For anyone visiting and having the, “Oh wow…this just doesn’t look right, what happened to the pic of Maya and Starr???!!! And what’s this??? Illuminated Relationships and parachutes???!” reaction…

B R E A T H E .

This is still ME – Maya. Intuitive. Healer. Lover of all things relationships and creatures. And Starr is her wondrous dog-self snoring next to me as I type.

I loooove that renovations has the word ‘NOVA’ smack in the middle. A runaway explosion sounds appropriate right now….

A nova (pl. novae) is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion caused by the accretion of hydrogen onto the surface of a white dwarf star, which ignites and starts nuclear fusion in a runaway manner.

Please be patient with me as I make the changes. I need to see the visual to go with the flow.

I am not changing what I offer – I AM ONLY ADDING TO IT – and giving some of it (Ok – maybe a lot of it) new explanation.

Thank you for visiting – AS ALWAYS.

Sending you blessings of peace and healing on your journey. And BIG LOVE to you all.

Maya

Connection is really a simple thing to achieve.

At times, we say things that we think are supportive to another, with the best of intention.

YET what we say or do ends up separating us from who we are communicating with.

From the person or being that we wish to connect with.

It’s really an easy thing – connection.

To listen to someone and let them know we are present.

We do not have to fix anything for the other.

We can let them know we are listening and we WANT to listen.

Nodding while we listen.

Eye contact.

Gentle smiles.

Saying, “I hear you…”

In the simplest of ways, assuring them that whatever emotion they may be feeling is totally acceptable.

Totally.

Boom. Badda. Bang.

Connection.

Sidenote: This does NOT mean that you allow them to act out their feelings on you.

You can connect with any creature you wish.

Stop. Breathe. Wait. And listen.

Be thankful. Grateful.

Wait.

Listen.

And you will connect.

I wish to wholeheartedly thank all of my friends for being present for me through my emotional roller coaster in the past weeks. Your total acceptance of me is a gift that is priceless and that brings tears to my eyes as I type these words. I have felt connected, grounded and accepted with your help and support. I thank and love you all with big LOVE.

You and I are so much same.

I prefer unlined journals – just in case I want to write or draw. I prefer spiral bindings. I have I-don’t-know-how-many spiral-bound, unlined notebooks filled with your thoughts, ideas, feelings, quotes, sketches, stories, poems and doodles.

I write to be at peace. Because I have to. So did you.

I write to be honest with myself. In the end, so did you.

You were happy to sit at your desk, close to a window where you could see and hear mother nature, her weather and creatures. This is where I am perfectly content.

You had a love affair with pens. Mine continues your legacy.

You had an unsurpassed passion for teaching and inspiring. This is where I feel my soul soar.

You needed a lot of alone time. So do I.

We are so much same.

Your appreciation was for the simple. As is mine.

You contemplated. Everything. I am known for this.

You were dark-haired and dark-eyed. Me too.

You wore glasses. I need them.

I feel so alive when music moves through me. You, sitting at the piano, fingers moving effortlessly over the black and whites, eyes closed, body moving, were the music.

Your love for music surpassed almost all else. I could not truly live without feeling the music.

Your presence was intense. I have been told mine is also.

You loved ice cream. Me – duh.

So much same.

I love to drive by myself, windows down and listen to the music loud. I knew the moment you were home by the jazz piano and bass blaring from your car speakers. You loved to drive. Alone, feeling the music your only destination.

Bookstores equaled your second home. You can find me camped out.

You were a writer obsessed with words. I belong to a support group.

You believed in nature’s ability to heal all. I live this.

When you wholeheartedly laughed your eyes smiled. Mine too.

You loved reading. You hoarded books. At any given time I am reading at least 3 with 2 more on order.

I love the ocean. The beach. You chose this to be the destination every vacation when I was a kid.

Dad and I – so much same.

I have had many unanswered questions. I wholeheartedly seek the answers. So did you.

You needed to learn the hard way how to ask for help. So did I.

You struggled with depression and repressed anger turned inward. One of my greatest teachers.

You wanted most your father’s approval. So did I.

