Advocating: Mowgli's Final Moments (Reflexology)

Solar PlexusSandwich (Fall 2018)

This has been difficult to write, it has been nine months: 
Mowgli's final formal reflexology session became a demo for a veterinary nurse I had never seen before.  
We can advocate for our pets the way we (have to) advocate for our human family; we know them best, we know what generally comforts them.  This may be  important in times of crisis or at end of life; it may make a difference in terms of QoL (quality of life) and may support our own grieving process. 

Away from home: We were in a different state - away from home on October 23, 2018 far away from our support system, such as Mowgli's vet, our pet parents friends.

With shaky voice-I somehow managed to advocate for Mowgli and
thus ourselves (after tossing the idea frantically back and forth in my head for a bit, no as a practitioner, I am not prepared for this; yes as a mom, then yes as both).  
And that is exactly what has helped me a bit coming to terms with his passing: 
I demoed the One Minute Reflexology for Animals on Mowgli to the veterinary nurse while Mowgli was hooked up to IV getting prepared for invasive surgery that could possibly prolong his life (or not!), it did not.  In addition, the fact that my partner and I did not take him for granted, that he was given a voice in a way, helped me as well, he was a much loved family member. 

Paw! 

And then there are many doubts as well; most of life are not necessarily smooth experiences I find and I can also accept that now.  Remember the saying life is a rollercoaster or at least a journey and not a destination... 

"This may provide him with some normalcy surrounding this", I said, "he likes it, we have a daily routine" being very aware of the fact that there were protocols to follow by the veterinary professionals and that there is still not enough understanding of Reflexology and that trauma-sensitivity is not wide-spread unfortunately either when it should be the base we operate from especially in times of crisis.  
Back to Mowgli; the kind nurse was open to it, however I expected her to end our conversation at any moment.  No, there seemed some extra time.  Throughout being at the facility, we were given some space by two to three staff which provided relief (I have had my share of very bad experience, of course, but I admit I also take responsibility for some of it; communication is important and lots of pain is caused by silence).  

Ember: Reflexology, Belly Rubs for Newly Adopted Canine Family Member

Ember's favorite ear reflexes

Ember found a home; I am Ember's mom and her live in reflexologist if you will. Her exact age is unknown but she is young, and yet has a complex past.

Ember has been getting Reflexology ever since we adopted her one rainy November day and we have come a long way:  

- Dien Cham/Facial Reflexology 

- also some Ear Reflexology.  How can anyone resist these ears, they have a life of their own and are so inviting!  Bionic, a friend called them;- )

- She also gets a bit of Paw Reflexology on all four paws, (hands and feet if you will) (Central Nervous System, diaphragm, lung/heart reflexes).  She has webbed toes like her late brother Mowgli, she swims.  

 The daily practice has been rewarding in many ways and was quickly extended to the booty rub which she asks for already and it is great for red lights when I feel we (yes, we!)are not grounded enough and/or it's a bit too noisy (sirens, construction, etc.).  And I wish I always remembered. 

Her absolute favorite for now seems to be the belly rub.  She gets it clock and counter clockwise in multiples of nine.  Ember very clearly demonstrated one afternoon out on the street that she needed some of that, by throwing herself on her back and thus exposing her belly.  I at that moment remembered that we had rubbed her belly when we met her and how calm she was.  Ever since it has been part of the daily routine.  Luckily, she loves being touched in general, and I picked up on the significance of the belly rub.  (Mowgli as he got older was obsessed with the booty rub and found ways to even ask strangers for it, and loved the morning dien cham ritual).  How do I know that he did not just endure it?  Well, he might have yawned or stretched and did not pull or walk away.

Ember's morning sessions last probably between 3-10 minutes, often she also gets a little something at night, or possibly during the day, too, at least when I am with her, and she also gets kisses and hugs.    

Ember loves touch.

Acclimating/integrating the new family member requires creativity and tips from many of our friends/trainer Bruno with respect to Ember and has been a journey.    What has worked for brother Mowgli (not biological siblings of course) was a great start, but Ember needs much more, we are also 10 years older, and 2019 is more complex than 2009, that is the big picture. 

 Healing is an ongoing process and she is not an adult yet, so she is still developing.  She has made a lot of progress very quickly considering she now lives in a very busy New York City neighborhood, and is exposed to dogs of all ages, breeds, temperaments daily, people, people, people, sometimes coming from all directions at the same time cars, bicycles, strollers, walkers, and sirens, etc.., you get the idea daily life in NYC, or any other big inner city.   

Healing is never quick enough, is it?  We tend to want convenience at all times, including the perfect pet - we may want them low key when we are tired, engaging when we want to engage, etc. 

In Memorian Mowgli: Olfactory Greetings

Mowgli enjoying „olfactory fireworks“ 

Nov. 19, 2018

"Dogs are not our whole life , but they make our lives whole."  (Roger Caras)

What is this so familiar smell?  Well, it was Mowgli's breakfast.  Two or three days ago I started smelling something very familiar, which at first I could not pin point.

