We’ve not had a bad winter here. Last year was dreadful, the ground was water-logged, raining most days, and many towns flooded around the county. We had a glimpse of Spring last Saturday [March 7th] and again today [March 17th] as paw hits key pad.

Biskit seems to sleep a lot these days, but then don’t we all when it’s cold?

Easter is an interesting time.

I don’t know how many of you have heard of the Cat Hars. I’m convinced Biskit, Daisy, myself and Jimmy were around in France in the eleventh century. Our origins are supposedly something of a mystery, but we came from the Byzantine Empire, by way of the Balkans and Northern Italy. Our human keepers believed in reincarnation and refused to eat meat or other animal products. None of them would permit anyone to live in poverty, and they were set against telling lies, killing and swearing oaths. Do you get a feeling this might not end well?

In the Languedoc region of France, our Cat Har religion took root and gained more and more followers during the twelfth century. By the early thirteenth century Cat Harism was the majority religion in the area, supported by the nobility as well as the common people.

Now readers of Jimmy’s column will know, he couldn’t get past half a page before talking about something many would consider grim, so I’ll try and stop myself. All I can say is that the Catholic Church didn’t like us and-how can I put this?-we were massacred.

That’s the bad news. Why they did this, please do your own research. It was rumoured after around 700 years the Cat Hars would reincarnate. It certainly fits perfectly with our keepers’ ages…

Our keepers were both definitely Essenes. The Essenes were an earlier group who included Cheesus [see my Christmas piece] and had similar values.

It is impossible for organised religion at the time to come out of this well. So I’ll close with the Cathar prayer, written and observed by our 12th century keepers:

·       The Church of Love.

 It has no fabric – only understanding.
It has no membership – save those who know they belong.
It has no rivals – because it is non-competitive.
It has no ambition, because it only seeks to serve.
It knows of no boundaries for nationalisms are unloving.
It is not of itself because it seeks to enrich all groups and religions.

It acknowledges all great teachers of all the ages who have shown the truth of Love.
Those who participate, practice the Truth of Love in all their daily being. There is no walk of life or nationality that is a barrier.

Those who are, know. It seeks not to teach but to be, and by being, enrich. Itrecognisesthe collectivity of all humanity and that we are all one with theOne. Itrecognises that the way we are may be the way of those around us because we are that way.

It recognises the whole planet as a Being, of which we are a part.
It recognises that the time has come for the supreme transmutation, the ultimate alchemical act, the conscious change of the ego into a voluntary return to the whole.
It does not proclaim itself with a loud voice but in the subtle realms of loving.
It salutes all those in the past who have blazoned the path but paid the price.
It admits of no hierarchy or structure, for no one is greater than another.

Its members shall know each other by their deeds and being and their eyes and by no other outward sign, save the fraternal embrace.

Each one will dedicate his or her life to the silent loving of their neighbour and environment and the planet, whilst carrying out their daily task, however exalted or humble.

It recognises the supremacy of the great idea which may only be accomplished if the human race practices the supremacy of Love.

It has no rewards to offer, either here or in the hereafter, save that of the ineffable joy of being and loving.

Its members shall seek only to advance the cause of understanding, within whichever church, group or family they happen to be.

They shall do good by stealth and teach only by example.
They shall heal their neighbour, their community and our Planet. They shall know no fear, and feel no shame and their witness shall prevail over all odds.

It has no secrets, no arcanum, no initiations save that of the true understanding of the power of love and that, if we want it to be so, the world will change but only if we change ourselves first.

ALL THOSE WHO BELONG, BELONG, THAT IS THE CHURCH OF LOVE

Many churches, groups and sects are impositions by the few on the many, preying on weakness.

The Church of Love is the reverse, it liberates and promotes individual strength.

Such vestigial structure as it eventually may have, must come from those who know they are a part of it.

We never really went away did we? Have a great Easter!

Holly, as ever with help from Daisy, Biskit and Jimmy.

 

 

One Cat is Company

"One cat is company.
Two cats are a conspiracy. 
Three cats is an attempted takeover.
Four or more cats is a complete coup!"

Shona Steele (Australia)

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