Climate Change and the Clean Air Act

I would guess that there are people in these United States who know little or nothing about the Clean Air Act.  It was the subject of a Note (meaning an 80 page article with footnotes!) I wrote when I was in law school  35 years ago.  The original Clean Air Act set standards for particulates and other contaminates in cities and areas where the air was clearly harming humans, crops, and more.  The amendment I wrote about required that the smog could not be spread out into pristine areas, such as National Parks, as a way of keeping the air clean in places where it hadn't been.

A short while ago, just on the cusp of the Summer Solstice, the conservative Supreme Court stated by a narrow margin that climate change can be controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency via the Clean Air Act.  This is really huge. Just five years ago, Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Scalia were two of the four justices that dissented on the same issue.  Now they have completely changed their position.

The scientists, by and large, now agree that climate change is a reality, and that we need to take action to moderate the change.  Whether we like it or not, it is now a fact on this lovely planet.  So . . . buy an electric car (I really would love to buy a Tesla!) or a hybrid, turn off the lights when you leave a room, buy CFL bulbs, use the cleanest energy you can manage, and conserve, conserve, conserve!

Bowser the cat

Bowser the cat came to me from a couple who were getting more and more allergic to cat hair.  Bowser does have a thick, beautiful coat of hair.  He was terrified when he came to me.  The first thing he did was to crawl into the cupboard under the bathroom sink.  Of course I let him stay there as long as he chose.  After a few days he spent most of the time out of the cupboard.  It has taken a while, but he trusts me implicitly these days.

He came to me at 12 years old with declawed front paws.  The people who Bowser lived with before me told me he had "escaped" from the house and was gone for 6 months.  He had been about 18 pounds when he left and came back at 12 pounds.  I don't know how he stayed alive for all that time, or how he found his way home.

Bowser and I lived in a small apartment for several years.  He once got out into the hallway, but was totally frightened by a fierce female cat in the apartment next door.  After that he did not even attempt to go out of my apartment.

But for the past year, we have lived in a house with a large yard and a fenced in patio.  Bowser desperately wanted to go out beyond the fence, and he did escape several times.  Then, more recently, he came home with a bite that turned into and abscess before I even realized he'd been bitten.  The vet bill was more than I wanted to pay, but . . . the Bowser was worth it. The vet said he was a real gentleman, and everyone there liked him.  I'd say he one of the sweetest cats I've known.

Now Bowser still wants to go out of the fenced patio, but I am not willing for him to get hurt again.  For one thing, I would be sad if he hurts, and I don't have money for vet bills either.  Of course Bowser doesn't have any concept of  money.

Perhaps the most important thing is that Bowser and I are bonded to each other.  It took a long time, but he realized that he is safe with me and my Dad.  He trusts me implicitly.  And I love him dearly.  As with most family pets, there will be a time when Bowser dies.  Actually, fairly soon because he is about 16 years old.  For now, I just love him.

A Dog's Life – and Death

My dearly loved dog Shama was two feet tall, 100 pounds of muscle, and fiercely protective, yet she charmed almost everyone she met.  Her best dog friend Coco lived with my friend Lu (whom Shama also adored).  The two dogs ate from the same dish and slept on the same bed.  When circumstances led to Coco coming to the farm for an extended visit, Coco missed her "Mom," but generally was an outgoing and happy dog. 

Then one day I found Shama lying on the floor under the kitchen table whining.  I work with devas and nature spirits regularly, so I connected with them and asked if they could help her.  They indicated they would.  In fact, she had already ceased her quiet whimpering.  They also said no to my inquiry about taking her to the vet.  I talked to a friend who also communicates with animals, and she thought that Shama would be all right.

But by afternoon, Shama's belly was distended and hot, and the vet told me over the phone that expensive surgery was not likely to help.  Soon,  Lu arrived, and Shama laboriously got off the bed and went to her, leaning her massive head against her friend's legs.  Before long, I heard Shama'a death rattle and in minutes she was gone.  I later learned that Shama had gone to the astral plane, where a Native American teacher told her that her work with me was finished.  She was given a choice to stay with me for a brief time, for love, or take on a new job.  She decided to take on a new task.

We did ceremonial pipe over her body, and I heard my teacher in that lineage, Sun Bear, who was already on the other side, laugh at me and say "She's my medicine dog now!"  A friend who was present saw the same teacher, with Shama on one side and his long time companion Samoyed, Shasta, on the other.  Shama had not gone through the bardo, but went right from here to there, accompanied by Shasta. 

Lu made the decision that Coco would stay with me permanently.  For several years, she was my almost constant companion.  No one could replace Shama, yet Coco and I became good friends.  She was already fourteen when she came to me, and beginning to have aches and pains.  I began to talk to her about her choices.  She never understood "death."  When she finally had a severe problem that required surgery, I made the decision for euthanasia.  The vet was very gentle, yet I was devastated.  I knew she was fine – I felt her reach the light, and even heard her comical domination of the much bigger Shama.  She scolded in her sharp Aussie voice, "You didn't tell me where you were going, and I couldn't find you!"

