That Old Black (Cat) Magic
October 10th, 2008
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That Old Black (Cat) Magic
By Laura French
Superstitions about black cats are probably a matter of guilt by association. Cats in general are crepuscular creatures—their most active times are at dawn and dusk, a time that always seems mysterious and haunting to human beings. A black cat creeping through the shadows looks more mysterious than a bicolor or tabby—and seems more likely to be on its way to meet with witches, whose rituals were also said to be carried on under dark of night.
Cats were said to be the “familiars” of witches. They were four-legged servants who acted as spies and otherwise did the witches’ bidding. In some cases, it was believed that witches were “shape-shifters” who assumed the guise of cats to move through the dark. Stories abound of black cats injured by night and “witches” seen limping around with the same injuries the next day.
In the Puritan colonies in America, magic was fervently feared. At the height of the Massachusetts witch trials in 1692-1693, more than 150 people were arrested and imprisoned, and 20 were killed. Many of the accused were elderly women. Some were poor, many were widows—groups likely to befriend stray cats in the neighborhood. Four centuries later, witches are still among the most common symbols of the American Halloween, and black cats are regarded as bad luck.
Magic isn’t automatically feared and rejected in all cultures. In some cases, the black cats’ association with magic can actually raise their value and popularity. In England and Scotland, sailors’ wives used to keep black cats to assure that their husbands would return home safely. A black cat given as a wedding present brought happiness to the new couple. A black cat walking toward you was said to be bringing good fortune. A black cat walking away took the good luck with it.
In Italy, on the other hand, black cats have not fared well since Pope Gregory IX denounced them in 1233. However, the current Pope, Benedict XVI, is a cat lover. The fact that he would be sharing his 2008 summer holiday with his brother and a black cat named Milly actually made headlines on the “Popenews” blogspot.
Let’s hope that Milly and her influential mentor will create a kinder, gentler era for black cats everywhere.
Laura French is a freelance writer who lives in Roseville with three cats — Gracie, Tennessee Tuxedo and his pal Chumley, and Sofie, whose breed(s) will forever remain a mystery.
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Dear editor: With this
Dear editor:
With this message, I send to you the press release of Patricia Derks, a renowned counselor who warned for the explosion of the AIDS virus in 1986, now living in Mijas, Spain. She is finally reopening her practice, “Pet-Transfer”, with a brand new and unheard of technique that will allow pet lovers to keep their beloved animal companion with them even after death, by transferring their identity into a new body.
What with cloning being morally questionable, not to mention incredibly expensive, and carrying no guarantees for the actual identity of your pet except in appearances, Pet-Transfer is the ultimate solution.
20 October 2008, Spain.
How did Pet-Transfer come to “BE”?
In 1982 I started out as an astrologer, with a rapidly growing practice that soon changed from just astrology to consulting on health, past-lives, career choices and the future possibilities of my clients, when I found that I could do more than just interpret information, but could actually make a change for those who came to me for help.
By word of mouth alone I became known within my city, country and soon even across the borders as more and more people came to ask for my guidance.
With the press knocking on my door in search of the AIDS-seer of Mook, I admittedly didn’t like the attention much, and so, after considerable thought decided to close my practice in favor of traveling through Europe to show the world to my family and give them a taste of different cultures.
I did not like the idea of my children growing up in the spotlight and considered a life of discovery and learning to be more favorable for their upbringing.
My research into the meaning of life, the human essence never ceased during our travels, and the as the years past and my children grew, our zest for wandering through out the continent lessened to a point where our need for roots and a home became too strong to ignore.
Through our travels Spain drew us most in climate as well as the general mind-set of the local population.
So I sold my house, packed up my family and our eight dogs, and left to start out on our new lives within this foreign country.
Once settled within the small town we had chosen, I was appalled to find out the atrocious conditions of the Spanish Dog-shelters. Neither the children nor I hesitated for even a moment when the decision of adopting the unfortunate dogs came to mind. We all knew that in most cases they were doomed to live the rest of their lives in cages, and wanted nothing more than to offer them a safe haven where they could live their lives in peace.
The years had taken their toll on our eight original dogs, five of which were from a litter of my life long friend and four-legged-companion, Sita, whom I had “transferred” once in my life already
These dogs were our pride and joy and when age took the first of them, I decided to use a talent that had long since been dormant to keep the identities of these wonderful creatures with us.
I had made “transfers” before, dogs and cats alike, but in particular with Sita who was with me the second time around, but the mere thought of loosing our beloved eight, was simply too much to bear. I had to nourish my talent, improve it, perfect it so we would never loose them again.
That’s how it started, but as the years passed and more and more dogs were added to our pack, at one point even reaching the number of 100, it became a rule within my home that dogs that came to us, would never have to face abandonment again, not even in death.
When an animal passes, it generally wanders around its owner before gently floating away to the universal spirit in which it will come to rest and be cleansed for its rebirth.
I found that if the spirit/identity/soul is strong enough, time is unimportant, but on the most part doing a “transfer” it is easiest to do this before or just after the dog passes.
There is a general process that applies to practically any dog. I “transfer” the identity to the new body, and within hours you see the change happen. On the overall you see a dog adjust to a new situation as if it has been there in a maximum of three days… and even faster if the dog is returning a second, third or fourth time.
It is visible in everything, their behavior, their character, but most of all the feeling they give you when the dog returns.
There is such wonder to see within their eyes when they have adjusted to their new bodies, and realize that after age has made them slow, and took them away, they can start exploring and playing as the pups they once were. It is a wonderful experience for my as well as the dog.
Over the years, we’ve had first generation, second, third and even fourth generation dogs walking around and it is an amazing experience, as much within our own family as with dear friends who asked me to return their pets to them.
With each “return” the animal’s confidence, happiness and general disposition improves, giving them a certainty they could not have achieved in a single life-time. Knowing that they return, gives them a reassurance that they’ll never have to leave their owner/master.
This “transfer” have even worked for friends who did not believe in this possibility, or even knew about it, and each and every one of them say that it was the eyes they first noticed, followed by a lessening of the sadness that was caused by the loss.
Check out Pet-Transfer’s Web page at: http://pettransfer.wetpaint.com for praises of people whom already used Pet-Transfer and were more than satisfied.
Or visit the F.A.Q. (frequently asked questions) for any questions you might have that haven’t been covered within the main page.
Sincerely,
Pet-Transfer
Press Management
pettransfer@gmail.com