I have just returned from an incredible 10 days in ceremonies with the animals and the people at Yellowstone National Park and for annual event A Walk on the Wild Side at Earthfire Institute.
However, two weeks before my departure, I had to say good-bye to senior cat Sand, my beautiful companion for many years. With all I had to do to get ready, there was unfortunately no time to get a newsletter or blog post out, and honestly my heart was simply not up to it. Sand was the last of a very special group of cats, and I miss her sweetness, sense of humor and playfulness deeply.
The following is the announcement that I did manage to post on my Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing Facebook page on September 15:
“In accordance with her wishes, my much loved senior cat Sand was set free from her body yesterday. We had a very good life and last two days together.
“I will write a blog post celebrating her life, but for now I offer video Sand’s Day Out (below). It was filmed last year before Night Sky came into our lives, but it accurately expresses her joy in her brief, monitored garden visits (brief because she was adventurous and used her partial deafness to conveniently ignore my herding efforts).
“The jerking movements that you see Sand’s body make while she is near the fountain are auditory seizures, which she began to have almost two years ago. With alternating energy work (Reiki/shamanic/acupuncture), craniosacral and daily CBD oil, and carefully monitored sound activity in the house, we were able to keep things under relative control.
“This week her seizures progressed to a different, harsher more frightening level, and the seizures were only going to get worse, which is why she asked to be set free.
“She enjoyed three visits to the garden yesterday, and I made sure the fountain was turned off.
“Her last visit was just before the vet arrived, and this time she simply sat for a few moments on the brick step saying good-bye, and then headed back in.
“I miss her deeply, but she made it very clear that this was the right decision for her.
“Thank you, Polly Klein of Tonglen Healing Arts, Dr. Lena McCullough of Kingdom of Basil and Dr. McAfee of Peaceful Pet Transitions for all the support that you offered Sand, I am deeply grateful. We could not have made this journey without you.”
The photo above was taken last year during one of Sand’s garden outings. She always enjoyed smelling the flowers. I am so glad she is now free of a body that no longer served her. And I am grateful that she is happy in spirit since she told me so when she left. Knowing that makes the inevitable grieving process a little bit easier.
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A WILD WAY TO HEAL
Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC, is an animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic energy healer, and author. Her classes, sessions and ceremonial work are inspired by wild and domestic animals who have issued a call to action for personal and global healing.
That morning the keepers at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle had found her collapsed in her outdoor exhibit. Efforts to try to get her back on her feet failed. Her condition worsened, and the humane decision was made to euthanize her.
I was saddened when I heard the news that day, and I knew that many others would be as well, including Chai and Bamboo—her elephant companions.
But Watoto's passing brought up more than just sadness in others—it re-ignited the touchy issue of whether elephants should be kept in captivity at the Woodland Park Zoo (or in captivity at all, anywhere).
But Watoto had her own message to share.