Simply Wondering

  Over the several years we talked with Fred, many topics and themes were discussed. Some were personal, many were general, but I think something can be learned or extracted even through the more personal. To give an idea what sort of ground was covered, or touched on, I’ll try to place topics into categories, and for the fun of it, call them Fred Threads, to be shared as time goes on. Here are some of them:

• Animals
• Body
• Communication
• Dimensions
• Death
• Energy
• Fear
• Grounding
• Humans
• Images
• Love
• Mind
• Nature
• Pain
• Spiritual
• State of the World
• Zero Point

Although Fred specializes in having fun, being light-hearted, good-humored, I don’t think he can be mistaken for being a light-weight. As far as I can make out, he is discussing that which concerns many of the main religions of the world, as well as some of the psychologies. But from a refreshing viewpoint that is not hampered by the conditioning of our oh-so-human mindsets. Our culture, Western culture, is very much in favor of rational, linear, scientific thinking and seems not willing to see the dead-end this lack of balance, this lopsidedness fosters. Even those that question and seek are mired by the assumptions and mindsets of such a collective direction – it is amazingly hard to see around them; at least I know it is taking me forever to start to understand that it behooves me to try. I believe Fred is trying to help us with that. For starters, he chats to us from the unusual position of a dog who teaches humans. That alone seems to skew a few dearly held assumptions, no?

Recently I happened to notice similarities between Fred’s approach and that of the Sufis, and also particularly of Eckhart Tolle, who makes such a strong case for staying in the moment in his book, The Power of Now. I think that is exactly what Fred is getting at as he continually suggests we try to be a dog for a day, even an hour. Even if we were to go out back behind some trees so no-one will see us doing ‘pretending’, it is almost impossible to relax, be goalless for a while. The monkey mind jabbers and screeches: this is so silly, I have things to do, someone might be trying to call me, I’ll be bored, how is this going to make the fear go away, I need to get at least a few things off my to-do list, I could have worked some overtime……………… It makes me tired thinking about it – maybe I’ll just take a little nap.

The first thing Fred said, once actually asked if he had anything he wanted to say:

Remember who you are. God is within you and you are love. It is so simple. We animals are trying to show you this.

Catherine: You know, Fred, I think what is coming through in these pictures is the joy that I guess you’ve always known is in there, but I never did – just the pure joy of the absolute miracle of nature.

Fred: People find their joy in different things. As an individual, you have to find what that is for yourself, and you are finding that within yourself. So that is your joy.

  I want to say, or repeat, here, that I do not understand what happened. Sharon is used to channeling non-physical beings. And she had occasionally done some Tarot readings for me when I was either curious about her gift, or in a stew about something and casting about for answers. But for me to develop a relationship with a ’spirit’ being over a period of time? A being who had formerly been my dog and was now dead and buried in one of my gardens? No, I do not understand it. So I am simply sharing bits and pieces of what happened. Then you can not understand it too, right?

One of my early questions to Fred had to do with his purpose in this life. When I say ‘this’ life, I mean the one he lived from 1985 to 1997. Sometime in 2005, I think it was, he told us he had returned, reincarnated, as a dog again, he was a puppy. He hinted that it took a while to determine if he would come back as a human or a dog:

…I’m an animal. I thought it was much too much work to come back as a human being again… I might do it later, but I can’t handle it right now… I want to play a little more. Yeah.

But I was referring to what his purpose was in the 12 years he lived with my family, and he responded:

I enjoy being a dog. I’ve been a dog many times. This is a special time to be on earth; it is shifting to a higher frequency. I’ve wanted to be here to enjoy that and to help others. Most of my work has been about being laughter and play and light to this family.

Why, I had asked, did he choose this family?

We have known each other infinitely long, and have often been together, dancing. Different parts were played by each: supporting, teaching, etc…. All are special. You must learn to live from the heart. Part of my purpose has been to teach that.. We won’t be separate when I leave, the heart connection is strong. If focused on the heart connection, we’ll be aware of it. If distracted, you’ll think the connection is gone.

It has taken me forever to feel confident that we had that connection, once he had died. I counted on Sharon to tell me what he had to say, to pass along questions for me. But I am slowly taking the time to sit still, get centered, and call him in. And there is a response. Maybe it is a feeling tone, maybe a wisp of an image. Maybe I just start thinking a bit differently. But the response gets stronger the more I practice.