I remember, as a young and innocent boy, when a pregnant cat “adopted” our family, and my mother thought it might be a good lesson in the “Birds and the Bees” aspects of life to watch the pregnancy and birth process. Time passed, and early one morning – about 2 AM – my mother came in and awakened my brother and myself to let us come in and see the cat give birth. It was a young cat, and this was most likely her first litter. It was the beginning of an event that I’ll never forget.

 I can still recall lying on the floor in my light blue Hopalong Cassidy flannel pajamas with my chin resting on my little fists, my awe-struck 10 year old eyes recording the labor and birth of kitten after kitten as it happened less than two feet from my face. Even more awesome to my young heart was the mother’s response to the births.

 As each new life emerged from her, she would first look at the tiny bundle of fur lying there with its eyes tightly closed, struggling to gain control over its body. Then, ever so tenderly, she would begin to nudge the fuzzy newborn ball of life with her forehead and lick the residual fluids from the kitten, cleaning it from head to toes before birth pangs again claimed her full attention.

Kitten after kitten appeared before my amazed eyes. The entire process of giving birth to eight kittens took about an hour and a half. Returning to sleep was the furthest thing from my young and enthralled mind.

When the last kit had been born and cleaned, the mother underwent an amazing transformation that still brings tears to my eyes half a century later. It was as though the enormity of her accomplishment had finally dawned on her. She looked from kitten to kitten, gently nudging them to adjust their positions next to her warm and loving body and licking this one here and that one there. When all were cleaned to her satisfaction, she lay there with a look of immeasurable bliss on her face. She was purring so loudly that it actually seemed to echo in the small room. Gently, tentatively, she reached out her paw toward her children, “making bread”, as we say when a cat flexes its paws and claws in pleasure. I could tell that she wanted more than anything to caress her kits, to verify that they were real, yet she dared not come close to their tiny and fragile bodies for fear that she might harm them – or was it perhaps that she dared not believe that they were real? It was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my young life. It remains so today.

Many years later on the morning of my forty-second birthday, I was living alone, recently separated, depressed and struggling with life, when I unexpectedly awakened to a similar bliss.

I was living a lonely and solitary life in a small, broken-down trailer house in the woods of central Oregon. My life had been particularly confusing of late and I had no idea where it was leading me. That morning I awakened, alone in my bed, alone in my trailer, alone in my world, but I awakened to the sights and sounds of a majestic morning in the piney woods with light streaming in from the high tiny window in my bedroom. Through that window I could see the boughs of a Ponderosa pine and hear the squirrels and birds arguing over some tasty morsel or another. As I sat up in bed, I became aware that I had tears rolling down my cheeks--not just any tears, but tears of incredible joy, unutterable bliss. Then I noticed the smile that seemed literally to extend from ear to ear. I had absolutely no idea what was happening but I was HAPPY! I was WAY beyond happy – I was experiencing joy beyond anything I had ever dreamed! I had unexpectedly awakened (in more ways than one) as an Enlightened being. For nearly a year afterward I had a large permanent grin, and every day I would have to wipe tears of joy from my eyes several times. Life was GOOD!              

Twenty years later, my grin and the joy are still there, only both have grown in wonderful ways and dimensions. I am still human – still VERY human, but on a good day, and most of them are good days, Bliss is my constant companion and tranquility is my shadow. Peace within joy is my heart.

  What does all of this have to do with you?? Everything.

 Each of us has within our lives the potential for limitless joy – for Bliss beyond the awareness of most people. Believing this – KNOWING this – leaves the door to our own bliss wide open. Feeling that such joy is beyond us, that we are not in some way worthy to experience it, locks our inner door against us, making Bliss much more difficult to achieve.

Meditate for a moment on the bliss I have described. Imagine it to the best of your ability. Immerse yourself in it and bring it into your reality. It is real, and it is achievable by each and all, if only we will stop trying and begin ALLOWING.

I met Mani 4 years ago when I was on the road selling my art. I was there in Seattle WA by myself in an unknown city. (those that know me know how much I despise cities). So you can see how comfortable I really was. After I was all set up Mani come walking straight up to me. He's definitely not the silent shy type and his countenace and size can make you try and get prepared to deal with him. But... Mani's gracious sincerity and friendliness takes all that away and before I knew it we were trading readings and products. Since then we've kept in touch and when Marcus and I were doing our last Sweatlodge on the mainland last Soltice we, Marcus, Barbara and myself, were going to meet up with Mani and do a ceremony on his property in Oregon. We even had Bubu our dachshound with us and Mani and his wife opened their house to us all. Unfortunately for us we got snowed out and decided not to venture into the storm. Mani is a cat person with lots of felines at his home so you know he connects to the goddess quite well. I traded my Isis print for his book, 'The Book of Answers' an item I've used quite well ever since which was replaced last year. One thing I'll never forget what he told me four years ago. He said I had to finish some things in my life and within four years it would change immensely for the better. Well I have to say he was absolutely right!

Thanks Mani!

Diveena