Kris' Tribute to Beardog
My wise old friend Beardog.
They say a man’s best friend is his dog. I say this is true. During the last week of my dog’s life, I talked with him every day about how important he was to me and how much I loved and cherished our life together. I assured him that although it had been a very difficult choice for me to make in letting him go, it was being done from a place in my heart that held deep love, kindness and respect for him.
I reassured him that just as difficult as it was to find a veterinarian to come out to his dwelling, it had been equally as difficult for me to make this decision to end his journey on the earth. I told him I would be strong. He had a look in his eyes that day that said to me he knew. He knew that beneath my tone of assurance, I was deeply saddened and that I had an uncertainty as to how I would handle his departure.
I reassured him that just as difficult as it was to find a veterinarian to come out to his dwelling, it had been equally as difficult for me to make this decision to end his journey on the earth. I told him I would be strong. He had a look in his eyes that day that said to me he knew. He knew that beneath my tone of assurance, I was deeply saddened and that I had an uncertainty as to how I would handle his departure.
My friend would always know. He wore the eyes of understanding. He was truly an elder whose wisdom had been with me for many years. He knew I could not let him suffer. He also new that my decision was one of agony for me. He knew I could not bare that. He also knew that I would suffer more after his departure. Yet his eyes were appealing to my spirit.
I recall his mood the day I told him the arrangements had been made. His response was one of relief for himself and for me. There was a certain joy he seemed to have in knowing that I knew he would begin his journey to Spirit world on his turf, in his dog house, right where he had lived and slept for the last 5 years of his life. He raised his head and looked toward me. In my mind I heard his barely audible voice say; “Be a warrior my friend, choose impeccability”.
Later that night as I lay sobbing in my bed, I thought about what I heard him say. “Choose impeccability”. I knew in an instant what he had meant. As a warrior must be flawless in his delivery to a detailed strategy, I knew I must work with the same focused attention for my best friend’s final days and hours hear on this earth. I knew as long as I kept the promise to him to celebrate each day we had left together, as if everyday were worth a celebration, knowing life is sacred upon the moment of each sunrise, no matter what the circumstance, I would not falter. If I adapted my character with impeccable action towards our final week of our journey together this way, I would find the strength without question and that this new found strength would never leave me.
During our final days together we dined on steak, pork, potatoes, veggies, and all kinds of sumptuous fruits. I spent most time with him brushing, grooming and generally preparing him with tender love. Often I could feel the overwhelming surge of emotions. I found moments of weakness, sadness, joy and pain. Yet as long as I stalked my being with his message to me of being a warrior and choosing impeccability to penetrate my being, I found a new surge of strength and stability. I realized by being in the Constant state of awareness, by being truly impeccable, being the warrior on this road of experience with him, a bridge would be built to understanding and coping with what would soon feel like severe loss ~ the death of my dearest friend.
Each day for a week, I would ask him, if after his spirit was gone, he would allow me to remove one of his claws so I could wear around my neck for what I consider “good medicine”. Each time he would gaze curiously at me and would reach his tongue out to my face acknowledging my request and then look away in avoidance.
On our very last afternoon together, helping my friend stand, as I had done for the last several months, I noticed a full outer shell of a claw from his hind foot lying on the blanket in front of me. I couldn’t believe my eyes! As I looked up at him reasonably stunned, he was gazing back at me with intent and I felt him once again say, “well isn’t that what you have been asking for”? I new then, with all certainty, he knew every emotion I was feeling as I knew his. We acknowledged our oneness in that moment.
The morning I buried my best friend, my spirit was deeply saddened, yet driven with the passion of my duty at hand. I had made a pact to honor and celebrate his life. I had promised to assist him with his transition to Spirit. Afterward, I would construct a great stone memorial in his honor.
I recall his mood the day I told him the arrangements had been made. His response was one of relief for himself and for me. There was a certain joy he seemed to have in knowing that I knew he would begin his journey to Spirit world on his turf, in his dog house, right where he had lived and slept for the last 5 years of his life. He raised his head and looked toward me. In my mind I heard his barely audible voice say; “Be a warrior my friend, choose impeccability”.
