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.
My neighbors pretty egg tree with tufts of snow tucked among the branches
The calendar says April 4th. But looking outside it says January. Eggs and snow – oh no! As positive as I try to be, I’ll be honest… I was grumbling this morning when I woke to see this big drift outside my bedroom patio door.
This magical door that takes me to my sanctuary – my cozy writing cottage. I’d first have to tackle this heap of snow. I wasn’t too happy.
The snow didn’t really start falling until mid-afternoon yesterday and I’d thought perhaps we escaped what they were predicting. But overnight the majority of it came along with the wind. Even the little birdhouses on my writing cottage reflect a whopper of a snowstorm. This morning on the news the weather gal reported that our little village of 950, Elkhart Lake, now holds the record for the most snow on this date.
I bundled up, though was still grumbling and hoping my dear, sweet hubby would come to the rescue and shovel a path to my writing cottage. But alas, he had enough to contend with the front of the house. So silently I said to myself, Buck up, Buttercup!
As I dug into the drift of snow, I reflected on how I’d enjoyed watching the birds around dinner time last night. I’d sat in my yellow spindle antique chair, and snapped a few photos, smiling with delight that this simple pleasure brought me.
Don’t you just love the little footprints in the snow?Mrs. (or Mr!) Morning Dove puffed up to stay warmI love the heart with this little Junco
Before I knew it, the task at hand was done. All that grumbling I did took longer than it did to shovel. As I write this an image of my grandma P. popped into my mind. When I was little I remember when I’d do something naughty (who me?) how she’d wag her index finger back and forth in front of my round face and say, ” That’ll do. That’ll do.” Which really meant, NOT to do.
The shoveling made it all the sweeter to step inside my quaint, warm writing cottage. Pulling up a chair to do my journaling with my oracle cards, I felt myself melt into this space that means so much to me.
View once inside my writing cottage
I appreciate and find it fascinating more and more everyday seeing the world in all it’s symbolism, and the message and reflection I was about to receive was in alignment of what I needed most in the moment.
I’m working with a new deck called, Mystical Shaman Oracleby Alberto Villoldo, Colette Baron-Reid, and Marcela Lobos. I just have to tell you…I absolutely love this deck! Beside the fact the images are gorgeous, I’ve been attracted for many years now to the indigenous teachings. Plus my love of all things mystical combined with these teachings, this is fast becoming my new favorite deck.
As I do each morning, I ask a question about something I’m feeling challenged by, or if I don’t really have anything that seems too pressing, I just ask a general question. Today I asked: What is in my highest good on this snowy and windy April day?
The first card I pulled was my anchor card or can also be called the theme for the reading. The second card I asked what it is that needs to be my focus for the day. Sometimes when I pick the first card I know right away the meaning for me. But if not, as was the case was today, I pulled the second card right away to help me see more clearly the message, as one card helps inform the other.
Earth and The Blade from Mystical Shaman Oracle
Both cards I pulled upside down, which in this case means for this particular deck, that it is the medicine of the card which “tells you the aspect or area of your life or relationships that you need to bring into balance or repair.”
I’ll share the booklets meaning below for each card, but first share its meaning as how I saw it for myself.
My Interpretation
Inwardly, I’d been grumbling to myself that this snow and having to shovel, which shouldn’t even be here in the first place because it is April (for crying out loud!), was throwing off my morning routine, which I cherish dearly. In other words, yup, I don’t like change too much (but then who does?). And because I only wanted to do what I enjoy, like my yoga, my journaling, and then my writing and blogging for the day, etc. this seemed like a huge inconvenience. I was making so much more out of it than needed to be!
But as I mentioned, as I shoveled, I reflected on the beauty of the snow from last night. How I felt joy in watching the birds flitting about and making delicate patterns in the fresh snow, and taking photos, which I enjoy too. Not to mention that I have a warm, cozy home to keep me from the elements.
The Earth…or Mother Nature….no matter what is happening outside my window…it’s all a gift. A chance to see the beauty in all of it.
My focus for the day then is to remember that I always have a choice in my attitude. The Blade card showed me that we can either inflict pain (struggle) on ourselves with negative thoughts, or we can use the blade to empower ourselves. I pictured that blade on the end of my shovel, helping me to move the snow as a powerful tool, that brought me to this physical space of my writing cottage. But more importantly as a way of cutting away the negativity so I could enjoy the day as it is.
Booklet Meaning
THE EARTH card
The Essence: “Earth represents the gift of life. The symbol on this card refers to the body of the planet Earth, the human body, and Nature herself. We’re reminded by this symbol that all creatures are born of the Earth and human beings are the stewards of all life on this planet. It refers to what we make of it: our health, wealth, security, grounding, solidity, and stability. It reminds us that the world of form is a gift from Spirit and needs to be treated with respect.”
The Medicine: “Do you feel ungrounded or easily thrown of your path lately? It is time to focus on what nurtures you, to open yourself to the healing of Mother Earth and see the abundant world around you. Perhaps you have lost the ability to trust that your needs will be met and have fallen prey to poverty consciousness. Perhaps you have not been eating well, been overworked or stressed, and forgotten to breathe in the beauty of your surroundings. When the spirit of Earth comes as your medicine, you’re being reminded that when you practice self-care, take a walk in nature, and focus on consciousness of abundance, miracles can and do happen.”
THE BLADE card
The Essence: “The blade represents sharpness of the mind, body and spirit. Pointing upward, it summons the power of heaven. When aimed down to the ground, it anchors the power of heavens on Earth. The blade can be a healing tool or a weapon. Wield it wisely, and it will transmit power, bestow initiations, cut energetic cords from the past, or sever toxic relationships. Use it with anger, and it will slash, stab, and kill.”
