Wow, writing my blog! 2022 new year came.I have enjoyed different projects each month, and already the end of April! I wanted to write about each project, and I thought about wanting to write my blog almost every morning when I walked with my dogs. I have one promise to myself to keep my health,…
Animal Communication: Red Berry Bird
Nature is showing me kindness with strong-mindedness.
Connecting with nature is always vital for me to understand my life.
I have been going to North Fork, California (60 miles south of Yosemite National park) for over 15 years.
When I visited North Fork for the first time, I felt that this was where I wanted to cleanse my soul.
Springwater fills out my thirst for healing.
Sky with free spirits cloud dancing.
The scent of earth and forest lift my mind.
Hundreds of years old oak and ponderosa pine trees, creeks, and lakes give me strength.
And constant learning, instincts from wild plants and animals.
I feel that I am a part of nature, and I can support them once in a while.
Eight years ago(in 2013), my maple tree by the gate got hit by a car and broke the main trunk completely.
Everyone said it was not going to survive.
But I really wanted to help so I made special glue with soft-cooked brown rice and barley.
It did not just survive; it became the most beautiful tree to show autumn colors since then.
I am sure all of the people in North Fork and people going to Sierra Vista Scenic Byway enjoy the colors when they drive by.
I wrote this on my blog: Miracle of Maple Tree Recover!
The Maple tree this year.
We usually stay in North Fork one day or two days, but we stayed four days this time.
We went to Vipassana meditation teacher’s house to meditate together. Visited Sierra Mono Museum and Culture Center.
Had fun at Willow Creek with our dogs’ family.
The morning we were leaving, I was getting ready to pack.
I wanted to get some pine needles to bring back to Santa Monica so I went outside.
I usually use the back door to go outside, but somehow I went out from the front door and found a little bird lying on the front deck.
If I had not gone out from the front door, I might not have seen this bird. I saw a small red berry near her which I believed this bird had with her mouth. (I had no idea if this bird was a girl or boy, but I felt the bird was a girl).
I first thought this bird was dead, but her feather was moving slightly when I looked carefully.
My heart was full of the rescue mission.
I started to hold her gently and apply Animal Reiki right away without thinking.
I called my husband, Eric, to ask him to bring Bach Flower Remedy “Rescue Remedy”. I put the rescue remedy 4 drops around the bird’s feet, put another 4 drops on my palm, and held her again.
Then, next, my instinct brought the bird to sunlight filtering through the trees.
As I hold her gently, I chant softly, “Arigaotu, arigatou, arigatou (Thank you in Japanese).”
She opened her eyes calmly but closed eyes again; she was weak.
I continued Animal Reiki for a while, then she sat with her feet and came close to me.
I whispered to the bird, “I love you. You get well.”
The bird closed its eyes like relief.
I felt that the bird needed more time to heal, and I still had to pack to leave for Santa Monica, so I created an area with soft dried leaves and moved her to rest while I was packing.
I let her know, “I am sorry. I need to go inside the house for a little bit.
I will come back shortly.
I hope you are ok.”
She was content.
I went inside the house to pack.
While I was packing, I was praying for the bird to get better every minute.
When I came back to the bird, I hold her carefully.
She opened her eyes.
I gave Animal Reiki again and the bird closed eyes to rest more.
About 4 hours passed since I found the bird.
The bird could sit for a while now, but she was still very weak and not moving at all. I could tell the bird felt better when I touched her.
I was afraid that some other wild animals would attack or eat the bird.
I started to think about bringing the bird to Santa Monica to recuperate and bring her back to release in North Fork later.
But the bird was wild; it might not be appropriate.
I did not know what to do.
I decided to ask the bird through animal communication and she could tell me what was best for her.
I talked to her, ” I am glad to see you are getting better, but I am not sure if you need my help more for you to heal completely or not. Can you show me some sign if you are all right?”
The bird opened its eyes a little bit momentarily, looked at me for a while, and suddenly jumped.
I thought the bird was going to fly but just hopped.
I was surprised, but I have seen many surprised after I learned animal communications.
I understand what just happened.
I followed her slowly.
The bird found the hidden healing place by the side of a hill with dry bushes. It will protect her from wind and rain.
What a wise bird.
I found the same red berries that she had when I saw her lying by my feet where I was standing.
