This blog is dedicated to the little squirrels of this planet and in the entire cosmos. This blog is made with love and gratitude to all my squirrel teachers. Long may their tails wave!
One never knows what "form" a teacher will take. For me, I've been blessed with a series of squirrel teachers. And through the 13 years of adopting these orphaned baby squirrels, rehabbing them, releasing most to the outdoors, and giving "forever" homes to the non-releasables, I've come to see them as TRUE BUDDHAS. And now, through their eyes, I can see, finally, my own "Buddha Nature".
Many times I would sit and stare into the eyes of one of my "rescues" and suddenly there would no longer be a subject and an object. Rather, there was only the dissolving into PURE LOVE... falling into the One Heart only to find out THAT'S ALL THERE IS! And "I" AM THAT! One of the great things about squirrels is that they're not concerned with following some "leader". They don't require a "squirrel in charge" because they all tune inside to the "One Squirrel Heart"... which is one undivided whole. In fact, this is the very same "Heart" that resides in each of us; what some nondual teachers refer to as "The Absolute". In the beginning, when I took in a motherless baby squirrel, I thought that I was helping her... but in time, I discovered that it was actually the other way 'round. That baby was Grace coming into my life to shower me with my own goodness! Wow-- What a gift! Most recently, I was sitting with one of my new squirrels, Miss Nutleigh. At one point, I caught her gaze and a song of wisdom came through me from her and I recorded it. Much later, in listening to myself singing it again, I heard the words on another level. I realized in that moment that "consciousness" was singing to "consciousness" and being witnessed. In other words, the One Squirrel Heart spoke TO me THROUGH me, and LOVE was seen.I guess you could call that a "squirrel awakening"! I want to acknowledge my profound love and appreciation to the late Mr.Nut. He crossed over on my 60th birthday last January. You can hear his amazing wisdom online: www.SatsangWithMrNut.com.
And I also bow in deep respect to my beloved Muffinheart who taught me true meditation. This dear boy recently passed at the end of August. You can find his meditation at: Eternal Love of Muffinheart *Pranams is a deep bow of respect, usually seen in the East where devotees fall prostrate on the floor in front of their teacher. Finally, I want to share the words of Nutleigh's Song:
Capt.Muffinheart seeding Mother Earth with Squirrelove
There are simply no words to describe the exquisite and overwhelming love that comes through a little squirrel. And if you happen to be blessed with the sweet friendship of one, then you have been truly graced.
My little Muffin loved me like no other. He was and is my sweet angel of love. So much so that at one point I had to change his name from "Muffin" to "Muffinheart".
But now I will start at the beginning. Muffin was one of three beautiful boys found under the hood of a student's car at St.Ed's University in South Austin. Luckily, their mama chewed the wires so the girl couldn't start her car. Then her dad looked under the hood and discovered the litter of baby squirrels nestled behind the left headlight. The campus police called me to come get them. God Bless Mama Squirrels!
So Muffin, Buddins, and Nugget grew up together until Muffin decided he'd rather be in his own space. And I honored that. Muffin was a little different than his brothers. He was an especially sensitive little guy... The summer that Buddins and Nugget were released, Muffin had been sleeping with his mouth against his cage and ended up with crooked and overgrown teeth. So his teeth got trimmed by our vet, and his release got delayed. (Now looking back, I know he planned it that way.) By the time I knew his teeth were fine, it was winter.The main problem with squirrels is that the longer they live with you, the more you fall in love with them. At this point I was head over heels in love with the Muffin man and I dreaded the day I would be putting him in the outdoor cage to get used to the neighborhood sounds and weather. Nevertheless, Spring did arrive and it was Muffin's turn! On the first two tries, he got in fights with other little boys and both times came home with gashes on his little body. The first one was on his back and the second one was across his sweet face. Poor Muffin. I'm not sure if it was harder on him or me! But they say three times is the charm. So I was going to try just once more. Remember, it was also the springtime so mating season was going on. On this third try he had a little fling with Miss Rosie Posie who was also being released. But after several days outside, Muffin came back to the front door and wanted in. And that's the day he officially became an "indoor squirrel". And it wasn't until a couple days before Rosie gave birth in my kitchen that I even knew she had gotten pregnant! But Rosie came inside to have her babies, and so Muffin got to see his pups grow up. Such a sweet adventure for us all! These were such happy times... what could be more fun than a houseful of squirrels? And although the following spring, Rosie Posie and her angels Pookie, Chupie and Rosebud would move outside, the Muffin man remained behind. He loved hanging out in the big cage and giving advice to his young boys when they came home for meals. But the best part for me was sharing my morning coffee time with my Muffinheart. You can feel all the love in this video:
Muffinheart is best know for his affectionate nature. So many videos of him being a loving little buddy and so many photos of his indescribable cuteness! It seemed that every day he would just get cuter and more lovable! Truly astonishing!