I told my guides I needed a time out and wasn't willing to help any more animals cross over for a long time.  Not only Shama and Coco, but also two friends' dogs, a cat, two horses, a snake, and my own long time cat friend had needed my help within a ten year span.

Then I met Polly and Zoe.  Polly works with animal communication and Reiki, and Zoe was her service dog.  Zoe reminded me in many ways of Coco.  Zoe related to me very gently – licking my hand at one point – yet maintaining a slight but noticeable distance.  In talking to Polly about it, something shifted in me.  Zoe rolled over, exposing her belly and begging for petting and hugging.

Not long after, I met Thomas and his dog Jenny.  Thomas asked if I would create a flower essence blend for him and for Jenny, who had been having seizures.  The seizures had stopped, but she was very weak and lethargic.  Thomas was extremely distraught.

I found that Jenny was ready to die, but was waiting for Thomas to accept it.  The flower essence combination for Jenny was to assist after a paradigm shift – I knew she had already made the transition.  Thomas himself needed a calming essence and one for receptivity.

Also, my friend Shama, who still is definitely a medicine dog, came to me very strongly.  She said she would keep very close to Jenny through this, and take her to the other side when it was time.  Helping other animals who were getting ready to die was her new job.

There was a big gift in this work with Jenny that I did not even recognize at first because it was so obvious.

About 12 years prior a good friend's dog had an inoperable tumor on her pancreas.  She was having seizures 1 to 3 times a day.  Because my friend was too close to the situation to get clear, I often tuned in for her to see what was needed.  The family had long planned a complicated two week vacation with two other families – one of whom had non-refundable airline tickets.  So I dog sat while they were away.

The dog taught me a great deal about allowing – it was her life after all – and not being attached to the outcome.  She had refused to eat until I agreed with this principle, and then she began eating again.  Her family's return date was loose, the hour totally unknown.  But one a day near the date they were due to arrive, she was eager and excited all day.  Finally she insisted on going out front, where we sat on the porch for about 10 minutes until the car drove up.  A week later I was present when she died in her person's arms.  She was the first animal I supported while she was preparing for death.

Her name was Jenny.

Spirit had gently reminded me this was a part of my work and I really could not refuse to do it. 

When Polly asked me why I was taking Coco's death so hard, I realized that it wasn't about the animals.  Though I grieved, I could see them on the other side, and I KNEW they were fine. 

What it was about was stuck feelings/energy from childhood.   During an intense crisis at about age 10, I actually died, and went through the tunnel into the light.  It was so beautiful.  And what I was going through at the time was so horrendous, that I wanted desperately to stay.  But I was told, gently and clearly, that I had work to do, and a long and fruitful life ahead of me. 

Although I had healed much of the trauma around the cause of my near death, I had not processed the feelings and the energy around the death experience itself.  When I worked with animals who died, I saw them reach the light and longed for it myself.  It was too difficult, wanting to be there myself, to help animals reach their destination!

Finally, I have released that as well.  My work of communicating with Spirit and with Nature includes talking to animals, making flower and crystal essences for them, and sometimes helping them and their companions to prepare for their death.  Life is mostly joyful these days, and I am quite happy living my life until it's my time to go to the light.

Check out my web site at www.dragonflyessence.com, or call at (360) 789-9599, or email jackie@dragonflyessence.com.   I am a flower and crystal essence practitioner as well as energy healer (humans and animals) and animal communicator.  I also sells flower and crystal essences and combine them with aromatherapy in sprays.

Teachers in my Life

I was listening to some music that I hadn’t heard in a while: Odetta, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, and OhShinnah Fastwolf.  As I listened, I realized that each of these persons have had a profound effect on me.  Two of them, Odetta and Israel, are no longer alive in a physical body, and OhShinnah is not teaching or singing these days.  Fortunately their music lives on.

There are others who helped to shape who I am: my parents, of course.  And Anna Esau was an early mentor.  She was a nurse who lived in an apartment downstairs from ours, and she adored me and I her.  We laughed a lot.  She gave me a sureness about who I am.  For example, when I was little, I had red-gold long ringlets.  People often commented on my hair.  So, as a 3 year old, I asked people if they thought my hair was pretty.  My Mother was embarrassed, but Aunty Esau just laughed and said I was just being truthful.  I learned that what some people called a “faux pas” could just be sheer fun!

She was also the one who got me through the tonsillectomy around the same time.  I had had some trauma with needles before I was a year old, and needles scared me.  Aunty was the only one who could get me to stay still for the shot.  Aunty, being a surgical nurse, was also in the OR with me, and was there when I woke.  I learned to do what was necessary even if  it wasn’t easy.

My seventh grade teacher was a gem.  He noticed that I was shy.  I decided to sing in a music competition at my school.  I wasn’t able to hit high notes, and my teacher told me I had a beautiful voice.  He told me never to let anyone tell me to sing in a key that was too high.  I understood that what he said went way beyond singing.  He was talking about my life.  He helped me to know that I was fine just as I am.

