How It All Began with a Little Gray Cat and Her Desire to Heal...

I found this cat the same year I found my first tarot deck. I was 19 years old, living in North Carolina, and came across a sign on the side of the road that read, "Free Kittens!" My friends and I stopped just to take a look at them but I couldn't resist the cute little gray kitten digging a hole in the dirt while all of her sisters and brothers were hiding from the strangers in the yard. She was the runt of the litter but was the only one who didn't run away when I entered her space. I fell in love with her instantly! She was smaller than most cats, a bit odd, and had her own way of doing things. She refused to use kitty litter and scratched the door whenever she needed to go out. I would often say she was my doggy in disguise. She wasn't the most affectionate kitty but she knew exactly when I needed a head nudge or a cuddle. She and I were quite the pair and we had our own routine that involved an occasional pat and cuddle here and there.

After about thirteen years with her, I noticed a change in my little gray cat's behavior. She wasn't well. She had no appetite, was losing her hair, and developed sores around her body. The cat that would rarely seek my attention, was now lying down in front of me, meowing for my touch. She wasn't satisfied with a simple pat this time. She wanted my hands on her, petting her, and holding her. It felt strange at first but as I continued with the gentle touch, I began to feel an overwhelming amount of love for her. As time went on, my caresses slowed down and became more of a moving meditation as I connected with my little gray cat in a way I never had before.

She continued to come to me throughout the next couple of days and before I knew it, she was eating again, her hair grew back, and her sores were gone. She healed herself, she knew exactly how to do it, and allowed me to be a part of the process. As I look back on that time with my little gray cat, with a some experience with energy healing, I realize how blessed I was to hold space for such a wise and beautiful animal. I didn't know it then, but she planted a seed into what has now grown into my reiki practice.