I have always been of the mind that whatever happens, it was for a reason. We may not know what that reason is for a while, and at times we think that nothing good can come of a particular event, or occurrence. Sometimes the things that happen seem minor, or not really important. How is this Beardie related? Let me share a few things that I discovered recently….  

As you may know our first Beardie was Cher, a lovely slate girl that we received as a gift when she was 6 months old. Her breeders were good friends, and it was a lovely surprise. What I didn’t know was that Cher was originally supposed to go to the breeder of THEIR first Beardie. Her circumstances changed and she wasn’t able to have another dog at the time, so Cher came to live with us. A nice surprise but not life changing…or was it? 

It was through Cher and her illness that I started researching natural treatments and alternative health care for animals and myself. I am now a Reiki Master, Animal Communicator, Medical Intuitive… well you get the idea [g] . Cher frequently pops in when I do sessions, and likes to help when we are tracking lost animals, and especially is helpful when I help an animal cross over. Even though she has passed, she continues to be by my side and takes full credit for my work (she really does!) Would I be where I am now, had she not come into our lives? I don’t know.  

A few years ago I started thinking that perhaps it might be time for another show puppy. We had been out of the ring for a couple years, and missed the showing with friends, and of course all the grooming and entry fees . I contacted our friends, as they had a Beardie granddaughter of ours and asked about a possible future litter. They had a litter a few months before that. I liked the results from that one, and wanted to possibly place an order for the next one. (I had a year to think about it, I figured.) Well, they said, we happen to have a couple still here from the first litter. (They were great pups and  the breeders wanted the right homes.) After talking about the different temperaments in both households, what we felt would fit in best, etc, they said…WE HAVE A BOY FOR YOU! I said, but I wasn’t thinking of getting one now….how about in a year? Well all I had to hear was that he was like his Dad and I was sold! At the age of 7 months, Traveler came to live with us and we all know life has never been the same since [lol]. Our lives continue to change and grow, and he only adds to it.

Both of these dogs have had major impact on our lives…who knows if we would even have any Beardies if not for Cher? Everything we have comes from her, and it will continue to be so, as we await the next generation to grace our lives. We have gone far with Traveler, not only in miles , but also with a new Bearded Collie Club, seeing sheep, doing obedience and rally — things I never did before! Through them we have added some wonderful people into our lives, a few that pass through and others that are there for us, day to day, when we need them.
 
I guess it made me stop — that tiny moment that changed everything and led a loving soul into OUR lives and not someone else’s…… you never know.

Enjoy the moment.

Val

Sometimes I hate being right. I just heard from a recent client, a nice lady with a Golden who is very sweet. She was referred to me because her Golden wasn’t eating , seemed to have problems getting up and down, and just plain didn’t seem well. After $1300.00 in tests , her vet couldn’t find anything wrong.

While we were on the phone I felt some energy blockage in the kidney/liver area. She said they had checked everything. We discussed what to do and made the appointment. I had a lovely chat with the Golden and spent about an hour with her, doing a couple different types if energy work. I felt that she was very sluggish, achy, tired, and was having problems processing anything with toxins, chemicals, etc. During our session the words “Bone Cancer” appeared. Now this could mean anything, and I just report what I get. (for instance it could mean she was close to someone with this)

Anyway, I just heard from the Golden’s Mom, and she does indeed have cancer. She ended up taking her to Boston to a specialist, and there they found a large mass on her kidney pushing on her spine(bone) . Right now she is on meds, and we will do whatever we can to help her.

My first thought was — sometimes I hate being right. But then I had to pause. This is who I am, what I do, regardless of outcome(and I will be there with her till she crosses, which is a beautiful thing) or whether people doubt me, or I get strange looks [g], or whatever. All of it is beautiful . All of it is Life. We Love, we Learn, we move on, hopefully wiser, and with the knowledge that we are all here for a reason. Our animals are here for a reason. It is no coincidence that our lives mingle and mesh and in doing so we share what we have learned, consciously or unconsciously.

I made sure to tell the Golden’s Mom to thank her, to let her know she appreciated all she was going through. It helps, to know you are appreciated for your giving. The next time things go wrong, take a moment and thank the person responsible. This person has helped you grow and learn in a way that you might not have been able to. Now I know that it isn’t easy, and you may not do it right away, but when you have time to step back from the situation, look at things from a different angle. Take the “you” out of things and approach it as just 2 people(or 3 or whatever) and see if things look different to you.

Cher, our first Beardie had cancer. They gave her a few weeks. Eight months later, we had to let her go. She stayed that long for me. It wasn’t until the past few years that I could look at what happened, see where it has lead me, and realize that she set in motion the whole chain of events that brings me to where I am now. So yes I do thank her, every chance I get. She went through a lot, I went through a lot, as did the rest of my family, but she did it FOR us, not to us.

So maybe I don’t hate being right…….I feel sad for some that they must go through these things, but I am empathetic anyway [g] . When I look at it differently (for it isn’t my journey but theirs) I thank all of them, human or animal. We touch and are touched on our own journeys; what we do affects others. Go out on your journeys my friends, thank those that touch your lives , and leave Love wherever you go…. Forgive my rambling on this glorious day. Val

I had my radio interview a few minutes ago. The guy was very nice and said he wanted to make sure he didn’t come off as making light of the whole thing. He asked some good questions, I hope I gave good answers.

We did the whole thing on tape. He will now take the sound-bites and make 3 news stories out of them. I got the club’s name and web site in too. He was interested in coming to the workshop himself, but couldn’t this time. I will let him know if we do it again! He has a rough collie, I said we won’t hold that against him.

Val

Some of you were asking about the article they did on me for our
local weekly paper…. go to www.scarboroughleader.com and it is the interview of the week.

Remember they took some liberties with the facts

As a side note to this, I got an email this morning from a local
radio personality who wants to do a phone interview with me, then use
sound-bites to create 3 news stories for the weekend!

Val

I have been working all week with a client who is getting ready to
move on. She has been having regular Reiki and communication sessions
for about 2 years. Millie is an elder, and we thought she may decide
to leave last winter, but she hung in there. (she loves her Reiki)
But the last few sessions I did , I could feel her leaving. She was
“not there” part of the time, but still content to be in this world.
Her body is finally letting all of us know it is time.

Millie is fine. She contacted me 2 weeks ago , and I told her to let
her Mom know her wishes. (we have been talking about this for
months-her Mom and I ) Sure enough, the next week her Mom let me know
that they would let Millie go on the 9th. She , of course, was
concerned about Millie, was she ok with leaving, etc.
Millie assures her that she is fine with leaving, and is grateful for
the journey they have been on (Millie was rescued from the streets of
NYC- they think she is mostly Elkhound) I have been able to relay
messages, let her Mom know what Millie wants, and give them both peace of mind.
I will be able to surround Millie with Light and healing as she
leaves, making her journey pleasant and easy.

It may sound strange, but this is my favorite part of what I do.
Perhaps having been through it so many times myself, and needing the
same information , has made me more sensitive to the issue. Whatever
the reason, I love it.
Grieving is a natural process, and must be done. But the knowledge
that we have done all that we could, that our loved one understands
and is , in some cases, looking forward to the next part of the
journey, can help to ease, and give comfort.
Millie led a wonderful , long life…”Salute” !

Blessings,

Val