The Continuing Story of Astra and Animals

Now we come to Maya. The end of July was the two year anniversary of her death. She was a black cat who came to me as a fuzzy 8-week old black kitten during the end of my time in grad school at Northern Illinois University. She showed me her name (after it had gone through various phases – Monkey, China Girl and possibly some others). She very clearly pointed out a package of incense that had the word Maya printed on the cardboard container – that was the name of the formula – and looked at me, waiting to see if I understood. “OH! Your name is MAYA??” I asked her.

‘MIAOU!!!!” She exclaimed, wondering what took me so long.

She was my familiar. Her favorite game for a long while was to sit on my back while I spun around in circles. We were two of a kind.

During the last four years of her 14-year life, she was diabetic – which ultimately killed her. In chinese medicine, pancreas issues are connected with low self-esteem – which I had for most of my life (and the low blood sugar issues that accompanied it – the low self-esteem, that is). Our animal companions are mirrors for us, and are here to teach us. She taught me to work through my self-esteem issues and let go of any baggage that might keep me from leading a long and prosperous life. I miss her dearly – she was the first animal companion of my adult life and one of my greatest teachers and friends.

While Maya was still alive and before she was sick, in came Daniel. I was terrified of getting another cat because Maya was the queen and I feared she would slay me in my sleep if she knew I loved another kitty! But he was meant to come to us – Rich and I – and after a few hard days of hissing and being kept in separate rooms, the two got used to each other and then became the best of friends indeed!

Daniel is a tiger-striped cat who lost a leg after being hit by a car. A woman rescued him from the side of the road and then he came to be with us. He is a prince with a powerful lesson – one can overcome ANYTHING – and one can be at once royal and full of love and affection. A sweeter and funnier little man would be hard to come by!

Fast forward a few years to 2005, and in comes Donovan the Boston Terrier. He and I share a past life connection and he is my heart. I love him so much that at times I want to just eat him! He teaches me love daily. Two years later, in walks Starla the Boston Terrier. She has a funny way of snooping around on her long slender legs like a cross between a deer and a baby coyote. She is a strange and wonderful creature! Before she was a puppy, she was a star for thousands of years. Funny idea she got about how to be a puppy from watching up there – she really acts more like a comet! No fear in that dog and nothing stops her. And she has a face like Helen of Troy – yes, she can actually launch a thousand ships. That Cover Girl Face!

Then, in waltzes Silverado “call me Silver” – the Egyptian Uromastyx lizard. Silver came to help me with my shamanic sessions. I once asked him how he knows so much. He looked at me with his baby face and ancient amber eyes and said: “I know everything that ever was, everything that is now, and everything that will ever be.” He is going to be huge – 29 inches he told me, from head to tail…Egyptian Uros grow to be between 2 and 3 feet…and he will have a custom enclosure that will take up almost half of my studio! He is a vegetarian – so we can eat our salads together. It’s all very quaint. And he loves Joni Mitchell as much as I do. We have a fabulous time hanging out and communicating with the Universe.

When Maya died two years ago, Rich and I waited a couple months…but Daniel the cat was looking thin and haggard. He was depressed without his best friend. We knew he wanted another cat companion, so we set to looking on craigslist – there were a bunch of lovely animals as always but none felt quite right – until I saw her. A giant, GIANT beautiful calico with clear green eyes that they were calling “Pat the Fat Cat.” (which was of course not her real name – after she was with us she let me know her name is Birdena.) Birdena is a healer. She does energy work on us all the time. She will lay her 17 pound body on the exact spot that “hurts” or the exact chakra that needs balancing, and simply Be there. Works every time. And her and Daniel get along smashingly! He was back to himself within a month or two of her arrival.

Last year a very good friend of mine from college died at 39 of complications from her juvenile diabetes. We adopted her 12 year old black and white cat “Oddball” (who later confided in me that his name is actually Oscar – but he played along with Oddball to make my friend happy! He is a gentleman, a sweetheart, and a retired healer. He worked so long at being my friend’s healer, that in my house, I am now his healer! And very happy to be! He deserves all the luxury and rest that he wants. I honor him. He is a beautiful cat, with alligator green eyes that have seen a lot.

Thus concludes the story of my own amazing animal companions…so far! Tune in next time for the story of Nessie the American Alligator!

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