There's something about cats that just grab me. They're fascinating animals and there's always more to learn about them as one gets older.
A Mountain Lion recently opened her heart to me, in the area behind my home, where I have seen her, and her mate, several times. (A panther?) Her mate is the size of a full grown deer and is, quite large (the size of a tiger, almost. Food is/was abundant here due to a river existing, however insatiable developers are, forcing human homes and taking this land from nature. I knew a developer once and he was consumed by the monumental task of placing homes here, by the thousands, especially sewer requirements... I one asked him, "how much is enough?" And he had a bewildered look in his eyes after asking him that, the thought never occurred to him. Sadly he is one of many.)
Previously the Big Cats in my area were the only things I feared...
And, this Lion knew this.
I even... accidentally, with my night vision...
Shot her with a small caliber rifle. She survived it.
I asked her if she was upset about it, she harbors no I'll will over it, however, her mate, I shot at with a much more powerful rifle in a panic, as he was watching me and was frighteningly close to my home, and I only saw him with my night vision, he was PISSED about it, and was quite angry, but did not wat to hurt me over it, just very hurt (emotionally)
This female Lion ministered to me, and after this I no longer feared her.
But I learned a great deal about, the felines, including domestic cats, they are one of the few breeds that refuse to be tamed by humanity, if they do, it's because they wish it.
After this meeting, even domestic cats respond better to me physically, and a young lioness, caterwauled to me two days ago when I was in a yurt in the forest. She was, cautious of me, but my neighbor heard her. It is funny how we can fear these sounds, and yet, when I explored the heart of the young lioness, all I felt was a pure, innocent yearning, and a desire for companionship. Is this a bad thing?
Not to, take away from the friendship canines and other living beings enrich humanity with their essence...
However, felines to me, seem to be, "worshippable" as they are, quite old, and benevolent with humans to a degree that would make ones hair stand up on their necks... We may owe our survival to them, and yet they are demonized as, the threat we had to guard ourselves from in early times... from the actions of one man eating lion, we fear them all...
Unjustly!
It is much the same for wolves.
Sad.
We could have the mythical Eden in modern times, but man is afraid.
How sad.
How "compatible" humans are with big cats, if we will add, just a little discernment, and eschew with our prejudices.
She told me, a lot- so much that I probably cannot share it without being ridiculed by, closed minded humans.
Just, that, I cherish the wisdom, and viewing into ancient, ancient memories she shared with me, of relationships between humans and, big cats, that went so deep, humans would question whether they are capable of sharing such connection even with one another.
Sekhmet was there. She beckoned to me, perhaps desiring (not perhaps.) To rekindle the fiery passion and dance felines have shared with humans, and not just felines but many others.
She showed me many things, but primarily it was the Lion next to my home that ministered to me.
It is similar for canines, however canines tend to fall into their passions, whereas felines appear to be more choosy. (This can spark jealousy in the hearts of man. This is partially why base men rule the human race present day. Why am I not worthy? I know I am worthy! I will show you!! And so, they do.)
Both are, unfathomably beautiful beings of pure heart.
What struck me was how gentle this, fearsome being was, in her heart. Motherly.
If Romulus and Remus had been found by a cat, their story would have reflected, in my opinion, similar to them being raised by wolves, but them being raised by a Lion.
I may write out my experience with the Mountain Lion, who selected the name, "Candy" for herself, and once, caterwauled under my bedroom window one morning, making the hair stand up on the back of my neck, and marked my possessions with her, pheromone laden urine, the scent remained for nearly a year and a half (discernable to my nose. She told me she was trying to awaken an ancient part of my DNA. And perhaps she did, but my humaness prevented it. How could such a thing be so?? A Lion wishes to share space with ME??! And, she did. But I was too prejudiced and foolish to accept her. It also struck me, as I spend time in nature, how there is nothing to fear there... there is far more to fear amongst other humans! The more naked a man is in nature, the safer he is, the more naked a man is in the cities, the more vulnerable he is...)
I also, saw her mate, move down a tree, when he saw me, he flowed like a majestic, and powerful river, also, making the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
I do not mean to romanticize them, as much as I absolutely do, they are every bit as worthy. I was considering, adopting a domestic cat (I still may) but the universe instead handed me a family of panthers in the forest, a mother, her mate, and their daughter. The daughter looks at me with, dilated pupils and a smile only a child could make.
One thing she (the mother) told me was, big cat females, cherished deep relationships with, human males, especially in ancient times. Entire societies were formed around, these pairings. It can be seen in some AI art, as AI sees the unwritten past. That is it's purpose. It is still in big cats DNA, and in many humans. One might say such relationships are, in ways,more human, than even some relationships humans share with each other. I wonder why such things are eschewed by humanity today? I wonder, if humans found "a good thing" with animalia, and were beginning to steer our ship away from unions that perpetuated our species. (Nearing a form of die off that we have experienced in the past.)
And, so, religions had to be formed to frighten humans back to ways that perpetuated our beings.
If so, it is a good thing, however, it is my belief a man should be able to enjoy his lion (and visa versa) but if, historically speaking, enough men enjoy their lions, there would eventually be no more men. (Perhaps the lions knew this, and the source of our religions were them. They did not want man to die out! If I could speak of the, untamed beauty of the heart of the Lion... humans may never return to themselves. The most intelligent, present, and intimate conversations I have ever had were with animals. Even religion speaks of this ability... we have forgotten it. To our shame, in my opinion. The Lion was so pure, she only exists in the moment, her body being superior and able to survive just as she is. Humans have perhaps forgotten our connection to nature and this planet and have eschewed it for, our own intelligence of self, that seems to drive us to self destruction and inevitable depletion of resources. Nature is infinitely self sustaining. Sadly mankind is not, yet.)
I could probably write a volume on the ancient memories Candy shared with me, and her suppositions that would, likely "creep" surface humans out, but that ancient societies have acknowledged for millions of years.
Her, thoughts spoke to, and activated ancient DNA within me. I sigh even recalling seeing her, laying on the sands of an ancient Oasis, her tail, moving up and down as she looked at me, yawning and digging herself comfortably in the sands of time.
It is possible she had to develop her, fearsome razor sharp claws and, long fangs to protect herself... to be a terror lurking just behind the grass.
She also told me, and showed me, the sheer number of lions who observe humanity, millions of times, sometimes, each day.
And, how, vulnerable we are...
And, how the lions disturb us not.
She said, if she wanted to, her kind could nearly wipe us out, and yet, they choose to leave us in peace. (So why be afraid?)
It was beautiful.
The purity of the heart of a lioness.
This planet is magical, if only humans will open their hearts and minds to it. If humanity will not, then I will. If no one does, then the rocks will cry out..