So it's especially difficult to say goodbye to such a sweet friend. I still don't know the exact cause, but one day I noticed he was not drinking water from his water bottle on the side of his cage. So I brought the water bowl from his outdoor play-cage and offered him some. He guzzled it down. So I thought the problem was solved. However, he was also not eating much and had stopped pooping. I would offer him his usual food, but he refused. So I tried a piece of rice cake which he loved... but later vomited it up. Not long after, he wasn't keeping the water down either.
Finally, I took him to the vet so he could get some SubQ fluids. Dr.Brad gave him 20ml. with a medicine added to calm his tummy so he could keep down food and water.
He had lost so much weight, poor fella.
Photo of Muffinheart taken two days before he died.
Then on the drive home from the vet clinic, Muffinheart
was looking off in the distance with a smile on his face.
I kept touching him, saying, "Muffin, hey buddy... we're almost home!"
We went inside and I laid him on my lap. I loved on him and told him how much I love him. He was so weak and seemed to be only partly in his body. Then he started to move in a circle on my lap... trying to get more comfortable.
Then he got still and took two shallow breaths with his mouth open... and I knew he was leaving.
I held him up on my right shoulder
and kissed him; his body so so limp.
And then he took his last breath.
Tears and more tears... oh sweet one.
Oh my dear coffee buddy...
Beautiful Muffinheart resting in Peace
Back when I still thought he would be going to live outside in the trees, I wrote him a love song. And upon listening to it again, I find that it is a most appropriate song for his passing. I call it "Muffin's Song".
Muffin was indeed a "bodhisattva" squirrel. A being who is so kind and selfless that they come back time and again to teach lovingkindness.
And so, his beautiful box of ashes attests to this. My heart is full of gratitude to all those who helped make this tribute possible.
Have you ever wondered about how little squirrels are able to communicate instantaneously with other squirrels? Unlike our slow Internet, they use the incredibly fast InnerNut. This mode of communication is the fastest and most efficient. It requires no computer hardware and is instantaneous! How is that possible? Because it is direct: heart-to-heart!
The InnerNut was popularized and spread over the globe through the ingenious efforts of our late Admiral Nut. He worked tirelessly to make sure that little squirrels and squirrel people world-wide were connected! The connection is simply made via awareness. Once Mr.Nut would telepathically touch your heart, thereafter you became aware of the frequency of compassionate heart-wisdom! The same wisdom that made Mr.Nut the bodhisattva that we all knew and loved, and continue to love!
Admiral Nut spent his entire lifetime perfecting the art of effortless communication. He conveyed hundreds of messages of pure wisdom without even uttering a word! With his pure intent and compassionate heart, he was able to teach the Cosmic principles of Squirrelove to squirrels and squirrel people all over the globe! He has students and friends in every country on this planet and throughout the galaxy! Here is a song in his honor! Thanks to my dear friend Ulf for his lovely music accompaniment and video creation!
