From HazelMoon to Rosegate

Since Judika Illes, got my first interview in 2010 about my Hawaiian Tarot deck, now after many years, Lindsey Hg asked me to have a new interview. It's been a long journey since HazelMoon the artist (me) has morphed to Rosegate. Please read her blog about it. It is a little bit too long, but at least you will learn more about Rosegate. 

Question: I recently became aware of your deck, HazelMoon’s Hawaiian Tarot. How did you come to write it in the first place? What does Hawaii mean to you?

Answer: Hawai’i has always been there in my heart. Even when I was a little girl back in Hungary where I was born and raised. It was an ultimate longing for me to live there, to smell those flowers and sit on the sand and just watch the ocean. So simple a desire but it was strong for decades and will be the rest of my life. A far away dream that one day I was able to reach. I was a restless Soul though and I moved in and out from the islands several times. When I lived in cold, snowy Ohio, I felt like painting all these tropical miniature paintings, which later on morphing into this deck. “IZ” Israel Kamakawiwoʻole was my inspiration. His voice and love of Hawaii  kept me going to paint each day.

     What did and does Hawai’i mean to me? Peace, love, healing and self realization for sure. A simple beauty that I was able to FEEL not just see with my eyes.

Question: How did you get involved with the Tarot Community? Were you a reader?

Answer: I think it was around 2012, when I joined some Tarot Community on Facebook a little bit before when Hawaii Five-0 asked me if they can use my deck in their show, in October 15, 2012. Episode 304 “Popilikia”. As an intuitive person, before Eye Productions/CBS – Honolulu, Hawai’i contacted me, I had a dream that I was happily run on water and surf. Woke up with such joy that lift me up for weeks. Most of my intuition came through my dreams. I only did some readings to myself and close friends and relatives. Nothing in a professional way. My intuition always been there since I was a little girl and I was adoring my friend’s mother who was able to read the Gypsy cards. I remember my sister and I barrow her deck and we made a copy of it, hand draw and hand coloring and all these before the computer world. I wish I knew what happened to those handmade gypsy cards.

Question: Your deck is a beautiful tribute to the natural world. Do you have a favorite place to visit? 

Answer: My all time favorite place is Kalapana, the black sand beach on the Big island and the tiny island Molokai so I cannot choose either as the one. They are both isolated, spiritual and peaceful little places that are very close to my heart. My husband and I got married at Kalapana in 2010 right in the lava enclosure we built. We planted some palm trees around it and after a few years it became a magical little space. This ‘lava ring’ is visible on satellite photos. We would go out to Kalapana whenever we felt like it and we even slept out there, watching the infinity of the universe and counting the falling stars was a very spiritual night to remember. We had the good opportunity to visit Kalaupapa on Moloka’i once and the impression the history of the place made it so rich and unforgettable for me. These experiences are now part of me and my grounding.

Question: I get the feeling that the natural world has informed your decision to shift your focus and devote yourself to senior animals. When did you notice this shift? Can you say more about the process to open your retirement facility for senior animals?

