I get home from work around midnight, which would seem to be an ideal time to work rituals. Yah, sure, as soon as the cats have had enough petting and adoration. Silver and Fluffy usually meet me at the door, and Max is on my bed awaiting me. Of course I wory about the cats being indoors 24/7, and if they suffer from boredom whilst I am gone, so I suppose some guilt feelings are in there.

But after that, I did my ritual. Last night was the end of The Mourning Moon and the start of the Long Nights Moon. (My names. Names like Snow Moon and Frost Moon are inappropiate for one living in Los Angeles.) I have a dear friend in hospital, who is having an operation today. A risky operation . The ritual was mostly for her, for a successful outcome.

Fluffy finally got up the nerve to get into the kitchen window heated cat bed, having decided that Czarina would not re-appear and discipline her. She now hangs around my computer when I am at the keyboard, awaiting opportunities to be petted.

None of the cats have ventured into The Loft above my bedroom door. I have cleaned it three times to get rid of the old urine smells and so on, but the cats seem to avoid it. Or it may be that they are just content to sleep with me in my heated bed. The use of the electric blanket has pushed my monthly electricity bill up to $30.

I have been off Premarin for one week now, and while I do get some hot flushing, it is much milder then what I had to endure before I went on the Premarin. I can live with it (and my B-cup breasts). So that's that.

I have decided not to get a fourth cat. It breaks my heart, knowing how many senior and geriatric cats are out there that will not find new homes and have to be put to sleep. But, honestly, three cats is really the limit for this apartment.

Pagan name: Amethyst

Solitary Pagan in the service of SIGE:

http://www.paintingdreams.co.uk/print_d ... s/sige.htm

Cat Daddy to ^..^ Max, Silver, and Fluffy ^..^

Waiting at the rainbow Bridge: Tyler, Pearly, Conway, and Czarina

Believe it: dogs have masters, cats have staff

Sober 20 years and a Friend Of Bill W.

As a Postal worker, I was required to wrk 13 days in a row, 13 December to 25 December. I'd come home to the cats and do a small ritual in my bedroom to my Patron Angel, Yvonne, on what I have renamed The Amethyst Shrine. On Yule, 21 December, I did a silent ritual before the shrine dedicated to SIGE. Tonight, I will do a major ritual on my new altar in my living room.

And how have the cats been reacting to all this? I had an e-mail from a friend wondering if the cats had sorted out their status order since the death of Czarina. Answer: Fluffy, Silver, and Max.

I mean, even my Brother Michel Andruschak called Max a "wuss". Fluffy and Silver treat him as their mentally retarded older brother. If Max is lounging in a nice place, and one of the other cats wants that place, they give Max this "look", and away he goes. Max still likes to groom me, the other cats, and even my teddy bear.But he desperately needs some assertiveness training.

Fluffy and Silver are equal, with Fluffy being more equal then Silver. She makes a point of being higher up then Silver. She is the one who hangs around the computer area now that Czarina is gone. I have a large work table at the east window of the apartment living room. The left third of the table has a large heated and padded cat bed for Fluffy to lounge on and be petted with my left hand as I try to get some study time in. Yah, sure.

But Silver seems to be happy enough. I mentioned my altar? It is a square table covered with a purple cloth that hangs almost down to the floor, and another heated, padded cat bed is under the table. This is Silver's, and even Fluffy is not allowed on it. It could be argued that Silver likes the privacy while still being able to look out. It might also be argued that Silver has figured out that I am worshipping when I walk around the table, and that the object of this worship is HIM. As in ancient Egypt.

In fact, Silver is there now, as if he knows that tonight is a full moon, and I am planning a ritual in an hour or two. This will be to ask the Goddess for healing help for a friend currently in Riverside Hospital. I visted her today, and she was so grateful to have a good friend show up. I gave her small presents, followed by a prolonged foot massage. She really enjoyed that. I hope to see her again next Sunday.

And Max is on my bed, enjoying the heated electric blanket. Fluffy is next to me as I type this, demanding attention every few minutes. Some of my co-workers have told me that I need to "get a life". Thanks, I had a life once, but have found that being a penny-pinching recluse is quite OK. Life is good, and I hope my readers are doing well also.

Andrew (imported) wrote: Mon Dec 13, 2004 12:41 pm Pagan name: Amethyst

Solitary Pagan in the service of SIGE:

Cat Daddy to ^..^ Max, Silver, and Fluffy ^..^

Waiting at The Rainbow Bridge: Tyler, Pearly, Conway, and Czarina

Sober 20 years and a Friend Of Bill W.

Normally I work 3 PM to 11:30 PM. But every 31 December, The Post Office has us coming in one

hour early and leaving one hour early, 2 PM - 10:30 PM. Likewise, Tour One comes in at 10 Pm

instead of 11 PM. At 11 PM the building is secured and nobody is allowed in or out, for security

reasons. Drunk drivers on the road, and bullets being fired into the air or at other targets.

Last year, when I got home at 11 PM, the fireworks and gunfire had already started, and Max had

dived undder my bed, not to come out until Noon the next day. This year I am pleased to report

that Max had enough confidence to stay on top of the bed, on one of the heated pads. Fluffy and

Silver also ignored the noise. In fact, as I type this, Fluffy is on the chair next to me

demanding to be petted all the time.

Midnight came and went, along with the gunshots, and the three cats took it all in stride. I lit

a few candles at the altar and shrines, and that was about it as far as celebrating goes.

Tomorrow I go to work as usual. Sunday I hope to visit my good friend who is in Riverside

Hospital. She has had a rough time of it, so I don't mind the three hour round trip.

New Year's resolutions? Well, the AA literature states over and over again that resentments are

the #1 reason alcoholics relapse. My various divination tools and oracle cards also keep

reminding me of the need for forgiveness of others as well as of myself. This includes my

biological father. Anyone know where I can pick up an amethyst sphere, 5" or more in diameter, at

a reasonable price?

But things are quieting down outside, and it is time for bed. May we all find forgiveness and

healing in 2005. Blessed Be.

What a great post! It is good the hear from you. May we all find and grant forgiveness in the New Year.