Crossover

Going in a good way

Today I had the opportunity to help my neighbors honor their dog, Annie in a Crossover ceremony before we gave her back to Mother Earth. What’s a Crossover ceremony? It is a final farewell of a beloved animal that had shared their life with us and ours with them. There is no argument regarding how sacred that relationship is. I am reminded of the wise words of Chief Seattle.

The animals are our brothers and sisters. What are we without the animals? All things are connected... Chief Seattle 1855

Having to say good bye for that final time to anyone we love is a very emotional time. I have counseled many as well as attended those final moments with friends, acquaintances and clients with their horses, dogs and sometimes cats. I am honored to stand in that place with them to send them off in a good way from a Native American perspective. It gives us a hope and a release that they are now being cared for in a different way. In a spiritual way. Although it is unknown to us by experience, we all know it is the destiny for us all. We mourn loss and at the same time celebrate life in “ga lu n la ti”, the Sky World.

I recall the first time I did a Crossover Ceremony. It was for my horse Rookie shortly after we moved to the beautiful Schoharie Valley. I had bought his mother, Candy in 1978 knowing she was in foal. I was present moments after his birth and sat on a bucket at a short distance smiling and in awe of his precious new life. He approached me on wobbly legs, still a little wet and laid his head on my shoulder. I’m sure he knew the vibration of my voice as I brushed and talked to Candy throughout her pregnancy. He was a large part of my life from that day to his final one 28 years later. He had fractured his left hind pastern bone in the pasture at some point in the wee hours of a late summer morning, and before I knew it the Vet was here and he was gone.

I struggled with this sudden loss. I spoke with two Cheyenne Women Elders I drummed with, who also had horses throughout their lives. They told me I had to release him in my heart. That when I was ready, I would know what to do. When that day came, I went out to the spot in the upper pasture where we placed him into Mother Earth. I placed sage in a abalone shell bowl, lit the leaves to make fragrant prayer smoke and held it up in front of me to the west. A large bird was making a lot of noise in a tree at the north edge of the field. It was a Bald Eagle. The moment I saw it, it flew towards me and grabbed at the smoke with its large talons within a few feet from me turning quickly to the west and flying over the mountain. I fell to the ground in tears. I don’t know how long I was there. I stood up, and walked towards the house and saw my Father and Husband looking at me. They had heard and saw the eagle fly down towards me and asked what happened. I was speechless. I managed to tell them some of what happened. It took me several days to really be able to speak about it. I wrote it all down in a journal.

From that time forward I started to offer Crossover Ceremonies for others. None of them are ever the same. They have their own way. I just listen and do my best to be a Good Medicine helper at a time of transition from physical to spiritual when we must part for a time.

Too often we hold on to our animals because we are afraid to let them go. Crossover Ceremonies are a way to send them to the Sky World in a good way. One that will bring us good and healing memories not only of the life they shared with us here, but also the one where we will be reunited again.

Please take some time to listen to “The Best Monologue, EVER with Dr. Zach Bush / The Rich Poll Podcast. 10 minutes

Also take some time to search and listen to the many people who have had “Near Death Experiences” who have met people and beloved pets and horses on the other side.