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Monday, August 1, 2022






 Pirate Francy

When Francy almost needed emergency surgery at the age of 18 I decided to have an animal communication session with/about her. I called someone because I couldn’t talk about her being sick. Everything that happened to Francy I was a ball of hysterical crying. (I let go of a few pet sitters due to that response from Francy). 

I couldn’t function that way when she was sick and dying. I love death, I love the process of it but for some reason none of that applied to Francy and was just shocking to me. The feelings I had were so disproportional to what was actually happening. I’ve lost so many animals but just the concept of losing Francy; I told a friend “I would trade them all for her.” what is that? Again, It seemed a little disproportionate. And not very kind to my other animals but they all knew, they understood. 

During the session I said one of the things I know is that some of this has got to be from a past life with her.  The animal communicator read some other things but then she said, “let’s look at a past life.” 

And here is where it all begins; she said it seems that you guys might have been pirates. I said yeah, we were pirates, there is no question about that, we were pirates. 

She said “Francy was the ship cat, and the ship was yours, so she was yours. You were both male. She was a big orange boy cat in that lifetime. You had same communication; it was very much intuitive.”

 Francy was always my intuition. if I got a hit of don’t do something that’s Francy saying yeah, don’t do that, give it another thought. As pirates, we had the same thing. 

The animal communicator continued “She would give information like ‘this is how you attack this ship; this is how you approach these people’. there was a lot of strategy that was going on with that cat and with the pirate and that cat.”

“the other part is that you’re a pirate and you’re out on the ocean; there isn’t a whole lot to do. So, there was a lot of down time. At some point there was an accident, and that big orange cat lost his leg. And so, being a pirate sailing the open ocean, full of free time, you fashioned a leg for the cat.”

“it’s not just as if you fashioned a leg, you wanted to, you had to make a working leg. You created all these prototypes. All of these different mechanisms, to figure out how to make it so it would seem to the cat he didn’t lose a leg. Fashioning it so he could still jump, he could still rat, he could still do his job. there was a lot of bonding in that. A lot of touching and figuring out how every muscle worked and moved, learning his full anatomy. Through all of that study there was tremendous bonding. But after a time, the cat died.”

“You know that’s what happens, that is the order of things. But since you’re a pirate grief is not something high on your list of abilities. the other part is at the time the relationship is between a person and an animal was very different. We have a reverence now for our animals, it just wasn’t there in that time. That cat was a domesticated beast with a job, not a companion.”

“there was just such tremendous grief and I think quite a bit of drinking as well. that is one of the ways a pirate handles his grief. Without ever admitting it, that was the demise of that pirate. He lost his best friend and confidant. He lost his chief strategist”




So fast forward 500 years or so, and I am at an adoption event in downtown Chicago meeting Francy and her bonded pair friend Ralfie. Now Ralfie had one eye, and everyone called her a pirate forever. Someone gave me an eye patch for her, you know because she was the pirate. Her chiropractor always said “argggh, Ralfie says arrgh.” It was hilarious. So that would make sense but that was not Francy. No one called Francy a pirate.

On that day I had set out on a journey to find a specific cat. I couldn’t decide if these two were the ones, so I went to urban outfitters to find a magic 8 ball, because obvi that’s the only place you get a true answer. 

(this was before I did any energy work, ever.)

I asked the magic 8 ball am I ever going to that specific cat I was looking for, and it said “Definity Yes”. at the moment I saw “Definity Yes” I knew that that had everything to do with those two cats. I resigned myself to not finding the specific cat I was looking for. 

I told the animal communicator, when she finished the reading, “I just want you to know, that was what I was looking for that day, the day that I met Francy; I was looking for a big three-legged orange boy cat.

It took eighteen years to learn that it was true. It was true that I had found my three-legged orange boy. It was Francy coming back in a whole new way; a way that we could cherish and relish each other.

I tell this story now and it doesn’t choke me up, instead it gives me goosebumps. Before I would never have been able to get that story out without being on the floor crying. 95% of the grief that I had for her was from this unresolved past life. The rest is mine in present time and it makes sense and feels proportional and manageable.