The Medicine: “It’s time to put down the sword and place in back in its scabbard. Do not offer your blade in service to toxic emotions! You will be faced with an even more disagreeable future wit the people or situations you are attempting to banish. Put the blade to rest until your inner fire has mellowed. Then use your blade with impeccable intention to cut the energetic cords that are tying you to the drama at hand. Set yourself free!”
Note: There is also an Invitation message with this deck, but since I pulled both cards in reverse, I just shared the medicine message of each. You can always check out getting this deck if you want to know more or try it out here.
So there you have it. Eggs and snow – oh well – it is what it is and I’ve changed my attitude…and if all else fails I hear the echoes of what my dear mama always says…”this too shall pass.” 🙂
Happy Wednesday to you!
XO,
Barbara
Just a note: I’m not an affiliate of the oracle cards I mention. I just share products I enjoy and find valuable.
It’s been an interesting summer so far. I’ve been taking part in a 22-week online course called The Magic of You with transformational coach, Jocelyn Mercado which began mid-June.
In part, because I want to expand my reach and offer more of the SoulCollage workshops I facilitate, online. I’m also taking the course because I want to offer oracle card readings, incorporating the wisdom of animals, as a way to help guide others through life’s bigger questions.
The hardest part for me, and what the course helped me greatly with, was deciding whether or not to let go of the name of my website, Joyful Paws.
As many of you know who have followed me since 2007, I’ve been gradually expanding from my work with my wheelchair dog, Frankie. And while I don’t believe I’m done writing books and there will be at least one more book I’ll write, I’ve decided to set writing in that capacity to the side for now.
When I sat with my feelings about letting go of Joyful Paws, I just couldn’t do it and honestly, I didn’t want to. But I was so torn because I really want to expand my reach and help more women live fulfilling and meaningful lives. Could I do that with the same domain name? While I’ve talked about this before on my blog, the course has really helped me to finally see that it is a part of me and always will be. That made my heart sing!
Joyful Paws, which began as an outlet to share my writing, which expanded to my books and my advocacy for dogs in wheelchairs, then expanded into my wanting to teach workshops. And for many years, I’ve also dreamed about offering oracle readings to others because of my love for them as a tool I use in my own life that has helped me greatly.
Joyful Paws….at the heart of the name is how my dogs taught me to appreciate so much about life…the simple things…that we only have this moment…that it’s our birthright to experience joy. All pauseful moments of reflection that I came to see as vital to living a meaningful life. In a world that glorifies hurry and material things, my dogs have, and continue to help me see what is truly important.
All those teachings expanded to really tuning into, and appreciating the healing energies of nature, observing other animals in the world, and exploring all the many parts of myself to step into the authenticity of who I am.
Joyful Paws is so much a part of who I am…which Jocelyn helped me to fully embrace and know that I didn’t need to let go. I realized I was resisting letting go of Joyful Paws in part because I didn’t want to buy into how things “should” be done in the world of how marketing can instruct us to do. And more than anything I wanted to trust my intuition.
And so it is…Joyful Paws will stay!
Which leads me to the other part of the story to this post today…
Last week, John and I took the plunge and bought a 2018 Chevrolet Exquinox. Well, we actually leased after weighing out all the options. Our GMC Envoy is seventeen years old and she treated us well. But it was time.
In preparing to sell the Envoy, I cleaned it out yesterday. I also knew I had to remove the website decals and the “in memory of” Frankie and Joie decals off the back which I saved until last. It was bittersweet.
The Envoy, for over five years, had become what I had dubbed as “The Frankie Mobile” when Frankie and I traveled to schools and libraries in Wisconsin sharing the message to “Always be positive, make a difference and keep on rolling!” We were also so fortunate to have a few local TV interviews, too.
As many of you also know, on June 21st, the five year of Frankie’s passing, I scattered her ashes around my writing cottage. I will do the same for Joie’s ashes on August 22nd – the day she passed four years ago.
Two things I’ve really come to understand: grief is something one always carries with them and it becomes a part of who you are. And there are moments when you are called to take another healing step in that journey. This is how it has been with expanding Joyful Paws from what it was, to what it now is, and what it will be as I continue to move forward.
And so it was with removing the decals off the back of my car. While the decals are gone, the memories of my dear wheelie dogs are not. They will always be a part of me – without them I wouldn’t be who I am today.
Just like Joyful Paws – it lights me up – it is so much of who I am – and always will be.
I took a photo before I removed the decals:
I removed most everything except for this:
It was my way of having a silent moment and quietly saying thank you once again to my wheelie dogs for all the joy they brought to my life before I finished peeling the rest away – a joy they gave me that remains – and always will.
In sharing the photos on Facebook, two ladies offered to make me new decals which I thought was very kind and sweet. Though I won’t be replacing them.
Another said it is “an end of an era.” While in one way, yes it is, I really view it as an expansion of an era. Because in my heart I believe I am carrying on the teachings of what my wheelie dogs taught me.
And I couldn’t help but think as this all unfolded that the Envoy is seventeen years old and Frankie would have been seventeen on August 20th. And for the time I had her I had it stuck in my head that I wanted her to live to be seventeen. In an animal communication reading with her that my friend Dawn did the day before I helped Frankie cross over, Frankie shared with us that she felt seventeen.
Perhaps…just perhaps, this was confirmation from Frankie that buying this new car and letting go of the old was the right time.
And why Joyful Paws as my website will stay the same. And I finally feel very good about this decision.
And to add to the magic of the number seventeen I shared this with my friend Dawn recently who said that seven and one when added is eight, which turned on it’s side is the infinity sign.
Infinity…which symbolizes eternity, empowerment, and everlasting love.
Now that gave me goosebumps!
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