afterlife

Almost One Year Later – A Gift in My Garden From Gidget

Posted by Barbara Techel

May 11th will mark the one year anniversary since Gidget has been gone. It was the day before Mother’s Day when we had to say goodbye to her. I still remember clearly right before she passed and the message she gave me from the lyrics of a song by Terry Jacks, “We had joy, we had fun,  we had seasons in the sun.”

As the day of her passing grows closer I’ve been thinking about her often. Today I was planting lavender in one of my garden beds thinking about how she loved to lie in the sun near me when I was in my gardens. As I dug a hole in the dirt to place the new plant, I came across some rocks and within them, a tiny heart-shaped rock.

My heart burst with joy and I smiled. I knew it was Gidget letting me know all is well. You may recall after we laid her to rest in an area of the garden next to writing cottage that I placed rocks in the shape of a heart as a tribute to her. Just as I’d placed the last stone, I noticed a small stone off to the side shaped like a heart, which I placed within the large heart symbolizing our hearts will always be connected. 

So what a gift this was to receive another heart-shaped stone as I was thinking of her!

Looking up the symbolism of the Lavender flower I came across this that resonated for me: 

Lavender flowers are purple in color and the color purple is associated with the crown chakra, which is the energy center associated with higher purpose and spiritual connectivity. The crown or 7th chakra is located at the top of the head and the vibration of the crown is the highest vibration in the physical body. This symbolism is appropriate as the Lavender flower is often used for healing and raising our vibration to the highest level possible is the easiest path to healing.

Gidget, as many of you know, I called my Buddha Dog – My Master Teacher and Healer – because she helped me heal a long-held secret from my childhood. How fitting it is that I was thinking of her planting the Lavender and she sent me the heart stone. When we believe in our own higher self connected with the Divine, well, magical and beautiful things happen that confirm for us that truth.

xo,

Barbara

Life Renewing Itself. Miss Marie’s Snowdrops.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Life Renewing Itself. Miss Marie's Snowdrops.

We’ve had some warm days in-between some chilly ones. I’ve taken full advantage of the warm ones. I pulled Gidget’s dog stroller out of the corner of the garage and we’ve been strolling through our quaint village when we can.

Whenever I drive into town, I drive by Miss Marie’s home. There is no other way around it really, as it is part of our small downtown. It’s hard to see it so quiet and closed up. Though there is a tenant living upstairs yet. But it’s sometimes a jolt to know Miss Marie will never again walk down the steps of her back porch, nor will I see her in her oilcloth apron, or hear her one-of-a-kind laugh.

It’s been one month since she died. It kind of amazes me that this much time has passed already.

I’d been avoiding walking on the sidewalk next to her house. Instead, I’d stand across the street and take a few moments staring at her home wishing she’d still be there.

But the other day I decided to walk by. She never really had a lawn. Instead, the yard is landscaped with many plants and shrubs growing wildly. This time of year with winter now on its way out, everything is still in its dormant stage. But underneath I’ve no doubt there is life just waiting to burst forth.

As I rounded the corner to walk past the front of her home –  her home is on a corner lot – there among the plants that lie still without visible life yet, was this small patch of snowdrop flowers.

I know Miss Marie’s soul lives on. I just can’t see it. I can’t tell you how often I hear “Miss Barbara” in my mind as I’m thinking about things we talked about or making decisions I need to make.

When I saw these sweet snowdrops I couldn’t help but think how life continually renews itself.

Some of the common meanings for the snowdrop flowers are purity, hope, rebirth and consolation or sympathy.

Miss Marie may not be here physically, but her spirit lives on in so many of the lives she touched. Her life is renewed in a new way, as is mine as I open to connecting with her in a different way now. And her home that will come to life again someday with new residents I’m sure.

But for now, it feels like such sacred ground as I continue to honor the gift of Miss Marie and all she brought me in my life.

XO,

Barbara

Subscribe to my newsletter here for a bi-monthly digest of my blog posts, plus oracle readings, and more and/or Subscribe here to receive my blog posts as they are published.

Do Our Pets Send Us Messages?

Posted by Barbara Techel

merciMERCI

I met Jayne a few years ago when I did therapy dog work with Frankie at our local hospice community. Her black standard poodle, Magic, fell in love with Frankie. Magic and Jayne were quite the striking duo and Jayne taught Magic to dance. It was beautiful to watch.

A year or so ago (I believe) Jayne brought Merci into her life. Seven weeks ago, Magic unexpectedly passed away.  When she emailed me with the news I called her immediately. We talked for a long time.

Jayne is single and lives alone. Her Magic was now gone. Yes, she has Merci, but she and Magic had a special bond.

A few days ago I heard from her. She is still struggling with the passing of Magic.

She said, “Magic made everything easy for me. He was confident and followed my lead. Merci is different. She is timid and lacks confidence.”

I could tell by her thoughts that she was really missing Magic and she didn’t know how Merci would ever be like him, realizing that she won’t. She knows she has to accept this.

I could very much relate to everything Jayne shared as I went through all of this with the loss of Frankie. Joie is different and I’ve had to move through that for myself, which has not been easy at times.

The one thing I suggested to Jayne was to talk to Merci. Actually talk to her out loud. This was suggested to me about two months ago from animal communicator, Dawn that I worked with in regards to Joie and what I was struggling with. I told Joie that yes, I miss Frankie. But that does not mean I don’t love her.  I told her I am trying and would continue to do all I could to help develop our own unique and special relationship.

I also realize now not ever having adopted a dog and this being Joie’s third home, that she had her own insecurities and likely trust issues.  Was I going to also give her away could have very likely been a concern of hers.  I told her she is here to stay. I’ll never give her away. I love her and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure this will always be her home.

It may sound silly, but yet so simple. Jayne gave it a try with Merci and this is what she wrote back to me:

“I think Frankie and Magic are sending us a both a message!  As I have been typing to you this morning, Merci has been quietly laying behind my desk. When I went to talk to her, as you suggested, I looked at her and started to cry. She rarely plays with any toys. They are all in a basket in my office as Magic liked to occasionally play with toys. I saw she had quietly pulled a toy from the basket and was sleeping with it in her bed. The toy…a dachshund toy with a Santa hat…that Magic used to love to carry around. I told him that toy was Frankie and he always acted like he knew exactly what I meant. How fitting that Merci would pick that toy out of a basket of 30+ toys to cuddle with as we corresponded today about our lost loves.”

I’m left with no doubt that our pets communicate with us whether they are here in physical form or not. I know for me, since talking with Joie (and I continue to do so), I feel a wonderful shift in our relationship. We are learning to ebb and flow with each other. Yes, it’s in a different way than I had with Frankie.  But she is Joie. A sweet dog who loves me unconditionally and has stood by trusting we will find our way together.

I’m pretty sure that Jayne and Merci will also find their way together and it won’t be like Magic. But there will be magic, mystery, and love in all the new things and experiences she and Merci will have.

Note:  Thank you, Jayne, and Merci, of course, for allowing me to share part of our correspondence.  I feel honored to have been a part of this sweet, amazing experience.