Thank you so much for sharing your story about your beloved Roo! You exhibited amazing courage and strength through your vulnerability.
I have been following (or rather I started seeing) your page/posts on Facebook after we suddenly lost our Yorkie Mila on August 26, 2021. By all accounts she was in good health, and then suddenly gone, of all things on the one day in months I had to go into the office downtown…so I wasn’t even at home with her when it happened. I did not get a last day with her, nor a final good-bye. I only got to hold her body one final night, as I cried myself to sleep, before we took her the next morning to be cremated.
February 26, 2022 made six months since her transition. This weekend, (yesterday or today–the day of this podcast post), would have been her 9th birthday. I think for her first birthday, we may have accidentally celebrated her birthday a day early on March 5th (it has been a while since I have seen her original papers from when we got her), but it is possible, based on the release date of this podcast, that this is Mila’s way of confirming today is her birthday!
Much like Roo, Mila loved being outside, loved sniffing the air, loved the sun on her face (even if her coat was a bit too long at times for the warmth), and my belief is that she loved the birds and listening to them chirp amd sing. When you shared those things about Roo, they instantly resonated with me. She passed outside in our backyard that evening…when my husband went to let her back in, that’s when he found her motionless out in the yard. I take comfort in knowing she transitioned while outside where she loved to be, enjoying her extra “Mila time.”
By the time I got out of the city and to the emergency vet center, I was basically saying goodbye to a magnificent being who already seemed gone. When the technician came back out with her wrapped in a blanket they were sending with us home with, I immediately noticed the huge Cardinal’s head staring at me from the blanket print. It was her first sign and message to us that she was still around and was okay. I also got this message that came to me “feed the Cardinals.”
In the weeks after she passed, the number of Cardinal’s in our backyard increased once I began putting more bird seed out, and we received other “Winged Things” visiting our backyard to include Blue Jays, Red Winged Blackbirds, and of all things on the evening of 9/11, about a dozen Dragonflys hovering over out backyard…which was ironic given I had never seen so many before just hovering like that in a formation near our house, and we do not have any water features in our yard. Dragonfly has since emerged as one of my spirit animal totems! Lastly, Cooper’s Hawks (a bird of prey) have been in and around our yard more. While I appreciate their place in the circle of life, I have been a little dismayed when they have targeted the Blue Jays and Cardinals on occasion. Yet, I have to respect Hawk’s purpose for appearing in my life during this season. Many of these visitations have proven to be synchronicities, much like your experience with the bird of prey (which typically holds meaning that they are taking the deceased’s spirit to the other side), as well as the license plate on the car that passed you. Yes! They are still there, and they send us messages to let us know!
Aside from those visitations, Mila visited within the first few nights in a lucid dream that seemed very real. She was showing me her new coat, that she was okay, and was bringing me healing. She has come to my dreams a few more times since. While I won’t go into details as the “how” here in this comment, we did learn that she passed due to something suddenly happening with her heart. She apparently did not suffer any pain, transitioned within a few seconds, and knows from the other side it was her time to go. I get the overwhelming sense that she was not alone when she passed, that another being summoned her, and the birds and bunnies she loved to chase where there and helped her cross over. I have been told she has a friend, a golden dog a little bit bigger than her that she is with, and they are both being watched over by a very nice gentleman. Receiving that information more recently gave me an extra degree of comfort.
In the six months she has been gone, it seems like time has gone by quickly, and yet it seems like so much change and transformation has happened that should have taken years. By that I mean I have been “collapsing timelines” in my own life, and things that perhaps would have taken a decade for my soul to learn and evolve from, has all happened in these recent months, and of course is still ongoing.
I believe Mila led me to your page, as she did to an animal energy and communication course I am pursuing. As tragic as her passing has been for us, the silver lining has been a shift in my trajectory, a leveling up of my own consciousness, and coming to a greater understanding of my life path and why my soul is here at this time… It’s the journey back to myself and my true essence, that I don’t think would have been possible without her being in my life, and the timing of her transition.
I named her “Mila” after the actress Mila Kunis actually, because she reminded me of that same sweet, yet independent and bold spirit. Little did I know, and since then with a little Internet research, that the name “Mila” in Italian means “miracle.” She certainly has lived up to the meaning of her name!
Her passing was meant to get me grounded back in my home life, and to get me reconnected to the Earth once again. After she passed, I took up a Daoist Stone Medicine course that has helped me with some soul level healing, and is pointing me in the direction of Earth Acupuncture. There is so much more that could be said here about all that has and is happening, but this comment is already long enough. I am sure one day I will have the opportunity to share the whole story.
