Everything I needed to know, I learned from Merlot!

Everything I needed to know, I learned from Merlot!

by | Authentic, Awareness, Beauty, Body, Feline, I Am, Self-Worth, Uncategorized, Value, Well-Being | 1 comment

Now, before you think that I have a drinking problem, Merlot is a beautiful black soft silky smooth female cat and not a bottle of great tasting red wine. We adopted each other a few months ago and I knew at the time that she would have a big impact on my life. It had been over 2 decades since I had shared my life with a feline personality and it has admittedly taken me a few weeks to learn and re-familiarise myself with some of their amazing and unique peculiarities. For indeed, they are a personality – as any cat lover will tell you.  Cats are after all, renowned for their particularities. And yes, either you love them or you don’t.

So what has Merlot taught me.

1. Cats are not dogs

Well, yes I may be stating the obvious here, however, there is quite a distinctive difference. After all, the generalism is that dogs are givers and cats are receivers. So yes, I do get a bit peeved when I feel like a cuddle session and well, it is just not on Miss Merlot’s agenda. Admittedly, she is really patient with the crazy lady (that’s me by the way :-}) who picks her up far more than necessary for cuddles.  Her body language is quite distinctive though about whether she is up for a cuddle session or not. Trying to cuddle a squirming and clawing bundle of fur is a challenge in itself.

Lesson: Everyone is unique and different

2. Just sleep until something really interesting comes along

Now Merlot is quite a house cat and she does love company. She is thrilled when I get visitors, so that she gets to see faces other than my own. Although when they arrive she does this bizarre disappearing act, only to appear ten minutes later with the air of just having stepped out of a limousine. Don’t you just love how cats can pull that off?

Used to having male cats earlier in life, who were more out of the house than in, Merlot hangs around a lot. And what does she do – well sleeps of course. I am amazed at how she will just settle down anywhere – along a wall, in the middle of the floor, on top of a cupboard, behind a curtain – and just sleep. The sleeping positions are a wonder to behold – from fully extended in a stretch, relaxingly contorted in some corner, hiding in the closet, to curling up in a seemingly impossible tight ball. Of course, all this relaxed lethargy vanishes within seconds when something esteemed interesting happens and she is off in a flash. No warm up required there.

Lesson: Rest is important and there is very little in life that is actually worth losing sleep over. So relax!

3. Be Self-ish

Cats are renowned for their particular presence and Merlot is no exception.  She is the centre of the Universe, at least her own and she just expects everyone else to know this. She does not doubt herself or second-guess herself or do any profound soul searching. Just just is. If she’s in a grumpy mood, she’s grumpy. If she wants some quite time, she will find a quite spot. If she wants to eat, she will find food or make sure that her food provider (that’s me usually ;-}) takes care of things. When she wants to cuddle, she comes to cuddle.

I just get such pleasure from observing her and she has certainly contributed to me relaxing more and just going with the flow.

In our society, we have been brainwashed into thinking that doing what we truly feel like doing, is being selfish and that this is a bad thing. I watch Merlot and am filled with admiration at just how truly being selfish actually uncomplicates things and allows others to be themselves. That’s of course if one can get past the judgments and conditioning and takes responsibility for one’s behaviour and attitude.

Lesson: Be you and change the world.

4. Don’t sweat the small stuff

Yes, Merlot does get up to cat things – like sharpening her claws on my mattress base and on my beautiful carpets – in spite of the fact that she has a few trees outside and her tree inside on which to practise this. She will jump up to places that are not where I wish to find her and has turned that soft paw come sharp clawed weapon on me, just because she felt it was appropriate without even offering an explanation, I might add. So yes, I have growled at her (not like a dog though, at least not yet) and she has taken off at high speed, just because she can.

What I love about her – she doesn’t hold a grudge. Now I can hear you males out there sighing in understanding and longing, because well let’s face it that’s what females do – and they are often quite good at it, n’est pas? Well, as a female myself, I can vouch for the weightiness of holding and bearing grudges. There comes a point where it does just get all so heavy. So Merlot is like a breath of fresh air, as she will often turn up a few minutes later and be so totally over it. Her only concern – what’s next. It’s truly delightfully liberating.

Lesson: Don’t sulk and hold a grudge. Life is too short.