We started feeding him raw food earlier this year.  It had a very distinctive smell.  Even now that I am writing this, it is with me.  I feel comforted and a bit amused.  At times it seems like eons that he is gone, and I am totally okay with it, but other times it seems impossible.  I am not expecting this to change any time soon.  When I see someone who asks about Mowgli, I tend to tear up.  Everyone has been very kind acknowledging his passing with cards, talks and hugs; thank you all for your kindness.

It has been almost four weeks, short and long at the same time.

Panicky Immune System - Global Warming/Climate Change

removing layers

It got so hot so quickly and both mornings, yesterday AND today,  I felt allergy symptoms coming on (only the third time or so in my 50+long life) during our walk in Central Park, but awarethat I have been having a bit of a cough for a while, I realized that it was my immune system getting panicky, the body's psychology, so interesting!  But the fragrance, just yum.  

- Sniffle protocol to the rescue - it takes less than a minute and it did its magic, just like Marie-France Muller noted in her book*.  Despite dirty palms from touching Mowgli, I could do it right there and then - how convenient.

HAPPY NEW LUNAR YEAR; Year of the Dog!

Ringo (Sean Casey )

HAPPY NEW LUNAR YEAR.
The Year of the Dog begins on February 16, 2018. 

I am taking this as an invitation to continue to raise awareness about the subtle, yet powerful benefits of Reflexology for our canine friends and to spread positive vibes all around.   

I recently found out that there are 600.000.000 strays (SOURCE: ZEROSTRAYPAWJECT) worldwide!  Please consider adopting an animal looking for a home once you are ready. 

Fafa and Joker (Papa and Chocolate)

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”

—Will Rogers (actor, Connecticut Yankee)

What a beautiful and unexpected encounter after a recent breakfast in Hualien, Taiwan with two new canine friends.   

It was very interesting to watch how the older dog Fafa/Papa* communicated with Joker/Chocolate and with me.

Collage 1: The older dog (brindle) approves of me after brief inspection.  I had seen them briefly the day before; he enjoys a few relaxing strokes of facial reflexology; his eyes are closed. 

Collage 2: Communicating playfully and coaxing the younger one who had just gotten up with what I imagine to have been "this is fun, try it; come on, it’s relaxing; I’ll do stretches with you first.”  They did stretches together and were affectionate and gentle, and playful. 

Collage 3: The younger one listened :) and gets moral support during "his session.”  Fafa/Papa is watching us, his face close to where the action is.

Collage 4: Mutual gratitude 🙏🏻; good bye between me and senior (come again maybe?); the younger one just walked off; he did his job.  He pleased Fafa/Papa.  Easy breezy for me, but so incredibly heart warming and eye opening.

Mowgli's Surgery: More Reflexology, Sound Healing, Colloidal Silver

The morning before his surgery (removing a lump on the left elbow, photo #1, lavender circle), he received  a long facial/paw reflexology session. While I was doing the sound bath (see photo #4) he stretched and was falling asleep again.  I could hear his breath deepening, he let out a sigh from time to time, and repositioned his body.  Ultimately he turned sideways with all legs fully extended: that's complete relaxation, savasana! 

Mowgli had a lot to say when we picked him up at the clinic after surgery.  He produced sounds I had never heard out of his mouth for minutes, he clearly had a lot to share.  He was also very happy about the treats Dr. Fish kept giving him.  But yes, he was even happier once out on the sidewalk.  On the way home, he pulled us into the pet store, knowing he would get a treat.  When we got home,

Mowgli Follows in my Footsteps - Mowgli Reflexes!

What do your pets do?  How creative do they get working on their reflexes, nadis, meridians, etc., Mowgli has found numerous ways to do DIY Reflexology.  This morning I picked up the bone and placed it next to him on the couch.  Next time I looked at him I saw this; it lasted for a while until the bone fell on the floor and he was sound asleep.

Puppy Stress: Is Shelter, Food, And Love Enough?

Out and about with Mowgli

This is what happened one recent morning in the West 50s (Hell's Kitchen/Clinton) within ten minutes on the way back home: 

- A tiny dog, very friendly, and not afraid of Mowgli at all.  I chat with the owner.  Puppy lost one eye due to abuse by his former owner, but seems utterly happy just to be alive.  Nevertheless, this puppy would benefit from daily puppy reflexology despite the fact that it seems unaffected.  

- An owner sitting on the stoop with his puppy, 
a handsome pit bull, small but muscular.  He gets

Reflexology Declared Safe for Animals! Human Tests Successful for over 4,000 Years!

 

Mowgli's adoption day.

Reflexology is believed to have been tested on humans for at least four thousand three hundred forty six years. 

Rejoice!  Reflexology - Safe for our animal friends (our better halves, as I like to say) too!   
 

Our relationships are better if pet and owner are balanced. Reflexology can support both of us along the way.  

Sharon Gannon, the animal rights activist/yogini (Jivamukti Founder) is in favor of a well balanced relationship with our pets.