Your rage hurt deeply. I have left wounds and scars of my own.

I have experienced long periods of darkness. You lived it. You died in it.

I didn’t know how to communicate with you. You didn’t know how to communicate with me.

I didn’t think you loved me. You didn’t think I loved you.

Neither of us knew how to bridge the gulf between us.

So much same.

You chose to end your life 5 days ago. Setting yourself free. There is a free-ness to my spirit. Something I had yet to experience. Until now.

I am so grateful you were a part of my journey. As my father.

I love you, Dad. I miss you. I deeply appreciate you and all that you shared with me. All that you showed me and taught me.

The gulf is being bridged.

Truly.

I traveled through time.

Yes. Unmistakeably, yes.

Forward and backward.

I had an equation.

And I needed to get it right.

The equation required the correct combination of elements.

In order to acquire the elements I needed to rely on help from others.

Through relationships.

Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, elders, a lover, friends, acquaintances.

Another requirement was staying in the present moment.

A really sweet, passionate kiss with eyes shut.

Doesn’t this type of kiss always bring us right back to our present moment?

Acquiring the correct elements for the equation took time and patience.

It took talking with lots of people and even deciphering x-rays.

It took help.

And I had to keep trying until I got it right.

This was the main focus of an amazing dream I had the other day while napping.

There also were spiders. And their webs.

I needed to be aware of my relationship to spiders and listen to their message.

There was a dark hall leading to a bathroom.

Eliminating the old, letting go to make space for the new. Literally.

There were no negative feelings. Just present TRUTH.

And all the elements that make up the TRUTH.

In the end, I got the equation correct.

In the end, I received all that I needed and in the end all that I wanted.

And so did all of my loved ones.

All of you.

Yes, YOU.

You all had EVERYTHING that you needed and wanted in the end.

Right before I awoke.

And what a feeling to wake up with.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thoughts, reminders and realizations after I awoke (that I am still processing):

We all have what we need.

Keeping things simple, we find our truth.

We need to ask for help when needed.

Our relationships are always key.

We need to stay in the present moment as much as possible.

We need to remain playful and keep trying different equations/options until we find what works.

We have what we need – we just need the right combination.

We need to love ourselves first.

And then love others.

TOGETHER we are all searching for the same thing.

Our TRUTH.

We are all TOGETHER on this journey called life.

We are never alone.

We always have a choice.

We are capable of MUCH MORE than we are aware of on a daily basis.

It is more than OK to try different paths – they are only experiences.

Not right or wrong – just experiences.

You will always come back to your TRUTH. And come back to YOU.

For me, the presence of spiders is a reminder to write. Spiders are attributed with designing the first form of our alphabet with their webs.

When I was completing the written part of my thesis and I had writer’s block I would have 2 to 3 spiders lowering themselves down around me (as I sat staring at my computer screen) at my desk DAILY.

No joke.

Do you have a dream you would like to share? Messages that you are receiving through animals or your dreams?

This post is #6 in the series, ‘How I came to do what I do’.

If you would like to read from the beginning:

Post #1 and the chinchilla

Post #2 and the seal

Post #3 and breathing

Post #4 and my foot

Post #5 to listen and hear

I have been working two part-time jobs – jobs that really are what they are named – jobs.

When you have a job you have tasks that you are assigned and you have an allotted amount of time to successfully complete the tasks.

And the tasks are then what you are measured by or evaluated by.

UGH.

It has been a long while since I worked a job.

In the past few months I’ve found myself working hard at something that is devoid of deeper meaning and purpose.

Where it is easy to fall into the hole of defining yourself by the product you push or amount of paperwork that you complete.

Easy.

During my morning walk the past few days I have been visited by bright and beautiful red cardinals and robins who have, just moments before, successfully caught their next meal. I discover them at what seems their proudest moment, head held high and breakfast secure in their beaks.

As many of you know, I spent many months studying the native American Indian symbolism of animals wild and domestic while co-designing my holistic studies and healing degree.

Red cardinals are about every (even if seemingly small) thing that you do and/or say being of importance.

Robins are about new growth and letting go of the old. Old beliefs. Old patterns. Things that no longer serve you.

