Making a Difference: Therapy Cats

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Ever notice that your cat seems to have a natural instinct for being there when you need comfort most? Whether you are feeling down, worried about something, broken-hearted over a bad romance, or simply feeling sadness for any reason at all, they just seem to know!

It is a well documented fact that merely just petting a cat, stroking their fur while they lie next to you purring, naturally lowers ones blood pressure. Is it any wonder that cats are being used more and more as therapy animals ~ both at home and in nursing facilities? Cats have proven to be wonderful therapy for nursing home residents and children with autism as well.

I'd like to share with all of you a true story I had read while researching the subject of therapy cats:

Cats as Therapy in the Home

By Franny Syufy, About.com Guide

 

 

"Much has been written about the role cats play as sources of comfort in our daily lives. One of the most inspiring stories I have read was about a cat who helped a boy with autism. The author, J. Manerling, is a widowed father of two children. His son, Richard, was four years old when his mother died, and lives with autism. By a strange coincidence, J. Manerling already worked in the field of neuroscience, with children who have neuropsychological disabilities. At four, Richard had no mental retardation, but still was non-verbal. Reasoning that a therapy pet might help Richard come out of his shell, he made every effort to expose his son to every kind of animal. Nothing worked until the day J.M. took Richard to an animal shelter. In his words:

'I walked past the cat room into the dog area. Again, I was disappointed that my son just stared around him at everything else, but not at the dogs. They seemed to hold his attention for a few seconds.

As we were leaving, once again we walked past the cat area doors. I figured, "What the heck? It's worth a try. Though I have no idea what he'll find interesting in there." We walked into the cat area, which was significantly smaller than the dog area. As we walked past the cages, there in a corner was a black and white tuxedo cat. Suddenly my four-year old non-verbal son pointed to the cage and said, "Cat!" That was it. That day we took the cat home. My son could not come up with a name for his new friend. My daughter, who has always been very protective of her younger brother tried to help find a name that he could pronounce. Finally, the name Clover was discovered.'

At the time of its writing, Richard was a college student, and had two other cats, Linus and Melody as his muses. You can read more of Richard's story at Cat Therapy for Autistic Children."

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Is it any surprise that cats are great therapy for nursing home patients? Some nursing homes are even fortunate enough to be able to keep a cat in residence. Cats have even been known to be used as therapy for patients with alzheimers disease. These cats serve to stimulate both memory and forgotten emotions.

The health benefits cats provide are just astounding. They lower your stress level, they slow down your heart rate whenever you are feeling anxious or nervous, they comfort us in so very many ways. Although dogs are generally known to be used as therapy for humankind, cats are also now coming into their own!

Hubby's Rune Board

Although my husband considers himself "agnostic," he has always held a strange fascination with the runes. A few years ago, he had bought and read numerous books about them ~ their different traditional origins, what the symbols mean, and how they are used as divination tools.

While I have spent many years studying and reading tarot which is a method generally used for long-term readings, the runes are a more short term answer your questions about the future.

My hubby even went as far as to make a homemade rune board to practice his readings ...

 

And he owns two sets of rune stones ~ one bloodstone and one made out of bone. He is far too shy; however, to do readings for anyone but me. I, myself, have always enjoyed gemstones and divination, but for some reason I could never really get into rune readings. I have been known to use the rune symbols in certain spellwork, but that is about all. Perhaps someday I will give them another try ~ if I ever find myself more drawn to them. Goddess only knows!

Just a thought ...

"A good friend is a connection to life ~ a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." - Lois Wyse

"Four Feet Tall & Rising" ~ A book review

There aren't very many (quote) "Reality Shows" I bother to watch on TV. In fact, there are only two and they both happen to air on Animal Planet. One is "My Cat From Hell" and the other is "Pit Boss."

Now, I am definitely more of a cat than a dog lover and as far as the Pit Bull breed goes, I neither love nor hate them. I do; however, agree that they have gotten a pretty crummy rap in societies eyes and through the media's typical irresponsible reporting. Let's face it folks, almost ANY animal, as far as I am concerned, is capaable of doing  harm or killing. Whether it be for defensive reasons or by the ignorance of those humans who train them to be killers! Frankly, those people make me sick to my stomach!

That being said, I really do love this show. So much so that I purchased Shorty Rossi's book/memoir, "Four Feet Tall & Rising"  at Barnes & Noble on Wednesday and I just finished up reading it today. This book is so good that I just could not put it down once I began reading it!

Shorty covers the story of his amazing and inpsiring life from his disfunctional family life to running a cat rescue while in County jail and also working for a law firm while there, his interesting life in Folsom Prison thereafter, how he got into acting in several big name movies and stunt work in Hollywood, up to his current happenings of being a strong and outspoken advocate for Pit Bulls and running his talent agency for Little People called "Shortywood."

Whether you are into Pit Bulls or not, this book is a must read. Most especially if you enjoy the show, "Pit Boss." He gives his fans a lot of insight into both his business and private life ~ incredible story!

