A Dedication to Picasso

I want to share a story about my buddy, Picasso, a homeless dog who was placed at a dog shelter in Croatia where I work.

Picasso came to us in very bad condition. He was full of ticks and had a big wound on his back end. The wound turned out to be a tumor which wasn’t operabile. It had already spread to his pelvic and bones.

But despite his issues, that boy, that was a happy, smiling boy!  He was full of joy, full of life, full of kindness!

We decided we would give him everything he needed as long as he wanted to stay with us as long as he did not suffer. We would make sure he felt safe and loved and we would be his family. The family he never had before.

Dear Picasso was with us for 10 months. During that time he was an incredible teacher and a huge inspiration! To me, and to all of us at the shelter!

I tried to find time every day to spend with him, for a few minutes at least. He always enjoyed our time together, our cuddles, and snacks. 😉  I took him out on the grass on our playing field – it was something he enjoyed soooo much! (One of his videos  which I really like, was one of the first times he was out on the big field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g49BJsbMU44)

Seeing him happy and running around meant so much to me! His joy and will for life was always contagious and you just had to smile with him..  He was a miracle dog! I always felt that.. satisfied with everything, peaceful, good with everyone, patient, clean. Such a wonderful dog soul.

A few months ago I started my Animal Reiki for Reiki Practitioners course with SARA Co-Founder, Leah. Even before that Picasso was one of my Reiki buddies 😉 I offered him Reiki and often sat with him in the space of love in his cage.

When I started the course, I did my Joshin Kokyu Ho Meditations with him almost every day and spent time with him even more, whenever I had the opportunity.  I just felt his light, his pure happiness, pure joy and pure love every time we were together.

I usually have problems with visualizing things. In meditation the light doesn’t come easy to my mind. And also with him, I didn’t “see” his light, but I sure felt it – all the time!  His warmth, his being in the present moment, his warm look in his eyes when I was telling him “I love you”, his joy and happiness when he was running  through the field on his 3 legs, smiling like everything is perfect – everything really was perfect in these moments! Totally “All is Well” moments! 😊 He taught me sooo much!

And what a master of precepts he was! It was just amazing! He was probably in pain, with the big wound he had, and all the disease inside his body. I can’t even imagine it. Even with painkillers, he was most likely in a lot of pain. But I was always amazed to see how he always kept his cage clean and how he was always satisfied with everything.

Also, he could have been so worried and angry when we cleaned his wound for example, but he just trusted us and was always so peaceful and patient. Always so perfectly present in every moment when we were together, when we cuddled, when we ran through the field in the sun. He was perfectly happy and grateful and humble and honest.  It was so touching for me to see him like that. So honestly happy and enjoying each moment.

But I also have to say,  everyone who saw him, even my colleagues, were like “Oh, poor Picasso, I feel so sorry for him”.  I had to tell them no, please, don’t feel sorry for him. Just look at his smile, look at his joy, look how wonderful and happy his soul is!
And I knew it to be true. I totally felt it and I feel it now, even though he is not with us anymore. He feels my love and I feel his.

When we were together in meditations, I somehow felt like our lights were merging as one, like our souls understood each other.

One time when I entered his cage, he was sleeping so deeply. I tried to be very quiet, sat down, started to meditate, and listened to his breathing. He woke up after a few minutes, realized I was there, came to me and put his head in my lap. I continued with the meditation and at the same time petting him through his soft fur. It was a very emotional and peaceful moment. I know he enjoyed it really deeply also.

A few days later he was happy and went out in the morning, but in the afternoon he couldn’t anymore. And I knew it was time. I saw it in his eyes. It was time for him to go.

I had an opportunity to talk to an animal communicator who contacted him before he left us.  He told her soooooooo many wonderful things about him and about his life with us and how satisfied and calm he was with everything. He told her how he loved me and loved to spend time with me.

And one of the most amazing things he told her as he said I shouldn’t be sad, and he showed her my stomach and told her i should continue to do breathing exercises! Can you imagine that? I was just blown away! It was something I had shared with him, and no one even knew about it. He saw how important it was for me! He is just a real angel.

I was with him the next morning when he was passing. I was holding him in my arms, repeating I loved him, repeating what a miracle dog he was. He was so calm and peaceful.

I was crying the entire time, but not so much of sadness but because of the love and gratitude I felt. And because I was so touched and privileged to know such a special soul, to be a part of his life. I was honored and blessed to be touched by his wisdom, and by his pure love and light.

I really never see things like that, but with his last breath I felt warmth inside me and i immediately saw him smiling and running, happy, healthy, without any pain..

I still often think of him, I often think of lessons he taught me, and he often comes to my mind in meditations. And I’m very thankful for that!

His beautiful light will always shine in my heart.

By SARA Practitioner Monika Hudin