When my loyal and loving companion, Dasher, transitioned in December 2020, I had no idea how this physical loss would affect me. As I write this I realize that this amazing dog changed my life from the day we met in 2007. His transition and subsequently not having Dasher by my side as my guardian, mentor, and Shamanic guide drastically shifted how I would walk in to 2021. I have had the honor of living with many animals over the years – all finding me along the way, some from shelters, and others guided by the Universe. All of them have led me perfectly through that particular time frame in my life. When their life with me was complete they guided me to their process of being released from their physical body to move in to the Spirit world.
In my grieving process, Dasher is teaching me to understand, feel, to be in all of the 
emotions as they surface. He is showing me how to open my heart at a time of great sorrow, creating experiences to connect and continue to grow, learning from him as he flies free in the Spirit world. Dasher continues to be a powerhouse of support and love, helping me to embrace these feelings of grief. He is showing me how to navigate the ebb and flow through the depth of emotions and the ever shifting emotional roller coaster ride as I walk fully in each day.
He has given me permission to just be, to seek the resources that have been so incredibly helpful and opened me to freely talk about how I feel in any given moment, whenever I choose to share with others.
Dasher and I were together in Aiken SC, as he transitioned from his body in to a place where he was free of all physical restriction that had slowly prevented him from showing up in a way that he wanted to. Traveling together, hiking together and going everywhere with me had been slowly reducing as he just didn’t want to and his zest for our adventures began to diminish. To be with him as he took his final breath was a moment of honor for all we had done together in almost 14 years and hundreds of miles traveled along with daily adventures. The night Dasher transitioned, I looked for a local pet crematorium, as I knew he was coming back to New Hampshire to have his ashes spread. A few weeks earlier he had shared with me where this ceremony was to take place. So I was astounded to find a crematorium just 15 minutes from the farm.
The 
following morning I called them. I received incredible compassion and loving kindness. The ease of plans to have his body taken care of showed me how guided we all were. I was an emotional wreck when I arrived that morning to leave Dasher’s body. The gentleman was incredibly compassionate and I was able to stay until Dasher’s body had been laid inside the unit.
As I pulled up to where they would cremate Dasher, I saw the name on the Unit. I knew amongst my tears of grief that all was 
well. Dasher was going home and Echoe (ECO) was receiving him.
The following night, December 30th, was a Full Moon, I believe Dasher left in 2020 so that 2021 could be a rebirth, a clearing, new beginnings and he knew that my continued journey was one that he could not travel with me.
I sat in the paddock with Sunshine, my miniature horse, and began to journal. I opened to the guides, the grandmother energy of the full moon to blanket me and support me, to show me the way forward. At one point I looked up into the dark night sky, the stars were out and the paddock was glowing from the lights in the barn. There standing side by side in front of me were Echoe (a horse who after 21 years in my life transitioned in 2019), and Dasher, as clear as if they were still here on earth. It was an amazing sight as they presented themselves in the highest and most vibrational way, full of joy and with a huge heart. Their presence was to let me know all was well and new adventures were about to unfold.
This was the gift the following day……..a cloud in the shape of a feather. This along with the heart shaped rock I had found the day prior to Dasher’s transition, I knew all was well and our journey would continue in a very different way.