Until then, I will keep enjoying and sharing your lovely and heartfelt art that has helped me on my own healing journey, and I will likely reach out soon via your page to request a commission piece done of Mila.
Since I seen your artwork or looking at your post, it has helped me through the loss of our dog back in august 17/21 it’s still raw and some days are are harder than others. But seeing your strength helps others ❤ and can relate in many ways, I miss the smell and the little things that are big.
I am so proud of my daughter jess. She is still struggling with the loss of roo and she always will. Thank you John for being there and allowing her to share her grief xx
Your podcast was beautiful and touching. I cried most of the way through it. I experienced a lot of the same feelings, emotions, sensations that you discussed when my Kona passed. Its been almost 8 months and I still miss her beautiful face every day. Hugs to you and your family.
Since I seen your artwork or looking at your post, it has helped me through the loss of our dog back in august 17/21 it’s still raw and some days are are harder than others. But seeing your strength helps others ❤ and can relate in many ways, I miss the smell and the little things that are big.
Jess this is a beautiful podcast, I have to admit I couldn’t listen to it all in one go. I was sobbing so much, I’m a senior dog mum to a beautiful labrador named Mason @masonthedogwithnoeyes. All what you spoke about is slowly happening with him. He’s recently been diagnosed with arthritis and watching him is heartbreaking. Our walks get shorter month on month and I often wondered how long we have left together. He’s 13 in August so he’s the oldest dog I’ve owned in adulthood. We lost his brother Bailey suddenly at aged 8 to cancer,and so our bond was made so much stronger. Since loosing both his eye’s to glaucoma he’s very much dependent on me to help him navigate his world. I appreciate our time together each and every second of it. Mason is my absolute world I can’t imagine him not being here. Roo was a very special fur baby and I have enjoyed all your posts about her, especially the swimming one’s. Love to you all ❤
Your artwork has been integral in my grieving process. It has helped me cry when I know I needed to cry. It has made me smile when I saw the breathy that you have given to all of us through your artwork. Most importantly, you have made me feel less alone in my grief. I can’t thank you enough. I hope I can get a custom work of yours done this May. Thank you for sharing this story of Roo. I am so sorry for your loss. 💗 Christina
Thank you so much for sharing your story about your beloved Roo! You exhibited amazing courage and strength through your vulnerability.
I have been following (or rather I started seeing) your page/posts on Facebook after we suddenly lost our Yorkie Mila on August 26, 2021. By all accounts she was in good health, and then suddenly gone, of all things on the one day in months I had to go into the office downtown…so I wasn’t even at home with her when it happened. I did not get a last day with her, nor a final good-bye. I only got to hold her body one final night, as I cried myself to sleep, before we took her the next morning to be cremated.
February 26, 2022 made six months since her transition. This weekend, (yesterday or today–the day of this podcast post), would have been her 9th birthday. I think for her first birthday, we may have accidentally celebrated her birthday a day early on March 5th (it has been a while since I have seen her original papers from when we got her), but it is possible, based on the release date of this podcast, that this is Mila’s way of confirming today is her birthday!
Much like Roo, Mila loved being outside, loved sniffing the air, loved the sun on her face (even if her coat was a bit too long at times for the warmth), and my belief is that she loved the birds and listening to them chirp amd sing. When you shared those things about Roo, they instantly resonated with me. She passed outside in our backyard that evening…when my husband went to let her back in, that’s when he found her motionless out in the yard. I take comfort in knowing she transitioned while outside where she loved to be, enjoying her extra “Mila time.”
By the time I got out of the city and to the emergency vet center, I was basically saying goodbye to a magnificent being who already seemed gone. When the technician came back out with her wrapped in a blanket they were sending with us home with, I immediately noticed the huge Cardinal’s head staring at me from the blanket print. It was her first sign and message to us that she was still around and was okay. I also got this message that came to me “feed the Cardinals.”
In the weeks after she passed, the number of Cardinal’s in our backyard increased once I began putting more bird seed out, and we received other “Winged Things” visiting our backyard to include Blue Jays, Red Winged Blackbirds, and of all things on the evening of 9/11, about a dozen Dragonflys hovering over out backyard…which was ironic given I had never seen so many before just hovering like that in a formation near our house, and we do not have any water features in our yard. Dragonfly has since emerged as one of my spirit animal totems! Lastly, Cooper’s Hawks (a bird of prey) have been in and around our yard more. While I appreciate their place in the circle of life, I have been a little dismayed when they have targeted the Blue Jays and Cardinals on occasion. Yet, I have to respect Hawk’s purpose for appearing in my life during this season. Many of these visitations have proven to be synchronicities, much like your experience with the bird of prey (which typically holds meaning that they are taking the deceased’s spirit to the other side), as well as the license plate on the car that passed you. Yes! They are still there, and they send us messages to let us know!
