Letting go…and Being Home…

Relax My Dog -Puppy music -Music and sounds designed for dogs -improve separation anxiety, thunderstorm fears,stop crying dogs -http://www.relaxmydog.com

(Because this is in blog format, to read the full story please scroll right down to the bottom of the page and read “upwards”)

It’s Home for her now.
I know that.

“This is where I live now” She seems to say.

I should find that easy. But she used to live here -with me. The only world she ever wanted to be in.
I know she is safe, I can hardly begin to imagine what it’s like there, but it must be the best place ever…….

This is where people let go. They throw that tennis ball for a Ghost Dog one last time. They duck out, they cry their last tears, laugh their last laughs….then move on….

I wake many mornings with no sense of her, no presence, no slightest trace.
There is little option but to move on. Life is here, I am here. More days pass, it is almost a year since she left. Twelve Moons. Abandoned dog-sticks in our orchard are now broken, and tangled in two seasons of grass. I can no longer piece them together. Some I can no longer find.
But I still smile. From her, there is nothing but energy, happiness, contentment, love. Some call it Heaven….some the Rainbow Bridge. Others, the High Astral…..I have no names for it except “The Place where my Misty Lives Now.”

But every few days her presence returns, bringing a warm glow. And inside it, everything fits, nothing is out of place, or ever could be. And she seems to say:

“I don’t intend to forget you”
“Yeah yeah yeah”
“I still love you”
“Hmmmm….ok…..”
Now I’m laughing….she’s moving in on me again. If I didn’t know this was a dog, I’d think it had to be a Spirit Guardian, maybe even an Angel…. Love so strong, so enduring, so compassionate….
All is well.
(I know. I feel it.)

“Talk to me. I know you can talk. Tell me about what it’s like where you live. Dogs are supposed to be able to talk when they get to Heaven.”

(Just a wave of love) My heart is brimming with laughter and love now, playing in a meadow, and all is indeed well. Is that all I need to know? Maybe that’s all anyone needs to know?

“Tell me everything.”

(??)

(Telepathy doesn’t work most of the time. My telepathy is rubbish.)

“Got to go now. I’ll come back….”
“Come to see me if ever you want to…whenever you can. I’ll still be here…”

(No words….but another touch of love)

“In the meantime, go where you need to go, do what you need to do. I let go of you….Let go -see? Poof! Like a big balloon into the sky….”

I almost see her, in my mind’s eye, racing back for home, where golden light makes rainbows on dewdrops, where twilight is always shades of blue and pink, where stars are so huge, and flowers so scented, they take your breath away.

OK I know…… dash off then little one.

“Oh -” I say as she starts to run; “-Did I mention…?”
“What?”
“Thank you.”

Then in the same mind’s eye, I see her turn around, cast me a look over her shoulder and say:
” I’ll be back. Because that’s what I want to do.”

Go on then….Run now…

Seeya girl……

(Misty and I also have a website! http://www.dog2spirit.com
Visitors welcome! This is similar to our blog here but with some extra bits added on)

I made you feel my love

Eight Moons

 

(Gabriel’s Oboe and the Falls -Ennio Morricone)

It is now February 2013. It is eight months since Misty left. I can no longer say ‘died’.
She returns often. On average, every two weeks, but sometimes more frequently. Still herself, still with her own invisible pattern of character that I would recognize anywhere. But now it is as if the essence of her has distilled. What I always knew as her particular energy is now more focussed, more definite and strong, and always returns to me filled with affection.

How can I tell for sure this is true? Not a figment of my imagination? I send her my love, at times she appears to be ‘far away’. What I send out seems to go nowhere. I miss her of course. I miss the life we used to share. Between her visits there are times I am close to sadness. But I raise my feelings, send her my love, as I always promised I would, then I let go, and carry on with normal life.
A short time later -out of the blue- I sense her ‘answering call’. A warm and happy wave of her affection. Sometimes it stays, sometimes it flits away again. But I am struck by those moments. How could I feel sad? She senses me, senses my ray of love, knows I have not forgotten, and returns the short message, that, if it were spoken would sound something like: “I copy. I am still with you.”
Thus, we stay in touch. She comes back for a proper “visit” when she is good and ready. I am beginning to get used to that now.

