Again today she was given an opportunity to reflect on the similarities between her Abyssinian cat, Kipling, and her son, Worth. With her long established astrological filter in place she can't help but be open to perceiving ways in which they seem to be alike, and her focus in this area seems to have sharpened around the time of their recently shared birth day and month (May 28th).
As an opening sally she stated they are both, in their own way, “a dream come true” (blog: "Ava - Happy Birthday To A Fine Pair of Fellows"). She can truthfully say this about both of them because she literally dreamt of a male coming into her life and changing it in a way of primary importance (free download: "LWFHLS - Part 4") - a premonition unexpectedly fulfilled through his fathering Worth, the only child of her body - and because she long "dreamt" of learning what living with an Aby would be like.
Today she actually experienced how similar Worth and Kipling are in (you might say) a "behavioural way" and/or in their "basic nature".
This is what happened ...
Arriving home with a lot on her mind she accidentally left the patio door open and unattended on her second storey landing. Kipling, naturally, seized this opportunity to satisfy his burning curiosity about what lies beyond the threshold of his dukedom. She found him down in the grass - quivering with aliveness but also with a degree of tentativeness - and she was able to gather him up and bring him back inside without any evasion, or protest, on his part. But, once indoors, he gave her a piercing look which said, "So, that's what you are keeping me from. That's totally fucked up!" He then immediately began clambering on the screen door, trying to force his way out, with even more intensity than usual.
Which, he did, in almost the next breath because she had to go out to get something on the deck and he seized this opportunity to streak past her with ease. This time she was right behind him and this time he gave every sign he was determined to evade her clutches. So, she sat across the top of the stairs and allowed him to explore the deck without feeling the pressure of her pursuit. When she eventually made another move towards him (and here's where the situation gets freaky) he gave every indication he was prepared to slip through the railings and jump down one full storey to the ground below. HELLO!
Well, thankfully, she managed to capture him without incident and return him to the right side of the patio door but she was very shaken by his willingness to "roll the dice" in a bid to be free of all restraints hindering him from exploring the great outdoors. That he is designed to thrive as a full-blooded feline (indoors and out) she kenned about him right from the beginning. He simply oozes "catness". So, she was already ambivalent about the true appropriateness of keeping him safely indoors. Now, after the glaring look he gave her (backed up by his behaviour revealing the extent of his need for freedom) she is going to have to resolve her ever-increasing feeling of being torn and she isn't quite sure how to do that.
Because:
She was able to see her son reflected in her cat's behaviour. Worth has a great need to roam far and wide in order to test his limits. He has to see, touch, test, experience and get involved with life on a larger scale than some in order to exercise his full potential and reveal himself to himself. He's just "gotta giver". He just does. And, she understands, respects and supports this Truth of his nature.
She remembers the summer he was home after his first year at University, which was the last time he lived under her roof. He looked at her and said, "Mom, I love being on my own so much I can hardly remember being under your authority." At the same time he gradually built up to being fully independent while living at home and, even then, once he was on his own he undoubedly took risks he was lucky to survive as he continued maturing out in the world under his own steam. She gets all of this.
On the other hand Kipling, who possesses and displays the same spirit of inquiry, independence and drive as her son is her cat that she - living on a busy throughfare, as she does - is obliged to protect. But, at what cost to his True life? She understands that (just like her son) for Kipling to fully be Kipling he needs the challenge, and the stimulation, of experiencing himself on his own "out in the world".
Yet another thing to mull over. And, it's important. She will have to move the "Eight of Cups" and the "Maiden/Crone connection" over to make room.
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NOTE: Her other Aby, Oz, is slowly revealing himself to be a real house potato and a real love bug. While definitely sharing some overall characteristics of the breed with his younger "brother" his personality is completely different. While she's sure he would not mind going outside, and also sure he has the skills to thrive in the "jungle", he doesn't need this additional dimension added to his life with all of his heart and soul the way Kip does.
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