I put the two red berries next to her.
She thanked me and said, “You can keep the one I had.”
I said, “I am happy to see you are better and you showed me a sign that you are going to be all right here even after I leave. I will see you again. Thank you for your precious red berry. I treasure it for a long time.”
My tears came down with my warm feeling.
I was not sad.
I was relieved to see the bird was better, and she was able to move to a safe area for her to rest more.
I was thinking of her on the way to Santa Monica.
I felt that the bird was getting all well.
After returning to Santa Monica, I looked up to see what kind of bird I helped. I could not find an exact bird name.
I decided to call the bird Red Berry Bird (RBB).
While writing this blog, I felt that RBB was communicating with me.
I looked up at the sky from my window and closed my eyes.
I saw RRB flying away with red berries that I gave her, saying “Thank you!” to me.
I put the red berry that she gave to me in my palm, my eyes got full of tears.
I wish I could express more detail with my writing to share how I felt when I saw her flying away, but I am overwhelmed even now with so much gratitude.
I close this blog with my respectful gratitude and abundance of love for nature and this red berry bird (RRB) to let me practice my instinct from my heart.
Love, Sanae❤️
Bucket List #2 AFSP Out of Darkness Community Walk 2021
I have lost my best friend from high school, first husband, two aunts, one uncle, neighborhood good friend from suicide. When I was 14 years old, I attempted suicide so I have been facing my own mental health for a long time.
I made my bucket lists after I was diagnosed with “Only Weeks to Live” stage IV Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Primary non-Hodgkin of Liver in 2017.
Here are my previous blog about Only Weeks to Live:
https://sanaesuzuki.com/2017/06/08/only-weeks-to-live/
And my first bucket lists’ blog:
https://sanaesuzuki.com/2019/03/19/bucket-list/
Since I love to travel and do many things I had many material things in my bucketloads lists in the beginning. I could add spectacular places to visit and many amazing things to do on my bucket lists, but as I was getting well from lymphoma cancer I want to add in my bucket lists that something my inner child wanted to be nurtured.
I put a joining AFSP (American Foundation of Suicide Prevention) to my bucket lists.
I found out that AFSP held the annual “Out of Darkness Community Walk” (about 2~3 miles) in Santa Monica where I live, so I wanted to participate in it in October 2019.
But I broke my knee while hiking in May 2019.
I already had disabled legs from my near-death car accident in 2001 (blog Twenty Years Later from Near-Death) so I was unsure if I would ever join AFSP’s Walk. I could not tell anyone what I wanted to do.
Because of the Pandemic, there was no annual walk in 2020.
I was hoping to walk AFSP’s Walk in 2021.
I went to physical therapy and made time to heal, my knee got more strength than before, I decided to train myself to walk 1~2 miles almost every day with my dogs.
This year, Santa Monica’s “Out of Darkness Community Walk” was last Saturday, October 23rd, 2021. I get a little anxious whenever I go to the first time in any event. I am so glad that Eric and Kai came with me.
It was a cloudy, not warm day, so I ensured I was warm enough but not too hot since I would walk.
Eric and I registered to pick up T-shirts (when you donate $150, you get their T-shirt) and the beads.
There were different colors of beads to wear:
White: Loss of a Child
Red: Loss of a Spouse or Partner
Gold: Loss of a Parent
Orange: Loss of a Sibling
Purple: Loss of a Relatives or Friend
Silver: Loss of a First Responder/Military
Green: Personal Struggle or Attempt
Teal: Supporting Someone who Struggles or has Attempted
Blue: Supporting Suicide Prevention
I got Red, Purple, Green, and Blue, Eric got Purple, Teal, Blue, and Kai got Teal.
I was inspired that many (I think about 500) people were there to support preventing suicide. They raised over $180,000.
Out of the Darkness Community Walk brings people together while raising funds to help fight suicide and support those touched by suicide in the community. Participants in the Out of the Darkness Walk join in the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. AFSP has set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate by 20% by 2025. There is no charge to participate, but donations are welcome.
The event includes speakers, entertainment, remembrance activities, a community resource fair and lottery.
This year, the mountain bike was the first prize in the lottery. The woman with the dog won the mountain bike.
Eric and I donated money this time, but I had no idea what it was about. I hope I spread my words next year, and I want to raise money too.
