Animals Aren't Souvenirs - Messages From a Shell

Have you ever picked up a shell an found the animal still living in its home? As humans we are fascinated with touching and prodding different species.  Is this just our curious human nature? What if a large animal picked us up and prodded and sniffed us. How would we react? Would we try to move away, try to fight them off? I hope none of us ever has to witness this happening to our friends and loved ones let alone ourselves.

Yesterday was my "unplug" day. I live near the beach and I pack nothing but beach gear—no electronic devices or cellphones, sunscreen, lunch and lots of water. There are many beautiful migrating sea birds that flock along the shores and many visiting tourists. Quite honestly I am more comfortable with the animals than the people. The animals forage for bits of food among the debris that is washed up. Many have to pick through plastic bottle caps, styrofoam and other man-made items. This is something they have come to accept and sadly so has mankind.

But it doesn't have to be this way, and if we rally took some quiet time to observe nature we would feel more connected and our self-preservation vibes would spread to world around us. It would include the plants and animals that share our communities. And this would be taught to our offspring and together we could bring change. Meditation is key to helping raise our awareness.

Yesterday I used my floating-in-the-water time to make this connection. It is such a beautiful thing to switch off and float. A water meditation can be done anywhere you can quietly submerge yourself in water. If you use your tub, just imagine the sights, scents, feelings and sounds that bring you complete peace.
You start very simply with an opening prayer. Here is the one I use:
To my highest guides and helpers second to none

Bless me and keep me safe at this time that I sit
Knowing that all that is said, done and heard, felt or sensed in any way
is with absolute love as I blend myself with my consciousness
I wish at this time to be at one with my spirit

I close my eyes and feel myself floating in the water (I use a floating raft, but you can also sit on the beach with the water lapping up on you) I breath along with  the rhythm of the water feeling the rise and fall of the sea. I feel the wind and I hear the sea birds. I smell in all of the beautiful scents that abound at the ocean. I then just LET GO of all thought and I allow myself to be carried. This lasts no more than 15—20 minutes, and after it is finished I close with a prayer of gratitude. I allow whatever sensations, feelings, images, sounds or thoughts to be brought to my conscious state and (after I dry off) journal everything. These journals have brought tremendous insight and peace.

I came away from the meditation and found myself in conversation with a fish. There are many tiny fish that scoot along the shoreline and one came and sat beneath my raft. I had felt my disgust with some of the people I had seen picking up the conchs and wanting to take them home as souvenirs. This happens so often that I find myself trying to gently educate them as they run screaming to their friends to come and look at what they "found" as if they now have a right to where it gets to reside—in their beach bucket or back in the sea. This fish was letting me know that even though I sound like I am a broken record, I am the one with the voice, I have the vocal chords that can communicate with humans. "But," I said, "I don't want to be the beach police, I came here to relax and enjoy nature." The fish replied, "Isn't part of that enjoyment protecting what you love?" Before departing he swam a few circles around my knees and I thanked it for its wisdom.

And so, I will continue to visit the beach and I will carry on collecting trash and speaking to people that toss animals around like toys. But I will also continue to teach about the importance of daily meditation. Fifteen minutes a day can bring you inspiration, insight and oh yes, wise counsel from the creatures sharing our planet.

To learn how you can meditate please read my book Sæ-sii Meditation: How to Find Your Bliss in 15 Minutes a Day

I am a Professional Animal Communicator, I can speak with your animals! learn more

Photos: 
Top: Jeffery Pippen
Bottom: http://www.dickndebbietravels.com/?p=8228

Straight From The Horse's Mouth

As we move through life we often find nuggets of inspiration. For me I have collected these little gems them through years of journaling all of my dreams and meditations. Like a treasure box I hold each one dear. Below is one of my entries:

February 25, 2011: I meditate daily in total silence. No music, no imagery cues, I do not go to a garden or to a mountain. I sit in silence and still my mind and if I come away with a blank slate. I thank my guides and start my day feeling connected. Through my meditations I have been given clear directions to write children's books of my own. I was given 3 separate messages this week.
1) I saw a rolling farmland of fields all adorned in multicolored fabric – a black tubular substance broke through this image as if it were black oil paint – or black toothpaste and covered the entire image
2) I saw the same rolling fields of fabric as real crops all dried up – all brown and withered
3) I saw an illustration (in my artistic style) of three calico horses made of fabric standing on a hill

This collection of meditation notes became a young adult novel, it was released March 26, 2014 and only four days later Barnes and Nobles placed an order for 1200 books causing this to go into a second printing. I illustrated the cover as I saw it given to me in meditation. I created a video for this book with the same imagery I saw unfolding over and over again as the horses that were threatened came to me.