Answer: Hawai’i always reawakened in me things that lay dormant. Feelings that wanted to start talking to my mind. The love and caring for the discarded animals was one whisper deep inside that started to become audible. When people had or wanted to move off island they would sometimes come to the conclusion that dumping their pets or even euthanizing them was a solution. This knowledge was down in me and gnawing on that feeling to care for the forsaken pets. I have a little story and it starts when we had moved to a new location from Hilo to the Kau district on the Big Island and he had taken on a new client with two separate properties to maintain. Upon working at this clients up mountain cabin, he discovered an older dog there that was not one of his clients. Upon inquiring it was discovered that a sad and sordid tale of abuse and neglect was this poor aging dogs history and it is too sad to tell here. Her name was Rosie and she was abandoned on the property, alone, confused and broken from her past. The client did what he could for her but she stayed aloof. As my husband went about his work on the property, he and Rosie started to bond. This communion came home with him in tales of their days together. I could tell it was right to take Rosie in with us. For her and us and the balance of life. I kept this decision to myself as I pondered the impact it would mean to all concerned. One day i went along to meet her and she greeted me with a strange but joyful rolling dance in the dust with howls of happiness to be the object of attention.​ I loved her right then and knew she should come home with us. I waited only a day to ask of my husband would he like to bring her home? I knew he had always had dogs growing up. I already knew he would like to take in Rosie but ‘dog-napping’ was another concern so our final step was to inquire of the client. ​​He was more than happy to say yes and one day the truck pulled into our driveway, the tailgate opened and out of the dark came a shy and scared Rosie. I called her name and she was so happy. She was given a bath, dinner bowls, a pile of toys and her own bed. It all awaited her arrival. She was more pleased to be rolling in beds and lounging without care. She had become loved and awoken to her new life with an unbounded spirit. This spirit of hers grew inside her without bounds and we both were engulfed by it. She also grew outside and became a chubby old dog with a real family. We helped her to write the life story she deserved. The kind parents tell their children about in fairy tales where everyone lives happily ever after. At the age of fourteen, our poor old Rosie passed on. Years of fear and physical abuse had been internalized and had taken their toll. Years of sleeping on a soggy piece of foam outside in the high mountain air had set arthritis and joint problems in deep and though she gave us all her love, time took her physical being and freed her soul and spirit to the eternal. This is the compelling thought and emotion that has risen in our life to create a place for older dogs and cats to live out their lives in peace and comfort. We call this place today ​Rosegate. (Rosie’s Gate) She started it all and opened a brand new door/gate for us. In February 2018, we officially became Rosegate Retirement Home for Dogs and Cats as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We are small and mostly fund the project ourselves with the kind assistance of some friends and small public fundraisers we come up with. A few companies have extended sponsorship to Rosegate in limited capacities too.

Question: What is a typical day like for you now? What is your favorite part of caring for older animals?

Answer: I have to start this with a smile because my day usually starts as early as three or four in the morning. The cats are always hungry and they will tell you that it is to the point of deleterious starvation… every time. They wake me up telling me to give them food, immediately! Otherwise they will continue to make noise and won’t let me sleep any longer so even attempting to fall back is pointless. One of them, Kahili, has even found out how to manipulate every object for maximum effect, such as banging the closet doors or the pictures on the wall! I have trained them to allow me at least to get my coffee doing first and that is a small reprieve. While it’s percolating, I have few minutes to sort out their breakfast, in their own bowls and little breakfast areas. (separate little spots, so they have their own happiness munching). While they eat, I can then have my coffee peacefully, being with my own thoughts and planning for the day. That is my most beautiful moment with all the world still sleeping and only the sounds of munching, the birds starting to stir, plus GiGi the old dog snores. By then Gigi the doggie has had her quick pee time outside and returned to settle in before her breakfast. She is a gentle old girl of 15 and more patient than the bossy cats. After my coffee, I check the internet for all the various communications, if any orders came to prepare for shipping and exciting new material and matters the animal community has to share with each other. That can take more time than i wish but it is all part an parcel for Rosegate. At this point we don’t have animals that need constant medical care but it has been so in the past. That will take precedence over all other matters and schedules and responsibilities get worked in around the needs of the animal in care. To cut to the quick, (pun not necessarily intended) days here at Rosegate are pretty peaceful mostly but as the home takes in more animals the circus never stops. It all depends of the pets we are care for and their personalities.

The moments in between I like to garden and keep transforming this property into a little garden paradise and we were created a 2000 sq.ft. Pollinator Garden. In the winters I focus more on art projects which help to fund Rosegate. In all honesty, that is one of my favorite part and seeing all these fur-babies happy and being content is PRICELESS. Of course a quiet vacation alone might be nice once in a while but we will get there sooner or later. Our motto is… One paw in front of the other gets us down the path. The journey is the destination.

Question: Do you have animals of your own, besides those in your care? Would you tell us a little bit about the animals that influenced your change of focus?

