Room full of Reiki

There is something so peaceful and healing about offering Reiki!  I sit with an animal or a person, and as I center and open to the grace of Reiki a shift occurs.  My heart softens and clears, my hands warm.... Reiki flows and I am witness to a transformation in the heart and soul of the being I am offering to.  There is an opening deep within, a quickening of the life force, a receptivity to this energy of pure love.  And then a profound balancing and integration that allows space for the bodies innate wisdom to heal itself.  As I share and witness this, I also am healed.

I shared Reiki with a wonderful Labrador recently, and the room happened to also contain the dog's guardian, the other pup of the house, and 2 cats.  As the Reiki energy deepened within me and the lucky recipient, I felt the energy expanding and looked around the room.  The 2 cats had moved to be together and were cuddled together in complete peace.  The other dog had made a cocoon of pillows on the couch and was fast asleep.  The guardian was leaning back in her chair, breathing softly,  trying unsuccessfully to keep her eyes open.  My heart was filled with joy, my eyes with tears. It was clear that Reiki had charged the entire space with love and peace, and all beings were benefiting from this  deeply relaxing and healing energy.  We were basking in a room full of Reiki.

Love

I stand in Love.  For Paris today as the world struggles to understand.  For peace, with the knowing that peace is the only way.  For the tortured spirits of those who believe otherwise.

I stand in Love.  For the teachers that have guided me to where I am today; those with 2 legs, and those with 4.  For the lessons of the heart that have hurt so much over the years and have expanded me into who I am today.  For the strength and resiliance given me at birth, that have stood the test of time and are such a part of what I am today.

I stand in Love. For the wan beauty that is November in Vermont- with it's grays, greens, golds.  For the beings that co-habitate life with me with such ease. For the earth, the sun, the water, which nourish me daily.  For song, wind,  and rustling leaves, that serenade my ears and heart as I walk.

All of this spirals through me today- sorrow, confusion, gratitude, awe, and yes- love.

I stand in Love.    I wouldn't have it any other way.

Outside before inward

Sitting here at my computer is a tortuous thing.  If I raise my eyes even the littlest bit I am looking out at the astounding colors of this, the most beautiful ever, fall season.  It is the stunning glory, the aching last hurrah, of a long drawn out warm spell that has made summer feel so close still, and winter so far off.  But I know- oh yes I do- what is coming, and so I am going outside.  I will bathe in the orange light that permeates this world. I will revel in the breeze and the cool fresh air.  I will circulate my blood by walking, singing, throwing firewood, planting garlic.  I will celebrate life as the leaves fall around me and lay out the path for me to follow when I turn for home.  For turn to home I must, as that is also of this season.  I will turn inward, and listen... listen to my heart and to the hearts of my loved ones as we create the space for sitting, reading, cooking, loving, weaving.  This life is a tapestry of beauty and it is with gratitude that I enjoy each and every day.  Go out my friends, and store up what is there to sustain you as you turn inward.  May healing energy abound.

Giving it Away

Something there is about sharing from the heart.  Guided by compassion, I open to love and see with clarity.  This is how life is meant to be lived, I am sure.

And so I give away what I do.  I volunteer at the Windham County Humane Society offering Reiki to the fearful animals as they transition in, and then onward to forever homes.  Reiki provides them some respite and peace in an otherwise confusing and chaotic time.  As we sit together I watch them calm; perhaps they climb on my lap, or cuddle next to me  in their bed.  A lovely Reiki nap allows them time to feel a sense of safety and trust again.  I can feel their pulse rate slowing, their breath deepening, their heart relaxing.  To be clear, my body reacts in the same way and so this is a gift for both of us!  We form a powerful bond, if only for the hour we spend together.  Our hearts touch, we expand, and we make room for joy in our lives,

Something there is about sharing from the heart...

Best animal books of my life...

I grew up a voracious reader- particularly of books that told heartwarming animal tales!  May I recommend some fabulous reads... and although many of them are written for younger folks, I suggest they are appropriate for all ages!  And so in no special order (except for #1, my all-time favorite book):

AMIGO; Byrd Baylor Schweitzer- a young boys dreams come true in the mountains of Mexico.  Oh my heart...

KINSHIP WITH ALL LIFE; J Allen Boone- astonishing true life tales of animal communication.