I was given the idea to use children's Equine Art Camp as part of my story. I developed this wonderful place for children to meet the wild horses that had been rescued and motivate their creative abilities through art. I am about to take that fictional part of the book and make it a reality!

I am about to embark on my very first book tour where I will be teaching Child/Parent Equine Watercolor Workshops throughout the US. Students will learn how to meditate and connect with the artist within.

This is a hands-on equine watercolor lesson for ALL levels. I teach a very loose style, erasers and pencils will not be needed as we will “sketch with paint.” Anyone can do this – there ARE NO MISTAKES only learning. A portion of all proceeds will benefit wild horse and burro sanctuaries. Autographed books will be given to all along with a new ability to paint freely.

Connecting with the spirit of the horse enables us to speak through art. It was through this connection that I was able to write and illustrate Calico Horses and the Patchwork Trail. Just look at all of the people that will come to learn about this story and art!

EQUINE WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
April 23, 2014: 4:00Pm - 5:30 pm Twirl Toy Store/Playhouse – along
with Moby Dickens Bookshop Taos, NM
May 17, 2014: 2:00pm - 5:00 pm Return to Freedom – Lompoc, CA
June 1, 2014: Hidden Valley Protection Fund – Reno, NV
June 7, 2014: Wind River Reservation – Riverton, WY sponsored by Wild Horse Education
June 8, 2014: Zuma's Rescue Ranch – Littleton, CO
June, TBA 2014 Bee Hive Books – Santa Fe, NM
Aug. 23, 2014 Chapters Bookstore – Fredericton, NB, Canada
Sept., TBA 2014: The Country Book Shop – Southern Pines, NC
Sept., TBA 2014: Moore County Driving Club – Southern Pines, NC - Speaking Engagement
Oct., TBA 2014: Salem County 4-H Club – Predricktown, NJ

The wild horses came to me in meditation and asked me to tell their story, but they also showed me that I needed to MOVE my thoughts into action. What purpose would it serve to record every meditation and hear their cries if I had closed my journal and stayed put? Now is the time to connect to your inner voice to find YOUR purpose.


Begin today by using meditation to uncover your hidden treasure. To learn more please read my book.
I am a Professional Animal Communicator, I can speak with your animals! learn more.

Goodreads reviews for Calico Horses and the Patchwork Trail

Reviews from Goodreads.com

Origin of Tears

Meditation: I heard a voice telling me that I needed to develop the art of scrying. I should use water. There is an organization doing tremendous work with this they are called ORIGIN OF TEARS.

Meditation: I struggled with just allowing myself to drift as people were talking outside my window. I watched a few lights flicker knowing they were my guides coming in to be recognized. I then decided to get my bowl of salt water and tried scrying. I am trying to learn how to work with water. I saw a few lights and nothing more. I closed my eyes and placed my hand into the water stating my intent that I wanted to connect with it. This is what came: 
"We are one—  water is me and I am water. There is a deep love between us and we have known each other for millions of years. The water cares for me and I for it. It is in danger and needs my help." I assured it that I was doing my best to conserve and not pollute and I am trying to teach all that I can through my writing. I felt myself become emotional and salty tears fell. I ended my meditation with thanks and blessings to the universe.

scrying dictionary.com
divination of distant or future events based on visions seen in a ball of rock crystal. Divination based on an analysis of reflections in water, on polished metal, or on precious stones was practiced by early humans, who probably interpreted these phenomena as a vision of the spirit world.

It is now months later and I have to say, scrying takes a lot of practice and patience. I have never been a very patient person and this can be quite tasking in that department of my personality. But I would never have given it a second thought had that message not been given to me so clearly.

Origin of Tears? I have not found this organization, but this does not mean that it doesn't exist and if you know of this group please do email me. I did find however, a research paper entitled "Origin of Tears" written by a group that leads off with the statement "An e-journal of emerging humanities work." It discusses Darwin's theory along with the fact that humans are the only primates that weep salt in their tears.

These messages were given to me in January. I have been writing a young reader's story regarding the water crisis effecting the planet. It wasn't until I looked over my meditation/dream journals that I recognized the significance of their meaning.
Using meditation daily not only enhances our lives but connects us to the planet in a way that is hard to put into words. I believe the water is actually speaking through me as I write this book. The origin of tears will reveal itself in time. I believe it is calling all of us to "wake up" and understand that we have to share our natural resources with the creatures and plants that inhabit our planet. In order to bring harmony and balance back to our environment we need to be able to work together. This starts with communication. Begin using meditation in your life and find a way to connect to the planet that is calling out to you— who knows you may just find the origin of your tears.

To learn more about meditation please visit Meditation Mojo.