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Some call Saturdays “Caturday” in celebration of all things feline. Today is special for cats, large and small, as it is International Cat Day. It lands on Lions Gate this year, which is a numerological observation of the date 8/8, and its symbolic representation of infinity, eternity and an energetic portal into that perspective.

As we keep most of our celebration private, we share with our community clean filtered air, cat posture, and meditations on the portal of infinite possibilities. We cherish our 3 indoor cats, (all are rescues), and tend to the strays who refuse to be rescued. We feel rescued by them all, including the dozens we’ve cared for around the world.

On this Saturday, will you lounge in a sun spot, eat some favorite treats, groom and play? Can you open to the possibility of living your best life, like a cat or a lion? Ki to Happiness pets and purrs the potential for all furry ones to love and be loved.

This morning, our air quality is better. We are fortunate to look forward to clearing skies as the day progresses. Class attendance has held steady as students become more confident in this HYC environment.

The heat remains. And yet we stay cool enough inside with our fans for all practices. We are grateful for all that is clearing and improving.

Have you maintained your practice during this fire season? What practices might you resume with this greater clearing? Ki to Happiness  continues practices as usual with a shift towards more pranayama. 

With the windows closed and the air purifier on, students practiced the cooling breath of Crow Beak pranayama. Together with the fans in the studio, all were safe and comfortable enough. We will use that approach again today.

The air quality reminds me of my times in India. Practicing yoga in the mother country had me using the same breath to deal with poor air quality and heat. I’m grateful to have the additional help from our air purifier which I didn’t have there.

Do you know how to use your breath to cool down? Can you change your practices when you need to heat up? Ki to Happiness calls upon the many diverse yoga practices as needed in every environment and condition.

My early morning communications begin with chanting. Calling on truth, anchoring it in me and applying it to all I serve connects me to Light. As I complete my practices I turn to those who’ve reached out since last night.

I respond to those in Mexico, Texas, North Carolina, New Zealand from my full cup. As I share the Light of understanding with them, I know they intern will broadcast that to their downstream. This web of Light connects us all in the true spirit of yoga.

What practices restore your connection to the Light of Truth? Who do you share It with? Ki to Happiness chants, meditates, prays and shares the Light near and far.

Our area in addition to much of the state is under a severe warning. Air quality is poor for sensitive groups presently and expected to worsen for the next 36 hours. We will keep our windows closed and air filtration devices on for safety during our classes.

We have been fortunate this fire season so far. Our hearts go out to others who are less fortunate than we are, especially in Spokane. We look forward to clear skies again soon.

How sensitive are you to the air quality? Are you safe to practice yoga at home or can you join us with our safe air in person? Ki to Happiness is sensitive to air quality so takes steps to insure safety at HYC, for herself and all who enter here.

My Substack friend, David Marlow wrote a book entitled Ikigai. I bought it primarily to support him, yet it supports me, too. Reading its straightforward message about removing noise, proceeding one step at a time is good for us all, and best repeated in as many ways as possible.

I appreciate David’s daily pun on Substack. He and his humor remind me of my late dad. Whereas his book reminds that all the great truths are true, in any language.

What have you found on Substack? Do you mind learning what you already know from a different perspective? Ki to Happiness finds freedom of expression without ads reinforcing truth on Substack,

When I first started teaching at the HYC at our former location, the old church we lived and worked in was surrounded by 17 feral cats and their waste. I took it upon myself to clean up and learn how to improve the grounds. One community member became my gardening mentor, teaching me to plant catnip where we wanted the cats to be, and how to spread cayenne pepper and cinnamon to keep them and their waste off our walk.

Her clear instructions inspired me to have topsoil delivered, plant what was wanted, and let go of the rest. I think of her each year as the Lenten roses bloom first. She passed away this last week, but her mentoring me continues to beautify the world.

Who mentors you? Who do you mentor? Ki to Happiness keeps the memory of her mentor alive, continuing to share love, harmony and beauty, inspiring others to do the same.

This new month arrives with gray skies and a promise of rain. The many gifts of July are about to receive a blessing to encourage more growth. Focusing on our abundance attracts more.

Last month, I added some new practices, including envisioning this day. My intention was to navigate the national holiday and family trip without disruption of classes, services, cats and garden. It is as I imagined and intended.

How does the new month begin for you? Is that how you hoped it would be? Ki to Happiness welcomes August and its promise of growth and abundance.

Moving here in the middle of the Covid restrictions stressed us in every way imaginable. Bob had just come through his stroke and was physically unable to be of much assistance. HYC barely managed to continue with our core family of participants as well as remote students.

4 years later, that fiasco has resulted in a great transformation. New students, lots of clients, a lovely garden, and much better tenancy has resurrected HYC, Bob, our cats, and me. What once looked like total disaster has become a source of joy, comfort and healing.

What have the last 4 years meant for you? Have you ever faced fiasco only to find it transmute into fabulous change? Ki to Happiness celebrates 4 years here, having grown in faith to face whatever comes.

I’ve long known that first 45 minutes of our awakening gives us a chance to set the tone of the day before the ego wakes up. That has long propelled me to practice, yoga, meditation, and prayer in the early hours. I learned recently that the first 20 seconds are of paramount importance.

This morning, when the cats wanted me to get up at 3:45, I reacted in alignment with how I want today to go. With the full moon still on us and the beneficial alignment called cazimi of Jupiter and the sun, I responded in gratitude for my life, my cats lives, and a cascade of gratitude for my husband and our compatibility. Yoga, veganism, tea, supplements, cats and our 30 years of relating took over any irritation of the hungry felines as I stayed in bed til 4.

Do you awaken to an alarm? Can you go to bed early enough that you don’t have to so you can start your day in loving gratitude? Ki to Happiness continues to learn new practices to take responsibility for manifesting the life I love to live.