This morning I awakened before my husband, and thought to leave the
bedroom and quietly do my morning prayers. Being 9/11, I changed the
routing a touch. Like Muslims, Sikhs are to pray five times daily and
have certain ones to be said at certain times. For the innocent who died
three years ago today, the heroes who died fighting or rescuing, the
people of Beslan, and those recently crossed over and their bereaved, I
prayed Kirtan Sohila, the evening prayer which is also the prayer for
the dead; it describes the soul as a bride going forth to unite with her
husband (God/dess) and calls upon the Lord to welcome and bless those
who have crossed. (To explain, In Sikh tradition, the day after the
wedding the bride is brought to her in-laws. She is welcomed and
anointed, and the threshold anointed also with holy oil before she is
allowed to come through.) Second came Anand which means joy or bliss,
for those who have been through tough times, are in grief, that they be
restored and know happiness again. And last the Ardaas, the supplication
which calls for rememberance of God, our spiritual masters, and human
heroes and all who need kindness and mercy, and we ask our Creator to
remember the intentions for which we offered the previous prayers.

There was great peace in the house this morning. Cats know sacred
things. I am convinced that there is something in a cat's nature that
knows and feels things of the spirit, no matter the faith practiced in
the home. Usually the cats are nuts at that time of morning, holding
marathon wrestling and boxing matches, knocking stuff over, etc. But not
today. They sat near me or at my feet with their little paws folded
beneath them, like little yogis, and purred. Louie and I have said for
years that a purr is a prayer, and I am convinced now more than ever.

When I put away the prayer book and blew out the candle, I did some
cleaning and found what may have been a gift from somewhere beyond: a
lovely chunk of amethyst, the kind where the crystals are still growing
from its rock home. I don't know where it came from. The previous owner
of this place didn't do crystals, and usually I buy polished rocks or
large uncut crystal specimens. It is a small piece, sort of triangular,
and has a pretty lavender color to it. I'm befuddled, but thankful, as
if some well-wishing message had come back at me.

The cats went back to wrestling, I went to the gym, showered and went to
the shrink with my Louie. We have the same psychiatrist, ain't marriage
sweet? We're going to karaoke tonight. Kate Smith's rendition of God
Bless America's on the playlist. I'll be up there.

Blessed be,
Baha