I was sitting with Capt. Muffinheart this morning and he shared some squirrel wisdom with me. It's that time of the month again when the rent is due and that always brings on stress. The cost of living is going up, but not enough work to cover the basics. So, as I was pondering this dilemma, the thought came (telepathically from Muffin) "Hey you know the prayer is: "Give us this day our daily bread". It's not "Give us this day our yearly supply of bread."
Then I realized that my stress was happening from worrying about the future. In this moment, I have a roof over my head and food on the table. The lights are on and I'm not in debt. And the squirrels are all healthy and happy!
This morning I was having coffee with my little buddy Muffinheart and suddenly a message came in loud and clear. "Your squirrel IS your path to enlightenment." WOW! What does this mean?
Enlightenment is, simply put, the realization that everything is perfect just as it is. Mr.Nut spent a lot of time teaching this wisdom. He was the perfect example of pure Peace and Love. No matter what was happening around him, Mr.Nut always demonstrated pure equanimity.
Here are some of the many ways a squirrel makes the perfect teacher of enlightenment:
1. Like Ramana Maharshi, they practice Silence.
2. They accept what is.
3. They always live in the "now".
4. They love you unconditionally.
5. They are always at Peace.
6. They recognize the God in you, even when you don't!
And little by little, as we live with our little squirrel buddies, they teach us their calm and meditative lifestyles. You can just observe them in everyday life because they teach by example!
Mr.Nut at an early age, teaching LOVE.
To learn more about enlightenment, you might want to go to squirrel satsang. Just visit: SatsangWithMrNut.com and immerse yourself in the ultimate Truth!
There is nothing more satisfying than the realization of Truth!
It has taken me quite a while to finally write this post. There are no words to describe the exquisite love of and for my beloved Mr.Nut. His story is a love story... one of miracles and magic. And so, I will begin at the very beginning.
Almost 4 years ago in mid-February of 2012, I received a call from a local vet asking me if I could take in a nest of baby squirrels. Apparently some yahoo had knocked a nest out of a tree and put it in his shed. When his girlfriend came home, he told her about it and she immediately got it and called the vet. (Note: this was the same vet who sent my Bucky to the light only 6 weeks prior. You can read Bucky's story here: "Farewell Beloved Bucky" )
So this woman brought me the whole nest with two little babies in it, but seemed troubled. She said, "I just have a feeling that there is one more baby out there somewhere. I will go home and search the whole area and the shed."
So, 24 hours later, she returned to my house with one more cold, little baby. This sweet angel had been out in the cold, rainy, wet 40-degree weather. And this was our amazing Mr.Nut!! (Here is the post of this discovery: "Baby Squirrel Wisdom")
Bucky, Sweet Pea, and Mr.Nut grew into beautiful little boy squirrels, happy and healthy. Then as time went on, it became apparent that Mr.Nut was a little 'different' than his two brothers. He was more quiet, gentle, pondering. In fact, sometimes he would just sit and stare... it seemed he was often meditating. At one point Mr.Nut no longer wanted to share the same cage with his brothers and so I gave him his own space. Check out the three babies:
While his brothers were lively and played together, Mr.Nut preferred to be quiet and contemplative. He didn't seem like a good candidate for an outside life. So when it came time to release Bucky and Sweet Pea, I felt it prudent to keep Mr.Nut inside. My best guess was that Mr.Nut had either incurred a brain injury or birth trauma. Certainly the rough and tumble of outside life was not for him! In May of 2012 he began to share his wisdom via a new blog called "MrNutSpeaks.com" Soon Mr.Nut became known as the "Buddha" of the neighborhood. It was clear that he was operating in the higher realms and so began the start of his satsangs:
Sweet Mr.Nut became Commander Nut as his duties included keeping peace on the planet, helping others in need, and ministering to the broken-hearted. He became known for his amazing compassion and peace. Many times he would visit those in hospice or recuperating in a hospital bed. He would appear to them and comfort them at a soul level.
