What Do You Love?

Feeling the call to write about love today because there is so much power in love!!!  I believe we are capable of harnessing that power, first inside of ourselves - then extending it out to the world . . . where it can shift what is happening around us. Is anyone out there game to join in?

With all of my heart, I truly believe that . . . Love can heal! Love can support! Love can change the structure of our water! Love can change our body chemistry and mood! Love can positively impact the choices we make! Love can have a wonderful effect on how we treat those around us!  There is no end to what love can do. Just think about the positive impact we could experience if we filled our own cups so full with love that it spills out into the world around us. 

If you're willing, will you stop for a moment right now and ask yourself, "What do I love?" and write down everything that comes to mind?  It doesn't matter if you already know what you'd write - write it down anyway.  :-)  Let it boost you. Let it lift your spirits. Maybe it will help shift your mind away from what is weighing heavy on you right now. Maybe it will help you breathe more deeply.

At the top of my list are: Animals, music, sunsets, water (beaches and lakes), flowers and trees. When I want to tap into the power of love, all I have to do is think about this list. I can look at pictures of these things or listen to song lyrics that "take me there" . . . Often times this can be my saving grace, the thing that will give me the strength I need to keep moving forward on a tough day.

And it is such an easy thing to do.

Below I am sharing some of my favorite song lyrics about LOVE as well as some pictures to go along with my list. I hope that maybe they will inspire you to create your own list and start tapping into your own vibration of love. My wish is that having your own list will assist you in a noticeable positive shift of your own.

As my very first favorite rock star (and teen crush) Eddie Money sang in the song Jealousys:  

Life on earth, 

Take it for what it's worth,

Save the Universe,

Love One Another! 

And as Todd Rundgren wrote:

And when you feel afraid, love one another

When you've lost your way, love one another

When you're all alone, love one another

When you're far from home, love one another

When you're down and out, love one another

All your hope's run out, love one another

When you need a friend, love one another

When you're near the end, love

We got to love, we got to love one another

Light of the world, you got to shine on me

Love is the answer

Shine on us all (know that love can save the day)

Set us free

Love is the answer

(Just give it, just one more chance)

And as the Bellamy Brothers sang: 

Just let your love flow like a mountain stream

And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams

And let your love show

And you'll know what I mean, it's the season

Let your love fly like a bird on the wing

And let your love bind you to all living things

And let your love shine

And you'll know what I mean, that's the reason

And as The Youngbloods sang:

If you hear the song I sing

You will understand, listen

You hold the key to love and fear

All in your trembling hand

Just one key unlocks them both

It's there at your command

Come on, people now

Smile on your brother

Everybody get together

Try to love one another right now

And as The O'Jays sang:

People all over the world, join hands.

Start a love train, love train

People all over the world, join hands

Start a love train, love train

The next stop that we make will be England

Tell all the folks in Russia and China too

Don't you know that it's time to get on board

And let this train keep on riding, riding on through

People all over the world (you don't need no money) join hands

Start a love train, love train (don't need no ticket, come on)

People all over the world (join in, ride this train)

Start a love train, love train

All of your brothers over in Africa

Tell all the folks in Egypt and Israel too

Please don't miss this train at the station

'Cause if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry for you

People all over the world, join hands

Start a love train, a love train

Ride, let it ride

People, ain't no war

People all over the world (on this train) 

Join hands (ride the train)
Start a love train

 

 

The Right Place At The Right Time

 I believe we are often placed at a specific location at a specific time because our presence is needed there in that moment. I also believe that while the reason may not be something we can see or understand at the time, I trust that it is tied to the bigger picture, part of a divinely orchestrated plan. Over the years, I have had it happen and heard of it happening so frequently that I no long question it. 

Here are a few examples that I feel inspired to share:

A client of mine told me she had witnessed someone getting hit by a car. She rushed to the man's side to see if there was anything she could do for him, but he died before help arrived. She said he was losing blood too fast and there wasn't anything she could do to stop it. 

