The Sacred Path

There can be no political revolution, no social revolution, no economic revolution. The only revolution is that of the spirit; it is individual. And if millions of individuals change, then the society will change as a consequence, not vice versa. You cannot change the society first and hope that individuals will change later on. – Osho

A move seems to be in my not to distant future. In my earlier life, when I would hear someone talking about Hawaii, or read something about the islands, I would think to myself that it might be nice to visit, but it never developed into a real desire, probably at least in part due to not having the money for a trip. A couple years ago, I started to think seriously about visiting, but again, felt no strong desire to pack a bag and board a plane.

This year however, things have changed. A series of those pesky coincidences have been coming up. First a friend forwards an email to me from a woman who was wanting to sell her place in Hawaii. I dismissed it at the time since the price was more than I could afford, and truthfully, the thought of living in Hawaii had not really gelled.

What followed over the course of a few months, was a Hawaiian barrage. I would turn on the TV and there would be a program on about Hawaii. A couple people from Hawaii used the contact page on this blog to write me about things they did not want to post in public. Several times while I was shopping, I ran into people wearing T-shirts they got in Hawaii. I would be driving down the street and see a car with a Hawaiian license plate. Personally, things that were “hanging around” that would keep me from moving started to resolve themselves with no conscious effort from me.

In and around these “coincidences” I did some journeys on the possibility and got an what can only be described as a “smile” from my guides and helping spirits. In one journey I had decided to visit Pele, the Goddess of the volcano, and when I got to my sacred garden, I found a roaring fire in my ceremonial fire pit and knew it was my portal for a visit to Pele. I entered the fire, and remember nothing after that for about an hour, but I was in a state of complete bliss when I returned.

I can feel a quickening, and plan a trip over right after the first of the year to look for a place and to see if the islands like me, and I like the islands. I still have one commitment here that I must see through, but that too seems like it might be heading for a conclusion.

Change is the only real constant in life. Even our bodies completely renew every seven years or so they say. The cells, atoms, electrons, protons and neutrons making up your body today are completely different from the ones of around seven years ago.

As a species, we’ve seen a huge changes over the past twenty years, and especially over the past eight. What will the future bring? That is for each of us as individuals, and in turn collectively as a society to determine, but it always starts at the level of the individual.

I think someone had my furry little friend Sidney’s recent brush with the Animal Cops in mind when they captioned this on i can has cheezburger. If the kitty would have been black and white, it would have been perfect. Sidney is adjusting, but I know it isn’t easy on him.

I’m working on a couple new posts. I know it has been a while, but things have been a little hectic lately.

The other day, an animal control officer came to my door and told me that a neighbor had complained that my cat, Sidney, was “doing his duty” in the neighbor’s yard. I was somewhat surprised since the first thing he always does when he comes in is head to his litter box. The animal control officer told me that if I didn’t keep him out of the neighbor’s yard, that they would set a trap and then I would have to pay a fine to get him back, if they caught him. She also explained that I had to keep him in my yard. Has anyone ever tried to keep a cat inside a yard, fenced or not? Sidney climbs chain-link fences like they aren’t even there. How is one to do this, and given the number of cats that are in my yard on a regular basis, it is apparent no one else does, or knows that they have to.

I’m a little disappointed that the neighbor, whoever it is (they won’t tell), didn’t come and knock on my door and tell me about it. I’m not sure what I could have done, but I would certainly have gone over and cleaned up the mess, even though there is no proof that Sidney was the only cat doing it. I don’t doubt the neighbor saw him do it, but have they just missed the other cats doing it, or do all the other cats in the neighborhood not do it? Perhaps Sidney is the only “bear that shits in the woods” – or in this case, a neighbor’s yard.

Sidney’s Zen place is outside in the summer, laying under the bushes taking a nap, having “chase the leaf games” with the wind, and visiting his furry little friends across the street. He cannot understand why he cannot go outside anymore and in fact, he is begging me right now. It’s almost more than I can stand.

I suppose I could build him the kitty equivalent of a prison exercise yard, because that is now what he is, a prisoner no longer able to enjoy the freedoms he has been used to and loves so much. At least till I get an escape proof exercise yard build for him, his days will be spent in the house eating, sleeping and begging me to let him out. I play with him, but it’s just no substitute for playing with the leaves and the wind.

My furry little friend’s predicament has me thinking a lot about freedom right now. We so take it for granted, and most have become very complacent about the dangers to our freedoms. Perhaps most are just too far away from the fight that brought us the freedoms we have and that are slowly and systematically being taken from us, or perhaps no longer care.