One thing I learned in 2020 is to be patient, flexible, and above all, trust my intuition.

Of the many challenges I faced last year, the worst one was suddenly losing my dog, Bodhi Bear, to stomach cancer in early December 2020. Saying goodbye to my best friend and constant companion’s physical presence shattered my heart into a million pieces. 

Being a great friend and dog, Bodhi Bear made sure I got through my move from California to Connecticut before showing signs of his grave illness. For so many reasons, I’ll forever be grateful to Bodhi for all that he gave me in his short seven and a half years with me. 

Bodhi Bear and me

I decided years ago that I never wanted to walk alone and needed a Keeshond by my side to feel whole. So when I let Bodhi go because he was too ill to eat, I knew in my heart that I would have to find another dog. 

Right after Bodhi transitioned, I immediately began searching for my Keeshond puppy and quickly located one. However, in hindsight, I realized that I was not emotionally ready to raise a puppy. 

At the same time, I asked my two twenty-year-old cats, Mona and Elvis, how they felt about a puppy. Elvis said he was on board with raising a puppy as long as the puppy didn’t chase him. Elvis has always liked dogs and was good friends with Kobe Bear and Bodhi Bear. 

On the other hand, Mona has never been a fan of dogs. Mona tolerated Bodhi, but he would literally piss her off at times as he made Mona feel unsafe. Finally, Mona made it clear that she’s perfectly content living without a dog, especially a puppy.

After Bodhi passed, I noticed a considerable change in my cats. Mona, who is deaf, was consistently using her cat box and confidently galloping around the house in a way I hadn’t seen in years. Elvis was also feeling more at ease. Both cats were more playful and relaxed. Plus, the three of us had plenty of bonding time without Bodhi.

As we waited for the puppy to arrive, my fuzzy nephew, Fozzie Bear, came for a visit. Fozzie’s presence stressed and upset Mona more than I realized. She communicated physically in her body language and telepathically that she was not happy with Fozzie’s presence. After Fozzie chased Elvis, Mona reiterated her intense dislike by peeing in my bed.

Mona’s peeing was a wake-up call. I realized I needed to listen to her with an open heart and let go of my desire to get a puppy for the time being. When I truly heard and understood my cats’ concerns, I realized it was not the right time to bring a puppy into our family.

While it was hard letting the puppy go, I was okay with waiting for Mona and Elvis’s sake. It’s the least I can do since she and Elvis have been my loyal family members and cherished companions for 20 years. And the last thing I want to do is piss Mona off again! 

My fuzzy nephew, Fozzie Bear

During the cold, blustery, snowy months of my first New England winter in 30 years, I was grateful I didn’t have to housebreak a puppy. Instead, I’m glad I listened to Mona and Elvis, who were right to make me wait.

Around March 1st, I intuitively got the message that it was time to start looking for my puppy again. Synchronistically, I also felt Mona and Elvis were in a good place to receive a dog into our family. 

At about the same time, I told my sister that I felt my puppy had been born, and I would start looking for him. I did find a boy Keeshond, but I didn’t feel a heart connection with him.

As I continued to look, I kept reminding myself that I needed to trust my intuition to find my perfect bundle of puff.

As I searched, I reached out to my dear friend, Donna, a Keeshonden breeder. She introduced me to the Keeshond breed almost thirty years ago. I rescued my first two, Keeshonden, KC, and Kobe Bear, from Donna. It’s because of Donna, that I fell in love with this special dog breed.

So naturally, I reached out to Donna when I received the inner “call” to start looking for my new fuzzy friend. 

Shortly after I contacted Donna, she sent me an email saying that a 3-year-old male Keeshond show dog, Corey, was looking for a home. She urged me to reach out to his breeder to find out more. I had to sit with the idea of bringing an unsocialized, unneutered, untrained show dog into my family for a while before I called the breeder. 

I decided to take the same advice I give my clients, which is, “you never know.” Sometimes you have to go left to get it right. So I called the breeder, even though I knew in my heart that the dog wouldn’t be a good fit for my family.

About 20 minutes into the conversation, the breeder let me know that she recently had a litter of puppies.

