The weekend started off on a promising note...

lazy turtles getting ready for the weekend,

irresistable bushes of royal jasmine exploding with buds,

a very rainy Saturday leaving the air and the shamrock very fresh...

An Ollie cat boy, exuberant, checking the wet grass in his backyard playground,

and an August catboy sampling the greenery....

The weekend, filled with many many things, ended with a tired Ollie stretching into

siesta form

and a sacked Augustus!

I told the cat boys that I could not think of any reading for them...the weekend was so full, the new week is going to be so busy...I suggested to do away with the weekends because the break interfered with my rhythm...the catboys foofed, they love the weekends, and truth be told, so do I.

Wishing all a quick jump back into the rhythm of things, and muchas cat kisses...

Ciao!

Meditations on a High Garden Wall

Augustus jumped on the high garden wall and asked me to reread a favorite story of his


"There was once a lover who had sighed for long years in separation from his beloved, and wasted in the fire of remoteness. From the rule of love, his heart was empty of patience, and his body weary of his spirit; he reckoned life without her as a mockery, and time consumed him away. How many a day he found no rest in longing for her; how many a night the pain of her kept him from sleep; his body was worn to a sigh, his heart's wound had turned him to a cry of sorrow. He had given a thousand lives for one taste of the cup of her presence, but it availed him not. The doctors knew no cure for him, and companions avoided his company; yea, physicians have no medicine for one sick of love, unless the favor of the beloved one deliver him.

At last, the tree of his longing yielded the fruit of despair, and the fire of his hope fell to ashes. Then one night he could live no more, and he went out of his house and made for the marketplace. On a sudden, a watchman followed after him. He broke into a run, with the watchman following; then other watchmen came together, and barred every passage to the weary one. And the wretched one cried from his heart, and ran here and there, and moaned to himself: "Surely this watchman is Izra'il, my angel of death, following so fast upon me; or he is a tyrant of men, seeking to harm me." His feet carried him on, the one bleeding with the arrow of love, and his heart lamented. Then he came to a garden wall, and with untold pain he scaled it, for it proved very high; and forgetting his life, he threw himself down to the garden.

And there he beheld his beloved with a lamp in her hand, searching for a ring she had lost. When the heart-surrendered lover looked on his ravishing love, he drew a great breath and raised up his hands in prayer, crying: "O God! Give Thou glory to the watchman, and riches and long life. For the watchman was Gabriel, guiding this poor one; or he was Israfil, bringing life to this wretched one!"

Indeed, his words were true, for he had found many a secret justice in this seeming tyranny of the watchman, and seen how many a mercy lay hid behind the veil. Out of wrath, the guard had led him who was athirst in love's desert to the sea of his loved one, and lit up the dark night of absence with the light of reunion. He had driven one who was afar, into the garden of nearness, had guided an ailing soul to the heart's physician.

Now if the lover could have looked ahead, he would have blessed the watchman at the start, and prayed on his behalf, and he would have seen that tyranny as justice; but since the end was veiled to him, he moaned and made his plaint in the beginning. Yet those who journey in the garden land of knowledge, because they see the end in the beginning, see peace in war and friendliness in anger.

Such is the state of the wayfarers in this Valley; but the people of the Valleys above this see the end and the beginning as one; nay, they see neither beginning nor end, and witness neither "first" nor "last." Nay rather, the denizens of the undying city, who dwell in the green garden land, see not even "neither first nor last"; they fly from all that is first, and repulse all that is last. For these have passed over the worlds of names, and fled beyond the worlds of attributes as swift as lightning. Thus is it said: "Absolute Unity excludeth all attributes." And they have made their dwelling-place in the shadow of the Essence." Valley of Knowledge-Seven Valleys

Ollie wanted to know who was behind that garden wall.


I told him that this time I was not sure.

Wishing all muchas cat kisses to last you all weekend, and keen eyes to see the end in the beginning!

Ciao!

They were both ready to accompany me

when I told the cat boys that I was going to the annual meeting of the Pasadena/Foothills Chapter of the UNA.

Here's Augustus ready to roll,

and there's Ollie asking if he should wear a tie to the event.