Both the cardinal and the robin are also a direct reminder to me about staying grounded. The cardinal is red, the color of our first chakra – the root chakra. This embodies the family and the root of where we come from. When we are ungrounded or unclear about where we have been or where we are going we need grounding.

I have been drawn to robins as they have just caught their worm – their next meal source. From mother earth. I can’t think of anything more grounding than this.

After taking notice of these visits I spent time meditating on these birds’ messages. I also spent time getting re-grounded.

It wasn’t until then that I realized that I had not been allowing myself to have a much bigger perspective about my part-time jobs.

They are much more than jobs. They are opportunities.

Opportunities to connect. To accept what I have been given – work and money and the opportunity to meet many new people. And have new experiences.

Then and there, I decided that I would allow myself to embrace all of these positive aspects of my two jobs.

This allowed a transformation to happen.

The transformation from a ‘job’, as I defined earlier, to a deeper meaning and purpose for my time and energy.

These amazing birds reminded me to get grounded, realize that everything that I do is of importance and I needed to LET GO and ALLOW.

Hold an intention to let go and to allow and watch the subject of your focus open and change right in front of your eyes.

Whether it’s your job, your relationship with your significant other, your relationship with yourself or any other aspect of our diverse lives – it really is as simple as letting go and allowing.

Especially if you desire CHANGE.

This post is #5 in the series, ‘How I came to do what I do’.

If you would like to read from the beginning:

Post #1 and the chinchilla

Post #2 and the seal

Post #3 and breathing

Post #4 and my foot

We move quickly through our days. Through our hours. Our minutes.

Through our time.

We organize our days into time slots – time to get up out of bed, time to eat breakfast, time to take a shower and get dressed, time to get into our car and drive, time to arrive at work/the office, time to answer phone calls, time to head home, pick up the kids, eat dinner, go to bed and then…time to do it all over again.

Time.

Our time.

Let’s stop and ask ourselves….what am I doing with MY TIME?

Are we stopping just for a moment and noticing our surroundings? Have we stopped lately to feel the breeze on our face?

Have we just stopped and LISTENED to what is on the breeze?

It only takes minimal time to listen.

Minimal time to give yourself something that will instantly (for those of us who love instant gratification) improve your life.

Take some time to listen.

Animals do.

They stop. They listen.

And…they hear.

Animals live their lives listening.

We can do the same.

For those of us who have been running in the rat race (offering some appreciation for rats at this moment), this takes practice. Simple practice.

Just stop. Take a breath. And listen.

You may not hear words. You may just feel.

And this is how you know you are hearing.

There is always a message. And…it is always a loving message.

If your thoughts are negative that is OK. Just take another breath.

Just be willing to hear.

Practice stopping and listening and you will get better at hearing.

I promise.

This post is #4 in the series, ‘How I came to do what I do’.

(I actually wanted to name this post, ‘The present…my ass foot’ but WP doesn’t allow strike outs in the post title)

If you would like to read from the beginning:

Post #1 and the chinchilla

Post #2 and the seal

Post #3 and breathing

I have been walking again. Yay!

I broke a bone in my foot at the very end of last year and was in slow recovery for what felt like FOREVER. (never broke anything before)

Starr and I are up to an hour of walking at a good pace once again.

When I first broke my foot at the end of last year, I could not work at my second job. All I could do for over a month is lay in bed or on the couch and hobble to the bathroom when needed and the kitchen when hungry.

It took me all of 2 days of sitting, laying down and hobbling to realize that I had received exactly what I had asked for. Exactly.

Let’s go back. To a few weeks before I fell.

I had just finished designing my blog (the one you are on now) for my business, Animals’ Wisdom.

After hours and hours of work during my off-hours from my second job, I had finally created a blog that I was happy with.

And…I was so eager for time to write. Time to write blog posts. Time to connect online with potential clients and new connections via Twitter and Facebook. Time to come up with new ideas for my business. Products. Books. And anything else my heart desired.

I needed T I M E.

And this is what I asked for.

And….T I M E is what I received.

LOTS of time.