We stretched out our bodies before the walk. Kai got so excited and jumped up, and many people came to talk to him and took photos with him.
As I started to walk, I did not know how fast I could walk so I thought I should be at the last group, but I felt that I wanted to walk with the front group.
Eric said, “Are you already going?” so I said, “Well, I just go now,” and I did. I did not slow down much and walked all the way.
I talked to one woman walking alone and found out that the woman was a friend of my dog trainer friend who I used to hike with dogs. Well, wearing a mask and hat and not seeing each other for a long time, we could not tell right away we knew each other.
She said she was there for her nephew, who suicide in May this year. In all 500 people, I talked to one person and it was her. I hope to see her and go hiking together again.
After we finished the walk, advocators who were singer-songwriters on the stage. They had all emotionally touched songs from their hearts.
I am happily satisfied that I joined and completed the Community Walk and achieved another bucket list.
Love,
Sanae 
Gluten-Free Oil Free Vegan Plant-Based Baked Donuts
Gluten-free and none-fried donuts and vegan plant-based?
Enough to satisfy health-conscious donut lovers.
Autumn and winter’s weather is getting cooler and cold, baking and longer cooking are warm up the house, and the aroma of baking foods and snack help to ground our energy. Instead of going out like summertime, we stay home and read, write or create inside at home is a natural universal order. Restful activities support our health for next spring.
The original recipe of Gluten-Free Baked Donuts is on Eric’s revised dessert cookbook “Love, Eric,” none-fried donut, but it has a little oil in the ingredients.
If you are interested Eric’s desserts cookbook, you can purchase from my website https://sanaesuzuki.com/product/love-eric-revised/
Gluten-Free and None-Fried Vegan Donuts Original with oil
Make 12 donuts
For the donuts:
3⁄4 cup gluten-free flour mix
1⁄2 cup almond flour
1⁄4 cup arrowroot powder
1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
1⁄8 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1⁄3 cup maple syrup
1⁄3 olive oil
juice from one lemon
zest from one lemon
1⁄2 cup hot water
For the toppings:
1/2 cup almonds, pistachios, walnuts, pecans or any other nut of your choice
olive oil for brushing donut tops
To make the donuts:
1. Combine the flours, arrowroot powder, baking powder, xantham gum, salt, baking soda and rosemary in a bowl and set aside.
2. In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients until creamy.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mix, add the lemon zest and stir until the mixture is slightly lumpy.
4. Using a 2-ounce ice cream scoop, pour the batter into a donut pan and bake at 350°F until golden brown, about 16 minutes.
To make the topping:
1. Place finely chopped nuts on a plate.
2. Brush the tops of each donut with olive oil and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Recently, Eric created gluten-free and oil free baked donuts recipe for Chef AJ’s youtube show. It will be on Saturday, November 14th, 2021, at 11 am by Zoom. You can see it on her Facebook too.
Now it is on YouTube.
Gluten-Free Oil-Free Vegan Baked Donuts
MAKES 12 DONUTS
For the donuts:
3⁄4 cup gluten-free flour mix
1⁄2 cup almond flour
1⁄4 cup arrowroot powder
1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
1⁄8 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄3 cup maple syrup
1⁄3 coconut yogurt
1⁄2 cup purified hot water
For the toppings:
1 tablespoon kuzu (also known as kudzu medicinal starch)
½ cup purified water
½ cup strawberry jam or maple butter
To make the donuts:
1. Combine the flours, arrowroot powder, baking powder, xantham gum, salt, baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
2. In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients until creamy.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mix and stir until the mixture is slightly lumpy.
4. Using a 2-ounce ice cream scoop, pour the batter into a donut pan and bake at 350°F until golden brown, about 16 minutes.
To make the topping:
1. Mix the kuzu and water in a pan, bring to medium heat and frequently mix until clear and thicken. Add the jam or maple butter and mix again.
2. Top each donut of jam with a spoon.
I enjoy my baked donut with my roasted brown rice twig tea or grain coffee.
Enjoy your delicious baked donuts!
