I sat for a few moments early this morning, admiring the sun coming up after my yoga practice in my Zen writing cottage.
Autumn is barely a whisper now – on its way out until next season. And likely the leaves left on these trees will be gone when I return in twelve days.
So I gave thanks for the view today – for my home sweet home – for my life – for the seasons that bring different gifts.
Letting go of autumn is a bit more challenging for me as it’s my favorite season – but in letting go, we open to new possibilities and that is what I remember now….
And packing for Second Chance – the Vamper, has begun today and I posted some photos on Facebook!
I’m so honored to have been asked to provide an article for the monthly newsletter for SoulCollage®. As many of you know, I became a facilitator two years ago. It’s a process that by working with images and creating collages on five by eight cards that lead to self-discovery.
I was contacted by SoulCollage® to write an article on pet grief and how SoulCollage® can be of help. I believe the article will appear in the November issue. I’ll be sure to share a link once it is available.
But I wanted to share with you today the card I made to honor JOIE and encourage you to do the same for a pet you love and now may be gone. But it’s also a great way to pay tribute to an animal friend who is still here with you.
I have over fifty cards I’ve made so far and it’s always touching when shuffling the cards and choosing a card at random when one of my animal friends shows up for the day – reminding me of their presence in my life and what they taught me.
As is also encouraged in SoulCollage® after making a card, to journal with it from a prompt often used in SoulCollage® which is “I am one who.” To “step into the card,” so to speak, and listen for the wisdom the image has for you and capture that in writing.
I’m reminded today as I sent photos of my cards of Frankie and Joie, and my “I am one who” journal entries that our animal friends are always with us and that we can connect with them anytime we want – it’s just making the conscious choice to be in that sacred space of stillness and connection with them.
My JOIE journal entry:
I am one who could only stay a short time. My greatest gift to you was for me to leave my physical body so that you would come to see there are gifts in transition – whether they be in death or life changes. Doors close and new ones open – each a portal to understanding yourself on an even deeper level. The water paw print I sent you from the other side was my way of letting you know you are on the right path – the one of living in more conscious awareness – one of pausing often to listen to your inner voice and bring that wisdom forth to share with others.
Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.
I am one who sees through a more enlightened portal because of the teachings of a man I greatly admired, Mr. Wayne Dyer. I am one who now believes more in what I can’t see, that divine order is in place, that magic exists, and that kindness and love is what matters most. I am one who believes without a shadow of a doubt that Dr. Dyer’s spirit is larger than ever now, free without physical body, to guide those who are lost, and to remind those who loved him, that he is always near. All we have to do is remember and look into our hearts and he is there.
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Last November I became a SoulCollage® facilitator seeing the potential of healing, fun, and creativity that this process can provide others. It certainly has proven it to me with the cards I’ve made so far! My cards have become so sacred to me – like good friends – there for me when I need answers to life’s questions.
At the heart of SoulCollage® is the “I am one Who” where we act as if we are stepping into the card to hear it speak – to hear its wisdom.
Today I felt called to make a card to honor Dr. Wayne Dyer, who I wrote about and my tribute to him a few days ago.
In SoulCollage® we have what is called Community cards—cards that can be made to honor those we love, are mentors to us, parents, friends, and pets.
Recently I also made a card of my dog, Cassie Jo, who passed away over ten years ago. I was pleasantly surprised when my friend and animal communicator, Dawn, guided me through a meditation, that Cassie Jo showed up.
I didn’t expect it at all. It truly felt magical and my heart smiled big time being with her within that sacred space and then capturing with images what it looked like to me.
The more I understand that we really are all connected, the more my world opens in beautiful ways…and I love capturing this in the SoulCollage® I make.
And it’s why I’m so excited to be doing an online workshop with my friend, Dawn, to help others experience this, too. We are both looking forward to helping guide others in connecting with an animal friend that has passed over. If you’d like to join us, you can check out the details here.
