dachshunds

Dachshund Goddesses. Say What?

Ok, so perhaps you are wondering why I’ve called these paintings, which I did a few years ago, dachshund goddesses? Clearly, they are tree goddesses.  

But it started shortly after when my mom saw the paintings I’d done that she asked if they each had a name. Huh. I’d not thought of that. And so I let it simmer. And simmer it did for all this time.

The paintings are in our lower level where I see them every day when I work out on my pilates machine. And just like that, one day it hit me what their names are!

So perhaps no surprise for those that have been here following my writing and blog for some time, and you’ve likely already guessed…but yes, each is named after my special needs dachshunds that graced my life — Frankie, Joie, and Gidget.

And this is when I sat with each of the paintings, especially drawn to the center of each of them. Who was who, I wondered?

It then occurred to me looking at the center of each goddess the color at each center near the heart, each dachshund has helped me heal some aspect of myself. This is when I thought of the Chakras – energy systems within our body – and knew immediately that the goddess with the red center is Gidget.

After looking up the other meanings of the colors representing the Chakra’s I realized that the orange was Joie and the blue, Frankie.

Blue represents the throat chakra and its emotional attributes are about communication, creativity, and healing. Frankie, being my first special needs dachshund opened a world to me of writing two children’s books and a memoir about the journey we took together with her in a wheelchair, sharing her message with many. It was never on my radar to write children’s books, and even more so to think I’d become a public speaker. The girl that was so shy all those years pushed herself out into the world sharing a message that she became passionate about.

Orange represents the sacral chakra and its emotional attributes are intimacy, emotions, boundaries, addiction, and trust. When Joie passed away just ten months after I adopted her, I just didn’t understand why she had to leave so soon. But it was a time of me learning to appreciate transitional times in one’s life, to be with the fact that I knew I wanted to slow down and go in a new direction in my life, but uncertain of what that was. It was also a time of trusting the universe would provide a new path and setting boundaries for myself to learn to just be and allow what was to unfold.

Red represents the root chakra and its emotional attributes are security, grounding, sexuality, and survival. As I shared in my latest memoir Gidget guided me to finally look at a vision of a childhood wound I’d carried with me for most of my life of being touched inappropriately as a child. This led me down the path of healing so many aspects of myself from learning to trust my intuition, that I was safe, and that I was worthy.

Realizing each goddess was one of my dachshund friends, my mom suggested writing their name somewhere on each painting. Today is the day I did just that and oh, how it has made my heart smile.

Our animal friends are always with us. What a blessing and treasured gift.

xo,

Barbara

Authors Give Back: Special Opportunity to Read My First Two Memoirs

As we continue to pause and reflect it’s the perfect time to read. Though, I think it’s always the perfect time to read! 😉

But especially now if we want to fill our minds and hearts with inspirational content, right?

So I’ve taken part in an opportunity and offering my first two memoirs at 60% off for the e-book versions which makes them $1.60 each.

As my third memoir has begun making its way out into the world, I really see my three books as a trilogy of what I learned from each special needs dachshund and how each played a vital role in helping me become a much healthier person today in mind, body, and spirit.

If interested just click on the book cover(s) or on the titles below to purchase. 

 

 

Feel free to pass this offer onto other animal-loving friends you think would enjoy and benefit from them!

Through Frankie’s Eyes: One woman’s journey to her authentic self, and the dog on wheels who led the way

Wisdom Found in the Pause: Joie’s Gift

Happy reading and enjoy!

xo,

Barbara

 

 

Rent a Weenster

I’ve met some of the nicest people over the years because of my three disabled dachshunds. Among them are Lynn and Perry Phillips. They belong to these two adorable wiener dogs— Winnie, the English cream and Greta, the black and tan. Greta is a therapy dog and goes to work with Perry. I was so happy to run into them at the Farmer’s Market today!

It was a year ago that Winnie went down in her backend. I remember talking with Lynn trying to guide her at the beginning. After surgery and a bit of a rough road, Winnie is walking again. Yay! Lynn said she walks kind of like a drunken sailor, but she’s walking! Having loved and cared for three drunken sailors myself over the years, I completely understand.

Perry was holding Winnie in a dog carrier that hung around his shoulder. As we got to talking and Lynn and Perry expressed their sympathy for the loss of my Gidget, Perry slipped Winnie out of her carrier and handed her to me. I’d not held a weenster since Gidget passed the day before Mother’s Day.

Whoosh…the tears came and a flood of emotions. It felt good to hold sweet Winnie in my arms for a few moments.

Lynn and Perry both said I could rent one or both of them for a day when I feel the need to get a weenie dog fix. Rent for free Lynn said, though Perry kiddingly said it would be a quarter.  😉

It was enough for me today to pet both Winnie and Greta. I know someday I will want another dog. But for now, I’m feeling content with where I’m at. Though I still have my moments of wanting to hug my little Gidget just one more time. 

But that is what it’s all about. I’d still not trade the depth of love I experienced with all my dogs to avoid the time of grief.

And I’m grateful for the Farmer’s Market and being able to spend some time with the Phillips – two and four-legged!

P.S. Later on I ran into a friend who is a vendor at the market. She asked if I saw Winnie and Greta and commented about Perry who carried Winnie in a dog carrier around his shoulder, “That to me is a real man who will carry a dog around like that.” I could agree more. The Phillips truly love their dogs!

XO,

Barbara

Subscribe here to receive my bi-monthly newsletter which includes a digest of my blog posts, oracle readings, wisdom from the animal kingdom, first to know special offers and more

and/or

Subscribe here to receive my blog posts as they are published.