Love,
Sanae 
Twenty Years Later from Near-Death Part 1
Things I used enjoyed when I was in the ’30s to ’40s were driving, traveling, adventure, yoga, scooter, sobriety (AA volunteer), events/concerts, macrobiotic teaching, meeting people, animal family, going to beaches, hiking, gardening, photography, writing, and a little meditation and art.
These are some of the things I did:
I loved driving so much that sometimes when I could not sleep, I drove to San Deigo at 3 am, saw the beautiful sunrise there, had a great breakfast, and came back home to Santa Monica.
34th birthday, first sky diving.
I did many scuba diving in Caribean (Cayman Island, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, and the Dominican Republic) and 40th birthday, travel to Tahiti for shark scuba diving.
Went to Alaska, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, Bali, and, of course many different places in my country, Japan.
I usually liked to travel solo.
The last extensive traveling I did on my own was six weeks in Europe (seven different countries; France, Italy, Swiss, Netherland, Germany, Belgium, and the UK), cooking, assists cooking classes, and massaging people at macrobiotic communities.
Two different cross-country drives with my dogs and cat in America.
My plan for the future was to go to many countries, including the Maldives, for scuba diving and do movie “Roman Holidays” like Audrey Hepburn.
Visit South America, Rio, Pelu, and practice meditation and yoga in India and many more.
But God had a different plan for me.
I lost mobility to walk on September 8th, 2001, because of a near-death car accident in a small village, Hope, Arizona, when I was cross-country drive with my three dogs and one cat, and I was supposed to come home Santa Monica that day.
It is still very emotional to remember.
I could not write much about it, but it is twenty years today.
I want to write a little by little as a tribute to my recovery.
As you see this photo, I am walking and grateful for my healing path.
.
I was airlifted by a helicopter to The Trauma Center hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
I was in a coma for three days.
I did not even know the September 11 attacks (the 9/11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance, honoring the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks).
I had an out-of-body experience.
I saw my father, who died in 1989 and my first dog in America Sakura in 1998. My father wanted to have tea with me, but I said to him I am in a hurry so next time. Sakura was happy to see me, but I had to tell her that I love her and am glad to see her, but I have to go. I was trying to come back from the heaven’s gate to this world.
My heart stopped many times and one time was 12 minutes.
Regular cardio electric resuscitation did not work and there were two pastors at my ICU room and told Eric to pray when he arrived.
One of the doctors, Dr. Toby Hamilton, used (an adrenaline) needle into my heart to restart my heart.
Miraculously I came back to live again.
An American movie “Pope Fiction” scene of Uma Thurman came back to revive after she overdosed was used the same resuscitation.
I want to say that out of the body and revive to come back again experiences were spiritual for me, but it was not.
I felt that it was an energy boost into the body I left, and I came back into the body as an almost extreme shock.
When I watched the computer animation movie, “Iced Age,” squirrel of Scrat every time he looked like he died, but he came back, that energy was the similar feelings that I felt, and I cried.
In reality, when I came back, I could not speak since I was connected with a tube from my lungs to my throat.
My lungs and heart were crushed by the car accident.
But I was demanded to move my bed closer to a window in ICU so I get to see and feel the sunlight to get better as soon as I could write.
I also wrote Eric to go to a natural food store to buy Bach Rescue Remedy/Cream and Laver essential oil and what to do in writing as soon as I was able to write.
I applied them and also massage whatever area I did not feel too much pain.
The surgent doctor who proceeded with my legs surgery said to me, “I never walk,” and did not recommend me to massage my legs or anywhere because I had nerve damage.
I should have been shocked to hear what the doctor said, but I did not feel what he said was correct, although I respected his opinion because I am very polite Japanese, and I did not ask him many questions.
I simply do not believe that I will be a disabled person or not walk forever. I was thinking of something else already to plan my life.
Of course, I did not think how hard my recovery would be, and I did not know how long it would take me to walk that time.
I already thought when I walk what I can do.
I was massaging as much as I could.
Dr. Hamilton from ER came by to see me.
He said I looked much better every day and encouraged me to do whatever I was doing.
At this point, he never told me how he saved me.
Now I think of where I was at that time, I do not think I could deal with all the things I had to go through.
I was getting ready to be a start line of my recovery journey.
I was not even started yet.
I had to go through hard things in my life, but this was one of the hardest things I experienced in my life.