I found that I had received exactly what I had wanted and needed. Now…I had all the time in the world to write. Create. Just be. Rest. And….WORRY.

I found myself worrying about money…where was it going to come from when my sick days ran out? Would my second job be supportive of my needed time off? AND…what was I going to do with myself when I wasn’t writing, creating, just being or hangin’ with friends that visited???

Ugh.

In retrospect, this was a perfectly, designed learning experience for me…I was reminded of the power of staying present. Something that the animals taught me at a very young age.

Something that as adults, we easily forget.

Animals naturally stay in the present – they thoroughly enjoy the found patch of sunlight, a new scent in the air, a perfect belly rub, snuggling while you watch a movie, eating something stinky and gross, fetching a stick, digging a hole, laying with all four legs in the air sound asleep…

…they give their ‘ALL’ to each and every moment.

This is what, we as humans need a whole lot more of. Presentness.

Presentness – just stopping for a moment and noticing your surroundings. The couch you are sitting on, the road that your car is driving down, your breathing, the feeling of being in your body, the way the light plays on a building in the late afternoon. Just noticing whatever is around you.

Have you noticed that when you do this, everything is OK?

Even if you just found out something is NOT working the way that you wished? Or your relationship is NOT going as you wanted? Or you are stressed about money? Or your job? Or you feel unfulfilled? And don’t know where to start to change things?

Just notice the things in your immediate surroundings and take a deep breath.

Be present. Choose to be present. Everything is really OK in the moment.

This is exactly how I managed my stress and myself through the months of recovery that my foot required.

Now that I am mobile again I have also rediscovered my sheer love of photography. And that taking pictures keeps me in the present.

Where everything really is OK.

Blossoms

A discussion

Peacefulness

Harbor quiet

Color on a cold, gray day

Communication

This post is #3 in the series, ‘How I came to do what I do’.

If you would like to read from the beginning: 

Post #1 and the chinchilla

Post #2 and the seal

Breathe when you are scared. Nervous. Fearful. Angry. Frustrated. Excited. Worried. Ungrounded.

Easily said or written.

Truth is – we usually STOP breathing or breathe erratically when we are highly stressed, scared or are emotional.

I know this all too well.

I also know that animals have taught me the true power of conscious breathing.

Starr lies here next to me as I create this post, comforted and warmed by her blanket. (See photo)

Her breathing is relaxed and deepens as she falls asleep.

Now she is snoring.

I am reminded to breathe. Not the shallow breaths that we are so used to.

Real breaths that expand our diaphragm and help us realize that we are HERE.

Our moment is NOW.

We are alive.

If we are experiencing fear, anger, grief, frustration or the myriad of emotions that help define us as human – breathing can help us get through the moments that feel like they might last forever.

Grief so intense that we think we may never feel content or joyful again.

Anger or rage that feels like it will swallow us whole and then spit a tiny, useless shard of us back out.

Depression that has us feeling so heavy that we won’t ever move or want to move again.

Frustration that makes you contemplate leaving. And never coming back.

You know. If you are human you know.

A simple exercise.

I call this shared breathing.

While sharing some relaxed time with an animal friend (dogs, cats and horses make great candidates), try placing your hands on them gently and take turns focusing on your own breathing and then their breathing.

Take a few deep breaths.

Then allow yourself to breathe easily but with attention to the air going in and out of your lungs.

Witness and feel your pup’s, your kitty’s or your horse’s side raise up or expand with each inhale.

And then recede with the exhale.

And relax into their body warmth. Their contentedness at just being there with you.

Just this and nothing else.

If other thoughts enter your mind gently acknowledge them and then turn your attention gently back to your animal’s breathing.

If you practice this shared breathing exercise you will begin to breathe together.

You will become conscious of how you are sharing this vital life function. You become conscious of sharing L I F E together.

You will bond. More than you already have.

Shared breathing becomes meditative.

You will feel your aliveness – you will feel more centered.

You will feel love. And loved.

B R E A T H E.

And be gentle with yourself.

During your moments of fear, frustration, anger, grief, sadness try to remember to BREATHE.

