There is nothing worse then seeing your fur baby going to town, scratching away and realizing that the reason they are scratching is because they have fleas! That's when you run screaming. . . ARGH. You know it's not a good thing because Fleas expand their numbers every three days and they are virtually invincible. Once they have found their way onto your baby, you know that they have found their way into your home, and you know that means they are getting into your carpet, your couch and just about everything else! No one likes fleas. Now think of fleas as a metaphor for that thing that is bugging you. That thing you picked up somewhere along that way that you just can't get off your mind. The constant presence of its energy has you continually playing it over and over, and no matter how many times you do this, it still keeps coming back demanding more attention. If only, I should have and why didn't I, are just some of the ways it sneaks into your house, your bed and your dreams. Fleas of this, or any kind do no one any good, so perhaps it's time to treat them so that they go away, remembering that whatever you do to deal with them, new eggs hatch within three days, so you will need to be diligent. For your babies, there are all sorts of treatments that do work and will free them from those nasty pests. For you and me, there are also options, however here is the one I highly recommend. Love, forgive and accept. Whatever the case may be, leading with love is always a good idea. Forgiveness, no matter the cause, eases your burden and acceptance, allows for solutions to come. Rid your life of fleas, and find yourself itch free! Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam
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We all would love to think that tomorrow is always going to come. But. . . as many of us know, that is not the truth of it. So why is it that we live life as if we have all the time in the world? How many dogs do you know that let the sticks go by and not go after them? I know there are always exceptions, but for the most part, dogs always go after the stick as if their lives depend on it! Now am I saying your life depends on you chasing a stick? Literally - of course not. Metaphorically however, it applies. Think of the stick as your dreams. When we are little we all have dreams of some sort or another, but somehow life tends to steer us away from our dreams, especially if they are big ones, or ones that fall outside of the acceptable box. Too many folks want to tell us to take our head out of the clouds and give up, but if we are lucky, we don't listen. Interestingly enough not every stick calls to a dog! I've tried to give sticks to my boys and for some reason they don't want them. The wood isn't the right kind, maybe there is an order, or it's rotten. But when it's the right wood, boy or boy are they all in. Think of your dreams in the same way, the ones that call to you are the ones you are meant to have. Otherwise said, your dreams are yours because you are meant to have them. Consider this next time you reminisce about what might have been. It's never too late, if the dream still comes up for you, its because it's waiting for you to not just chase it, but actually live it. Dogs cross over the rainbow bridge with no regrets, how about we all make the same promise, so that should the time come that we cross over our own rainbow we do so after living a fully expressed life. Tomorrow is a gift, always live in the present. Chase the stick and enjoy! Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam When I need my big boy Chooks to lay down and relax, I give him one of his favorite bones, They are made out of Bamboo and they withstand his jaws, better then most. He loves them, he is very content to chew on them and ultimately fall asleep. He seems to enjoy the focused time where he simply allows himself to fully engage in an activity that brings him joy. When was the last time you did that. Dogs will contently chew on things for long periods of time and they are relaxed and happy. Perhaps we could all take a lesson from this and start to spend some time every day focused on something that gives us joy. When we do this we might find our thoughts relax and perhaps the answer, or solution we are looking for gets a chance to find us. When we take a moment and stop, allowing ourself a chance to catch our breath, whatever may be going one, eases. Room for misunderstanding lessens, and we discover new ideas. Maybe it's simply making a cup of calming tea and setting out, as I am right now, listening to the night sing to me on my back porch, chewing on this blog post! When we allow ourselves the time to chew on it, to consider, to think, to imagine, to play, or simply to be present, we allow ourselves everything. Just consider that when you offer a dog something to chew on, they don't refuse it, tell you they are too busy, or feel they don't deserve it. They take it and enjoy! Take your moments, give back to yourself. Listen for the inner voice inside that comes when you allow yourself time, and joy. Peace, Love & Wufs Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam So many things to do, and seemingly so little time, all too often there are too many distractions demanding our attention and we loose sight of what matters most. We can feel off center, out of balance and out of control. Ever notice that when it comes to life in general, our dogs never seem to experience the constraints that disconnect them from enjoying life? Certainly there are situations that demand rescue, when it comes to dogs, but even then, once they are brought into safe situations, they find their center remarkably quickly. We on the other hand seem to go in the other direction! We seem to live much of our lives attempting to find our center when really there is a simple solution. Go jump in a lake! LOL Literally, or metaphorically, connecting to nature, being at one with the elements of earth, air, fire and water, naturally bring us to our organic state of oneness with ourselves and energetically with the earth herself! Take a lesson from dog. When they are given the opportunity to jump in the lake, they do! Whether it's wading, laying on the damp shore or romping in the deep end, they align with the elements because it feels that good. When dogs are drawing near to crossing over the rainbow bridge they prefer to lay on the earth versus be inside, because they find deep comfort when being at one with Mother Gaia. Here is the prescription for all of us. Kick off your shoes and stand barefoot on the grass, take some deep breaths and let go. Additional options include sitting with your back against a tree, which may include a lovely magical walk in the woods. And of course there is always the option if at all possible to go jump in a lake and ENJOY! Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam Bringing our Temple Cats into the mix for this post I wanted to point out how incredible it is to snuggle with your kitty and to hear them purr. That deep rich sound that resonates from their throats and indicates a deep in sense of contentment and satisfaction. You know immediately when what you are doing is the right thing to be doing because our kitties let you know it. You never have to guess because as any cat guardian will tell you, if you aren't doing it right, they will let you know with a quickness. (In some cases, with a little pain. LOL). What if it were possible for you to find your own contented purr? Do you think it is possible? I do. It starts with knowing yourself. What you like and what you don't. It continues with being able to find your own voice and then the ability to share with others who are important in your life. You deserve to find a way to speak your truth, ask for what you need, and let another know if something is not feeling good. Finding your voice is not the easiest thing to do. Largely due to the fact that there are a lot of layers and usually a very deep and difficult dive involved. However it's worth it. Think of your cat, stretch out in the sun, enjoying its' tummy being tickled and purring with deep, peaceful contentment. That could be you! When you find yourself fully expressed, able to ask for what you need, when you need it, able to communicate the things that serve or work for you, you will have indeed found your spot in the sun, and your contented purr. Peace, Love and Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam Dogs are always amazing, because fur-giveness / forgiveness is in their nature. You don't have to ask for it, although I have. An example, I have stepped on Sam's paw, by accident, he is little and he loves to get under my feet. I apologize to him and rub his foot, but here is the truth; I don't have to do this, any of it, and he would be just as ecstatic to see me, as he always is. It is literally in his nature. (By the way, the pic this week, is Sam, otherwise known as Samuel Samson Lee Bishop!) Dogs tussle with each other, learning boundaries and pack positioning, but once the noise is over, they settle in and life goes on. They don't harbor resentment, and if anything, they respect what has happened. People, now we are a whole other animal - ha ha! We have much to learn about forgiveness. Where dog's let go pretty much right away, we hold on to things. We spend precious time trying to figure out what whatever has happened might mean and we assign meaning to it, as if we actually know! Often we don't address what upsets up, instead we shove it down. We treat apologies as if they are precious metals only to be given out when someone grovels appropriately at our feet! Ok, I'm being a bit dramatic. But, I think I make a point. If we are in the wrong, we apologize, but mostly because we think we are supposed to, it's social etiquette but more often than not, not genuine. How can I say this? Because even though we say we are sorry, we end up doing the same thing yet again, more often than not. Dogs live in the present and live unencumbered by all the stuff we dwell on, hence forgiveness comes naturally to them. They never carry a heavy heart filled with resentment. What would life we like if we all simply practiced forgiveness that level of ease? Peace, Love and Wufs, Rev Deb Bishop, Sam and Chooks OK let's just admit it, we all treat our babies, just because we love them. Not because they did anything great, or amazing, not even because we are training them, just because they are so darn cute! And let's also admit that they have got us figured out because they know exactly where the treats are and precisely how to look extra sweet so they get one. Never mind them looking extra cute, how about when they demand one? And they do. They will come into the kitchen or where every you keep the treats and literally post up in your way, with a look of conviction and complete determination. If you tell them to leave, the side eye is lethal! LOL. After all, don't we know that they deserve a treat just because they are them? And, that's the lesson. Don't we all deserve a treat, to do something extra fun, too have a vacation, a staycation, a picnic, a night of romance, or whatever, just because we are us? When was the last time you allowed yourself to treat yourself? Sure that may mean having a sweet little something every once in a while, but treats don't have to have anything to do with food. Being kind to yourself is a treat. Encouraging yourself is as delicious a morsel as any slice of cake could ever be. Allowing yourself to be pampered, is a treat. Hanging with friends, taking a day off, hiring a maid instead of you cleaning, these are all treats. Going for a hike and getting lost in nature, that's a treat you can enjoy with your fur babies! I'm not suggesting anyone go overboard on the treats, balance is important, but. . . When it comes to you and me, I'm not sure we are in the practice of treating ourselves at all! Since we aren't furry and four-legged with big beautiful eyes that can look just the right mixture of puppy cuteness with a touch of poor baby, and since we don't have someone else ready to slip us a snack, we deserve to learn to treat ourselves. Sometimes you just have to say yes and have a little ice cream! Peace, Love and Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks and Sam Dogs howl for various reasons, but it is all for one purpose. Like humans, they are communicating through the use of their voices. The howl is a point of connection. That connection is to one another in the pack, to others who may be in a different pack, and to the earth herself. Howling can be in celebration, signifying the end of a successful hunt, amongst coyotes or wolves, in essence it's the ringing of a dinner bell. It can also be expressed in a time of