A fine day indeed to continue with readings and reflections

there is even a bird on the very top of this bougainvillea that we three love!
Augustus
and Ollie always choose the place for our gathering.
We three need a place that allows us to assume a humble posture of learning! I wonder where they plan to go today with all this coordination and determination.

Oh oh, determination is gone...Ollie has to make a sniff stop!
More sniffing, from all angles! Augustus says, "O brother!"
Ollie is besides himself now.
Augustus and I are now intrigued.
Look at this smily cat!!!
Nope, it is not over!

Finally, Gingersnap is ready, looking at me with his hazel eyes.

Augustus decided to listen while standing with his hind legs crossed. just in case he had to make a dash.

Continuing with last week's reflection upon themes of free will, predestination and the influence of the stars, we read:

"Question. -- If God has knowledge of an action which will be performed by someone, and it has been written on the Tablet of Fate, is it possible to resist it?

Answer. -- The foreknowledge of a thing is not the cause of its realization; for the essential knowledge of God surrounds, in the same way, the realities of things, before as well as after their existence, and it does not become the cause of their existence. It is a perfection of God. ...

...the knowledge of God in the realm of contingency does not produce the forms of the things. On the contrary, it is purified from the past, present and future. It is identical with the reality of the things; it is not the cause of their occurrence.

In the same way, the record and the mention of a thing in the Book does not become the cause of its existence. The Prophets, through the divine inspiration, knew what would come to pass…
The mathematicians by astronomical calculations know that at a certain time an eclipse of the moon or the sun will occur. Surely this discovery does not cause the eclipse to take place. This is, of course, only an analogy and not an exact image." (Some Answered Questions)

The cat boys were very pleased with this reading and so they readily made many kisses and blew them in the air with their best possible cat wishes.

Ciao!

Most certainly due to the influence of stars...

Each morning when we get up and go out and about we three always check the skies. For me, this view is always pleasing, it is always the same view though of course the skies, the trees, the colors change. I think it transports me to a Mediterranean location that my heart finds pleasing and I don't even know where that spot really is.
We were talking about predestination yesterday, and cat boys had so much on their brilliant minds, what about volition, what about foreknowledge, influence of stars???

Their posture told me that they were in a reflective mood. We sat around in one spot, pondering,
They looked one way.
They looked at each other. Of course I know they are discussing ideas all the time, only with the glances of their gorgeous eyes.
One idea was too deep and Ollie had to stretch.
Okay...
Augustus with a delicate smile makes me wonder.
Ollie thinks he must send kisses but it is too early.
For our reading the two precious cat boys chose a more private spot in the scruffy backyard.
As they looked at each other, I realized that I had never seen the two together in that spot, never, ever. It really must be the influence of those stars that I do not believe in. Oyyyy!
Yup...we are reading now...and they are reflecting in the next scenes.


"Question. -- Have the stars of the heavens any influence upon the human soul, or have they not?
Answer. -- Some of the celestial stars have a clear and apparent material effect upon the terrestrial globe and the earthly beings, which needs no explanation. Consider the sun, which through the aid and the providence of God develops the earth and all earthly beings. Without the light and heat of the sun, all the earthly creatures would be entirely nonexistent.

With regard to the spiritual influence of stars, though this influence of stars in the human world may appear strange, still, if you reflect deeply upon this subject, you will not be so much surprised at it. My meaning is not, however, that the decrees which the astrologers of former times inferred from the movements of the stars corresponded to occurrences; for the decrees of those former astrologers were forms of imagination which were originated by Egyptian, Assyrian and Chaldean priests; nay, rather, they were due to the fancies of Hindus, to the myths of the Greeks, Romans and other star worshipers.

