Ministry of Animals

detente

Posted on March 25, 2017 by eteal

the hissing has stopped

but the posturing hasn’t –

with battle lines drawn,

and everything a fight,

how can we ever learn to live together in peace?

Trust

&

Training.

everything takes practice.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal assisted chaplaincy, artist, battle lines, cat fight, cats, eco-chaplaincy, fights, ink brush painting, Liz Teal, nature, non-violent action, opposition, peace, poet, poetry, Reverend Elizabeth Teal, spirituality, sumi-e, trainer, training, trust | Leave a comment

Fuzzy Focus

Posted on March 24, 2017 by eteal

somedays when all is fuzzy,

and you feel out of focus…

remember:

You are still seen with Love.

Posted in The Now, Winged wisdoms | Tagged ADD, ADHD, animal assisted chaplaincy, attention, birdwatching, cardinals, chinese brush painting, clearing, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, Elizabeth Teal., executive function, focus, i see you, ink brush painting, interspecies spirituality, interspirituality, love, mysticism, nature, organization, painting, poetry, spirituality, tao, unconditional love, zen | Leave a comment

cat in a hat

Posted on March 22, 2017 by eteal

on the table was a hat

in the hat there was a cat –

now some may think that hats are for heads –

but not tonite,

tonite they are beds.

sweet dreams!

Posted in The Now | Tagged brush painting, cats, hats, heads, humor, levity, life with cats, silly poems, sweet dreams, tao, zen | Leave a comment

class

Posted on March 21, 2017 by eteal

the dogs were sitting in class,

and a crow came and sat on the grass.

i wonder what they thought

about what was being taught.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal assisted chaplaincy, class, crow, dog, dog training, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, ink brush painting, interspecies spirituality, interspirituality, love, mysticism, nature, poetry, sits and downs, spirituality, sumi-e | Leave a comment

NAKED DOG!

Posted on March 20, 2017 by eteal

She could not keep a collar on,

She would not keep a collar on!

Out she slid,

with a quick duck of her head,

freedom!

unleashed!

She danced around,

just out of reach.

HAPPY and JOYOUS!

the angry shouts, the stomps, and pouts

did nothing to dampen Her disposition.

nor did i.

train naked dogs!

oh look, She comes!

HERE!

Posted in Animal assisted therapy, animal facilitated chaplaincy | Tagged animal training, art, brush painting, collars, dog, dog training, dogs, eco-chaplaincy, escaped dogs, greyhound mix, leashes, nature, poetry, positive training, recalls, spirituality, train naked dogs | Leave a comment

wanderers

Posted on March 20, 2017 by eteal

the nursery had been vacant for several years…

greenhouses empty

hooped openings like big hungry mouths

or were they simply yawning from the boredom of unemployment….

i pass by it often and wonder or ponder

the possibilities and potential of it all…

but today-

today others had taken action into their own hands (or hooves)

and the sheds were full again!

COWS!

wandering and exploring the seams between the weed cloth

where grass was pressing its way to freedom,

standing in the warmth of the translucent roofings,

trampling the fencing designed to gently keep plants in line – not bovine out…

watching me as i too wandered into new spaces.

none of us lost,

even if, perhaps, we have caused some consternation to the neighbors.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal poetry, artist, cattle, cows, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, fencing, greenhouse, hoop buildings, hoop tunnel greenhouse, interspecies spirituality, interspirituality, mysticism, nature, not all who wander are lost, plant nursery, poetry, Reverend Elizabeth Teal, spirituality, sumi-e | Leave a comment

loss

Posted on March 17, 2017 by eteal

somedays if feels like everything is lost in loss.

like you have fallen in the mud and it all comes falling in too…

but is that true?

is that really true?

when you have such grand angels watching over you….

remember to be mindful of the cherubs at Your feet!

Posted in The Now | Tagged angels, animal assisted chaplaincy, compassion, death of a parent, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, geese, goslings, greiving, grief, ink brush meditiation, ink brush painting, interspecies spirituality, interspirituality, loss, love, mated for life, mysticism, nature, parenting, poetry, spirituality, sumi-e, trauma, trauma and loss | Leave a comment

learning curves

Posted on March 16, 2017 by eteal

dear dark eyed puppy

the world is such a big place!

but not all noise and substance is dangerous…

(and with Gentle guidance, i too, will learn this!)

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal assisted chaplaincy, beagle mix puppy, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, high startle, ink brush painting, interfaith, interspecies spirituality, interspirituality, loud sounds, mysticism, poetry, puppy socialization, puppy training, spirituality, sumi-e, tao, zen | Leave a comment

derring do – i dare you

Posted on March 15, 2017 by eteal

so i look over at the neighbors roof

and there is one of the tabby kittens

bold as You please,

just sitting there,

in the

Light.

Posted in The Now | Tagged animal assisted chaplaincy, be positive, eco-chaplaincy, eco-ministry, eco-mysticism, eco-spirituality, ink brush painting, interspecies spirituality, poetry, sunshine, tabby cat, tiger kitten, tiger tiger burning bright, water colors, water colour | Leave a comment

sweet