grief for our furry four legged friends. Howling is done to attract attention, it is done to express excitement and it is always done with great enthusiasm, regardless of the reason. The power of howling amongst dogs is signifies a deep connection both to each another and to themselves. As humans we have much to learn from our pups, as they express with abandon where we might typically hold back. We often swallow our emotions and stop ourselves from expressing because it may not feel safe, or appropriate. Admittedly in the human world, not every moment is the perfect right moment for us to "howl" however, incorporating a practice of self expression that is about the release of energy while also connecting to the core of our emotional and spiritual nature might be a good thing for all of us to consider. Howling is different to chanting in that when one howls there is not set language, just sound. When connected to our true emotional nature howling can free us from all sorts of burdens and shift our energy to a whole and happier space. Howling to move through grief is very healing and therapeutic. Howling to express joy releases endorphins and uplifts our senses. Howling to connect with ourselves and one another is a way to move past conversation, analysis or discussion and simply dive into the emotional reality of ourselves. The next time you feel overwhelm on any level, or what that matter great happiness, lift your head skyward and let a primal sound, one that existed before language, form in your belly and find its way to your lips. Connect to your emotional self and let go with a beautiful freeing howl. Howl at the moon, howl into the fire, gather friends beat a drum and howl together. Explore the power of howling and enjoy the deeper sense of oneness with all that is, that it naturally offers. If anybody asks you what you are doing, just tell them you are connecting to your inner dog! LOL. Peace, Love and Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam If you ever get to watch a dog - be it a puppy or a senior - get down to it and start to chase their tail, you can't help but laugh. Why? Because we know that they will probably never get it, but it they do, they quickly figure out it belongs to them and holding on to it makes little to no sense. What tail might you be chasing right now? Maybe it's something to do with a relationship in your life that isn't going quite the way you want it to. Maybe it's a work situation that is driving you a bit batty. Maybe it's a situation that you really don't need to take on or have something to do with, but somehow you are stressing about it and taking it on all the same! Maybe you woke up this morning and just didn't like where you found yourself. Perhaps you saw an old friend who you haven't caught up with in a long while and you discovered that they have had massive success and you compared yourself. Whatever the reason, if you are chasing your tail I can imagine you are not laughing. Let's go back to what dogs do for a moment. What did we learn earlier? 1) They rarely if ever catch their tail. So let's understand that if you are chasing a tail somewhere in your life, you are really just going in circles, and more then likely you won't catch anything. 2) If they do catch it, they realize it belongs to them and quickly let it go. Let's take from this that whatever might be hanging you up right now and has you running in circles, is really your own attachments and it makes no sense to dig your teeth into them because then you're reinforcing that which you are already hanging on to! Whew : ) Let's just realize that dogs chase their tails because for a moment it seems like a good idea and maybe even fun. We miss the boat on that one, chasing our metaphorical tail is never fun and usually we do it for way longer than a moment. The moral to this whole situation is. . . Stop chasing those tails because as long as you do, you will never catch a break. Peace, Love & Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam Sam If you ever come across a dog that is barking ferociously at you, as scary as that can be, the truth is it's more afraid of you then you are of it! I know it may not feel that way because nobody likes to have a dog basically yelling at them. But. , , what I personally learned from a wonderful trainer who works with guard dogs and is responsible for training some of the top security pooches, is that the louder they bark and run around when you approach the more afraid they actually are! Interesting right? Please understand I'm not saying they won't do harm, they might as an anxious dog can be unpredictable, so don't be thinking you shouldn't be careful. I am saying that when you understand they are actually scared, you might be able to shift your energy and instead of being in fear yourself, change the scenario which in turn will calm them down. Now think about the people you know and how many may not exactly bark at you, but are defensive and seem to be very reactive. What if they are really in fear? It might be completely subconscious, in fact they may have no idea of their behavior, but. . . If you shift your energy, you might find they become much more responsive and easier to handle. People - like pups - can get worked up, aggressive in their energy and reactive, when they are uncertain, or feeling like they must protect themselves. It is not logical, but rather emotional and is often triggered without them fully understanding what is happening. For dogs it is instinct, no thought involved. For humans it is triggers that are on auto pilot and often run quite deep, again however there is not actual conscious thought involved, it is reactive. In both cases, proceed with consciousness! When you remember to breathe, slow down and ground yourself, you will find that everything around you becomes clearer. Sometimes it is best to change direction, perhaps find another way to get to your desire destination. Other times it may just be a redirect of the situation which will bring with it a positive outcome. Barking means many things, the most important part you can play is not to bark back! Peace, Love and Wufs, Rev Deb, Chooks & Sam |
Our WishDina Rae and Rev Deb invite you to enjoy this curated experience. May your tails wag with satisfaction and your hearts be warmed by all that you see. Archives
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