Answer: The only pet or animal left that was in my or our care before Rosegate was founded is Cecilia or CeeCee as she is know. She is currently 19 old or young depending on when you ask her. She was actually my first. CeeCee was only one and a half years old and she was on the waiting list for euthanasia. Healthy and young with a stunning beauty she was an aloof queen in a cage. Unfortunately it seems that was her only quality the previous owner wished for and when her double coat and claws caused concern for the situation they first declawed her then dumped her. That may explain why she has this English queen attitude and looks at you like a peasant that just smeared mud on her golden carriage. The shelter workers placed CeeCee into my arms in what I think was a desperate attempt to save her so I couldn’t say no. I am a CeeCee sucker at heart. Always I find the underdog and ‘dysfunctional’ the ones that need love more. She was scared, she was tiny and she was shy. She hide her head under my arm and almost demurely demanded I take her home and I did, the very same day. Her trauma never left her. Stubbornly skittish and always one to say poo to you she stands strong and silent and alone (but we know she is a big fluff full of love, only she does not know how to show it or accept it). As my husband was in the estate management business, she went through a lot of new homes and the animals that came with it all. We moved from place to places, from Ohio to Hawai’i, several residences in Hawaii and then finally to Minnesota. CeeCee was a real strong trooper and never complained through out the adventures. She knew I would never surrender her and so she put up with this all and through it, taught me to be focused and finally settle down. She will be our cover girl in the new 2020 Rosegate Calendar. Besides CeeCee, there also Baby Kāhili. He was a Mother’s Day gift from Tommy (my favorite orange tabby). He was born in just 60-62 days after Tommy had passed. He was a tiny Orange Ball from our local shelter. He helped me a lot on my griefing time. Many of the ones we cared for have passed on and CeeCee still stands proud and watches the ones we have now and whispers to them they are finally safe and loved. She is indomitable. They are all really our pets and since the Rosegate model is not to draw a line between them and us, facility or home, time on the clock or off, they hold no distinction except fur babies. They are not a job but family. Furry and freaky but family.

Question: What is the difference between human intuition and the intuition you observe in animals?

Answer: I have always been intuitive since early childhood. I loved observing people and their behavior. I remember when I was a kid growing up Siofok, Hungary on the shore of lake Balaton, me and my sister loved to just sit on any of the benches and just people watch. I think lot’s of people are not aware that they are also intuitive, because of their busy lifestyle. I was lucky enough to be diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at a young age. This put limitations on my physical activity which then afforded more quiet time and self reflection. I took advantage of this and intensified my people watching. Combining these with an increase in reading and I was on a philosophic endeavor to understand the world of people more. I think this all tapped into a hidden skill. The next level of intuitivity, empathy. As time and my life progressed I found myself caring for various pets and this connected me into the uncanny natural link between animals and people. It is an undeniable connection any pet owner will notice on even a slight level.

       Then I met a skinny cat named Tommy. An Orange Tabby that was abandoned on a foreclosed property across the street from where we lived on the Big Island. He was a healthy, male cat who was sneaking over and spying on us. I think he was observing us and deciding if he could live with us. He decided yes, we would make a good family and he adopted us with the act of letting my husband pick him up and carry him on over.

     After a few years and moving back to the mainland, he got sick with cancer. A small blemish on his nose turned against him. Besides for all the veterinarian visits and modern medical avenues to go down I was desperate to find other ways to care for him.

