I was fortunate to work with a very special little dog two times this year.  He was lost in May 2011 when he escaped from the kennel where he was boarded.  There are a lot of lessons I learned from this little dog that I will take with me to the next lost dog case and for that I sincerely thank Gizmo for allowing me to be part of his final journey.  Each animal I work with truly leaves a paw print on my heart.

Gizmo had such a 'connection of the heart' with his human companion.  I had originally worked with his owner back in October 2011 and even though various images of possible locations were shown to me there was still no success in finding him.  In February 2012, I felt guided to work with him again.  It felt that he really wanted the owner to try once again.  So we conducted another Lost Dog Session and again I was shown images of his journey.  Looking back there were signs that he had passed but yet he still felt so 'alive' to me.  Perhaps that is what he wanted to convey to the owner that he had lived quite a journey those few months before he passed.

Little Gizmo passed before he could return home but I feel he never really left his owner.  He wanted to make sure she knew how much he loved her and that she had closure so that they both could be free.

Our animal companions touch our lives while they are here with us physically but their heart connection transcends any physical limitations that death may place on them.  What I hope the owner will take from this is that Gizmo truly loved her with all his heart while he was in physical body and even when he transitioned into spirit.  I believe he wanted her to know he had quite a journey and perhaps it was a journey he was meant to take.  These amazing souls come into our lives and it is not up to us to decide how long they stay but to embrace the love that we were given as a gift even if it was for only a short time.

I was listening to music on Pandora Radio (to give it a free plug) and a song came up called "So Flows the Current" by Patrick O'Hearn (another free plug) and the title just really captured my attention.  As I sit here thinking of some challenges that have come to the surface today (actually they have been there for awhile) I realized that there are different points in our life where we can either continue to resist the current or we can decide to go with it.

It makes me really think about the fact that often the current we are resisting is the one that will take us to a better place; a place where we will have a more fulfilling life.  Sometimes the resistance to the current is what is holding us back from achieving an amazing life.  Sometimes what we are fighting against is what will lead us to the opportunities we want and the people we need in our lives.  So is giving in to the current, giving up?  I don't believe it is, instead I see it as allowing ourselves to be on the path we are meant to travel at this time.  As scary or lonely it may seem at times, it is the one we are guided to and I believe along the way we will find the peace, happiness and love we are meant to experience.  It is up to us to allow it, to flow with the current instead of against it. 

So I'm going to let go and go with the current, it's time I see what is down the path for me, and it is time I begin enjoying the journey......

This topic has hit me close to home far too many times I am afraid.  I just recently said goodbye to a dear animal companion Alfredo.  We adopted him from the Berks County Animal Rescue League in the Fall of 2010.  At the time he only was given 3 to 6 months to live.  However, that prognosis never fit for me.  So I gave him Reiki, love and good food and we took each day enjoying life for another 10 months. 

Losing Alfredo was different than how I lost my last 4 pets.  He died suddenly on the way to the vet.  So not only was I faced with the suddenness of it but also the guilt ifI could have done more to save him.  I had not even gotten the chance to give him Reiki as he passed which made me deeply sad.  But what I realized was that given his health condition he passed at the time he was supposed to and nothing would have prevented that.  This I have learned with my study of Animal Communication as well as through the guidance of my teachers as well.  But that is for another blog... (smile)

Reiki, however, helped in many other ways.  Since I was so deeply sad I asked for others to send distance Reiki to him and to me which they graciously did.  I knew that the gentle, non-invasive energy of Reiki would help bring not only Alfredo comfort as he transitioned but it would help bring me peace as well.  As I was ready and more grounded I offered him Reiki and felt a new connection with him.  It was a connection that I had been able to help clients with when they lost their pets, however, this time it was with my own.  Losing him so suddenly just sort of knocked my feet out from underneath of me but the loving Reiki energy helped me get back up and continue with my practice with 4 Paw Reiki.  I feel a level of peace when I can offer Reiki to a pet that has passed.  It provides a connection for me that allows me to know deep down that they are in a more peaceful place.  This "knowing" has strengthened for me with each level of Reiki that I have been attuned.  I know the loss of each pet allows me to be a better practitioner, a better person and a better companion to the next animal I rescue. 

If you have recently lost a pet or are facing the death of an animal companion please Contact Me to find out how Reiki can help with the process.