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL; James Herriot- a farmyard Veterinarian in Britain tells it like it is. What a gentle man.

CHARLOTTES WEB; E.B White- the classic tale of the pig, the spider, and the barn on the coast of Maine. Yes.

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS; Robert McCloskey-  ducklings and their mama get special treatment as they make their way through city streets to water. So sweet!

WATERSHIP DOWN; Richard Adams- if you ever wanted to think and feel like a rabbit, this will do it!!

PETER RABBIT; Beatrix Potter- perhaps this is where my love of small baskets filled with fresh veggies comes from... and I never mind sharing a few with critters.

KING OF THE WIND; Margerite Henry- fleet of foot, and lovely to behold, the Godolphin Arabian was a hell of a horse!

THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY; Sheila Bunford- it just won't do to leave pets behind.  These 3 taught me that as I read about their search to find their guardians...

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT; Margery Williams- when you love something it  makes sense to just keep patching it up...  that way it is always with you.

So there you go... perhaps you have read them all, but maybe I have given you a few new ideas.  Enjoy these last few weeks of summer!

Summer ramblings...

We have been for a swim on this warm summer day, and now Tucker dries off in a sunny spot in the yard.  He is my darling, my role model, my muse, and one of the loves of my life.  My animal companions give me such joy and nourishment each and every day, and in return I give them what every sentient being deserves: love, shelter, exercise, regular medical attention, massage, Reiki and healthy food.  

This last piece is so critical, and saves so much on vet bills through out their lives.  And so I choose my foods carefully. I feed excellent quality dry food in which the first several ingredients are meat.  Not by-products, but meat itself.  Reading labels carefully is critical,  to be sure there are no artificial preservatives, sugar, or chemicals and to avoid inflammatory ingredients such as soy, wheat and corn. Ideally there are probiotics added for gut health and glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.  

Once I find a kibble that meets these criteria I then supplement with fresh organ meat that I get from a neighbor who raises cows and pigs humanely and organically.  I add eggs from my hens, fish oil, plain organic yogurt, carrots, broccoli, and other veggies from our garden, and the occasional treat of fresh fish.  

What I see each day are fit, middle age dogs with shiny coats, bright eyes, and a zeal for life. Exactly as it should be!   So please do your homework when deciding how to feed your friends; it will pay off in spades.

Scary Buggers

I am not scared of much in our natural world.  I believe being educated about the critters, and then using the appropriate levels of caution, is the best way to approach life in nature.  Here in Vermont I don’t worry about bears, as I know better than to keep bird feeders out in the summer and certainly know never to get between a mama and her cubs.  I am not scared of coyotes, as I know they are heading away from me way before I even know they are around. When I hike in the desert with the snakes, scorpions, black widows, cactus, etc- well, suffice it to say that I am extremely cautious about where I put my fingers and toes, and I keep my eyes peeled at all times.  I really do find that I coexist harmoniously with most beings.

But there is one little bugger that truly scares me.  Ixodes scapularis.  Better known as the deer tick.  This is the lovely creature that can carry Lyme disease to people and to pets.  You can’t feel a tick bite.  They are hard to see because they are so small.  In an animals fur they are even harder to find than on our bare skin.  Yikes!

Lyme disease can be completely debilitating, with joint pain, fatigue, rash, flu like symptoms, and worse.  Although it can often be treated with antibiotics  it can also become chronic and actually change for ever how one gets to live their lives.  Worth being scared of! 

So for me- I keep a natural tick repellant handy for outside work, and I do my best to check for ticks with my hands at the end of each day.  I also shower and swim frequently to wash off any that have not yet attached themselves.  For my dogs I have chosen to get the Lyme vaccine, even though there is some controversy about the effectiveness.  I treat them with a topical Pyrethrin based product that, in theory, only permeates their skin and will kill fleas and ticks for 30 days.  That was a tough decision or me, as I believe strongly in holistic health, but it somehow feels like the lesser of two evils.  And I use the natural tick spray on the dogs as well, when we are going walking.

What are the chances that one of us will get Lyme?  I don’t know that, but I do know that it is a terrible disease worth taking very seriously.  It is endemic here in New England, and in other parts of the US so please talk to your vet about the best ways to prevent Lyme in your animals.  Read up.  Learn everything you can about it.  Hope that someone, somewhere will start doing some real research into ways to prevent or treat it that are more effective than what is currently being done. 

