I have a white dog. This is a first for me. According to the traditions and mythology of many cultures around the world, a white dog is a symbol of purity, divine protection—but most importantly, spiritual growth. The white dog represents harmony, divine protection, and inner peace.

That last one really made me laugh.

My white dog is the source not of inner peace, but absolute chaos. I don’t have time to think about my spiritual journey when I’m letting her in and out the door, righting overturned furniture, and generally acting as clean-up crew for a white tornado. Or torpedo. Whatever.

This dog I adopted, Sitka (named for the Alaskan coastal city), was unsocialized and not housebroken when we brought her home. I recommend you do not take on the task of housebreaking in February. Standing out in the frozen yard at all hours of the night in freezing temps and blowing snow while being dragged about by an indecisive dervish is no fun. I wonder if my neighbors heard me yelling, “For God’s sake, pick a spot and pee already!” Her energy level could be described as “Run the Iditarod” and still have more to spare. Though not a cuddler, she has ways of making her devotion known.

I spend the majority of every day, all day, with Sitka by my side.

Gradually, we did settle into a manageable routine. Part of that routine was daily walks.

Thus, was born the White Dog Walk.

I don’t like to use ear buds or listen to anything on our walks (mostly because I need to be alert for anything she will react to and be prepared) but also because the walk is a chance to shut down and slow down. Just me and a dog and the woods.

On our walks, I did a lot of thinking. It wasn’t always good. I spent a lot of time just hamster-wheel thinking. By that, I mean everyday what I need to do, or ruminating over how things should have been handled. Not deep thinking. Not contemplative or productive.

Gradually, that started to change. I used the time to good use, not just another task to tick off my never-ending to-do list. I started looking for good, for something to inspire awe, a means of opening myself up to creativity or revelations or anything positive during our walks.

It started to work.

It may be something simple. It may be an uplifting encounter. It may be something tough I’m working through…

But, I know this:

The White Dog of spiritual enlightenment, protection, inner peace is at my side (most of the time :) ). Now I want to start sharing some thoughts, discoveries, or encounters during our walks in regular posts.

I call this thread White Dog Walks. I hope you’ll stick around, maybe follow, and enjoy them with me.

#WhiteDogWalks