From ghoulies and ghosties, And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!
~ A Scottish prayer
Could it be those things we think won’t let go of us . . . are things we won’t let go of?
Author: Karal
writer, artist, Reiki master, compassionate vegan, animal advocate, and gypsy soul, with a love of old Beagles, planet Earth, and a good story.
Mom’s Day: Celebrating Feminine Energies
Happy Mother’s Day to those who nurture our planet’s souls. Human people, animal people, and the planet itself all need the love!*
*To my mom: I have the utmost love and respect for you as a mother and a woman. You live your life with strength, integrity, and a love for your family that is deep and unwavering. Through your love and example, I have found my way, blending the soul of a gypsy with the heart of a true woman warrior.
I love you.
Cant You Love Me?
. . . Can’t you love yourself?
Daisy to the Rescue
Daisy and I are off to Malibu tonight!
Well, not Daisy, exactly, but one of the photos that she so graciously and happily modeled for in the 8 years she was with me. We’re headed to an event to benefit Meade Canine Rescue, and Daisy’s photo is part of the evening’s auction. Meade is a nonprofit rescue established with the goal of saving dogs (and the occasional cat) who for various reasons end up in local municipal pounds and would otherwise be euthanized.
For those that don’t know, Daisy was dumped at a shelter when she was 5 with orders to be killed. She was 85 massive pounds of Beagle and suffered arthritis, major separation anxiety, and a severe case of sweet cuteness. Her true nature was adventurous, loving, full of energy, fun, and wisdom ~ yet her owner didn’t think she deserved to live.
Daisy never saw her weight as a problem, though I did, the first time I caught her rocking back and forth to get the momentum to heave herself up on the couch. Eventually, with walks and a good diet, she lost 35 pounds, stopped arthritis meds, and played and ran on the beach. She was the face of pure optimism, and knee surgery, going deaf, and even bladder cancer couldn’t slow her down. Through it all, she remained the insanely, stupendously joyous dog that I had come to love.
Three months after her cancer diagnosis, April 20, 2015, the cancer began to shut down her body and I had to let her go. She was 13 years old, a senior girl, still very full of life, and though she was no longer a puppy, not once did I consider giving up on her, or giving her up. But sadly, there are many people like her former owner who dump their senior dogs when they need love the most. These old dogs are often brought to high kill shelters and left there, scared and confused as they watch their owners walk away. Meade Canine works to save these dogs and give them a new life, and I urge you to learn more about this wonderful organization either through the link above or their Facebook page.
Tonight’s event is hosted by Chiquita’s Friends, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs from death row.
Thanks to my mom, a copy of this photo also proudly hangs in the halls of Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, VA.
Never Stop Smiling!
“You have a beautiful smile. Never stop smiling!”
~ Old man in a black hat,
Fairfax District of Los Angeles.
Saturday, April 3, 2010.
Have you ever had one of those moments that showed it’s significance later?
Black Hat Guy passed me on the street one block behind Cantor’s Deli on Hayworth and never even slowed his pace, just said what he said and kept moving. But his timing was impeccable.
The next day was Easter Sunday and the day a close friend chose to end his life. Those words, spoken by a random stranger who did not even know me, came back so often in the following weeks, months, years, as another friend and then another chose to leave and I worked to regain a sense of balance, and grounding, and peace.
Never stop smiling!
Thanks, Black Hat Dude! Your words remind me that there’s more to life than just my interpretation of what’s happening at the moment, that there’s more to me than just this human body with it’s worries and problems and stories it tells itself. There’s a light within! Good to know on those days that it burns a little less bright.
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” ~Albert Schweitzer~
Question: What’s your significant moment?
Expanding the Gypsy Soul
in releasing attachment, i abandon expectation.
in abandoning expectation, i become present to the now.
in becoming present to the now, i open my spirit to life.
in opening to life, i acknowledge inevitable death.
in acknowledging death, i walk consciously through grief.
in walking through grief, i dance fervently with joy.
in dancing with joy, i unearth a creativity buried within.
in unearthing creativity, i awaken to an awareness that i am not you.
in awakening to this awareness, i embrace the freedom to be me.
in embracing freedom, i release attachment.
Gypsies Don't Need Sofas 
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