I wasn’t to share this as a great example of “you’re never making it up”. You may not know why you’ve seen it that way or why it doesn’t make any sense, that is totally cool. Why the hell would that have made any sense? And again, I hadn’t done any energy work I didn’t know anything about working energy. I did know that a magic 8 ball was where you find your answers, I don’t know how I knew that, but I did and as crazy as it was it got me to my answer. Following my intuition brought me to my greatest love; Francy.




Monday, May 23, 2022


 

 ODIE’S EYES 


 

11 years ago today, Odie and I began our journey together. He came to my home broken, shut down and fear aggressive. Odie would go from 0 to 100 with no warning. His body would slightly stiffen just before he’d freak out. I was able to communicate with him using a leash. He would immediately stop once I touched his leash.  

After our first year together, Odie had his eyes removed and we continued to learn to trust each other. When people would visit, they couldn’t even look at him without him having a tantrum. That’s how sensitive he was! 

 

Odie was always an amazing traveler and very well behaved outside of the house, but at home he was a beast. If I got out of bed or off the couch he wouldn’t let me back without a tantrum. To be honest, I tried (unsuccessfully) to return him. Odie is my first dog (ever) and I had no idea how to manage his unpredictable behavior. We had couple of trainers that helped a little bit but day to day it was a hard time. When I found that the @anticruelty accepted surrenders 24/7/365, we began the conversation of “not today”. Knowing I had an out actually helped me commit and stay in present time with him.  

 



 

After our move to Nevada almost 5 years later Odie relaxed beyond my wildest expectations. Each year he made amazing breakthroughs. 3 years later, he finally laid on his side, a year after that he taught himself to go up and down the stairs, and the piece de resistance he let me hold him on his back! People who met Odie later in his life can’t imagine he was ever such a beast and people who knew Odie from the beginning can’t believe how far he’s come. Odie became a certified therapy dog. 

 

When I adopted him, they said he was 10 years old, when he had his eyes removed the vet said he was much closer to 5. In the end 8-10 is probably closer to his age.  

Odie’s story is a testament to what can blossom with patience and time. It was clear that Odie knew love before he met me but clearly something horrible happened and he became so isolated and afraid. I am honored to have been a part of his healing and treasured every moment we spent together, even when we argued over his desire for cat food.  

 

One of the most amazing serendipitous parts of my story with Odie is that I met him before I met him.  

In November of 2010 I was picking up a guinea pig from @cacc_adoptable_dogs to transfer to a Guinea pig rescue and decided to check out the adoptable dog room. It was a cacophonous space. The dogs barking reverberated through me. The small dogs were along a wall of cages. One had a sign I found intriguing, it said “blind”. I started to approach the cage thinking “hey, I have a blind cat, how different could a blind dog be?” (I soon learned how wholly and completely) and caught myself again thinking “that dog is a hot mess!” 

 

It must have been within a week that the pet shop in Evanston IL, where I lived, pulled him. He stayed at that pet shop for six months before I realized he wasn’t the shop dog and he shouldn’t live there. And it wasn’t until after I adopted him, and he was in my house that I realized that he was the same dog I saw six months earlier. Clearly when I saw a “hot mess”, he saw “momma!”  

 

Just before I moved from Evanston, I brought Odie to say goodbye to the people who saved him at the pet shop. I had a chance to talk to the owner who physically took him from CACC. She told me when she opened his cage Odie put his paws around her neck and wouldn’t let go. She also said everyone who worked at the shelter told her “you don’t want that dog”. She told them she didn’t have any choice because he wouldn’t let go... Odie knew exactly who he had to hold on to get his freedom ride to where I lived.  

If you ever wonder if animals choose us, Odie is a great example of the magical lengths they will go through to find their person.  

 

 lymphoma/limˈfōmə/noun:; plural noun: lymphomata; plural noun: lymphomas 1) cancer of the lymph nodes. 

This is what bodies do. We can say it sucks and tell it to fuck off or launch the fight of our lives, but this is what bodies do. They breakdown. Maybe from being broken open to all the love.  

As devastated as I am at Odie’s diagnosis, I will not let this cloud my vision or knowledge of the amazing spirit I have had the honor to spend eight years, and will never lose.  

