Karen Shanley's Blog, page 7

Anybody Looking for a Sweet Mini Aussie? [Adopted!]

[Just heard from Sarah that a great family adopted Blue! May he live a long and happy life!]

Meet Blue. He’s a 2 yr old Mini Aussie. WITH A TAIL! He’s looking for his forever home. His foster mom, Sarah, is trying to help make that happen. I swear if my house wasn’t already full to the brim, I would take him myself.

Even though Sarah is in Hawaii, she says that she’d be willing to fly him to Seattle.… Read More

The post Anybody Looking for a Sweet Mini Aussie? [Adopted!] appeared first on Karen Shanley.

Anybody Looking for a Sweet Mini Aussie?

Meet Blue. He’s a 2 yr old Mini Aussie. WITH A TAIL! He’s looking for his forever home. His foster mom, Sarah, is trying to help make that happen. I swear if my house wasn’t already full to the brim, I would take him myself.

Even though Sarah is in Hawaii, she says that she’d be willing to fly him to Seattle.

From Sarah’s description, I can tell you that whoever nabs this boy will be very lucky indeed! He … Read More

The post Anybody Looking for a Sweet Mini Aussie? appeared first on Karen Shanley.

How Can We Best Cope With These Troubling Times

Q: What are we to make of these troubling times we’re living in?

If the current time is seen as a woven fabric, a perspective can be to stay focused on the fabric and not the holes in between the woven threads—which represent the darkness in the world.

The reason why the darkness feels scary is it can’t be quantified. The fabric can be quantified. The threads can be counted. The woven pattern can be discerned. But the spaces in … Read More

The post How Can We Best Cope With These Troubling Times appeared first on Karen Shanley.

It’s Tick Season. Here Are the Latest Guidelines 2025

Actually, when is it NOT tick season? Unless temps stay well below 35 degrees F, these little critters can be on the move.

But, you say, there’s snow on the ground. Think if there’s snow, you’re safe? Think again! Snow cover actually provides insulation for ticks, allowing them to survive even when air temperatures drop below freezing. They can emerge quickly when the snow melts, and temperatures rise, even briefly. This is why many veterinarians and researchers have documented tick … Read More

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Spiritual Influence and the Concept of Sin

“As you should know, we are all energetically influenced both physically and spiritually. Is spiritual influence the sin that is forgiven because we commit it unconsciously?”

This question landed in my inbox recently, and it touches on something I’m often asked about: the complex relationship between spiritual influence and personal responsibility. Let’s take a look at this from a few different perspectives to help us gain greater clarity and self-awareness.

Distinguishing Influence from Intentional Sin

First, I’d like to speak … Read More

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10 Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe on Walks

Safe Road Walking: A Guide for You and Your Dog

Walking your dog is one of the most enjoyable and beneficial activities you can share with your dog. It provides exercise, mental stimulation, and an opportunity to bond. But walking your dog on roads, especially busy ones, comes with its own set of challenges and risks.

As someone who shares life with three dogs, I’ve learned that walking them safely on roads requires more than just a leash and good … Read More

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Navigating Ego Death and Fear on the Path to Spiritual Awakening

Understanding the Territory

The intersection of mental health experiences and spiritual awakening can be both profound and challenging. What some traditions call “spiritual emergence” can sometimes look similar to what Western medicine labels as psychosis. This overlap requires us to hold both perspectives with care and respect, recognizing that the journey of awakening is deeply personal and can often be accompanied by intense emotions, including fear.

Acknowledge the Fear and Its Roots

When we experience profound shifts in our sense … Read More

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Do Child Prodigies’ Talents Come From Past Lives?

Q: I’m interested in child prodigies like Mozart, and I’ve always thought that this is a past life that has bled into this life. Is that so? And, if so, why does it happen so rarely?
It is often a past life that was extremely intense in one discipline and unexpectedly cut short, leaving an intense imprint of the unfinished expression of talent, causing the soul to desire to quickly reincarnate to finish the expression.

So, it is an energy … Read More

The post Do Child Prodigies’ Talents Come From Past Lives? appeared first on Karen Shanley.

Spiritual Influence: Understanding Our Role in the Energy Exchange

“As you should know, we are all energetically influenced both physically and spiritually. Is spiritual influence the sin that is forgiven because we commit it unconsciously?”

This question landed in my inbox recently, and it touches on something I’m often asked about: the complex relationship between spiritual influence and personal responsibility. Let’s take a look at this from a few different perspectives to help us gain greater clarity and self-awareness.

Distinguishing Influence from Intentional Sin

First, I’d like to speak … Read More

The post Spiritual Influence: Understanding Our Role in the Energy Exchange appeared first on Karen Shanley.

Are You Prepared for the Unthinkable? Emergency Plan for Pet Owners Living Alone

When we choose to share our lives with animals, our lives are often enriched in ways we could never imagine. And we add new levels of worry that didn’t exist before. This can be especially true for people who live alone and have animals.

I’ve been “blessed” with a lot of unusual life experiences. Like, when I lived alone and had two houses totally destroyed by fire in the same year. Neither fire was my fault. And, yes, I lost … Read More

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