Wednesday, August 22, 2007

It Takes A Cat to Create A Village


It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of a truly great personality and personal friend, Gracie the cat.

Last night, at about midnight, there came a knock on my door. It was my neighbor Casey, and she was obviously in distress. Apparently Gracie had been found in a neighbor’s yard after having been missing for several days, and she was not looking good. Casey said she did not think Gracie would last the night and asked if I would come and see her. In my official capacity as an animal energy healer I would have done this anyway, but as Gracie and I had shared special moments as friends I immediately replied that I would be there.

While I gathered my mesa and other healing tools together I reflected on our friendship. Gracie had the most open and trusting heart of anyone I had ever met. Everyone, friend or stranger, was greeted with joy by Gracie. Apparently she had never met someone she did not want to know, and in conversation with the neighbors I discovered that she literally knew more people on the block than any of us did (see Gracie the Cat Star). She would run down the sidewalk or cross the street to greet you, meowing in welcome, and when she reached you there would be purring and great affectionate gestures. If you were really open to her, and willing to crouch down a bit to her level, she would make her way into your lap, eventually placing herself across your shoulder, rumbling purr vibrating in your ear. A little kneading to soften you up further, and when you were putty in her capable feline paws, she would drape herself, like a boa, around your neck.

When she was in need of healing she would instigate a variation on this theme (see Gracie the Cat and Fireworks); she would lie in wait outside my house, and when she had my attention she would curl herself up in my arms, tuck her head under my chin, and get as close to my heart chakra as possible. At those times I could feel how open she was; Gracie was 8 lbs. of unconditional love, and my feelings of affection for her would just well up.

As I recalled her energy, her sunny disposition, and the many memories I had of her including my recent pajama-clad photo shoot of Gracie (see Gracie by Morning Light) I felt fear that she might be lost to us. What would we all do without her?

As I entered Casey’s house to see if there was anything I could do to help Gracie I made a deliberate effort to put those fears and memories aside so that I could best be a hollow bone for the healing energy that she would need. At my first sight of her my heart sank into my feet, she could barely raise her head, and she seemed very out of touch with her surroundings. As I knelt by the chair I acknowledged that we might lose her and put that feeling aside.

And then it happened—Gracie broke through my hard-won professional balance. She heard my voice; the voice of the person who had always helped her when she had been sick in the past, and although she was very weak, she began to crawl toward my heart chakra which was level with her on the chair. As I leaned forward to meet her Gracie shoved her face into my chest and wrapped her right paw around my bare arm, claws digging into my skin and leaving marks, and she hung on for dear life like someone drowning, I could feel the tension and the fear in her and there was no purring this time. At her demonstration of complete trust in me I felt my heart break into little pieces, and I had to put that aside, too. Gracie needed me.

As I began to assess her energetically I could feel some strange kind of disturbance in her upper energy field, something like disconnected signals. I dimly registered that information and continued looking for what might be causing the problem. She did not appear to have any external injuries, there was some evidence of what was probably arthritis (Gracie was 13), but nothing jumped out at me for what could cause these symptoms, and it became clear to me that Gracie was not going to be able to tell me, Whatever was going on was causing her ability to communicate to break down.

At this point I needed to open my mesa and turn the session over to the universe. When in doubt my philosophy has always been to get out of the way and let the energy and the client dialogue. It is then that miracles can occur.

It became very clear to me that I could not disengage Gracie to open my mesa in order to open sacred space, thereby create a place for healing between the worlds (consensual reality and the spirit world; this is the realm of the shaman). Gracie made it very clear that physical contact was emotionally important to her, and she wanted to be able to draw on the Reiki energy freely. I had to ask Casey to open my mesa and to distribute the stones in a circle around Gracie and I. It is a tribute to my mesa that it allowed this, as the general rule is that no one handles the mesa except the shaman.

As Casey distributed the stones, and the rest of her family watched quietly, the energy began to build. Search as I might I could not see a thread of possibility that led to Gracie surviving this, but neither could I find certainty that she would not. I set my intention for her highest healing good, allowing the shamanic energy to enfold both of us, opening my feelings, feeding the energy with my love for her, and at the same time attempting to put aside my fear of loss.

I performed a Reiki attunement for her, re-connecting her fully to Source for her highest mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being, and I could gradually feel the tension in her body ease, her fear subside. She entered a trance-like stage of healing where I sensed her soul journeying through the universe. Her breathing slowed, and I wondered if possibly she might choose to use the energy to leave her body permanently. As I had no idea of the outcome I clearly set intent for her to receive whatever she needed. I built a Bridge of Light for her so that whenever it was her time to leave she might do so in as joyful and a painless a fashion as possible, and then be met and guided to wherever she was to go next.

When we finished Gracie was calm, but still clearly not right. Realizing that we had done all that was possible, it was now time to get her to a vet.

As Gracie drove off with her family my heart was heavy with the sense that I might never see her in body again. When I re-entered my house my animals clearly picked up on how I was feeling and decided that it was time to lighten me up. So, at 1:00 a.m. we had a silly play session, re-affirming our connection to one another and joy in life. When I finally crashed for the night all the cats snuggled up with me, blanketing me in care and concern.

I woke up once during the night with the sense that something had happened, but it was not until after noontime that I learned that Gracie had passed. All tests at the Burien emergency clinic showed no elevated levels of anything, however her behaviors indicated neurological compromise, and the conclusion was that Gracie had a brain tumor. With great difficulty her family made the decision to humanely euthanize her.