Unfortunately they had to stay behind doing cat activities, such as sniffing the water sprinkler,

and inspecting the courtyard traffic,

because they were too short to be in a room full of grown up humans.

When I returned I told the boys all about the meeting- UNA elected its new officers, reviewed last year's activities, read summary of Millenium Development Goals, viewed Hilary Clinton's speech on Reproductive Health of Girls and Women, heard the founder of 34 million friends.org, and spoke to people about this, that and the other...all in 2.5 hours!

I told the cat boys that all they needed to know was that women played a significant role in global prosperity and peace and that they should become advocates for women's rights. They could not agree more wholeheartedly, and so we read:

"...The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength, the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights of real attainment. When the two wings or parts become equivalent in strength, enjoying the same prerogatives, the flight of man will be exceedingly lofty and extraordinary. Therefore, woman must receive the same education as man and all inequality be adjusted. Thus, imbued with the same virtues as man, rising through all the degrees of human attainment, women will become the peers of men, and until this equality is established, true progress and attainment for the human race will not be facilitated... as woman advances toward the degree of man in power and privilege, with the right of vote and control in human government, most assuredly war will cease; for woman is naturally the most devoted and staunch advocate of international peace..."
Promulgation of Universal Peace

Cat boys send their usual best wishes with extra special kisses for all the ladies...hasta luego!

Ciao!

A secret message...

When I saw the cat boys seated in their garden and looking ahead I thought they were sending me a secret message, something like LOOK AHEAD!

However, it was only the Pasadena Marathon and they were watching the runners go by! So I snapped a picture of the marathoners with my handy iphone and

decided to go on my own excursion, this early Sunday morning, in the opposite direction to the marathon. My path was adorned with generous budding of royal jasmine flowers.

Upon my return back home the cat boys suggested that we read and discuss briefly this theme of LOOKING AHEAD. So we went indoors

where Augustus found this reading:

We must always look ahead and seek to accomplish in the future what we may have failed to do in the past. Failures, tests, and trials, if we use them correctly, can become the means of purifying our spirits, strengthening our characters, and enable us to rise to greater heights of service.
(From a letter dated 14 December 1941 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)

I was very pleased with his selection. This is what I try to do in my science, and how appropriate to use the approach in life.

The topic was very heavy for the cat boys and within minutes of the reading August cuddled on his bed

and Ollie cuddled on our bed, I mean 'his' bed!


Looking ahead to Monday and ready to receiving many kisses from kitties...

Ciao!

It was an ordinary night...

I was horsing around with Ollie

while August was loving his new valentine mouse.

I suddenly thought about the talk I had attended the night before- how to teach love to children. As I said, 'Boys, let's talk about love!', Ollie ran to the table

and expressed his opinion this way:

'Too smart for me', I said but it is easy to love lovely ones and not so when they are not.(psst- no one cyber readers would know)

Ollie did not skip a beat and suggested that I try a different attribute to focus on.
He meowed, 'How about being thankful? You meow (know) that thankfulness brings happiness to the soul."
I wasn't sure what to think of all this, the talking cat and his cat wisdom! However, I took his advice and decided to focus on thankfulness.

I am thankful for muchas cosas y personas.
August was thankful for Mouse Mail courtesy of Viva Le Chat! Thank you Robyn!


And Ollie too thought that MouseMail was a good thing to be thankful for!

O Friend, In the garden of your heart plant naught but the rose of love...

Hidden Words

Cat boys and I wish everyone a lovely evening embellished with thoughts of thankfulness, and the regular serving of cat kisses!

Ciao!

Changing this world around...

When I said "let's talk about changing the world around"

August looked up and gave me the look!

Ollie, on the other hand, dashed off!


So I shared what I had been reading on the theme of social transformation, socio-economic development and the like.

It is not a secret that we (for the most part) live in a world that considers conflict as a natural expression of human existence. What if there was a paradigm shift and we chose 'unity' as the force directing social norms. Would that change our world for the better?