 

Odie doesn’t belong to me and as much as he’s become a part of me, and much as my heart breaks for the breaking down of this tiny body I can see the strength of his spirit coming to fruition. He was so broken, and he is now returning to wholeness. Whatever the amount of time we had will never be enough.  

What I do know was Odie is happier than he’s ever been in his life. I continued supporting this happiness for as long as possible. He always referred to his lymphoma as his “bubbles of love”. Odie told me that his body was taking in so much love that made these bubbles. 

 

Please know that you are a huge part of that happiness. Instagram has changed both of our lives and built our relationship on a foundation of love and joy and fun. Thank you for being here and continuing this journey with us as we begin a new journey as Odie's Healing Habitat.

 

Odie passed August 17, 2019 

Rest in Love




 

 


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Celebrating 5/9ths Today





Nine years ago my beautiful baby boy Five was born. It was an auspicious day. I had just begun a very deep spiritual training that has brought about more changes than I can even begin to fathom and am still benefitting from.

Five came into my life early November 2004. He came in under very sad circumstances. I had just suddenly lost my beloved cat Zephyr to a fatal fall off of my mantel. Francy, Ralfie and I were in desperate need of life,  new young innocent kitten life.

At 8 Weeks old I met Five at Anti-Cruelty in downtown Chicago. I was unsure if I was doing the right thing adopting a baby kitten so close to the death of Zephyr.  Five was very patient, playing in my purse as I had my existential crisis. Then I looked at him and he told me he was ready and so was I. The match was made.

Five is named for my favorite number. It is a symbol of freedom and that is definitely what Five (the cat) stands for. He has always been my greatest advocate for spiritual growth. My clients know him well as he hops between my lap and theirs during a reading session.
He is probably the hardest working cat I know. I always know that when I fly Five will be in the cockpit making sure that everything goes smoothly. He patrols my house and if there is ever any noise that is out of the ordinary he is the first to reassure. He helps many animals that I work with through my animal communication to feel at ease and relax. My DBF (dear boyfriend) enjoys hearing Five’s reports on the house, food situation and other cats’ activities.

Every year that I spend with Five I learn more about him and find more love. Thank you Five for bringing your amazing healing gifts to my home and sharing them with not only me but my clients, too.


In honor of your special day, FIve, I hope you enjoy your brand new litter box. A practical gift for a practical cat.

(FIve while writing blog post. He sat right there until post was complete.)

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Remembrance



My friend Cynthia Malaran put the site Watching The Changes
together just days after September 11, 2001. It is a montage of images she took from her bedroom in NYC over the course of many years ending, suddenly, on 9/11/01.


As the years pass I find that this is still one of the most powerful representations of the experience. It has distance but is no less haunting. The images may be small but no less graphic. We are allowed a peek into another perspective.


We were shown so clearly that day our next step. It continues to take years for us to understand what that means for each of us, individually. People tell me of their remembrance rituals in honor of that day; some fly, some pray, some take stock in all the joy in their lives.


Thank you Cynthia for showing this innocent vulnerable side and keeping it alive so that we may continue to learn and grow. May we never forget all of the opportunities presented to us for forgiveness and continue to be filled with love.

Monday, May 20, 2013

It Happened Again!

I thought I would take my winnings from the Kentucky Derby and put a little money on the Preakness. Why not go for the Triple Crown!

I looked over the Horses and decided that I would take a chance on Titletown Five (Five is my favorite number, after all), a bit on Orb to show (he did made it clear after the Kentucky Derby that he was not going to win the next one), and I looked for a third horse, browsing through all the names.

The only other to stand out was Oxbow. I remembered that I had always bought Oxbow hay for my guinea pigs, so why not give him a shot? So, I made a wager. 15-1, Oxbow was a long shot.

Wouldn't you know, that guinea pig picked horse won the race, AGAIN! Thank you, sweet little, Pi!

We will see what happens at the Belmont Stakes!


My Guinea Pig Made Me Gamble

In 2007 I adopted a guinea pig that looked just like a horse.  He had a big blaze on his nose and a star on his forehead.  I named him Pi after the horse in National Velvet. 