And so I learn how to live with this bit of fear.  I would love to think I can just be cautious and maintain my families immune systems and that will be sufficient. And maybe it will be.  Meanwhile I will live in this beautiful spot that feeds my soul and enjoy every day that is offered to me.  I will walk in the woods and fields with my dogs.  I will garden, and swim, and pursue my dreams.  And I will do everything in my power to do all of this Lyme free!

Helpful links:

http://www.drschoen.com/lyme-disease-fact-from-fiction/

www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_dg_lyme_disease

http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/internal-medicine/lyme-disease-in-dogs.html

www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/4_7/features/5371-1.html

REIKI MAGIC

Petey is a creature of habit.  Like all cats she loves warmth on the cold days of winter and thus spends a great deal of time under the wood stove.  As she has aged this has become her favorite wintertime den; a hard slate bed for sure, but with an abundance of radiant heat all around.  And so I was unfazed when I came home at the end of a work day and saw her sleeping there. But it became noticeable, as I prepared all of our dinners, that she was not engaging as she normally did.  When I bent down to wake her up and found she could hardly hold her head up I was filled with dread.  Hoping to entice her I carried her to her food bowl but she showed no interest.  It was clear to me that she was not at all well.  She staggered her way back to the warmth of the wood stove and I sat on the floor, pondered, and listened carefully to my heart.  Petey is 15.   She has had a great life, from kitten hood on the coast of Maine to maturity in the mountains of Vermont. She has had freedom and love in equal parts, and has been an integral part of the life of our family.  

After some time the decision became clear. Petey was not in pain and so no veterinary care would be asked for, and I would send her Reiki as she transitioned from this life.  Out came the camping mat, sleeping bag, and pillow to make a pallet in front of the stove, also food, water and litter for Petey just in case.  I lay down facing her and asked Reiki to flow through me and into my beautiful, tired, cat.  After dozing for a bit I woke to discover she had come onto my bed and was curled up right against my belly.  Reiki flowed, Petey slept, and I faded in and out, for a good part of the night.  At some point she got up, walked the few steps to the water and drank heartily, she then peed in the litter and came back to my arms for more Reiki.  Had a miracle occurred?  Dared I hope?  Was there possibility? With these new thoughts fluttering in my brain we both fell into a deep, uninterrupted,  Reiki sleep.  At dawn her appetite was back and she ate breakfast, gave herself a bath, and went for a well deserved nap in her favorite spot: under the wood stove.

6 months later Petey is a happy, healthy cat and, it being summer, she seeks out shady spots in the garden for her long naps.  For me there is great peace of mind as I think back on that December night.  I am so honored to have been witness, very grateful for her life, and deeply humbled by the power of Reiki.  May the healing energy spread.

It's a new day!

May is one of my very favorite months.  Daffodils, the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, my mother's birthday... dirty fingernails, sun kissed cheeks, cold lake dips, pea shoots… I feel blessed and deeply alive.  My dogs feel the same- they alternate between sunbathing and dropping tennis balls at my feet with great hopes for a long run down the field.  I accommodate them over and over again, between my many garden projects.  In the late afternoon we rest our grateful, weary bodies and I offer my hands in gentle massage and Reiki.  So much bliss on a fabulous spring day!  May I offer my hands to you? And to your animals?  During the month of May if you sign up for a series of 4 sessions, either Reiki (for people or for any type of animal) or canine massage, I will give you a spring time rejuvenation discount of  15%.  What better way to leap into the busy time to come?!

CHANGES

It is starting to look like spring here in the mountains of Vermont.  After a long, cold winter the transformation is welcome- from the vehicle sucking depths of mud season, the bear taking down the bird feeder and the crocus showing their cheerful faces, it is clear that warmer, life giving days are upon us.  As I plant my seeds and nurture the little sprouts, I think of the transformation going on in my own life; I am making career choices that follow my heart.  I am choosing to do work that is based on love.  I am surrounding myself with joy.  And so I offer Reiki to people or to animals, and massage to dogs, all with the intention of easing suffering, enhancing lives, supporting growth and healing.  And in so doing I suffer less, I am enhanced, I grow and heal.  What a perfect spring pairing, don’t you think?