsthorne, animal communicator, author and conservation activist, chats to us about bridging the gap between the human and animal world, clearing up baffling animal behaviour, locating lost pets and more.

Words: LAURA JONES

Working as a graphic designer trying to find her way in the art world, Wynter moved into the realm of fine art where she started painting animal portraits. But even then she felt like something was missing. She’d always wanted to work with animals … so, when a friend suggested she visit a sangoma for some insight into her life path, she hesitated momentarily.

“Growing up as a middle-class white person in South Africa I was a little worried because of the stories we were told about witchdoctors. But I went regardless. It was amazing and so intriguing. The sangoma explained his tradition to me. Of his collection of animal skins, he knew the entire history of each animal he was working with, passed down from different generations. It was not about killing animals for meat but honouring the animal’s energy and the medicine
and wisdom that they can bring. His message was that my ancestors were telling me to wake up and see the gifts I have, and to use them and work with them. He had no doubt that I would work with animals, assuring me it would happen.”

DESTINY HAS IT

Soon after her visit to the sangoma, Wynter came across The Language of Miracles, a book by Amelia Kincade, an American animal communicator and daughter of 80s Golden Girls actress Rue McClanahan. The experience was life changing. “I did a workshop with Amelia when she was teaching in the UK, and it was the most mind-blowing thing I have ever seen. There were 20 of us in the workshop, and Amelia had a little dog on her lap. After showing us how communicating works through connecting with unconditional love, she prompted us to ask this little dog what had happened on his morning walk that day. I ‘saw’ an image of him falling into water. You need to trust everything that comes to you in those moments, whatever imagery it is. Everyone in the group got the same thing even though they may have described it differently. And I realised then that I could communicate. We all can.”