Just stop and take a few deep breaths.

Practicing shared breathing with your loving animal can help you hold a visual when you are challenged with your emotional responses in your day-to-day life.

When you consciously breathe you are altering your response which can then change the entire experience.

It’s as simple as breathing.

This post is #2 in the series, ‘How I came to do what I do’.

If you would like to read from the beginning:  Post #1 and the chinchilla.

Today, I set out to discover new lands with Starr. What I mean by new lands is, territory yet uncovered by us, together, on foot. This is one of my favorite things to do – to do with Starr.

It was a perfect afternoon to set out on a trek – windy, rain mixed with snow pelting my jacket, her coat. I knew there would not be a lot of people out and about – maybe there would even be NO people. My preference.

I packed up all  necessities: small notebook, pens, wallet, chap stick, hanker chief and camera. Starr, with fleece jacket and me with hat, fleece and rain jacket headed out in my car. On route, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a pair of snowy white swans gliding across still water diving for food. My breath caught and I felt as if I had seen something regal.

I made a mental note to check there in the future with camera ready.

We drove out to the beach parking lot and after shutting off the car, paused. I took a few deep breaths as if I knew what I was going to find would be adventure at its best – and a slight feeling of wonder – wonder of whether or not I was ready.

Together we made our way out to the sand – how great sand feels to my feet – even through my heavy hiking boots. Sensational even.

I took another deep breath and scanned the beach. There were small forms walking off to the right quite a distance away. We went left.

The only person out there beside me: a clam digger – pitch fork in hand – bag in the other.

I let Starr loose and she was off to sniff her part of the journey. Me, I was off to photograph mine.

I traversed my way over a span of rocky area and then across the sand down to the water’s edge. Person clamming still there – making a serene picture dressed in black against the light gray-white sky and the blue-gray water.

I snapped pictures of water meeting shore, of water meeting sky, of the ebb and flow.

I captured the serenity and solitude of the clammer.

Starr caught my attention and I headed up away from the water’s edge and to the dunes where she looked like she may be eating something I would rather she didn’t. I came upon a bird’s wing – the entire wing including the shoulder bone. After shooing Starr onward, I stepped over the wing continuing on.

Less than 5 steps away, I was brought fully back into the present and to what lay below me as soon as my focus became clear.

It was if I was still looking through the camera lens but I wasn’t.

In moments such as this I can actually feel my brain processing what I am looking at. These are the slow motion moments that many of us describe when we come upon something totally unexpected or shocking to the system. Everything slows.

My vision went wide and then focused in again on the object before me.

A dead seal.

I stepped wide and around. I stopped breathing.

In the seconds that followed, I wanted to step away quickly and move on. I didn’t want to register what I was looking at.

I walked away and then realized I could go back if I wanted to. I could look. I could even take a photograph.

My very first thought once I neared the body for the second time was what I was witnessing was sad. The very next thought was, “Who says?”

I knew there was a reason I was to meet up with this seal in this way.

I didn’t need my own judgment to get in the way of the message.

I took two photographs of the seal (which I won’t share because I feel I wouldn’t be leaving you a choice).

Then I walked on.

And thought about the experience of finding the seal.

Animals taught me to observe starting very early in my life.

They taught me to quietly observe. I learned quickly as a young person, that if you wanted the opportunity to observe any wild animal you had to be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. Soon afterward, I realized that by just simply observing and allowing the events in front of you to play out you could be witness to profound things.

Relationships – between animals, between nature and animals, between myself and animals.

Weather changes and what the birds do when there is an approaching storm or while it is raining heavily. I would be safely covered by the ancient, thick pines that lined the river near my house. Sitting very still. Watching. Observing.

Fish in the river. Deer following their paths. Cows in the nearby fields. Rabbits searching for food. Or simply the way the grasses sway and bend in the breeze. I would watch for hours.

Life and all of its messages.

As an adult, I am a keen observer. I still love to sit very still in nature and watch. Just being.

Where I apply this lesson of observation is still in relationship it is just honed specifically to how I first relate to myself and then all of life that surrounds me.