Mr.Nut always reminded us that LOVE is all. You can see in this video taken in 2014, that he radiated pure compassion:
We celebrated all his birthdays with zeal and zest and he immensely enjoyed socializing with his many friends.
He loved celebrating Christmas and Valentine's Day.
Anyone who met him fell in love with him. He got to meet the bakers who made his birthday cakes, his friends at the post office who helped mail his t-shirts and calendars, and he even spent time with the children at the Integrity Academy. He was intent on dispelling the old myths of fearing squirrels. He was docile and calm and let anyone and everyone pet him and love on him, always key on giving a real experience of the immensity of Squirrelove.
People came from as far away as Japan to meet him and his calendars have been mailed to almost every one of the United States and even Australia, the UK, and Sweden!
Here is the Commander enjoying his 3rd birthday celebration:
After his third birthday, the Commander seemed to slow down and gain more weight. We tried an outdoor enclosure for him to run around and play, but after any short workout, he would sleep for hours. But no matter what was going on with him physically, he was always in good humor. Here is a video interview filmed about a year ago:
He was eating much less than all the other squirrels but his weight kept increasing. Even his vet had no clue of the cause. It wasn't until his last days that it became clear that he had been suffering from Congestive Heart Disease and that the extra weight had been due to edema. He was hiding more in his cubby and didn't like to be picked up. Finally, when I did pick him up I discovered the big sore spot on his lower abdomen... it was a sign of internal bleeding. The following day, on my 60th birthday, Mr.Nut lay in his cozy cubby while I was answering birthday wishes and phone calls. After getting off the phone with my brother from Florida, I went to check on Mr.Nut and sadly, he had quietly slipped away. It was about 3:40. Something told me he had left his hurting body at 3:33 pm but I didn't know for sure.
I called one of his dearest friends to tell her and she just sobbed.. she could not even speak. The next day we held a farewell ceremony for him, placing rose petals on his beautiful squirrel body. During the ceremony, the phone rang and it was his dear friend calling back. She relayed her story of his passing. She had laid down to take a nap at 3pm and suddenly sat straight up in bed, trembling. She got up and stood at the kitchen window. The clock said 3:33. The waves of energy continued and then Mr.Nut came to her, kissed her, hugged her neck and flew off into the light. Yes, it was true. The Commander left at 3:33, just as I had known in my heart!
How does one say goodbye to such a Beloved Buddha as this? Perhaps the word "good-bye" is really not appropriate for this occasion. He had touched hundreds of beings with his amazing love and compassion. Beautiful flower arrangements arrived, sympathy cards came in, and many of his grieving friends and fans called to offer their condolences. Now all the love that he had sent out was coming back to embrace me in this auspicious moment in time.
A few days after his cremation, one of his dear friends, a retired Naval Chief Petty Officer, suggested that the Commander should be promoted to Admiral. He loved him dearly and would often send him his favorite incense from the Temple of the Great Buddha in Japan. Then just yesterday a beautiful certificate arrived from this dear man to confirm Mr.Nut's promotion:
The Certificate reads:
Greetings to those who shall witness:
In recognition of his supreme work as a Buddha Squirrel while in service of the Greater Squirrel Galactica on Planet Earth and for bringing a message of peace and squirrel love to millions of its human and animal citizens from
February 9, 2012 to January 19, 2016.
Mr.Nut, Commander Squirrel Galactica
is hereby promoted to Flag Officer status with the permanent rank of:
ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET
to rank as such from January 20th 2016
"SO SAY WE ALL"
_____________________________________
Please know that Admiral Nut's mission of spreading Squirrelove continues on in all the realms and throughout the Cosmos. Friends can still seek his counsel by using his website: SatsangWithMrNut.com
...simply go to his contact page and send in your question.
As is depicted on the cover of the 2016 Squirrels of Wisdom Calendar, the Truth is broadcast: "Squirrelove Rules"
For my Beloved Mr.Nut... I will always love you baby!
