First Published in the Santa Barbara News-Press

2019-06-05

Many months ago, I fell in love with a painting at the Primavera Art Gallery.

Before Point No Point

It was thousands of dollars above my budget, but I snapped a photo of it anyway.  The painting was of a small box shaped house that reminded me of a lighthouse. Since a young girl, I have always loved lighthouses. The idea that even in stormy weather a sailor could rely on a flashing light though the fog and the sound of mariner’s bell to alert them of home or rocky waters always calmed my restlessness.   This house had its porch light on, another symbol to me of arriving home safely.  Soon after I saw the painting, it started to show up in my visions during meditations.  I would find myself walking up the steps into the house and then either upstairs or out the back door into mystical worlds or places to study.

One morning during my meditation, I found myself out the back door of the house.  I had long thin legs. Effortlessly, I took flight. I was a white crane flying over the waves at the edge of the water. I could smell and feel the spray of the ocean and sense the wind touching every muscle and feather as I was lifted higher above the water.  I flew through sunlight and puffy clouds in a world more vivid than this one, wishing it would never end.  In a moment, I found myself landing in the arms of a man.  I could feel his strong biceps supporting my bird body against his chest. He stroked my head and my back kindly. I pushed my head up against his cheek and wondered if this is how birds feel when they find themselves safe with a human friend.  I looked down at my crane feet and they morphed into webbed ones. Was I now a white duck or a goose? My conscience rose from the depth of my heart. I did not want to trick this man into believing I was solely a bird. I flew from his arms and turned around using my will to turn me back into a woman. I felt the ocean fog around me and a white dress drape on my body.  I wondered, “Do I now look like the ghost of woman from an old movie?”

Then I was aware of my breath, the blanket around me, and my chihuahua stirring to the rising sun out the bedroom window.

I went back to the gallery that day to visit the painting.  It was thousands of dollars cheaper but still thousands more than I could spend.  Months went by. Primavera closed.  I wrote the artist telling her how much I loved her painting and made her an offer.  The next day she accepted. I was thrilled. We became friendly via email both lovers of art and animals.  A few days, later she writes, “I made a big mistake! I thought the painting was sent back… Much to my surprise it wasn’t. I had two pieces of the lighthouses and I thought the other one was sold. I feel really bad! I am sending you another painting of a bird at no cost.  This is called “Crane Wife,” referring to one of my favorite folk tales of a Japanese wife who is a shape-shifter. The painting was hanging at the American Embassy in Kuwait for a couple of years, having been selected to be part of the Art in Embassy program.”

Crane Wife

I was stunned.  The house was a lighthouse after all. Aw, it’s gone. Did I read the email correctly? Is she gifting me a painting?  Of a woman who shape-shifts into a crane?  Words cannot express my sense of awe and gratitude.

The “Crane Wife” is hanging by my front door. She stands just outside a door at the water’s edge with the darkness behind her and light upon her chest.  When I gaze at her, I am reminded of all that is safe and wonderful in this miraculous world.

“Crane Wife” and the painting “Before Point No Point” was painted by my new friend Treacy Ziegler. www.treacyzieglerfineart.com   instagram @treacyziegler

First Published in the Santa Barbara News-Press

2019-04-10

I had a phone session a woman named Karen. She has 7-year-old female calico cat with big golden eyes named Audrey.  Karen wanted to know if there was anything Audrey wanted to say or anything she wants or needs.

Audrey starts the conversation with, “My mom has gone through a lot in the last few years. Her heart is opening up like a spring flower. You know music when it sounds like doom thunder time and then it gets relaxed? Mom, is in the relaxed stage.”  Karen shared that she recently went through a bad breakup. During this time, there had been a lot of thunderstorms and flooding in her state which is where “doom thunder” came from.

Audrey went on to talk about wanting her water dish scrubbed more often, a different type of litter and to go outside at night so she could see “the amazing stars in the sky”.   “I am really enjoying the new bathroom smell. It would be nice if that was in the living room.” She says. Turns out her mom recently put a new fragrant soap in the bathroom.

Audrey continued, “There is this one peachy colored facial cream that looks extraordinary on my mom.”  Karen has been diligent about taking care of her skin lately. Audrey was clearly using the session to give her mom an emotional pep talk.

When I asked Audrey if she missed her old dad she replied, “Oh, my goodness. I will tell you a thing about him. He is sort of like a tv. The conversation goes one way. Not two ways.  You talk to him and sometimes you get nothing back. Even I respond better. I would go to him and be like ‘Are you in there?’. He is not an emotionally stable guy. I feel bad for him because he has some type of hiccup in his head. I don’t need to see him again. He is not mom worthy.”

Karen shared that her ex-boyfriend was not very communicative or empathic to her feelings.  Time and time again, animals will tell their people through me that their significant other or their ex does not treat not them right or is not the right person for them. In these situations, it’s always a little awkward to be the animals’ translator, but it is also an honor.

When the truth is spoken so practically, a still moment follows where the client gets very quiet. I wait it out, because deep change is occurring. The people are processing their animal’s level of consciousness and the reality of what was just said. They realize that all the trauma they went through, where they thought that they we were all alone, there was actually a silent observer that witnessed, understood and cared for them the whole time. That their animal was not just there to snuggle with them but also understood the complexity of the situation and had compassion for their plight.  It’s a “whoa aha” moment that excites me, because I know that animal will be looked at differently from that moment forward.  This doesn’t just happen with breakups, it can happen with illness, work issues and conflict in any relationships. The animals are super aware.

When I am listening to the animals, sometimes I chuckle too loudly to myself and then have to pull it together while I translate what was said. Like when Audrey goes on to give her mom dating advice, “Mom, just be yourself and know that you have awesomeness inside of you.  If you have to ask yourself, “Does this guy know I am awesome?” get rid of him before he breaks your heart.  Also wear cool shoes, so when you kick him out of the house, you can think about your cool shoes rather than the disappointing guy.”

Leave it to a cat to give the best advice.