After a few weeks of living with me he declared that he used to be a horse but he didn’t like standing around alone in a pasture all the time.  He chose a guinea pig body because he really liked hay.  He was still working on the size difference and thanked me for taking care and listening to him.

Just before the 2008 Kentucky Derby Pi made another declaration.  "Big Brown is going to win but watch out for the filly". I decided that I would find out how I could place a bet and then proceeded to go completely unconscious and forgot completely.

The next day I found out that Big Brown did win and that the filly (which rarely run) tragically died after breaking 2 ankles; euthanized on the track. WOW!

I asked him how he knew this stuff and he told me he knew Big Brown from other horse lives.  It was then that I began to see the connection of horses and guinea pigs. 

My, experience up till then, has been very much on the guinea pig side but the following summer I went out to a few stables and began to see so many of these horses that had been guinea pigs and vice-versa.  I was amazed at the size difference but there is a great similarity in how they live and what they eat and their social behavior.

In the years since I have always checked in with the Kentucky Derby, sometimes picking the winner but not placing a bet. Finally, last year when I took the plunge to bet I had no sense of who was even running!

But this year, while waiting for a table at one of my favorite restaurants w/*, I found a list of the horses and gave a short glance. Orb was my favorite and of course Golden Soul! This time I took the challenge and placed my bet. There was a lot of energy on that. Odds, trustworthy places to bet, is this legal?

I tuned in for the race and there it all happened! From behind, Orb took the whole show and amazingly Golden Soul came in 2nd!

Pi passed away 4 years ago and when he died I saw him as an amazing horse bounding away. I am so pleased that he turned me onto this amazing communication with horses.

I dedicate my winnings to my sweet, beautiful guinea pig, Velvet Brown Pi.











Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Free Reading - Do You Dare?

Good News!
I am extending my Facebook offer to you. By signing up
for your new adventure in meditation you will receive a free 30-minute reading
with me or Elizabeth, the founder of Seven Levels Coaching.
This offer is good through midnight Friday May 17th.
If you can't attend the first class tomorrow, we will send you the recording.
You won't miss a thing!
I look forward to having you in class...
if you dare!


 Meditation Class starting
Wednesday May 15TH 8-9:15PM EST

http://sevenlevelscoaching.com/sign-me-up-quick/



IT'S BEEN AN INTENSE YEAR SO FAR!

through all of the intensity you are being asked daily
to clarify what you want as you simultaneously are creating
and receiving your creations.

To help you in this process, beginning May 15 (8-9:15 PM EST),
I will be teaching a Beginning Meditation class on Wednesdays for 6 weeks,
through Seven Levels Coaching.
This is a wonderful place to learn tools and gain insights to what you want
and how to bring into your life.

Meditation is all about you finding You,
 focusing on simple tools and techniques to help you get grounded
and stay grounded, as well as to find your space and protect it.
Meditation is a great way to connect to your energy and
de-stress as well as to help heal and clear the body of disease and pain.
This course is offered as a tele-course. Course cost: $175.
This class is open to everyone regardless of meditation experience.

Sign up today at

and start off your summer and new life
clearly knowing that you are ready for everything that you desire.

Live beyond your wildest dreams!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Do You Dare?


 Meditation Class starting
Wednesday May 15TH 8-9:15PM EST

http://sevenlevelscoaching.com/sign-me-up-quick/



IT'S BEEN AN INTENSE YEAR SO FAR!

through all of the intensity you are being asked daily
to clarify what you want as you simultaneously are creating
and receiving your creations.

To help you in this process, beginning May 15 (8-9:15 PM EST),
I will be teaching a Beginning Meditation class on Wednesdays for 6 weeks,
through Seven Levels Coaching.
This is a wonderful place to learn tools and gain insights to what you want
and how to bring into your life.

Meditation is all about you finding You,
 focusing on simple tools and techniques to help you get grounded
and stay grounded, as well as to find your space and protect it.
Meditation is a great way to connect to your energy and
de-stress as well as to help heal and clear the body of disease and pain.
This course is offered as a tele-course. Course cost: $175.
This class is open to everyone regardless of meditation experience.

Sign up today at

and start off your summer and new life
clearly knowing that you are ready for everything that you desire.

Live beyond your wildest dreams!