    I join an Animal Communication Group on Facebook hoping to know what he wanted me to do. I shared Tommy’s story daily with them and some tried to communicate with him. I was kind of envious to see that they had the skill to do that but then I remembered my early childhood and that I too had made such connections. Becoming busy with my life, raising my daughter, paying bills and all the other rigmarole that I had forgotten about this gift. My husband suggested that it was getting time to put Tommy down but I was not ready nor did Tommy seem to agree. Dreams came to me that Tommy was running away from euthanasia twice, so I decided to stay with him as long as he needed. We took Tommy to the vet, they gave us an option to either euthanized or try administering a high dose of steroids. The vet said to tell them immediately if Tommy is improving or not responding the steroid treatment. He did show some signs of improvement. He was more alert with his vision and hearing and his eyes were clear and focused. He was using the scratching pole… that he had abandoned for many months and he was jumping up to my bed again. He purred a long time while I was massaging him. This improvement unlocked our connection and I felt everything that the cat felt, we were bonded even more in those times. Even physical healing at the tumor site was noticed, my husband called the vet and they were very happy to hear of his dramatic improvement. They felt that Tommy’s euthanasia (that was scheduled for the next day) could be postponed until a further time when needed. They knew from experience that without a miracle this was temporary but we had to go through this ourselves. So a few days before my hubby called to the vet, I felt an urge, a voice inside of me to save him from euthanasia. I explained this to Tommy’s animal communicator and she reached out to him again. She did another full healing session and she said that “He is actually feeling a lot better than I thought”. Everyone had been amazed and we all had hope. We had been very happy with the progress and could tell even his emotional well being was better. I then asked him how can we thank all his friends and supporters. While meditating on this he was beside me, comforting me and I fell into a sleep. In a vision of dreams I saw all these candles floating on a lake/ocean which reminded me of Hawaii and when we had been to an Obon festival, the Japanese festival of honoring the dead. Painting that image was an important step and that is how the cover of a card I later made came to be created. Upon awakening from this dream a short poem had been placed into my mind and I had to write it down. I was sure that poem was from Tommy. My first real communication with him this whole time. Then when he relapsed and drew closer to the inevitable, I was “hearing” some of his instruction. I will never forget while he was resting on the big blue chair we have in the living room, I needed to go to the bathroom badly but then I heard: “Go, you don’t need to stay here every seconds with me. I will be fine, don’t worry. YOU need to start seeing your doctor as soon as I am gone!” In all his care I was not taking account of myself and my health requirements. He was finally becoming comfortable with his condition and crossing over that he was now caring for me. As it turned out I did have a concern that was going unnoticed. An adverse reaction to one of my medicines and if it continued it would have been catastrophic. Tommy and I where so close and bonded he helped me to be more intuitive with animals again, that I was told as a child that “animals don’t talk”. He prove them wrong, yes they do talk. Just not in the audible words of humans. It is on another level inside.

Question: I understand that part of the care animals receive may include Reiki. How have you seen Reiki help an animal?

Answer: The first time I was introduced to Reiki healing it was back in 1997. I was undergoing total hip replacement and had already had the first hip surgery. After the second surgery I had the good fortune to make friends with a Reiki practitioner and he helped me with weekly sessions. My healing time was dramatically reduced and even my doctors were amazed. Now we come to the story of Tommy and his battle with cancer. Some of the animal communicators where also Reiki practitioners and specialized in therapy for animals. Several sent Reiki healing for Tommy and it seemed to work. They worked from their hearts and helped him to feel love and comfort during his time of need. They also suggested that they could infuse a blanket for Tommy. I found a yarn called Noro Kureyon. I simply love working with this yarn. It is self striping and produces an amazing effect. I knew that this was the perfect natural fiber when I started to knit his blanket. The stunning colors tastefully bled together. When Tommy’s healing blanket was done they infused the blanket with Reiki Healing Energy, Love and Lights.The blanket came out so pretty. He loved it a lot. He felt safe, warm and cozy underneath. After two years of his passing, I decided to make more little blankets like Tommy had. I wanted to call it “Tommy’s Legacy”.  The little blankets will knit exactly the same way, with the same yarns (variety colors) and they all are going to be infused with Healing Reiki.

     People are animals and besides for our minds, not much different than other animals. Why would Reiki not be applicable and help them too. We could say it is a psychosomatic effect in humans such as we want to believe it will work so it works and we are really healing ourselves. If that is the case then we have to accept that self healing through the mind is real and alternative theories and physics are also real. Baby steps to a final belief in a concept that may be hard at first to accept. Here is another way to take a middle approach. As a fur parent with a sick animal we are scared and agitated. The animals are feeling this and it affects them too. We get calmed through Reiki so in turn they feel this and follow suit. Real or not and in whichever way it works I believe it does. Those kind people have all my love and gratitude for helping us during those dark days. ‘Tommy’s Legacy’  

Question: For those readers who have senior aged dogs who can’t walk as much as they used to, do you suggest particular forms of exercise – mental and/or physical that will benefit the dogs and work better with their limitations such as arthritis or other ailments older dogs might have?