Imbolg/Imbolc/Candlemas ~ Feast of Lights

Our next holiday celebration will be the cross-quarter and greater sabbat of Imbolg. Imbolg, as we all know, is also known as Imbolc, Candlemas/The Feast of Flames, Festival of Lights, and Groundhog Day among others.  It falls on February 2^nd of every year and it is a time for purification and cleansing ~ the “sweeping out of the old and bringing in of the new” as it were. It marks the first fetal stirrings of Spring in the womb of our Earth Mother and seeds are prepared for sewing.
  

It is also a time when we honor the Triple Goddess in Her maiden aspect of Brigid (pronounced “Breed”) who is the goddess of fire, inspiration, healing, craftsmanship, and midwifery. She is also the patroness of the hearth, poets, smiths, craftspeople, healers, and priests/priestesses. The God who was born of the Goddess at Yule stirs in His slumber and awaits the Spring Equinox. It is also said that Groundhog Day (later known as Candlemas), which had its’ beginnings in German Paganism and is celebrated in both the United States and Canada, symbolizes the manifestation of the God Himself. In regard to six more weeks of winter: “If Candlemas day be sunny and bright, Winter again will show its’ might. If Candlemas day be cloudy and grey, Winter soon will pass away.” Of course, in reality, either way we must still endure six more weeks of winter before the start of Spring. Personally, I just adore Groundhog Day here in the States. It is such a fun festivity whether celebrated locally or abroad. We always enjoy watching "Punxsutawney Phil" awake from his hibernation to make a brief appearance to predict our winter's future on early morning of February 2^nd. For more on Phil, please read my post, “Can't get enough of that Phil!” Just an aside, last year when we took our 5-day cruise on Ontario, Canada's Rideau Canal, the Captain and family business owner's sister, who happened to be the Cruise Director named Ann, told us a story of how she made a special trip to Punxsutawney, PA here in the States for the express purpose of actually meeting "Phil" and joining in on the town's festivities! Such a delightful woman!

 

Imbolg is a good time to get organized ~ spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is also the traditional time for dedications, rededications, and initiations if you are associated with a coven or group. It is an ideal time to cleanse your sacred space, altar, and tools. Activities may include making Brigid’s Crosses, Sun Wheels, a crown of candles, creating a grain or wicker dolly to represent Brigid, making a Brigid’s Bed using the corn or wheat from the previous Lughnasadh, and hanging a scarf outside on the eve of Imbolg so that Brigid will bless it with healing powers. Other activities include hanging three ears of corn on your door until Ostara to honor the Triple Goddess and making Dream Pillows for every member of the family. I always like to cleanse and bless our home on Imbolg.

Also, on Imbolg eve, it is customary to leave food and drink out for Brigid such as buttered bread, milk, grains, or seeds.

IMBOLG CANDLES

We light the candles on Imbolg

Weave our crosses end to end

We light the candles on Imbolg

To urge the Sun to come again,

We light the candles on Imbolg

To honor the Goddess Brigit,

We light the candles on Imbolg

To plow the field and sow the seed

~ Lady Caer Morganna

Okay, here's my Benny & Joon theme song true story ...

Joon (to Sam): "You're out of your tree."

Sam (to Joon): "It's not my tree."

Many of you who have been following my blog for quite a little while now know that my hubby and I have recently celebrated our 11th Wedding Anniversary together. But, what you don't know is that, like most couple's, we have not been without our share of trials and tribulations. The truth is, we have actually been together a lot longer than 11 years as we lived together for 7 before we got married.

So what has this got to do with the "Benny & Joon" movie or it's theme song? Well, first of all, "Benny & Joon" was the very first movie we saw together and it is also one of our favorites. But, this little story has very little to do with the movie itself and more to do with the theme song actually.

You see a few years ago, we were having some very serious marital troubles at the time and on the verge of separation. Without getting into any huge detail or anything, let's just say that he was purposely working late nights every night at work and I was spending more time away from home to escape our problems.

One night while I was out clubbing with my girlfriends, my hubby decides to come looking for me via "shoe leather express" where he thought my friends and I would most likely be. The pub we usually frequented was about 10 miles away and would take you about 17 minutes to get there if you were driving a car.  Mind you, he walked there! Why? I honestly can not answer that question other than to say that he says that he was trying to make what he considered a romantic gesture.

Anyway, he said he was coming to meet me to tell me that he had gotten a nice big raise at work and wanted to share the good news with me. His efforts were in vain; however, since I had not happened to be at my usual haunt on that particular evening. He also said that the "Benny & Joon" movie theme song, "I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)" by The Proclaimers kept running through his head for some reason.  Now I, too, can not hear that song without thinking about that ridiculous night so long ago.

And that is just one true story of our quirky life journey together so far. Thanks for listening, my friends, and have blessed weekend ALL!!!

 "Have A Little Faith in Me" - by John Hiatt

http://youtu.be/UIA6xhXAf28

A little "Benny & Joon"