Honest Moments Reflecting on Someday without an IVDD Dog

Posted by Barbara Techel

Honest Moments Reflecting on Someday without an IVDD Dog

Our winter has been mild here in Wisconsin, though it’s been rainy and cloudy for most of March. But earlier in the week it was beautiful and I took advantage and walked our 3/4 acre yard with Gidget.

It was delicious to feel the warm sunshine on my face and let the sun soak in my skin, the wind kiss my face, and watch Gidget wiggle walk through the grass. I truly appreciate simple moments such as this.

After our walk around the yard, Gidget was smart and found the perfect spot to rest on the west side of my writing cottage to soak in the rays and be out of the wind.

As I watched her, emotions rose up in my heart. I’m treasuring my time with her as I’m pretty sure when the day comes and she makes her transition, she will be my last dog with IVDD I take in. It will then be time for me to rest from my service to these special dogs.

It’s taken me a few years to be okay with this. But little by little I’ve come to realize it is time. While I continue to voice it out loud to family and friends as a way to hear it and accept it, I’ve also had moments of tears (and feel emotional just writing this post) thinking about it as my heart will always love these special little ones so much.

In many ways it’s hard to picture my life without caring for a dog with IVDD. But I also know I’m tired and it’s okay to be honest about that.

The simple moments I relish more dearly than ever is in part because of what I’ve learned from my wheelie and IVDD dogs – they have put so much into perspective for me of how precious life is. It was meant to be the journey I’ve traveled with each of them.

Just as it will be meant to be when the time comes to continue on my journey in a new way. For now, I soak in all the love and my time with dear Miss Gidget. And perhaps her soul contract with me during this time in my life was to help me come to this decision with peace and acceptance in my heart. Thank you, little one. Thank you.

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Dancing with the Elemental Forces of Creation & Synchronicity

Posted by Barbara Techel

Dancing with the Elemental Forces of Creation & Synchronicity

Synchronicity does not always play out immediately and something I realized yesterday from a series of events that I see now had been unfolding over the months.

I had stumbled upon a woman by the name of Lisa Michaels, a Creation Coach and Facilitator, and took part in watching a free webinar she offered a few months ago. How I initially found her, I don’t know. But ah yes, this is how synchronicity works! One thing led to another and I checked out her website.

While there I discovered a deck of oracle cards she created called Elemental Forces of Creation that incorporate spirit, earth, water, air and fire. That spoke to me and I even looked into perhaps taking further training with her. But I set it aside as the timing didn’t feel right. But I kept going back to look at those cards she had created thinking some day down the line I would purchase them for my growing collection of oracle cards.

Oracle

Fast forward to last week when fellow SoulCollage®  facilitator Stephanie Chissler of Wisdom Tending offered her first online SoulCollage® workshop on Divine Feminine. Being that I’ve been immersing myself in all that I can about SoulCollage®, I signed up.  Little did I realize she was offering a free gift for the first three who purchased her online course.

So when I got an email from her saying I had won an oracle card reading with her I was thrilled!  And even more so when, yup…here comes the synchronicity…. and she said she’d be using the Elemental Forces of Creation deck.

Um, yes, this was meant to be wouldn’t you agree?

I had the reading done yesterday. l really liked Stephanie’s gentle and encouraging guidance. What I didn’t realize is that the Elemental Forces of Creation have a word or two on each card. As someone who loves words and using them to express myself through writing, I was excited to learn more. I also like that they use what the indigenous culture have always used to guide their life with Spirit and the four elements. 

I posed my question to the oracle and reading #1 would help guide me around the question of what it was that needed my attention right now as an area of focus to help me. The two cards that presented themselves were Spirit. One said Grace and Trust and the other said As within/So without.

This was very much a hands on approach which I appreciated as Stephanie asked if those words held any meaning for me. She gave me time to think about it and I was able to tap into some insight of what was going on in regards to my question.

The second reading took it deeper with the question, “What is the issue and what do I need to do?” That revealed three cards:

Fire – Will

Water – Feeling Guidance

Earth – Stewardship

While the words can mean one thing according to good ole Webster, I practiced what was coming up for me with each of the words, trying not to dismiss my intuition. I believe in doing that, along with Stephanie’s encouragement, I was able to tap into the message I needed to hear just for me.

And alas, as in so many cases when we are stuck, it was fear that was at the heart of my question I’d posed. And just when you think you’ve moved through something, those moments return as a reminder to continue to work on what needs healing.

And so it is.

But I felt a shift in myself after the reading and felt lighter. Stephanie suggested that when we hung up that I should dance. It felt uncomfortable at first and I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that. But then, I thought, why not? Why not just try and see what happens?

And so I danced. Right here in my writing cottage. At first it felt awkward, but then I began to feel this welcoming flow as I danced what I would call Yoga dance. It felt so good. So freeing. So right.

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Nurse Gidget and Kylie the Patient

Posted by Barbara Techel

Nurse Gidget and Kylie the Patient

Just got home from the vet clinic with Kylie, and Gidget has stepped up to the task of playing nurse. Kylie had a small mass on the hock of her foot that was bleeding on and off that started mid-week last week.

While the “inner tube” collar helped to keep her from licking the spot – it didn’t heal over either and continued to periodically bleed. So off she went to the vet early this morning to have it removed.

Now 14-days of carrying her “pillow”  with her around her neck. Though she tolerates it well.

And she’s got a great nurse helping her who will no doubt provide lots of love and support.

While at the vet last week, the technician commented that quote we often here, “gettin’ old ain’t for sissies.”  Kylie, at 11 1/2 years old now is definitely a senior. But this is the beautiful thing about dogs and how most seem to tolerate getting old so much better than we humans.

We do our part to keep them as comfortable as possible as they begin to slow down and I think too, so important to honor their journey as it is meant to be.  

My dear dogs, always teaching me something, and another reminder today to enjoy the journey.

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