Feline Familiars

Today’s 11-11 Portal has triggered some thoughts. Great day to manifest.

The 11:11 Master Portal: Why November 11, 2026 Is a Once-in-8-Years Lo – Lucky Girl

Speaking of portals, I swiped the above photo of the Oweynagat portal in Ireland from a posting by one of the very cool Celtic witchy women I have been following lately – Kate Murphy –

https://www.thisiskatemurphy.com

Kate, you rock. Mea culpa, please don’t turn me into a toad, unless the deal comes with a pretty princess to convert me into a handsome prince. Either way, it’s a win-win.

The First Kiss – The Wise Novelist.

But I digress.

The Irish term Oweynagat means Cave of the Cats, derived from the howls of cats that can be heard coming from within. The cave itself actually exists in Ireland.

Oweynagat – Cave of the Cats – Our Irish Heritage

Now Kate tells us that this is the cave where Samhain finds its roots. It connects our earthly realm with the spirit world below. The geographical portal leading to the dimension where you can find the Tuatha dé Danann (the Fae – not the PP Tinkerbells, but the LOTR bad ass fairy warriors.) One of TdD’s more prominent members, the Morrigan is also believed to leave Oweynagat as her forwarding address. Morrigan in Celtic Mythology: Her Myths + Symbols

There is plenty of Irish folklore to back Kate up.

Oweynagat Cave • Archaeology & Folklore • Visitor Experience

You can actually check out sonar scan of the actual cave here: Oweynagat Cave – 3D model by The Discovery Programme (@discoveryprogramme) [1563c38]

Anyway, I’m a known fan of both the Fae and feline familiars –

The Feral Familiars – The Wise Novelist

And I love the energy my familiars (and Fae) have brought to the JTS Grotto and Casa Claire in general. I believe their presence here has supplemented my writer’s mojo – Hemingway’s Cats – The Wise Novelist

And there is something about my feral felines’ living in the JTS Grotto right at the front passage into my home that creates a barrier of emotional honesty that keeps the energy and creativity flowing here at Casa Claire.

What Did Hemingway Say About Cats? – 21Cats.org (“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.”)

So, if you cross this portal, you better be ready for some emotional honesty.

And the primary Casa Claire constant feral feline that I have been enamored with over the past few years, Smokey (named by Lisa because of her smoke grey color) has even made it into Spark of Faith as the recurring barn cat – “Lucky” – a nom de plume given to the character because the Beagle Brothers – “Smokey and Bandit” – were already characters in the story and I didn’t want any reader confusion. Here’s a visual reference to the original black Bronx familiar “Lucky” who made the trip out west with me in 2017.

Lucky is buried on Boot Hill out back with the other fur family members that have crossed the veil here at Casa Claire. Their spirits regularly cross into this energy plane.

So, the inclusion of both the original feline name and the existing cat itself in SOF gives me a backstory twofer.

Now my most recent fluid colony of feral cats inhabiting the JTS Grotto are my famous Grey Smokey, who has been here for about four years, and basically calls the shots, along with the latest Black longhair familiar, who I have dubbed Midnight, and a large creamy-white long hair I call Old Deuteronomy (T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats). I believe MN and OD are barn cats that belong to our wonderful young neighbors across the road – Andy and Izzy – but given their constant presence at Casa Claire, especially around mealtime – and the fact that Smokey likes to hang with them at all hours of the night – and will even travel with them to their barn – they have achieved permanent residence status in the JTS Grotto.

I draw great pleasure and creative inspiration looking out my front windows and watching them interact in the Grotto and with JTS himself.

This portal is all part of the magic.

Well, my fine, five readers, that’s it for today’s rant.

We’ve reached another Wednesday – that wonderful Hump to the work week of the gainfully employed.

I spotted a catchy sign yesterday that puts an interesting spin on how Wednesday impacts the human psyche –

But you fine, five readers can shake that off, finish that last cuppa, pull up your socks, tie up those skates and attack the hill. Roll up your sleeves and go for it. Prove to the people that sign your paycheck that you deserve every penny. You’ve got this.

And when you reach the top of the hump, make sure to wave at the always waiting Friday, right there over Thursday’s shoulder. Let the weekend know you are coming – and nothing is going to stop you.

Now let me not forget to thank the men and women – and their supporting families – who have in the past, and continue to, so selflessly and bravely serve our country. An unrepayable debt.

And to all of us, civilians and military alike, let us make today a great one.