Later that night as I lay sobbing in my bed, I thought about what I heard him say. “Choose impeccability”. I knew in an instant what he had meant. As a warrior must be flawless in his delivery to a detailed strategy, I knew I must work with the same focused attention for my best friend’s final days and hours hear on this earth. I knew as long as I kept the promise to him to celebrate each day we had left together, as if everyday were worth a celebration, knowing life is sacred upon the moment of each sunrise, no matter what the circumstance, I would not falter. If I adapted my character with impeccable action towards our final week of our journey together this way, I would find the strength without question and that this new found strength would never leave me.
During our final days together we dined on steak, pork, potatoes, veggies, and all kinds of sumptuous fruits. I spent most time with him brushing, grooming and generally preparing him with tender love. Often I could feel the overwhelming surge of emotions. I found moments of weakness, sadness, joy and pain. Yet as long as I stalked my being with his message to me of being a warrior and choosing impeccability to penetrate my being, I found a new surge of strength and stability. I realized by being in the Constant state of awareness, by being truly impeccable, being the warrior on this road of experience with him, a bridge would be built to understanding and coping with what would soon feel like severe loss ~ the death of my dearest friend.
Each day for a week, I would ask him, if after his spirit was gone, he would allow me to remove one of his claws so I could wear around my neck for what I consider “good medicine”. Each time he would gaze curiously at me and would reach his tongue out to my face acknowledging my request and then look away in avoidance.
On our very last afternoon together, helping my friend stand, as I had done for the last several months, I noticed a full outer shell of a claw from his hind foot lying on the blanket in front of me. I couldn’t believe my eyes! As I looked up at him reasonably stunned, he was gazing back at me with intent and I felt him once again say, “well isn’t that what you have been asking for”? I new then, with all certainty, he knew every emotion I was feeling as I knew his. We acknowledged our oneness in that moment.
The morning I buried my best friend, my spirit was deeply saddened, yet driven with the passion of my duty at hand. I had made a pact to honor and celebrate his life. I had promised to assist him with his transition to Spirit. Afterward, I would construct a great stone memorial in his honor.
Beardog's Memorial stands over the site where he and Jessy have lived from the beginning.
I bedded his resting place in the earth with straw as I assured him I would make him comfortable. Once that had been done, I placed a full length sheet over the straw to make it softer for his well lived, worn out body. Once that had been completed, I covered the area of the sheet with Frankincense, layering desert sage, cedar, and sweet grass. He loved Roses. I placed roses and other medicine plants we shared in our diet. When his resting place was fully prepared, I covered him gently with a soft blanket. Over the blanket that cradled him, a final covering was added. I had painted a sheet I had specifically designed for his journey with all the colors of the rainbow. It had been painted during one of our days together. We both had loved that time. He knew it was being created for him and he approved.
As I gave his body back to the ground, I offered tobacco in gratitude for our time together to the Four Winds, the Father Sky and the Mother Earth. His spirit had made the journey the night before. His body had finely been ceremoniously laid to rest and would one day, in its union with the earth, spring forward in new life.
I helped my best friend cross over this week. Beardog is his name. He carries that name into spirit. Along with his name, I will always have his memory in my heart of all the wonderful loyal years we shared. I will keep his final lesson for me of impeccability forever in my own spirit.
I love you my friend,
Peace on your journey!
As I gave his body back to the ground, I offered tobacco in gratitude for our time together to the Four Winds, the Father Sky and the Mother Earth. His spirit had made the journey the night before. His body had finely been ceremoniously laid to rest and would one day, in its union with the earth, spring forward in new life.
I helped my best friend cross over this week. Beardog is his name. He carries that name into spirit. Along with his name, I will always have his memory in my heart of all the wonderful loyal years we shared. I will keep his final lesson for me of impeccability forever in my own spirit.
I love you my friend,
Peace on your journey!
Jessy saying goodbye to her long time friend and partner, Beardog.
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Jessy, me and Beardog celebrating life.
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