I’m glad you are on the mend, but so sorry to hear about your dear cat. May he pass peacefully. Much love to you.
Thank you all. It was very peaceful. He was on the bed in our spare room, able to see trees, the sky, hear birds, feel the sun on his face. I petted him for about an hour before the vet came, and our other cat Tess (a reiki emitter), came up on the bed and laid nearby the whole time. He had his eyes open through the end, so I know I was the last thing he saw.
We should all be so lucky, to have only one day of suffering and die surrounded by loved ones and feel their love and mercy.
Your intuition is spot on. I've heard of meditation over-exertion in the Buddhist tradition; they call it lung (pronounced "loong"). I don't consider myself to be a master or very consistent meditator, but reading your post made me realize that I am pushing myself a bit too much lately when it comes to my mindfulness/visualizing practices. I've made advances I never could have imagined 4 months ago, so I think I can take things easier for a period. I like your mom's use of adoration in the Holy Presence, and I tried doing that today. It was cold but very sunny where I am, so I stood directly facing the sun for 10 or 15 minutes at a time throughout the day and just felt the warmth on my face, nothing more. Tomorrow is going to be a genuine Sabbath day for me. No chores, no errands, no writing. I'm going to walk around in the woods with "empty adoration" and then relax in my favorite local cafe.
The connections you've drawn between your bronchial issues and the emotional/spiritual dimensions of your life are brilliant. You're thinking like a shaman, accessing the physically healing powers of storytelling.
i haven't been in the proper state to send healing energy to people or animals lately. So I'm glad that your most recent bout of bronchitis is clearing up and that Arlo passed peacefully and surrounded by so much love. You know, I've been thinking about Arlo these past few months and was hoping that he'd undergo a miracle transformation in which his cancer completely went away. But reading about how much longer he lived than expected and how much love he received right to the end, I think he was in the midst of a miracle.
He was certainly not the first pet we've had to put down. I can honestly say that the at home euthanasia was the best choice (he always panicked on very short car rides to the vet). Going forward we're going to do our best to do this at home (we have 3 other pets, 2 of which are also not that well, but not terminal so far). And because he lived life to the fullest up until 36 hours ago, we had nicknamed him "Chanukkah Cat".
Had this particular cancer occurred anywhere else, like on a leg (more typical), we could have afforded to do surgery, but it was right on his forehead, and the thought of torturing him with multiple car rides to the specialty hospital for surgery, radiation and chemo, and to spend more than $10,000, we knew that was not the right choice for us.
I'm attaching his last pic, from right before the vet came. You can see Tess behind him, just standing by. (They were not related, but did come into our house on the same day at the same time in 2008.)
Sweet, sweet sweet precious little ones. My heart continues to go out to those who loose loved ones and I must say losing a beloved pet is a huge trigger.
The magical energy between human and animal kingdoms are so amazingly unique and special.
I mourn my own losses still in my heart and love always the strange coincidences of how and when and even more importantly perhaps why they come into our lives when they do.
Definitely connected to all of the other magic out there in the messages of spirit and importance in our own little furry, feathered, finned or scaley animal totems and guides.
Blessings to you and all of yours Laura. ? and so so much love to you and little Arlo. You were both so very blessed to be so deeply loved. ???
@laura-f, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing Arlo’s beautiful picture with us. What a furry, sweet ball of pure light! You were both blessed to travel this life road together. I am sending you and your family comforting light and lots of love.