“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” Josh Billings
This is the story of Calin, a magnificent white Standard Poodle, our first dog of Love.
As mentioned in my previous blog (Angels), here is a testimony of the fact that, in my reality, our animals have souls and consciousness. Here is my proof that they remain with us, always, even after they have moved onto their next mission. We all have different beliefs and that is fine, as long as they hurt no one. I choose to share what works for me :-)
Calin was the cutest silky fur ball you ever saw. He was our first “child” and taught me the first sacrifices of motherhood, like waking every three hours during the night to teach him bathroom manners…
Relocations: Calin experienced the hardships and joys of six moves from Altoona, PA (his birth place) to New York City to California, to Connecticut, to France, to Chicago, back to Connecticut and finally to Las Vegas. His fire, mutable Moon helped him adapt to new circumstances each time. It is the planet that represents what creates comfort and security. His Moon is in adventurous, always in motion, Sagittarius. It is trine (easy, assisting) his Ascendant, where we connect to people and our environment.
Babies: Calin welcomed two boys into our family but also experienced the loss of our baby at birth. His sun in Capricorn ruled by Saturn (hardships and loss) is in the 5th house of children, but it is sextile (flowing, supportive) Saturn, engaging the resiliency of that star as well. In Saturn’s time (the boys are 7 yrs apart, Saturn’s cycle!) and with Jupiter’s expansive blessings (ruling his 5th house), he got to play with two fabulous, healthy, active (all Jupiter words) boys.
Health: Calin survived several critical health crises, which each time were diagnosed as nearly fatal by our veterinarians. He has Neptune (spiritual sacrifice) and Uranus (unusual, sudden break downs or accidents) in his 6th house of health. It is ruled by Saturn in Pisces, indicating challenges in the domain of wellness but Pisces/Neptune also confirm Calin would respond well to holistic medicine and many of his health issues were of spiritual nature.
One Christmas eve, Calin had a freakish accident (Uranus), so we canceled our vacation. If all had been normal, we would have flown back and forth to France and upon losing the baby two months later (still born, at term), I would have felt guilty, thinking that perhaps the traveling would have caused the final outcome. I truly was grateful to Calin when I realized what he did for me.
As so many dogs do, Calin often absorbed our fearful, worried vibes, which compromised his immune system. This is perfectly illustrated by his Mars in Virgo in his 1st house (him) opposite his Saturn in Pisces in his 7th house (us). His Mars is his body’s ability to fight disease. It is in Virgo, a hyper sensitive sign who tends to manifest stress in the body. It is across from his Saturn that symbolizes his anxieties, projected out on us or that we had. The planet being in Pisces expresses difficulty setting energetic boundaries between himself and us.
When Calin had spleen surgery, I understood that we’d better improve our attitude and be joyful! We had gone through much hardship and were not laughing enough. Calin was demanding we wake up and smell the roses. He always knew what was important. His Venus/Pluto conjunction (in his 4th house) square Mars was the message. His spleen was represented by Venus because this organ aids the assimilation of sugars, the sweetness of life. Chinese medicine equates spleen problems with anxiety, which was lurking in our home (his 4th house). Too much angst below the surface (Venus/Pluto in scorpio). His Venus/Pluto (self-undoing) square his Mars was saying that the lack of fun was draining his physical well being. We needed to shift to being jovial and carefree and reflect his playful Moon in Sagittarius instead. Thanks to his optimistic Moon, he always bounced back, so did we!
Two months before moving to Las Vegas, we discovered Calin had a brain tumor, we opted for surgery. We took the 50% chance of survival we were given, regardless of the astrology. However, his Mercury (brain), Neptune, Uranus stellium (group of planets) at the beginning of his 6th house (health) is well aspected (auspicious), just saying… We knew he would have a happier and easier life in Las Vegas as the weather was clement most of the year and our new house had no stairs. This was a happy move for us and we looked forward to sharing a new life with our dear Calin.
Calin recovered amazingly well from the brain surgery due to great veterinary skills, and energy work.
