Ingrid King, founder of the award-winning blog The Conscious Cat, believes that “animals come into our lives to teach us. First and foremost, they teach us about unconditional love. But they also teach us to stretch and grow, to reach beyond our self-imposed limits, and to expand our consciousness.”
In her new book, Purrs of Wisdom: Enlightenment, Feline Style, King shares some of the lessons that she has learned about living a more mindful and inspired life, as taught by her feline friends. For example, we find out why cats don’t make New Year’s resolutions (setting daily intentions instead will better help you achieve your goals) and why it’s important to take a pause from day-to-day busyness and “do nothing” (an art that cats have mastered). We learn about the benefits of stretching and crossing our “challenge line,” as well as seven habits of happy cats and their humans. One of these habits is to meditate, and in one of my favorite essays, King explains how to meditate with your cat. Since cats are “little Zen masters,” as she writes, “they can help us get comfortable with meditation”—which I can attest is true. My cat Romeo often joins me on the cushion for my morning meditation practice, and I’ve found that his presence has a grounding effect. Other chapters focus on practicing gratitude, why it’s important (not selfish) to take time for yourself, and how accepting what is happening in the present moment, rather than resisting it and wishing for things to be different, can be “the springboard to dealing with challenges in a more productive, and ultimately more peaceful way.”
Purrs of Wisdom is a slim but insightful book and one that you’ll likely turn to again and again for its compassionate life lessons. Perhaps the most important lesson, as King rightly reminds us, is that taking care of ourselves—physically, mentally, and spiritually—is the first step toward being able to care for others, including our beloved animal companions.
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