It Was 21 Years Ago Today That A Great Soul Came To Earth

by Robert Wilkinson

Today would have been the 21st birthday of a great Soul who changed my life forever.

It was the third anniversary of his death on April 9, but I figured I could post something on what would have been his 21st birthday. He was a remarkable cat, more aware and more compassionate than many people I’ve known.

The story of how he came to me would be a movie in itself. I have the whole thing in a talk I gave years ago, and if I ever find it again, I’ll make it available to the world.

It was a miraculous tale of a very tiny baby fuzzface stolen from his mother by a tomcat in the middle of the night, somehow getting free when most kittens are killed, and surviving several days of blinding rainstorms to find himself covered in mud and perched on my shoulder singing loudly to the world. And yes, he had a lot to say throughout his long life. While it took about a week for him to find his way to me, after some research I figured out this was his birthday.

Two years ago I wrote a brief tribute to his life titled “A Salute to a Great Soul - A Year Is Not A Very Long Time.” I’ve decided to reprint it for those of you who may have missed it the first time. And yes, he’s the boss in the FB pictures. Local manifestation of the Great Cat, Yuri was very inscrutable, patient, an independent thinker, and wise ....

So for your reflection and contemplation, a reprint of a tribute to a dead loved one.

“A Salute to a Great Soul - A Year Is Not A Very Long Time.”

A year ago today a great Soul that meant more to me than most people I’ve known this life passed into the heavenworld.

It was on this day last year that Yuri, my cat-teacher and road partner of 18 years, died after a long and great life. I still miss him from time to time. And a year seems like last month.

As I told you then, Yuri (18 April 1995 - 9 April 2013) was my good friend and equal in many ways, and a remarkable Being. Intelligent, friendly, popular, talkative with a HUGE vocabulary, about as non-violent as a cat can be, he was caring, sensitive, and a good sport, given he and I spent about 25,000 miles together in cars and trucks throughout his life. We were constant companions, never intruding on each other’s freedom, but loving each other deeply for many years.

More than a few of his many friends have expressed how much they miss his physical presence this past year. That’s how popular he was. And yes, I know he’s doing just fine on the other side, much better than his final few years here when he was almost completely deaf and blind from 7 years of diabetes (which he completely cured just a few months before he checked out!) Here it may be good to remember that Death is not the enemy, but just Spirit's way of recycling the best of us when the husk is worn out.

So Aum and blessings. He was such a great Spirit that his death left a huge void in my life, even as I know the memory of his unique spark will be with me always. And yet, I also know that when he left, he left quickly and completely, with no astral residue to hang around. That’s one of the biggest advantages to cremation.

While sometimes the departed do visit us for whatever reasons, that’s not Yuri. He wasn’t one to hang around when there were other places to explore. He was an Aries with Moon conjunct Jupiter in Sagittarius, so that’s not surprising. To turn an ancient aphorism around, “As below, so above.”

I suppose that’s just the way life is. We meet them, we hang out with them, and sooner or later one of us leaves, for whatever reasons and karma there is. Along with so many others this life, he helped me experience another level of unconditional love.

By not “calling him back,” I believe I left his Spirit free to grow into unknown evolutionary realms. Here I trust the wisdom of God to know exactly where his Spiritual Spark needs to be. It sure isn’t here.

And so today I’m in contemplation of how mysterious the ways of Spirit are, and how we’re all part of one gigantic life, both in form and in no-form. Love is love, and it persists across time. That’s the nature of our bond with each other, whether we know it or not. And those who show us a greater love will always be a part of our Soul-field, whether we’re in a body or not.

So rather than offer condolences, since this isn’t that kind of day, please indulge me one thing: use today to remember someone who touched you deeply, loved you unconditionally, and who was always there for you without reservations. You will find strength and solace in that experience.

© Copyright 2016 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Nic]

Beautiful. Few gifts can be greater than someone who is always there for you, someone that can laugh and you remember the reason and purpose of the laughter.
Blessings be to you and Yuri, (for ever bonded).

[sw]

Thank you for sharing this. Beautiful.

[Kati]

made me cry..very nice. with you, Kati

[Sherry]

Love and inspiration shine through every word you wrote about you and Yuri.

[Karen Keating]

What a fantastic and timely piece to read after experiencing the deaths of three great canine beings since the beginning of 2016. For all the thoughts you shared above, it is within all of us to feel into the mysteries and embrace the strength and unconditional love they continue to bring into our lives while letting them go to explore their next evolutionary form.

[Carlos Papapetrou]

so beautiful thank you Robert.
Very relevant for me right now with my two senior pups that I adore and cherish .

[Peggy]

I can talk about my dead mother my dead father etc but cannot talk or think about my departed soul mate Buddies .. my cats. Even the two little positive jewels that are with me now. Grace and Liza. My Sally ... we were told Sally was a girl when we got him but the name stuck,lived to be 22. He never left my side. Even if there was water on all four sides ... I think that cat people are very special and from what I've seen very very spiritual. I love dogs but I need my cats. Thank you for sharing Robert. I know Yuri is a part of you. Tell us how he got that name. I bet there's a story there. From one cat lover to another. Thank you

[Kate Minogianni]

I can so much identify with you, Robert. I have passionate relationships with my fury companions. I told you about my loss of my pretty can Willow, mother of Aries I have got now. That angel died in order for me to be back in Greece. Amazing story....