August suggested the following attitude shifts:

a. frank and loving instead of frank and adversarial
b. analytical and respectful instead of critical and blunt
c. confident and modest instead of confident and brash
d. knowledgeable and generous vs knowledgeable and manipulative
e. friendly and genuine instead of friendly and calculating (deceitful)
f. vigilant and open instead of defensive and suspicious
g. empowered and self-sacrificing vs powerful and self-interested
h. well-trained and nurturing instead of well-trained and cunning
i. competent and humble vs competent and overly assertive

I gasped with amazement. Where does he get such ideas in his head.
Ollie, on the other hand, quickly took to the books!



I will be spending a good deal of time thinking; this is a long list but I believe well worth the time.

Cat boys waved their paws in gesture of love and friendliness and sent a few smooches to sweeten their friends' night hours and day!

Ciao!

Are we forgetting something...

A warm and sunny February Saturday in Pasadena,

a late-blooming tulip tree,

two cat boys doodling away in the backyard,

and 5 hours later, still doodling, but now indoors!

A tired Ollie cat resting

his little tired paws.


A tired August preparing

to nap!

I took off my lovely Umberdove apron, which makes me look gorgeous when I do housework,

and tout d'un coup, I remembered that the lovely dove was having a giveaway that should not be missed!

Just to let you know, August loves this little dovely bird


and Ollie loves this pillow,

every quadrant of it!

Mommie cat loves the apron, the print, the pillow cover, and perhaps much more! She now has to go back to umberdove to review her assignments for entering the giveaway. : )

Happy Valentine's Day everyone...catch those kittie kisses, August and Ols blew off a few pawfuls for everyone!

Ciao!

In need of Focus...

First off take a look at this picture from friend and colleague, Angel Di'Bilio, who besides being a super scientist is also the future photographer of our cat boys!



You may wish to click on this link to rate his photo!

Second, kittie mom senses that she needs FOCUS! Arghh! August and Olser boy quickly volunteered to show me how to focus.


Here's Ollie staring without a single wink. He mumbled, 'Hey Mommie, this is how I focus!'

And here's August. 'Watch mommie, I am focusing on the birdie!"


After watching them teach me how to focus we read:

"...So long as the thoughts of an individual are scattered he will achieve no results, but if his thinking be concentrated on a single point wonderful will be the fruits thereof. One cannot obtain the full force of the sunlight when it is cast on a flat mirror, but once the sun shineth upon a concave mirror, or on a lens that is convex, all its heat will be concentrated on a single point, and that one point will burn the hottest. Thus is it necessary to focus one’s thinking on a single point so that it will become an effective force..."

I will be practicing how to focus tonight and cat boys will be watching me to make sure that I do not get distracted!

We wish everyone focused powers and a delightful Friday filled with little cat kisses!

Ciao!

When I said that it was time to read...

August peeked his little head down the stairs

and Ollie made faces,

and that's fairly normal behavior in this household.

We read the passage below concerning physical suffering. You know the recurring distressing news on the TV had the cat boys all concerned and anxious. I assured them that brave hearts that they are they would not have to worry about challenges, and that furthermore, Sylvester and I would be always there to take care of them.

"As to your question concerning the meaning of physical suffering and its relation to mental and spiritual healing. Physical pain is a necessary accompaniment of all human existence, and as such is unavoidable. As long as there will be life on earth, there will be also suffering, in various forms and degrees. But suffering, although an inescapable reality, can nevertheless be utilized as a means for the attainment of happiness. This is the interpretation given to it by all the prophets and saints who, in the midst of severe tests and trials, felt happy and joyous and experienced what is best and holiest in life. Suffering is both a reminder and a guide. It stimulates us to better adapt ourselves to our environmental conditions, and thus leads the way to self-improvement. In every suffering one can find a meaning and a wisdom. But it is not always easy to find the secret of that wisdom. It is sometimes only when all our suffering has passed that we become aware of its usefulness. What man considers to be evil turns often to be a cause of infinite blessings. And this is due to his desire to know more than he can. God's wisdom is, indeed, inscrutable to us all, and it is no use pushing too far trying to discover that which shall always remain a mystery to our mind." (Lights of Guidance, 2nd Edition, p. 280)

Well, doodles agreed immediately that there was no use pushing too far trying to discover obtuse meanings behind everything. They have a lot to do (catching little mousies and chasing after squirrels, among other things).

With that we made little kisses with our lips and sent them off to wish everyone a lovely new day!

Ciao!