Astrid is celebrating this special 5/5 day in Queenly extravaganza, joining in on the energies of this day with her own shifts into the next phase of her evolution. This day has special meaning to me not only because 5 is my favorite and most magickal number that when it shows up in repetition heralds big things for me, but because it is a cherished day of reverence to my dear ones. Today would have been my Russian Tortoise, Gaia’s 15th Earth birthday and on this day, 10 years ago, my beloved rabbit’s (Nestor) ashes were brought home to me.

Today’s also the last day to pre-register with a discount for the upcoming Reiki 1 & 2 workshop on June 23rd – the last I’ll be teaching. You can still register, however, until June 9th.

There’s definitely a lot of shifts taking place collectively and the energy of this day marks, to me, a big transitional opportunity for renewal. I love that as I write that, Astrid is grinding her teeth as she processes and moves the energy through with doing so.

But back to celebrations of big leaps. Astrid has graduated from her romper room playland to a full-on Queen’s kingdom here in Wonderland!

You’ll remember this was what she started with.

How did this evolve?

Well, she’s been growing leaps and bounds, or rather, revealing herself in huge ways because of finally having a safe, loving, and supportive home. If you follow along on Instagram or Facebook, you’ve likely seen her incredibly shifting fur exposing amazing images and symbolism, as well as her wisdom through the messages she imparts, and the joy in the videos of her that I share.

Recently, she has been asking for changes in her romper room, throwing out all of her hay and litter on the floor – which can be a very normal thing for bunnies who like to dig and play and create a natural habitat, but Astrid was wanting something more. I always listen to see if there is further meaning beyond simple and normal behavioral things. In the meantime, I had made adjustments that supported things until something permanent could take place. She also had chewed several holes in the playroom, so I knew it was only a matter of time before I either replaced it with another (I have one on hand in case) OR replaced it altogether.

The latter happened just yesterday in the late afternoon when her new, more supportive home arrived – a mega castle!

It all just came together in divine timing, as my favorite company, Small Pet Select, just put out new wood creations by their resident elf creator and they were exactly in response to Astrid’s new wants and needs and her growth, as well as my putting out there an intention to create something perfect for the new her. Love that instant manifestation!

I have several habitat things from this company, as well as a couple of other bunny companies, but I get all of her nutritional and daily needs from Small Pet Select, and have come to love their wood creations that are of such high quality and continually rising to the needs of our little ones. I love this company! They have the best customer service, friendliest people who I feel I know personally, fast shipping to keep things fresh, a great rewards program, awesome quality products, and Astrid loves everything from them. Anytime I have a question, the response time to receive help is immediate. I can’t say enough about them. They also support cruelty free shopping, rescues and shelters, and now have created the perfect castle habitat for Astrid.

It took me a little while to figure out the configuration of the set up for her, as I always have to think ahead to what will be most supportive, work in the space most effectively, and take precautionary steps for any unseens. And while doing so, Astrid was very curious and explorative. I always tell her about everything going on, with each step, and with assurance, as rabbits are creatures of habit so to change things can potentially be a bit scary. I also always want her to know that none of it means she’s going anywhere and that she’s safe and has a forever home.

Animals understand everything and they are just like us, with triggers that can bring up stuff. So you do want to explain to them what’s going on and give them every reason to know they are going to be fine, they’re safe, loved, and you will be with them every step of the way.

She did immediately start checking things out and licking every part of her new castle to make it hers. I explained how this wouldn’t be any different than the staircase she tackled so courageously and successfully here, and to get up and down would be a piece of cake compared to that.

The new set up has 3 stories and I placed her castle tunnel as a stepping piece for her to get up to the very top – this she already had, but in a different place. She tested things out, but was afraid to jump down into her litter box at first, although made it to the top floor where her hay is housed, quite rapidly.

I love this set up that was so well-thought out, as her hay can be housed without mess in this mess-free hay feeder, and her litter box that is on the bottom provides not only a private area to do her thing, but also supports her digging instincts and feeling of being in an underground tunnel to a rabbit warren.

