No Words Are Needed to Connect with Your Pet

Posted by Barbara Techel

To see Frankie soaking up the sun warms me from my toes all the way to my head…. And my heart catches in my throat. Did you ever notice that often when you don’t speak, but just observe and appreciate, the depth of the bond between you and your pet deepens?

We communicate our feelings about our pets to others through words or writing and so this is what my heart was feeling as I sat and looked at Frankie enjoying the sun:

My little trooper, we have been on an incredible journey, you and me. All the lives you’ve positively impacted with your inspirational story. How honored I am that you chose me to be your messenger. Every single moment is a deeply rewarding experience with you.

In the beginning when you were first diagnosed with IVDD it was so hard. I yelled at God, “I can’t handle this! I don’t want to take care of a handicapped dog! I don’t know how! Why me? This is so unfair!  God, don’t you understand?—I love animals deeply!”

Ah yes, He did understand. Frankie would turn out to be the blessing for me to grow and evolve in ways I could have never imagined for myself. Today I can say: I like me. I love taking care of my special needs dog. I love my life. I am honored to have been the chosen one to be called, “Frankie’s Mom.” I am full up with Frankie love. I am beyond the word grateful. No words to describe what it has meant for me and you to travel this road together. You are my light. My guide. My sunshine. My heart.

To see you soaking up the sun, enjoying your semi-retirement has been a new lesson of appreciation of what the golden years mean. The connection between you and me that keeps deepening to a new level is a beautiful experience- A knowing in my heart that we will always be connected…. no matter what.

“You are my sunshine… my only sunshine… you make me happy when skies are gray… “ and might I add you bring me joy every single solitary moment of my days?

Your Heart Will Lead the Way. Stand in Your Truth.

Posted by Barbara Techel

It arrived today!!  My streaming pillow I ordered from artist Maria Wulf of Full Moon Fiber Arts – “Stand In Your Truth. Your Heart Will Lead the Way. Fly in Your Wisdom. The Crying Tree Knows Justice.” (close up shot of pillow below)

In 2005 I tried something new. I decided to follow my heart. As I began doing that I found myself standing in my truth (Frankie really helped me with that!!) and more I stood in my truth, the more the universe supported me. When I saw Maria’s newest piece of work called Stand In Your Truth which at the time was a potholder, I immediately emailed her. I just had to have it. I was quite disappointed to find out it had sold out. I asked if she would consider making a pillow. She agreed. I didn’t mention any colors to her, but let her go with her heart in what to create.

It couldn’t have been more perfect. The border of the pillow is blue and green – I love those two colors together!  And it matches the cushion in my wicker chair in my studio, perfectly. It was meant to be.

Letting Go of Expectations

Posted by Barbara Techel

Kylie

This past weekend I completed my Reiki II training. It was fascinating and intriguing. For those of you unfamiliar with Reiki it is a Japanese method of energy healing. Rei means universal (or higher source, God, etc) while ki means energy. I took my Reiki II training from Ann Noyce who studied with Kathleen Praasad, founder of Animal Reiki Source.

Kathleen’s book Animal Reiki has many wonderful stories of how Reiki has helped animals with anxiety, healing from injuries, and transitioning.  Ann shared the beautiful story of how Reiki helped her when her dog, Amanda was dying. Though a challenge at first, Ann was able to focus on being there for Amanda recalling all the joy she had brought to her life, instead of getting lost in the sorrow of the impending death of Amanda.

One thing I found so intriguing about Reiki is letting go of expectations. Reiki knows where to send the energy to a person or animal and goes where it is needed most. As someone who just trained in Reiki, I can tell you letting go of expectations is something I’m going to have to work hard on. For those of us who love animals so deeply, we want the very best for them and will do all we can to make sure they are happy.  Reiki teaches us to let go of what we think the animal may need and trust that Reiki will do the healing.  I especially found this difficult when thinking about Reiki for my dog, Kylie.

We learned how to do remote Reiki healing and I chose Kylie to do this with. I had a picture of her with me as we began the remote healing. Letting go of what my expectations were that I thought she needs healing on was hard. For a long time I’ve felt guilt on and off for the abrupt change in our relationship when I had to care for Frankie. I’ve felt like the bond we had been developing broke then. Little by little I’ve been trying to rebuild that with her.  But I still see signs that I think contribute to us not being as close as Frankie and I are. I’ve thought a lot about his since the weekend and I keep going back to accepting what is with Kylie and letting go of what I think should come of the Reiki healing with her.

When I took my Reiki I training, I was told that Reiki is truly all about your own healing. I couldn’t grasp that. Now I get it. It is about my own healing. How often in life do we have all these expectations of ourselves, or family, or friends, or our pets?  I’ve been better at letting go of expectations of others and learned some great lessons of that this past holiday season – but now realize I must also apply that to Kylie.

When I think about the pets in our lives, I feel concerned for them and the expectations we have put on them. They often endure a heavy stress load, which is really our very own stress that we put on them. I don’t think most of mean to do this – but Reiki, as well as what I’ve learned the past few years from my own pets, has taught me to be more aware – and when we are aware we can give them a better life – and let go of expecations – which in turn deepens our bond with them.