I lost my vision, screamed and cried so hard when I heard my two dogs, Lolo and Gumu died in the car accident. A nurse came to my room to check if something happened to me.
I said, why didn’t I dye with them?
I killed them!!!!!!
I am sorry!!!!!
I repeated the same things over and over.
I calmed down when I hard, Lolo and Gumu’s mother Kin survived with my cat, Mai and they were at a shelter waiting to be home. I set my mind optimistic and decided to live for them.
I also heard my wallet was stolen when I was airlifted, and someone was using my credit card. All my earrings, necklace, and bracelet that my father gave me were also stolen.
Every day and night at The Trauma Center hospital was chaotic.
They came to dress gaze over my surgery legs in the middle of the night and left me unfinished because of an emergency. One time, they left my leg open-wound for 3 hours.
I requested to wash my hair after I was there for two weeks. Yes, they came to wash my hair at 3 am.
They told me I had to leave the hospital because I did not have insurance. To come home to Santa Monica, they said to me that I had to be airlifted. Do you know how much money you have to spend to do something like that? They said it is not safe for me to transfer by car.
Did I have a choice? NO!
Eric rented a van to make a bed, put my body with many cushions, and drive carefully and slowly to Santa Monica. Friends were waiting for me and use a door as a tanker to move me into the house.
There was no FaceBook, Instagram and Youtube yet. If I had then, I probably had a million hits, hahaha!
When I came back home to Santa Monica, I smelled my trees, plants and flowers. They all said, “Welcome back! Thank you for coming back home! “
When I saw Kin and Mai, who also survived for the same car accident and came back from Arizona, I was speechless with my emotions. We hug each other.
I did not know yet about Kin, Mai, and my PTSD starting from here.
To be continued….
Healing Balance in Season – Late Summer
The common season we usually know is four seasons.
I have been practicing “The Five Element” theory of five seasons since 1993.
Spring – Wood
Summer – Fire
Late summer – Earth/Soil
Autumn – Metal
Winter – Water
as the principal elements of the material world.
Each season has a different balance of our health with foods, ways of cooking, and lifestyles.
Quick examples:
Summer is a hot season, and you eat cooling food with quick-cooking.
Lifestyle is active. Wear light material clothes and open the window. Use fun or AC to cool down.
Winter is a cold season, and you eat warm food with longer cooking, presser cooking, stewing and baking.
Lifestyle is time to slow down, wear warmer and thicker material clothes, close the window. Use a fireplace or heater to heat our house.
I live in Santa Monica, California – the northern temperate zone is in late summer season right now. Late Summer begins around the third week of August and runs through the Fall Equinox, which is late September.
Do you know what to eat for late summer?
According to the five elements, it is Earth/Soil season.
Late summer is around 3 pm of the day when we take a little rest to have tea and something naturally sweet.
For whole grains, sweet rice, millet is supporting us in late summer – earth/soil energy organs of spleen/pancreas and stomach. And round vegetables (cabbage, kabocha squash, cauliflower, etc.) are recommended to eat.
One of my self-published cookbooks, “Love, Sanae” has more details on what foods support each season, not just grains and vegetables, page 88~91. I hope you check them up!
I want to share late summer season balanced whole grain millet recipes today.
Millet is rich in plant-based protein, whole grain and fiber, nutritious, non-glutinous (non-sticky), and not acid-forming foods, thus making them very easy to digest when you learn how to cook.
Millet supports pancreas and spleen organs which need to focus in late summer.
I showed how to cook millet in my cooking classes every late summer:
Millet and Kabocha Squash with Roasted Pumpkin Seed
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
1cup millet
4 cups purified water
1 cup kabocha squash, cut into about 1” dice
1 “ kombu kelp
1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
1. Wash millet:
1) Place a strainer into a larger bowl and fill it with purified water. Wash millet gently, stirring with your hand in a counter-clockwise direction when you want to be more energetic or in a clockwise direction when you want to be more relaxed.
2) Drain the water (reserving it to water your plant later) and repeat the washing step three times or until the water is almost clear.
3) Strain the millet and cook as it is or soak or roast, depending on your health condition.
2. Place 4 cups water in the large pan and bring to boil. Add millet and Kombu kelp. Reduce heat to low and add Kabocha squash and cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, rinse the pumpkins seeds and strain them, and roast on a skillet.
