As Christmas approaches, I’ve been reflecting on what an extraordinary, chaotic, hilarious, heart-opening year it has been here at the Purple House, and I realised something:

I learnt more spiritual lessons from our animals this year than from any human on Earth.

And today, I want to share one of those lessons with you.

Because the Universe doesn’t always talk to us with angels, light beams, and peaceful music.

Sometimes it talks through:

• Naughty cows
• Stubborn donkeys
• Runaway ducks
• Midnight scorpions
• Ricocheting firewood
• And a few disapproving customers who don’t like tallow

Yes … this is the Purple House.

Let me explain.

The Year We Pushed Ourselves Into a Miracle

Last Christmas, while many sane people were relaxing with wine and prawns, we were doing demolition, shifting furniture, rewiring kitchens, and praying the walls wouldn’t fall down as the kitchen ceiling collapsed.

Why?

Because opening the Purple House Kitchen was our long-held dream — our “YES” to the Universe.

And we did it.

Lisanne designed the menu, Caleb flew home from Canada to help, and once the ovens began humming, it was the sweetest thing to see our community walk in, breathe deeply, and say:

“I feel like I’ve come home.”

But the Universe didn’t let us glide into this next chapter gracefully.

Oh no.

It decided to give us many lessons.

Lesson #1: If You Don’t Laugh, You’ll Cry (So You Might As Well Laugh)

The week after we opened, I fell over and broke my elbow.

On the very same day … our first 1-star review rolled in. (I know. You can’t make this stuff up.)

A woman who’d waited too long for her lunch told the world we were terrible.

Bless her heart.

We didn’t take it personally — we were swamped and learning on the go.

And the truth is … for every 1-star review, we received hundreds of thank-you’s from customers who said they’d never tasted such nourishing food.

But the Universe wasn’t done with us yet.

Lesson #2: When Life Knocks You Down, It Might Be Telling You to Rest

Just as my elbow healed, Pete rang Caleb one day from the grass next to the Forth River: “Mate, a block of firewood ricocheted and smashed my shin.”

And just like that — Pete had a broken leg.

So there we were: Me with a healing elbow, Pete with a healing leg, Caleb flying back to Canada, and Lisanne holding the Kitchen together with the strength of a goddess.

Lesson #3: The Universe Loves a Plot Twist

One night I got bitten by a scorpion between my toes during a midnight toilet walk — it really stung.

The irony?

Earlier that afternoon, I had killed a scorpion on my kitchen floor, and the very next morning, another one was defiantly sitting in the exact same spot.

This time, I let Pete take care of it.

He had no guilt, no hesitation — and of course, he had no after-effects.

But I had felt bad about the first one, and the Universe responded directly to my guilt and shame.

Lesson #4: Sugar Turns Cows and Donkeys Into ADHD Children

During autumn, Lisanne’s heritage fruit trees exploded with pears, apples, and oranges.

I dehydrated mountains of fruit so it wouldn’t go to waste.

Which meant that Clover (our Hereford cow) and Cedric (our donkey) received bucketloads of scraps.

That was our mistake.

Suddenly, they became feral teenagers:

• Crashing through fences
• Running amok at the Airbnbs
• Leading each other astray like siblings in crime
• Trotting off to the vet next door (Cedric hates the vet!)
• Ignoring us but charming every Airbnb guest alive

We eventually realised the truth: They were high on fruit sugar.

The apple cores were giving them dopamine hits, turning them into ADHD farm animals.

And here’s the human lesson: If your child is climbing the curtains, melting down, or can’t focus…
look at what they’re eating before you look for a diagnosis.

• Diet first.
• Labels later.
• Nature rules.
• Break her rules and the kids go wild — and then we spend years trying to fix it.

Lesson #5: Loss, Love, and New Life Always Dance Together

One day in early autumn, the grandkids found two tiny white ducklings on the Forth River — fluffballs destined to be eaten by hawks.

We rescued, protected, and raised them for 8 weeks.

When they were finally strong enough, we set them free on the dam — and honestly, they took to it like ducks to water (whoever coined that phrase knew exactly what they were talking about).

They paddled, flipped, somersaulted, head-dunked, bum-wiggled, and splashed around like they’d been waiting their whole lives for this moment.

My heart shot straight to 10 out of 10 happy.

There is nothing like watching a little creature find its element — it was as if life switched on inside them.

On the outside, they looked exactly like Millie and Mildred — our beloved white ducks from five years ago — but personality-wise?