5. The healing power of touch

Since having Merlot in my life, my awareness of what this means has taken on a new and whole different dimension. I have always loved the contact of touch – probably why I so enjoy giving massage. There is a beauty to the moments though, when Merlot comes for her cuddle session. When listening to Dee Wallace’s I Am talks, she has often used the example of thinking of one’s child or pet, to reconnect us with a sense of total gratitude. I really get this when I cuddle Merlot. It is as if we melt into each other and I feel my heart chakra fill up and overflow. And Merlot just receives and in her receiving, she allows and honours my gifting to her. These are moments of pure unconditional being.

There is something so soothing, comforting and grace-filled that occurs when I touch her beautiful soft silky fur. When I touch her, I am touched and moved within my Being.

Lesson: Giving (or gifting) is receiving and receiving is giving

6. Communication is beyond words

Merlot, is a real talker. She will miaow for this and that and sometimes just for nothing really. Whilst sometimes, I get what she is saying, there are moments where, well, she is just expressing herself. She will just look at me with those big green eyes of her’s, with such intensity, that I know she is sharing something big. Of course, most of the time, I have no idea what she is going on about.  But, is it really so important that I understand her, or is it more important just to listen to her? After all, are cat’s that much different to people, in that we sometimes just desire to share something with another?

And then of course there is the body language. Well, I find Merlot has the most fascinating tail. It really is like a receptor. And it is seldom still. I think with her, the code book for what tail movement actually mean according to humans can be thrown out the window. She has a tail language all of her own and she changes it as the days goes along. Even sometimes when asleep, the tip of the tail is still moving. Perhaps she was a dog in a past life? MMMMmmmmhhhhhh.

Lesson: Communicate in your own unique way and just know that those who are looking for what you have to say, will hear. People do truly hear what they want to. Mia culpa.

7. I Am that I Am

All animals are beautiful and grace us with their particular uniqueness. However, I do believe that cats personify this so wonderfully for us humans. It is no wonder that the ancient Egyptians worshipped them as gods, for their is something very regal in their bearing is there not? Even when they are acting like crazy, hissing, spitting, furballs of clawed energy. I think cats just do everything with flair. They act like the world revovles around them and so of course it does. They are such great examples of creating your reality and then know what you asked for is done.

I know that for me, Merlot has taught me so much already and continues to contribute to my life everyday. She is often a reflector of me and when I look at her, I can read what kind of vibration I am giving off. She provides me with companionship simply by being around and with her presence.

Lesson: I Am Perfect just the way I Am and so is everybody else

8. Energy follows energy

Merlot will often keep to herself until I am busy with a client and giving a healing session. She is amazing to watch. She usually comes in and depending on the person, will stay for verying length of time. She will usually always jump up on the table, if the client is OK with this of course. She seems to sense this though and will not come to the clients who are not willing to receive.

The healing abilities of animals have been foretold since forever. Merlot just is healing. She follows the energy, gives and receives. There is no ego involved and no mulling over what it is to be a healer. She comes in, contributes, receives and off she goes. I have felt and seen how human bodies experience healing because of her simple presence. She just IS 100% Being. It is most beautiful to behold.

Lesson:  Follow the energy. Energy never lies

I could go on and on, but this is a blog site, not a book. So I will stop here for now. I know that through this blog, beautiful Merlot will be contributing to you too. She is a crazy cat and I am a crazy lady, so we make a fine pair. 🙂 For however long she chooses to be with me, I rejoice and am honoured and blessed.

With gratitude for all the amazing pets and animals out there that contribute to us and the planet. Continue to take care of each other. How did we get so lucky?

To you all, sending Light and Love.

Trilby

Founder and Well-Being Facilitator at BE YU Well-Being

The Struggle with Struggle

The Struggle with Struggle

by | Abundance, Alternative Therapy, Authentic, Awareness, Body, Coaching, Consciousness, Personal Development, Question, Self-Worth, Uncategorized, Well-Being | 2 comments

Am I addicted to struggle? Is my life-long search to find myself a part of this? Definitely! At least up until NOW 🙂  There is a drama and intensity in struggle, I have found. It appeases the Doing-Part of me. Yet, my Being just waits on the sideline, peaceful, calm, allowing, knowing that the struggle is part of the illusion ………….

Whilst in total gratitude for the many authors, songs, personal development techniques that have lead me to this moment, there is, I know a fine line between true Being and struggling to Be. Not quite the same dynamic. I also stand in my knowing that each modality has been a step on the journey and not the journey itself.

I stood proudly in my struggle to be better, to resolve my problems and in my efforts to BE-COME.