Here is a mini video of a reflex on the face that Mowgli likes a lot; I am inviting you to try it on your puppy or kitty.  
However, I suggest you do it on yourself first, so they can see what you are about to do.  

And have you seen a photo of the lion on his back on a mssage table receiving paw reflexology?

Mowgli's Crisis: Medical, Homeopathic Treatments, Lavender and Reflexology

herb-stuffed pillow for comfort

Mowgli was diagnosed with Lyme Disease a few weeks ago.

This is how we found out.  One morning he just did not get up despite the fact that he had gotten his dien cham (DC session (it is our morning ritual).  I kept calling him, but he just looked at me.  When I finally pulled him up, I realized he could not stand on the right foot.  Upon touching his ankle, he communicated very clearly that he was in a lot of pain.

Mowgli - Wearing the "Elizabethean Collar"

The "Elizabethean Collar" as Royal calls it is not fun; neither for wearer, nor pet owner; the wearer (Mowgli) gets very irritated due to restricted view, movement and bumping into furniture and walls.  However, there was no way to avoid it; we would have risked an infection; we used it at night, when Mowgli was at home alone, or when we caught him licking the wound (the hot spot) which happened occasionally.  I, again doubled up on the Dien Cham  (Facial Reflexology) sessions to keep him as relaxed as possible.   I am also interested whether there are holistic solutions in forms of oils, such as tea tree oil, or perhaps chamomile oil (does it exist)? 

Mowgli the Dien Cham Junky!

Mowgli loves the woods (at Raymondskills Waterfalls, PA)

 
Mowgli's Every-day Dien Cham Protocol
regulation/general equilibrium
relaxation/calming
third eye/cervical vertebrae/psychological balance. 

Mowgli's Recent Crisis 
When his digestion was off three weeks ago, I added the following:

• Points treating infections 
• Liver  
• and at times I worked almost the entire face, representing the entire body looking for sensitive areas.   

My strategy worked well on Mowgli's paw!

tumor-like growth on Mowgli's paw

Mowgli during a recent  early morning walk

 A few weeks after the rat poison scare, we noticed that Mowgli kept licking his right paw; there was some growth, a tumor?!  Our vet did not seem to worry but gave us some ointment to use twice a day.  My strategy worked really well, namely, to use it right before his walks; that way he would be distracted and by the time we came back from the walk an hour later he would not remember because hopefully the ointment would have alleviated the itching.  In addition he received his usual Dien Cham treatment even before I used the ointment.  He seemed to get better immediately and there is no trace left of the growth which was the size of the eraser on the back of a pencil.  I do think the timing of the application made a big difference. 

Mowgli is back to normal!

Shaking off after a swim...

Refreshed but reprimanded - see the slight  snarl, hey, hey Mowgli! 

some more cooling off after 3 hours of exploring...

Mowgli seems to have recovered so well from that terrible rat poison incident.  Luckily, he never showed any symptoms and about three weeks after he was caught eating poison, we went for a lovely hike on one of these perfect spring days.  Mowgli ran for three hours and did some swimming as well.  I am so happy about the vets' treatments.  And, of course the Dien Cham sessions continued to keep stress levels down to support the healing process.

What a Scare: Mowgli Ate Rat Poison

Mowgli

Mowgli and I in Central Park

 Mowgli was caught eating rat poison in the country.  Dogs are attracted to it just as rats are. Mowgli did not throw up despite the salt shoved into his mouth, which is what one should make the pet do - he was taken to the vet in the country immediately, who tried to make him throw up as well by putting pellets into his eyes; the key is to avoid allowing the poison to make its way into the animal's blood stream and depleting the body of vitamin K.  Back in the city our vet ordered Vitamin K after the blood test was positive (there was poison in his blood stream); the poison prevents the blood from clotting so the ingesting party can internally bleed to death - I found myself doing research on the internet and missed a workshop I was signed up for - I was a bit panicky for a few hours after finding out but then, I  made sure I did not miss one day of doing Dien Cham on Mowgli - the protocol I use entails general equilibrium, relaxation/calming, revitalization, liver, kidney reflexes, as well as psychological balance. 

A pictorial-Chamomile treatment for Mowgli

Looks like a pussy eye to me....

...time again for soothing Chamomile tea...

.....after a minute or so, Mowgli is resting  his head on my leg;-)...

This was the second time I treated Mowgli's eye with Chamomile (tea).  By now he is so used to getting his Dien Cham sessions (and sometimes a  full body massage that includes the belly) that he knows when I approach to "treat him" it will feel good, that he'll like it; he did not object to the treatment at all, as a matter of fact he actively participated by holding still and relaxing with ocean breath (yeah, to you yogis out there ujaii breath)!  Of course I also tease him a lot all the time, but he is very trusting and he knows I will not hurt him.  I let him smell and lick the paper towel immersed in cooled off Chamomile tea so he knew what he was getting himself into.  It all just took a minute; I repeated the process later in the afternoon and will do it again in the evening, I hope to not encounter any puss tomorrow morning.