Page 165 - Dark Matter Issue5 Part II

Lily loves classical music, especially when it is accompanied by choral singing. Two of

his favorites are the Mozart Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. His favorite folksingers are

Joan Baez and Gordon Bok.

He also loves earth-based ritual. Ritual is woven into our daily lives; I write my own

rituals and celebrate them eight times a year using the Celtic calendar. I also celebrate

the full moon each month by honoring my body and the bodies of all living creatures. At

each of the eight spokes of the wheel on the calendar, I follow the subtle changing

seasons; I give thanks, release what is no longer needed, and set intentions. Lily

frequently joins in with his songs. If he thinks, for example, that a particular intention is

important, he sounds his triple call.

Passionflower vines delight him. He doesn’t like the flowers but tears the leaves to

shreds, eating tiny pieces of green. But his favorite plants are orchids. He rips apart the

flowers with utter abandon — especially the ones with pink and magenta blossoms — an

infuriating habit that I can’t seem to break. I put up a screen to keep him out of the

orchids in my window!

Torturing people who are afraid of birds is another of his tricks. He somehow knows who

is afraid of him and promptly dive-bombs them, causing a great commotion. He also has

tormented every dog that I have had by walking around on the floor just in front of them

until the dog begins to chase him. Instantly Lily is airborne, and out of reach.

Cooking in the kitchen is

one of Lily’s favorite daily

activities. He investigates

all fresh ingredients

tearing and pecking at

greens and root

vegetables with

enthusiasm, tasting