From riding horses through the Andes Mountains to rafting the headwaters of the Amazon River, Drs. John and Sharon Franklin have introduced numerous western-trained health care practitioners and others to Peruvian healers. For well over a decade, they have traveled and worked with native healers in the mountains and rainforests of Peru. Transformational healing ceremonies and nature-based spiritual wisdom inspired their new book Gift of the Jaguar.
After twenty years in veterinary practice, John certified in Zero Balancing®, Feldenkrais® and Esalen Massage Therapy®. He works with people in a holistic body-mind practice, helping them rediscover the secret of vibrant health. He infuses transformational body work with Andean principles of balance and harmony.
Sharon, also retired from veterinary practice, shares their passion for vibrant wellness with others through a home-based business that promotes natural whole food nutritional products. She is a Gold-Seal Certified Flight Instructor with an ATP Multi-Engine and Cessna-500 Jet rating.
Avid hikers and runners, John and Sharon enjoy life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with a pair of Labrador retrievers and two cats.
An avid writer of poems and short stories, Gift of the Jaguar is John's first book. Sharon's role of muse, editor, and resource easily earned her a place on the cover. Our dream is to take the reader into the essence of their own dreams though the story of a young man's journey of initiation into the world of Andean mysticism.
Gift of the Jaguar brings the magic of the Law of Attraction to life in an inspiring emotional journey through the Andes Mountains of Peru. This semi-autobiographical story weaves ancient Peruvian knowledge with the wisdom of intuition to create a journey of destiny. Juan, a young highland farmer guilt-ridden over his sister’s tragic death, fears that he is stalked by a black jaguar. His friend Rosa and her grandfather, the shaman Don Francisco, encourage him to travel to Ausangate Mountain to heal his past and to help guide their village into an uncertain future. When challenged to face his own death by the jaguar, Juan discovers the truth about his sister and creates a new destiny for himself and his people. In this beautifully crafted story with roots that run deep in Andean mysticism and traditional Peruvian culture, the reader travels on a personal journey of discovery and surprise.
Many people have an understanding of the ancient teachings of Peruvian culture, but only a few truly embody the essence in the way that John and Sharon do.
Dr. Theo Paredes, Founding Director of the Poqen Kanchay FoundGifation
Gift of the Jaguar is a Peruvian hero's journey…a journey between life and death. I came away feeling a wiser, more clearly directed person.
Fritz Frederick Smith, M.D., Founder of Zero Balancing