I immediately said, “What I really want is a boy puppy. I have many plans for my new friend as he has big paws to fill.”

The breeder listened but didn’t discuss the puppies any further since the call was about Corey.  After our conversation, I knew Corey was not my dog.

Afterward, I couldn’t help but wonder about the litter of puppies.

So I reached out to Donna and asked her if she knew about the litter of puppies. Donna said yes. Unbeknownst to me, Donna proceeded to tell the breeder, whom she knew well, that I would make a wonderful Keesie mom and she would be lucky to give me a puppy.

Yogi Bear at 3 weeks

Later that day, I received a message from Donna saying, “Well, what did you decide?”

I responded, “Decide what?”

Donna replied, “Check your email.”

In my inbox was an email from the breeder offering me a boy puppy from the litter! I couldn’t have asked for more! Serendipitously, the breeder has three cats who helped raise the puppies.

At the time, the puppies were only 3 weeks old. When the breeder sent me pictures of the three boys, I took one look at the puppy wearing the yellow collar, and I knew he was the puppy I had been searching for.

Over the next few weeks, I watched “Yellow” grow up virtually through Facebook posts, photos, videos, and even a few Zoom sessions. The more time I spent with him, the more I knew he’s my puppy. “Yellow” is good-natured, sweet, and very smart. 

Mona preparing for the puppy’s arrival

I flew to Detroit to pick up Yogi Bear on May 4th. Yogi Bear was a rock star on the flight home.

So far, the cats are peacefully co-existing with Yogi Bear. Yogi is everything I could ever want in a puppy and more. 

My heart is full of joy having Yogi Bear in my life. And so far, Mona and Elvis are peacefully co-existing with Yogi Bear. In time, I know they will embrace him.

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One of my life’s purposes is to help animals in whatever way I can, whether it’s empowering them using animal communication, sharing Reiki, or meditating with them. I also gain tremendous joy raising money for different animal rescue and welfare organizations since they usually run entirely on donations. These life-saving organizations need ongoing financial support to feed, house, rehabilitate, give medical care and re-home animals in need.

Service work is an integral part of who I am, and that’s why I’m offering a couple of different fundraisers this month to help animals that I hope you will support. 

On April 19th, I’m offering Meditating with Horses Fundraiser. This webinar will benefit Rising Starr Horse Rescue in Wilton, Connecticut, which saves, rehabilitates, retrains, and re-homes abandoned, neglected, or abused horses.

On April, 30. I’m excited to team up with the Shelter Animal Reiki Association’s Director, Kelly McDermott-Burns, for Meditating with Farm Animals. This webinar will benefit the animals at The Little Red Barn Farm Sanctuary in Turnbridge, Vermont. 

We will create a powerful meditation circle during each fundraiser to offer peace and compassion to horses and farm animals. You experience a heart-opening meditation using the Reiki-based Let Animals Lead® Method that you can share with the animals in your life.

During each webinar, you will learn how meditating with horses and farm animals can

• Calm your mind and body
• Enhance your heart connection with animals
• Strengthen your relationship with animals 
• Create a peaceful and compassionate space
• Heal and transform the lives of animals and you!

I believe it’s essential to give our loving and positive energy to the circle of life. I feel honored to share the potent tool of meditating with different types of animals with you. And I’m excited for the animals to receive the healing benefits of having you meditate with them.

You don’t need to own a horse or farm animals to enjoy meditating with them during these special fundraisers. Just bring your desire to have an open-hearted connection and willingness to connect with these amazing animals for healing and transformation.

I hope you will join us and invite your friends to support horses and farm animals. When we meditate collectively with animals, it can shift humans’ hearts and minds compassionately.

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Meditation with Animals, Animal Communication, and Animal Reiki Feed Animals’ Souls

Animals are multi-dimensional spiritual beings. When we consciously nourish their souls with meditation, animals benefit in all aspects of their lives. 

Meditation is a simple yet potent way to feed your animal’s spirit. When we meditate with them, it brings peace, balance, and healing. It also deepens our awareness of their spiritual wisdom as our teachers, healers, and guides. This awareness builds a spiritual bridge of connection, compassion, healing, mutual understanding, and love. 