She felt really sad that she wasn't able to do anything and she wondered . . . if everything happens for a reason, why was she there?  She asked me what I thought. 

My mind and heart were immediately flooded with thoughts and emotions and images. I told her I was sensing very strongly that she was supposed to be there, because the man needed to experience her kindness and compassion before he left this world. He needed to feel the love of her generous heart and know that he wasn't alone . . . that her purpose in that moment was to be there, so that in his last moments on earth he knew that someone cared.  I told her it wasn't about saving his life, but about giving him the gift of love and compassion in that moment. 

She got goosebumps when I told her that and it brought tears to her eyes. I could feel her letting go of the judgement she placed on herself for not having been able to do more for him and she considered that maybe she did do exactly what she was meant to do. 

Another client shared with me that when he was out running an errand, he witnessed a dog getting hit by a car. He immediately pulled over and rushed to see if he could help. A young boy had placed the dog on the open tailed gate of his truck and at first the dog looked lifeless, but then he saw him moving. He had recently become a Reiki practitioner, and while he hadn't worked on anyone but his own animals, he decided to try giving the dog Reiki. He said the scene was chaotic . . . then he observed a young girl, the dog's guardian, came out of the house. My client quickly assessed that it was her brother who had picked the dog up and placed him on the tailgate. Then the driver of the car who hit the dog returned, apologizing profusely for what had happened. My client told me that the brother appeared to be in shock. He kept wringing his hands and running his hands through his hair, unable to do anything else. His sister was on her cell phone frantically trying to find an emergency vet that was opened on a Sunday. 

My client continued to give the dog Reiki while he assessed the situation. He didn't mention that was what she was doing. It probably just appeared that she was making sure the dog didn't fall off the tailgate. His mind was calm and he was thinking through next steps. He thought that if they were going to transport the dog to an emergency vet, they would need to try to keep the dog as still as possible. He asked the boy if they had a pet carrier, he said no. He asked if he had a box they could put the dog in and he said no. She could see how helpless he felt so she suggested he get a towel or a blanket that they could wrap around him. He dutifully went to get a blanket and he seemed relieved to have something to do. My client admitted he was surprised at how calm he remained through the whole thing, as he helped them sort through their next steps, never once getting flustered.

He helped them get themselves and the dog into the car and they left to find the emergency clinic. Later that day, she went back by their house to see how the dog was. They told her that he died from massive internal bleeding. He felt very sad and like my other client, she wondered why she had come upon the scene when he felt he hadn't really helped. He wondered why he had felt inspired to give the dog Reiki, when it didn't help save the dog's life. He wondered what the purpose of his being there was, when in his mind, her presence hadn't made a difference. 

I could sense right away that his purpose was to be a calm and loving presence, not just for the dog, but for the humans as well. I could feel how his presence helped the brother and sister stay calm and how his gentle guidance helped them tremendously when they were feeling so afraid and overwhelmed. I told him that Reiki can bring an animal great peace, which was probably exactly what the little dog needed at that time. I could also see how his presence helped everyone, even the man who had hit the dog, since he was able to corroborate his account of what happened and probably put his mind at ease. 

He was in the right place at the right time to help all of them in ways he hadn't realized he helped them. As with my other client, his gift was being able to share his love and support at a time when it was really needed. 

Another client of mine told me a story once about witnessing a cat that had been hit by a car while she was out jogging. Without even thinking she immediately ran over to the scene and noticed that everyone seemed to be in shock. The lady driving the car who had immediately pulled over was crying but also unable to do anything but mumble something about the cat seeming to come out of nowhere. There were multiple other witnesses standing around plus people who had come out of neighboring houses to see what was going on. As she recounted the experience, she mentioned that it seemed like everyone was paralyzed / frozen. She said "Does anyone know whose cat this is?" A couple people slowly nodded by didn't move. 

