60. “Leo's Song” - Animal Familiars and Telepathic Communication, Grief as a Creative Force, & the Birth of Exquisite Spells

All endings are new beginnings.

In this episode of the podcast, I share the story of my beloved dog, Leo, whose passing coincided with the clearing energy of the March lunar eclipse. But his departure went beyond loss; it became a spiritual and creative initiation.

I open up about the mystical moments that orbited his passing: a dream visitation where we spoke telepathically, giving me the peace and permission I needed to let him go, and the strange, beautiful ways grief can act as an catalyst for transformation.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• Pets vs. Familiars: My thoughts on what differentiates a household pet from a spiritual familiar, why Leo was so deeply tied to my magic and spiritual practice, and how he continues to assist my creative work from the other side.
• Premonition & Preemptive Grief: The achingly beautiful essay I began writing before he passed, and the mystical experiences that unfolded as I grieved in real-time.
• The Birth of Exquisite Spells: How Leo’s passing became the ultimate catalyst for a project originally conceived in 2024, fueling the next evolution of my creative and spiritual work.
• Collaborating Beyond the Veil: Why honoring Leo's spirit through this first release feels like continuing our magical partnership, turning ending into art.
• Leo’s Message to Humanity: A channeled poem received from Leo’s perspective—his final, loving message for me, and for all of us.

I also introduce what Exquisite Spells are, what this new offering represents, and where you can find and download these digital audio and written offerings for your own practice.

If you'd like to find out more about Exquisite Spells, you can:

• Read the full article I mentioned in this episode: "My Dog Died & Something New Was Born"
• Purchase Vol. 1 of Exquisite Spells: Peace is a Pup at the Lake - On the gifts of grief & loss

If you have no idea who I am and want to read more, here are some great places to start!

• Follow me on Instagram @mavmalone
• Subscribe to my (paywall-free!) Substack, Mentally I'm Here
• Step deeper into the Wild Fantastic of my world at maverickmalone.com