I only mentioned a few astrological signatures to illustrate Calin’s life. There is so much more in the natal chart alone. In addition, I could bring in the relationship wheels between him and each family member, and the horoscope cast for his death etc. I could write a book… I will continue here with just the story and a tiny bit of astrology :-)
Life resumed with joy. All was well. Calin made new friends in the neighborhood. We went for walks every day and to the dog park. Calin loved lying in the grass under the tree as the children were splashing in the pool. Unfortunately, our peace did not last long, Calin resumed having seizures. Our veterinarian’s holistic treatment and no stress gave Calin another stretch of comfortable life. All was well…
Unfortunately, after a routine exam, Peter, my husband, was diagnosed with a health issue that would be taken care of in Los Angeles. We were new to Las Vegas with no family there. I had to find someone to take care of our two young boys and our older dog who was on a strict medical regimen. The stress was great…
Passing over the rainbow: Calin decided it was time. He knew, I did not, that the drive to Doctor was his last because for the first time ever in his life, he cried on his way there. Our veterinarian, an extraordinary woman, who knew our situation, helped us make the decision to let Calin go in peace. She eased his pain while we waited for the children to come out of school, so we could say our prayers and goodbyes as a family. Doctor lit a candle, which was going to accompany Calin on his journey over the rainbow. We did the same at home. My two dearest friends, who can communicate with animals, accompanied his soul so he would not be alone and our entire family prayed to Saint Francis of Assisi for a beautiful passage.
After leaving Calin for the last time, we went to celebrate his extraordinary life by watching the Fountains of Bellagio, a beautiful show of choreographed water jets over Andrea Boccelli’s music.
Losing Calin was extremely painful, however, we were grateful as we sensed that his leaving us before Peter’s surgery was his gift. I did not know how to care for him in the least stressful and most loving way, in addition to our boys, as Peter and I needed to fly back and forth to Los Angeles.
Calin was very brave and stoic (Capricorn Sun), and so sweet with every one. All the doctors and nurses always commented on how gentle and courageous he was. His Leo rising gave him the strongest fighting spirit! Calin was an old magnificent soul (dominant Saturn) who was the most amazing companion we could have had for 11 years. He was a very special member of our family. We miss him dearly but we know he is in a better place and still guiding us from the Heavens.
How did Calin show us he was with us through it all? Life after death:
My cell phone wallpaper was a photo of Calin. A few days before Peter’s surgery, I opened my phone and the wallpaper was blank, Calin was gone. I thought to myself: time to move on. I closed my phone, I reopened it and there was Calin! Wow, he communicated with me that way. I was in awe and rejoiced in my heart. This had never happened before or since. But this was not all, Calin did better!
The day after surgery, who shows up in the intensive care unit? A carbon copy of Calin! A beautiful white Standard Poodle puppy of 1 year named Max who was there to visit patients. This was his trial visit to become a therapy dog. He passed the test after the examiner saw how positive of an effect he had on us. Standard Poodles were not common back then, white Std Poodles were unusual, white Std Poodles in a hospital were rare, white Std Poodles in an Intensive Care Unit were nonexistent! Dogs in general, not even therapy dogs, are never allowed in an ICU. This dog was there by “accident”! Calin created this event, there is no doubt about it! He came to us through Max to tell us he was with us all along! What a heart!
When ready for a puppy, I asked Calin and our guides for a healthy dog, who would emanate Love. We wanted a boy and decided to call him Bijou. Our breeder was going to choose him for us, so I trusted our guides and Calin to get her to choose the right dog for us!
When Peter arrived at the top of the escalator in the Las Vegas airport, with a new ball of white silk fur in his arms, a new love story started. Bijou was all we had asked for: the most affectionate dog ever, even more loving than Calin, if that’s possible!
I had a dream for Calin and me. I wanted him to become a therapy dog so he could share his love for people. Calin won first place in obedience classes but I never pursued it any further. We moved a lot, we had the children and I was busy with other things. When we decided to welcome a new puppy in our life, I consciously asked my guides and Calin to send me one with the right personality traits to become a therapy dog. They chose the perfect puppy! Two years later Bijou was a “Good Canine Citizen Dog” and a member in very good standing of “Therapy Dogs Inc.” We volunteered at a hospice once a week for several years and visited my kids’ school to educate the children on the value of therapy dogs. Bijou was extraordinary.
Calin never forgot the original intension. He made it happen. Mission accomplished! A new journey was beginning. Calin is still with us in spirit, watching over us from above.
E-mail me at corawakening@gmail.com if you would like to explore your relationship with your pets and receive advice in a private session, I’d love it!
Thank you. I choose to smile. All my love, Corinne Cévaër-Corey
Ethical Astrologer and founder of CorAwakening
Calin at 5 months, both photos taken by Corinne Cévaër-Corey
