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| PHOENIX, our "pet" dove, enjoying the ocean view. |
As I close in on the 5-year
anniversary of my “debulking” (odd word meaning messy, gross, long, painful,
yet life-saving) surgery, I find myself thinking more and more about the next 5
years. What will change, what will
remain the same? My first wish, of
course, is that I’m still here 5 years from now. That’s kind of obvious. In August of 2008, I wouldn’t have bet a
nickel that I’d still be around 5 months from then – much less 5 years. But here I am.
I have a saying that I say every
day – much to my poor husband’s annoyance – “I learn something new every
day!” And yet every day it’s true. Believe me I’ve learned a lot over the past 5
years – about my cancer, about how much my body can take, about drugs, about my
faith, my spirit; about my tolerance levels and about the tolerance levels of
others around me; about the importance of trust and prayer and compassion and
true kindness; about the real worth of family and friends and strangers who
come forward when you least expect it; and about the sanctity of each new day.
I’ve also learned a lot about
different types of healing – physical, spiritual, holistic, energy therapies,
naturopathic medicine, mind-body interventions.
I’m pretty much open to most alternative medical systems, within reason
of course. I’ve definitely ruled out
leeches and colonic therapies, at least for now anyway. Mind visualization and meditation have caught
my imagination, but I can’t say I’ve utilized them very often.
A very dear friend of mine
introduced me to a beautiful relaxing, nurturing, energy therapy called Healing
Touch last year. Her gentle touch assists in balancing my
physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Healing Touch
works with your energy field to support your natural ability to heal. It
is safe for all ages and works in harmony with standard medical care. It’s
wonderful and amazing and I love her for bringing it into my life. It was founded in 1989 by an RN as a continuing
education program for nurses, massage therapists, other health care
professionals, and lay persons. Healing Touch is used in a wide variety
of settings including hospitals, long term care facilities, private practices,
hospices, and spas. Today Healing Touch has spread internationally and is
taught in universities, medical and nursing schools, and other settings
internationally. It’s amazing and I give
her credit for keeping my energy centers open and my spirit based in faith and
trust. Anything and everything we can do
to fight this heinous disease is worthwhile – except those leeches – and I
believe Healing Touch has definitely helped me.
My friend is also a great
listener. One afternoon, while I was
talking to her on the phone, I told her a pair of mourning doves had just
landed on the railing of my balcony. If
you know anything about doves, you know that they don’t really like
heights. It’s very common to see them
foraging for food on the ground, but to come to a bird feeder on the 6th
floor of a condominium building – not so common. She very calmly said, “Do you believe in
signs?” I said “Yes, I guess I do.” We really didn’t discuss them any further
except for the fact that they were so beautiful. I began thinking about the sign they might be
bringing me or their symbolism in my life right now. God bless Google – I did some research!
Seems that doves have been a sign
of comfort and reassurance for 100s of years.
The ancient Celts believed the voice of a dove cooing indicated that a
soul was passing from the earth in peace.
Their primary symbolism is that of patience and tenderness. Their soothing voice along with the soft hue
of their bodies and tender glow of their eyes all lead to thoughts of softness
and tenderness and peace. But the most
inspiring attribute I came across, the most outstanding symbolism of the dove,
is that of hope. What more wonderful
sign could I have asked for?
The following day, I was out on
the balcony after a rainstorm. I heard
my husband calling me, pointing out a beautiful full rainbow. What a gorgeous sight! Moments later, we noticed it was becoming a
double rainbow. I don’t think I’d ever
seen one before. Absolute magic! Talk about signs! Back to Google I went! Seems Double Rainbows are a symbol of transformation,
the first one representing the material and the second the spiritual. Seeing a double rainbow is considered a very
auspicious occasion and a call to reflection and meditation. It is believed to mean that whatever is
coming to you will have great meaning in your life and one good thing will lead
to another good thing.
Wow! I learned a lot that week! If I truly do believe in signs, then I
believe the next 5 years will not only be possible, but probable. I’ve also learned that at least one of the
doves is here to stay. I’ve named her
Phoenix and she’s here every day, eating me out of house and home. But for the hope and comfort and beauty that
she brings me, I’ll claim her as a dependent!
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