It’s like magic - one day a tiny kitten, playful puppy or exuberant filly comes into your life and the next day they are seniors. Their youthful essence still shines through AND they may be living with any number of age-related conditions.
So what do you do? They’re family. You care for them in the best way you can, for as long as you can.
In the past couple of years I’ve accompanied dog Max and cat Raven on their journeys of aging and death. A LOT of feels came up for me as I was juggling their needs, my needs and the practical needs of Covid-influenced everyday life.
Max and Raven have crossed over and the feels still come.
Somedays I feel swallowed by the reality of what is, while simultaneously owning I’m doing the best I can while feeling my best is not ‘good enough’.
Sound familiar?
It’s easy to forget we humans need care too. We need tending, nurturing, conversation, community and support. We need witnessing, not fixing.
If you’re currently experiencing that, or remembering grief from the past or experiencing anticipatory grief, you don’t have to go through it by yourself. You really don’t.
I have a support team, both in real life and virtually, that I reach out to when I’m feeling the need to have my grief witnessed, acknowledged or even held for me until I’m ready to take on the grief mantle again.
Should you feel you could use some support and would like to work together, click here for a one time session, click here for a package of 3 sessions.
Podcast News
If you haven’t yet had a chance to listen to Ep #82 of the True Kinship With Animals Podcast, I seriously encourage you to take a break from whatever you’re doing, grab your favorite beverage, put your feet up and given it a listen. Guest Deb Fate-Mental and I explore how the weather affects the animals (and all living beings) in her local ecosystem in the NE of the US. Listen, support, subscribe and share on your favorite podcast platform or listen on Apple at the link above.
Stories by listeners, for listeners
There are so many true kinship with animals stories that are yearning to be shared! How about sharing your story on the podcast? Submit your story for consideration. Thank you!
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About me…..
I am an animist, podcaster, intuitive practitioner and mentor identifying as she/they and respectfully acknowledge I am supported and sustained on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Séliš (Salish) and QÌispé (upper Kalispel or Pend d’Oreille) People who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.
As a practitioner of true kinship with animals, I pledge to recognize the descendants and practices of the original Peoples, Lands and Animals. I will not knowingly appropriate their wisdom, nor will I knowingly speak over their voices. When I have participated in colonialism practices, I will be accountable by publicly acknowledging the harmful practice, apologizing, and doing the needed reflection and self work to do better in the future.
For 30+ years I have facilitated clear conversations between animals and people. In my work I encourage people to recreate a bond with animals by disengaging from colonized approaches and relating in true kinship.
I am cheerfully owned and managed by a multitude of angel animals and several houseplants.
We all do better when ALL creatures do better.