Angel ~ the little calf who lives in my chest

A short while ago I painted a custom Pet Portrait called "Angel" on reclaimed pine board for a client and she has kindly allowed me to share her heartfelt story on my blog. Angel by Kathy Crabbe

Angel

A little calf lives in my chest. Well, actually, the valve of a little calf’s heart lives in my chest. And I thank the precious little calf every day for giving me life after my valve began to fail and the calf’s valve was transplanted into my heart.

A few years ago I learned that I had a heart valve problem called aortic stenosis. It’s when the aortic valve becomes hardened and narrows which makes pumping the blood through increasingly harder. Eventually, the valve must be replaced or it would rupture and likely cause death. As my cardiologist said “it’s not if, it’s when.” As the stenosis progressed it made sense to me to do that. At age 70 and otherwise healthy I figured that was a no brainer.

In talking to my thoracic surgeon I learned that there are three types of valves that are used for this procedure. One is an artificial valve that is inserted vascularly with no open heart surgery required, but this was not indicated in my condition. The other types of valves used are either from a pig (porcine) or a calf (bovine). “Wait,” I said. That means a calf or a pig must be sacrificed for me. I am a strict vegan - have been for about 15 years on top of another 25 years of being vegetarian. In other words, I have not eaten an animal in almost half a century and I wasn’t excited about killing an animal now. This was a horrible dilemma for me.

The surgeon said the bovine valve would be the right choice for the needs of my body. So there I was. How was I to square this with my strongly held personal beliefs of not killing animals? If I did not have the surgery I would likely die within a couple of years. If I did have the surgery, an animal would have to die to save me. Many people would say this was an easy answer - just do it - animals are killed every day for humans’ food and other uses but for me it was not that easy.

I meditated on it, discussed it with several people from my Zen meditation group and other close friends I consider connected to the universe in an intensely spiritual way. One said that this calf would be honored to live within me as a way of thanking me for saving so many other animals over the years and living a lifestyle where I consider the well being of animals every day. Another said that this calf would be honored to come to live on earth in the body of a gentle human and experience a new life in this way.

After much soul-searching, in the end, I concluded that I would agree to the bovine valve and just over a year ago I had the open heart surgery to replace my damaged valve. But I wanted to be sure that I remembered the little calf each day. I named the calf Angel because it is a gender neutral name and I have no idea if my calf was a boy or girl. I just know that it is a very important being to me.

I wanted a tangible way of remembering Angel and had been looking for a card or a small art piece of a beautiful little calf with wings. It had to be just the right representation, but for some months I had no luck in fulfilling my vision. But when I saw talented Kathy Crabbe’s newest art genre of paintings on recycled pine I commissioned her to paint Angel on a 4” by 4” piece and it turned out to be just what I had envisioned. Kathy had me go over dozens of pictures of calves and I picked several that I liked one thing or another about and she came up with what you see here. Angel has a place not only in my chest but also on my sideboard where I see the painting each day and remember that Angel lives in me so I can enjoy a precious longer life.

Kathy, thank you for the beautiful job - you caught my vision and brought Angel to life for me.  ~ Barbara, Orange County, California

Angel (custom pet portrait) by Kathy Crabbe

To order a custom Pet Portrait by Kathy Crabbe please click here.

Kathy Crabbe Guiding Your Creative Soul

About Kathy Crabbe Kathy Crabbe is a Creative Soul Guide, artist, author and educator who has devoted her life to exploring spirituality and creativity with passion and integrity. Kathy empowers soul-seekers to live the life of their dreams through online resources, inspirational art, eClasses, eBooks, and Creative Soul Sessions infused with a rich background in the arts.

Amanda's Soul Portrait and Reading Testimonial

Amanda's Soul Portrait & Reading Testimonial

Wow. I have been letting this settle in, and now have a good window of time to write back. I loved the reading. It really hit home for me...was very profound.

The healing stones you picked for me were SO spot on. I have been looking more into them and each one really speaks to me as a place where I could use some support. I am definitely going to seek them out.

I thought the phone format was great, and it was nice to be able to have the interactivity of it and to connect with you in that way. I think I like it better than the written ones...though it's hard to choose.

Soul Portrait by Kathy Crabbe

More About Amanda's Soul Portrait

It is lovely!! I love it. I was so happy to receive it. I love how the "lady" has leaf feet which flow into the branch...she has a beautiful organic feel with those double spirals and leaf designs on her dress...very elfish...I love the green/plant connection. She is sort of ethereal, with a whimsical air, yet grounded too.

I also like the fiery waves around the heart chakra area. Those are definitely "my colors (the Fall/earthy ones, esp the red on her dress). It is all quite intriguing and mysterious. :)

Again, a thousand thank-yous for this gift you have given me. I cherish it.

All in all, the readings I've had with you have been beautiful, life-affirming glimpses into myself, and I feel, the nature of Life...you have an amazing gift and I'm so grateful to be on the receiving end of them. I feel buoyed up and held by this guidance you offer and channel.

