Star's Journey Home (from the book Willow Meets Hawk)
by Adrien (Star) Amadeo - 2004
Willow was told by Hawk, that the healer knew today was the day she would be present at her sick little dog friend Star's crossing to Spirit. It weighed heavy on her heart. She would miss Star. As she contemplated the thought, she heard the words, ‘a new life awaits’, and she knew this would be true for her little friend.
The rainy morning turned into a late afternoon full of sun that shone brightly in the sky. Star sat on the animal doctor’s examination table. She sat very still as her leg was shaved in preparation for the injection that would end her physical life. The animal healer gave Star a kiss on her wet nose and quietly began to cry. She looked into Star’s eyes and she heard Star say a very clear and confident, ‘It’s ok’.
As the animal doctor proceeded with the task at hand, Star’s human companion held her lovingly. The animal healer stood directly in front of Star, so she could look directly and deeply into her eyes. Star did not take her gaze away from the animal healer. Their eyes locked as one. The animal healer remembered what her good friend, and Star’s human, had told her earlier that day. She said, “Be brave. Make sure the last thing she sees is you smiling”. Crossing the rainbow bridge is often the only form of healing possible, and in this case, it was so.
The tears streamed down the animal healer’s cheeks. With the biggest smile she could muster, she whispered to Star, “We all love you sweetie. You are a very sweet girl and you are so brave. You are a beautiful girl, and we thank you for everything you have taught us”.
Star did not bat an eye as she continued to stare into the animal healer’s eyes until her little body slowly slumped onto the table. Star was gone.
What Willow saw in the depths of Star’s beautiful dark brown eyes was strength, peace, a knowing that it was ok, serenity, total commitment, conviction and contentment. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that little ‘Star girl’ was ready to continue her journey.
It was over. Star’s human and the animal healer were left stroking Star’s soft coat.
They encouraged Star’s dog companion, Bullet, to sniff her to confirm her transition. It would help with Bullet’s emotional healing. They each gave Star a kiss on the top of the head, and the animal healer told her once again, that they all loved her.
As the animal healer proceeded to leave the room, she again softly petted Star on the top of her head and whispered to her, “With God's speed”. Walking to the door, and taking one last look over her shoulder before closing the door behind her, she saw an empty room except for the animal doctor who had been so comforting to them. She was wrapping Star in the very befitting rainbow-coloured blanket that she had been sitting on and then picked her up in her arms ever so gently.
Willow would never forget what she saw in those eyes.
It was something she had never before experienced and it was obvious now why the animal healer had been invited to take part in Star’s crossing. The animal healer and Willow had both learned a valuable lesson from Star. It was hugely important to listen to and honour all animals at this stage of their being. To witness their strength and the knowingness they exude. And, above all, to feel their absolute connection with the Divine.
That night the animal healer lay in her bed thinking about Star. Willow saw that the woman was feeling a strong urge to get up. She went over to the window, peeked through it and looked up into the sky. There, straight ahead of her, appeared a very bright lone star. Tonight, it was the most important star in the night sky.
The woman knew Star had crossed the ‘Rainbow Bridge’ and had arrived home safely.
Willow’s heart had been touched. A tear rolled down her cheek as the story seemed to end, but again, the mist cleared to reveal more.
The animal healer reappeared. Willow saw immediately that she was communicating telepathically with Star. Willow was able to recognize this from what she had learned previously. Willow listened carefully and watched very closely as she was being taken back a few days before Star’s passing. The animal healer had connected telepathically with Star to find out the correct day for Star to transition. Star told her it would be Tuesday, which it had been. At that time, she asked Star if she would like a ritual performed in honour of her transition. Star began to show her the following images.
Star asked for the rituals to begin at dinner the evening before the day she was to pass. Her human was told candlelight and a dozen red roses were in order, as Star sat on a chair at the dining room table eating a meal of baked pork chops. Her favourite!
Star asked for a special ritual to be performed at the animal doctor’s office. All of the requested items were laid out; the white candle had been lit and the single red rose and feathers were placed close by. Star had asked that her companion’s friend, the animal healer, be present.
But there was more. The animal healer had three companion animals that lived with her. They each conveyed that something of theirs was to be present during the transition. The animal healer’s horse, Sugar, which Willow knew from the Horse Healing Chamber, had sent a lock of her long white flowing tail. Her two very energy-aware cats, Jazz and Tango, had sent one of their favourite toys. Star’s companion was asked to read a special prayer during the transition. Star’s dog friend and housemate, Bullet, stayed close. It was important for him to do so. Star asked that the animal healer use a Hawk feather, when the time was right, to assist with the rising of her spirit from the physical body. And so, it was. As Star’s physical body began to slump to the table, the animal healer whisked the feather around Star’s body several times in a spiral motion. Higher and higher went the spiral until all had been released.
Willow thought how interesting that the animal healer was using a “Hawk” feather!
Star had also asked for a poem to be read. After the reading, she asked that the animal healer chime the Tibetan Tingshas, sacred brass chimes, three times as a blessing of her transition to Spirit. It was so.
Star asked that one more thing be done once her remains had been returned to her human companion. She asked that her remains be placed on a bed of scattered red rose petals under her favourite tree in the backyard. Once done, she requested that her human sing to her the song, “When You Wish Upon A Star”.
Willow noted that all of the above had been carried out as Star had requested. It was truly a sight of beauty. With all requests met, she saw that Star had cleared to Spirit quickly and smoothly. She also noted that intense healing was taking place for Star’s human companion and all those involved.
Willow learned that animals, when given the opportunity, will tell you what ritual they would like. She could now see the importance of fulfilling these requests. Hawk explained that the rituals are used to honour the animal that is transitioning. They are also used for the healing of the animal’s human companion who is left behind in a state of grief. Willow already knew that animals teach us so very much and that they are our greatest healers. Hawk went on to tell Willow that when animals are born, they intuitively ‘know’ who they are and why they are here. Whereas, humans need to ‘learn’ who they are and why they are here.
Willow told Hawk that people are very lucky to have animals to guide and care for them. She also thought that it had not been a coincidence that the dog named Star was the one she had learned so very much from. She thought about the tiny golden stars with great healing powers that the magical white horse had brought her from the devas. Willow wept from the love and beauty she felt within her soul.
Reader's Reviews:
“Being the “human guardian” of Star, I was in tears for that chapter. I can’t say enough about how Starlight has impacted my life and those around us. The illustrations are great, my favorite is of course ‘Star’s Journey Home’.”
Copyright Notice All Rights Reserved. All material appearing on the Starlight Fable's website (“content”) is protected by Copyright laws and is the property of Starlight Fables or the party credited as the provider of the content. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, display, perform, modify, create derivative works, transmit, or in any way exploit any such content, nor may you distribute any part of this content over any network, including a local area network, sell or offer it for sale, or use such content to construct any kind of database. You may not alter or remove any copyright or other notice from copies of the content on Starlight Fable's website. Copying or storing any content except as provided above is expressly prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder identified in the individual content’s copyright notice. For permission to use any of the content on the Starlight Fable's website, please contact it's owner, Adrien Amadeo