In high school, I had a wonderful English teacher.  I participated in speech contests at the State level, largely because my teacher encouraged me, and later I had a lead role in the school play.  I realized that I had talents, and that it was fine to use them.

Much more recently I had the privilege of being adopted by a respected native elder.  She told me to never let anyone influence me to be other than I who I am.

Perhaps you see a pattern here – many teachers have taught me to respect who I am; to be exactly the best me I can be.  They taught me to become my Self.  What a gift for anyone to give.  I am truly grateful.

Bird's Eye View

I enjoy feeding the birds.  They sometimes fight for the food, and just as often take their turns. Yesterday, I saw a finch trying against the wind to fly to the bird feeder.  So when she left, I scattered some seed on the porch underneath the feeder. A few of the smaller birds fed on this gift. But what was more amusing was watching the resident squirrel carefully picking up one seed at a time and eating.

Last year I fed suet to the birds in the Vine Maple tree outside my apartment, and seeds in a small feeder hanging in the window.  One day I was stunned when I looked out my window to the tree.  There was a very large bird sitting in the tree looking right at me. It was side-wise to me, and then turned face on. It had a long slightly curved beak, and a very long tail.  I could hear it say "Where is food for me?"  Of course this bird couldn't get its large body into a position to eat from either feeder. And it really needed fish.  I admired the bird, and told it I didn't have a way to feed it. 

Later I discovered it was a juvenile cormorant.  That in itself is unusual - cormorants usually live on the coastal water islands, and I lived miles from the coast.  I identified it as a Double-crested Cormorant, both by its looks and by the fact that it was inland.  This is the only cormorant that nests inland in the West.  Still, it was unusual.  There were no lakes or even ponds nearby, though there were some within flying distance.

This year I have seen some birds I had not seen before: Red Wing Blackbirds and a Varied Thrush.  And a number of old friends come to my feeder: a mating pair of Flickers, a number of Stellar Jays, and lots of finches, sparrows, juncos and chickadees. 

There are some birds I see less often since I moved.  I used to see Turkey Buzzards fairly often.  But they don't come into town, and are less present along the roads I now use.  I suspect they don't find the food the like as easily in a more suburban setting.  I still see hawks and eagles, but not as often.  Where I lived previously I could look out my window and see eagles flying.  There were nests in several places not far from my home.

My next project?  A hummingbird feeder!

Dragonflies

This morning I had a deep insight.  I remembered an dear friend who was also my astrologer.  She was highly intuitive, and made some predictions that came true long afterward.  One of the things she told me was that a particular time I would experience what my life work would be. 

At the time she had indicated, I had some unusual experiences.  First, I wanted to connect with friend who lived in a trailer in the midst of dense woods.  I could have driven my car around the woods and taken a path to his home.  But I didn't.  Instead I set off in a straight line through the woods.  Of course, it was difficult and full of brambles.  Finally, I gave up and went back to the road.  Just as I got there, my friend drove up to where I was standing. 

I got into the car and we set off to a small, nearby lake.  At the lake, we sat down on a wooden pier and talked.  There were lots of dragonflies, not an unusual for a hot summer day at the lake.  What was unusual was that a pair of dragonflies landed on my knee.  They stayed there for about 15 minutes as we talked.

Eventually we got up and my friend took me to my car.  Our friendship continued through the years.  As long distance friendships go, we sometimes saw each other more frequently, and sometimes less.  I always
remembered that magical day.

Many years later I began a business.  As I was making decisions, I thought about what I should call my business.  I tried on a number of names, but none really fit.  Finally I happened on Dragonfly.  Since my business was largely about healing, magic, and flower essences, I settled on Dragonfly Essence.

Only today, after nine years in business, did I remember that day at the lake with my friend.  He died some years ago, and so did my astrologer friend.  I honor them both.  Both had profound and wonderful impacts on my life and work. 

Second Chance

I recently finished reading a wonderful book, Second Chance, about a boy and a dog who were both adopted.  Sandra J. Gerencher is the author, and the book has just been published.  The book is delightful, and it would be a wonderful book for a family to read together.  I won't give it all away, but the boy is autistic, and both boy and dog are adopted.  I enjoyed it immensely.

One of the best things about this book is anyone of any age will take pleasure in the story.  Because of the subject, it is a valuable resource for adoptive parents and for parents of autistic parents. The story and the writing are upbeat while still including some of the inevitable challenges. Sandra has a winner as far as I am concerned! 

 She is a special education teacher in the Bangor Area public school
system. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at Lehigh University in a school-based program, as a Program Specialist for adults with disabilities. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children and adults with special needs in such areas as counseling, Behavior Specialist Consultation, behavioral research, crisis intervention and abuse therapy. Sandra graduated from Lehigh University with a M.Ed. in Special Education (2004) and from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia with an M.S. in Counseling Psychology (1999).



The book is a PBS Kids Recommended title:
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/family/adoption/print_books.html 

Go here for an excerpt:
http://www.freado.com/read/8704/second-chance-how-adoption-saved-a-boy-with-autism-his-shelter-dog

 You can buy the book at http://www.tribute-books.com/shop.html#children6