My Repeated Lesson

July 2006

Eight months ago I got two 7 week old puppies, Hugo and Poppy, a brother and sister from the same litter.  They are Retriever crossed with Boarder Collie.  I must have been a little insane at the time and can forgive myself for my impetuousness and believe me it has been  some of the worst months in the time I have lived in France.  I seem to think I am younger than I am and really should have realised how difficult it would be for me with one puppy let alone two,  But somehow I managed.  When those two puppies came into my life Zen and Spirituality went out the door.  My home was a shouting, screaming chaotic mess.  I got so angry at having my walls and furniture eaten, the cat constantly chased (funny he didn't mind but I did) and many other double puppy mischief. The main concern was I had two escape artist on my hands.  They had an enormous garden to play in, miles of open fields to walk in but no they had to get out of the garden at all times, they also decided that my neighbours chickens and ducks were fair game. to be caught and killed.  A very upsetting time ensued.  My neighbour had been very kind up until now and was a lovely man but now he took to shouting all the time and I was shouting back in my limited French.  Not a situation for love and friendliness.  I was desperate and put the puppies up for adoption and asked the universe to find them homes   In rural France it appears that dogs and chickens do not mix, as my neighbour opposite me told me their dogs got out and killed every chicken in the neighbourhood so mine killing 4 ducks and  1 chicken was not serious at all. But to me it was terrible and I was at my wits end.  I knew that there must be a message in what was happening and I began to look at it from an angle of what did I need to learn from these two puppies. I already knew that DOG was GOD backwards and I realised that I was doing all things that were un GOD like, anger, hate, impatience, loudness etc. I was forgetting everything I knew, About two months ago I decided to re-read the book The Tenth Insight by James Redfield, again and in it there was the theme of noticing and listening to the animals. Well I had been listening to the animals but had not been in tune with them and definitely was not being the calm within the storm.  On our very early morning walks I had twice seen a deer as it stood at the edge of the field glowing in the early morning sunlight.  Luckily the dogs were interested in other things and had not noticed it so I was able to absorb its beauty.  I decided to read what the message was of Deer in the Medicine Cards because I know this was a message for me and it felt like a biggy.

Deer……. so gentle

And loving you are.

A flower of kindness

An embrace from afar.

Deer’s story is one of slaying the monster with love and gentleness and the message is to find the gentleness of spirit to heal all things. Stop pushing so hard to get others to change, and love them just as they are.  Apply gentleness to your present situation and become like the summer breeze; warm and caring.

What a message, I had not been accepting my dear puppies as what they were, I was expecting them to be the best trained and behaved dogs without too much training, and so I changed, I was more understanding and loving towards them, I spent a lot of time training them after seeking advice from dog trainers.  Although I had been training them before I changed tactics and it worked.  I can’t say they are so well trained they do everything I ask but they are so much better and what with higher fencing around my neighbours chickens and new fencing all around my garden as well as an electric fence, (on very rarely, just in case) we now have a relationship which is fun, loving and happy.  The changes had to happen in me and now the dogs have changed.  In this case I was able to change some exterior things to appease others and by changing all my un Godly behaviour to the qualities I see as God like, I overcame my difficulties.  So I now see these beloved animals as a wonderful example to let me understand unconditional love and loyalty. I also thank them for their gift to me of loyalty, love and companionship.

 Dog,

You are so noble,

until the bitter end.

Your medicine is the teaching,

Of true and loyal friends.

A lesson it seems needed to be repeated and spirit knew this. The Universe didnot find them new homes which I am so glad about! (well sometimes glad) Oh by the way my neighbour and I are once again on French kissing terms!!!!!! For those of you who do not know, the French kiss for greeting people you know is 2, 3, or 4 (depends on which region you are in) little kisses on the cheeks.

 May the blessing of peace, in what ever circumstances, be yours.

"When you call upon the power of an animal you are asking to be drawn into complete harmony with the strength of that creature's essence". (From the Medicine Card Pack)

Daphne

July 2006