She said that it was like someone took over her body and she began giving people "assignments" . . . directing people. She asked the "head nodders" to go to the guardian's house and see if she was home, she asked the lady who had hit the cat to start writing her information down so it could be given to the cat's guardian, she asked who had a box that was big enough to transport the cat to the emergency vet, etc. One by one, she assigned people a task. They all seemed relieved that someone had "taken charge" and gave them a way to provide help in that moment. When the guardian came out of the house, she was understandably extremely upset. My client didn't think she would be able to drive to the emergency vet so she said "Who can drive her?" and immediately one of the neighbors raised their hand. Fortunately in this case, the cat's life was saved.

I know these are dramatic examples and the first two resulted in death so I hope my tender hearted readers aren't too upset by this. I share this because I think it is important for us to remember that our reason for being where we are at any given moment may not be obvious right away or may not result in the outcome we were hoping for but I trust that there is usually a higher purpose for why we end up being where we are. Maybe at some point in the future we will understand what that purpose was but even if we don't, it can be helpful to consider that there was a reason.

Another Review of Lucky For Me

This past week, my book Lucky For Me was reviewed by Readersfavorite.com. I was delighted to find out that they gave it 5 out of 5 stars! 

I have shared the review below in case anyone reading my blog is still unsure if they want to read my book. Maybe this will inspire you to make a purchase.  :-)

And for those of you who HAVE read my book, if you feel compelled to write a review I would definitely welcome that! You can post your review directly onto my book's page at Amazon.com Amazon ebook or send it to Riversanctuarypublishing.com  https://riversanctuarypublishing.com/shop/lucky-for-me/ - or both! 

Since there are many people who like to read reviews before making a purchase decision, every review is helpful. I am grateful for every bit of support! 

While book sales are always welcome, for me this is more about Lucky For Me reaching the people who it can provide the most assistance to. That has been my heartfelt wish all along - for our journey to provide support to others. In the prologue I shared a bit about why I wrote the book. Here is that paragraph from the prologue: 

I know I am not the only person who has had an intense bond with their animal, nor am I the only one who has gone to extremes to help an animal recover from the abuse they suffered or heal their own trauma. My intention in sharing our journey is to light a path for those who find themselves with similar challenges. Whether you are someone who is extremely sensitive and feels things very deeply or you are trying to heal the past or you are in a process of self-discovery, my hope is that you’ll experience some “aha” moments and points of connection through this book that can assist you on your own journey, and maybe even inspire you to find your way to a deeper understanding and appreciation of all you have to offer too.

Review by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite:

Maureen Burkley's Lucky For Me is the author's story about her tough but highly rewarding journey with her dog. The author's German Shepherd, Lucky, went from a traumatic experience as a puppy to being rescued by a caring human. As Maureen drew closer to Lucky, she found out about the dog's health challenges and other signs of the lingering effects of trauma. However, she also saw herself discovering similar battles as she strived to be the best human friend to her dog and attend to Lucky's needs. From hospital visits to water therapy and chaotic encounters with other dogs, Maureen's journey with her dog is captured in a very compelling tale. Get ready to meet a resilient and caring human and her playful and adorable German Shepherd in this deeply poignant memoir.

The many profound deductions in the book are quite enlightening. I found myself pausing to reflect on the author's thought-provoking observations, such as her belief that animals "come into our lives to help us reconnect with our true selves." Maureen Burkley's determination not to give up on Lucky, despite being advised to, and the dog's multiple challenges inspires you to tackle any situation life throws at you. Lucky's recovery process and struggle with trauma are depicted well alongside Maureen's challenges with her family and other personal issues. The author's experiences in difficult moments and being on edge when she took her dog outside reveal that her dog rescuer role was far from easy. This soulfully written memoir will make animal lovers feel deeply emotional and captivated from start to finish. I feel very fortunate to have read Lucky For Me.

Another "Lucky For Me" Review

I recently received another review of my book that touched me so deeply it made me cry. As I read her words about how the book had supported her, I felt such gratitude because it was one of the ways I had hoped it could assist people. 

In the prologue of my book, I mention that part of the reason that I felt so compelled to share our story was because I felt deep inside my heart that it would be of assistance to others. 