Animal Communication and Animal Reiki also nurture animals’ souls. When we learn to quiet our minds and open our hearts with meditation, it develops our intuitive and telepathic communication with animals and strengthens our heart-connection. 

In fact, meditating with animals is the foundation to growing your telepathic Animal Communication skills and sharing Reiki using the Let Animals Lead® method. Both modalities create a compassionate healing space where all healing is possible.

Mona loves Dawn Allen’s book, The Art of Meditating with Cats.

Here are some of the many benefits of meditating with animals:

• Provides relief from physical symptoms, like chronic pain and illness;
• It relieves anxiety, worry, anger, stress while promoting deep relaxation;
• Brings about balance and harmony for you and your animal;
• Keeps you in the present moment and grounded;
• Trains your mind to be quiet so you can feel in deep communion with animals;
• Develops your intuitive and telepathic communication with animals.
• Teaches you to live a heart-centered life. 
• Strengthens your relationship with animals and Nature;
• Makes animals happy and nourishes their soul and yours!!!

Meditating is especially powerful when you invite animals and Nature into your sacred space. When we meditate with animals, they experience joy, peace, harmony, balance, and healing. When practiced regularly with animals, meditation strengthens our spiritual connection with ourselves, our community, all sentient beings, and Mother Nature.

You’re invited to nourish your animal family’s soul during my monthly Animal Communication Practice Group, Animal Reiki Share, and Sunday Meditations with Animals.  

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As we adjust to the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, our animal families are calling upon us to take good care of ourselves. If we don’t, then we won’t be able to take good care of them. 

One of the challenges we are experiencing to stem the tide of the pandemic is practicing physical and distancing to protect ourselves and our loved ones. It’s hard being isolated. Thank goodness we don’t have social distancing with our animal families.

Animals feel an excellent way to cope with social distancing is to be in your heart center. One way to access your heart chakra is to give yourself and animal a TTouch Heart Hug. Created by Linda Tellington-Jones, TTouch is a system of gentle circular touches that activate the body’s potential at a cellular level.

Heart hugs are an excellent way to say to yourself, “I love you.” 

TTouch Heart Hugs will help you feel:

• Calm and centered;
• Balanced;
• Less anxious and fearful;
• Loved;
• Connected to your animal family, loved ones, Mother Earth and the Universe.

How to do a TTouch Heart Hug:

Step 1: First, notice how you feel physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in this present moment before you give yourself or animal a heart hug.

Step 2: Place your hand over the other with palms face down on your heart center, located in the middle of your chest.

Step 3: Imagine that there is a clock face on your chest underneath your palms.  Twelve o’clock is at the top. Nine o’clock is your right shoulder, and three o’clock is your left shoulder. Six o’clock is located towards the ground at the bottom of the circle.

Step 4: Begin your circle with your hands at twelve o’clock, then gently move your hands over your heart chakra, creating a full circle plus add an additional quarter turn. It doesn’t matter which direction you do your Heart Hugs; just go in the direction which feels best to you, whether it’s clockwise or counterclockwise.

Step 5: Pause your hands over your heart center and take a couple of deep breaths before starting another circle. Offer yourself and your animal as many heart hugs as you need.

The more love and care you give yourself, the more love and care you can give to your animal and others. I encourage you to give yourself and your animal Heart Hugs often.

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Your pets appreciate and benefit when you’re able to sit quietly with them. They understand everyone wins we stay present and centered in mind and body.

One way to become Present is by practicing Mindfulness, which is a lot easier said than done given our busy lives, endless distractions, and thoughts.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindful.org defines Mindfulness, “as the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”

Animals are naturally mindful because they instinctually live in the here and now, not in the past or future like humans tend to do. They are keenly aware of what’s going on around them since their lives depend on it.

Pets absolutely know when humans are overwhelmed and reactive and prefer it when the energy around them is peaceful, calm and balanced.

Why Practice Mindfulness?

Living mindfully is about consciously being in the present moment where the animals live. The more mindful you become, the more aware you’ll be of your animal family’s thoughts and feelings making it easier to communicate and understand your animals’ viewpoints.

