What a lovely date

Dear Phoenix on the WEb,
Truly a lovely numerical date: 8:22:11. I was called to write because of that and because I have come to know this month as Companion month. These numbers all herald that notion of companionship to me. Plus, there have been several years with significant things which have occurred in August, the most notable/memorable was my 2007 encounter with the Canadian goose I named Companion. I met her on the side of the road beside a pond near where I used to live with Phoenix. She had been struck by a car and was dead. I could not leave her there, so I picked her up and eventually had her cremated, thereby returning her ashes to the pond and to her beloved surviving companion. It was truly a magical tale of Loss/Separation and Return. Last night I memorialized that experience along with the recent loss/separation of J. who I thought would be my life time companion. There was a beautiful altar created by myself and A.: an aging/fading sunflower, a sculpture of a girl hugging her dog companion, a candle and a photograph of Companion, the surviving one. I wept for all of my companion losses over the years and then met such a well of gratitude for A. who has become a new and important companion to me in my Spiritual work. This month, from now on, will be Companion month.

Yesterday marked another important experience. I moved Phoenix's altar from my bedroom to the room behind me. Where that altar used to be, I created another one to honor another relation: my relation to the element of water and air and to the ways I am being Led/creating of my Life from the ashes. It marks 'the way' I have come to live my life. Also, in moving Phoenix's altar, I took his collar and placed it around Beetle's neck. I assured her that I did not expect her to be Phoenix, she is not. But I felt like it was time I honored our companionship in the Spirit of the Life that was Phoenix and I. That it was time that I begin to recognize her as my companion in the unique way she has been and will be. And I have to say, though it may very well be projection, she looks proud. And she feels calmer to me, just in the last 24 hours.

My love to you, Phoenix. Always. Always.
Your forever Companion,
Me