4. When millet and kabocha are done, remove from the flame and allow to sit another 5~10 minutes.
5. Take the cover of millet and kabocha. Use wood rice paddle or spoon that has moistened in water to prevent sticking, stir gentle from outside.
6. Serve with the roasted pampering seeds.
7. Itadakimasu (bonappetit)!
Here is youtube link how to make “Millet and Kabocha with Roasted Pumpkin Seed”,
Creamy Millet with Fresh Parsley Sauce
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
1 cup millet
5 cups purified water
pinch sea salt
Fresh Parsley Sauce
To make the millet:
1. Wash millet:
1) Place a strainer into a larger bowl and fill it with purified water. Wash millet gently, stirring with your hand in a counter-clockwise direction when you want to be more energetic or in a clockwise direction when you want to be more relaxed.
2) Drain the water (reserving it to water your plant later) and repeat the washing step 3 times or until the water is almost clear.
3) Strain the millet and cook as it is or soak or roast, depending on your health condition.
2.In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add millet and sea salt. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Remove from the flame and all pan to site undisturbed for another 5 to 10 minutes before you remove the cover.
4. Serve with Fresh Parsley Sauce.
5. Itadakimasu (bonappetit)!
For the parsley sauce:
2 table spoons kuzu*
1 cup purified water
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped and squeezed of excess water
sea salt
To make the parsley sauce:
- In a small saucepan, combine the kuzu and water/ Stir well until kuzu is completely dissolved.
- Place the saucepan over a medium flame, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the chopped parsley and cook for another minute.
- Serve over the Creamy Millet.
*Kuzu (kudzu)-A white starchlike extract made from the wild root of kuzu vine; used for thickening soups, beverages, desserts and sauce. Also used for medicinal purposes.
One of my self-published cookbooks, “Love, Sanae” has more millet recipes and also shows what kind of whole grains, vegetables, beans, sea vegetables, cooking style and many more for each season.
If you want to purchase my book from me directly, please email me at sanaehealing@gmail.com
After surviving two different cancers and a near-death car accident, healing balance is vital to know.
Knowing what foods support us each season takes time to learn.
I also realized our health has seasons. Finding out which season your health is in is critical—and understanding what and how to apply your health seasons is the key to heal yourself.
I hope to share what I have learned from my experiences with you when the time is right.
Love,
Sanae ❤️
Bach Flower Remedy for People and Animal Grieving
It has been two weeks since Bubu, our beloved dog, departed. I wrote Bubu’s last words and how he departed on my previous blog. https://sanaesuzuki.com/2021/06/02/animal-communication-bubus-last-words/
I have had many dogs and cats as my family this lifetime. It is harrowing when they depart and I grieve.
As I wrote about Bubu’s aunt, Kula’s life on my blogs many times (https://sanaesuzuki.com/category/kulas-healing-journey/), I want to write about Bubu as much as I can. I feel that Bubu is giving me this as an opportunity to share.
Today, I feel so so. Probably better than two weeks ago.
I miss Bubu and feel an emptiness in my heart not seeing him or touching him physically.
I feel his existence in my heart when I go deeper in my heart so I need to be dive into my heart.
For the first ten days, I got up in the morning and cared for his dog and cat family. It was mechanical action as I had to do it.
I was feeling too sad. I decided not to attend zoom art classes. I am not in the mood to seeing people and hearing their voices, even online.
All I wanted to do was two things.
One – taking a walk with Bubu’s dog family where I used to walk with Bubu and talked to them every morning, and sometimes I cried while I was walking.
Two- gardening. Stay in my garden, watch the sky, sun, moon, birds, butterflies, ants, and how flowers and leaves swing by the wing.
Smell the flowers and listening bird sounds and wind chime. Dig the soil and desperate to connect earth or something.
A few days ago, I injured my hand carelessly. I shot the front door as I was going out to the front garden as usual, but I forgot my left hand inside the house and closed the door over my left hand. Ouch!!!
What was I thinking? No, I was not thinking anything.
I realized I was not functioning. I was feeling too much pain of losing Bubu so I avoid thinking.
Bubu departed the next day after he was diagnosed with cancer, I was not ready. Well, was I ready if he lived a longer? Was I ready when any of my animal family departed? …
My husband, Eric, cried when Bubu was diagnosed and when he was leaving. He goes foil surfing and dealing with his pain his way.