Thanks so much again Kathy, this has been a great gift and really fun too.

Amanda, Midcoast Maine, USA

Order Your Soul Portrait here for $125

Your Creative Soul BannerABOUT KATHY CRABBE 

Kathy Crabbe is a Creative Soul Guide, artist, author and educator who has devoted her life to exploring spirituality and creativity with passion and integrity.

Kathy empowers soul-seekers to live the life of their dreams through online resources, inspirational art, Divine Feminine eClasses, eBooks, and Creative Soul Readings infused with a rich background in the arts.

“By sharing my art and my creative life in as many ways as possible I hope to inspire and offer resources to others who seek to awaken, connect and heal their own creative soul.”

Past Life Reading for Rachelle: A Review

Silk Heart Yoga Pose Painting by artist Kathy CrabbeWhat is a Past Life Reading?

A Past Life Reading is a combination intuitive and astrology reading that will help you gain a better understanding of who you are so that you can maximize your potential and natural abilities to the utmost of your ability. Real growth comes from understanding and transforming behavior patterns so that you can challenge yourself to develop in new and exciting ways based upon a knowledge of your past lives.

Your past life reading will also include an examination of the north and south nodes of the moon in your birth chart. The moon in your chart relates to your feelings, moods, and emotional body. It is one of the most important influences in your birth chart from a karmic/past life perspective and will help you understand your karmic mission for this lifetime based upon your past lives.

Order your Past Life Reading here.

Your reading will explore:

  • Two major past lives.
  • The location in the world in which you were born and lived.
  • Information about your gender and appearance.
  • Important experiences and relationships.
  • Talents or abilities you cultivated.
  • Your ethical and spiritual development.
  • Major lessons you learned.

You will receive:

  1. An eight to ten page, (3000-4000 word) illustrated pdf transcript of your past life reading and a karmic astrological report based upon the nodes of the moon emailed to you within three to five days.
  2. A North Node astrology bookmark created especially for you along with a printout of your natal birth chart wheel which will be snail mailed to your home.
  3. Email follow-up and support.

Rachelle's Testimonial

I'm just floored.  It's wonderful!  It's everything I knew I needed but didn't know how to accept...if that makes any sense? haha!  I think I've already read it a dozen times.  There is so much there that really fits.

Finally, I just wanted to tell you again how happy I was with my reading.  I'm not sure what I expected but I was just amazed at how much it resonated with me.  There were parts that I almost found myself laughing at because the message was one I've been hearing for so long from so many different places.  You'd think I'd get the hint.  ;-)  But honestly, it was astounding to me...so consistent!  I think the two main points that really hit home for me were "In stillness your truth will come to you" and "Be good to yourself/cut yourself some slack".  So much easier said than done for me.  Seeing those messages laid out in this format really did seem to drive them home in a different way.  I feel very blessed to have received such a great reading and such valuable insights.  Thank you for choosing to follow this path and put yourself out there.  This work you do is so helpful and refreshing.  :-)

Art featured above: Silk Heart by Kathy Crabbe, 2003, silk dyes on silk, 5 x 5”.

Guiding Your Creative Soul

Kathy Crabbe is a Creative Soul Guide, artist, author and educator who has devoted her life to exploring spirituality and creativity with passion and integrity. Kathy empowers soul-seekers to live the life of their dreams through online resources, inspirational art, Divine Feminine eClasses, eBooks, and Creative Soul Readings infused with a rich background in the arts.

2 New Creative Soul Reading Testimonials

Sandy Meegan -Creative Soul Reading testimonial"Thanks again for this reading. It's funny, I have read it over and over and each time I find something different popping out at me. First, i want to say I love the way you put this together. I, to date, have not met my own guides/angels and so to read about them is super fun! If you have any creative advice on how I can connect with them, I am all ears. Thanks so much again for such a rewarding experience". ~ Sandi Meegan, Portland, CT, Reiki Practitioner **View Sandi' Spirit Guide Reading here.

I am so glad I stumbled upon you on Etsy. Getting the soul reading was clarifying and sparked an interest in my own spirit guides, but the most helpful aspects were learning about the stones, goddesses, and cards that resonated with your reading.  It was a very good and clarifying reading. Why I didn't have the natal chart done earlier, I will never know, maybe that was just the right moment. It was incredibly helpful in understanding how I cope and how I see the world.  It's a lot easier to accept less flattering qualities when you see them in the report, the same goes for positive qualities that were validated. Thank you for such a great experience." ~ Amy from Pasadena (Creative Soul Reading & Astrology Report)

To purchase a Creative Soul Reading or Astrology Report please click these links.

Guiding Your Creative Soul

Kathy Crabbe is a Creative Soul Guide, artist, author and educator who has devoted her life to exploring spirituality and creativity with passion and integrity. Kathy empowers soul-seekers to live the life of their dreams through online resources, inspirational art, Divine Feminine eClasses, eBooks, and Creative Soul Readings infused with a rich background in the arts.