But I mean that this limitless universe is like the human body, all the members of which are connected and linked with one another with the greatest strength. How much the organs, the members and the parts of the body of man are intermingled and connected for mutual aid and help, and how much they influence one another! In the same way, the parts of this infinite universe have their members and elements connected with one another, and influence one another spiritually and materially.
...
For those who deny spiritual influence upon material things we mention this brief example: wonderful sounds and tones, melodies and charming voices, are accidents which affect the air -- for sound is the term for vibrations of the air -- and by these vibrations the nerves of the tympanum of the ear are affected, and hearing results. Now reflect that the vibration of the air, which is an accident of no importance, attracts and exhilarates the spirit of man and has great effect upon him: it makes him weep or laugh; perhaps it will influence him to such a degree that he will throw himself into danger. Therefore, see the connection which exists between the spirit of man and the atmospheric vibration, so that the movement of the air becomes the cause of transporting him from one state to another, and of entirely overpowering him; it will deprive him of patience and tranquillity. Consider how strange this is, for nothing comes forth from the singer which enters into the listener; nevertheless, a great spiritual effect is produced. Therefore, surely so great a connection between beings must have spiritual effect and influence.
...
To conclude: the beings, whether great or small, are connected with one another by the perfect wisdom of God, and affect and influence one another. If it were not so, in the universal system and the general arrangement of existence, there would be disorder and imperfection. But as beings are connected one with another with the greatest strength, they are in order in their places and perfect. This subject is worthy of examination." (Some Answered Questions)

When I finish and look about I see Augustus looking like this and I get the giggles.
Incidentally, cat boys were born in July 4 years ago. We love them so. They filled their paws with kisses and blew them in the air for you.

Wishing all a happy weekend and many many kisses.

Ciao!

They asked me about fate and predestination

before they ran into this butterfly, which is nearly invisible as it has the same color as these bushes, light green underneath and white on the other side.
Augustus loves butterflies
and so does Ollie.

Hoping to launch a sneak attack Ollie stands with firm resolve.
They both had to give in to the agility of the butterfly. Not so thrilled to follow me but they did.
The next few scenes are just samples of what it takes to get two cat boys into the correct posture for listening and reflecting...



I must comment that at this point I had the strongest urge to kiss him on his lips but I did not.

I also had the strongest urge to kiss him on his little nose but I did not.
I looked up fate and predestination and came up with this from the Persian teacher, Abdul-Baha:

"Thou hadst asked about fate, predestination and will. Fate and predestination consist in the necessary and indispensable relationships which exist in the realities of things. These relationships have been placed in the realities of existent beings through the power of creation and every incident is a consequence of the necessary relationship. For example, God hath created a relation between the sun and the terrestrial globe that the rays of the sun should shine and the soil should yield. These relationships constitute predestination, and the manifestation thereof in the plane of existence is fate. Will is that active force which controlleth these relationships and these incidents. Such is the epitome of the explanation of fate and predestination. I have no time for a detailed explanation. Ponder over this; the reality of fate, predestination and will shall be made manifest." (Selections from the Writings of AB)

Cat boys were trying to figure this out as was I. While thinking they made those pawfuls of predestined kisses and blew them in the air...we hope you got some!

Ciao!

A hot july weekend...

A tired Augustus,
I meant to say a really tired Augustus
and a really tired Ollie taking a break from their shenanigans!
Augustus with Roman nose- he was scratched in a cat encounter and developed a bump on his nose! A trip to emergency clinic and an antibiotic injection and he seems much happier as you can see from his smile!
Sprinkled throughout the weekend were random encounters with the squirrels who have taken to dancing in front of the cat boys!

It must be the heat or the sunflower seeds that I sprinkle for them!

Sometimes two cat boys work together.
Other times Augustus chases one squirrel
up a tree while Ollie cheers on.
Then Ollie takes over the chase
and Augustus does the cheering.
In between, when no squirrels are around, August and Ollie just practice together.
I suppose there was more running around than reading and reflecting and that was fine for the weekend.

Early this morning there was promise of more heat for us all and an opportunity to read together, even for a brief moment.
As we walked down the street we were pleased to see the hummingbird far far away.

We took a moment
to reflect.

"Man possesses two kinds of susceptibilities: the natural emotions, which are like dust upon the mirror, and spiritual susceptibilities, which are merciful and heavenly characteristics.
There is a power which purifies the mirror from dust and transforms its reflection into intense brilliancy and radiance so that spiritual susceptibilities may chasten the hearts and heavenly bestowals sanctify them. What is the dust which obscures the mirror? It is attachment to the world, avarice, envy, love of luxury and comfort, haughtiness and self-desire; this is the dust which prevents reflection of the rays of the Sun of Reality in the mirror. The natural emotions are blameworthy and are like rust which deprives the heart of the bounties of God. But sincerity, justice, humility, severance, and love for the believers of God will purify the mirror and make it radiant with reflected rays from the Sun of Truth." (Promulgation of Universal Peace)

Augustus and Ollie made pawfuls of kisses with their best wishes and blew them in the air for all. Ciao everyone!