When Casey called me the next day I heard in her voice that my worst fear was confirmed—Gracie was gone. A part of me was glad that she would not continue to suffer as she clearly had been; another part keened in grief at the thought that she would never wrap her paws around me again. It was as though for me a light had gone out in the world.

Casey shared with me some of Gracie’s early life. Apparently Casey and her then-husband had been looking to adopt from the shelter. Casey said she did not see Gracie because she is short, and Gracie was in a top cage, but her tall husband saw this paw reaching out at them, and suggested they check out the eager cat.

In the petting room Gracie leapt from one lap to the next in a frenzy of affection. She had been found behind a building with her kittens and was about one year-old. The kittens were weaned and Gracie needed some more beings to love. Casey and her husband complied and adopted her.

So, how did an unwanted stray with no place to raise a family maintain an unlimited amount of trust in the goodness of the universe and the kindness of mankind? I have no idea, I only know that Gracie is my hero. As the neighbors and I carried the news of her passing from one house to the next, and stories were shared, I realized that Gracie, a small gray and white tabby of unknown origins, had woven a thread of friendly connection through a block of disconnected people simply through the power of her unconditional love. One little cat created a village.

Good-night, Gracie, may your legacy of love live on.

In memory of Gracie I invite you to post your comments and share your memories of Gracie here, or perhaps you have stories of other animals who have inspired or blessed your life like Gracie blessed ours.

There will be a Peruvian despacho ceremony held at Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC for all friends of Gracie once her ashes are returned. A death despacho is a beautiful celebration of the life of the individual and all participants get to share in the ceremony and add their prayers and memories. A notice will be sent out at that time.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Casey and Ethan...I'm so sad to hear of Gracie's passing. She was such a good friend during my time spent across the street. Rose captured her spirit in her writing so perfectly - I could not begin to elaborate. Gracie was truly a gift.
Hugs to you,
Heidi (your former neighbor with the tomatoes).

Cindy Stelzner said...

My morning tea is salted with tears as I read of Gracie's passing;what a comfort and safe harbor your energy must have been for her Rose, she truly was a bright little light.

Anonymous said...

Like many, we met Gracie while taking a class from Rose. She simply walked up and introduced herself, secure in the knowledge that, of course, we would like her and see her for the extraordinary being she was.
Maybe all of us should emulate Gracie more--we are all extraordinary beings, but we don't present our true selves to others often enough.
Thank you, Gracie, and bless you on your continuing journey.
Paul & Libby

Anonymous said...

Gracie greeted many of my tax clients and seemed to own the neighborhood. My brother found her in the driveway and she was unable to stand, setting off the alarm bells. She used to let herself into the basement and cuddle up to him at night, and her purring often put him to sleep. She was friendly to everyone, particularly the little ones. What a loss for the neighborhood, and what a shining lesson she taught all of us about friendliness. Gracie is one of those beings who leaves a shimmering light behind her..

Anonymous said...

What an incredible animal - just reading the comments has given me pause.
I am sad that so many have lost such a wonderful friend.
Such a blessing to have Gracie open up so many of our hearts.

Sandra xo

Anonymous said...

Indeed we are extrordinary beings and who expresses it more beautifully, more easily and more graciously than our many animal friends? What they come to teach us about grace....and balance....and unconditional love....opening their hearts and souls to most everything....including pain and abuse! They come as teachers, lovers, companions and even in their aloofness, they can teach us patience. Gracie had a inner light that showed the world that trust is a main component of love. She trusted us and gave love....we trusted her and gave love back. Isn't that an important lesson to learn? Thank you, Gracie, for sharing that deeper part of yourself that is woven within each of us. We are all indeed one and Gracie helped bridged the gap between the animal world and ours....a courier of all that is possible.
Thank you, Gracie, for the bit of you you left within each of us. We are better people, closer friends, happier neighbors because of your love and attention. And, thank you, Rose, for your gift of expression...your words and feelings captured ours. Keep your camera with you. It records a world few of us see and freezes in time a moment we can treasure forever....even after the subject, time and place has passed away.

In gratitude,
Kimberly Brown
...visitor to your gentle Alki neighborhood.

Georgette said...

Gracie was my official street greeter everytime I would visit Rose. She was so cute and loveable I could never resist picking her up and hugging her. The only "problem" was that she wouldn't want to get off me -- she would climb my back (and neck and head..ouch) so I couldn't put her back down....it would take lots of patience -and many time Rose's help- to persuade Gracie! I still catch myself looking for her when I visit Alki - I know she will not be forgotten, her little spirit lives on!

Elliott said...

Gracie was the nicest cat I had ever met. When I would pull into my drive way more times than not she would be waiting at the end of the driveway waiting to say hello. My girlfriend and I would go on walks looking for Gracie, because she was in love with that cat. She truly was a wonderful cat and a great neighbor. My kitty Gizmo lost a friend this week.

Elliott
2617

Anonymous said...

I will dearly miss Gracie and her sweet meow as she trotted towards me to say "hello and pick me up." She was a wonderful animal with a warm, welcoming spirit. She even showed real concern for Bantu when he didn't feel well. I feel like many of us considered her our honorary kitty. I'm so sorry for Our loss.
We will miss you Gracie,
Carol & Bantu