I wrote: I know I am not the only person who has had an intense bond with their animal, nor am I the only one who has gone to extremes to help an animal recover from the abuse they suffered or heal their own trauma. My intention in sharing our journey is to light the path for those who find themselves with similar challenges. Whether you are someone who is extremely sensitive and feels things very deeply or you are trying to heal the past or you are in the process of self-discovery, my hope is that you'll experience some "aha" moments and points of connection through this book that can assist you on your own journey, and maybe even inspire you to find your way to a deeper understanding and appreciation of all you have to offer too. 

Receiving this heart-felt confirmation from this beautiful soul lit me up. She confirmed for me why it felt so important to write the book and share the journey that Lucky and I went on. Here is what she wrote:

Wow! All I can say is wow! I finished Lucky For Me (by Maureen Burkley) on the plane a few weeks ago.

The most PERFECT ALIGNMENT OF TIMING is indescribable. I don't remember when I got the book and started reading it, I’m a slow reader lately and I read in small chunks and then I pick it up again, but I feel like each time I picked it up, that each part I read served me so perfectly during that particular time.

Since we never had a dog, I have learned so much about dogs from this book. But the most interesting part, the book also made me think a lot about life…

As I got to the end, reading about Lucky's last year, last few months, down to last hours AND after her transitioning ... I can't even describe how meaningful it was for me - for my now and things I felt for Maureen and Lucky and for MYSELF at the same time, all interwoven together.

With each part of the book I read, it was like being there and being here and having a NEW understanding for the criss-cross points. I was able to begin to feel what Maureen felt AND see how those things connect to things unfolding in my own life right now.

I was able to understand Maureen’s decisions points, where they come from, and marvel at their relationship, at the end, not only had Lucky taught her and us so much, but ....compassion.... wow, compassion!! The place where compassion comes from!! Our wisdom. Our intuition. And the light and joy and peace that come with it.

I feel so much reverence for Maureen and Lucky. I thank her and Lucky both for how I was able to take what I was reading and connect it to my own life, my own journey in such a powerful way. Lucky is still teaching!!! Your pets are still teachers even after they are gone.

Zhanna Kozar

Brotherly Love

Yesterday, I went to a client's house to give Reiki treatments to their two dogs.  They went out of town for the holidays and they thought the "boys" would appreciate a Reiki treatment to help them through the long week.

After our initial greeting, I asked Tyde and Yuki if they would like to set an intention for their healing treatment.  I heard them say they would like to feel peaceful and loved.  As I was repeating the intention, I heard "And special."  I couldn't stop smiling as I included that in our intention.

I started working on Tyde, the older of the two dogs.  His brother, Yuki was laying on his bed, staring at us and whimpering.  I explained to him that they were both going to get treatments, but Yuki continued to whine.  I asked him if he would prefer that I switch back and forth every fifteen minutes and I got a "yes."   At the agreed upon time, I scooted over to Yuki's bed and began giving him Reiki.  He was very happy.

Fifteen minutes later, I scooted back over to Tyde's bed to resume his Reiki treatment and Yuki began to whimper and whine again.  I reminded him that I was going to keep alternating but that didn't seem to make him happy.  Just then, Tyde struggled to his feet and moved over to the other side of his bed, which was closer to Yuki's bed.  I realized he was moving over there so I could work on both of them at the same time.  I thanked Tyde for coming up for a solution and he let me know he was happy to help.

As I sat there, with a hand on each one of them, they both fell asleep - they were so relaxed and at peace.  Tyde started to snore and several times, Yuki let out a sigh of contentment.  It was so precious, I felt compelled to take my hands off them for a moment to take a picture.

As the treatment continued, they snuggled closer and closer to each other - ultimately ending up right up against each other.

It was so sweet to spend that time with them and I loved getting to witness how "siblings" often look out for each other and do whatever they can to make sure everyone is happy.

May you all feel as content as Tyde and Yuki as you celebrate the holidays.   My wish is that you all feel as peaceful, loved and special as these sweet boys did yesterday.