I have no way of knowing if her “return” to me involves being literally beside me (in an etheric sense), or if her “visit” is more of an attunement of the frequencies necessary to get close to me -from where she now dwells.
I don’t know, and so far, have no way of knowing. It doesn’t matter. We -being Human- give so much of our energy to analysis , technical explanations. She relies on what feels right at the time, from her unfettered heartfelt state. Love is, so love attunes, draws near, recalls……Her love just is -and has no analytical concept of the dimensions it crosses to touch another Heart. In those moments, there is no separation.

I know this does her no harm. She chooses this. How can I tell? The sense of boundless strength and grace in her when I perceive her “presence”. My intuition (I know her so well), that these contacts bring her joy.
They bring me joy too. Who would ever have imagined that the death of my friend, my companion, my ‘little sister’, would have brought me that?

There have been no more successful out-of-body experiences, so far. I may be very wrong but am beginning to think the two that occurred were a Grace. Beyond my striving and willing. Given as a momentary gift. Just as I sensed they might be. For that I am filled with more gratitude than I can express. But I don’t close my mind to the possibility that they may happen again. I will see what the future brings.

Misty and I lived the happiest of ordinary lives. She lifted and healed certain things in me with her simple grace, and little light of love. Those things can never have the power to darken me again. Thanks to her, and her unconditional love.

What IS ‘unconditional love’?

Love that just is. Just because it is. Just because it cannot imagine being anything else. That is its very nature, and it lives in its very nature.

She now shines a beacon for me, showing me the way, and opening up things in my heart I had once rejected.
Blessings and thanks to you little Soul.

“I copy……I am still with you….”

__________________________________________

(I would like to mention another website which may be helpful for anyone who is mourning the loss of a beloved animal companion:)
http://do-animals-have-souls.info/

Incredible loyalty

   Looking for the next great idea  -Soundtrack: A Beautiful Mind

Misty is still visiting me. She came on Thursday, and also today (Sunday)
When she turns up it is definite, and unmistakable. She is a distinct Presence, though I cannot see her with my eyes, or hear her, I can clearly sense her nature and character, as close, and beside me as if she were physically there. I change. I am not just “me” any more. Very often, there are two of us.
I talk to her, find myself smiling, laughing.

But something has shifted.
When she lived, I could always feel her love and affection. There were times we shared heart-to-heart, in evening cuddles by the log fire, or our before-bedtime hug .
Now her love is bigger. It radiates, fills me up, shines on me. Although she still has her own character, now affection seems to be the center of her -even more than it was during our life together. Her visits have become blessings that lift up my own heart into sunshine.

When she “died” I did not expect a thing except loss. I was skeptical about the existence of the Human Soul after death, and was uncertain what might happen to dogs. I guessed if there really was a Heaven, then dogs had earned a place there. But that was all make-believe to a great extent. I did not know. Not for certain.
I knew the (living) Human Soul could travel outside the body. But even so, to me, it was no argument for the survival of death. And what happened to dogs….? A previous dog of mine had died, and afterwards I had dreamed of his contentment and joyful play in green fields. But I took little notice for they were surely “just dreams”. I never -not even once -sensed his presence……

But there was nothing like this.

The Universe is multi-dimensional. And if the Universe is, then so are we, and so is every created thing. For a long time, Mathematics has told us so. Mathematics provides the theory. Quantum mechanics opens a window on the strangeness of energy and matter, which shows us a Universe which by no means behaves according to a narrow “rational” view.
.
Our experiences, if we open our hearts and minds, and listen to them, show us there is indeed more in Heaven and Earth…. . I have known that as my own living fact now since July 6th 2012.

If Misty exists in another dimension, is content, radiates love, is completely energetic and healed, and quite fine….then they all are. All our beloved pets, whether we sense them with us, or not. And more than that; if the Soul of a dog crosses to this other place, then we all do.

A Grace? Or a skill?

