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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Why does meditating with animals have such a profound effect?

Here are 5 fabulous reasons to share a meditation practice with your animal family.

Reason #2: Meditating with animals creates a powerful space of healing and compassion, which enhances your heart connection and relationship with them. 

Reason #3: It reduces stress and promotes overall wellness. Daily meditation allows animals to receive a variety of healing benefits like: 

• Pain relief
• Strengthens the immune system
• Supports the healing process
• Reduces emotional and behavioral issues
• Promotes overall wellness

Reason #4: Meditation with animals teaches us to open our hearts and connect through our heart-center. This enables a sense of oneness, which leads to a deeper bond and mutual understanding with animals and Nature.

Reason #5: Animals are masterful meditation teachers and enjoy it when we share calm and loving energy with them. 

One of the great things about meditating with animals is you can do it sitting, standing, walking, or even lying down. My cats, Mona and Elvis, prefer it when I do sitting meditations with them.

When my dog, Bodhi, was alive, we loved taking our morning Reiki walks where we connected with wildlife and communed with Nature. It brought us tremendous joy to share this sacred space together.

A daily meditation practice helps you to connect and share relaxed and calm energy. This practice can help animals feel calmer, balanced, and less anxious. 

Plus, your animal will thank you in ways you could never imagine when you spend time meditating with them.

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You should.

As the pandemic wears on with no end in sight, we need to trust our gut and inner voice now more than ever to keep us safe.  I’m depending on my intuitive senses to help me navigate the new normals that don’t feel normal at all.

Animals are wise teachers and guides on how to respond to imminent danger. Animals rarely hesitate to react to the energy around them because they know the best way to keep safe is to always listen to their instincts.

Cats are great examples of how to stay present in the moment. If they feel specific energy is a threat, they quickly move away from it.

As I like to say, “Humans are inclined to run towards danger while non-human animals tend to run away from it.”

All animals, including humans, are born with instincts that guide us in how to respond at any given moment. Gut instincts, inner knowing, hunches, or “spidey senses” are our internal guidance system that alerts us when there is imminent danger.

As adults, it can be challenging to trust our intuition because we are taught that logic and reason are more important than feelings and gut hunches. Children and animals tend to be more in touch with their instincts because they don’t know any different. Therefore, we have to consciously work at reclaiming our ability to recognize and react to our “spidey senses.”

Recognizing your intuition is about listening and trusting yourself at a deep spiritual level. Thankfully, animals continue to show us how to connect, trust and listen to our gut.

Two great ways to develop your intuitive awareness is by practicing Animal Reiki and Animal Communication. When you quiet your mental chatter and worry, communicating telepathically and offering Reiki gives you direct access to your intuition.

When you practice Animal Reiki and Animal Communication, you naturally connect with your intuitive self.  The good news is, once you recognize your “spidey senses,” the easier it is to listen and respond to its wisdom and guidance.

I hope you and your animal family continue to stay safe and above all, trust your intuition.

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Bodhi Bear Is Cathy’s Valentine

Valentine’s Day is about celebrating love and relationships, including with your animal family. When it comes to unconditional love, no one loves you better than your heart animals. 

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Animals sense when we are ungrounded and feel safest when their humans are fully centered and present with them. 

Bodhi reminds me to stay grounded by tapping his paw on my foot.

Being grounded means you are fully present in the here and now which keeps you connected to your animal family, Mother Earth and the Universal Life Energy Flow. 

We live in times of high levels of stress along with a lot of distractions which disconnects from our spiritual selves and Nature. When we are not fully present, it makes it challenging to connect telepathically and share Reiki with animals and Nature.

On a recent visit to my dog’s holistic veterinarian to treat his allergies and overall health, his vet mentioned that Bodhi tends to become ungrounded. Dr. Cheryl Schwartz suggested I tap Bodhi’s paws whenever he becomes ungrounded to help him come back to the present moment.

After we left Dr. Schwartz’s office, Bodhi and I stopped into the store to buy some groceries. As we waited in the check-out line, I noticed Bodhi looking up at me with a big smile his face. I then realized Bodhi had placed his paw on my foot!

Bodhi then communicated to me telepathically that I needed to be more grounded, too!

I couldn’t disagree as my mind was focused on what Dr. Schwartz had shared during Bodhi’s treatment.

Bodhi’s reminder brought me back into my heart and out of my thoughts. I thanked Bodhi for getting the “memo” from Dr. Schwartz and reminding me to stay present.

Staying grounded is about bringing your focus and awareness to the present moment. When you are fully grounded, you feel more balanced and peaceful in your daily life. You also feel safe and secure as you create a stable foundation.

When practicing Animal Communication and Reiki, it’s essential to stay grounded as it brings us back into balance, where the animals can connect with us. Being grounded manages overwhelming and potent feelings that tend to block the flow of Reiki and telepathic communication.

Being ungrounded makes it difficult to function effectively in the real world and can block the flow of Animal Communication and Reiki. 

When you’re ungrounded, it’s easy to be thrown off balance like a leaf being blown around in the wind.

7 Signs You’re Ungrounded:

1. Trouble finishing projects:
2. Hard to focus or concentrate;
3. Feel spacey:
4. Unsure of yourself;
5. Up in your mind/head instead of in your heart;
6. Hard time expressing yourself;
7. Feel called to spend time outside in Nature.

Trees are excellent teachers on how to stay grounded and connected.

Given it’s a process. Bodhi and I continue to work on staying grounded and present.

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