Answer: Besides some peaceful Reiki sessions, swimming is the best exercise for older dogs with pain or arthritis, even with obesity. Even just wading in water. Take them into the water up to their chest and walk around. If they have a chance to take their senior pets for a peaceful lake or pool regularly that would be beneficial. I like a soft bottomed lake. It adds some resistance and feels good on their toes. Also, don’t forget to feed your seniors with the right kind of food and not just a grain free diet. Older dogs need more nutrition. An essential fatty acid is one that must be supplied in the diet because it cannot be manufactured by the body. Although Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are both incorporated into cell membranes, it is important to supplement with Omega 3 fatty acids to lessen the development of inflammation in your pet’s body by not activating these membranes. Many pets have health problems caused by too much inflammation in the body, so most pets benefit from supplements with higher concentrations of Omega 3 fatty acids. If your states allow (or not), give them CBD oil for ease their pain or anxiety. It’s a plant material and will help them a lot. Reduce their stress if possible. We may think ol’ flabby doggie who sleeps all the time is not stressed but just like with Reiki they will be absorbing your stress. Many people have busy lives and no longer even notice their own stress so they are oblivious to how they are also giving this to their pets. Dogs mostly are more susceptible due to their unconditional love and dependence.

Question: Is there a wait list for your facility? Are you aware of other facilities like this?

Answer:  We have no backlog or waiting list currently. Any animal that has the right temperament to fit in here will be considered. Rosegate takes in only one at a time and space out arrivals so as not to overload everyone with a constant fluctuation. Too many too soon can cause territorial attitudes and stress. I know that we sometimes use the word “facility” but I prefer “Forever Home”.  One shelter has already declined us taking in one of their dogs by stating they wish for a home. I do not think they read up on us. .

   We have young rescues too. We did intend to specialize in seniors but how can we turn our back on an animal in need. I think a name change may be in order soon to help with any confusion. We wish to provide a peaceful place, a home forever and will have to think about how to impress that in name. We do have the ability to take in another dog currently and are planning to visit high turnover shelters looking for the right candidate.

   We have been noticing a “trend” in animal rescue that is very encouraging. More senior rescues and special needs orientated rescues have been forming and though they have different operating models, they all are tending to these special animals. I think we all can make the differences, no matter if we are doing it big scale or small scale.

Question: What would you like us to know that I’ve haven’t asked regarding Rosegate Retirement Home for Dogs and Cats?

Answer: Rosegate is a small organization founded and operated by us, a Husband and Wife team. Tough we do not have a herd of dogs here, we are trying to rescue as many as we can handle. Giving them a happy, peaceful quality life. If any expansion can come to be, we will consider that at the time. Hopefully we can show a good example with the Rosegate model. Many people could do as well and it does not take much more than a little extra investment and a lot of love, time and patience. Own your property and provide a safe house and yard. Time is the real resource one must have to build off of. A few guiding rules for those who would like to form a Forever Home is just that. For the life of the animals and just because they are old does not mean they will not live for many years. This is not a hobby or fashion fade. Too many rescues have popped up that seem to be an “empty nest” replacement therapy for some people… We call them ’boutique rescues’. Bored, married ladies who have seen their kids go off in life and they now wish to have a little Ego boost. They quickly hit the walls with the dedication animal care takes. Then the financial pressure comes in and that leads us to rule number two. If you cannot afford to do this, don’t do it! You can not count on donations all the time. The other troubling aspect of these ’boutique rescues’ that has now seeped into the community at all levels is animals as consumer goods. Retail merchandise with a price tag on them. The adoption fees people are asking for are silly. They all say the same thing, they have costs and investment in the animals and they must recoup their loss. We shake our heads in disgust.     Ten years ago, people in the animal care community had one goal, to find a good home for the wayward critters. Now it seems to be secondary to the cost effective side of things. The gentrification of their goal is to have the picture perfect operation to post on social media. Always remember that the animals care not for the window dressings but for loving arms hugging them. Besides rescuing some older animals we are also created a 2000 sq.ft. Pollinator garden on our 3 acres property. If people have just a small yard they still can do that. If Rosegate can do this with limited funding then anyone can do it too. Yes, it is a hard work but you are doing something good in your life, don’t forget that.