(Tchaikovsky -The Seasons “June”. Sviatoslav Richter) 

It was hard to know how to handle that experience. Did it mean she was always present? In the house -just as usual but in another sense -another dimension? Or did it mean some worm-hole had been created by our bond and loyalty…that she was far away, yes, but could come in a flash through a way of timelessness, place-less-ness when love called her?

I had no idea. I decided to talk to her. As there was no-one (alive any more) to observe my strange ways, I also decided to save her a treat as usual, after dinner. Talking to her, occasionally -seemed the right thing to do under such circumstances. I was grateful for the absence of humankind, for they would have judged, most harshly, a multiple-bereaved older woman talking to thin air…..

All that next day she remained near me. We walked, I laughed, I threw sticks into the apple trees. When I spoke to her, I felt her connect with me. Her silent heartfelt answer. When I lay in bed at night, a little warm glow of dog’s affection reached my Soul.  Smiling, I closed my eyes.

The next morning she disappeared. As if she had never been.

“Did I do wrong? Should I have kept this a secret?”

For a week, I couldn’t grieve.

Day after day there was no contact with her, no sense of her presence. Another week went by -still nothing.  I wondered if that was it -she had said her goodbye and was finally gone. There had been no recurrence of the out of body experience. I was unsure what to do; to try to make it happen again, or to let go, accept that had been a rare Grace, and leave it alone….

I began to sense brief “flashes” of her, lasting for only a split second, caught in the Soul’s peripheral vision. But when I recognized them, they flitted away like will o’ the wisps.

I confided in a friend. He gazed at me, fell silent, then said;

“Don’t go out looking for her.”

Why not…?

I didn’t even have to ask the question.

“Just don’t, that’s all. Let her come to you when she’s ready. Be patient.”

Don’t go out looking for her.

Maybe he’s right. Sometimes we are given a rare Grace. We capture the moment, hold a drop of Heaven in our hands for an instant. To be thankful is all we need to do.

But another morning came when I woke before dawn. For a while I lay still, wondering should I try to reach her again?

Then, decided, I got up. I would try. As the sun rose, I went back to lie still, letting my body relax until I had no more sense of it. Again the buzzing, humming sounds began. A thought ran through my mind:

She seems well, happy, free, under no duress. Can this harm her? Ought I to let her go completely? Just let her fly away to the Spirit-place far from here, far from me…..

My legs floated, arms floated. I remembered the reality-check to emphasize full consciousness. Then I saw the room, lit with morning threads of sun, heard noises beyond my door, saw glimpses of her moving out there. Through an inch-wide crack where the open door met the door-frame, I could see her, minding her own business, licking belly, licking feet, gently scratching her ears with a hind-foot. Her other foot tapped the floor occasionally in this morning ritual of a dog preparing for the day, waiting for my lie-in to end. Her body moved slightly, in and out of sight…..

“Misty!”

But no sound came from my voice. I fought against it, but was mute. There was nothing I could do. My ethereal form returned so soon, there was not even chance to move towards her.

That night she returned, her little Soul glowing with a light of love. We sat together by the fire.

By morning she had said farewell again.

I am certain she will be back…..

The most amazing thing

    (Crossing the stone, Tros y Garreg, Catrin Finch/Carl Jenkins)

I’d received convincing contacts from her, so knew she still existed. I hadn’t felt just love, I had felt her love, and her character.

But the days went by with silence again, and no more contact. Every day I sent her my love, sent it out there to her like a radio signal. But I heard no reply. I wondered if she might have been close at one stage, maybe for a few weeks after her “death”, and then moved on “into the light”…. a finer, deeper level...or wherever they are supposed to go….. I really did not know.

Over two months had gone by since she left.

On Saturday the 11th August I woke too early. It was a grey morning with no promise in it. I got up, had coffee, read a little, then at 8am, although not sleepy, I decided to lie down for a rest. The grey morning broke, and sunlight filtered through my curtains. I closed my eyes and relaxed.

Suddenly a buzzing sound began somewhere within me, and a humming, twanging, like tiny elastic bands snapping. I knew what this was; it had happened before, though not for many years. I was about to have an out of body experience. At this point, I had a choice -to go out, or to come back. Even though the strange sounds were disconcerting, I decided to go with it. My legs gently floated upwards, leaving the physical body behind. Then my arms. I tried to see,  could see nothing, but could feel myself slowly rise up.

