Just beautiful. Amazing when we realize we need to “put our phones down” so we can be fully present. Documentation takes but an instant. Then we watch from the heart and not through the lens. Journaling brings the experience forth as well. This was lovely to read. And I did enjoy a photo or two! Balance always. ❤️
It’s such a hard balance of being there and capturing the image to remember and process. Thank you so much for following my words and our journey. I love the thought of watching through the heart and not the lens. ❤️
I was in the woods years ago when my dog had I believe stroke. He went down and my initial thought was who do I call? And I had no phone. If I’d been at home I would have had this experience of his death with the vet on my phone. Instead I was fully present with him in those moments of his death. I’ll never forget what a lesson that was in been present. Fully attentive. It is a process of noticing where we are in the here and now. Keep up your sharing of experience with us!
We have been talking so much about how the farm is a hospice of sorts — so many seniors who come here to live out their days. And I’m learning to better prepare of community for the reality of losing a herd member before we’re in a crisis. There is something so holy about sharing that space of transition. Thank you for sharing this. Did you experience any kind of deeper connection in that moment or was your role being a careful witness?
It was very powerful. Our initial reaction is to “make it stop”. What’s happening? How do I stop this? My initial reaction to call someone was impossible and I watched myself transition through “make it stop” to be a partner in this. It was winter. I took off my snowshoes and sat beside my dog put his head in my lap. I just had to look all around me at the snow and the trees and the light and our bodies together in this moment and support his transition across with so much love and understanding that this is where we are and it is a process unfolding in beauty and light and love and that I would hold him and love him for as long as it took. That was my role. Not to change the outcome but for both of us to accept death as a part of our relationship to each other and to life. Being free of outer distraction was of vital importance to this acceptance on my part. It was a matter of moments. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 18 years ago. It changed my life. After he took his last breaths I feel like I saw the world in a way I never had before. Total connection between everything coming and going forever. Since then I have been present at both my parents deaths and my husbands and four other dogs. It’s not full of fear and tears and agony but an honor to support the beloved and help them bring onto another dimension of peace and light.
Thank you for bringing me into this sacred circle. I'd love to know more about how your life has transformed since this moment 18 years ago -- what you see and how you feel and how your views of what come after have changed, if at all. Thank you for the ability to hear and hold your story.
I’ve been pondering a response. I would say this event was my first “satori”. This is sudden awakening. A door bursting open, a portal, an enlightenment. It opened me to a new sense of reality where everything is connected, all is illusion, especially any idea that we are in control of anything except how we open to the experience we are in. Witnessing mind. Here I am in this unfolding. What is my part? It’s been a journey. I got sober. I began a spiritual practice of yoga study which led to mirror a Buddhist approach to life, yoga teacher training and I have been teaching for 11 years. I’m 72. My husband died of brain cancer 10 years ago, after hospice at home paralyzed on his left side, for six months. It’s been one threshold after another all of which have just been catalysts for growth. I’ve had 14 international trips since his death, one walking 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. I just know life is precious and beautiful and our purpose is love and then we go. Living in alignment with our purpose of love in all things brings great peace and joy even in the midst of grief and confusion. Humor. Animals (3 beloved dogs and a horse). Family. A few friends. Much time in Nature. Movement of the body. Work. Dance. Yoga. Riding. Rest. Laughter. Reading. Getting out of the way and being an instrument of presence and love. It honestly all started that day in the woods. After he passed, in that moment, I looked around me and everything was watercolor. All defined lines were softened. I was just part of the soup of life.
Hearing from your point of view about this experience was amazing. I am beyond grateful to have had you by my side for this amazing moment. I’ve already journaled my view and it will be up soon.
I’m so grateful for you in this and ALL OF THIS. You are the human that Magic has been waiting for to give her the space to speak in her own way. Thank you! I can’t wait to read your words.
Just beautiful. Amazing when we realize we need to “put our phones down” so we can be fully present. Documentation takes but an instant. Then we watch from the heart and not through the lens. Journaling brings the experience forth as well. This was lovely to read. And I did enjoy a photo or two! Balance always. ❤️
It’s such a hard balance of being there and capturing the image to remember and process. Thank you so much for following my words and our journey. I love the thought of watching through the heart and not the lens. ❤️
I was in the woods years ago when my dog had I believe stroke. He went down and my initial thought was who do I call? And I had no phone. If I’d been at home I would have had this experience of his death with the vet on my phone. Instead I was fully present with him in those moments of his death. I’ll never forget what a lesson that was in been present. Fully attentive. It is a process of noticing where we are in the here and now. Keep up your sharing of experience with us!
We have been talking so much about how the farm is a hospice of sorts — so many seniors who come here to live out their days. And I’m learning to better prepare of community for the reality of losing a herd member before we’re in a crisis. There is something so holy about sharing that space of transition. Thank you for sharing this. Did you experience any kind of deeper connection in that moment or was your role being a careful witness?
It was very powerful. Our initial reaction is to “make it stop”. What’s happening? How do I stop this? My initial reaction to call someone was impossible and I watched myself transition through “make it stop” to be a partner in this. It was winter. I took off my snowshoes and sat beside my dog put his head in my lap. I just had to look all around me at the snow and the trees and the light and our bodies together in this moment and support his transition across with so much love and understanding that this is where we are and it is a process unfolding in beauty and light and love and that I would hold him and love him for as long as it took. That was my role. Not to change the outcome but for both of us to accept death as a part of our relationship to each other and to life. Being free of outer distraction was of vital importance to this acceptance on my part. It was a matter of moments. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 18 years ago. It changed my life. After he took his last breaths I feel like I saw the world in a way I never had before. Total connection between everything coming and going forever. Since then I have been present at both my parents deaths and my husbands and four other dogs. It’s not full of fear and tears and agony but an honor to support the beloved and help them bring onto another dimension of peace and light.
Thank you for bringing me into this sacred circle. I'd love to know more about how your life has transformed since this moment 18 years ago -- what you see and how you feel and how your views of what come after have changed, if at all. Thank you for the ability to hear and hold your story.
I’ve been pondering a response. I would say this event was my first “satori”. This is sudden awakening. A door bursting open, a portal, an enlightenment. It opened me to a new sense of reality where everything is connected, all is illusion, especially any idea that we are in control of anything except how we open to the experience we are in. Witnessing mind. Here I am in this unfolding. What is my part? It’s been a journey. I got sober. I began a spiritual practice of yoga study which led to mirror a Buddhist approach to life, yoga teacher training and I have been teaching for 11 years. I’m 72. My husband died of brain cancer 10 years ago, after hospice at home paralyzed on his left side, for six months. It’s been one threshold after another all of which have just been catalysts for growth. I’ve had 14 international trips since his death, one walking 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. I just know life is precious and beautiful and our purpose is love and then we go. Living in alignment with our purpose of love in all things brings great peace and joy even in the midst of grief and confusion. Humor. Animals (3 beloved dogs and a horse). Family. A few friends. Much time in Nature. Movement of the body. Work. Dance. Yoga. Riding. Rest. Laughter. Reading. Getting out of the way and being an instrument of presence and love. It honestly all started that day in the woods. After he passed, in that moment, I looked around me and everything was watercolor. All defined lines were softened. I was just part of the soup of life.
Hearing from your point of view about this experience was amazing. I am beyond grateful to have had you by my side for this amazing moment. I’ve already journaled my view and it will be up soon.
I’m so grateful for you in this and ALL OF THIS. You are the human that Magic has been waiting for to give her the space to speak in her own way. Thank you! I can’t wait to read your words.