I am not expecting anybody to understand. I meditate and acknowledge Bub’s love for us and my love for him to move forward.
Then, I noticed his sister, Lumi and his daughter Happy were grieving a lot. Lumi did not want to move much and did not lift her face. Happy was ricking, pulling her fur and chewing her skin.
I felt I need to take care of them more than ever.
Photo: Lumi and Happy are laying down a lot with no energy.
One of the holistic modalities that I have been using for emotional support since 1993 is Bach Flower Remedy.
I first time used Bach Flower Remedy for me when I had ovarian cancer in 1993. An acupuncture doctor recommended it. I did not know that I had stress till I used Bach Flower Remedy. I learned how to release tension and ease my stress using Bach Flower Remedy. I decided to study more Bach Flower Remedy in 1995 and became Register Practitioner.
Animals have feelings and emotions too. I have been helping dog and cat rescue groups using Bach Flower Remedy, Animal Communication and Animal Reiki. Many cases there are great benefits for them.
They are 38 Bach Flower Remedy discovered by Dr. Bach. Each remedy is directed at a particular characteristic or emotional state.
Lumi and Happy have different personality;
Lumi is excitable and Happy is shy.
I chose and mixed different Bach Flower Remedies to help their grieving when Lumi lost her mom, Oro, Happy’s grandmother. It helped them and they got more energy and played together.
Lumi:
Beech, Honeysuckle, and Walnut
Happy:
Aspen, Chicory, Honeysuckle and Walnut
I also decided to mix Bach Flower remedies for me too. These grief remedies have helped me not feel stuck and accept reality to move forward.
Honeysuckle, Pine, Star of Bethlehem, Walnut and Water Violet
Description for Remedies that I choose for grieving for Lumi, Happy and me are:
- Aspen – Useful for animals that display signs of anxiety following the death of an animal companion. It also helps humans that may have generalized fears for the safety or health of other pets in the household
- Beech – For animlas or people who are grumpy, irritable or ‘snappy’ during the stressful grieving period. Increases tolerance of others and allows for the processing of genuine emotions in stressful situations.
- Chicory -For animals that suffer extreme anxiety, hair chewing, etc.
- Honeysuckle – For humans and animals that are longing for their lost companions.
- Pine – Releases guilt surrounding the death of a pet and those lamentations that you ‘could have helped them’, ‘should have known’ or ‘should have loved them more. Releases self-blame and self-doubts over the situation.
- Star of Bethlehem – The remedy for shock and particularly useful when the death of a pet has been sudden or without warning. Comforts and soothes the individual after a shocking incident when there is emotional pain and suffering.
- Water Violet – The ‘grief’ flower essence helps you process all the feelings associated with grief (sadness, anger, denial) to prevent you from creating unhealthy blockages. Allows you to experience and process the emotions of grief fully and may bring about teariness to help you release emotions over the death of a pet.
- Walnut – Helps in times of transition like the loss of a pet and allows humans and animals to ‘break the links, release the pet who has passed on and be able to move on with life more easily.
Photo: Walnut flowers
Flower Remedy Dosage:
Take each Bach Flower Remedy 2 drops at least 4 times daily. You can mix all together in 1 oz mixing bottle with spring water and 4 drops from the bottle is works too. You can add in water and food and use them as a room spray.
Make 1 oz mixing bottle with water with chosen Bach Flower Remedy will last two weeks, then reassess for suitability and make any alterations to the mix as necessary to take for another two weeks. The length of time it takes for the grieving process is different for every person (and animal).
Internal Use:
- Bach Flower Remedies – Take 4 drops under the tongue, at least 4 times daily.
Topical Use: A few drops can be rubbed into the skin (or fur or paws for animals) or can be added to moisturizing creams, lotions or baths.
Room Spray: Add several drops to a small spray/atomizer bottle filled with spring water. Spray throughout the house, over human and animal bedding, and any areas the deceased animal used to frequent.
I hope this helps others who are going through grieving.
Besides Bach Flower Remedy, Animal Communication helps your animal family who is going through grieving. I hope to write about it also soon.
If you have any questions, please post on this blog and I will answer for you.
Love,
Sanae