The day my daughter brought home our youngest dog, Pongo, I felt a profound shift I hadn’t even realized I needed. At just under four pounds, this little dog didn’t just walk into our home; he sprung into my heart, unlocking doors I didn’t know were closed.
It wasn’t that I didn’t deeply love my husband, my daughter, or the beautiful life we’ve built. I cherish my healing work, our connection, and our shared moments. But Pongito’s arrival revealed a truth I hadn’t quite faced: I wasn’t fully living from my heart. He came to us during COVID, a time of great worry and uncertainty.
This tiny creature, with his soulful eyes and tender presence, became an invitation to let go of fear and to love more deeply. To this day he looks at you with a gaze so pure, so unconditionally connected, that it melts the heart, calms the soul, and soothes the mind. I imagine you’ve known such a creature at some point in your life.
Rediscovering Heart Medicine
Recently, while organizing my jewelry, I came across a long-forgotten purple beaded medicine bag. It was tucked behind necklaces I rarely wear and some stray Mardi Gras beads. Carefully, I opened it, knowing what I’d find. Inside were tufts of red hair from our beloved dog, 33 1/3, who passed years ago. My husband had given me the medicine bag for my birthday a week after his passing, a gesture to soothe my shattered heart. Holding it now, I was transported back to that grief, but also to the reminder of how love lingers in the heart, even after loss.
This little bag of memories and Pongo’s loving presence are what I call “heart medicine.” In a world so often overwhelmed by tragedy, heart medicine feels more essential than ever. It’s a balm for the soul, a way to reconnect with what matters most when the world feels so heavy.
Inspiration from a Heartful Leader
Watching the coverage of Jimmy Carter’s funeral a few days ago, heart medicine was on full display. Here was a man often criticized during his presidency, but universally recognized as a deeply compassionate and moral human being. In eulogies, his grandchildren spoke of simpler times—farm life, trout fishing, church prayers, and community service. Their stories painted a picture of a life rooted in connection, humility, and heartfulness.
I’ve always felt a deep kinship with Jimmy Carter. As a teenager, helicopters flying from D.C. to Camp David passed over my home, sparking vivid images of the president in historic fireplace talks with Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin. Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 honored his extraordinary mediation between leaders of nations long embroiled in conflict. The smiles of the three leaders at the summit’s end etched a lasting symbol of the possibility of peace in my young heart.
Carter’s passing reminded me, in these days of greed and power-grabbing, of what a truly successful life looks like. He showed us how to live with an open heart, to serve others, and to transform the world through small, consistent acts of love.
Invitations to Open Your Heart
Opening your heart to life is both a practice and a gift. Join me in taking a few steps to access heart medicine:
- Embrace Presence: Spend time with animals or loved ones who remind you how to be present in the moment. Pongito’s gaze is my daily invitation to pause and just feel.
- Grieve Fully: Let your heart break when it needs to. The medicine bag reminded me that grief isn’t the opposite of love—it’s proof of it.
- Simplify Your Life: Take inspiration from leaders like Carter, who lived a life focused on connection and service, not wealth and accumulation.
- Offer Small Acts of Kindness: A kind word, a helpful gesture—these open your heart and ripple out into the world.
- Find Your Heart Medicine: Whether it’s music, art, prayer, or a furry companion, seek what nourishes your soul and brings you back to love.
In these times, the world needs more heart. Let’s start with ours. Please share your stories of what brings your heart medicine. I’d be glad to share in my next blog if you’d like.
Please join me in my online course “Mining Inner Wisdom – A Journey of Self Discovery and Creative Expression.”
You’ll be glad you did! – carrieishee.com