Practicing mindful living teaches us how to redirect conditioned responses to prevent overreactions or feelings of being overwhelmed with what’s going on in our thoughts and environment.

Unlike animals, humans have to consciously work at being mindful because we experience 50,000 plus thoughts a day. This endless mind chatter takes us into the past or future, which doesn’t exist for animals.

When our thoughts take over, it’s hard to stay present because our awareness is wherever our thoughts take us which can then be projected onto our animal families.

As humans get lost in thought, pets wonder where we go, especially when our thoughts lead to overaction and projections.

It doesn’t help when we place judgments on our continuous thoughts which takes us even further away from giving our pets our undivided attention.

Animals are incredibly sensitive and aware of what’s happening around them. They feel whatever energy our thoughts project. These projections can be upsetting for animals, especially if our minds take us to intense emotions like anger, fear, or anxiety. Sometimes this leads our pets to react to what’s going on inside of us.

Mindfulness Benefits Your Relationship with Your Pets

Living mindfully is about consciously being in the present moment where the animals live. The more in touch you become with your thoughts, the more aware you’ll become of your animal family’s thoughts and feelings making it easier to communicate and understand animals’ viewpoints.

The goal of practicing Mindfulness is to pay attention to the present moment without passing judgment on whatever thoughts may arise. It’s about learning how to bring your focus and awareness back to the present over and over again.

Some of the many benefits of practicing mindfulness with your pets include providing a safe, calm,  and balanced environment for them to live in.

It’s healthier for you and your animal family’s mind, body, and soul when we are calm and peaceful.

How to Create A Mindful Practice:

Being mindful takes conscious effort to practice. The more you work on being present with your pets, the better. Thankfully, no unique furniture or equipment is necessary to be mindful as you can do it anywhere.

It only takes 5 minutes a few times a day to increase your self-awareness in the moment.

Your animal family will thank and support you when you practice Mindfulness with them.

Simple Steps to Mindful Living:

• Take a couple of deep breaths and slowly let them out.  Feel your feet grounded to Mother Earth. Continue to breathe deeply as you bring your focus and awareness to the present moment.
• As you continue to breathe, observe all that is going on around you in the present moment. Don’t rush. Take your time. Just observe.
• As thoughts arise, let go of any judgments and preconceived notions. Just notice what comes up, then let them go as you allow your thoughts to flow by.
• Continually refocus your awareness onto your breath as you return your consciousness to the present moment.
• Recognize what’s happening around you in the present moment including your thoughts and animal companions. 
• Keep returning to the here and now as thoughts arise.

Repeat the above steps as often as necessary, since being mindful is an on-going process.

For more information about Mindful living, visit Mindful.org.

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The Best Present You Can Give Your Pet Is Your Presence. 

It’s easy to forget your animals want something incredibly simple from you: your undivided attention in a mindful way, even if it’s only for five minutes a day.

Throughout the holidays and the rest of the year, we tend to get consumed and overwhelmed by the many distractions life brings. These diversions prevent you from being fully and peacefully Present with your pets. 

Animals consistently tell me that spending quality time with their humans is the best gift they could ever receive because they never get enough quality time with their cherished humans.

Being with your animal family while you’re talking on the phone, watching TV, or surfing the web isn’t the Present your animal family craves. They want you to disconnect from your cell phone, computer, or whatever is preventing you from becoming fully Present in mind, body, and spirit.

If you think about it, your pets are consistently Present as they quietly support you with their Presence. They appreciate it when you reciprocate in kind.

Taking time each day to be quietly Present with your animal brings about many benefits including hearing your intutitive voice and your animals’ voices. Plus it brings deeper awareness, understanding, and balance to your relationship.

Being Present with your pet might look like sitting quietly on the couch together, taking a walk in Nature, or going on a joy-ride to a favorite destination. Or it could be offering Reiki which is an easy way to be fully Present.

Your animal family will thank you for giving them the best Present ever: your Presence.

Looking for a fun meditation to create more mindfulness around your animal family? Click here for an easy meditation from Kathleen Prasad of the Animal Reiki Source.

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