BE-COME what? I Am already. The illusion that one needs to become anything is that which creates the struggle. Like a dog chasing its own tail – fun for a while, usually just ending though and leaving one with a few tufts of hair between the teeth and having had a few moments of fun perhaps ……

The White Book by Ramtha, is basically about struggle. The struggle to BE. Well it makes for an interesting Life, but what if interesting is not enough? What if there is more to Life than just interesting? Struggle can be interesting up to a point, however, it can also become the yoke around one’s neck. Struggle stems from the desire to be perfect. Perfectionism is not something in the present moment – it is the brain’s way of keeping us in continual conflict, struggle and polarity.  Why?

Because, the bottom line or underlying energy of struggle is that of lack. Is there ever not enough or the possibility of something more, however, coming from that space of expansion and not limitation? There are always more stepping stones, winding ahead into greater possibilities. Release the struggle means choosing to stay on the same step or take the next ……. one step at a time …….. the time of choice is NOW! Take a deep breath and just breathe in and out ……. there is no answer ……… just BE-ing ………… without struggle …………………

Gratitude and Light.

Trilby

Trilby Johnson, is a Well-Being Facilitator, living and working in and from New Zealand. If any of the modalities that she uses resonates with you, please contact her via her website. 

Body Talk

by | Awareness, Body, Energy Bodywork, Massage, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, NLP, Uncategorized, Well-Being | 0 comments

So, what’s your body talk? How does your body talk to you? Are you aware that your body can talk, not only to you but with other bodies? No, I am not talking about body language or even non-verbal communication, in the context of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).  I am talking about the language that our bodies use to communicate with us and other bodies and energies. For many, often their first conscious awareness of their body will be through the sensation of pain. Yes, for some strange reason this is usually when people actually become aware of their physical bodies, other than the thing they have to feed and perhaps wash daily.  Until this time, many people remain totally disassociated with the one thing that is literally under their nose and closest too them. Not only is it ignored, but it is the receiver of much physical, emotional and mental abuse – usually self-inflicted, making it therefore more permissible.

I am very lucky to have always had an amazing, if until recently unidentifiable-as-that, connection with my body. I am not referring to physical appearance here, but rather to my body’s ability to perceive and receive information about situations, way and above that of the recognised biological five senses, although these are how ultimately information is filtered through.  I grew up believing I was over sensitive and that this was a “bad” thing.  Today, my work as an Energy Bodyworker has brought me full circle and to a deeper understanding and knowing of just how aware and conscious my body is. There is no doubt in my mind that my body has a consciousness of its own, separate from me. Just as you are separate and autonomous when out of your car, your car “belongs” to you and goes where you steer it, when you are driving, so our body is a vehicle for our Essence.

My personal breakthough in being conscious of my body as a separate life form, started way back with massage and reiki, however it was a body modality from Access Consciousness, called the BARS, that finally allowed me to fully embrace this concept and knowing.  Applying this process has liberated my body and me from many limiting patterns, both good and not so good. Today, I know that my body has a consciousness of its own and that it is constantly sharing this information with me. It has been me that so often refused to receive it. Unconditionally in service to me, my body created symptoms in its attempt to share vital information with me. For example, experiencing indigestion after eating food that my body did not want or need, pain to indicate where I was cutting myself off from source energy or information, dis-ease to lovingly attempt to get through to me that something I was doing was not in my greater interest.

Today I constantly ask my body what it wants to do, eat, look like and I tell it as often as I can and remember too, how grateful I am for it. My body is an amazing receptor, a great satellite that is picking up information beyond the limitations of my mind and feeding it back to me. I learn a little more each day to be in awareness of this vast sensory information coming to me. I still experience intense energy (otherwise and usually misidentified as “pain”) that is sometime uncomfortable, as my physical body too has to adjust and expand and evolve.  Remember that as my vehicle, my body has its own agenda and requires regular fuel and check-ups. Yes, I am a Spiritual Being having a physical experience, just as may body is a form of consciousness having its own experience, as we dance together.

The basic premise in NLP is that to understand your speaker, you need to understand the language he is using. The same applies to your body. So everywhere where you have misidentified and misapplied physical sensation as good or bad, rather than simply your body talk, would you be willing to destroy and uncreate that now please? What will it take for you to hear and understand you body talk?

Here is an except from Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now”, about transformation through the body.
“The fact is that no one has ever become enlightened through denying or fighting the body or through an out-of-body experience. Although such an experience can be fascinating and can give you a glimpse of the state of liberation from the material form, in the end you will always have to return to the body, where the essential work of transformation takes place. Transformation is through the body, not away from it. This is why no true master has ever advocated fighting or leaving the body, although their mind-based followers often have.”

Have fun and en-joy-ment learning to understand and listen to your body talk!