Animal Totems

The past few months have rocked my world. I’ve known both losses and miracles in such a short time. I am truly sorry to say one of my little co-hosts from my video blogs, Scooby, passed today. He was only a few years old. It’s such a strange feeling, being that he was perfectly healthy a few days ago. The vet could only speculate a bacterial infection or a poison, but something consumed Scooby’s liver, kidneys, and pancreas within a few short days.

I am an extremely spiritual person and called upon every guide I have to intervene in his sickness and passing. While this has worked to revive my other miniature dachshund, Reesie, last month, I felt almost abandoned in Scooby’s circumstance. Reesie had a slipped disc of the spine and I was told last month she would never walk again. Between natural remedies like turmeric, prayers, and lots of love from both me and Scooby, Reesie could miraculously walk again. After witnessing her miraculous recovery, I was very optimistic when Scooby started throwing up a few days ago.

I thought Scooby was improving last night, so I went to work like normal this morning. I left him cuddling close with Reesie, his paws literally holding her. When I returned home from lunch, he did not lift his head from the bed, just blinked at me. When I held him, he plopped against my shoulder and started vomiting blood without heaving, without moving much, and barely breathing. Without delay, I went to the nearest animal hospital. I put meditation music on in the car and stroked him until we arrived. When I finally got him to the vet, the doctor could not detect a heart beat. I stroked his chest and called for him. As if responding to me, his heart started beating. He looked at me and opened his mouth, as if saying good bye. I will never forget that moment. I called upon the angels for a healing. I wanted nothing more than to be able to take him back home. The vet was not able to regulate his heart beat, but did take him away to give him oxygen and run blood work. It wasn’t long after the results showing his internal organs were failing that the doctor told me he was gone. I glanced down at the time at that moment. It was 2:44 pm. 44’s are a strong angel number. I knew the angels were with him.

A part of me will always believe Scooby deserved better. He had a short life. Before we rescued him, he was found by Furever Homes in Detroit abandoned. He was living in a run down house missing a wall. He was malnourished and needed care. Instantly upon fostering him, he became part of the family. We finally adopted him shortly after. Reesie and Scooby were two peas in a pod. He bonded with my husband on a deep level. You could see an old, sweet soul in his eyes. He barely barked (except for peanut butter) and was always so affectionate. Scooby’s nature humbled me. How could a being abandoned by the world and left to starve to death, be so truly serene, loving and trusting?

Moments like these make you really think about what’s important in life. My favorite moments in the past few years seemed almost insignificant in the present as it passed me by. Every moment I spent with both my dogs cuddling, playing, and loving, whether it was when we cuddled in bed, went for long walks, or played along the “wiener rail” (the back of my couch), I will never forget the tender moments we all shared together. Life is so short. Never waste a moment that you can share love, whether it be with an animal, a family member, or a friend.

Even though my feeble human mind can not understand why some live and some die, I know a bigger plan is in place. The angels were there today with Scooby, even though he did not live to see another day. I do not believe his death was meaningless. I pulled a card from the “Talking with Heaven” deck from James Van Praagh and Doreen Virtue tonight. It said, “I am now one of your guides.” What a strong guide this sweet soul will be. You were more than a dog to me, Scooby, you were a soulmate. You will always be a part of my soul group, little buddy. You were an earth angel who gave so much love and taught me so much with your unconditionally loving soul. See you again one day.

In Memory…

A few years ago, I had a dramatic restoration of faith in God. During this time of my life, I ended up renting out to a roommate to help with bills. I don’t believe it was an accident that he just so happened to hold a bachelor’s degree from one of the state’s best universities in Comparative Religions. Since he did not personally affiliate with any particular religion, I often got an unbiased perspective of the control of information (and sometimes misinformation) in religions. I found myself asking him many questions on historical references for things I had been discovering through intuition and spiritual truths. Growing up, I had lost interest in traditional holidays I celebrated in my Catholic upbringing, but I found myself on a quest to separate fact from fiction on why the modern world practices and believes what it does. Holiday origins were some of the most surprising findings.

My old roommate was the first person who ever informed me about the calendar as we know it today. He spoke of Constantine who was burdened with the task of unifying the Pagans and the Christians, who had been brutally killing each other over religious disputes at the time of his reign. It was under his rule that birthed the calendar of mainstream religious holidays we know in modern times. Pagan holidays were rewritten to fit the life of Christ. As a leader, it is not difficult to understand why compromising between the two belief systems made the most sense at the time. Unfortunately, what we are left with is an untrue depiction of history. While I am a true believer in Jesus and the miracles he performed, I can confidently say that Easter is not the exact time of the resurrection. Furthermore, Christmas is also historically incorrect in timing of Jesus’ birth.

There is much dispute over the true origins of Easter. I have come to accept two different goddesses (with a small g) who, prior to Constantine, were the two celebrated deities associated with the Spring Equinox in different parts of the world: Ishtar and Ostara. While many people across the country are showing interest in Ishtar due to the similar pronunciation, Ostara undoubtedly has had a lasting impact on Easter.

Ishtar has been worshipped and called upon since ancient Babylonian times. She embodies the very strong, feminine energy of Venus. Ishtar represents the Divine feminine in her aspects such as harvesting, mothering, fertility, healing, and love. It should come to no surprise that she was celebrated during Easter time during the Spring Equinox. While Ishtar’s true animal totems are the owl and the lion, eggs and rabbits have been associated symbolically in Paganism with fertility, which is an aspect of Ishtar.

Ostara (in Old English spelled Ēastre) was a Germanic goddess and diety I had never heard of until I drew her card in Dr. Doreen Virtue’s Goddesses Oracle Card deck. As a clairevoyant, Doreen credits both “East” and “Easter” to being named after Ostara, who is celebrated as the bringer of light. She explains that this was due to “the sun rising in the East, and the increase in sunlight beginning in the Celtic springtime.” Ostara’s true symbols (as pictured) are the rabbit and the egg, which is undoubtedly where the Easter bunny comes from.

Photo Credit: Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards by Dr. Doreen Virtue, Ph.D

While both goddesses were celebrated during Easter, I still do not believe this should deter Christians from celebrating Easter. This battle between Paganism and Christianity has been going on for far too long. Are we really going to carry on our arguments of our ancestors? While I believe in the divine feminine, I also believe Jesus was as real as you and I, and I honor him, his message of love, and the miracles he performed. It really shouldn’t be about when and where we celebrate these amazing beings as much as how we are implementing their teachings in our day-to-day lives.

Julie Tourangeau

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