Polar opposites.

Millie and Mildred, bless their feathery souls, were terrified of water.

Yes — water.

Ducks afraid of water.

One time, Millie nearly died from dehydration because she refused to swim OR drink.

We found her parched on the track like a feathery pilgrim who’d lost her way.

It took a full year of gentle coaching, coaxing, convincing, and bribery before M & M finally decided water wasn’t a death trap.

And when they did — oh, the joy!

Their first bath was like watching two elderly ladies discover a spa for the first time: tentative splashing, surprised delight, and the slow dawning realisation that this was actually … quite lovely.

Millie and Mildred eventually died of old age, and we missed them terribly.

So when these two new fluffballs arrived, part of us wondered: “Have M & M come back to us?”

But our joy was short-lived.

Only a month after letting them loose on the dam, the little drake was found lifeless on the bank — perfectly intact, as if he’d simply stepped out of his body and kept walking.

The little female was devastated, and she bonded with an orphaned brown duckling.

A mismatched pair, but perfect for each other.

And then in October, the white duck returned with 10 ducklings of her own.

We mounted a rescue mission that involved:

• Pete in the little boat
• Ben sprinting along the fence
• Rosie grabbing ducklings
• Me praying the hawks and butcher birds were busy somewhere else

We saved 9.

One had already been taken by the time we arrived at the dam.

We raised them for 4 weeks.

Then they escaped to the dam through a secret hole.

And now?

They are the most adorable little adventurers — visiting the Airbnb guests, getting VIP treatment from Caleb & Rosie on the veranda of their tiny house, roaming the property, and giving us endless joy.

Even the cats treat them like family.

(Except the father duck, who ignores them but steals Cedric’s grain — and Cedric, the fierce donkey who bites everyone, is inexplicably terrified of him.)

Another lesson there…

The Moral of All These Animal Adventures

The Universe doesn’t always teach through silence and stillness.

Sometimes it teaches through chaos, comedy, bruises, broken bones, midnight bites, runaway cows, duck dramas, and unexpected joys.

Every moment carries a message:

• When something breaks → slow down.
• When someone attacks you → stay rooted in your purpose.
• When life gets chaotic → laugh first, fix later.
• When animals misbehave → check the diet (same goes for humans).
• When something dies → something else is already being born.
• When things fall apart → it’s because something bigger is rearranging itself.
• When the path gets wild → trust that you are still guided.

This year, the Universe spoke to us through feathers, fur, fractures, and feathers.

And it reminded us of one profound truth:

You are always being led — even when it looks like everything is going wrong. Especially then!

If this story brought a smile, a sigh of relief, or a spark of recognition … forward it to someone who would love it too.

I have so many more stories to share, and I can’t wait for you to read them.

Keep an eye on your inbox / blog — this Christmas Parable Series will arrive every Wednesday right up to Christmas, each one sprinkled with real-life Purple House magic.

If you’d love support, clarity, or a reset before the year ends, book your session with us (Grada, Peter & Caleb) at the Purple House — call 03 6428 3007.

We’re here for you.

A friendly reminder we see clients on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays (9 AM to 5 PM); we can also assist with postal orders, so ring us on 03 6428 3007; to secure your order.

Alternatively, click here to visit our website where you can make online appointments (like a Full Health Audit consultation with Peter or Caleb), read past blogs, download free e-books OR order supplements all at your own convenience.

If you’re looking for a career shift, deeper healing, or a supportive sisterhood, discover it here.

To learn more about the water we are using in our home, at the Purple House clinic & Purple House Kitchen – call Peter on 0428 283 007.

Follow Purple House Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates, seasonal menus, and a peek behind the scenes of all the goodness we’re creating.

With love

Grada & Peter Robertson
Master Healers, Founders of the Purple House Wellness Centre, Tasmania
Over 25 years of transforming more than 20,000 lives.

Grada Robertson, MNM
Master of Natural Medicine
Doctoral Candidate in Natural Medicine (Psychosomatic University / Holographic Manipulation Therapy with Drs. Gabe & Tiffany Roberts)

Grada is a three-time Amazon Bestselling Author of the trilogy: You Are the Miracle, The Underbelly, and Alchemy of Love.

With love & healing,

Disclaimer:
Our content is for educational purposes only, based on our personal journey and research. It is not medical advice. We are not medical professionals. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider for any medical diagnoses or treatment. The information we share is intended for learning and discussion and should not replace professional medical guidance. Any actions you take based on this content are solely your responsibility.