Not to mention, keeps everything from being thrown out. Win-win! As no mess for mom and still everything is supportive to her. I add some hay in her little box as well as at top, and she also has a different kind of hay on her other castle across the room, so this provides variety and foraging fun, while she gets tons of exercise going in and out of tunnels, small spaces, hops up and down, more areas to lay and oversee her realm, and secret places to be in rabbit holes and tunnels too.

It all also happened to create even more space for mom in the room, as the romper room was larger and I now have a clear path to exit the sliding door without stepping over her things.

I shifted a lot around and in the end she ends up with quite a realm in Wonderland that outdoes the Queen of Hearts for sure!

She now has her Cosmic Castle (as I’ve named it) that sits under my 5th painting in my series, Universal ARKitecture titled Once in a Blue Moon that showcases Nestor and Joy (eventually to have Cosmo too).

So when she ascends up the castle it’s like she’s entering the Cosmos. It’s so cute to watch her stand upright and look at the painting just under Nestor and Joy, in recognition and as a way for her to reach for the stars and be one, as she is. This satisfies her Cosmic self.

Then, across the room she still has her other little castle, which I now call her Old World Castle that sits in the Old Country – a Faery realm resided over by a magick dragon, as you can see here. This satisfies her other world, Faery self.

And next to the sliding glass door she has her Carrot Cottage overlooking the Forest Portal, where she can connect with all of the critters that pass by, can sit and lay in her bed and watch the Moon and stars at night or dream away, and take in some sunshine by day.

There is a second bed to the left next to my desk where she can also take naps and channel to mom while she’s working. This satisfies her Earthly self, but truly merges all aspects together.

I’d say she’s got herself an incredible realm with so many beings as part of her kingdom to play with.

Not to mention, our exercise room is next to Wonderland, where she loves to run and play with me, enjoys hanging out with Buddha in the meditation cushions, and enjoys chewing on mom’s wood easel, which I encourage, as that’s a great thing for her to chew rather than other things, and infuses energy into it for when I use it. I think she smells the bunnies on it who were with mom before.

I figured she would come to love everything, even if at first it was a lot to take in and process, and that it might take time for her to jump into the litter box, but it was only a couple of hours before she got it!

Again, you can communicate with your animals and they WILL understand. I spent time telling her all about her new castle, how much mom loves her and why I got it for her, and that I knew she could figure it all out because she’s so smart. I helped with that, tuning in with her and sending the exact picture of how to use everything – walking her through it all and showing her how to get into her litter box and where the hay was. And she listened and understood. This all done telepathically. Immediately after, she went off to explore. She still wasn’t sure yet about the litter box and descending, so I got an idea.

I removed the top stories so she could see it in parts, just as I do with my own processes and take things a step at a time when things are too overwhelming or overstimulating like with my fear of heights. I only look right before me. So I did that for her and the second I removed the top stories, she hopped right in and realized this is easy!

Once she got out, I put the two stories back on and she immediately went right back and what do you know? She jumped right in again and that was it! She’s been using it ever since and realized how much fun it is.

I’ve found her enjoying every part of the new set up and laying on the top of her tunnel, which she never used to, laying inside of it, and going in and out of every little passageway.

It’s been so fun to watch and I know she’s super happy and grateful, as she’s been nuzzling and snuggling with me and loving all of the encouragement. I’ve even seen her sitting proud on each of her new realms, tall and dignified, full of peace and wisdom, just like the Queen that she is.

This reflects a significant stage for her and for me, and I love how it all happened in celebration of today’s 5/5 energies and my other beloveds. Things are transitioning in big ways for us both and I’m excited to see how it all unfolds.

She’s definitely “moved on up into a deluxe castle in the sky!”

If you remember the Jeffersons you’ll remember the song:

Well we’re movin’ on up
(Movin’ on up)
To the east side
(Come on, movin’ on up)
To a deluxe apartment in the sky
Movin’ on up
(Movin’ on up)
To the east side
(Come on, movin’ on up)
We finally got a piece
Of the pie

Yay Astrid!!