I observed my own fear of looking directly at the dead seal and chose to give myself a second chance to really see – as much as I was comfortable with.

I observed my judgment that it was a sad circumstance that the seal had died. I questioned the judgment. I was gentle with myself.

Later, as I continued to walk the beach, I asked myself what life and nature may be wanting to show me in this experience.

Just choosing to observe – to step back and witness what is happening can teach you things about yourself that you did not know.

If we could choose to simply observe our interactions with our significant others when there is an emotional conversation we would come away from the interaction with information. Vital information.

If we could choose to remind ourselves not to judge the interaction or emotions from either ourselves or our partner we would no longer stand in our own way.

Just observe.

We would stop repeating patterns that are not useful. That do not bring us closer to our partner.

Judgment creates a block. Judgment keeps us from being able to observe.

Just as I questioned myself as to whether or not it really was a sad circumstance behind this seal’s death, what if we asked ourselves:

What if what my partner or child is trying to convey is an attempt at helpfulness?

What if there is just simply a need that is not being met and this is their way of asking for what they need?

What if he/she is really not trying to discount my feelings? What if they really aren’t judging me?

What if my own judgment is standing in the way of being able to see this? To observe this?

What if the relationship that really needs observing is the one I am having with myself?

What if…?

Post #1 in a brand new series

Someone recently asked me how the animals helped me get to where I am today. I immediately thought, hhmmmm…might make for a good post. Or…better yet…a  s e r i e s of posts.

From a very young age, I have been surrounded by the influences of animals – domestic and wild.

My almost constant dog companion, Bear. Chris and Melody my very first kitty friends. My neighbor’s barn full of sheep and a few cats.

The cows that filled the open pastures surrounding my parents’ old colonial farmhouse, barn and yard.  The acres and acres of wild wood and streams teeming with deer, songbirds, hawks, fish, beaver, salamanders, fox, groundhogs, squirrels, spiders, chipmunks, crow and so many other amazing critters.

Even the dilapidated, old structure of the barn in my yard housed bats, raccoons, skunk and mice.

Not to mention the pair of lovebirds in my living room. Or the guinea pigs and hamsters in the hallway. Or the chinchilla.

For the fostering of my spirit and the deepest parts of me, there was not a better way to grow up.

There have been a couple of excellent professors in my time and many divine teachers in the form of family, friends, boyfriends, acquaintances and clients to this date (not to mention numerous choices, situations and experiences).

But no better caliber of teachers than the animals I grew up with.

They taught me the basics:

to observe

to breathe

to be present

to listen

to allow

consistency

truth

gratefulness

unconditional love

No matter what they loved me, they welcomed me, they nurtured me, they allowed me to be ME in all shining ways possible.

The animals with their calm and centered way of being – their peacefulness was who I was – and I did not even realize it.

I have been a writer since I was old enough to know what paper and pen were. My father was a writer and he taught me the value of carrying paper and pen with me wherever I went. You never knew when a thought might come or something you might want to sketch might appear before you. (I still do this today.)

My carrying case was navy blue with a black strap and made of heavy canvas. Perfect for my adventures in the surrounding wood, through the streams and under groves of spectacular, ancient pines. The case kept my favorite pens, pencils and notebook safe.

The notebook held the inside secret teachings of my greatest mentors.

You know…like the offer we get from one of our super, ingenious mentors for that special teleclass or workshop that holds all the answers to what we need for our business?

Nature and her creatures taught me all I needed to know about the fundamentals of life – the life inside myself and how to relate to life outside of myself.

And I am still learning from my notes…today.

Animals taught me how to lead by example.

Today, I am 37 and still a writer.

I am an avid studier of life. The life inside myself and the life that surrounds me, mirroring me on the outside.

I am a student of all relationships in my life.

Animals provided the solid foundation that I build my life on today.

I am an expert in relationship, connection and communication.

Yes, I work with animals and their people.

But…I mostly work with people.

My work is my passion.

_____________________________________________________________

Please join me back here soon for the next post in this series and learn more about my personal journey and how I have come to do what I do. (Maybe more about the chinchilla, too)

Thank you so much for visiting and for reading!