*This was something I wrote back in September of 2005 for the Super! Section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Unconditional love
IT’S A dog’s life they say. IF only it was. Having a dog or a pet at a tender young age could either be: a growth experience or: a cruel mistake (to the pet, not the owner). Most of us may have grown up on Disney, Hanna Barbera, the Looney Tunes and Sesame Street. Let’s not of course forget “Batibot” and traditionalists please don’t hate me for forgetting the name of the series of lesson books that featured a water buffalo mascot and a lady tomato head. What’s my point, everyone I mentioned above used one common thread, animal characters as teachers or entertainers. We were all clamoring for a shirt of Big Bird rather than the grocer (see I forgot the name) and I’m sure Mickey Mouse will leave a longer lasting impression over Michael Jordan.
Unconditional love
I could be wrong and I’m no expert on trivia and I’m pretty sure a number of you are googling frantically to see if I am, in fact, mistaken in my comparisons. But that’s missing the point really, I’m not about to prove the effectivity of animals versus people in terms of marketing, I’m here to write about the much understated abilities of these “beasts” to heal. Through unconditional love, and strangely enough, by leading through example. How so? In this rat race that most of us now find ourselves in, we are under constant pressure to DO in order to BECOME. Example, we have to DO well in school in order to BECOME the best in class and perhaps the most coveted new recruit in the most lucrative multinational.
What else? We have to JUST DO IT in order to be the most successful, brightest, most beautiful, most mostest mostestest in order for us, in the eyes of others to shine brighter than the sun itself. The difference with animals, such as let’s say, a nice furry little lap dog, is that, they just ARE. In other words, even if they are supposedly lower in the food chain than us super developed highly evolved(?) humans… they have a stronger sense of self. They are what they are. So they do what they have to do. Nothing more nothing less. They’re hungry? They don’t count calories, they just eat… to live. They want to sleep, so what if it’s 2 p.m. in the day, the best time to meet a client, or they go snoring quite happily for everyone to hear. They’re horny? Well…
No excuses
Maybe I’m being too simplistic and maybe I’m saying we’re not better than animals. Honestly, I am, we’re no better, and neither are we any worse. All I can say is that if we could all greet one another with the same enthusiasm and genuine adoration that our dogs do when we get to see them, we would all feel a lot more loved. Animals express a real interest in their surroundings, and they take great pains to preserve and care for their homes or territories. How long does it take for you to clean your desk or your room? Hmmm. When was the last time you did something that would indirectly or directly affect the state of the world we ALL inhabit. Sure, it’s just ONE cigarette out the window into an already polluted highway, into an already clogged sewerage system. Guess what, you just made yourself part of the problem. There are no excuses.
Having a connection with another form of life gives you the power to heal and be healed. We have to coexist for the balance of life to remain… balanced. We may not be able to speak canine, feline or be a horse whisperer but when we pat our dog and it gleefully flips over in order for a belly rub, we can’t help but laugh and feel a certain level of joy. If you stroke a cat and it starts to purr closing its eyes in an almost meditative trance we strangely feel soothed and relaxed. Seeing the spirit and majesty of a horse as it runs we feel humbled by its awesome beauty and the gracefulness of its gait. These may only be three animals, but they do evoke a reaction do they not? That is something to pay attention to. These animals are a lot wiser than we give them credit.
Jungle
Of course, I am aware that not everyone has an affinity to the animal kingdom. That’s fine. I am in no way implying that you should substitute human love for animal love, I’m merely suggesting that having a pet can be an elixir and we all need one because, as you know it’s a jungle out there. Maybe the next time you look at that doggie in the window, bear in mind that it is probably looking you in a more objective angle, or better yet, without judgment. How many humans are capable of that?
I know, I shouldn’t be using stock photos, but how do you take a photo of a massage while you’re having one done? Will change these photos eventually, but at least you get the “picture”.
Hands-on relief
Anyway, I will change these images as soon as possible. I just wanted to post this blog before Sunday ends, or else, the title would be sacrificed, priorities, priorities.
There is nothing like indulging every now and then, but if you can make it a regular indulgence, then go for it. I have weekly massages, full body ones if I can, if not, then a heavy duty foot massage is a must, and if you’re lucky you can find a spa that will do both your feet, your hands and your head all-inclusive.
Massages when done well are extremely healing. First of all, if you’re athletic, or sporty, the massage actually help decrease the lactic acid produced during your body-too much lactic acid results in aches and pains, which locals call “lamig”. Next, a massage really helps soften stiff joints, if you have a fantastic masseuse then she can just target certain areas to remove the main source of blocks, and you sleep like a baby that night.
Of course, I don’t have a “normal” masseuse, but an intuitive one who not only has a third eye that’s wide, wide open, but she can actually absorb some of your illnesses or the discomfort in your body and dispel it by…burping. Yes, you read it right. It is far from a silent massage, and no, it is not a zen-like atmosphere with sweet smelling oil lamps and piped in music. This is the real deal hard core deep muscle and deep tissue massage plus, plus.
Burping Masseuse (BM) has been coming to our house for several years and has gone over and beyond the usual kneading duties. She has rid members in this household of the effects of “kulam” (black magic), seen beings from another dimension, who are not always positive or welcome additions to the home, all as she presses every single achy part of you. Honestly, parts that normally don’t hurt, do, because she goes in deep, using energy more than strength as leverage. In fact, once you’ve had BP every other masseuse out there is going to feel kind of wimpy. This is why, if I don’t have her for one reason or the other that week, I opt for a foot massage instead since the pressure used by reflexologists on the foot with that wooden peg is about the same.
Foot massages also hit the right spots
You may think I’m nuts to have BP come to the house, and to be honest, when she first started coming (a friend of a friend of a friend recommended her in the energy healing realm) I thought wow, this is a waste or time and money. Not only did the massages hurt, but the burping was a bit disturbing. Until, she removed a fever from me. Seriously. I hardly ever get sick, and having a fever is the worse kind of illness to come down with. You feel weak, your body is in pain which you can’t understand and even if you feel so, so tired, you can’t sleep because you feel so uncomfortable. BP came to the house, gave me a massage, but she lightened the pressure because I was on the verge of tears when she had just started and burped herself into a frenzy.
Within that same day, the fever was gone. I couldn’t believe it. I had taken no medication, not done anything different with my diet, but the fever had lifted. I had no more temperature, and I actually slept like a log that night. The next morning, I was right as rain.
BP also is quite well-versed in medicinal plants like an “albolaryo” would be as she frequents the magic mountain Banawe every month. I had suffered from irregular menstrual cycles for as long as I could remember. Missing them or having them too often in the month gave me mood swings, (all the girls out there know how PMS can be) and discomfort in my abdomen. One day she placed some leaves on me that had been boiled a certain way while she massaged. I have been pretty much on the calendar since that day, and it’s been three years and running. The only way I could regulate my period before her was through medication, and now I’m through with medication.
I wanna hold your hand...
Even if you don’t have quite a colorful masseuse or massage experience as I do, I’d encourage you to find some body work done to you once a week. In these times, where our environments are filled with all sorts of pollutants, from electromagnetic radiation, chemicals in our food and drink, toxic people (oh you know who they are) and even general aches and pains from poor posture, the body needs more love than ever before. Go get aligned, visit a chiropractor, a physical or neuromuscular therapist, get a massage, take a REAL vacation and allow your body to recharge and rejuvenate for the rest of your life. You can exercise yourself into being fit and toned, but if there is no time for your body to recuperate from all that activity, then breakdowns will come faster as you age. Giving your body a break will keep it from breaking.
Lie down…now. 
