Thirty-Fourth Invitation

Healing Heart Communications, Inc.                                  www.devajoy.net   Gathering in Community   Our Circle Expands!   Have you ever fed a homeless animal?     If so, you must know exactly what this quote by Charlie Chaplin is speaking of.   You can feel it. It is sacred. It is intimate. It is meaningful. You look into this animal's face and mannerisms, and you just know...you are making a difference!  There is no doubt.  And, every soul counts, every action counts.   Many times I have stopped my car along my travels to feed a homeless cat or dog. It never fails to speak to me of why we are here on the planet - to help one another out!     And of course, I feed the birds and squirrels at my house. Every day. I place the food along the banister of our deck.  And, I always find it entertaining that if I am running late, they literally line up along the railing, birds and squirrels alike, and stare through the window in my direction, as if to remind me they are indeed waiting for their breakfast.     With all the animal rescue work that I do, I never wanted to be one who fed feral cats because I knew it was a commitment that was ongoing, seemingly forever, and a daily one as well.     But yup, you guessed it, despite this intention, for the past eight years or so, I am part of a team who feeds a neighborhood colony of "feral" cats, who are no longer "feral" whatsoever. Rather, they are cats who live outside. We call them the "Rakakias" -- named afterRakakia himself, a black and white handsome dude who loves getting dirty as he rolls on his back in the leaves and dirt, offering his tummy for petting. Out ofmy love for him, and his love for life, the whole colony is called the "Rakakias." (If only he knew that his kingdom is named after him!)   Each cat in the colony is so unique, with their ownpersonalities and quirks. Just like humans.     They depend on us for food. There is a relationship that is now interwoven in both the four-pawed and two-legged beings' lives that is now part of our everyday living, theirs and ours.     Sometimes I don't feel like making the trip and feeding but I do it because they are expecting me and this makes it a commitment and a discipline. So, whether the streets are closed due to ice or if it is storming or just so very hot out, me and my co-hearts make the trip, no matter what.       And like any spiritual practice, the discipline feeds the soul.     But even more transformative than that is the revealed interdependency in these relationships that indeedfeeds the soul and teaches again and again, as Hillary Clinton says, "We must do it together!"   And even more immediate than that is the adorable look of this four-pawed being before you who may be making eyes at you, (squinting eyes and opening eyes again and again) or flirting with you in some way -- tocommunicate -- fondness, gratitude, relationship.   We are in this together...   Animals are such exquisite teachers. They are the balm!     Don't miss the opportunity to be acquainted with every animal you can possibly get to know.   You may notice the stirring deep within your soul and the opening of your heart.... Lovefully, DevaJoy