Aside from those visitations, Mila visited within the first few nights in a lucid dream that seemed very real. She was showing me her new coat, that she was okay, and was bringing me healing. She has come to my dreams a few more times since. While I won’t go into details as the “how” here in this comment, we did learn that she passed due to something suddenly happening with her heart. She apparently did not suffer any pain, transitioned within a few seconds, and knows from the other side it was her time to go. I get the overwhelming sense that she was not alone when she passed, that another being summoned her, and the birds and bunnies she loved to chase where there and helped her cross over. I have been told she has a friend, a golden dog a little bit bigger than her that she is with, and they are both being watched over by a very nice gentleman. Receiving that information more recently gave me an extra degree of comfort.
In the six months she has been gone, it seems like time has gone by quickly, and yet it seems like so much change and transformation has happened that should have taken years. By that I mean I have been “collapsing timelines” in my own life, and things that perhaps would have taken a decade for my soul to learn and evolve from, has all happened in these recent months, and of course is still ongoing.
I believe Mila led me to your page, as she did to an animal energy and communication course I am pursuing. As tragic as her passing has been for us, the silver lining has been a shift in my trajectory, a leveling up of my own consciousness, and coming to a greater understanding of my life path and why my soul is here at this time… It’s the journey back to myself and my true essence, that I don’t think would have been possible without her being in my life, and the timing of her transition.
I named her “Mila” after the actress Mila Kunis actually, because she reminded me of that same sweet, yet independent and bold spirit. Little did I know, and since then with a little Internet research, that the name “Mila” in Italian means “miracle.” She certainly has lived up to the meaning of her name!
Her passing was meant to get me grounded back in my home life, and to get me reconnected to the Earth once again. After she passed, I took up a Daoist Stone Medicine course that has helped me with some soul level healing, and is pointing me in the direction of Earth Acupuncture. There is so much more that could be said here about all that has and is happening, but this comment is already long enough. I am sure one day I will have the opportunity to share the whole story.
Until then, I will keep enjoying and sharing your lovely and heartfelt art that has helped me on my own healing journey, and I will likely reach out soon via your page to request a commission piece done of Mila.
Thank you again,
Jessica
Since I seen your artwork or looking at your post, it has helped me through the loss of our dog back in august 17/21 it’s still raw and some days are are harder than others. But seeing your strength helps others ❤ and can relate in many ways, I miss the smell and the little things that are big.
I am so proud of my daughter jess. She is still struggling with the loss of roo and she always will. Thank you John for being there and allowing her to share her grief xx
Your podcast was beautiful and touching. I cried most of the way through it. I experienced a lot of the same feelings, emotions, sensations that you discussed when my Kona passed. Its been almost 8 months and I still miss her beautiful face every day. Hugs to you and your family.
Since I seen your artwork or looking at your post, it has helped me through the loss of our dog back in august 17/21 it’s still raw and some days are are harder than others. But seeing your strength helps others ❤ and can relate in many ways, I miss the smell and the little things that are big.
Jess this is a beautiful podcast, I have to admit I couldn’t listen to it all in one go. I was sobbing so much, I’m a senior dog mum to a beautiful labrador named Mason @masonthedogwithnoeyes. All what you spoke about is slowly happening with him. He’s recently been diagnosed with arthritis and watching him is heartbreaking. Our walks get shorter month on month and I often wondered how long we have left together. He’s 13 in August so he’s the oldest dog I’ve owned in adulthood. We lost his brother Bailey suddenly at aged 8 to cancer,and so our bond was made so much stronger. Since loosing both his eye’s to glaucoma he’s very much dependent on me to help him navigate his world. I appreciate our time together each and every second of it. Mason is my absolute world I can’t imagine him not being here. Roo was a very special fur baby and I have enjoyed all your posts about her, especially the swimming one’s. Love to you all ❤
Your artwork has been integral in my grieving process. It has helped me cry when I know I needed to cry. It has made me smile when I saw the breathy that you have given to all of us through your artwork. Most importantly, you have made me feel less alone in my grief. I can’t thank you enough. I hope I can get a custom work of yours done this May. Thank you for sharing this story of Roo. I am so sorry for your loss. 💗 Christina