Logo for peace

HCS

 
Beaches, A New Perspective
 
January 22, 2010
 
Greetings!
 
Welcome to the Premiere Edition of HolistiCaly Speaking, an insightful, bi-weekly letter, where I will write about a variety of different topics.  HolistiCaly Speaking has been a vision of mine for quite some time now, and I'm excited to finally deliver the first edition to you.  I hope you enjoy today's letter, as well as future letters to come.  If there is a topic that you would like to see featured in the future, please let me know.  Enjoy! 
Have You Dreamed Of Living On The Beach?
 
With the start of another New Year, many pause to reflect upon their hopes and dreams for the future.  For some, a popular dream is to own a home on the beach.... "If I could live on the beach, I would be the happiest person."  Even my Mom used to say, "Someday, I'll have myself a home on the beach."  These hopeful dreamers envision their future lives.....waking up to the sound of the ocean's resounding waves; watching the sun rise and set with each new day; long walks on the beach, feeling warm, sun-drenched sand underneath bare feet; and sprawling out on a blanket, across the earth's sandy floor, perhaps a good book in hand.  Aaaahhh, to live on the beach........what a life!
 
For some, the beach is already their home.  Yet if you were to ask these residents to describe their "beach house" you may be taken aback by their answers.  They have to scour the beach for many things:  morsels of food, fresh water to drink, along with protective barriers to shield from impending threats of human violence and abuse.  If they can manage to squirm underneath a trash dumpster, they consider themselves lucky - as no one will probably find them here and it serves as protection from the sun's hot scorching rays.  Who are these beachcombers?  They are the sato dogs of Puerto Rico, and this is their life on the beach. 
 
Sato dogs are "street" dogs that are either born into homelessness or dumped by families no longer capable to care for them.  These dogs roam the beaches in packs, doing all that they can to survive.  Threats surround them everywhere....no matter which way they turn, there's yet another obstacle to overcome:  starvation, dehydration, disease, the sweltering sun, threats from more aggressive dogs, and the elements of Mother Nature, for there are no roofs over their heads.  Even kindness from human volunteers is perceived as a possible threat .......as much as these satos may hunger for the food being offered them along with the pure, clean drinking water being poured, do they dare trust this human's hand?  Can that hand really be trusted?  For many satos, hands are seen as weapons that either directly hit or hold something that hits - a rock, a bat or sadly a gun.  It is estimated that there are 200,000+ dogs/cats that roam the streets of Puerto Rico.  And sadly, there are only a handful of shelters in the entire country. 
 
Most of you know that one year ago, I adopted a rescue dog named Randy, a whippet mix, who came from Puerto Rico.  Upon meeting Randy, I immediately saw I had my work cut out for me; he was a dog who could not sit still, always in the "fight or flight" state, fearful of what was going to happen next.  Having witnessed firsthand all that Randy has had to (and still needs to) overcome, it's been a goal of mine to "someday" go to Puerto Rico to help the many other satos like Randy.  With a humble heart, I share with you that my "someday" has arrived.  As I write this, I am preparing to fly out to Puerto Rico to work the beaches and shelters with the non-profit organization, Save-A-Sato.  It is my heartfelt prayer to go to Puerto Rico with full exposure, fully open to witness ALL that I am about to see.  I'm sure there will be many tears shed, and I'm sure that I will be surrounded in love like never before.  With my newfound friends at Save-A-Sato, I will seek to learn what it's like to rescue and then rehabilitate these beautiful souls labeled as satos.  I will share Reiki and The Journey with as many dogs as possible; this is not a vacation - this is something that will forever change my life.  I have taken great steps to prepare myself for what I am about to embark upon - making sure I'm grounded, that I'm connected to Source, that I'm protected energetically, as well as getting a series of necessary shots.  I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't afraid.  I am afraid, yet I need to step outside of my comfort zone and trust.  So with trust I move forward, knowing that I am following God's Master Plan for me and my Life Purpose.  Although I have been met with some resistance from family/friends surrounding this trip, I know with every fiber of my being that this is where I'm meant to be.  And although I don't necessarily have it all mapped out, I take it a day at a time, putting one foot in front of the other, as guided.  I move forward with trust. 
 
This trip has taught me so much already, and I haven't even left yet.  I can only imagine what I'll have to share with you upon my return.  I ask for your prayers, love and support as I embark upon this new journey.  I want to especially thank all of my Reiki II students from class last Saturday for the beautiful Reiki they shared with me at the end of class.  As a teacher I 'selfishly' asked that we end the class with me lying on the table, with all of my students surrounding me, channeling Reiki to me and my cause.  Initially I was uncomfortable asking for this - as a teacher, was it wrong for me to ask for something I needed in that moment.  Yet I felt a strong need for Reiki from them and so I was guided to ask.....and what a beautiful experience for not only me, but also my students.  They were actually thankful for the opportunity to share Reiki with me in such a meaningful way.  I'm so glad I asked!  I will carry their love and support with me during the upcoming days.
 
In closing, realize that everything in life is seen from different perspectives.  A dream for you may actually be perceived as the greatest challenge through another's eyes.  Honor each other's perception - for although not necessarily yours, it's another person's truth.      
 
 
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
To learn more about the satos, click on the link to our website below or visit the Save-A-Sato website by clicking on their link.  I am thrilled to announce that I will be working with Save-A-Sato as a regular contributor to their Newsletter, where you can find stories about my experiences with the satos.
  
 
 
 
 
Shine Even Brighter:
 I encourage you to reflect upon one or all of the following for your own personal growth:
 
  1. LISTEN TO and TRUST your Inner Knowing, that part of you that guides you to where you are meant to be.
  2. ASK for what it is you need.  This not only gives you the opportunity to receive, it also provides someone else with the opportunity to give/share.
  3. GET UNCOMFORTABLE.  Too often in life, we settle into what is comfortable and customary for us.  Step outside of your comfort zone and take that leap of faith. 
 

Peace-By-Peace, LLC

A Spiritual Oasis For Faiths Of All Faces
PO Box 492, Scotch Plains, NJ  07076
 
Caly Lehrer is the owner/founder of Peace-By-Peace, LLC, a Reiki Master/Teacher, an Accredited Journey Practitioner(tm) and Certified Professional Coach.  A Spiritual Advisor for her Human Clients and A Spiritual Guardian for Animal Wellness, Caly strives to bring balance, peace and overall well-being into the lives of her clients ~both Human and Animal Friends~ by sharing Reiki, Journey Processes, Meditations, Chakra Balancing, Angelic Connection, Animal Communication and more.  Sessions are available in-person and long-distance.  To learn more about Caly and the services offered at Peace-By-Peace, click on the link below.