Blessed Samhain and a Happy Halloween!

Upon a dark and windy hill,

On Samhains’ eldritch night

I saw the Crone with withered hands

By balefires burning light

Her eyes were full of wisdom,

The threads of life She span

And sang, “Blessed Be and Blessed Be

And Blessed Be again!”

 

~ Joe Bethancourt

A 'Throwback Thursday' poem: The Calico Cat

The Calico Cat

She sleeps in the sunlight,

Her warm coat shines soft;

Purring ever so loudly

Underneath her catio loft

“You’re home! You’re home!”

She excitedly spouts;

As I walk through the door

“Let me in!” she shouts

Now sitting on my chair

All curled up on my lap;

Is that calico cat

And for hours she sat

~ Lady Caer Morganna

Stray Cat ~ by Franic Witham

 

Oh, what unhappy twist of fate
Has brought you, homeless to my gate?
The gate where once another stood
To beg for shelter, warmth and food.
For from that day I ceased to be
The master of my destiny.
While he, with purr and velvet paw
Became within my house, The Law.
He scratched the furniture and shed
And claimed the middle of my bed.
He ruled in arrogance and pride
And broke the heart the day he died.
So if you really think, oh cat,
I'd willingly relive all that
Because you come, forlorn and thin
Well...don't just stand there...come on in!

Midnight's Song

MIDNIGHT'S SONG

Forever greets me at the door

Who could ever ask for more?

My cat, my friend, my beautiful boy

My heart, my furry pride and joy

Sent to me by Heaven above,

to fill my life with your sweet love

You give so much and ask for naught

Except our love for which you sought

Loving soul whose always there
Who likes to follow me everywhere
Precious feline, one of a kind
Another of whom I shall never find

~ Lady Caer Morganna

A Cat's Prayer

 

A Cat's Prayer  

Now I lay me down to sleep,
The king-size bed is soft and deep...
I sleep right in the center groove
My human can hardly move!

I've trapped her legs, she's tucked in tight
And here is where I pass the night
No one disturbs me or dares intrude
Till morning comes and "I want food!"

I sneak up slowly to begin
My nibbles on my human's chin.
She wakes up quickly, I have sharp teeth -
And my claws I will unsheath

For the morning's here and it's time to play
I always seem to get my way.
So thank you Lord for giving me
This human person that I see.

The one who hugs me and holds me tight
And sacrifices her bed at night.

~ Author Unknown

Cat Owner's Prayer

THE CAT OWNER'S PRAYER

Because I'm only human 

It's sometimes hard to be
The wise, all-knowing creature
That my cat expects of me.

And so I pray for special help
To somehow understand
The subtle implications
Of each proud meowed command.

Oh, let me not forget that chairs
Were put on earth to shred;
And what I like to call a lap
Is actually a bed.

I know it's really lots to ask
But please, oh please, take pity;
And though I'm only human,
Make me worthy of my kitty!

~ Author Unknown

The Yule Cat

The oldest written sources on the Yule Cat are from the Nineteenth Century. These refer to the fact that those who do not get a new item of clothing for Yule are destined to become offerings for the Yule Cat. It may sound strange that the deprived ones will also become the sacrifices, but this tradition is based on the fact that every effort was made to finish all work with the Autumn wool before Yule. The reward for those who took part in the work was a new piece of clothing. Those who were lazy received nothing. Thus the Yule Cat was used as an incentive to get people to work harder.

A woman describes a scene from her youth in the last century thus: "We were lazy doing this chore. Then we were reminded of the Yule Cat. We thought that was some terrible beast and the last thing we wanted was to be one of his offers".

One of Iceland's most beloved poets in this century, Jóhannes úr Kötlum, wrote a lay about the Yule Cat. It follows in the translation of Vignir Jónsson, who says: "You'll have to forgive me but I didn't make it rhyme - I'm not much of a poet."

You all know the Yule Cat And that Cat was huge indeed.  People didn't know where he came from  Or where he went. 
He opened his glaring eyes wide,  The two of them glowing bright. It took a really brave man  To look straight into them.
His whiskers, sharp as bristles,  His back arched up high.  And the claws of his hairy paws Were a terrible sight.
He gave a wave of his strong tail,  He jumped and he clawed and he hissed. Sometimes up in the valley,  Sometimes down by the shore.
He roamed at large, hungry and evil In the freezing Yule snow.  In every home People shuddered at his name.
If one heard a pitiful "meow" Something evil would happen soon Everybody knew he hunted men But didn't care for mice.
He picked on the very poor  That no new garments got For Yule - who toiled And lived in dire need.
From them he took in one fell swoop Their whole Yule dinner Always eating it himself  If he possibly could.
Hence it was that the women  At their spinning wheels sat  Spinning a colorful thread  For a frock or a little sock.
Because you mustn't let the Cat  Get hold of the little children.  They had to get something new to wear  From the grownups each year.
And when the lights came on, on Yule Eve  And the Cat peered in,  The little children stood rosy and proud  All dressed up in their new clothes.
Some had gotten an apron  And some had gotten shoes  Or something that was needed - That was all it took.
For all who got something new to wear  Stayed out of that pussy-cat's grasp  He then gave an awful hiss But went on his way.
Whether he still exists I do not know.  But his visit would be in vain If next time everybody  Got something new to wear.
Now you might be thinking of helping  Where help is needed most.   Perhaps you'll find some children  That have nothing at all.
Perhaps searching for those  That live in a lightless world  Will give you a happy day And a Merry, Merry Yule.!
(source)

Book Review: "Your Magickal Cat" by Gerina Dunwich

One of my absolute favorite cat books simply has to be, "Your Magickal Cat" by Gerina Dunwich. This awesome tribute to felines covers everything from the cats origins, history and their place in Egyptian culture, mythology, amazing true stories & cat literature, spells,  poetry, cat astrology, and much, much more!

In my opinion, it is the ultimate cat lovers book! Here is a wonderful little poem from this book that I would like to share with you titled, "The Purring Priestess" and it is also written by Gerina Dunwich ~

Resplendent in her manner and form,

She prowls the temple of the night

Of old gods and mysterious ways,

Her velvet footsteps sing.

(taken from "Priestess and Pentacle")

Cat Owner's Prayer

Because I'm only human,
It's sometimes hard to be
The wise, all-knowing creature
That my cat expects of me.

And so I pray for special help
To somehow understand
The subtle implications
Of each proud meowed command.

Oh, let me not forget that chairs
Were put on earth to shred;
And what I like to call a lap
Is actually a bed.

I know it's really lots to ask
But please, oh please, take pity;
And though I'm only human,
Make me worthy of my kitty!

~ Author Unknown