Hold on to your conscious awareness…don’t lose this now….you need consciousness, clarity….do a reality check…

What’s my name?…..Sylvia. What day is it?…Saturday. Eleventh of August. It’s morning, around eight, maybe eight thirty. I lay down for a rest…..

Try to find Misty….

I hesitated. She won’t be there, she’ll have gone -moved on. How will I feel when she’s not there?

Just try it. You have to.

I whisper “Misty…?”   Nothing. I knew she wouldn’t be there. I know I don’t have long. At any moment I could lose consciousness, then it would be over.

Call that an effort? Try again. Right. Here goes….

I call her, but in a different way, in a bright and happy way like I always used to when I had a treat, or we were going in the car.

“Mii-iist!” and I whistle for her.

There is a small noise, a bumping, stumbling sound. Then another little bump as she jumps up against my bed. My hands, out of body, reach out and touch her head, her neck, her ears!

I wish I could see!

But my hands are enough. I feel the texture of the inside of her ears, feel them bent back by my fingers, feel her warmth -alive and warm! Feel  the short fur on her head, the thicker fur of her neck…..

…My girl!….my good beautiful girl….you still live! Warm, alive, happy, still yourself!

This is it -I’m leaving, I can’t hold on any more. I’m sinking back gently.

“Shake….when I’m gone…shake so you’ll straighten your ears out….”

There never were, and there may never be again -three minutes as precious as those. Those three minutes I shall carry with me until I die. They wiped out all sorrow and sadness from many years. They wiped out all things which had ever come to me without love. They dried my tears.

They gave me my hard evidence.

Soul of a dog

 She liked this music (American Beauty Soundtrack)

For those who read   Misty’s Blog -you will know that on June 5th 2012 she succumbed to Hemangiosarcoma. This fit, happy, almost supernormally-strong dog, who defied all signs of aging (she was nearly 15) -lay down on her bed on the night of the 4th June, and couldn’t get up. I watched her all through that night, waiting -as advised- for her internal bleeding to stop. It might have done. It had stopped before, and recovering her strength, she had got on with life. She had a great will to live. She was an outdoor dog, never happier than when ranging for miles through fields and woods, and as her years advanced, she showed no signs of slowing-down.

I always thought there was something unusual about this. Most 14-year-old dogs do not have the exercise capacity, strength or agility of a four year old. But Misty had. In  March I observed as she approached a three foot high wire fence, saw no way under or through it, and launched herself into the most beautiful, graceful leap, clearing the top of it with ease, and landing gently in the grass, to spin round and ask for the frisbee to be thrown.

Seeing how she lived like that every day, how she had basic good health, with no chronic conditions, and also how she surmounted any odds (two lots of successful breast surgery in the Spring of 2012) I was convinced she had many years still in her, and hoped she would die an “old lady”, in her bed aged perhaps eighteen. It was feasible.

I had never known a dog like her; a good girl, obedient, sociable, loving, loyal and sweet-natured, with an elegance and grace of character of such an exquisite kind I had never met before in a dog.

She was my dog. I have no children, but even so, I never felt that she was my “baby”. She was never treated as a baby, but as a dog. But a strange dog. There was  no species-barrier,  she was sister to me, companion, equal, the one I loved. In life it was just the two of us, as friends and most of my family had died.

Yes I was her protector, but equally, she was mine. Thanks to her companionship she restored me to the place I belonged.

However, on that last night, I was the one in charge. At 6am, with no improvement, instead, a sudden worsening of symptoms, and with a dreadful prognosis for her blood cancer, I made the terrible decision protectors often have to make. To have her euthanized.

She passed away quickly and peacefully. The whole procedure took only five seconds. I heard her last breath being taken as I held her gently, whispering to her to go to sleep, that it was alright now. After that last breath an awful silence started. A silence like no other.

Her body went to the earth, for she had always loved the earth, her feet had always smelled of it. I planted flowers above her, and a little solar light to shine out in the darkness.

And my grieving began. I had never known a devastation like it.